ICE!

We went to the ICE! exhibit at the Gaylord Texan yesterday. What a great time. That hotel is just amazing and the ice sculptures were beautiful! It was very cold, but Eli and Chase didn't seem to mind at all. Chase actually fell asleep. We weren't sure if he was asleep or frozen. ; )

Hunter was showing Eli how to peel shrimp and crab....Eli was a little unsure at first, but once he tasted the shrimp, he loved it!

In our sub-zero coats...ready to go into the exhibit.

Studying the Toys

I recently found Eli and Chase studying the Target ad.....toy section, of course. : )

O Christmas Tree

Hunter and Eli picked out our tree this year and it is one of the prettiest that we have ever had!! We've really enjoyed it and Chase has not really bothered it....he just likes to look at it.

Goodbye, Paci!

It is a big week in the Henley house. Eli (yes, my almost 4 year old, Eli) has finally given up his paci. And, the best part is that it was SO easy. I guess it's another one of those things that just happens when the child is ready. About 4 or 5 nights ago, Eli's lips/face were really chapped. I put some medicine on his lips and said that he shouldn't sleep with his paci so that his lips would heal during the night. He agreed with ease and the rest is history. We are on day 4 or 5 and he hasn't even asked for a paci. We haven't mentioned it to him or made a big deal about him not using it. I think Hunter and I are both scared to bring it up. : )

My sweet boy is growing up! I am very proud of him.

Doctor Visit

Today I went to a maternal fetal medicine doctor for a 1st trimester screening. It was WAY more than I was expecting. I heard my OB say that I would have some blood drawn, but had no
idea that I would have such a detailed sonogram along with it. Hunter wasn't even with me! :

The sonogram went really well. The doctor said that the baby looks beautiful and is very healthy. He told me that he could look closely at the heart if I wanted him to....and of course, I said PLEASE DO! I am very pleased to report that Baby Henley's heart looked perfect. We saw all four chambers, blood flow that was in straight lines (blood flow with Chase's heart was ALL over the place), and veins that looked very good and connected to the right things. It was so wonderful to hear those words...."your baby looks very healthy". : )

We also found out the gender of the baby (95% accuracy), but I'm going to let Eli and Chase announce that in a later post. ; )

We also got some awesome 4D pictures of the baby....I'll post those a little later too!

We are very thankful and blessed!

John-John

This is my "little" nephew, John-John. I can't believe how fast he is growing up.....doesn't he look like such a big kid?? It seems like yesterday when he was born! Where does the time go??? I love this kid!!!

Wagon Rides Are Hard Work!

Yesterday, both kids fell asleep during our wagon ride. : )

Using A Spoon

Chase started learning how to use a spoon this week. I really feel bad because when Eli was Chase's age, he already knew how to use a spoon. I feel like I haven't given Chase as many opportunities to learn things. When you just have one child, messes from learning experiences are no problem. But two kids complicates the clean-up process a bit. Anyway, I'm trying to be better and let Chase learn and make messes.

Chase thought having food all over the place was really funny.

So did Eli : )

Pumpkin Carving

We were a little busy before Halloween and never took the time to carve a pumpkin. So, Eli and I carved a pumpkin earlier this week. It was still tons of fun!

Children Are A Gift From God

Elijah Hunter Henley

Chase Phillip Henley

AND...
Introducing

our

newest

little

gift!

Peace

I usually blog about our family, but today I want to share something a little different. Today at Mom2Mom, we discussed God's peace. At the beginning of the lesson, our speaker spoke of the world's definition of peace and the "universal" symbol used for peace:

Then, she shared the origin of this symbol. Click here if you would like to read about it. I was very surprised and thought I'd share.

Fall Festival

The weekend before Halloween, we went to the Fall Festival at Stonebriar Community Church. They wore their costumes....Chase was a bear and Eli was Spiderman. It was a great time for all!

Daddy & Spiderman

Going fishing....for candy

Throwing bean bags....for candy

Chase's first experience in a bounce house. He seemed to like it.

Eli & Ryan

It's obvious why these two get along so well!! : )

Big Orange Pumpkin Farm

A couple of weeks ago, we visited the Big Orange Pumpkin Farm in Celina. Eli and Chase had tons of fun. I really wanted to get a picture of them in the pumpkins, but it was impossible to get them both to sit still and smile long enough to take a picture. But, we had fun anyway.

Eli's new favorite pose when having his picture taken

Eli loved feeding the goats.

One attempt to get a picture

This one was a little too heavy!

Whatever Eli does, Chase has to try!