Merry Kraatz-mas 2009!

Maebry's first Christmas festivities began in the middle of December with Christa's work Christmas party. Mae got all dressed up and won over the crowd of County Committee members and Christa's coworkers. She even ate some homemade sweet potatoes at dinner time. Maebry made it all the way through the evening before finally passing out.

Then...after a break during the weekend, the three of us hit the road for a WHIRLWIND tour of Christmases! First, we headed out to Rockne to have a great time at Lloyd, Susan and Kolton's with Mark and Cherie and the kids. We snacked and opened gifts and poor Susan had JUST broken her heel...but as always, she had prepared a great afternoon and we enjoyed it very much. Then that evening we headed over to Grandma Thompson's for the BIG Christmas get together...and the first time for many of Christa's family members to meet Maebry...and what did she do? She went to sleep about 5:30 and slept alllllll evening! So family was able to meet her...with her eyes shut and butt in the air! =) Still...it was sweet and a lot of fun. Thank you Grandma Thompson for letting our sweet Mae borrow your bed.

We headed home about 10pm, packed up and got to sleep. We woke up Mae Day at 7am on Christmas morning, bundled up the family and headed out to Mamaw and Papaw's house in Richland Springs. We arrived and Mae was up, so we went straight into opening some GREAT presents that Maebry began enjoying...immediately! She started her musical career with her Learn N Groove table and her driving career with her first car steering wheel and horn! What fun! We had a fantastic lunch and dinner, some really nice time spent with Mae's cousins, great aunts and uncles.

Finally, the day after Christmas, we had lunch with Mamaw and Papaw and headed back out on the road to Grandmomma and Grand-daddy Kraatz's house! Mae spent the afternoon enjoying the spoils of the day with tons great gifts including her ExcerSaucer which she waisted NO time getting started having a blast! She was able to spend time with Poppo and her great aunt Sandy and great uncle Ron. After all the travels and toys...she went to bed early and passed out for a long winters's nap.

Below we share proof of the joys of spoils of Maebry's very first Christmas!!!

Here is Mr. Stromberg, one of Christa's producers, at their annual Caldwell County Christmas Party. We celebrated with a white elephant exchange and dinner.

Here is Mr. Kelley, former CED, negotiating for his Whataburger gift certificate. I don't think he ended up with it...poor guy.

Here is a group shot during the Christmas party. Dusty came home with a skillet and sauces, and we can't remember what Christa came home with because everyone stole her gifts. Four different times.

Aunt Pam is holding our little miss in her cute Santa hat.

Mae looking a little surprised but her Great-Aunt Elisa is ready for all the Christmas festivities.

All those presents are for ME!!

Thank you Great Mamaw for all MY presents! MINE!

Hey there cousin Jadyn, thanks for letting me chew on your teething ring. I hope you don't want it back.

Thank you Mamaw Charlene and Papaw Gary for my awesome musical table .

Look what I got...a Sophie! I am going to give you a kiss, I mean a chew.

Grand-daddy why are we watching other people open presents.

Well, I guess my mom can open one present. This one was for me too. We both love our new Vera Bradley tote. Thanks Grand-daddy and Grand-momma.

How cute is this photo. Merry Kraatz-mas to all.

This photo looks like is suppose to be in advertisement for Exersaucer.

Did you really think I was not going to have fun with all of the toys?

Merry Christmas to me!

We had to do this photo because my mom wanted me in this Christmas outfit posing by my Christmas ornaments. Oh Christmas!

How cute are the ruffles on my bottom?

Oh boy, I hope all Christmas's are this great!

Mae Went Dashing Through December

Greetings! Wow, it's actually been a COLD winter thus far, which has been great fun dressing Maebry up in plenty of warm clothes and cute accessories...purely for added warmth, of course! =)

December has been crazy busy for both mommy and daddy. Christa has been kept PLENTY busy at work trying to wrap up a program by it's mid-month deadline, and Dusty had a big production at the beginning of the month for Genghis Grill. Thank goodness we have the amazing fortune to not only the best grandparents EVER, but our very helpful Ms. Teri as well.

Mae has been trucking along with her solids, still loving those yummy sweet potatoes best. Sleeping has been getting better off and on. We definitely have nailed down a pattern for night night time. Christa gets home and she gets to feed Maebry the solid food du jour, then we have a little bit of playtime/wind down...then as soon as we see the face rubs, we put on a fresh diaper, change her into her nightgown, then mommy sings the "greatest hits" and lulls little bit to near sleep. We lay her down and hope for the best lol...just kidding, she normally goes right to sleep and we get to eat dinner and have our own down time.

Below we have posted some of Mae's cutest winter garb and smiling faces. Enjoy!

Mmmm...BREAKFAST!

This bow is so big it brings out the smile in both mommy and Maebry!

Forget the BOW! Did someone say "CUPCAKES"!?!?!?!?

How do you even put a caption on a look that cute?

Mae letting her locks down, waiting to get rescued...or fed.

Cutest. Toboggan. Ever. Thanks again Uncle Troy!

Looks Tootsie, Gilmore Girls is on...AGAIN! Ohhh, Daddy!

"Come with me if you want to live."

You think this one's adorable...wait for it...

Now Showing: The next cover of American Baby magazine! =)

This brings our fashion show to a close...please tune in next time for our Christmas Special!

Love,
D, C and M

Mae....Meet Santa Claus

Well, 'tis the season, and we decided to brave the mall and take Maebry to meet Santa for the very first time! Dusty and Susan took Maebry to Barton Creek Mall in Austin. Their Santa was AMAZING! The official photo is to come, but here's a little clip of Santa and Mae...year one.

Mae Laughs Last!

Here's a special little mid week Mae Day treat! Make sure to watch allll the way to the end!

Gobble, Gobble giggle - I love Thanksgiiiiiviiiiing!

Mae's 1st Thanksgiving was upon us, and this year we spent the official day with the Kraatz family. We headed up there Wednesday night so that we have a full Thanksgiving day to give thanks for our little Mae Day.

Dusty's Aunt Sandy and Uncle Ron joined us, as well as his grandfather, Poppo. This was only the second time for Aunt Sandy and Uncle Ron to see Maebry, so there was PLENTY of loving to go around for our little bit. She was a trooper and played hard all day/evening. She had her first Turkey Day dinner...sweet potatoes (her favorite) and oatmeal...truly worthy of the pilgrims to be sure!

All of the food was delicious with dad doing the turkey, mom rockin all of the sides and Aunt Sandy made sides and desserts...including a very yummy Ooey Gooey PUMPKIN cake! Man, what a finish to a great meal!

As you will see, Maebry even tried to make it through the A&M game...but eventually...the proverbial tryptophan got the best of her...good ol mommy's milk, does the trick every time!

PS. Yes we know the Aggies lost...stupid field goal! BUT, it was a great game..and there's allllways next year!

Yep, I'm hip, I'm cool. This is my homie Aunt Sandy. Let's EAT!

NO! REALLY! Lets EAT!

Now, this is more like it. More sweet potatoes getting in my belly.

And thanks to my dad, I now have my after-dinner finger. I wished he would have put some mint flavoring on it. Jeez.

Then I get after-dinner kiss from my mom. Jeez-louise!

Daddy and Mommy love this smile. Who wouldn't!
PS: I think I just tooted...wink, wink.

Ugggggh, they are going to win right, Poppo? Go Aggies!

The onesie says it all. The End and what a good Thanksgiving it was.

Remember, Remember Mae's first November...

Well, as you could tell by the slight delay in posting...November FLEW by! We had such a great last few months of the year and Maebry really turned some corners. She really started rockin the solid foods and becoming a big girl!

Maebry also was able to see all of her wonderful family much more often, thanks to the holidays and such. As you will see, we tried to get pics with Mae and her rogues gallery of grandparents and cousins cousins cousins!

How cute is this picture. Me, my Grand-daddy and my Tootsie (aka my dolly)!

Here I am caught with my Grandpa Lloyd, and it seems we don't like flashes.

Shhhhhhh, I am sleeping. Thank you Grandma Susan.

Here I am with my favorite gal pals (aka the cousins most likely to get me in trouble). JK!

Ok, seriously this is guy who will totally get me into trouble. Well if trouble means reading comic books, playing video game and one day working for NASA. Oh yeah, and this guy owes my dad a million dollars.

Boy, do my cousins love me or what. Here my other cuz Kolton. We looks so cute in are matching brown stripes.

Next are some photos into the Adventure Land of "Eating with Mae!"

Are those sweet potatoes?! NUMMMMMMY!

Ok, do I have little bit of Oatmeal on my face. You can be honest.

Just another sweet photo of me eating...oh yeah, naked total in...you should try it some time.

Lastly, it just me and my Daddy, hanging out at a Fredericksburg Trade Show and eating from a bottle. As per usual!!

Yeah, bring on the Turkey. Gobble gobble gee, Gobble Gobble giggle. I wished Turkey only cost a nickel.

Mae's dearest Great-Aunt Kathy

This is in memoriam of Kathy McCarty. My family lost a dear member on Sunday, November 8. She was 60 years old and lead a great life. She was always there to give us hugs and welcome home, she would wish you well and kiss you when you had to say goodbye, she'd help you when you were feeling ill, tend to your plants when they needed reviving, and she just loved us, plain and simple.

My Aunt Kathy was married for almost 40 years, had two awesome kids and two lovable grand-kids. She was a great daughter to my Mamaw, a great sister to my mom, a great aunt to my cousins and I, and a great great-aunt to our daughter.

WE LOVE YOU AUNT KATHY.

Kathy McCarty RIP 1949 - 2009

Please tell Papaw hello from us all. We love and miss you so much!!

Parties, babies and more - Oh!, Novemeber

The last two weeks have flown by and we have not been too timely with our blogs here lately. So here is a nice and condensed version.

November started with some birthdays earlier in the month. First weekend in November brought about Maddie's BIG first birthday, Jessica's baby shower and a week later, Maddie's daddy, Matt had a birthday party.

First, here are some pictures from Maddie's, Matt and Savannah's daughter, first birthday. Boy, what cutie. You will just love, love her tutu. And her sweet Grandmother, Savannah's momma, made this great birthday ensemble. Oh yeah, and Savannah's dad bought a toddler bouncy-house for Maddie...TOO fun! We can't wait to see this thing at many more b-day parties. Well, if Matt and Savannah don't mind of course...wink, wink.

Here is the cute Maddie Birthday outfit I was talking about. Way to go Maddie's Grandma!!

Look at Maddie eye-balling her cake mound.

Nummy! Birthday cake!

Our friends Keith and Michelle taking care of our little miss. Mae is friend to all laps.

Here is Maddie amongst all of her gifts. What a haul!

Here is Maddie enjoying her birthday present from us. A Rody! Too CUTE!

Here is our little miss enjoying another lap, but this time she was a little sleepy.

The next day was baby-celebration-palooza. Abbey came over and picked me up a little before noon and we headed to north Austin to get ready for Jess's shower. We had a safari themed shower for her and her baby boy, who is due at the end of February or beginning of March.

It was a ton a fun and Abbey and I didn't get home until after six that evening. We are very grateful for Shara and her great house for hosting the event. We are also super excited for Jess and Mark and their baby boy. We can't wait to meet him and give him more hugs than humanly possible. And yes, Dusty and I will try to see how many that really is.

Here are the pictures from Jessica's shower. Please note that I, along with slew of other hostesses put together the shower for Jess. Hope you enjoy.

Here is a picture our the cute safari-themed cookie jars. Abbey found this cute theme on a blog and we borrowed it. Yeah blogs :)!

Here are all the ladies enjoying a shower game. It was a memory match game with cute prizes. Way to go Shara for coming up with this game...go Skor bars!!!

Here is Jess opening some of her baby shower gifts. We loved being able to get Jess her baby boy's bedding.

A week later, we celebrated Matt's birthday. Here are some more photos from his 30 plus one birthday party. We went over to their house for another Saturday get together. They made pizza's on the grill and we enjoyed watching Maddie eating her daddy's bday cake...yet again too cute. And later Dusty and I learned we have no business owning "DJ hero" because boy we would not be good at this game even after some showed us how to actually play it. Sorry, Matt and Jason, you guys can have at it.

Here is Matt and family ready to celebrate his big day.

Mommy and Maddie ready to get their cake-eating on.

Matt's Transformer cake. Too cute!!

And now, here is the Transformer cake enjoyed by Maddie. Black icing and all.