meet brookie

My new baby niece was born last week, so we got to spend the labor day weekend snuggling and loving on her and all of her sweet little chwubby-ness. Apparently, big cheeks run in the fam. Remember this picture of Olivia?

just me and my kids

what we've been up to...

we like to just hang out...



we like to put on our swimsuits and head to the pool...



we like to sit in our new chairs...



we like to play batman...



we like to give our elephant (from "aunt" stacey and "grandma" wanda) a mo-hawk...



we like just being sissy...



we like watching mommy try every thing in her power to make us smile and show our little vampire teeth...



and we like our baths...



especially, sink baths...

swingy-dingy

sissy enjoyed the new little swing that her paw-paw hung out on the breezeway just for her. so, we spent much of memorial day weekend relaxing outside and enjoying the fresh air and taking turns pushing sissy back and forth.



she especially loved it when lukey would come by and give her a little ride. or, as shown in the picture below, "twisty" her up and make her spin. and i think lukey got a kick out of that as well.



i love this little smile she's giving luke. she thinks he's just the absolute coolest and just loves her big brother. one of the best things about being a mom up to this point has been watching the relationship grow between lukey and sissy.



and in other news, sissy is pulling up and cruising around on everything. she loves to walk around holding onto my fingers so it won't be long until she's walking. what am i going to do?



and one of lukey giving out kissies.



and then one of grandma playing 'pat-a-cake' with sis.

another obsession

sissy.



oh, how we love all her squishy goodness.

olivia is almost 9 months old now and still the happiest baby around. she's generally just "happy to be here" and goes where ever lukey and i must go. the only time you will hear her fuss is if big brother snatches a toy from her sticky kung-fu grip. and by fuss, i do mean total hysterics. luke is learning, slowly.

some of her favorite things are cheerios, pizza crust, and empty ice cream cones. and she is still obsessed with her paci and the boob, sometimes both...at the same time. another post for another day.

she is not a fan of the swing, jumperoo, or excersaucer. oh, or crawling. the girl just likes to be where ever we are, doing what ever we are doing. which, generally means that she spends about 8 hours a day on my hip. and i was wondering why my right oblique is so much weaker during pilates class tonight.

so that's sissy. will do a proper 9 month update after we see the doctor.

sorry, jody, the cuteness continues

i just wuv her big squishy tummy and her fat little boobies that hang over. what mom wouldn't??

you will play doctor, sister, and you will like it

lukey and sister

christmas cousins

a little overdue, i'll admit. but here they are. sorry mom. :)

take two

i attempted for a second time to get a good photo of the kids for our christmas card. i don't know if i am just feeling the pressure because it is already a week into dec and i usually have my cards done by nov, or if i'm just having a hard time making decisions or maybe i am just being too picky. getting a good shot of one of your kids is one thing. getting a good shot of two of your kids, together, is a whole other story. i am exhausted. so since we will not be using any of these on the card, i thought i would share some of my favs. i have decided now that we will make attempt #3 tomorrow morning as a family. it should be a real good time.

our pudgy little princess.


and look who's almost sitting up!


this one is cute, but you can't see luke's face very well, so it's a no-go for the card.


buzz lightyear all cleaned up.


and this is the smile i get now every time i pull out the camera.


cute, but i can't be sending out a christmas card with my two year old's snake tattoo peaking out of his shirt sleeve. and the bag of candy just screams 'i'm a little stinker and my mom had to bribe me for this cheesy smile'. nice.


so stay tuned for 'take three'.

elves' christmas tree farm

this year we decided to go out to the elves' christmas tree farm in denison to cut down our own christmas tree. we were so excited and by "we" i mean me. i am pretty sure nick and luke could have had just as much fun picking out a tree from the "he-po" (home depot). and even though we had to drive to oklahoma (almost) and we paid three times more for the same tree we could get at home depot, the complimentary apple cider and hayride made it all worth it...haha.

hayride


more hayride


luke with his saw


luke found the tree he wanted and began to saw


luke standing in front of a possibility


on the hunt for the "perfect tree"


cannot find the "perfect tree". back on the hayride, headed to get a precut tree. how disappointing.


at last, the "perfect tree"!

sweet sweet picture

okay, i have to take a second to first off, brag on how adorable my niece and nephew are, and secondly, what an awesome job my sister and her husband did in taking these pictures. i am so impressed and just love what they did. they took lots more awesome shots like this one, but i just decided to steal one for now. :)

grown up lukey

this picture cracks me up. he was acting all zoolander and totally came up with this pose on his own.

{luke at 2 yrs 9 months)

happy halloween 2008

All ready for trick or treating!



A Halloween lunch...



A quick visit from Roxie the dog.



Next stop, a halloween party at our friend, Erin's house.





A little buzz lightyear laser action for the ladies.





And we're off!





Buzz "flying" to the next house.