Shad's Office

My older brother Shad finished orthodontic school last summer and got into a great practice in Katy, TX.
We got to go check out his sweet office when the staff threw a baby shower for Shad and Amy and their little girl to be on Feb. 17, 2011.
If anyone needs a great orthodontist, be sure to ask me about Shad!

Amy, Shad, and their haul...

See!  I was there!

My amazing Mom and sister-in-law Amy

Brooke loved the giant horse...

Megan loved the arcade room--so many buttons to push...

Megan and Chloe...cousins...friends...occasional enemies...cuties

And a few random pictures just because:

Mommy and sleepy Megan, Feb. 6, 2011

Saturday morning with my 3 favorite people, Feb. 19, 2011

Valentine's Day 2011

To celebrate V-Day this year, Dan and I got to go out on Feb. 11, the Friday before Valentine's (thanks Ashley and Beckett!). We had a yummy dinner at Carabba's and then headed home to watch RED. Getting out without the kids is always a nice change from routine.
Valentine's day itself it was mostly a regular Monday--but Dan brought home some Reese's cupcakes for his 3 Valentine's. It was a fun surprise and a great FHE treat.

Daddy and his daughters, Feb. 14, 2011

Bundles of Joy...

These little bundles of joy have some news to share with you...

The big sisters on Feb. 3, 2011

They're going to have a new little sister! Due date: July 24, 2011

Ultrasound from Feb. 12, 2011

Basketball Ben!

Dan's "little" brother Ben was a freshman at UVU this past year and was a starter for their basketball team.  Lucky for us, UVU is in the same conference as Houston Baptist University so we got to see Ben the day of their game here!  They played each other on Feb. 5, 2011.
Dan and I, my brothers Shad and Tyler, my sister Carrie, and a friend Miles were able to go watch.  UVU won and everything.  It was so fun to have a few minutes with Ben in our hometown--we hope he can come again when he has a little more downtime.

Saying hi at the hotel before the game...

Go Ben! #34

The brothers after the game...

"Snow" Day

Houston was all geared up for "snow" to come on Friday, Feb. 4, 2011. School was canceled, Dan's office told everyone to work from home--it was going to be a BIG DEAL!
And then Friday came and while there was ice covering all the plants and cars, NO SNOW.
None. Kind of a disappointment. But while Brooke napped, Megan and I took a little walk to enjoy the ice before it melted away.  And all that cold air tired her out enough that she fell asleep on the couch after lunch. Cute girl.

Frozen leaves on our bush in the front

Dressed warm...

Picking icicles off a neighbors car (her favorite activity on our walk)...

Frozen patch of grass...

Sleepy girl...

18 months...

I can't believe it--as of Jan. 13 my baby is 18 months old!  She had her checkup on Jan. 31 and is doing great.  She can say over 65 words, runs and climbs like a champ, and loves to giggle.  She tries her best to keep up with big sis (and at this growth rate, it won't be long before she catches her size-wise).  We love you Brookie-boo!

The stats:
Length=33.5 inches (90th percentile)
Weight=27 lbs, 8 oz (85th percentile)

Brooke on 1/31/11

The rest of January...

I love January.  It feels like such a fresh start.  The house gets de-cluttered from all the Christmas stuff and I get back to the normal routine of life that the holidays throw off for a while--grocery swapping, playgroup, preschool, etc.

 Yelling at dinnertime, 1/14/11

Brooke learned to go down the slide alone, 1/21/11 (notice that it does get cold occasionally)

Beautiful blue eyes, 1/21/11

Walking in Mom's heels, 1/23/11

Cute church girls, 1/23/11

Dinnertime helpers, 1/24/11

Impromptu preschool, 1/26/11 (the host mom's kid was sick that day so we had the other kids over to play--Brooke loved getting to attend with the big girls)

Audrey and Megan (Megan preferred wearing her cape as a skirt)

Kate and Brooke (Brooke preferred wearing the cape as a hat)

After naps, also 1/26/11--I love that face

Playing their block trumpets, 1/27/11

 A new homemade dress for Megan, 1/30/11

Biker Brooke w/pigtails (I promise, they're there), 1/31/11

Chocolate Pudding after lunch, 1/31/11

Park Day

 In between cold snaps last month, there was a day of amazingly beautiful weather.  Jan. 28 was sunny, clear, and almost 70 degrees. We headed to one of our favorite parks to soak in the sun before naps.

I love these girls...

A Fond Farewell

We met our friends Mark and Kyra in our first ward in Houston--their first Sunday was our first Sunday too and Mark was starting work with ExxonMobil as well. 
We got to know them a little before moving to our house and were thrilled when they ended up buying a house down the street!  They had a little girl about 2 months after Brooke and it was so fun to have them so close.  We had a great almost 2 years with them as neighbors, game-playing buddies, and friends.  Sadly, that time came to an end in the middle of January when they had to move to Louisiana for work. 
We got to have them over for one last dinner the week that they moved and it happened to be Mark's birthday.  We miss you guys!

Jan. 19, 2011 (Brooke was ready for bed and had dinner all over her clothes--hence the diaper and socks look)

Blowing out the candles...

Hugs!  

 

Megan-3 years, Brielle-16 months, Brooke-18 months

New Year and New Do's

Hair-do's that is.  For Brooke, I've finally been able to try a few things other than a teeny pony on top--like this--a teeny pony on top and a teeny pony in the back. (pics from 1/12/11)

January also marked an AMAZING milestone for our family--Brooke started nursery!!!!  That means that we don't have ANY* kids with us after sacrament meeting.

*Of course, this is more meaningful for Dan who really doesn't have kids with him.  It makes less of a difference to me because since being put in primary, I didn't have Brooke with me anyway (Dan took her every week) and I continue to spend church surrounded by kids.  Just not my own.
Except that Megan graduated from nursery and is now a full-fledged Sunbeam so I do see her for part of primary.

Brooke mostly likes nursery and Megan mostly likes primary.  Brooke cries as Dan walks her to nursery each week, but then typically stops crying and plays (somberly) or naps on a leader (thanks nursery leaders!).  Megan spent a few weeks crying and clinging to me as I ran around like a crazy during opening exercises and sharing time, but is beginning to adjust.  She loves singing time, but was a little nervous the first few times to have to leave for class.  I haven't had to drag her screaming and kicking to her class in a few weeks now--progress :).  I think if I wasn't in there, she would be fine the whole time.

Yay for new adventures!  We're looking forward to a great 2011.