Cote Kids: January 2011

Sat, 12/18- Breakfast at Frank's Diner. Some of Dan's family were able to meet us there. Oh how we missed the huge slab of bacon and waffles! They have the best bacon, it's smoky, meaty, and cooked just right! OK, I'm drooling here, need to stop thinking about this. Beef and turkey bacon here just doesn't cut it, but it's better than nothing. Afterwards we headed to Memorial City Mall where the kids got to finally enjoy the merry go round and an indoor kids playground. Before we left for Saudi, I never took them to places like this b/c I was always so worried about the germs and they were younger than 2 years old before we left so I was always worried about RSV. Now I'm a little more relaxed about them getting sick, still not the greatest thing to deal with, but we usually get through it. They loved the merry go round and the big castle playhouse. The playhouse is made of those rubber material so everything is soft. My mom and Matthew were able to meet us there along w/Julie and Dan's dad. Since we had all these man power to watch the kids, I actually got to do a little shopping at the Gap and Gap Kids, just my luck they had a awesome sale! :-)

Sun, 12/19- We went to eat dim sum at Ocean Palace in the morning with my family. I'm glad these guys are not much picky eaters. It's really nice to be able to go out and eat with them. Sometimes we do have a kid or kids on our laps, but it's still worth it! (I think, Dan thinks otherwise). After brunch, the ladies (me, Marie, my mom, and lil Julie) hung out and talked while Dan, Matthew, the kiddos and their cos played outside. They have a fish pond outside the restaurant and they were fascinated with all the fish and of course, pushing the shopping carts around.

Mon, 12/20- Did a zoo outing w/my family. I'm so glad we were able to do this as Saudi Arabia doesn't have a zoo and now they know their animals. I think we went to the zoo a few times when they were babies, but they absolutely enjoyed it this time.

Tues, 12/21- We were asked to be a part of an ASC recruiting video. We met at a production company and had our photos taken as a family, as a couple and they also interviewed us. Tracey, one of Dan's former co-worker babies sat while we were busy. Boy did she have her work cut out for her, being that EVERYONE, espeically the boys wanted us and were pretty much crying a lot. They did stopped every so often once they could play w/the electronics in the conference room. I think 2 hour of babies sitting wore her out!

Afterwards, we went to Dan's sis, Julie's house to hang out since they were not napping. I think they remembered her house since it was where we stayed for our last week in Houston before we left for KSA. For dinner we met both families at Fuddrucker's.

Wed, 12/22- Enjoyed a playdate w/Lynne and her triplets who are 2 months younger than mine. I totally miss my triplet mommy friends, they totally rock! Her kids have gotten so big, they look like little people and not babies anymore. Each group of kids only played with their siblings, but atleast they didn't fight over toys or anything. I wondered if they remembered playing with them before.

Thurs, 12/23- We moved to Dan's parents house that morning, got the kids room settled in and then headed for a park near their house. It was Bendwood Park, the one I used to do my Strollerfit exercise so they kids were somewhat familiar with it.

At night we went out to celebrate one of Dan's friend, Bryan S.'s bday party. He had it at a place called Barcadia, half bar, half arcade place...it was really cool to be able to play all the games we grew up with and enjoyed a few glasses of beer at the same time. My fave is of course Ms. PacMan! Then we headed over to Glitter, one of our friend's karoke bar.

Fri, 12/24- We drove around our old neighborhood and checked out our house. Surprisingly I didn't want to stop in and check things out...I don't know it just didn't feel like home anymore. We tried to find some of our old neighbors to visit with them, but we forgot, it's Friday and people are at work. We did see one neighbor, the "the nosy Grandma", that's what Dan and I call her b/c she knows EVERYTHING in the neighborhood. After chit chatting with her, we took the kids to the park the kids used to go to.

Pictures of the week:

Breakfast at Frank's- Dan and Tobin

Grandpa and Hudson

Julie and Skyler

Matt & Skyler

Daddy and his boys, Hudson & Tobin (man they are looking more alike everyday!)

Dan and Rebecca w/all three. Rebecca's holding Tobin

Group shot

Memorial City Mall:

Tobin

Skyler

with Julie

with Hudson

Hudson

Skyler and Tobin

Mommy and her girl

Stroller fun

Hudson and Matthew

my mom & Hudson

Dim Sum: me and Marie

My mom and her girls

Anne

(lil) Julie, my mom and Marie

me, Julie, my mom- I guess we're pretty silly with these pictures

Houston Zoo: my mom w/Skyler and Hudson

somewhat of a picture w/all three

my boys

Skyler and Matthew

Skyler w/her uncle and aunt

Andrew & Anne

this was awesome to witness, the baby elephant was stuck between the rocks and the other baby kept pushing him through. Teamwork, just like my guys!

Luckily we were able to see the African exhibit.

The kids loved this part, the chimp came right up to them.

watching the giraffes

our lunch break

at one point, Anne was put in charge of watching Hudson and she was very good at it!

Fuddrucker's. I dressed them similarly (which I rarely do) for the ASC photo shoot. Definitely backfired on me when I went to label some of these pictures, it was REALLY tough figuring out the boys. Grandma Gail has Tobin.