Brooke & Jack

Spaghetti Tacos

2010-06-02T16:56:00.000-07:00

Brooke's new favorite show is iCarly. She wants to watch it all the time. On the show, her brother makes spaghetti tacos and Brooke wanted to try them. I found the recipe online and Brooke said they were the best.

2010-06-02T16:55:00.000-07:00

Jack loved his tacos too...although he was a little messier eating his.

that's a lot of kids

2010-05-31T17:07:00.000-07:00

Jay and Gina brought the kids over for Memorial Day and we spent the day at the pool. Six kids is a lot to keep up with at one time. (Lilly, the littlest, is in the pack n play behind them)

still short...

2010-05-26T17:06:00.000-07:00

Brooke woke up this morning and came running down the stairs to tell me that her hair is still short.

Locks of Love

2010-05-25T17:01:00.000-07:00

We have been talking about doing things for other people lately and Brooke has been wanting to get her hair cut. We decided to donate her hair to Locks of Love to make wigs for kids with cancer. She was very excited and asked me when we were going to make a wig.

We will miss you Ms. Dondi

2010-05-21T17:16:00.000-07:00

Brooke's last day in Ms. Dondi's class was today and she is so sad that she has to say good-bye. She will be just down the hall next year in Ms. Tonia's class.

they've been eaten by a shark

2010-05-16T17:19:00.000-07:00

Ben had a sleepover tonight and they decided that they wanted to sleep in the shark tent. At some point in the night, Brooke decided to get in her bed. I heard Ben screaming for Brooke trying to find her shortly after.

going, going, gone...

2010-05-16T16:53:00.000-07:00

Since it's so hot outside, really the only thing the kids want to do is play in the water. Good thing we have a great neighborhood pool. Brooke loves the little slide. She can't wait til she's big enough to ride down the big waterslide. It won't be long.

splashing around

2010-05-16T16:51:00.000-07:00

Bridgeland has a great pool with lots of areas for the kids to play. Jack really loves to climb up and down the stairs at the splashpad.

almost 5 years old

2010-05-14T17:10:00.000-07:00

Since Brooke's birthday is in the summer, Ms. Dondi let her celebrate it the last week of school. All day long, she told me that she was so happy that she was 5 years old...I had to keep reminding her that she was almost 5.

a day at the park

2010-04-23T16:44:00.000-07:00

Our new neighborhood has the best parks. We spent the entire day outside with a picnic lunch. The kids got to run, play, pick flowers and look at the clouds. What a great day.

a real fireman

2010-04-22T15:27:00.000-07:00

Since we now know a real fireman, Jay let us come and see his fire station. Brooke, Brock, and Jack got to try on a fireman's hat and take a ride in a fire truck. They all wanted to try the hose and Brock proceeded to spray it right on his shoes. Brooke really wanted to know where the pole was. Only 2 story firehouses have poles. We all learned a lot about firemen. Thanks Jay

after much deliberation...

2010-04-11T08:52:00.000-07:00

...she went with the rainbow. We waited in line forever to get Brooke's face painted. I think she changed her mind about what she wanted 20 times.

could she be related to Gene Simmons?

2010-04-11T08:50:00.000-07:00

Brooke has figured out how to touch her nose with her tongue.

Bluebonnets everywhere

2010-04-11T08:46:00.000-07:00

We found a random field driving to the bluebonnet festival in Chapel Hill. We all stopped and crawled under the barbed wire fence to take some pictures. Everyone that is except Joe, who refused to do it.

Ready, Set, Go!

2010-04-03T14:52:00.000-07:00

Everyone made a mad dash out of the house to find as many Easter eggs as possible. I think that all the kids got their fair share. The Easter Bunny hid over 150 eggs.

I'll just eat them

2010-04-02T08:57:00.000-07:00

Jack had no interest in dying eggs. He just wanted to eat them.

dying eggs

2010-04-02T08:53:00.000-07:00

Such serious concentration to dye eggs. We don't want to make any mistakes. Just like Joe, Brooke sticks her tongue out while really focused on something

No Way Easter Bunny

2010-03-30T14:58:00.000-07:00

Jack wanted absolutely nothing to do with the Easter Bunny. Oh the things we do for pictures

Snow Cones all around

2010-03-26T15:11:00.000-07:00

The best part of the day was the free snow cones which even all the moms enjoyed.

Activities at the Oil Ranch

2010-03-26T15:07:00.000-07:00

The kids got to ride horses, feed cows, ride a train and lots of other things.

Brooke's classmates

2010-03-26T15:05:00.000-07:00

These are a few of Brooke's classmates from school-Ethan, Hannah, Brooke, Sarah & Caelynn. Her whole school got to visit the Oil Ranch as a field trip.

pink doughnuts

2010-03-26T15:03:00.000-07:00

Brooke insisted she wanted to try pink doughnuts before we went to the Oil Ranch.

spaghetti face

2010-03-23T14:50:00.000-07:00

Eating spaghetti is always more fun when you eat it with your hands (even if it is a little messy).

my little super hero

2010-03-20T08:44:00.000-07:00

Wendy made capes for all the kids at Ben's super hero birthday party. Jack looked super cute running around in his batman cape.

barrel of monkeys

2010-03-18T15:22:00.000-07:00

Brooke has discovered...

2010-03-17T15:26:00.000-07:00

...that she likes corndogs. Brock was nice enough to share his with her. What's not to like about fried meat on a stick

flying high

2010-03-17T15:23:00.000-07:00

Brooke and Brock were tall enough this year to ride a lot of the rides at the carnival. Gina was a little nervous about letting Brock ride, but they had a blast.

is that a real bull?

2010-03-17T15:20:00.000-07:00

Believe it or not that is a real live bull that we are sitting on

giddy up

2010-03-17T15:18:00.000-07:00

Brooke and Jack loved going to the rodeo, Jack was so excited about riding a pony for the first time. I made Jay walk with him since there is no telling when he might have jumped off left to his on devices.

snowing?

2010-02-23T15:14:00.000-08:00

Since it doesn't snow very often in Houston, so everyone wants to be outside while it is. Brooke and Jack loved running around in the freezing cold.

Scuba Santa

2009-12-23T08:41:00.000-08:00

We had breakfast with Yia Yia at the Aquarium and got to see Santa swimming with the fishes.

Rainy Day Disney

2009-12-04T08:39:00.000-08:00

Our last day in Disney, we got rained on. We ended up buying ponchos to walk around the park in. We finally made it to Epcot only to be rained out.

Monsters Inc

2009-12-03T08:36:00.000-08:00

I think that Mike & Sully were one of Brooke's favorite characters that she got to meet. She was so excited to give them both a hug.

Storytime with Belle

2009-12-02T14:46:00.000-08:00

Right before we left the park for the day, we went to hear storytime with Belle on the recommendation of another park patron. Good thing we did...Brooke was asked to play Chip in the story. She got to go up on stage with Belle and she saved the day.

Pretty Princesses

2009-12-02T14:43:00.000-08:00

Aurora, Belle and Cinderella were all too excited to meet Brooke, but I don't think they were half as excited as Brooke. She was very excited to meet the princesses in the flesh.

Meeting the Mouse

2009-12-02T14:41:00.000-08:00

Brooke couldn't have been more excited to meet Mickey and Minnie. This was of course after she got to tour their houses.

Spinning around

2009-12-02T14:38:00.000-08:00

Since for some reason I can no longer handle spinning rides, Joe took Brooke on the teacups. She kept wanting to go faster and faster.

I'm scared

2009-11-30T14:56:00.000-08:00

Brooke was very scared walking thru the Haunted Mansion. She decided to ride with Poppy and Daddy, but cried thru the whole ride.

through the eyes of a child

2009-11-30T14:51:00.000-08:00

Watching the parade coming down Main Street.

The castle

2009-11-30T14:49:00.000-08:00

Brooke's first sight of the Magic Kingdom. Magical is truly the right description.

T-I-double G- ER

2009-11-30T14:35:00.000-08:00

This was Brooke's first day at Disney World. We started the day having breakfast with Tigger, Pooh, Mary Poppins and Alice in Wonderland.

Princess and the Honey Pot

2009-10-31T14:22:00.000-07:00

Brooke and Jack loved going trick or treating for Halloween. They each got tons of candy

The Great Pumpkin

2009-10-23T14:26:00.000-07:00

It's always a fun event to go to the pumpkin patch and this year was no different. If only I could keep them out of the mud.

What a couple of monkeys

2009-10-20T14:32:00.000-07:00

Brooke and Ben were giving me their best monkey impressions.

Zooballoo

2009-10-20T14:28:00.000-07:00

This was Jack's first visit to the zoo where he got to run around all over. I know that he thought it was more fun than being contained in his stoller. It just makes it more difficult to keep track of them. Mom's really should have at least 2 sets of eyes.

veggie visitor

2009-10-15T16:59:00.000-07:00

It's amazing what can be done with a little imagination. Brooke's homework assignment was to create a veggie visitor to bring to class. She chose an eggplant because we couldn't come up with a pink vegetable for her to use. She has to take it into class tomorrow and talk about all the veggies. In case you can't tell in the picture, he has a broccoli hat, a radish nose, red pepper lips, carrot arms and legs and carrot eyes. His name is Eggbert.

he's just so darn cute...

2009-10-11T17:04:00.000-07:00

...I just had to upload this pic.

another book lover in the house

2009-10-11T16:58:00.000-07:00

Jack loves to bring me books to read him when he isn't pulling them out to look at them himself.

All aboard the Yia-Yia train

2009-10-11T16:54:00.000-07:00

Brooke and Jack loved bouncing on Yia-Yia's lap.

My little helper

2009-10-08T16:56:00.000-07:00

Brooke has started doing chores all over the house. She loves to help me with laundry. Her favorite part is sorting the clothes into piles.

The shark's first game

2009-09-26T22:03:00.001-07:00

I'm ready to play!!

2009-09-26T22:02:00.000-07:00

A little coaching from Daddy!! Brooke's favorite part was being goalie.

2009-09-26T22:01:00.001-07:00

Nice save!!

2009-09-26T21:59:00.000-07:00

More coaching from Daddy and Coach Amy

2009-09-26T21:58:00.000-07:00

Halftime break...water and grapes!!

2009-09-26T21:57:00.000-07:00

Kick that ball!!

2009-09-26T21:55:00.000-07:00

cheering section

Don't leave me out

2009-09-26T21:51:00.000-07:00

Poppy and Yia Yia renewed their wedding vows and Jack just didn't want to sit still. He had to go check out what was going on.

rubber ducky

2009-09-19T21:48:00.000-07:00

Jack loves bathtime!

pjs and pancakes

2009-09-18T21:26:00.000-07:00

Brooke and Emily went to Latte Tots for pjs and pancakes. They decorated their pancakes with gummi bears and made a build a bear with a robe and slippers. They were most excited about having their fingernails and toenails painted.

Brooke's first soccer practice

2009-09-16T21:33:00.000-07:00

As you can see...she's a natural!!

soccer anyone?

2009-09-16T21:30:00.000-07:00

Brooke had her first soccer practice and she loved it. Their team name is the Sharks (Daddy is really excited about the name). O will be interested to see how her first game goes when everyone doesn't have their own ball to kick.

the first of many

2009-09-12T11:27:00.000-07:00

Jack fell and hit his eye right on the corner of the coffee table. As you can see, he has a big shiner!! I'm sure it won't be the last

playing together

2009-09-10T09:13:00.000-07:00

Slowly but surely, Brooke and Jack are learning to play together. It's mostly Brooke entertaining Jack, but it keeps them out of my hair when I am cooking dinner. Uncle Jim gave Jack an airplane for his birthday and Brooke was pushing him all around the house while he squealed with delight the whole time.

we've got homework

2009-09-08T09:06:00.000-07:00

Brooke got her first homework project from preschool. They were building a matchbox town and we had to provide the buildings. Brooke decided that she wanted to build the downtown Aquarium as one of her favorite places to go. Some of the other students in her class built Chuck E Cheese, WalMart, the beach, and a firestation. We have an open house in a few weeks, so I can't wait to see the whole town.

it's all about licking the bowl

2009-09-05T09:11:00.000-07:00

Brooke loves to help me cook in the kitchen...what that really means is licking the bowl and spoons when I am done. We made brownies for Joe's fantasy football draft and I think that Brooke would prefer the uncooked dough. Like father, like daughter.

to infinity and beyond

2009-09-01T12:27:00.000-07:00

We spent the afternoon at Space Center Houston with the Mulhollands. The kids had a great time, but really I think that Joe had the best time. I couldn't pull him away from the space shuttle simulator. He kept wanting to land the shuttle.

First Day of PreSchool

2009-08-31T08:41:00.000-07:00

Brooke was so excited about going to school today. When I dropped her off, there were no tears, just a "See ya later Mom!" When I picked her up, she told me that school was great and she couldn't wait to go back. I have to say I was a little teary-eyed when dropping my big girl off. She is growing up too fast.

like father, like daughter

2009-08-30T08:39:00.000-07:00

Brooke had so much fun playing with Brock at Aunt Gina's that she didn't take a nap. I guess Daddy needed a nap too.

getting started early

2009-08-29T08:44:00.000-07:00

you're under arrest Daddy

2009-08-23T08:47:00.000-07:00

Brooke got a policeman costume for her birthday and decided that she needed to arrest Daddy.

I can write my name

2009-08-23T08:43:00.000-07:00

Since Brooke saw that Reagan wrote her name in her birthday card, she wanted to practice writing her name. She did pretty good.

Happy Birthday Brooke and Jack

2009-08-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

Thank you for everyone who came to celebrate
Brooke and Jack's party at the zoo. I know they both had a great time.

I love to read

2009-08-16T08:41:00.000-07:00

Olivia gave Brooke a lot of books that she has grown out of and Aunt Laura read a few to her.

I am really a princess now

2009-08-15T08:34:00.000-07:00

Mom Mom and Papa gave Brooke a beautiful costume fer her birthday. Of course, she had to put it on immediately in the restaurant.

chocolate cupcakes

2009-08-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

At dinner, we celebrated Jack and Brooke's birthday. As you can see, Jack really enjoyed his cupcake.

I love Uncle Kyle

2009-08-15T08:29:00.000-07:00

Jack really bonded with Kyle while we were hear.

bubbles, bubbles

2009-08-15T08:27:00.000-07:00

Aunt Mary was so smart and brought bubbles for all the kids to play with (kids of all ages I should say). They loved it.

watermelon-no seeds allowed

2009-08-15T08:24:00.000-07:00

Brooke made me get all the seeds out of her watermelon before she would eat it. The ironic thing...it was a seedless watermelon.

DeGray Lake-Fam Damily Reunion

2009-08-15T08:15:00.000-07:00

For our family reunion, we went to DeGray Lake and the kids loved playing in the lake. Brooke got to ride on the pontoon boat and got to jump off into the lake, but unfortunately Yia Yia forgot to put the battery in her camera so we have no pictures.

arkansas...here we come (eventually)

2009-08-14T08:13:00.000-07:00

On our way to the Fam Damily reunion, we stopped at the rest stop in Arkansas to let the kids get out and play on the playground.

what am I going to do

2009-08-09T14:42:00.001-07:00

It's official...Jack is walking. He took his first few steps this morning and he has been getting better all day. Hopefully I can get it on video soon.

Dancing with the Wiggles

2009-08-09T08:07:00.000-07:00

Joe took Brooke to see the Wiggles again this year and they had a great time again. Brooke said it was way better than last year.

we're in the army now

2009-07-30T10:55:00.001-07:00

I got Jack's hair cut today and it is awful. It is so short that it just wants to stick up so I am happy that his hair grows so fast. Good thing I don't have any photo sessions coming up soon.

Pirates everywhere

2009-07-28T13:17:00.000-07:00

Jack didn't want to be left out of the fun but he only kept this on long enough for me to take his picture.

Arrgh Matey

2009-07-28T13:14:00.001-07:00

We went to a pirate party today at Barnes and Nobles. There was a real pirate to read the stories, a treasure hunt and Brooke even got to make the Jolly Roger (for those who don't know the lingo...it's a pirate flag.) Brooke was very excited to wear her pirate garb, but ever the princess, her doo-rag has sparkles on it.

I'm going to win!!

2009-07-26T13:12:00.000-07:00

Uncle John came to visit and he agreed to play Candyland with Brooke. The whole time she was shouting, "I'm going to win!" Turns out Uncle John won and he told her that she was the second winner. That seemed to appease our not so good loser.

Daddy likes dress up too

2009-07-25T13:11:00.000-07:00

strike or spare

2009-07-22T13:08:00.000-07:00

...or neither. Bowling with 8 kids is a real challenge, but they had a
great time. Brooke jumped up and down everytime the ball went down the lane. Many times we had to run down the lane to push the ball the rest of the way.

Over the Top

2009-07-21T13:04:00.000-07:00

Wendy and I took Brooke and Ben to the circus. It was much better than last year. Brooke's favorite part was the motorcycles and the tigers. And of course we can't forget the cotton candy.

my very own tiara

2009-07-14T11:31:00.001-07:00

Genna, Aubrey, and Brooke got to make tiaras at the party. Brooke was most concerned about having glitter on her hands. She wanted to wash it all off in the middle of the craft. When they were done, they got to parade around the store in all their fanciness.

Fancy Nancy

2009-07-14T11:25:00.000-07:00

In this world everything is fancy!! We were getting ready for the Fancy Nancy party at Barnes & Nobles.

Happy Birthday Daddy

2009-07-10T10:42:00.000-07:00

We went to HB Steakhouse for Joe's birthday. Brooke loved the hibachi show.

chopsticks

2009-07-10T10:39:00.000-07:00

After just a few tries, she was really getting the hang of her chopsticks. Only a few pieces of chicken hit the floor.

kisses

2009-07-06T10:45:00.000-07:00

Jack has discovered his reflection in the oven. He loves to give himself kisses.

I'm learning to do it by myself

2009-07-02T10:38:00.000-07:00

Brooke has been practicing getting herself dressed. Sometimes this is the result. She thinks it's funny to run around the house like this.

got fish?

2009-06-28T16:36:00.000-07:00

Joe took Brooke fishing for the first time today. Apparently, they caught lots of fish using hot dogs. Brooke loved using her Scooby Doo fishing pole. She wanted to carry her little tackle box with her.

Our trip to Cold Water

2009-06-25T17:00:00.000-07:00

Brooke had no idea that we were going to SeaWorld and Ben couldn't seem to remember, so Wendy and I were giving them hints where we were going. The first hint was that it was a place with cold water and we might get splashed with it. For the rest of the trip we were going to Cold Water. When we got there and told them that we were at SeaWorld, they both said, "I thought we were going to Cold Water." Apparently, SeaWorld wasn't as cool. Even when as we were leaving, Ben said, "Good-bye Cold Water". Guess we'll have to go there next time. Take a look at all the pics.

how do you ride a roller coaster?

2009-06-25T16:59:00.000-07:00