The Bishop's

Holidays

2012-01-06T12:23:00.000-08:00

It sure has been a busy time of year, just as it is for everyone. We are finally settled back into a routine and just awaiting the arrival of baby girl. I went to the Dr on Tuesday and she said she was measuring about a week ahead of schedule. She is 6.9lbs already and head down so that's a blessing :) I don't want her to be TOO early, but am ready whenever she is! We had a nice Christmas back in Iowa. We flew there on Wednesday, December 22nd and stayed through the 30th. We enjoyed time at Bishop's and in Bloomfield. Case was SO good and loved presents this year :) We hope you all had a blessed holiday season as well and will keep you all updated on the arrival of Kylynn Sue Bishop :)

Case LOVES reading the "Goldbug" book with my Dad...

Didn't seem to mind Santa at all...

Happiest child on the block...Merry Christmas!

Before a Christmas Party...35 weeks pregnant :)

Mom's Birthday

2011-12-07T18:24:00.000-08:00

Would have been tomorrow...she was truly the most amazing person on this earth. Never a negative thought about ANYthing or ANYone in life which makes me really stop and think when I am complaining about the little things...Sure has been a hard time of year for all of us. WE MISS AND LOVE YOU SO MUCH MOM!

Fall Family Pics

2011-11-14T13:05:00.001-08:00

Mamie Woods does an amazing job with our family photos. Here are a few from our recent photo session. We went to a ranch in McKinney early one Sunday morning. Case did SUCH a good job and we had tons of fun!

Mamie Woods does an amazing job with our family photos. Here are a few from our recent photo session. We went to a ranch in McKinney early one Sunday morning. Case did SUCH a good job and we had tons of fun!

Trick or Treat

2011-11-14T12:57:00.000-08:00

Case was an adorable golfer for Halloween. He LOVED eating a tootsie pop sucker the ENTIRE wagon ride going from house to house. We had a blast going to a few fall festivals leading up to the big day. Case was definitely a fan of riding the ponies. His expressions when we do something new are priceless. He is such a blessing to our family.

Mamma's and the loot!
HAPPY FALL EVERYONE!

Case Mathew Bishop

2011-10-11T18:27:00.001-07:00

My Sweet, Adorable, Loving, Energetic 20 Month Old...

* loves to talk, we call him a parrot because he repeats everything we say. He is starting to put 3 or 4 words together and it just amazes us daily what he can say
* is such a happy, bubbly and busy toddler, his disposition is amazing, even when he isn't feeling 100%
* loves to talk about driving. My Dad let him sit on his lap back in Iowa to drive his truck and now he wants to drive all the time. I tell him maybe in 14 years he can drive. He talks about how so and so is driving, how Daddy drives his truck every morning, Mommy drives the car, etc.
* has pottied in his potty chair multiple times but we aren't being consistent yet with it
* LOVES his girlfriends, Emery and Lindley. He talks about them non-stop and gets to see them at least 4 days out of the week
* runs to me with the BIGGEST smile and open arms when I pick him up from Mother's Day Out, it is the most precious moment of my day
* loves Wrigley, he says "Hi Wrigley" all the time and I catch him petting Wrigley randomly a lot
* wants to be outdoors constantly, now that it is nicer, I can leave the back door open some for him to come in and out
* is outgrowing his clothes and shoes so quickly. I tell Ryan this is going to be the story of our lives until the kid moves out
* has to wear one-piece jammies to bed at night and a onsie during naps so he doesn't dig in his poop when he wakes up. Such a fun, interesting past time :)
* still LOVES books, he can sit for a long time just looking through books and says "I read it"
* has to sit in time out probably once a day and sits there with this ridiculous cheesy grin on his face like, "what, Mom?"
Case is just a blessing in my life. After everything we have been through the past few years, he is a constant joy to have around. I can't even imagine not having Case to get me through my days. He makes me smile constantly and the love I have for him is indescribable. Love this 20 month old crazy kid :)

Lately...

2011-10-10T11:04:00.000-07:00

Well, every time I post I say it has been awhile, and this time...it has been awhile. We have been enjoying Case to the fullest. He is an absolute JOY and a blessing in our lives. He is 20 months old going on FIVE. The kid talks from the moment he wakes up, basically narrating my day to the extreme. He loves life...just full of energy and smiles all day long.
We were back in Iowa most of August. Most of you know, my sweet Mom passed away on August 17th. Such a difficult time we all have been going through. My sister, Kirby, got married on the 27th just 10 days later. It was a beautiful day despite everything going on. She looked amazing, as to be expected. Case was the ring bearer and just a doll.
Things we have been doing....
* going on lots of walks and to the park now that it is nice out
* Case is in Mother's Day Out on Tues/Thurs and LOVES it. He just walks right in and says bye bye Mamma. He even sleeps on a nap mat, who would have thought?!
* going to the Y so Mommy can attempt to workout with this enormous belly
* going to Target for our weekly grocery trip...Case actually loves the place :)
* Mommy went to the Taylor Swift concert with her 30-something year old friends this weekend
* Daddy has been golfing at the Country Club and Case gets to join on the golf cart once in awhile
* My Dad and Grandma came to visit a few weeks ago and Case was in heaven! He enjoys being with my Dad.
* Getting ready for baby Kylynn. We are naming her Kylynn Sue, Sue is my Mom's middle name. She is a LOT bigger than Case was (maybe not her, but my stomach is). My Grandma is going to make the bedding for her room so we are excited about that. She is so amazingly talented!
* Case is going to be a golfer for Halloween so we are working on gathering stuff for his costume.

and...many many more fun activities have been going on but I won't bore you. We hope this fall has been great for y'all :)

Trip to Iowa...

2011-07-25T04:59:00.000-07:00

Case and Mommy went back to Iowa to celebrate Aunt Bi-Ki-Bee's bachelorette party. We had a great time relaxing, eating fair food and enjoying our family's company. Before we left, Case was diagnosed with hand, foot & mouth disease. This kid catches everything. I am contemplating taking him to an "immunologist" if there is such a thing... we'll see. He never had a fever, never had sores in his mouth and was the happy-go-lucky kid he always is that we called "rashy" all week. It is finally clearing up after, what, 12 days. It was SO hot in Iowa that we spent most of the time indoors. The humidity made the heat index like 120 which is just HOT. Case played in a little pool on the deck every evening with "branpa" and loved every minute of it. Luckily at my parents', Case sleeps like a rockstar, Mommy sleeps amazingly and we get worn out by cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. I am so thankful to be a stay-at-home Mommy and that I am able to go back and forth as often as we can. Ryan works so hard for our family and we are just so blessed.

Swimming with "branpa" and Aunt Kelsey getting him :)

At the park with cousin Nolan

One of the only ways we can get Case to sit on our laps...a little Yo Gabba Gabba!

Helping Aunt Kelsey on her computer!

Baby Bishop #2!

2011-07-04T05:26:00.000-07:00

SO SURPRISED!!!

Well, we are very excited to tell Case that he is going to be a BIG BROTHER! How exciting is that?! I am due on February 1st which puts me at about 10 weeks. We have been to the doctor 2 times for the "confirmation" check up and the first ultrasound. That little one was moving his/her little legs, arms around all crazy inside. We can't wait to find out what we are having. I haven't felt quite as good as I did with Case but it the nausea is coming and going more now than being constant. We are thrilled!!!

Sweet little baby...

Sweet little boy...

Kirby's Wedding Shower

2011-07-04T05:16:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, June 23rd, we decided to make another trip back to Iowa. Case & I flew into KC and my wonderful Dad was so gracious as to come get us. We went to Bloomfield and stayed until Monday. We had Kirby's wedding shower, hung out with all of the family and had a great time. Case wasn't his "perky self" from Saturday on and come to find out, he had an ear infection, whoops. Here are some pics of our trip..

My Amazing, Loving, Wonderful Grandma Hoskin

Big GUY of the party!

Sweet baby cousin, Hayden!

My truly appreciated, loved cousin, Kelsey

Bride-to-Be, BEAUTIFUL!

LOVE!

We took Case to the city pool on Friday. It was PERFECT weather but the gradual incline of the pool was a little tough for him to understand. He didn't want help and wanted to do it all himself so this is how we dolled him up :)

On Monday, my sweet cousin, Paige and Grandma drove us halfway to Kansas City and we met SUSAN & EMMA!! It was so great to see them. We stayed at their house on Monday night before flying home on Tuesday. It was wonderful to catch up, see where they live and spend some time with them. We sure miss those Chartier's!

2011-06-18T10:57:00.000-07:00

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!!!!!

To: MY dad who is truly amazing, so patient, loving and kind to everyone! LOVE YOU POPS!

To: Case's Daddy for being the perfect Dad anyone could ask for. Thank you for working hard so Mommy can stay home with me. We love you and appreciate ALL you do!

To: Grandpa Vern for being such a great Grandpa to Case! He adores you!

To: Grandpa Mark for being a great grandpa as well. We Love You!

To: My husband for being such a terrific Daddy to Case and husband to Me :)

Iowa

2011-06-05T18:15:00.000-07:00

We made another trip back to Iowa on May 20th. We got back last Monday, the 31st. It was a long & exhausting trip but worth every minute. Case, Wrigley and I flew into Des Moines on Friday, the 20th. My cousin, Paige was SO sweet to come pick us up from the airport. Here is a video after a 2 hour flight and 1 hour wait in the airport because we lost Case's suitcase (disregard the fact that Case is in a PINK carseat :) we make do...

-----actually it is at the bottom of this post-----

Saturday morning, we drove up to Rochester, MN to see Mom & Dad at Mayo clinic. Mom had her first surgery that Friday to inject the first round of the measles vaccine and actually was released from the hospital on Saturday. She is so amazing! We spent the next few days just hanging around Rochester, going out to eat, going to parks, going on walks and trying to get a 15 month old to sleep in a hotel room! Let me just say it was a LONG three nights. Mom had another surgery on Tuesday, the 24th where the surgeon removed 50-60% of the tumor and injected the measles vaccine again. We drove back to Des Moines on Wednesday and stayed at Kirby's house.

Chillin in the car...

Playing at the park in Rochester.

Waiting on Grandma during surgery (having snacks...this little guy's hand is ALWAYS in this snack cup)

We went on down to Bloomfield on Thursday to wait for Mom to get home from Mayo. Ryan had flown in on Wednesday evening so we stopped by his parent's to visit before going on down to stay at my parents'. He joined us on Friday morning. Mom was able to come home that Thursday and continues to recover at home. She still needs as many prayers as we can get. She goes up to Mayo tomorrow for some more testing on Tuesday. Dad is taking her tomorrow afternoon.

Case & Daddy attempting to fish at my parent's house.

We went to Lake Rathbun on Saturday for Ryan's Mom's side family reunion. There were over 100 attendees and lots of fun!

Case playing with his cousins

Grandpa & Grandma Bishop & their adorable grandkids!

Our one family pic of the week...

One thing I know for sure is I could not make these trips without the help of my Grandma, Aunts, and sister(s). Kirby & Kelsey are always helping me out. I sure do appreciate all that Kelsey does for me when I go home...she works really hard and knows right what I need before I even ask her. I LOVE YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH! Can't wait to go back in July!

Love you AUNT "B"!

Case...

2011-05-18T05:06:00.000-07:00

Is a crazy, energetic, lovable, sweet, caring, wild CHILD of mine... He is just so happy (well, most of the time). The poor little guy did have strep throat two weekends ago and it was miserable (for him and Mommy & Daddy). He wouldn't eat, didn't sleep well, had a fever of 103.8 for a few days and just whined and cried. The antibiotics did not kick in like Mommy thought they should but finally we rounded the corner last Tuesday before our visitors arrived. He is back into full Case mode and forgetting he was ever sick. He has learned to crawl up on the couch and uses ALL his might and energy to get up there and once he does, thinks it is the best thing in the world! I told Ryan he is working off all of the "snacks" he eats by getting up on the couch. The kid LOVES TO EAT...he goes to the pantry multiple times a day saying "cacker" (which is cracker and might I add that the small container he carries around ALL day long usually has something more healthy than "cackers" in it. He runs/walks quickly swinging ONLY his left arm for some reason and I have been teasing that it is because he has his snack cup in the other. I obviously feed him 3 meals a day but feel like the little guy wants to snack constantly. Guess he takes after his Mommy, Auntie and Grandma Neill :) We are trying to move to one nap a day and it is working for the most part. LOVE LOVE LOVE this little guy...

Cousins Visit

2011-05-18T05:04:00.000-07:00

Last week, my cousin Jacie and her family came down to Texas for their family vacation. The boys played SO well together, it was cute. We attempted to go to a Rangers game (it got rained out) but still had fun. It was so nice to have visitors and another little "boy" for Case to play with (all of his friends are girls :) Thanks for coming to stay with us, Henderson Family!

Race Day

2011-05-18T04:57:00.000-07:00

Some of my friends and their families joined Ryan, Case and I for the Head for the Cure 5K race this past Saturday. It was a COLD morning but we weren't complaining considering we were walking for people with cancer :) It was so amazing to see the support that my Mom has through my "Texas" family. The race was the first annual one in North Texas and they were working towards a goal of 500 participants, they ended up with almost 2500. It was great. My Mom is up at Mayo clinic this week for her preliminary testing prior to surgery this coming Friday. She will have a tube place in her brain that will administer the measles vaccine. She will then have surgery again on Tuesday to once again inject measles and remove what the surgeon can of this ever so awful tumor that keeps coming back! We just keep praying and praying that it will miraculously disappear this time around! Case and I are flying into Des Moines on Friday and then driving up to Rochester on Saturday with Kelsey and Kirby. Should be an interesting few days in a hotel with a 15 month old but we will make it work! Thank you for your continuous prayers and thoughts for my Mom!

Mom Stays...

2011-04-30T19:29:00.000-07:00

My mom was able to stay a little longer than everyone else. She flew out this morning. Sasha Mae even experienced her FIRST airplane ride this afternoon! She did great! While mom was here, we had a great time shopping, playing with Case, going on walks to the park and enjoying each other's company. Case adores Grandma (and Sasha :) We were sad to see her go but know we will see her again on May 20th, YEA!

The most wonderful Mother & Grandma in the whole wide world!

Mom & Dad

2011-04-30T19:25:00.001-07:00

Kirby and I could not be luckier to have such amazing parents. It was so nice having everyone down here for Easter weekend. Mom continues to need all of the prayers she can get these days. She is such a strong person, I can't even begin to imagine her thoughts throughout the day. Dad is so patient and loving to our Mom. They both have remained so positive through this journey. I believe we are truly the most blessed family in the world. LOVE YOU DAD & MOM!

Family Visits!

2011-04-30T19:01:00.003-07:00

We have had a FULL house the past week and have enjoyed every minute! My sister flew in last Thursday afternoon. She was able to hang out with Case a little before the whole crew arrived :)

The family had a hard time getting here on Friday evening. The van shut down so they had to leave it with some random guy in Oklahoma that just so happened to fix transmissions. They rented another van and finally made it!

We had a WONDERFUL visit from everyone. Here are some memories from our Easter weekend...

Cool Dude in his NEW shades!

Taking up the whole road on our Easter walk!
Happy Easter from the Bishop's!

The smiling face I wake up to every morning!
Sweet Grandma Hoskin
LOVE Aunt Kelsey!
AND Aunt Lauren!
AND Aunt Lori!

Out to dinner to celebrate Lauren's 17th Birthday, WOO HOO!
Sweet Shades!
Beautiful Girls!

Mommy & Daddy Weekend!

2011-04-17T05:38:00.000-07:00

Ryan's parents graciously flew down here to watch Case for both nights this past weekend. They got in on Thursday night. We had a fun day of shopping on Friday (the girls) while the boys golfed. On Friday night, we had a wedding. It was a girl who works with Ryan and it was beautiful! It gets me SO excited for my sister's wedding!

Last night, we went to the Kenny Chesney concert. It was AMAZING! We were there in time to see Billy Curringtong, Zac Brown Band and then Kenny. We have gone for the past few years (last year he took a year off which worked out since we had a 2 month old anyway) and have enjoyed it every year. This year, it was at the Texas Stadium and I really don't think a concert could get any better. Fun times with GREAT friends :)

14 Months

2011-04-17T05:29:00.000-07:00

Case is a few days past 14 months and just entertaining us all...He is SUCH a busy boy! Case loves:
* playing outside (begging from the moment he gets up)
* jabbering a hundred miles a minute right when he gets up (he must have a lot to tell me from the time we have been apart while he is sleeping or his dreams are THAT good)
* seeing Wrigley first thing in the morning (he is CONSTANTLY giggling at that dog)
* eating a LOT for breakfast and has blueberries every single morning (despite the fact that they are like $4 a container)
* going to the Y to play with the kids (they have many different balls in the childwatch room so this helps)
* going to Target with Mommy and getting to touch the big RED ball outside of Target (he thinks he can move it)
* eating Chick Fil-A chicken nuggets on a weekly basis
* dancing to ANY type of music even it is the slow, jazzy music at Market Street
* making his famous "O" face when he hears ANYTHING new or pretty much ANY sound
* is pointing to many body parts and saying animal sounds and maybe says 20ish words...
* will grab his Lovey and paci the SECOND we walk upstairs into his bedroom and has started to throw them out of his crib so I put in TWO lovey's and paci's and I think this threw him off for the time being anyway
* will hug any stuffed animal or his lovey and sway side to side, SO cute
* is an amazing, loving, sweet, caring, BUSY and adorable 14 month old. WE LOVE HIM SO MUCH and thank God every day for this amazing blessing!

Bumps & Bruises

2011-04-06T19:08:00.000-07:00

This kid is going to break every bone in his body, I swear. He fell down a few stairs on the playground equipment today. He did have a few tears but was up and going about 30 seconds later. He has quite a bruise on his forehead. Then we were back home and he was going in and out the back door and fell down and scraped his forehead on the cement right below the first bruise (no crying this time). Then, to top it off, I was washing him up this evening (probably our last night without a bath) and I kept trying to scrub this "dirt" off his palms and realized there were at least 6 splinters in his hand. Doesn't care, didn't even bother him, the kid is tough as nails. Ryan says he may beat him up some day. I guess he maybe got the splinters on the fence when he was pounding on it trying to get the neighbor boy's attention. Case NEVER stops, he only slows down to sleep at night and we don't even wonder why the little guy sleeps at least 12 hours a night. He is the most curious little kid, amazed by even the littlest things. I enjoy watching him experience new sights, sounds, thoughts, etc. We are so truly blessed and I love Case to pieces. Precious little boy...

Green Shoes

2011-04-04T17:55:00.001-07:00

My Little Man...

LOVE my mini-swing set :)

So, this mamma MAY have a slight obsession with toddler shoes. I have said for 14 months that we can't accessorize with bow & tutus but we can rock some cute shoes :) We have been busy playing outside and enjoying the sunshine. Case has the most PALE skin ever though and gets pink even with his "fishing" hat on and spf 100 sunscreen, poor kid. Hopefully he will get his mommy or daddy's skin SOME day :) Have a great week everyone!

Car Ride

2011-03-26T18:08:00.000-07:00

Case does NOT enjoy being in his car seat for long periods of time. Even after he was turned around facing forward (YES, I know the recommended age is 2 now)...he doesn't like to be in there too long without snacks, lots of dancing music, toys, etc. Today, we had to take Ryan to the golf course so he could golf with some buddies that were coming back this way and bringing him home. This is how much Case enjoyed the car ride... I'm not sure a trip to Iowa in the CAR is in our near future!!!

Spring Break

2011-03-26T14:29:00.000-07:00

Happiest Boy EVER!!!

Case & I went to Iowa for spring break. We left on Friday, March 11th and got back on Sunday, March 20th. We had a FABULOUS time and can't wait to go back. Mommy was a little heart broken leaving Wrigley at home, but it was for the best this trip. Maybe next time for sweet Wrigley. While we were back, my sweet sister got ENGAGED! She will be marrying Tony Squire sometime this fall. We are SO very excited and can't wait to begin the planning.

Since we have been back, the weather has been amazing! We have spent countless hours playing outdoors, going to the park and eating wood chips. Case continues to amaze us daily. He is so funny and happy. I text Ryan the other day that sometimes I can't believe he is OURS and we get to keep him forEVER...I am sure there will be days when I want to send him back but we enjoy every moment together. God sure has blessed us!

On another note...I know mom looks AMAZING in these photos but she could definitely use some extra prayers. She continues to go through her treatments in Iowa City every other week. She will have an MRI on Thursday, April 21st and we can only hope that the results are worth celebrating! Have a great weekend everyone!

Dad, Kirby & Myself

Sweet Aunt Kelsey

Happy Birthday Kelsey & Kirby

LOVE these girls!

Case LOVES hanging out with Grandpa and Grandma!

LOVE Auntie Kirby

Case just starting "snuggling" me a whole lot on this trip. I ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF IT, even it is just for a nanosecond!

I am such a ham!

We hung out in our jammies every morning for 10 days!

Case pulled this wagon around and around my parents' porch. He wants to be outdoors every minute of every day now!

Sasha Mae enjoyed it JUST as much (when she wasn't in depression from missing Wrigley, ha)

My mom who continues to be a fighter. She is the strongest, kindest, most patient and amazing person I know...WE LOVE HER WITH ALL OUR HEART to the moon & back a million times!

Happy Wednesday!

2011-03-09T14:19:00.000-08:00

Have I mentioned how much this kid LOVES balls?! Any type, size, color, shape...he can spot one a mile away. He was able to play out back yesterday by himself for the FIRST time ever. Case figured out how to go in and out the backdoor holding onto the frame (it is quite a big step down). He continues to be an absolute blessing and I can't even begin to tell him how much his Mommy loves him!

Life of a One Year Old...

2011-03-02T09:15:00.001-08:00

So, Mr Case is already showing so many personality traits, it is amazing. He is going to be a "stinker" like his dad, I do believe. He has definitely mastered the walking and is ALL over the place. He finally figured out last week how to get up from falling on his own instead of having to pull up on something (usually my legs). Last Friday, I took him to Taylor (my old school) to visit. He was NOT wanting to eat lunch in his stroller so decided to investigate Krystle's classroom instead. THEN he pooped, yep, had to change his diaper in the hallway in his stroller, NOT very successful. I took him into the office to see the office staff and he was NUTS, into all the cabinets, drawers, crawling, walking, whining, AHHHH. THEN we ventured to Target before his doctor's appointment and luckily we were IN Target because he pooped again (mind you we have been gone for maybe an hour from the house). We had to buy wipes and diapers at Target. THEN we finally made it to the doctor where Case wanted to play with the stethoscope, roll her stool around, bang on the window. I said to Dr Smith, is this NORMAL?!!? She said, Haley, if he wasn't like this, we would be worried. So all in all, I have a precious, sweet and funny BOY.

On Saturday, we went swimming at the Allen Natatorium. I thought Case would just LOVE swimming because he loves his bath and he did enjoy it but not quite as much as his little friend, Nixon. He better start liking it more because we WILL be making many trips to the pool this summer!

Case, Ebby Lee and Nixon

Sunday, Ryan went golfing so my friend, Jenn and I took the kids to Chili's. WOW, can I tell you how exhausting lunch dates can be! Little miss Lindley just sat in her highchair looking all cute in her pink little bow while MY friend was NUTS. He knocked over a chair next to his highchair and the people behind said, "ooh, that scared us"...ate more food than a normal 1 year old should, grabbed at everything possible and all this time JENN thinks it is hilarious while I am watching her sweet little Lindley just people watch and sit STILL. Oh, I wouldn't trade him for the world, sweet baby boy.

The kid LOVES balls. He is constantly holding two balls. We went to Walmart on Monday and got him a few new ones. A mini soccer ball, a BIG Spiderman ball and another Nerf squishy ball. So, why wouldn't the kid be obSESSED with the big giant red balls outside of Target? He says, mmball (with an m in front of it) and wants to get down SO bad to touch it. Well, this mommy decided he could feel it and let him run from one ball to another. Now, whenever we go to Target he has to get down to touch them.

We love Case SO MUCH it is unbelievable. The kid is hilarious, cracks us up, has a smile on his face ALL the time and is such a blessing.

Sweet Babies on Valentine's Day

1st Birthday!

2011-02-09T08:57:00.000-08:00

Case, Wrigley & Sasha (who loves it the most?!)

The Bishop Family

The Neill Family

YUMMY! Why haven't I had this before, Mommy?

Sweet Grandma

LOVE my sis!

Wow, I cannot believe a year has past by so quickly. I have enjoyed every single moment with this little guy. He is an amazing baby. Case has slept through the night since about 2 months and continues to sleep at least 12 hours a night and naps twice a day. He is so full of energy and is happy 99% of the time. We have been so spoiled. I keep saying the next one is going to be a girl and she will be a "diva" and rock our worlds! Case starting walking last week on our first official Texas SNOW day. We were teasing that we would teach him and he just up and did it. He still teeters here and there but just gets the biggest smile on his face like I am BIG stuff! We had FOUR snow days last week. Daddy was here with us two of the days and then Grandma Hoskin, Grandpa & Grandma Neill and Aunt Kirby all came down on Thursday. We were SO happy to have visitors and loved having them here. We had Case's 1st birthday party on Saturday. We did a "sports" theme and had an amazing turn out. I think everyone was just excited to get out of their houses and do something fun! Ryan's parents and brother, Josh also joined us. It was horrible traveling conditions for both of our parents so we are thankful they all made it safely! It was so nice seeing everyone and Case was blessed with TOO many presents, of course.

Yesterday was his actual birthday and he had school. YEA for Mommy and YEA for Case! He had the biggest smile on his face when we walked in to his little classroom. His teachers told me that he is such a delight and has such an adorable personality. I hope they enjoy him as much as I do! Now, the little guy DOES get a little sassy when he doesn't get his way or can't have something that is Mommy & Daddy's. He gets over it pretty quickly though. The only other time he gets upset is EATING time. If Case is hungry, the food had better be ready right NOW! He sure does eat a lot, I can only imagine what it will be like in 10 years. I won't be able to keep enough food in the house I am sure!

Mom seems to be doing well. She LOVES spending time with Case and we had such a great time while they were down here. I updated her Caring Bridge site, here is that address if you would like to check it out:
http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/cindyneill

We are snowed in again today. It looks like it is tapering off though and this Mama is praying for school tomorrow to have some "me" time :) We are passing time by making countless trips around the house in Case's new wagon! Have a fabulous day!

Crazy Weather!

2011-02-03T17:58:00.000-08:00

Sunny, 75 degree day on Sunday...

Snuggling indoors (yes, in our Christmas jammies) on Wednesday (ice day #2)

Well, last weekend the temp was in the 70s and now we have been stuck inside for THREE DAYS STRAIGHT. Seriously, can't they get some salt here in Texas?! It iced on Monday night and Tuesday morning and the roads are STILL like a skating rink. There is no school tomorrow as well. My sister just landed and my Dad, Mom and Grandma are driving down for the big PARTY on Saturday. It is going to be a BIG party considering everyone is just going to be thrilled to get out of their houses! I hope you all are staying warm & cozy in your houses and have a great weekend!

Sunny Days...

2011-01-29T09:04:00.000-08:00

It is January 29th and we are going to have a 75 degree day, YIPEE! I took Case to the park yesterday afternoon and we are going again today. Case LOVES to swing and watch all the kids around him. We tie Wrigley up to the stroller so he can watch us while we play. All of the kids love to pet Wrigley, he is a great dog with kids! We are going to enjoy today because the cold is coming again. I am bummed that is isn't going to be this nice next weekend for the BIG birthday party. Oh well :) Happy Weekend Everyone!

Blog Book

2011-01-27T18:39:00.000-08:00

Ok, so now that Case is almost one year old, I just found out that you can make a "blog book" from the posts. I am going to attempt to do a much better job in his 2nd year of life to capture those moments we can never get back, to write down the funny things he will say/do and to upload those photos I post on Facebook that canNOT be made into a book :) Case is growing up so quickly, I can't even believe it. I am not normally one of those mushy gushy type people but I have been saying how sad I am that the time has gone so quickly. Two nights ago I had to go up to his room and pick him up out of his crib (while he was sleeping) just to hold him. Considering he won't sit still long enough for cuddles during the day, it is my only chance to just snuggle him. Maybe he will be a snuggler some day... The weather has been amazing the past few days so we have been able to walk. Case enjoys getting out and going to the park to swing. Wrigley loves it just as much! It sure makes the day go by faster when we can go on our afternoon walks. Case LOVES LOVES LOVES FOOD (obviously comes by it naturally) but the kid has a mean streak that comes out when he doesn't get his food RIGHT when he wants it or if what he is having runs out (yogurt, applesauce, etc) he has a FIT. I just have to say, so sorry, it's all gone. We get up every day and still have oatmeal with baby food mixed in. Then blueberries, the boy LOVES blueberries. I can only hope he will continue to eat as well as he does now. We go to the YMCA on Mon/Wed/Fri and he doesn't love to go to childwatch at first but warms up quickly. Then we either go to playdates, the mall, Target, walk, etc all while Case is still napping 2 times a day. They are getting rather short though so one nap may be in our near future. Hopefully one BIG nap for mommy's sake! Case goes to school on Tues/Thurs from 9-2. He likes it a LOT. He always lunges in toward the room when I drop him off and goes about playing immediately. School ends early May so I am not sure what we will do with all of our precious time together :) I'm kidding, I wouldn't trade it for the world but I do enjoy my free days to get things done and have some "me" time. The big birthday is RIGHT around the corner. We are having the party next Saturday, the 5th. My sister will be flying in on Thursday, my Mom, Dad and Grandma driving on Thursday and Ryan's parents joining us on Saturday. We are SO excited! We were thinking Case may walk by his birthday but now not so sure. He took 4-5 steps a few times last week but hasn't shown me any of that business this week. I am not rushing it, he will when he's ready. Case is completely off the bottle drinking whole milk from a sippy cup. At first he wasn't so sure but is getting the hang of it. He enjoys the straw kind but I am not a big fan of the little milk left in the straw getting thrown all over the carpet, that's where Wrigley comes in handy :) Ok, I knew this would get long because it has been so long but I am honestly going to start making it worthwhile and fun for Case to read some day. Have a FABULOUS WEEKEND everyone! Love, Haley

Case's Birthday

2011-01-10T17:11:00.001-08:00

Twelve Months Blue Birthday Invitation

For hundreds of birthday card designs, click here.

View the entire collection of cards.

Happy New Year

2011-01-04T18:25:00.000-08:00

Wow, 2011 is here! We can't wait to see what the new year has in store for us. We have been very busy watching the little guy grow and learn daily. He is an amazing blessing to our family. We have enjoyed every moment so far and are looking forward to what is yet to come. Case, Wrigley and I flew to Iowa on Friday, December 17th. We get to the airport and the baggage check guy says (in the nicest way), oooh shit, your flight is canceled. WHAT?! So we were re-routed through Denver and finally made it to Des Moines that night about 9pm. I am sure you are just imagining myself running through the Denver airport in attempt to catch my connecting flight with a baby and a dog looking quite ridiculous :) We had a FABULOUS time in Iowa, enjoying the holiday season with family. Case was such a good baby the entire trip, sleeping 12-13 hours a night and sticking with his 2 naps a day as well. His smiling face brought smiles to everyone's faces. Santa found him at Mom & Dad's with fun new toys and clothes. He is just a tad bit spoiled! We stayed in Pleasantville on Christmas night and Case LOVED being with his cousins. We were excited to come back and get back into our routine going to the gym, back to school this week and walking. We have enjoyed being able to get outdoors and enjoy the sunshine. We hope the new year brings you all joy and love.

Love These Girls!

Sweet Aunt Kelsey

Love the cousins!

Sisterly Love

My amazing parents!

Grandma Hoskin

Kirby, Tony & Ollie

WOW, it's been awhile!

2010-10-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

I know, I know. I haven't been the best "blogger" on the block. It just seems easier to update Facebook but I know some of you do not have it :)

We are doing great here at the Bishop household. Case has been going to a Mother's Day Out program Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9-2. He LOVES his teachers and enjoys going. I am impressed with his teachers as well and enjoy MY me time!

We are going back to Iowa on Thursday for a few days. We are celebrating a year of mom being diagnosed with cancer but mostly celebrating the fact that she is doing great. She continues to work, keep the new home spotless and visit us as often as possible! I don't think the girl ever sits down which must be where I get it!

I turned 30 last week, THIRTY. I can't believe it. Some days I DO feel that old, other days I feel like I'm still in college. But then I look at that sweet little boy of ours. He is just precious. He is crawling, pulling up and pretty much getting into everything. I am ready for him to start walking!

We continue to go to the YMCA at least 3 times a week and Case likes the childwatch there. We also go to Kindermusik on Friday mornings. We sing songs, do some dancing and other fun activities.

We hope that you are all doing well and I sure do enjoy reading all of YOUR blogs so I will do better about keeping ours updated! Thanks for reading :)

Three Months Old!!!

2010-05-07T13:32:00.001-07:00

Wow, I can't believe three months has already passed. Everyone tells you how fast it will go and it sure does! Case will officially be 3 months tomorrow! We have enjoyed every minute so far with this sweet little boy. We made our first trip back to Iowa on April 19th and had a great time. It sure is a lot more difficult to travel with a baby (plus 3 suitcases, a dog, golf clubs, etc). I have to return to work on Monday for four weeks. My sweet Grandma is coming to stay with Case for the first week and then my mom is coming until the 26th. We will finish out the year with friends watching him before I finally get to be his Stay At Home Mommy!!! I can't wait! We hope this spring has brought you all joy!

Grandma and Grandpa

Sweet Baby Boy!

Proud Mommy & Daddy

5 Generations

Snuggling with Aunt Kirby

Cousins

First Airplane Ride

SO happy! All the time!

He was laying here while Ryan and I were doing things and just fell asleep on his own :)

2 MONTHS OLD!

2010-04-09T15:42:00.000-07:00

Wrigley Sitting ON Case :)

Cowboy Jammies with built-in boots :)

Grandma Loves Me

Happy 21st Aunt Kelsey!

Snuggles from Grandma

Hilarious Easter Outfit

Starting to Smile

I am 2 months old and mommy & daddy can't even believe it! Time is going so fast. I started sleeping upstairs ALL by myself in my big boy bed this week. I have done really well. I wake up at 3 or 3:30 to eat and then go right back to sleep. Mommy is ready for me to sleep through the night though. I am a sweetheart. I love bath time, books read to me and snuggling on mommy and daddy's chests. I might be a little bit spoiled. I hope you all had a terrific Easter. We had aunt Kirby come visit and that was wonderful. Before that, Grandma Cindy, Great-Grandma and Kelsey were here for TEN DAYS, we loved every minute of their visit. We are going home to Iowa in April and can hardly wait for everyone to meet me! Have a great weekend everyone!

One Month Old

2010-03-08T18:08:00.001-08:00

Baby Case is already one month old! It has been a wonderful month so far. Everyone says it goes fast and it truly does. We are still eating about every 3 hours, but I think that is fairly common. I don't think I am going to have that baby that "sleeps through the night" real early. I was too spoiled when I was pregnant sleeping at least 9 hours a night. He should have prepared me more and kept me up when he was inside :) We went on our first few outings last week. I took him to Target and to Ryan's office. This past weekend Ryan and I took him to Chili's and to our friend's house on Saturday and Sunday. We have to show him off. Ryan couldn't believe the waiter at Chili's didn't say anything to us :) We love Case Mathew Bishop SO very much! Our little family is blessed.

CASE MATHEW BISHOP

2010-02-22T07:42:00.000-08:00

Grandma & Grandpa Bishop

Great Grandma Hoskin
Best Friends For Life

My 2 Favorite Aunts
Case Mathew Bishop decided to make his arrival on Monday, February 8, 2010 at 12:47am. I was having small contractions all day on that Sunday and wasn't sure if it was the "real" thing but we decided to go in anyway. The entire labor/delivery experience was amazing. The epidural went well and I couldn't complain at all. Case arrived weighing 7lbs 11oz and was 20 inches long. We have had a great first two weeks with the new addition to our family. My mom, grandma and dad made it to that night here to Texas. Kirby flew in that Tuesday and Kelsey on Wednesday. They all left except for Mom on the following Sunday. Mom stayed an additional week and dad came back to get her this past Thursday. It was SO nice having her here. Today is our first official day home by ourselves :) We had to go to the Dr on Saturday morning because Case has been coughing and was real stuffy. This is very common in newborns so I wasn't too concerned. Turns out, he has RSV but is quickly recovering. I feel so bad for him being so small and already sick. We just keep using saline drops and sucking that gunk out of his little nose. When we went to the Dr, he weighed 8lbs 2.5oz so he is already growing so fast! Here are some pictures of our little one.
He is absolutely precious!Proud Daddy!

Grandma and Grandpa

Waiting for Baby Bishop :)

2010-01-24T17:34:00.000-08:00

Well, the doctor says he is a BIG boy :) We are at 37 weeks and she would like me to make it at least to 39 weeks. She may have to induce if he doesn't make it by then. The ultrasound measured him at 7lbs 8oz and I know it can be off but I KNEW this baby was big :) We have everything ready. I can't really think of anything else I could possibly do so I am trying to enjoy this time to relax :) We have been to movies, out to eat at most of our favorite restaurants and lounging as much as possible! We know we may be eating our words, but we are ready for this new adventure! Here are some pictures from the holidays and recent belly pics.

Baby Showers

2009-12-22T05:07:00.000-08:00

Wow, I have been blessed to have had two baby showers and literally been "showered" with gifts for this precious little bundle. I can't even begin to thank my family and friends enough for their time and hard work put into these wonderful days. Baby Bishop is definitely set with enough things to last him a long time :) We are so thankful for everyone's thoughtfulness. Here are a few pictures from recent baby celebration days.

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-26T18:24:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I have so much to be thankful for this year...
1. My wonderful husband who means the world to me, he is so understanding and patient with me.
2. My amazing family and in-laws (2nd family) whom I love so very much!
3. My mom's recovery from her surgery; her upcoming success with chemo and radiation in IA City and her strength, perserverance and faith in this journey.
4. The gift from God, our baby boy, who will be here before we know it!
5. My Texas family and friends who have been so supportive not only the past few weeks but the years since we have moved there.
5. My job where I get to spend my days making a difference in the lives of 21 little 1st graders.
6. Our sweet little dog, Wrigley, he is a blessing and brings us so much joy.

Baby Braelyn

2009-11-08T05:51:00.000-08:00

Wow, it has been quite a week. I am leaving Iowa today to go back to Texas. My mom was diagnosed with stage 4 brain cancer and I cannot even believe it. She had surgery to remove the tumor on Monday, November 2nd and is now in rehabilitation to regain her strength back. Radiation and Chemo will follow shortly. It is amazing how quickly your life can change so drastically. Please keep our family in your thoughts and prayers. I am going to upload a few new pictures from my visit home and a few other pics. Thanks for reading :)

My Trip Home

2009-10-18T07:55:00.000-07:00

YEA for sunshine! It has been out for the past three days and has been BEAUTIFUL here in Texas! I was needing a dose of sunshine, that's for sure! I went back to Iowa last Wednesday through Sunday. It was chilly & dreary there as well but we managed to have a wonderful time. Wrigley went with me and is an all-star flyer. He sleeps in his little carrier under my seat the whole way. He is such a good dog. I'm not sure if he will get to go on many more airplane trips though, lugging a baby and him might not work out :( I had my LAST birthday in my 20s last week, I can't believe it. Here are some recent pics. Have a great week!

Cuddling watching the Iowa game, GO HAWKS!

Mom & Dad Cuddling :)

I am quite a bit larger than my teeny tiny sister!

Sweet girls loving baby Bishop! He is going to be SO spoiled!

Kirbs and Wrigs loving!

Before School one morning-23 weeks!

Dad's getting excited!

It's a BOY!!!

2009-10-04T18:09:00.000-07:00

Well, it's official. Baby Bishop is a BOY :) We had our ultrasound on Thursday. We were both very surprised and excited. I have only bought ONE pack of onsies so I am doing good :) I think the rest of the family is going to be providing for this baby more than we can imagine! Baby Bishop is going to be the first baby on my side of the family so will be extremely spoiled! I have been feeling him move all week and Ryan was able to feel him on Thursday night. Ryan went hunting for the weekend so Wrigley and I hung out relaxing at home. He doesn't know what is about to happen to him in 4 months. I am heading home to Iowa on Wednesday evening with Wrigley. We will be there til Sunday. Ryan is going to Hot Springs, Arkansas for work. We are very anxious to spend some quality family time for a few days. I am sure Baby Bishop will get plenty of rub-downs! Here are some recent pics. Have a great week!

Fall

2009-09-17T16:05:00.000-07:00

I think fall is finally here! It has rained here for at least a week straight. Wrigley and I are going crazy not being able to go on our regular walks. I think we can squeeze one in this evening as I think the rain has stopped finally! Baby Bishop continues to grow. I can't believe I am almost half-way through this. I am 19 weeks! We will find out TWO weeks from today if it will be a sweet little girl like it's mommy or an ornery little boy like it's daddy. We can't wait. At first we weren't sure if we were going to find out but have definitely decided we want to know! Our furniture is in, we just have to pick it up and I am going to order the bedding after we find out. Then we can begin painting and all that fun stuff! I have not felt the baby move yet but I got to thinking, I wonder if you actually have to sit DOWN for that?! I am still on the go nonstop but keep telling myself I need to slow down. I will be going back to Iowa three weeks from today and I can't wait. I love fall in Iowa and I know there are people ready to rub this growing belly! They are all going to be surprised when they see my rear end is larger than my belly :) HA, no one ever told me that your butt has to grow to balance out the belly! Is it that it HAS to happen or that I enjoy oreos and milk duds too much?! Oh well, it will all be worth it. Here are a few pics of the belly and one of our "baby" (he is going to be in for quite a shock in a few months) Happy Fall Y'all!

Ryan is ALWAYS asking me to take pics of him and Wrigley cuddling. They are pretty cute!

Wrigley LOVES to lay in laundry right after I get it out of the dryer. He tends to roll around in it as well. I came back in the living room after going to dry my hair and this is what I found. I could NOT stop laughing and I think I embarassed him because he would not look at me for a long time afterwards. Hilarious! Um, if you can't tell, those are Ryan's briefs!

Pic before church. I am trying to find a place in the house I can set the timer and take pics of myself. Ryan seems to think it is silly to take so many pictures so I will just have to take some myself :)

This was today at school. I wore leggings for my FIRST time ever.

Back to School!

2009-08-30T10:47:00.000-07:00

This baby belly is growing! The first pic I took of myself on my way to workout. The next pic is of me with Emma. You can kind of see my belly there. And the last pic Ryan took in our bathroom. It is a pretty good one of baby Bishop. I am a little over 16 weeks along. Going back to school was tough. I LOVE my kids, they are a really good group but it is awfully tiring. My kids don't realize there is a baby in my belly yet but once it starts growing more, I am sure they will wonder! I was exhausted by the end of the week and so excited for the weekend. Ryan's parents were here all week and left this morning. We had a relaxing time with them. On Friday night, our friends Gene & Susan came over. Their little girl, Emma is hilarious. I have some great footage of her dancing, laughing and checking out baby Bishop. She points to my belly now and says "baby". We enjoy her entertainment. Have a great week!

Emma Dancing!

She is cheering herself on!

Checking out baby Bishop!

Her laughing sounds like a wind-up toy!

End of Summer!

2009-08-19T16:32:00.000-07:00

The Girls Shopping!
All of us (minus Ryan taking the pic) after a HUGE meal at Posado's!

My Sweet Mom!

My Amazing Family!

Us Girls!

Well, the summer has oficially come to an end. I started back to school this past Monday and the kids come next Monday. I am every bit anxious to meet my kids and their families but SO sad to be leaving my daily schedule of working out, laying by the pool, napping and relaxing all evening. I have been extremely tired at the end of these long staff development days. I am missing those afternoon naps! My family came to visit a few weeks ago. We had a wonderful time walking, going to the pool, shopping and eating yummy food! I was sad to see them go. Baby Bishop is almost 15 weeks now. The books say that he/she is the size of a lemon :) We are still undecided if we are going to find out if it is a boy or a girl. If we do decide to find out, it will be at the end of September! Back to school I go...

Baby Bishop!!!

2009-08-06T13:32:00.000-07:00

We can't be any more excited to announce that Baby Bishop will be born around Valentine's Day. I am about 13 weeks and have been feeling wonderful. I have been SO lucky and not been sick at all. We found out at the beginning of June and get more and more excited each week. We were not able to find out the sex today, she said it was too early. She wouldn't even make a guess. Ryan says he could tell it had male parts though :) We will see at 20 weeks. I go back to school on the 17th. This summer has been a very relaxing summer. My last one like this for a long time :) Thanks for reading!

Summer 2009

2009-07-26T07:29:00.000-07:00

I have finally decided to enter the "blogging" world. We have had a fun, relaxing summer this year. I went back home for two weeks to enjoy family and friends. I had my 10 year reunion, crazy how time flies. We have had a hot summer here in Texas. I have one more week of summer break before school starts back up! I am anxious, excited and nervous all at once. Stay tuned for more news to come!