Lake Livin'

Writing this post makes me a little sad because it's the last weekend that we were still pregnant and excited to be welcoming two new babies into the Hattenbach family (ours and my brothers).  I'm the oldest of all my cousins, and to be honest don't have much in common with them due to the large age gap.  So, being pregnant with Skye and having babies that close in age was exciting!
Anyways, onto our annual lake trip!   This year we headed to Cedar Creek Lake to meet my family.  Since the lake was so close to East Texas Gordon's parents even joined us for a day.  Besides it being really windy on Sunday the weather was beautiful.  The best part was the lake wasn't very crowded!    We had so much fun out on the water and just laying around the house relaxing, eating yummy food and playing games outside.  William is still talking about the jet ski rides he took with daddy and papa.  :)    

{Ready for a boat ride} {Going for a ride with Daddy} {Naptime}

{Fun with Papa} {Hanging with Nana} {Trying out Mama's shades}

{The gang} {So much fun!} {Big boy driving the boat with Uncle D} 

It's been kinda fun checking out different lakes in Texas!  Let me know if you have any recommendations.  We were thinking about LBJ next year.

Annual Family Lake Trip

This past weekend we headed to the lake for my family's 3rd annual Labor Day lake vacation.  The first two years we went to PK Lake but this year decided to change it up a bit and visit Canyon Lake.  The drive for us was much shorter than going all the way north of Dallas so that was a plus.  It was a beautiful lake with crystal clear water that was the perfect temperature.  The lake reminded me more of an ocean!  The only down side to Canyon Lake was there weren't any docks.  There was only one dock for all the boats/jet skis needing to get onto or off of the lake.  So, we had to pick a time each day to go out riding around.  We spent Saturday just lounging around, playing in the pool and eating lots of yummy food.  Gordon, Skye, and Dustin played 9 holes of golf on Sunday morning and then we spent the rest of the day riding around on the boat.  William is definitely a lake baby.  He napped, snacked on cheese and crackers, took a swim in the cool water, watched the other kids jump off the boat and just lounged around taking the beautiful scenery in.  My parents watched William for a few hours while Gordon and I got some much needed adult time on the lake.  xoxo
The reason I love the lake so much is....I don't ever have to get dressed up!  Everyone just lounges around, visits, swims, and naps.  It's always a restful and relaxing weekend!  

Tired baby on a boat makes for the perfect nap time!

As you can see William had a blast riding around on his fire truck!  

• The boys played a lot of pool.
• Daddy pushing baby boy around. 
• William learned to play cards. :)
• The water was amazing so we did some swimming.
• I'm on a boat!

Pretty view from the balcony

Sweet Moments

I so love their blue eyes!

On our drive to the lake the new Blake Shelton song, "Mine Would Be You", came on.  Part of the lyrics say, "What's the greatest chapter in your book?"  I ask G what his was and he said, "I'm living it right now."  LOVE THAT MAN.  He may not be the most romantic man on the planet but he is the sweetest and kindest.  I adore his calm personality, the way he loves and takes care of William and me and his loyalty to his family.  I am a happy girl. 

Gordon and I (and the rest of our family) are loving this stage with William.  His little personality is really starting to show.  He's talking, walking, feeding himself, sleeping better at night (well, at least compared to a year ago) and laughing up a storm.  Like Gordon said....this chapter of our life is awesome.  We are thankful for our health, our supportive families and just having each other.  There's nothing better than spending time with my boys.
 
CHEERS to many more lake trips!!  What is your favorite lake to visit?  We need some suggestions for next year!! 
 

4th of July

 

 



These two pictures could possibly be my all time favorites!  Both of my boys.  My cup runneth over. 

• Playing on the jet ski
• Checking things out with Papa
• Life jacket, check, puff, check!
• Bathtime with Daddy

I know I'm a little late on this post but when you take a billion pictures it's hard to narrow them down!  So, obviously we spend our 4th of July weekend at Lake Houston with my parents.  Gordon and I both had to work on the 5th (and needed a babysitter since daycare was closed) and my dad was itching to get the jet skis out on the water so they headed our way.  None of us had ever been to Lake Houston so we were all pleasantly surprised.  Honestly, it's become one of my new favorite places.  It's not like your typical lake....lots of people, tons of boats, rough water.  It was such a quiet, peaceful and beautiful place.  The water was perfect for jet skiing!  As Gordon and I rode around together one afternoon I couldn't help but wonder how some people don't believe in God. 
Little buddy even got to go on the jet ski!  Since the lake wasn't crowded we drove him around for 10 minutes in the morning and again in the evening since he loved it so much.  William gets a little startled by loud noises so I was worried he'd just cry.  As soon as we got going (not very fast) and the wind was blowing in our face a little he just smiled.  He smiled the entire time.  He is a true water baby!
As you can see in the pictures above.....he had a little emotional breakdown.  He was fighting a cold the entire weekend and the 4th of July was his worst day.  Nobody got to sleep through the night all weekend long.  I know I say a lot how good of a baby William is.  Maybe I should clarify.....all babies are good!!  It's just that some babies are more fussy, have more gas pains, are colicky, don't sleep as well as others, get more ear infections, require more food and more often.  The list goes on and on.  I guess William is just easier than I expected him to be (I prepared myself for the worst)!  But, believe me, he has his moments.  ....we wouldn't trade a single one of them!

•  Playing in the pool
• "I wanna be cool like my uncle" shirt from Uncle D
• Playing the drums with Papa and Daddy

Fun Times at the Lake

We spent William's first Labor Day at Possum Kingdom Lake with my family and a few friends!  This was our second year to go to PK Lake as a family and we had even more fun this year with the little guy.  Going to the lake is one of my favorites!  I think I love it so much because you don't have to get dressed up or wear makeup.  :)  We just hang out and relax.  We never have to get in a car, nobody cares what you look like and there are so many fun things to do on the lake....boat, jet skis, fishing!  I think William liked his first lake trip.  We slept in, took naps together, sat around outside playing, made smores, Gordon & I took some romantic evening rides on the jet skis
(haha), G fished at night off the dock and William went on his first boat ride.



Mommy & Daddy
William was with us last year...we just didn't know!

Loving the playmat Nana & Papa brought to the lake

Relaxing with Papa

William's first boat ride went great!  It will be even better next year when he's a little taller and he can wear sunscreen.  Anytime the boat was moving he was asleep!  I would like to add that I've never been so pale in my entire life.  LOL.  Even after a week at the beach and a long weekend at the lake I'm still pasty white!  That's life with a baby I guess.  :)   

I love that my brother and Gordon are buddies!!  Here they are getting ready to wake board.

William woke up to watch his Papa try to wake board....

....and he's up!  Way to go Papa!!!!!

Dustin and Skye brought their precious puppy, Boston.  How cute is he in his doggie life jacket?

Uncle Dustin is a natural!

He may be crying but he's still looking pretty cute in his shorts from aunt Em!

Cutest thing I've ever seen. 

I sure do love my family!  We had so much fun and can't wait for next year's lake trip.  Hopefully William will still be a good traveler.  He's been a dream so far.  He was awake for more than half the trip home to Houston but was happy looking around and listening to me read him some books.  I know one day he'll most likely hate his carseat so I'm trying to enjoy these "easy" days. 

My first blog post!!!

I've been reading other people's blogs for years now so I can hardly believe that I now have my very own!!!  This is one of the signs that I'm quickly outgrowing my 20's.  I don't know how good I'll be at this blogging thing but I figured I'd give it a shot. 
I'll start at the beginning of my happily ever after.....
My world changed for the better in March 2007.  The man I now call my husband came back into my life!  I'd been living in Houston for 3 years working as a pediatric oncology nurse.  I had a fun filled single life with a great group of girlfriends.  Imagine lots of Grey's Anatomy, The Bachelorette and wine bars.  And then one night out of the blue I get a phone call from an old college friend, Gordon, who just happened to be in town for an engagement party....WELL, the rest is history. 
Gordon and I met in August 2000 right before our freshman year of college started (girls pref night during Rush to be exact).  He was different than your typical frat guy and we quickly became good friends.  Even at 18 he seemed so responsible (a quality I immediately fell in love with at 25).  He was always there to help me out.  We had a great friendship our first two years at Tech but eventually lost touch.  I thank God everyday for bringing him back into my life. Back to March 2007....Gordon graduated from Tech that following May and moved to Austin where he had already accepted a job.  After a year of long distance he made the move to Houston!!  We got engaged on New Year's 2010 and married in September 2010.  We also bought our first home in 2010.  It was such a fun filled year with great memories. 
Here are a few of my favorite pictures from 2010.

After our wedding weekend we headed to Maui for a romantic and relaxing honeymoon. 

Our first year of marriage came with several changes.  We both got new jobs!!  We are both so blessed to be at these fabulous new companies.  I am still a pediatric oncology nurse but at a different hospital with better hours (no weekends or holidays!  YIPPEE).  Gordon moved back to the company he originally worked at when he moved to Houston in 2008.  Our busy work schedules didn't slow us down at all!  We managed to find plenty of time for lots of date nights, 10 year reunions, traveling and many weddings, birthdays and babyshowers. 

 Our first Christmas at our house before heading to Midland

Wine tasting at Brennan's on the Bayou

                                                             




Gooding Family Vacation at Rosemary Beach

                                                           

 Labor Day weekend with my family at PK Lake

                                                         

Well, that's it for now folks.  Next up...our one year anniversary and yummy wedding cake surprise!