My 7 year old



Cort Garner 7 years old
Height 4' 2.5"
Weight 57 lb 8 oz

Born 1.28.05 at 34 weeks
5 lbs 9 oz
6:03 pm via c-section
The yellow bandage on your chest is a chest tube.  You had a small hole in your lung from crying so hard at delivery.

 

You stayed in the NICU for 14 days.

This is the day we brought you home, February 10.  You weighed 5 lbs 12 oz.

I am so proud of you and the young man you are. 

You are such a sweet and loving little boy and an awesome son and brother.  You especially take great pride in your role as big brother to Gage. 

You are in Ms. Marshall's 1st grade class at Lowery and you seem to enjoy school.  I am impressed at not only your math and reading, but also how your writing and spelling abilities are developing.  I enjoy reading your stories and can see the detailed thought process you put into your writing along with the accompanying artwork.  You also were chosen to have 2 pieces of your artwork displayed at not only your school but at the Cy-Fair Instructional Support Building.

You make friends easily and have learned to adapt to new situations better. 

You are usually the first person awake in our house but will watch TV or play quietly until everybody else wakes up. 

I love your sense of humor and the quirky things you say.  It is more than just being silly, you are truly funny.  Recently we were at McDonalds and you were disappointed that there was only 1 pickle on your hamburger.  Instead of complaining or whining about it your response was, "Come on McDonalds, you can do better than that." 

You are a 'ball of energy', as Ms. Marshall puts it.  She told us that after field day all the other kids were tired and worn out, but you still had a lot of energy left. 

At times I can see your frustration show, but for the most part you are very patient.  I know you would love more of my attention, but since Gage is so little he demands a lot of my time in the evenings after work and on the weekends.  I am appreciative of your understanding.

I asked you what you wanted to be when you grow up and your response was, "A fireman, no, no, no wait I want to design Skylanders." 

Your favorite thing to do outside is ride Keaton's rip stick.  You just learned how this past week. 

Your best friend is Louis Durney.

I LOVE YOU!!!!
AND I AM SO GLAD YOU WERE BORN!!!

Christmas Day 2011

All ready for Santa!

Look what Santa brought!!

Gage's Radio Flyer 'roller coaster'

Cort's new bike

Keaton's electric scooter

Christmas morning excitement!

We let Keaton and Cort explore Santa's gifts before we woke Gage up.



Gage finally woke up and wasn't quite sure of it all.

He's thinking about it and taking it all in.

He didn't want to ride the roller coaster so he started off on the ground.

Lets try it this way.



It makes a good slide also.

He finally was brave enough to give it a shot.



Gage was so excited opening presents.  He couldn't understand why we would take away the present he just opened and hand him another wrapped gift.  He wanted to just play with the first toy he opened.

I can't believe I didn't take more pictures (okay, ones worthy of posting on the blog) of us opening gifts.  It lasted all morning and I am not exaggerating.  It was definitely overkill and was the result of being ahead of schedule.  I just kept buying more.  Anyway, I will totally cut back next year.  In addition, we have always opened up all our presents on Christmas morning, but I think next year we will open some on Christmas Eve.  Maybe the ones from Gee, Paw Dan, Aunt Kerrie, and Aunt Casey. 

Keaton trying out his new scooter.  Keaton was a pro from the start.  Cort on the other hand ran into a parked car. 



Too much action for Mr. Gage.  I don't even think he made it to lunch.



After nap time we headed to Mark's parent's house and had Christmas all over again.

The 4 big cousins
Keaton, Kayla, Cort and Ryan

The Roberson grand kids.



Cort got a COW from Uncle Adam and Aunt Julie.  He loved it from the beginning. 



Cort with his new game.

PaPaw got Keaton some starter golf clubs.  Will Keaton be the next Tiger Woods?

Gage got a ride on motorcycle.

I love this face and his expressive eyebrows.  (just like his daddy)

Cort got a new helmet to go with his big boy bike.

What a blessed holiday!  I hope this late and brief post somehow captures the spirit of our Christmas.

Getting ready for Christmas

Once again, I have fallen behind on my blogging.  It seems weird to be reminiscing about Christmas in February, but I can't let this past holiday season go undocumented.  As I am going through my pictures, I am disappointed as it seems I didn't take very many pictures.

Santa's little helper. 
Gage loves this snowman sleigh that sings and jingles.



The 3rd graders put on a Holiday Musical at Lowery.



Keaton is standing right behind Elvis.  Keaton had a special part as an ice skater which they used roller blades.

Keaton and Kevin after their performance.

Keaton did such a good job in his program.  I'm a proud mama!

Mark and I at my company Christmas party.  It is always nice to have a night out by ourselves and get dressed up.



School Christmas party with Cort



Cort and Ms. Marshall
1st grade

Class party with Keaton.

Keaton with Ms. Rees
3rd grade

I can't say that this year it was easier getting ready for Christmas, but I did try to do things a little different.  I started shopping and decorating earlier which was great.  I also bought a lot of things online this year.  I will absolutely continue shopping online.  It makes it so much easier and you can find great deals to avoid paying shipping costs.

I hosted Christmas Eve at my house.  My parents and sister joined us along with Mark's parents and Grandfather.  We had a roast dinner with mushroom soup before the Christmas Eve service at our church. 


My mom and dad with us at church.



Mark's dad, grandfather, and mom with us.

It was a snowy Christmas Eve.....well inside the church. 

The kids thought it was super cool for it to snow in church.

It really was tiny little bubbles that looked like snow.  It was an awesome idea because it didn't make a mess.

Christmas 2011
Do you think Gage wants to open a present?

Can we just open one and stop taking pictures, mom?

Keaton, such a big kid!

I think we are ready for Christmas.  Bring on the morning!!