Mawix came to visit, Cooper came and Danced

Aunt Tiff and Cousin Maddox came to visit last weekend and P LOVES HIM! She was such a little "mother" - held his hand in the car - made sure we didn't go anywhere without him, wanted to feed him, help dress him, change his diaper, put on lotion, and on and on. She loves MAWIX.

We love cousin Mawix! Wish he didn't live all the way on the east coast!

P and Mawix in the wagon for a night ride...
Then this past weekend, Paw Paw (M's Dad) came to visit for the day, and so Cousin Cooper came over too. P and C love love love to play together and especially to DANCE! Here is a brief snapshot of their routine together.


And still, P loves to cook. This is our attempt to make chocolate heart cupcakes for her friends at school. She loved it! (Not to worry parents, nothing she licked went into a cupcake that we gave to someone!)

P is talking all the time and literally cracks us up everyday. We have moved into our 'big girl' bed, we no longer have a passy, and are working on the whole potty adventure. We have to! Baby Brother (Still nameless) will be here in less than 60 days! (Freak out.) Ok - hope everyone is having a good day! Hug your babies - they grow up too fast!

Getting ready for a brother...

P practicing her culinary skills...

At Chuck E Cheese with some of her favorite peeps...

Helping me get ready for a brother. When I was pregnant with P, I had all the extra time in the world to get her room ready. I painted on the wall, several canvases, etc. etc. Now - this little boy (Who is still nameless) will be here in about 12 weeks and there is nothing for him but some furniture that his sister is still using (at least for another 7-10 days)! So, while you are entertaining a 2 year old, you might as well put her to work. She LOVED painting on the canvas - and now every day says, "Mommy, I Paint."
I guess I brought this on myself, but I do love how much she likes to color, draw, paint, play with stickers, and color with chalk. Well, that's all for now, just wanted to put up a new post. Have a great day!

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! We had a very busy but exciting Christmas. I am not sure if P really understood the whole Santa ordeal, but she got so many presents on Christmas morning - I thought she was going to internally combust. Among the favorites: Cars (yes, cars), a set of new colors, several purses from CeCe (my mom) and Aunt Tiff, and a baby stroller. She has loved playing outside with new bouncy balls - and chasing the dogs. Obviously, she still loves to color - and will color on anything, with anything at anytime. She is also a girl after my own heart - and loves shoes... as seen above in Daddy's boots. People ask me if she understands about a baby brother coming soon, and when I ask her - she says "Yes, Baby!" Then in the next sentence, something about cars, colors or play-doh. You know - the attention span of a 2 year old. Anyway - we rang in the new year, and are still trying to unpack everything. I know I haven't posted any pics of the new house - will try to do that soon. Hope you all are having a great '08!

No Santa, Cute Cooper

We didn't make it to Santa yesterday - it was just too cold and rainy to try and get a 2 year old dressed in some sort of festive outfit to stand in line at the mall to take her picture with a bearded man in a red suit that she is scared of anyway. So - no pics of the house (again, the rain) so I am shooting for cute pics of P and Cousin Cooper. P is 3 weeks older than Cooper (she calls him Pooper) - and they are best friends. Chad (M's brother) and Crystal (fav sister in law) are Coop's parents... and she just found out she is pregnant again - YEA! We got married 3 months apart, had our first baby 3 weeks apart and baby #2 will be 3 months apart too. FUN. They live in Forever (aka Forney - it is forever away) and I wish we could hang out more. Here are some cute pics of P & C - since they were babies... Have a great day.

Update without the hate

So in an attempt to update the blog for all of you haters out there (not to name names NOE), here is your update. We are trying to get settled in the new house - which we love, but you know, moving is a pain. Moving with a 2 year old who can move things faster than you can put them up is a bigger pain. Being pregnant and virtually useless in moving things is the worst pain. All in all, we have already had the youth group from church over, as well as a little, but very late birthday celebration for P, and I guess we can consider the house officially 'warmed'. I just found our card reader for the digital camera tonight - therefore, you get a blog update. I have to take P to see Santa tomorrow for our annual Christmas picture and I will try to take a pic of the house too - we'll see - maybe 2 blogs in one week! Have a great day!

Catch Up

Yep, I am the worst blogger in history. Sorry. If you have been near this tornado we call life - you know that updating the blog ranks about #217 on my current list of things to do. Anyway - thought I should update with some pics of P. Here she is - loving Halloween at school...

Here with Papa and Mama C and their coordinating pink outfits before church....

With our friends Olivia, Hayden, Maddox, Camille, and Noah at the Pumpkin Patch....

P being herself, wanting to drive us home...

And me and P the day we told Michael he was going to be a daddy again - (April '08) with this very clever shirt. However, it must not have been very clever, because he didn't get it. Here is my question to you - how many things do you think "I'm the big sister" can possibly mean? I just don't understand. Literally, the conversation lasted for 10 minutes before he figured out that I was pregnant. Well, chalk that one up to the "men are from Mars" thing, I guess. Hope you all had a happy Halloween - we are moving right now - so I hope to post some new pics from our new house soon. Happy November!

31 Things about my husband...

My favorite pic of Michael the day P was born...

My husband turned 31 this past Sunday, so in honor of him, here are 31 random things you may not know about Michael Holmes.
1. He eats his cereal with chocolate milk
2. He does not like to let any foods on his plate touch and eats them one at a time. (My sister also does this)
3. He has had two back surgeries
4. He is an Eagle Scout (so is my Dad)
5. He was Mr. Texas High School 1995
6. He claims that the show Friends is not funny, but laughs every time
7. When he laughs really hard, he exhibits the 'high pitched girl laugh'
8. He makes the most hilarious face when fixing his hair
9. He loves to hunt anything you can legally hunt
10. He has been elk hunting twice, but has yet to conquer that beast.
11. He claims that one of his favorite meals is mashed potatoes and spaghetti, although in our four years of marriage, I have yet to see him eat this. You know I'm not going to fix that.
12. He is an excellent daddy and our daughter has him completely whipped
13. He is a good samaritan. You want him to pass you on the road when you have car trouble.
14. He is a great landscaper/yard man. Our yard looks great and he does it all himself.
15. He is excellent at researching things.
16. He could talk to any stranger and make them feel like they had been friends for 20 years.
17. His mouth makes a funny shape when he is lying.
18. He is an extremely hard worker and dedicated to his job.
19. He is creative
20. He is handy
21. He claims to not hear the alarm every day when it goes off with the exception of when it goes off at 4 am because he is going hunting. Then he is up after 1 beep.
22. He used to wake up to blaring hispanic radio - but that was going to lead to a divorce, so he switched to the beep.
23. Deep down, he is a good ole boy.
24. He loves anything that relates to the University of Texas Longhorns
25. He once told me that I could date Major Applewhite and it would be ok with him.
26. When he gets irritated with me, his ears move backward and it draws his hairline back. I think this is hilarious and mimick him everytime.
27. He is a techno-geek. Inspector gadget.
28. He is a self proclaimed brand junkie. (So is my brother)
29. He would rather stick himself in the eye with needles than paint a bedroom, kitchen, or hallway.
30. His 30th birthday party was an event that will live in infamy. Unfortunately.
31. He is the most wonderful husband and my best friend.

Happy Birthday Honey!

8 Random Facts about me...

I have been tagged by my sister to give 8 random facts about myself. Tiff and I were cracking up at the list I came up with for her, so now I have to write my own list. I warn you - many of you may not know how freaking wierd I really am...

Here are the rules:
1. I have to post these rules before I give you the facts.
2. Each player starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves.
3. People who are tagged need to write a post on their own blog (about their eight things) and post these rules. (if you don’t have a blog, email me)
4. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names.
5. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

8 Random things about James & Connie's first daughter

1. I have been pooped on by a bird (obviously not the same bird) on 7 different occasions (that I can remember) YEP SEVEN. 1. After a pep rally coming out of the gym in my cheerleading uniform 2. In the parking lot at church in Tyler 3. On the beach while on spring break in Galveston (this was a seagull - not pretty) 4. Riding in a jeep in college 5. At six flags with Shaye in high school (this time it was actually raining, so I thought the deposit was just a large raindrop, who knows how long it was there until Shaye said, "Um Sub, what is in your hair?") 6. At an intramural softball game of Michael's in Denton, 7. In the parking lot of the grocery store in Abilene. None of these occasions were there a large flock of birds - just a single poopin' bird that chose me, every time. You can see why I am nervous around those large flocks of birds...

2. When I stand for long periods of time, I rest my legs by proping up one leg on the inside of my other knee, sort of like a flamingo. My dad does it too. It is the most popular stance while washing dishes.

3. I have an incredible knack for remembering ridiculous information. My friend Beth who moved from Tyler in the 5th grade? Her address was 1409 Edgewood. I can also remember the motions to about every cheer I did in high school. It really does me no good other than to remember useless information. Garrett also has this feature.

4. I am very particular about most school supply items: paper, pens, crayolas, markers, (especially crayons). I really didn't like to share crayons in school because I really hated those kids who either wore out the point too fast or would rip off the wrapper for no reason. The crayons were ALWAYS in rainbow order.

5. I am a NEW YORK YANKEE baseball fan. I do love sports, most all sports, but I love baseball and the Yankees the most. There are Yankee players that are not my favorite, but I love love love the Yankees, Yankee stadium, Joe Toree, pinstripes, the city in general, I love it all. Michael and I were at Yankee stadium on August 4th, when A-Rod hit his 500th homerun. I get A LOT of grief about this from many, many people but I do not care. I love NYY.

6. I can pick up almost anything with my toes. Both feet are equal in their pick up abilities. I can also pinch the fire out of anything that comes between them. It is my secret self defense weapon.

7. I really, truly, from the depths of my soul HATE to be cold. I really cannot think of a more miserable way to die than to freeze to death. I had nightmares after watching Titanic and wathing Leo freeze in that freaking water. I can't stand it. I would 100% of the time rather be hot. Always. Simple fact.

8. I have never colored my hair. No highlights, no do it yourself, not for halloween, nothing. I did have a perm once in the 5th grade - it turned out like most perms did when you were in 5th grade. I really really wanted to be more blonde, or put some highlights in my hair in high school, but my mom said I would have to pay for it myself. This prevented me from doing it then. Then when I had $80 to spend on highlights, I guess I decided that no mater what, I just had boring brown hair, and that's all there was to it. This will change soon though as I keep finding gray hairs... blame it on childbirth.

Ok - so those of you who have now confirmed that I am a freakshow, don't say I didn't warn you. I am tagging....
Shara, Andrea, Hollee, Paige, Kendra, Laura, Melanie & Garrett (although Garrett hasn't updated his blog since April '06)

P pics as soon as my husband fixes the remote so I can connect to the server.

Summer Favorites

First we had some friends over from church for a cookout - and the kids had a blast. Here are P's friends, Hayden, Maddox, Camille & Olivia. They played together really well, and we all had a great time hanging out together...

Our favorite baby Shelby turned 1 on July 13 and Presley had a fabulous time at her party. We had so much fun watching this little girl eat some cake! P loves to play with Shelby... she gets as excited about things as P does.

Aunt Crystal & Uncle Chad went on a cruise, so cousin Cooper came to stay and play with P for a few days. Is this picture not priceless? Their senior videos are going to be one embarassing picture after another, but this one is really cute. They had so much fun together, chasing each other and copying each other. Their new names are Pete and Repeat.

Here are some pictures from the annual Smith Family Reuion at the lake. One is of our entire family, all 45 of us... and the other is my favorite picture - of P giving Grandpa a kiss.
That's all for now - thanks for checking in on the Holmes family. More updates to come - hope you are all having a wonderful summer!

On This Day...

Ten years ago, on this day, July 11th, 1997 - the angels rejoiced when my aunt Janice went to heaven. I can't believe it has been 10 years. It was the summer before my senior year at ACU. This picture of my mom, Janice, my Aunt Elaine & Uncle Buddy was taken the Christmas after she was diagnosed with multiple myeloma (bone cancer). She went to be with my Mama Shirley a short four years later. When I think of her - I think of a strong, classy, talented, put together, faithful Christian woman who was the glue of our family. She could whip up a meal for 50 in 10 minutes with a can of pork and beans and some random condiments and tortillas, and do a flower arrangement while it was cooking. She was funny - and FABULOUS. There has not been a gathering of our family in 10 years, that her name has not come up. Just sitting here typing this - I am crying, knowing how much my mom, Buddy & and Aunt Elaine miss their sister, my Grandma & Grandpa miss their daughter, Kevin, Keith, & Kurt miss their mom, and the rest of us miss our Aunt Janice. Janice, we can't wait to see you again.
We miss you, and We Love you.

Whole Lotta Catch Up

Well - should we build an arc? Needless to say, it is a challenge to keep a 20 month old child entertained during the daily monsoon. So, when stuck inside...WE COLOR. All Day. COLOR. Markers, Watercolors, Crayons, Highlighters, Chalk, Pens, Pencils, Lip liner. You know - whatever works. When the weather does take a break, we lather on the OFF - head out in the wagon to brave the humidity and plagues of mosquitos. P loves to pick flowers - ALL of the flowers, root, dirt clump & all. We will leave no wildflower un-picked!



Last Friday, my husband sent my sweet sister in law and me to the Keith Urban concert. All I really have to say about that is Y U M. The longer he sang (and he sang for 2 straight hours) the cuter he got. By the time it was over, Crystal and I were totally infatuated with Keith. Needless to say, I bought a t-shirt and now only Keith Urban songs shuffle on my ipod. Delicious.



I mean, seriously. Singing, playing the piano, wierd blue light... does that get any better? That's about it on the Holmes' front, hope everyone is staying dry, had a great 4th and that we will soon see the sun again.

Hook 'Em Horns

Well for father's day - I decided to dress P up in her Longhorn cheerleader outfit (thanks Favorite Aunt Elaine) and take a few pictures of her to frame for Michael. It only took me 137 pictures before I finally got one where she was standing still, eyes open, smiling, and looking at the camera. It's really not that easy to catch an 18 month old "Miss Independent" in a cute pose while chasing her around the yard - making sure she doesn't get run over - or eat some sort of berry - or step in dog doo. Anyway - I think Michael liked the pictures - hope you all had a happy Father's Day - and are having a great summer.

COUSIN MADDOX IS HERE!

Presley has a new cousin! Maddox Caeden Hogue was born on Friday, May 18th at 12:32 pm. He surprised everyone by arriving 3 weeks early. He weighed 5 lbs 7 oz and was 18" long. Mom and baby are doing fine and actually both got to come home today. Check out this adorable baby at:

www.tiffandcaisson.blogspot.com.

In the world of Presley Shea, you can tell she has a mind of her own. These pics are of her going shopping (notice the arm in the air to keep the purse on her shoulder), the first time I let her lick the spatula after a batch of brownies, and then the breakfast that included a green crayon. Why do kids like to eat crayons? They don't even smell good. I could understand those smelly markers, or maybe chalk - but crayons involve paper and a wax smell that I just don't understand. Anyway - she ate about half of it before I figured it out.

Hope you are all doing well - go check out baby Maddox!

Presley at 18 months

Well - Presley is now 18 months and ALL OVER THE PLACE! She constantly on the move - into everything - running everywhere - talking to everybody - and SO much fun! We have been to see a very pregnant Aunt Tiff in South Carolina, experienced her first tornado, and made new friends. She love love loves to talk on the phone (as you can see). She also love love loves her Mama C, and I think this last picture is her impersonation of that cartoon Fat Albert. Remember the kid that always had the hat over his eyes? We hope you are all enjoing the rain - cheer for the Mavs - and have a great week!

Cry Babies!

Well - some of you may know that Michael and I went to Whistler to go skiing about a month ago. We were childless - and my sweet sister in law shared P duty with my mom. P and Cooper are about 3 1/2 weeks apart - and cannot be any more opposite. Cooper is laid back, generally chilled, the loudest noise he makes can't be heard in the next room. Well, those of you that know P know that she is quite the opposite. Well, Crystal decided to brave the mall to have Valentine pictures of them made together. How hilarious is this? She said they cried the entire time. I love them! The best is the expression on their face - in the one holding the flowers. Presley looks like, "Why am I holding this?" and Cooper is "I don't want to give Presley flowers." Anyway - three cheers to Crystal for tackling this feat - and for some great pics! I can already see them in their senior slide show.