Step by Step with the Vrana's: 2010

Hey everybody!
We hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving. We've been staying busy, as usual, but John will be finishing up his semester soon, which is so exciting. We really enjoy having daddy home with us every night of the week. Then, it's hard when his semester starts back up, but we'll deal with that when we get there.

Miller is so much fun right now. He's so stinking smart. Nonna swears that he's smarter than his mommy and Uncle Austin ever were. Thanks a lot mom! He is uber-smart though. In the evenings, when I'm unloading the car at night, Miller will hang out in the car. I'll unbuckle his car seat, and he'll climb down, and he'll crawl into the front seat, press buttons, all that fun stuff. Well, yesterday, after we got home from Target, John had left the keys sitting in the console. Miller climbed into the front seat, grabbed the keys, picked out the correct key, and tried to put it in the ignition to start the car. Tricky little fellow. He also managed to lock the car doors, but thankfully, we had the doors open.

He loves pointing out people in pictures. Uncle Austin was around for an extended period of time over his quarter break, which falls over Thanksgiving. Well, Miller found a new best friend. He spent most of his time chasing Austin around with a book, and, Austin, always stopped what he was doing to read it to him, even if it was the 100th time that day he'd read "Monster Mash". Miller loves reading so much right now. He'll hunt down anybody to get them to read, and then, sometimes, he just sits down and "reads" to himself. It's adorable, and I was lucky enough to get it on film last night. Well, since Austin was around so much, Miller now feels a need to scream "AUSTIN" every time he sees his picture. It's fun to see him start to recognize people and get excited to see him. Sorry everybody, his daddy's still his favorite. Mommy's chopped liver next to Daddy, but she'll do in a pinch.

He's been cutting teeth like crazy recently, so that's been a struggle for all three of us. Also, Friday, we got a call from his day care, and to the doctor's office we went. He had pink eye and an ear infection. Thankfully, he got a shot, has been on antibiotics since, and is back to his happy self.

John did a great job of uploading all the pictures and videos we've taken lately. Otherwise, I don't know when it would have gotten done. Thanks babe! Note: I just realized a couple of these pictures are repeats, but I doubt anyone will mind. :-)

I love this picture of Miller. He just looks like such a big boy. I wish Amy's theory of putting a brick on his head actually worked to make him stop growing. It's just going so fast!

Climbing up the stairs at Sci-port. This kid LOVES stairs. He even figured out how to get past the child safety gate at Pops and Nonna's house. We now have to lock that thing every single time.

See..

Hanging out in the kids' seat at Sci-Port. He loves kid-sized things. He has a rocking chair that Amy and Jessie gave us a while back. The kid now loves crawling up in it. Heaven help us if he wants to sit in the chair with a toy or a book because he hasn't quite mastered how to get in the chair while still holding something. He screams bloody murder because it makes his so mad.

I just love those little hands...adorable.

The wheelbarrow, trouble for anyone walking near him.

He probably spent a whole hour of the time we were there in this car.

This was the weekend everybody was out of town. Nonna and Pops went on vacation for their anniversary, and John was at the football game. Well, we still had to support our Aggies, so Miller put on his jersey. Since I knew we'd be out in the pasture, he had to have the boots on too. Thanks Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Jason!

My little 12th man!

He was having problems walking in the boots at first.

A close-up shot of his boots.

Such a sweet face. The bobo on his chin was from stumbling over the pumpkins a few days before.

Here's an odd shot. I think John just uploaded all of the pictures we had on the camera...

Thanksgiving Day. Uncle Austin reading Monster Mash. Miller in his "Turkey Day" shirt from Granny Chris.

Enjoying his Thanksgiving meal.

Miller, it looks like you got a little something on your mouth.

Walking through the leaves.

Yelling about something...

He found another sucker to read to him.

Another one of his favorite pastimes, swiffering.

The vacuum part has to be on though.

Look at the joy he gets from cleaning. He definitely doesn't get that from his momma.

Again, Uncle Austin was reading Monster Mash to him.

Helping Daddy get the Christmas decorations up.

Yeah, he can climb up, but then he can't get back down.

Playing with Miss MA and Uncle Austin.

Not really sure what's on all these videos, so happy viewing!

These last two are videos of him "reading" to himself. I think it's adorable.

Have a great week everyone!

On Monday, my parents will celebrate their 30th anniversary. For the past few months, my grand-parents, brother, Mrs. Peggy, John, and I have been working to throw them a surprise anniversary party. It's something I've actually been thinking of for over a year now. We didn't do anything for their 25th anniversary. John and I had just gotten engaged, and Austin was still a teennager, so putting our parents' first for a day just wasn't in the forefront of our minds. So, we really wanted to work together to do something special for them. There were all sorts of lies and stories told trying to keep the party a surprise, but, in the end, I think we did. I doubt Mom and Dad would tell us if they did have any suspicions though.

The invitations were sent out a few weeks ago. Amy Beasley did a great job of those for me. You'll see a picture of them below. We invited a bunch of family and friends, most of which live out of town. I knew it would be incredibly difficult for everyone to make it to a party that was thrown at six on a Friday night, but we were so happy that so many people were able to make it. Thank you to all of you for making it such a special night for Mom and Dad.

We told mom and dad that John and I were taking them out to eat to celebrate their anniversary. Since they couldn't make a decision over where they wanted to go, I told them I made the reservations, and they just needed to be ready to go at six. After we picked them up, we told them we needed to swing by the clubhouse to pay our Homeowner's dues. When we pulled up, they said, "It looks like somebody is throwing a party." Mom says she couldn't figure out why both John and I were getting out of the car. It definitely took them a few seconds to figure it out.

OK, here are quite a few pictures from the night. Thanks to Amy Casas for all the pictures. She's the best. :-)

My adorable Godson. How sweet is he?

My sweet, adorable son. I could just smush that little face.

My mom's favorite, german chocolate cake, made from scratch. Too bad she made one the day before. I just didn't know how to tell her I was making one.

The luminaries on either side of the door.

The centerpiece. My mom loved the idea in Southern Living, and I tried it out.

Some of the other decorations.

A family picture before the festivities began. Miller was trying to feed Mommy a cracker.

Uncle Marcus, Aunt Shanna, John David, and Uncle Nelson. Uncle Marcus was sneaky. He had told us that he wouldn't be able to make it, so I was shocked when he showed up with my cousin, John David.

Miller with Kathy. She was holding him while we went to pick Mom and Dad up. I think she was a little nervous that he would get upset, but once he saw Mimi and Paw-paw show up with Uncle Austin, he was OK.

Dad wouldn't open the door once we got there. I ended up walking around the car, and opening the door for them. I think they were frozen in shock.

They finally got out of the car.

Shocked, happy faces.

Jessie and McKason were the first ones mom go to.

Mr. PD worked with my dad in the Air Force.

I think this is when my mom realized Uncle Marcus had made the trip from Amarillo.

Uncle Marcus and Dad. John David and Mom in the background.

Mom hugging Mr. AJ, their neighbor for 20 years or so. Mr. Terry in the background.

Denise, Uncle Marcus, Mr. PD, John David, Dad, and Mr. Terry.

Mom hugging Mrs. Becky, neighbors for over 25 years. Mr. Jerry in the background.

Mr. Jerry, Mrs. Becky, and Mom.

Fay, Pam, Denise all worked with Mom.

This picture looks really bad, but Mimi isn't going after McKason with the cane. Technically, I think he was trying to use it as a microphone. These kids call them Mimi and Paw-paw and Nonna and Pops. As far as they are concerned, we really are one big family.

Uncle Austin was keeping an eye on Miller, making sure he didn't head for the pool.

Miller and McKason fighting over Uncle Jessie's dinner.

Mr. Jack, Mrs. Donna, Mr. Don, and Mimi.

Mrs. Becky and Mr. Terry

McKason on the attack!

Mom, Mr. Terry, and Mrs. Peggy

McKason giving his note to Mom and Dad while Denise, Uncle Marcus, and Aunt Shanna watch.

McKason, sniffing the flowers.

Miller sitting on Paw-paw's lap.

The invitations for the party.

Sibling picture: Uncle Marcus, Aunt Shanna, and Dad.

Uncle Marcus and Dad, enjoying his favorite, Chocolate Pie. Unfortunately, it turned out like more like chocolate pudding.

Look what I can do McKason!

And McKason does it too.

McKason and his daddy.

Climbing onto the bench.

Casas family picture

Mom and Ms. Linda. Ms. Linda was her bridesmaid 30 years ago.

Back row: Uncle Nelson, Dad, Uncle Marcus, Mom, John David. Front row: Del, Denise, and Aunt Shanna.

Nonna, Miller, and Pops

A cute picture of John and me.

Uncle Austin all by himself. Unfortunately Mary Alice wasn't able to make it. We missed you MA!

Austin, Mom, Dad, me, Miller, and John

Austin, Mom, Dad, and I

Austin, Mrs. Peggy, Mom, Dad, and I

Uncle Austin playing with Miller

Dad, Mrs. Linda, Mr. PD, Mom, and Mr. Jack.

Mrs. Peggy and Miller, going for a walk.

Mrs. Melba, Dad, Mom and Mr. Don

McKade, the picture crasher.

Mom and Dad with Mimi and Paw-paw

Jessie, teaching the younger one to be a picture crasher.

This is what happens in half of all our pictures, at least one person is watching Miller instead of looking at the camera.

Like I said earlier, the Casas family = part of the family.

Finally, a picture with the Casas's and Mom and Dad. There were some really funny pictures that went this one in which McKade was pulling up his mom's dress, but because Amy is such a good friend, I decided not to post them.