JANUARY
"Happy New Year"
The month of January was pretty uneventful. The only big event was that Stephen made his annual trip to the Transportation Research Board Convention in Washington D.C. He was only gone for a few days, but Caleb was really beginning to miss his daddy by the time that he got back. We went to the airport the pick Stephen up on the 14th and discovered a wonderful little area for Caleb to play and wait the arrival of his daddy! He could stand at the viewing window, pretend to fly his own plane, and watch for Stephen's plane to land. It was a great way to pass the time!
Watching and waiting!
"Mommy, he's here, he's here...daddy flowed his plane down!"
Caleb fell asleep in the toy room, right in the middle of all of his toys. This was the night before Stephen got back from D.C., Caleb was determined that his daddy was coming home this night and he was staying up to prove it! So cute!
DECEMBER
WoW! December just flew by, we had some many happenings during the month of December that its hard to keep up with everything, so I have just highlighted the biggest events! Hope that you had a Very Merry Christmas!
Josh and Jenna all smiles!
Caleb helping Mamaw open a present!
Caleb 'helping' Papaw put together Caleb's new "Sit and Spin"
Gigi with a special gift...a recorder and some tapes so that she can tell us about her life and all the many events that she has lived through in her 87 years!
On the 28th, Caleb got his big Christmas present from Uncle Josh, Papaw and Mamaw, it was hiding in the shed behind Papaw's John Deere...
"Mommy, Daddy, I got my own tractor, like Papaw. Look Mommy!!!"
(Uncle Josh helping Caleb out of the shed)
Caleb and his JD Tractor! Stephen and I decided that this picture should be used for a John Deere toy advertisement...look at the driving intensity! He is such a big boy now!
"Mamaw and Papaw, I got my own John Deere tractor!"
They were all so proud!
This year was Stephen's parents year to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with us, and we had lots of fun! Stephen and I want Caleb to realize as he grows that the real meaning of Christmas is not about Santa and all the great presents, but about the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. So, beginning the Christmas after Caleb was born we have attended the Christmas Candlelight Service at church every Christmas Eve (unfortunately we had to miss the one this year because Caleb was sick with an upper respiratory infection and an ear infection). Since we had to stay at home this year, we had a little party with sandwiches and finger foods, made and decorated Christmas cookies, watched the 'Polar Express' with Caleb, and opened a few presents before bed.
Caleb on Christmas Eve night!
Caleb on Christmas morning going through his stocking!
Caleb with "Oscar" is very own baby! He has been asking for a baby for months and this was the baby that Santa delivered for him overnight!
So this was one of Stephen's gifts, but Caleb has decided that he needs it more (his Uncle Josh is so proud...a little duck hunter in the making)!
Caleb enjoying his "airport" and his play time with his Grandma and Grandpa Sebesta!
This year we went to the Christmas tree farm and picked out a real tree! We all had so much fun! Below are some pictures from our family adventure:
On December 12, 2008, my baby brother graduated from Texas A&M University! WHOOP, Gig'em lil' brother!!! It was a wonderful day, but it was a very bittersweet day for me...I am so proud of him and the extent of my happiness is beyond measure; however, with his graduation comes a job that is over 13 hours away, in Dalhart, Texas! Thus, the "bitter" part of the bittersweet; we have gotten so use to having Josh in the same town with us again that the transition is going to be extremely hard. Caleb has never known life with out his Uncle Josh, so I know that it is going to be very hard on him! I know that we will be just fine, but it is really hard to think about right now. With that said, check out the pics. of my handsome brother on his big day!!!
On December 10th, we woke up to an extremely rare sight in College Station, Texas...SNOW! The snow early that morning was a very light layer that just barely covered the roof tops and the ground, but any snow in this part of Texas is very exciting! So, Stephen and I woke Caleb up and introduced him to his first 'snowy' experience. We really didn't think that the snow would last so we tried to make the most of the snow that we did have. You can imagine how excited we were when it continued to snow off and on the rest of the day and into the early evening! Below are some of the pictures that we took during our "We were SNOW excited, we could hardly contain ourselves, SNOW much fun day!"
The house early morning on Dec. 10th
(the very light layer on the roof tops)
Stephen and Caleb in the backyard as the evening snow was beginning to pick up!
Caleb and I in the backyard...snow was really starting to come down!
Caleb in the front yard; the grass was actually almost covered in this picture!
Jenna and I plotting our snowball revenge on the boys...they wanted war, and they got war (poor Caleb, he was the only neutral party)!
After the boys surrendered and admitted defeat in the war, we decided to build a snowman family, and this was the finished product!
Stephen and the guys from 'Under Construction' played Christmas music at Santa's Wonderland again this Christmas season. The boys joined Ms. Mandy Walker this year, who headlined the group; Stephen played lead guitar, Randy played the rhythm guitar, Jett played bass, Shawn was their keyboard player, and John was on drums...they all had a blast! Our lives became very busy after Thanksgiving, but we all had so much fun and throughly enjoyed all the Christmas music and lights. There are already talks of the group joining forces again next Christmas for some more fun, and I can't wait! Below is a picture of Caleb practicing his "drum solo" at the December 9th practice.
I have another musician on my hands...I think I may need a sound proof room for this one though ;-)
On December 7th, we attended the annual Chupik Christmas Dinner in Temple. After the lunch we went over to Stephen's Uncle Al and Aunt Sharon's house to help take care of some family business (things that hadn't been finished-up since Grandma Hejl's passing) and visit. It was time for Caleb's nap, so while everyone was go sorting through some of Grandma's belongings, Caleb and I went to rest. After Caleb woke from his nap, Aunt Sharon and I had a special surprise for him...we went to the big shed and checked out all of Uncle Al's "BIG" tractors. Caleb had a BLAST!!!
Caleb trying to close the door on one of Uncle Al's tractors!
Caleb is a little farmer in the making...he loves tractors and dirt!
