Thanksgiving 2015...

Well, I am still full from Thanksgiving.  Oh LORDIE... The amount of food I consumed was nothing short of disgusting.  But it was sure delicious!  The rolls, pancakes, fudge, Nothing Bundt red velvet cake, and the most delicious white almond flavored cake from a random bakery I have no idea where.  You totally get the point!  All CARBS...

This cake was TO DIE FOR...

 
It was so great being in Texas for our first holiday as a family of three.  There was no expensive flight to Texas from New Orleans with a 10 month old to be had, so that made me extremely happy.  There were no tears after the four day holiday concluded as we headed the hour and twenty minutes home!  NOW, THAT was nice!  I always dreaded the heaving, snot slinging, ugly cry when leaving the whole fam on that last day, on the way to the airport.  Not pretty what-so-ever.  Glad those days are over for now!

Our Thanksgiving this year was all about the kids.  Not the big kids as in the adults, but all 6 of the Hodges-Wainscott kids.  We went from 3 to 6 littles in less than a year.  WOW.  

It was loud, extremely busy, enough corralling to make you want to poke your eye out at times, and a smidge chaotic, but it couldn't of been a better 4 days! Nothing like being with family and seeing the ALL the love the cousins had for each other.

 HUGS for everyone...  They were all elated to see each other.

My favorite three boys!  Ledger adores his big cousins...

 Knox has the sweetest heart and he just loved and loved on L.  The feeling was completely mutual.  

So much laughter in the house over the holiday.  Little babes' laughter may just be the best thing ever I have discovered since having my own baby...

Marlowe hamming it up for the camera.

 And again...  

 Knox pretending he was "Bebo" in his chair, reading the big "Hereford Brand", snoring as he slept.  Quite Comical.  Pretty spot on impersonation if I do say so myself.

 Uncle Slade is so funny...

 Horse ride in their pj's...  (I can't imagine why these three were so riled up?!)

 Talk about chill.  Miss Maren was a rock star with all the craziness...

 There was always at least one baby sleeping in a closet...  And the amount of sound machines for the babies was insane.  What would we ever do without them?:)

 We even had a Red Raider show up just in time for kick-off Thursday night!  So serious...

Bob and two of her favorite ladies...

 Bebo and one of his many girlfriends...

Ellis and Ledger - 5 weeks apart.  Already BFF's.  (Ledger, pulling on that ^&*^ ear!)

It's is never a family gathering until Bebo puts someone to work in 30 degree weather...:)

  Thanksgiving day with the second cousins at the kid table in the foyer!  
Now this day, we had 10 kids under the age of 8...  WOWIE!

 Sweet Meme...

And this lady is a "kid whisperer" I tell you.  They LOVED her.  Aunt Betty is amazing.  You can tell she was a kindergarten teacher for 20+ years.  Look at the cute rice krispie turkey legs and pilgrim hats she made for all 10 kids!  If I could afford her, I would move her right in with us!

 And the matriarch of the Hodges Family... Wearing a three year old's headdress!  Never a dull moment.

 And when we woke up Friday morning, this is what we were greeted with.  Far cry from Louisiana!

 Love these people...  

 And this bunch too...

So much to be thankful for and Thanksgiving 2015 was one for the books; full of carbs, a 2 lb. weight gain, little sleep, sweats and no make-up, but most of all love and family!

Love,

~H

 

 

 

 

Home Sweet Home, Kind Of...

Well, we made it to Lubbock after two days in the car and one overnight pit stop in Dallas.  Bob flew in Wednesday and drove back with Ledger and I starting Thursday.  There is no way I would have made it without her.  She is a complete Godsend.  She rode in the backseat entertaining the child the WHOLE.WAY.HERE.  She was a clown for some of the way, making funny faces and noises to keep him occupied, and a Southern Baptist choir member (which she really is) singing hymns like "The Old Rugged Cross", "How Great Thou Art", "Jesus Loves Me."  Jack of all trades...

 And I tell you, those hymns did the trick.  Passed right out.  

We have been here since Friday and I swear it feels like we are just visiting...  And the fact that all of our furniture, cozy king sized bed, pictures, home decor, (AND a full case of formula and all of MY SHOES!!!!) are packed away in storage and we are living in a corporate apartment for a short time while looking for a house, probably doesn't help the fact that I think we are just visiting!  (That was a complete run-on I know...)

 Yes, this is a 10X20 foot storage building.  Packed to the HILT.  There is NO WAY in heck I am finding those shoes and formula in the next 30-60 days.  Someone is going shopping!:)

We had a lot of fun our last days in Louisiana.  Some great dinners, visits, play dates and a lot of tears.  

Swinging out at the lakefront.  Our last sight of water for a while!:)

 LSU vs. Alabama Party...

Mommy fail.  Faux pas wearing red to an LSU Game Watching Party.  OOPS!

"Ledger, you were supposed to wear purple and gold!"

 Couples dinner at Sal and Judy's...

 Saying goodbye to sweet Miss Linda was brutal.  If I could have moved her to TX with us, we sure would have.  Ledger loved her more than ANYONE!

 And this goodbye was the hardest...  I met Rachel at the gym we where we both worked out.  I kind of recognized her from Woodlake, thinking she taught at the same school as I did.  From that fateful day on that treadmill, I knew we would be life long friends.  I went home and told Brad that I think I had found my first friend in LA.  Haha!  We shared many dinners, late nights hanging out with the four of us, hospitals tours, and most importantly sharing our pregnancies only four months apart.  Rachel is a true gem, a one-of-a-kind, loyal friend and I know that God sent us to Louisiana and she was all part of his plan.  As we were bawling together outside her house Thursday afternoon, we vowed to say this was not goodbye, but see you soon.  Thank the Lord for I-phones and Facetime.

 And these sweet ladies...  How I am going to miss them!  What a team to work with.  They made going to school each and every day so much fun, even when you were having a rough day.  There was always something to laugh about in the "Green Wing".

 

Just some sweet gifts and letters from my LA family and kids in my class that I will treasure forever.

 Our Last LA Selfie...

We are looking a tad rough.  Sweaty, no make-up and poor L has the Bill Murray hair going. This was minutes before leaving LA and heading to Dallas. 

 Has all the toys in the world and a water bottle is his go-to!

Pit stop in Dallas with Sweet Marlowe.  Books in bed!

Stealing the paci from Maren.  And he never even took a pacifier!

 No trees, but we have wind turbines:)

 And my sweet TX friends... Breakfast from Lin and a fun, energy packed playdate with Miss Campbell!  She sure did just plop him in the Bumbo and start reading to him!  I see a lot of babysitting from her in my future.

Ledger has NO idea what wind is.  The wind doesn't blow in Southern Louisiana.  But boy, it sure does here.  Running errands today and he had ZERO idea what to think about the 40mph gusts.  And he kept looking at me as to why he had so many clothes on.  He is used to being scantily clad in the southern humidity!

So, here we are as our new chapter begins.  Very excited to get this party started!

And to shop for some shoes other than my tennis shoes...

Love,

~H

 

 

Halloween or Lack There Of...

So we have had one, little sick boy at our house.  Let's just say that the word "EARS" is the new four-letter word, if you know what I mean.  I know every Mom can relate.  And I am sure tubes are next on our agenda.

It started two weeks ago with a shot, one round of Suprax, and the purchase of the $100 Nebulizer.  Nothing screams fun like trying to give a 9 month old a 15 minute breathing treatment twice a day.  Total whip.  Then back at the Dr. for a round of Augmentin 6 days later.  Four days later, we still had a screaming, feverish baby so we were back again this past Thursday for one shot of Rocephin.  And then that turned into another shot Friday afternoon and one last one Saturday morning.  I think the Wainscott's paid the pediatrician's rent for the month of October.  WHEW.... I mean we might as well just popped up a tent in the yard of Fairway Pediatrics and stayed a while.   

But L is back to his happy-go-lucky self so that is all that matters.  

 After screaming himself to sleep after shot #1.  Pitiful, just pitiful...  This just makes my heart hurt.  

 Calm before the storm... Aka Shot #3...

So, needless to say Halloween plans were out the window. (Most Halloween celebrations were moved to Friday night here in Mandeville due to torrential downpours on Saturday...)  So, we just a had a semi-play date/photo session with our girl Greta on Saturday.   

 Cutest pumpkin I have ever seen.

  They pretty much wanted nothing to do with each other, until they found Ledger's baseball and football.  Then they just took the balls out of each others hands and repeated this 453 times.

Our 2015 Halloween Photo Session...

I am hoping for a healthy baby and productive week of packing, sorting and PURGING!   No better time like the present.

Happy Monday!

Love, 

~H

 

Our Next Chapter...

Obviously, I have been busy.  I have been slacking big time on the blog, but all for good reason.

Well, you know they always say that God's timing is never your timing.  Well, it's not.  Never is...  But some things come sooner than later.

So with that being said...

We are pretty much stunned too!  Doors were opened and we are headed back to Texas.  Never in a million years did we ever think we would living back in Lubbock, but we are and couldn't be more excited. (Brad and I both went to Tech and lived in Lubbock, but didn't know each other during that time....)  

It is very bittersweet leaving LA.  We have been here for two and a half years, and have formed many great friendships and have grown to love it.  And a teacher just doesn't up and leave in the middle of the semester.  One of the hardest conversations that I have ever had was telling those nineteen 8 year olds that I was leaving and leaving soon.  I was in shambles and could barely speak the dreaded words.  Three of them cried, even one of my little boys was bawling.  It was an all-around excruciating 10-15 minutes...

But then when Fallon raised her hand and said, "Well, that's it.  Bella and I are going to Texas with you!", that made me laugh.  And then Ronald piped in with his funny sense of humor, "So, this is pretty much Mr. Brad's fault, isn't it?"  I about lost it... 

"Yes little buddy -It's all Brad's fault!":)

And today was worse...  The dreaded last day.  I have cried so much this week, the kids got used to me without make-up.  It was ugly - We are talking real ugly.  I have always hated goodbyes, but for some reason, the goodbyes this round has been some of the hardest.  

I am going to miss my FANTASTIC co-workers, who make me laugh everyday.  Woodlake has such a close-knit faculty/staff and they embraced me from day one.  As I look back, I realize this is my fourth school to teach in.  I have been so blessed to have had the best co-workers in every one of the schools where I have taught.  From Lubbock to Keller, and Dallas to now Louisiana, some of these women have become my best friends and my second mother's when Bob wasn't around.  And my sweet friends that took us in under their wing when we knew no one here in Mandeville.  I swear some of them should work for the Mandeville Chamber of Commerce as many times as I called and text asking recommendations for doctors, restaurants, pediatricians, window tinting places, etc... Ha!

Lubbock was never on our radar, at all...  But to be an hour and ten minutes from my parents, be in the same area code - maybe even the same zip code as some of our closest friends, be soooo much closer to Wichita Falls and Rockwall so all the cousins can become besties - rather than besties through Facetime, is all worth it to Brad and I.  His family will be six hours away compared to nine here, so when it came down to it, it just made sense.

Louisiana will always hold a special place in our hearts.  We learned to live as a newlywed couple here (and boy, that wasn't a walk in the park some days:)  We had our precious Ledger here at St. Tammany Hospital (One of the best hospitals ever.)  We loved the Saints and LSU football games.  There is nothing like Louisiana...  The culture, the fabulous restaurants, the people, etc... 

So, in less than two weeks, we will make the long trek to West Texas.  Onto the next chapter and season in our lives.  Very bittersweet...  But exciting.

 Already miss these sweet faces...

Thanks for everything Louisiana...  You have sure been good to the Wainscott's!

(Except for the massive headache, two swollen eyes, and a wasted 5 days of make-up... :) 

Love,


~H  

Weekend Happenings...

This weekend was super fun and jammed packed! A haircut, a birthday party, dinner guests and lots of football watching...  (AND the Tech game.  Excruciating loss.)

Yes, it was time.  Time for L to get his first hair cut.  This dude has some hair.  Fine hair like Mommy's that sticks up all over his head like he just stuck his finger in a light socket at all times.

It started out a little rough, but he was a trooper and there were no "real" tears...

 "I survived!"  Head smooshing and all....

 The before and after...

Fresh new do!

Then it was off to our girl, Greta's 1st birthday party!  Boy, were we excited!  Nothing says fun like an inflatable pool filled with colored balls...  Best.idea.ever.  Ledger lived in there for a good hour.

Didn't snap many pics.  The hubs had to work, so nothing says fun like taking an 8 month old alone to a 1 year old's birthday party.  I felt like I had ran a marathon after leaving the party.  

The days of "sitting" are way gone.  

And then there is teething.  Oh dear.  

This cartoon is a little oogie...  Two teeth coming in here in the Wainscott household.  Especially last night from 3:00-4:15.  Poor baby.  And parents:)

BUT, it's a  4 day week for us St. Tammany Teachers... Gotta love the Parish Fair! 

Love,

~H

Dallas for Labor Day...

What a fun Labor Day weekend it was in Dallas!  

Now, getting TO Dallas was another story.  Nothing says fun like a 9 hour road trip with a 7.5 month old.  We talked about flying, but we thought that would have been a complete headache.  We needed our car, car seat and base, L's food, formula, etc...  Not that we couldn't have bought food and diapers in Dallas.  

We decided to leave on Thursday after school and drive 5 hours to Shreveport, stay in a hotel and drive the rest of the way Friday morning.  In my head, it worked PERFECTLY....  

 Let's ROLL Guys...

The first two hours of the trip were heaven.  Ledger slept, he talked to his mirror and entertained himself with the plethora of toys hanging off his car seat.  We stopped at Chick Fil-A in Lafayette to change and feed Ledger and grab a bite for ourselves.  Well, Ledger had peed through his diaper, all over his outfit and soaked the car seat. (It could have been vomit, so I am not griping.)  Once changed and shoved into the high chair inside, he pretty much refused to eat ANYTHING.  He would arch his back and purse his lips together and then swat his hand at the spoon.  He and I were covered in sweet potatoes and pears.  What a lovely little combo....  

I knew this was going to be bad.  Real bad.  He would be hungry in less than an hour and we would have to stop again.  

So here's the reader's digest version:  After dinner, Daddy forgot he had to do his 17th 2015-2016 Fantasy Football Draft on his phone Thursday night at 7:00, so Mommy had to drive, all while Ledger screamed bloody murder in the back seat.  It was a pleasant hour and a half drive before we stopped to feed Ledger and change him into his pj's at a rest stop somewhere in rural Louisiana.  We pulled into the Homewood Suites in Shreveport, LA at 10:30 pm.  Daddy had his earbuds in completely ignoring and over Mommy all while Ledger was wide awake ready to ROLL....  OH the joy....:)

Where are we and why am I still in this car seat?!?!

A hotel room?   LET'S PARTY!  

All followed by screaming "Dada" at the top of his lungs and letting out multiples shrills we have NEVER heard him do.   

 A bath at 11:00 pm and Mommy forgot my ezchema soap and shampoo.  Just a plain water bath.  Awesome...

So after screaming "Dada" again at a decibel I didn't know a 7 month old could belt out, sitting up and playing in his pack in play at 3:00 am and "up and at' em" at 5:30 am, we decided it was time for us to do the walk of shame out of the Homewood Suites.  Our poor, poor neighbors...  We couldn't get out of Shreveport fast enough. 

Brad and I got in the car and lost it.  We were in hysterics.  Could not stop laughing about the past 10 hours.  The shrills of our precious little one at 3:00 am, us not speaking for an hour cruising down the road, and asking each other who's idea it was to drive!  We decided that sleep was overrated and we just needed a Starbuck's and one STAT!

Friday was MUCH better and we were in Dallas in no time.  

We had lunch with some great friends on Friday.  Charlie did not know what to think about Ledger at all.  They basically just stared at each other.

 So fun having lunch with Uncle Cody and Marlowe...

 SO happy Ledger and I got to go up to Lakewood on Friday.  Spent 6 years of my life with these sweet ladies.  Miss them so much.... 

Had some yummy Mambos and Mexican food with Joe and Danna at Mi Cocina!

 And a great dinner with Steve, Kapua and Ethan.  Kapua was the baby whisperer.  Ledger loved her and was quite impressed with little Ethan!

 Aunt Christy's Surprise Sprinkle!  We can't wait for Baby Girl Hodges #2 coming soon in October.

 Aunts and Crazy Cousins... minus Knox and Ellis!

 Bob and two of the troops.  The look on their faces cracks me up! 

 More Dallas friends and Daddy!

Brunch at our fave Taverna with some more friends.

 And all smiles on Monday morning at after our unannounced 5:15 am wake up call.... I don't think Mommy and Daddy looked this happy to be woken at 5:15 am:)

What a wonderful jam-packed weekend it was in Dallas.  Ledger pretty much lived in his car seat trying to see as many people as we could, as we still didn't see everyone.  He was a CHAMP!  

I think the next trip to Texas we will go ahead call Southwest and Hertz and nix the 9 hour car ride.  It was a great idea for about 10 minutes... :)

Happy Sunday!

~H