A new tradition...

Yesterday I had no intentions of going anywhere- I really just wanted to stay home and hang around. I got this idea for Christmas and decided I better go ahead and get it done while Brian was home with the kids and I could get out and get back faster.

So in the midst of my errand running was a stop at Barnes and Noble- I went with the intention of buying for someone else. I love the kids section there, although I am not a regular ( I tend to favor Amazon- I'm obsessed!), I find it very cozy and inviting and I love to just peruse the shelves and see what I can find for Riley. We have started a routine many months ago with her at bedtime to read her a story every night just before she climbs in- whatver she chooses. She loves stories. So as I am looking for what I originally intended to buy, I decided to check out the kids section.

I have been wanting to start a tradition of our own with our kids. Now that she is getting older and understanding more, she is beginning to understand who Santa is and say his name when she sees him. I really wasn't looking for anything in particular, but I happened to find this:

I debated between the different editions as I stood there analyzing a few different ones... I chose this one mainly because of the better illustrations and images that it had.

I figured this could be one of maybe many traditions that we start. As a kid I always got to open one present on Christmas Eve and always left cookies and milk for Santa. Brian grew up watching "It's a Wonderful Life" and it's now one of his favorites..I had never seen it until I met him (I know, I can hear you all gasping) and now it has become something we always do together. So that will be another tradition for us with our kids.

I have always loved this story and wanted to make it a permanent in our house on Christmas Eve as we tucked our kids into bed.

It is when you have your own kids that starting traditions of your own really means alot. This is one that I am starting for them that I hope they will enjoy. I am going to wrap it up for Riley this year as an early Christmas gift and let her open it on Christmas Eve after church and make sure that this is one of those "special" books she will always have.

This year as Christmas nears, we are so thankful and reminded of how blessed we are.

Santa Claus 2008!

Did you know...

that everyday there are 50,000 new blogs created! Me either, but that was some trivia I heard on the radio today.

Is it worth it?

This is what we asked ourselves as Brian and I stood out in our back yard just a moment ago... let me give you some background info:

Turns out that there is an attorney ( he is the namesake of a law firm right by our house) that lives on some property right outside of our neighborhood and every year he has what I am assuming is his company Christmas party at his place. Every year it's a big sha-bang, seems like it's bigger and better every year, and even though we've never been... this is my observation as an outsider who drives by on the way to my house daily.

About two weeks before the party, they start setting up these huge white tents that can be seen above the fenceline of the property. Then come the carnival rides and who knows what else all behind the mystery of the gates. It looks like a theme park- completely unreal, but really exciting. They bring in the forklifts and cherry pickers and all other heave machinery and the work begins. I think what I like the best is the miniature train that circles the property and has a depot station that can be seen from the street. From our house, which is only a few blocks from this property, we can hear the choo choo of the train.

So every year on the day of the party, there are so many people waiting in line to get admitted by invitation only, of course. I presume they are the employees and their families. Lucky them because this party looks unbelievable just from the outside. And every year there is live entertainment. And I don't mean just a nobody trying to break in to the music world. They way I have always heard it is that in the past there's been Dolly and some other big names.

Well, like I said, what it seems like is every year it gets bigger and better. Can you imagine the cost? I can't.

I'm sure you are wondering why I originally asked the question "Is it worth it?" Rumor is this man paid $1 million bucks for an hour's worth of entertainment. Go ahead, start guessing....

Brian and I stood out in our backyard a minute ago and listened to Hannah Montana. I know for sure she is there 1. because I pretty much have a live concert in my backyard ,even from inside we can still hear all the noise 2. As I drove by today on my way home from finishing some shopping, all those lucky party-goers were in line with their children holding posters and signs that read, " Hi Miley!", and 3. Even from our house a few blocks away, you can hear the screams of who knows how many little girls.

What a great thing to do this for friends and employees. I keep hoping one day I might somehow figure out how to get on that invite list, if for nothing else, just to see the spectacle of it all. But I'm pretty much presuming that will not happen. :>)

S-N-O-W!

I'm sure most of you were as suprised as me this afternoon when snow started falling...and even though I didn't get to experience it with my own kids for their first time, you can only imagine the uproar in a school of about 900 when they all noticed at the same time. It snowed pretty heavily where I was and near our house. What a great sight!

Brian and I realized the last time that it snowed here was about 3 years ago on Christmas Eve, and I think the time before that, I was in 7th grade and we all ran out of the classroom too so I couldn't blame them too much today!

Thanksgiving pics

We had more pics than usual from the Thanksgiving break and so I figured a slideshow was best. We are so thankful for everything we have been blessed with: a happy home, healthy children, and a great bunch of friends and family who we love very much.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

May your stuffing be tasty

May your turkey plump,

May your potatoes and gravy Have never a lump.

May your yams be delicious

And your pies take the prize,

And may your Thanksgiving dinner

Stay off your thighs!

a new recruit

It's like I've said before... you never know what you're going to get with this little girl. The sunglasses were a must have at the mall this weekend and I guess she figures dad doesn't need the hard hat since he is off this week. Makes for a good combo ( although my mom and I think the glasses are a little Elton John-ish).

If it wasn't for my hubby...

I know it's been a while but I have good reason: 1. work, 2. time, 3. no camera. Yes, I said no camera- UNTIL NOW! Riley accidentally broke my camera back in Aug. when Cole was 3 weeks old. So I have been without one for far too long. Normally all the pics I get are from Neika and a few here and there from friends and my mom. Well, Friday Brian emails me at work and says, "Meet me at Circuit City, there are a few things I want you to look at!" I figured I knew what he was up to, but I was excited nonetheless.

I, of course, had no problem picking one and making a decision quickly since he had done all the research. So if it had not been for my very thoughtful hubby to get me my xmas gift early ( I think he was tired of hearing me complain), I would have missed ALL of these photo ops this last weekend:
yes, I am usually ALWAYS this happy!

But then I get tired because I am growing soo fast, and I found a new way to sleep curled up on my daddy's arm like the monkey that I am...

And since I am now four months old, we got the ok from the doc to start on some foods since I am always hungry- this was squash, the 1st one we tried and well, I didn't do too good. Not quite sure what that was so i just kept spitting it back out. Great!

Sweet potatoes went a little better a few days later, except for that I am still not quite sure how the whole spoon thing works- mom usually has to make me laugh so I open my mouth because I don't have it mastered yet to open when I see food coming. Instead, I try to lick the spoon like a dog. Mom thinks it's pretty humorous. And yes, I do go from 0 to tantrum in 5 seconds!

Sunday at church mom and dad were told that I was the poster child for new recruits for volunteers in the baby nursery. They carrried me around and I flashed this great smile that I have and made some hearts melt. I think it worked...

My sweet little boy...

is getting so big...I love this picture because his eyes match his shirt. Riley has crystal blue eyes and Cole has these deep sapphire blue eyes. I thought it was only fair that I post a recent one of him...he will be officially 4 months on Tuesday and I can't believe it. This little boy makes our hearts melt...

Random moments...

Seems like these days Riley is into just about everything...everytime I turn around, she is doing something that makes me laugh...here are some of these so-called "random moments" from this week:


Tuesday night, she stole my boots and put them on...

Saturday morning- I decide that Cole is big enough for the Bumbo seat- Riley steals his seat and his nose sucker and sticks it in her mouth before I can say "NO!" (gross)

Then she steals his pacifier...

Saturday we went to some friends house to watch the t.u. and Tech game...the kids are upstairs playing- she steals Carson's boots and glasses and prances downstairs...there is a sign on the wall coming down the stairs that says, " Some people are like Slinkies...not really good for anything, but still bring a smile to your face when you push them down a flight of stairs." I love that.

Today my mom and I go to Target and Brian calls and asks me to find something for the living room to store all the toys in. It's not like I have not been intending to find something to place tham ALL in, but it was one of those things I haven't done yet. So I know when Brian says something, it's out of control. We had toys everywhere...and normally every night, she picks them up and piles them in front of the fireplace. So I find 2 of these woven storage cubes on clearance and organize all the toys into them. She wakes up, I show them to her and explain that all the toys go in here now..a few minutes later, I find this...(above)- she is sitting on top of the toys in this cube... Gosh I love this kid.

There is rarely a dull moment coming from the Roo Bug. She makes my heart smile.

happy halloween!!

Friday we spent the evening at the church for their annual Fall Festival and Riley had quite the time... she was everywhere- without all the candy for us to steal and eat and for her to further her energies on!


I was very tired after an hour and a half of chasing Riley and running through moonwalks and inflatables...but Cole loved the ride in the front so he could check things out. Next year, I'll get him a costume, but I just didn't mess with it this year.

What fun is it without mom?

What little girl doesn't love a puppy?

Riley is very much into the whole Disney Princess theme this year- so it was only appropriate that she be one of the fairies!

For Sale!

Well, I am very sad to say that our friends, John and Maranda, are moving to Austin. And while this is a good thing for them, given the market, all of us they are leaving behind are very upset. I guess I am really speaking about me. She is one of my dearest friends and I am so upset to see them go. Yes, I do realize this is the best for them, but I am being selfish in my ways and don't want them to go. So as much as I don't want them to sell their house (which I guess realistically takes away that permanant attachment to Houston), I do have their best interest at heart so I am posting the blog about it below.

They have really done an AWESOME job with their house so this is something to tell your friends about! She also has it posted on Craigs List- click here!



Check it out for yourself:
http://www.2835bernadettelane.blogspot.com/

Pumpkin Patch 2008

This is where it all began...

So the story goes that we met through a mutual friend who I was dating...this guy was in one of my business classes and one day approached me after class and asked me out. Well, I said yes...and good thing I did. No, this guy wasn't Brian, but because of him, I met Brian. Brian was friends with this guy and we were out one night at the same place and I ran into him and Brian. So Brian and I became friends and figured out that we lived next to each other...you know when you meet someone you at first make small talk and get to know them. We started talking and figured out that we lived next door to each other in the same apartments in CS. Not right next door, but our buildings were right next to each other on the pool. So from my apartment, I could always see if Brian was home or not. But the strange thing is before I met him, we had never seen each other in passing. You would think that one might cross paths living in the same complex. Nope, not us. So the only reason I am so thankful that I dated this other guy was because Brian and I became really good friends, and well, you know what happened... the rest is history.

Saturday we went back to our old stomping grounds with our dear friends, John and Maranda who invited us to get away and go to the game. Now, here's another weird coincidence...John and Maranda went to A&M....they were in the same Sunday school class, at the same church as us, knew the same people and we never met. Impossible you say? Yes, I thought so years later when we put it all together. So it turns out that Maranda also was a business major at A&M, like myself, and we passed each other in the business school, but were never friends. John played at A&M...After graduating, we both end up at the same place AGAIN. She was in my class at Region IV taking teacher cert. classes- we became friends in class, talking occasionally. Well, class ended and I got a job at the same school I am at now. Here she comes walking down the hallway one day at my school. She was got hired as a long term sub her first day and eventually hired as part of my team, until last year when she left to stay home with Jake. Here's these two love birds...

So, it is all because of Aggieland that our lives have worked out this way. I know, it's weird... (it wasn't only Aggieland, yes, I do realize this.) I always think of that quote " Coincidence is God's way of remaining anonymous." He defintely had a thing or two to do with putting all this together!

The Houston Zoo

This leopard was amazing...the weather was so great that the cats were out sunbathing. This one just layed there about 4 feet from us and didn't seem to have a care in the world. These are such amazing animals, when you get to see them up close you really appreciate their beauty. How cool would it be to get to pet one of these...I wish... but we will enjoy them from this point of view instead.

This was in the petting zoo- a little story...they have a basket of brushes near the inside of the petting zoo. Riley had gone to get one of her own and walked over to the goats to help brush them (notice the brush in hand). As she was brushing one of the goats, a little boy standing on the other side of the goat ( his mom right by him) reached over and took the brush from her. She just looked back at me and I said, " it's ok, just go get another one." The mom says NOTHING! So Riley goes to get a brush and she comes back with two, all for herself! So then the mom decides to casually say sorry as she passes by and they walk away. I said NOTHING to her. Maybe it is my "school teacher"mentality or it just seems like common sense to me, but I wanted to reach over to that boy and take it back from him ( as a teacher would do) and correct his behavior, but I didn't say anything to him because I assumed that his mom would naturally. I guess that's what I get for assuming. How rude of her. I guess we can't blame the little ones for their actions too much when good 'ole mom just stood there herself and didn't see that as an opportunity to let her son know he shouldn't have done that. Yes, he probably should've known better. Was it a big deal that Riley had to get another brush? I guess not- she didn't seem upset, but please people...have some common courtesy and teach your kids some manners. Geez.

This is how Roo spent a lot of the day- getting a boost from dad.

Cole is really developing the cutest smile and is such a great baby! He stayed awake the entire time and was very pleased just to see what was going on.

Jake Stephen Kirk...7 months...seemed to enjoy the day cruising in the stroller.

John and Maranda...here's an ironic twist to the day...they have been married 5 years but went on their first date ten years ago today...to the zoo! We had no idea when we asked them to go with us but we were so glad that they came to celebrate their day.

Nate and his precious little girl, Rowan. She is 18 months... his wife, Karen, was there too. Just not in the pics...

Our good friend, John, and his son, Jake!
It was Jake's first visit to the zoo!

Riley had lots of fun with her daddy!

Today was a great day for the zoo...the weather was beautiful, fall was in the air, and the animals were out and about. We went with soem friends of ours that also have little ones, thinking we'll just make a day out of it. We got there when it opened and the parking lot was almost completely full. The kids were really enjoying themselves and wore themselves out. Riley crahsed in her carseat before we made itour of the parking lot to go home. We enjoyed the zoo so much that we thought we would buy a membership next year and enjoy some of the many perks...like feeding the giraffes. How cool is that? Brian and I really would like to do that. It m,ich seem weird to some, but they are super cool. We had a great day and were tired at the end, but it was go great to get out and do something outdoors.

some more of the kiddos...

 

 

 

 

So I am adding these through the picture program Picasa 3 (super GREAT) by the way, and apparently it doesn't add all of them- maybe it's me. But anyway, it's great because you select the pics, click Blogger at the bottom, and BAM! they're uploaded...Super Fast! I'm loving this...