Shutterfly Album

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I just finished and ordered my semi-annual family album; phew!

The new way to make a photo album: photo books by Shutterfly.

Like Riding a Bike

Taylor's been working with Brady on riding a bike with no training wheels.  Brady enjoys it, but I think Taylor's tired of running behind him all hunched over.  Taylor read that kids have a really high success rate when you take the pedals off for awhile, basically turning it into a balance bike.  For whatever reason, we're having trouble removing the pedals on this bike <sigh>.  We need to figure out if we buy him a bigger bike with removable pedals, or keep trying on this one...  I know he's ready to learn.

I love this picture.

 Anna Belle just started wearing pigtails.  She runs to me with 2 bows, asking me to put them in.

Watching TV

My sweet little ones holding hands and watching TV.

This is how Anna Belle feels when she hears me snapping photos.

 This is how Brady feels when he hears me snapping photos.

Church and the House of Blues

I'm pretty good about bringing my camera with me, but I'm bad about pulling it out.  For whatever reason, I feel like this time prior to Sunday school is a great time to snap a few photos of the kids.  

 A little over a week ago, Taylor and I went on a date night with our friends Travis and JJ.  Taylor and I had dinner at McCormick & Schmick, and then met Travis and JJ at the House of Blues for a Led Zeppelin II concert (an awesome look alike band).  It was a really fun night out.  I wanted to take pics at the House of Blues, but my camera ran out of battery.  

Congrats Kimmy!

My sister, mom and I hosted a party for Kimmy to celebrate her recent marriage / elopement.  I went to college when these girls were in junior high, and I still kind of see them at that age.  Well, they've grown up and many are getting married now.  Kim's little girl is Maddy, who is standing at the end of the couch.

The day before the party, we installed the newly painted bedrail and ladder on Brady's bunk beds.  The kids played on the top bunk during a lot of the party.  

 Anna Belle loved having another little girl to play with.  Apparently when Maddy was packing for her trip, she told her mom she needed two pairs of pajamas (one for her and one for Anna Belle).  They took turns with baby dolls and giggling over nothing on the top bunk.  I was nervous about Anna Belle being on top, but she was good about not leaning over or trying to go down the ladder alone.

 Brady was happy to have the girls in his room.  In the photo below, he's fast forwarding through the previews so the girls can watch Cinderella again.

Ironically, Brady is a little bit afraid of the movie Brave.  It started before he even saw a preview for the movie.  Megan was trying to explain the premises, which scared my little man.  Ever since then, I'm always trying to remind him it's funny.  He laughs hysterically at a lot of the scenes, but he's still uncharacteristically afraid during the scary parts.  Here's my favorite part.  When Anna Belle wants to watch any movie now, she tries to persuade us by saying it's funny.  

Monster Truck Jam

We went to the Monster Truck Jam last night, at Reliant.  Some time ago, Grammy gave Brady a Hot Wheels Monster Truck Set, which had the ramps, cars to crush, etc., and on Thursday's grocery trip, Brady used his own money to buy an Iron Man monster truck.  He's really grown to like the whole Monster Truck concept.

When we first sat down, Taylor went to go get food for the kids.  There was some activity on the course, but nothing could have prepared any of us for the monstrous noise when all the big trucks entered the stadium at once.  Fortunately, I had just put Anna Belle's ear plugs in for the third time.  She kept him in after the big trucks came in.

 Baby girl has been feeling a little under the weather.  I suggested a few outfits to her today, and she insisted on this sweet outfit.  It's a size up from what she's wearing now, but I've been excited to see her in it.  <At least for now> I love that she has an opinion about what she wears, and she likes to look cute.

 I took the photo below.  This was one of the first qualifying races.

 Brady is excited to take pictures with Mommy's camera and loves this whole monster truck thing.

 Brady took these two shots of the Iron Man monster truck, who held the record when Anna Belle and I went in the lounge for awhile to escape the noise.  My friend Lauren went with her family too.  Her son Gage is a few weeks older than Anna Belle.  It's fun to see them both getting so big.

Work, Work, Work

I feel like this is my first week to be in a semi-normal schedule.  I started back at the YMCA.  I connected with a few friends, whom I've neglected over the holidays.  I knocked out a lot of chores that I've been procrastinating.  The Sequoia needed an inspection, oil change, tire rotation and alignment.  Anna Belle loves playing with my purse, and on one of those occasions I failed to collect my driver's license. I went to the DPS to replace it this week.  Both kids got sick to their stomach, so I had to clean a bed and a car seat.  It's nothing exciting or special, just life.

In this photo of Anna Belle, she just finished a bath.  She found a headband and put it on herself.  She also cuddled baby up with the towel.  She loves her baby.

Taylor put 2 coats on the last 2 bunk bed pieces (the rail and ladder), yet another chore I've been procrastinating.  I'm so, so grateful for his help.

 Taylor also went to two home improvement stores to get me new shelves and shelf clips.  I love to organize.  I love that organization lasts for quite awhile, whereas cleaning hardly lasts 24 hours.

Raspberry 1-2-3

I generally believe that enjoy eating whatever they have the most frequently.  Since raspberries aren't always in season, I feel like I'm constantly reintroducing the kids.  I started putting the berries on their fingers, and they both love it.  

Every time we would have olives, my Nana would tell me about how she would put one on every finger as a child.  I hope Nana can smile on this from heaven.

Rockwells (again)

Same burger, different family.  Most of my mom's side of the family lives in the greater Houston area, but she has one sister from Illinois.  Uncle Rick and my cousin Nathan came too.

Sunday School

On Sunday mornings, we bring Anna Belle to Brady's class while we set up (and wait for Anna Belle's teachers to arrive).  Brady stacks the play dough containers and Anna Belle plays with the actual play dough.  

On a bit of a side note, my Aunt Julie told me that her oldest son (Stephen) loved Playmobil and her younger son (Nathan) preferred not so imaginative play.  I think Brady's following in Nathan's footsteps; I would be happy if he started his own construction company like Nathan too. 

 Anna Belle wanted to wear rain boots to church.  Have I mentioned that we already fight with Anna Belle over shoes?  Taylor and I will frequently have to take away one shoe and then give her a few alternate options to choose from.  I thought I would have a few more years before having these arguments.  Brady still has no opinions regarding what he wears.

 These girls know how to pose for a picture.

Rockets 125 v Lakers 112

To celebrate our anniversary, my mom watched the kids, and we went out.  We met Brett and Allison at Hearsay for dinner.  They have incredible burgers and cocktails.  The drink photographed below has bourbon, orange and basil.  

 My old vendor and Taylor's new client let us use his Rockets ticket.  Third row behind the Rockets bench is an incredible way to experience the game.

I felt like we were in the huddle with the players, during time outs.  The Lakers were ahead for a lot of the game.  When the Rockets turned the tables, it was pretty exciting from then on.  We parked on the roof of the garage.  We watched the Lorax bonus features in our car until the traffic died down... It was a pretty fun date night.

Trampoline

I LOVE to watch these two play on the trampoline together.  The static in their hair, the giggles that fill my ears, the smiles on their faces... LOVE!

Happy 7th Anniversary

I feel very fortunate to have married this guy 7 years ago.  7 years ago, I could not have imagined our lives would be so blessed.  He's a great husband and father, and we're all lucky to have him.  Happy Anniversary Honey Bunny!

These photos were taken Saturday before the Texans game.  Brady and Taylor went to the game while Anna Belle and I went shopping.

It might be a cheesy grin, but I'm really happy that Brady's smiling for pictures again (when prompted).

Rockwell's

On Daniel and Tricia's first day in town, many-a-Bacot drove out to Cypress to eat dinner at Rockwell's.  The burgers are so good!  Afterwards everyone came over to our house to play for a little while.  I love that the holidays encourage so much family time.

Happy Lil' Aggie

I'm so proud of my Aggies.  It sure has been fun to have such a winning football season.  As I mentioned in the previous post, Jeffrey and Daniel took Brady to the Children's Museum.  In the parking lot, they took a picture of Brady by this big truck.  The first picture brings joy to my heart...

Brady, Daniel and Charlie pose for a photo.

 Spiderman

After our day of adventure, I was eager to see Brady and hear how everything went.  The first thing that I noticed was his black mouth...  This Oreo dessert was the culprit.

Thank you Jeffrey for taking him out and for taking and sharing these pictures!