Finally getting around to posting Carysn's 3 Month pro pics (From 2/2/2014).  Than you Noelle Kai Photography for another sweet session!  Big sissy was able to join us this time for some great family and sibling photos.

Austin Aquarium

I bought season passes to the Austin Aquarium last summer but they didn't open until November.  We waited a couple months before checking them out in Feb.  Ry absolutely loved it!  This place is perfect for littles.  They had plenty of touch tanks and a small playscape in the back.  Ry really loved the shark tank, he must have stood there for 20 mins watching the sharks, and you could touch them!  We'll definitely take him back again.

Austin Aquarium 2/22/2014

star fish touch tank

Ry really loves turtles

stingrays!

Carsy checking out the shark tank

sharks!

2013 Running Review

2013 was a low mileage running year for me as I was pregnant for most of the year (Feb-Oct), in fact I biked more than I ran.  ;)  I only participated in two races; the Kristi 5K in March and the Deutschen Pfest 5K Pfun Run in May.  I took 1st place in my age group for the Kristi 5K despite not being a PR, go me!  I stopped running when I was 20 weeks (in June) and didn't resume until Dec, baby girl was born at the end of Oct.  I'm already looking forward to many runs in 2014, plus we have some new mother runners in the hood.  #JFR, #BAMR

Total miles run:  226 miles

Total miles biked:  264 miles

Overall Total:  548 miles

Races:

3/3 - Kristi 5K, 2.88 miles, 26:25 

5/20 - Deutschen Pfest 5K, 3.1 miles, 29:19

Kristi 5K medal

Happy New Year!

As Carsyn was only 2 months old we decided to hang around our part of the town for NYE.  We started off with a steak and shrimp dinner over at my parents house and then went to a neighborhood party for a couple hours.  We came home before midnight to prep the kids for bed and watch the ball drop.  Carsy fell asleep around 11:30 pm, but Ry made it!  Malek and I stayed up a bit later toasting the new year.  ;)

Hugs & Kisses!  Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

almost made it

Very Merry Christmas!

This year was a Very Merry Christmas indeed.  Within our immediate and extended family there were several new babies celebrating their first Christmas (Decker, Nathan, Logan, Carsyn and Mason).  Talk about a busy year!  ;)

My mom and I made our traditional xmas cookies at the beginning of the month, we now have 5-6 different kinds that have become staples, as well as the awesome Pioneer Woman cinnamon rolls I make for my co-workers (3rd year and counting).  We took the kids to the Austin Trail of Lights and the Round Rock Rock'N Lights, ToL was great but we'll probably wait another 5 years before we go back (when the kids are a bit older).  Christmas Eve we went to the 5 pm service for kids followed up with our traditional Chinese dinner with my parents at Happy Dragon.  Later that evening we sipped on eggnog and left cookies out for Santa.

Christmas morning the kids were all awake by 7 am, no sleeping in this year.  I think Ryland understood what was going on this year, recognizing Santa when he saw him and his frenzied excitement to open gifts.  Carsyn of course was happily hanging out.  ;)  Once we finished gifts at our house we headed over to Opa & Juju's around 10 am to open gifts with them and indulge in our traditional eggs Benedict brunch!  By 2pm we were back at our house to prepare for the Malek clan.  Kamran grilled an excellent beef tenderloin for dinner and Baba Skyped us in the living room from Brazil to watch the kids open gifts.  All in all a wonderful and busy Christmas.

That same weekend was my hubby's birthday, to celebrate he got football tickets (for him and Evan) to the Cowboys vs Eagles game in Dallas.  Happy Birthday my love!

At the Cowboys came 12/29/2013

Christmas photos

Christmas Morning 2013

arts n crafts I made this year

Bro-bro

big sissy and little sissy

Opa and Juju's house for xmas

Eggs Benedict Brunch!

Kamran and Dana with the babies

My niece Decker

Char and Nana

Emma, Blake and Margaret

Baba is on skype on the TV (hard to see)

Nana and Carsy

More babies!

I can't believe I forgot to blog about my cousin's 2nd baby!  

On July 26th 2013 my cousin Amy gave birth to her second child, Nathan Robert.  He was 8lbs 7oz and 20.5 inches long.  If I have my relationships correct (because let's face it, it gets confusing), then Nathan and his sister April are my 1st cousins once removed.  Ryland & Carsyn and April
& Nathan are 2nd cousins.

Congrats to the proud parents Amy and Rob!  

New cousin, our 1st nephew!

Congrats to my little brother & SIL Stephen and Christina on their brand new baby boy!  They are proud to announce the newest member of their family - Mason Wilhelm Freund.  Ryland and Carsyn have their first male cousin, and mommy and daddy have our first nephew!  :)

Mason was born on Thursday, November 21st at 9:02 am and weighted 7 lbs and 4.6 oz and measured 20 inches long.  Welcome to the family and happy Thanksgiving!