Brooks' 4th Birthday

I truly couldn't believe my sweet baby boy was about to turn four and now in a few short months he will be five.  It seems like yesterday we were living in Seattle with a brand new baby boy.  Time is just flying right by me and I want it to slow down.  I want to cherish this time with my babies and soak up every minute.

We had Brooks' 4th Birthday party at the Houston Children's Museum.  It is the coolest place and I'm sad to say that we haven't been back since the party.  His baby brother was born one month later and we have just come out of hibernation!!  We definitely will go back soon.

Brooks wanted the theme to be Spiderman & Batman.  I took the easy route with party planning this year since I was about to pop and waddling around.  Ordered two cupcake cakes from Kroger, picked up a few balloons, made a cute sign, brought Batman & Spiderman toys from home to decorate the tables, and called it good. 

Aunt T, Uncle D, Evie May, Baba, & Poppa sent this cool, Spiderman fruit basket to the b-day boy.

Brooks and his buddy,Ryan, playing a game

Brooks & Drew

Birthday boy being shy when we sang Happy Birthday

Cupcake cakes...this picky & attention to detail minded Mommy cringed when I picked them up...I could have done a better job had I made them at home.  5th birthday will be much cuter!!

Decorated table

Brooks LOVES Spiderman, Batman, & anything about super heroes

Brooks & his cousin, Corbin

Playing in the museum

Family photo outside the museum

Playing a new game with Aunt Linsey & Uncle Davy after he opened gifts

Dinner after the party at Double Dave's pizza, one of his favorite places to go


I was so scattered the day of his party(read below) that I took the wrong camera lens to the party.  I didn't get any good pics of the rest of our family that came to the party.  We had a great turn out and Brooks had a blast!!

Sadly, the morning of Brooks' birthday party, my dad called to tell us that my sweet Papa had passed away.  We put on a happy face and attempted to make the day super special for our Brooksie.  My parents were not able to be there for the party, so we celebrated a few days later at their house.

Opening gifts at Baba & Poppa's on February 2nd, his birthday.

Baba & Miss Priss(Evie May)

He got to eat chocolate cake for breakfast on his special day!!

Holidays 2009: Part 4 Christmas with my family

Christmas Day, my family came to our house to spend a few days with us.  Brooks insisted we open presents as soon as they arrived!!  We had a late afternoon meal, and because it took me so long to do a post, I can't remember what we had.  :)  I'm so excited to be coming up on the 2010 holiday season with a new little bundle of joy in our family.

I think this pic of Evie hanging out with her daddy is too cute!!

The fam minus Bryan and my big ol' preggo self front & center

Brooks reading a new book from BaBa & Poppa



Holidays 2009: Part 3 Christmas Eve & Morning

Christmas Eve morning Bryan went in to work for a few hours, so Brooks and I decided to make a few goodies.  Cookies for Santa and Reindeer Chow were on the agenda.  He chose the slice & bake Christmas tree cookies at the grocery store, which was fine by me.  I made chili to have for dinner after the Christmas Eve service.  We had a great day together as a family!!  One of my favorite things about being a parent is seeing the magic of the holidays through the eyes of a child.

Recipe for Reindeer Chow:

6 C Crispix cereal

1/4 C peanut butter

1/2 pkg milk chocolate chips

powdered sugar

In saucepan, heat chocolate chips until almost melted.

Add peanut butter and finish melting together.  Pour over cereal.  Stir until cereal is coated, then pour in large Ziploc with powdered sugar.  Shake until cereal is coated.  Pour into large bowl to cool.

Enjoy!!

Shaking it up!!

About to indulge

He was so excited

Eating like a reindeer...no hands!!

Dressed &and ready for Christmas Eve service.  I love this pic of them.

My sweet, sweet boy

In our jammies, cookies & milk for Santa, and treats for the reindeer

Reindeer food(hay) that Brooks put together at school 

Goodies from Santa...went for the stocking first!!

Excited little boy, I love his candy cane jammies.

Then, we headed upstairs to the playroom for his big surprise, a train table.

Love the conductor hat

I thought his serious expression was so sweet.  He wanted all of the trains to stay connected to each other!!

Holidays 2009: Part 3 Christmas with Bryan's family

This year, we decided to spend Christmas at our home.  Bryan and I were both fortunate enough to grow up near our grandparents, so we were always home Christmas morning.  Unfortunately, we don't live near our parents and usually switch out spending the holidays with them.  Brooks was about to turn four and it was the first year he really "understood".  So, we celebrated with Bryan's family one weekend in December and then with my family after Christmas. 

Our very first gingerbread house

Wanted to include a picture of our front door...I made the garland & was really pleased with how it turned out!!

Early Christmas Weekend in Abilene:

We always enjoy our visits to West Texas.  Bryan grew up in Abilene and we lived there two years after we got married.  We hit up our fav restaurants: Rosa's, Abuelos, & Joe Allen's BBQ.  Bryan has a big family and we got together with them one night at his grandmother's house(hate I didn't take any pics there).  We also took Corbin and Brooks to have their pic made with Santa.  Fun weekend with family!!

Brooks & MeMe watching How the Grinch Stole Christmas

Linsey, Corbin, Brooks, & Bryan before opening gifts

Brooks dancing to the Sunday Night Football theme song by Faith Hill, you can see her on the TV.  He did this with Bryan every Sunday and it was hilarious. 

Modeling his new Thomas the Train backpack

Brooks & Corbin have the best time playing together.

MeMe pushing the boys around the kitchen...fun times!!

Holidays 2009 Part 2: Thanksgiving & Brooks' 1st time "hunting"

Fall is such a fun and busy time of year for our family. Each October we go home so Bryan can help my dad get the farm ready for hunting season.  Hunting season is a big deal in our family and I know Bryan looks forward to the day he can take Brooks & Bennett with him.  Brooks decided he wanted to go hunting.  So, we all dressed in camo and headed to the farm.  My family's farm is out in the country and such a peaceful, beautiful place.  I love to spend time there.  It is a tree farm(no horses, cows, etc) about 30 minutes from my parents house.  My parents are putting in a hunting cabin.  So this year the guys will have a place to go,after the morning hunt, to have breakfast, watch football, and hang out.  Mom, the boys, and I will go down a few times I'm sure. 

Brooks in the deer blind

Fun day with my boys

Baba and our little hunter

Brooks and Poppa on the tractor

We spent Thanksgiving 2009 with my family.  It was the last holiday I got to be with my Papa.  He was living at my parents house while taking dialysis.  He was really sick, but I got to spend quality time with him that I will treasure forever.  Each night, after we put Brooks to bed, I would go into his room to watch TV and talk to him.  I thought it was so sweet that Brooks would go into Papa's room throughout the day to check on him.  He loved his Papa so much!!

Brooksie and his Papa

My mom and her parents

A treausered photo, my family praying and giving thanks for our many blessings.

Thanksgiving 2009 family photo

2009 Holidays Part 1:Pumpkin Patches & Halloween

So, I'm almost one year late with this post, guess better late than never..Ha!!

Bryan and I took Brooks to a Pumpkin Patch about an hour north of our house. We heard that it was great with lots of activities for the kids. What we didn't know, was the entire city of Houston would go the same day and time as we did. We waited in line for 1.5 hours and I was one hot, tired, preggo mommy. Totally worth it, Brooks had a blast!!

Picture of our sweet boy waiting in line
They had:
~tractor races

~rope swings

~look at that handsome "Cowboy Brooks"

~a big play area(I didn't get a good picture b/c we were busy chasing Brooks through it)

~Brooks' favorite was the zipline

You could go on a hay ride out to the fields to pick your pumpkin, but our little guy was to busy playing to do that. He protested and we were too hot & tired to fight him.

2nd Pumpkin Patch at one of the churches near our house:

Daddy met us there on his way home from work

I loved this antique wagon filled with mini pumpkins

Brooksie with his loot

Halloween parade at Brooks' preschool...isn't Spiderman a cutie???

Carving pumpkins

He really got into it this year

I love the built-in muscles
Talking to Baba on his way to trick or treat
This house had a few scary decorations and daddy needed to go with him!!

My favorite picture of the night!! After we returned home from trick or treating, they sat in the front yard waiting for kids to come by. Brooks thought this was sooo much fun. Sweet boy.

Upcoming Post: Halloween 2010

Brooks is going to be Batman and Bennett a bat!! Can't wait. :)