BBQ Cook Off

We spent the past weekend in Houston at the Livestock Show and Rodeo BBQ cook off. Michael's company was sponsoring a team this year, the Confederated Cooks who are past world champions. They weren't as lucky this year, oh well their is always next year.

Michael actually attended the cook off all three days; Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The kids and I went to Huntsville Thursday to see my family and I joined Michael on Friday while Connor and Allie stayed with Grumpa and Grammy's. Connor, Uncle Wade and Grumpa joined us on Saturday. Allie was a little under the weather and it was freezing so she and Grammy stayed home for some girl time.

Connor really enjoyed the BBQ cook off, he ate his weight in meat, especially with the pulled pork and ribs. Connor and I paid a visit to the carnival, we ended up only riding one ride since he decided he would rather play games in an attempt to win a life size Scooby Doo. Needless to say we were not victorious and we managed to spend $50 in 15 minutes. As a constellation to Connor I bought him a frozen chocolate covered banana with sprinkles, he quickly forgot about the Scooby Doo doll.

Enjoying the chocolate covered banana with sprinkles. You can't tell in the picture but Connor was dressed as a cowboy from head to toe; boots, wranglers, belt and buckle, pearl snap shirt and a cowboy hat made his outfit.

Enjoying those ribs!

We also did a little "work" in preparing for our move to The Woodlands. Friday morning we met with two schools for Connor and our realtor. We spent some time looking at a few houses, neighborhoods and meeting with builders. Lets just say I came away feeling very overwhelmed! We are definitely going to be busy the next few months as we make this move.

Ten Months

My girl has hit double digits, I cannot believe how fast she is growing and how fast time is going. Allie, you are the sweetest little girl with the cutest belly laugh. You are so curious and fearless which at times makes me a little nervous. You are walking with assistance, we will see if you have it mastered next month. However you are still tiny, wearing a size 1 or 2 shoe so we are going to have to get you walker shoes since that is the only "real" shoe that will fit you and be accomidating for walking. I will say that you are starting to fill out a bit, just last week I started realizing you might finally be getting a little chubby like any good baby should. You are in love with your brother, everything he does is funny and entertaining - I guess we should enjoy that while it last! By far your favorite toys are shoes. Anytime you are in mommy and daddy's room you go straight for the closest and my shoes. And same goes for your room your first choice are your shoes followed by your piano. Thanks for being our sweet, cute, sassy and funny Missy P.

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Meatballs Fail

I thought I was so clever today, turns out I wasn't. One of Connor's favorite foods is meatballs, I'm guilty of giving him the frozen ones pretty reguraly when Michael is out of town. Since I'm now at home I've been excited to have more time to cook and give Connor healthier options of the food he loves.

So today I made meatballs that had red and yellow bell peppers as well as onions before I picked the kids up from school. I was nervous about what Connor's reaction would be to the strange colors in his meatballs so I decided to tell him that I made Mighty Morpin Power Rangers Meatballs. Afterall he his a big fan and he had watched part of the movie this morining. I was so proud of myself, as soon as I picked him up I told him I made him special meatballs that were made with Mighty Morphin Power Rangers ingredients. He continuiously asked when he could eat his Power Ranger meatballs, oh I thought this just might work. Not, there was no way I could trick the world's pickiest eater. He refused to eat them, he cried and cried, he felt as though I had tricked him. Poor Connor had to go to bed with no books tonight since he didn't eat dinner and didn't act very nice.

Lesson learned, their is no tricking this boy. Epic meatball fail!

Eating and Singing

Michael is out of town again this weekend and we have had some pretty nasty weather here the last few days. So that didn't leave too many options with entertaining the kids and breaking up the day. We kept Saturday simple, lunch at another Mexican restaurant and then grocery shopping at Wal-Mart.

Both the kids were great at lunch, I've totally conquered the fear of eating out with both of them by myself. And they did great at Wal-Mart. The highlight of my day came when we were shopping at Wal-Mart and Connor told me he wanted me to sing Britney Spears. I guess I should mention that Connor is a pretty big fan of Britney Spears, we listen to her CD quite a bit which I truthfully bought just for Connor. So I start softly singing "Til the World Ends", Connor's favorite. He kept telling me to sing faster, turns out that means louder to Connor. So when I didn't do what he wanted he just decided to sing the way he felt I should have been singing. Connor for 5 minutes kept singing the only two lines of the song he knows over and over at the top of his lungs. It was pretty cute and I think most of the customers enjoyed his singing.

The First "New" Day

Today marked the first day in my new role as a stay at home mom. I'm not completely work free (thank goodness), I'm now working as a consultant for Ryan Sanders Baseball for both the Hooks and Express. I'm also looking into venturing into a few possible side gigs as well, I'll keep you posted on what becomes of that.

I am so excited to be working from home on more of a part time basis. I absolutely love my job, love my company and my co-workers and to walk away from it completely would have been impossible for me. I get the best of both worlds; more time with my kids and doing what I love.

This transition stems from the fact that we have a big change coming our way. We are moving to Houston within the next few months, to be more specific we are moving to The Woodlands just north of Houston. We are moving for Michael's job, his company set up an office there almost two years ago and the time has come for him to be there. We are excited for this new chapter, we will be closer to my family and Michael's brother and sister-in-law and their three children live in The Woodlands. It will be so hard to day goodbye to Corpus Christi, Michael has been here for 10 years and I've been here for 8. It's where we started our lives together, our careers and our family - we have made the most amazing friends here and will no doubt leave behind a piece of our hearts.

I have to say so far I am enjoying my "retirement" as Michael is calling my career change. Today I had a hair appointment, met Michael for lunch, shopped at the mall and ran into two of my friends (bonus), picked the kids up early from school, took Connor to get his hair cut and met friends and neighbors at the park - it was a perfect day, so I guess I can get used to this. And to add icing of the cake I had BEAUTIFUL flowers delivered to me today from the Hooks - I guess they miss me already!

Connor's Valentine's

Connor had a big Valentine's day today. He received Valentines cards from all of his grandparents (so did Allie of course), had a Valentines party at school, received a belated birthday present from his friends Johanna and Dayne and had a special delivery from Lucy, Lola and Hank Nuse (Allies was included in that as well). He ended his Valentines day by wearing his new Valentine pajamas to bed and looking as cute as ever.

Connor's Valentines for his classmates. They were small cookies that I tried to make look like sweetheart candies. I attached them to a plastic shovel with a tag that said "I dig you".

Connor's Valentine box for school. He picked the monster stickers himself, he didn't want hearts so I did my best to make it relevant to Valentines Day.

And his special gift he painted for each of his grandparents and his girlfriends Lucy and Lola.

Allie had a special Valentine today, she took her boyfriend at school (Sam, Connor's best friend) a framed picture of herself in a Valentine frame. Sam is obsessed with Allie. He asks to see her everyday and calls her his girlfriend and never leaves her without a kiss.

Saturday Fun With The Nuse Family

We had a fun and busy Saturday with the Nuse family. Our day consisted of a trip to the Texas State Aquarium, a visit to the Portland Art Center for pottery painting and then cooking hamburgers at the Nuse's house. The kids all had a blast a the aquarium, it was a lot of fun to see them interact together along with the sea life. They let their creative juices flow at the Portland Art Center, Connor painted a cupcake for me and an airplane, oh and his face! Then the kids let loose at the Nuse's house before we called it a day.

Connor and Lucy playing with the hermit crabs.

It was Lola's turn to hang next to Connor.

Connor and Michael checking out a snake.

Focued on his art.

Lola spent so much time painting her monkey purple, I think it was the only color she used.

Lucy painted a cupcake too.

Connor decided to paint his face.

And his hands.

Uhm, this look says it all.

The finished product before they are fired.

Thanks for the fun day Adam, Sarah, Lucy, Lola and Hank!

Happy Birthday Spencer

Happy 9th birthday Spencer Jones!

Just a Few...

Just a few pictures of my cute kids from baby Stormy's birthday party this weekend.

Bubby Love

Connor had a special request tonight for Bubby a.k.a. Spencer. He wanted Spencer to sleep in his room, let me clarify he wanted him to sleep in his bed. The entire night he kept telling us that he wanted Bubby to sleep in his room. He even shut Spencer in his room while we were eating dinner to make sure Spencer would be in his room for bedtime. When bedtime finally came Connor decided he wanted Bubby in his bed. Well you can imagine how that went. Spencer wouldn't stay in Connor's bed. Then when he finally stayed in his bed Connor wanted Spencer out of his room because there was not room in his bed.

Maybe they can try this again when Connor gets a bigger bed.

We Did It!

Michael has been out of town for the weekend. Late this afternoon we had a birthday party to attend and I had yet to get a birthday present. So the kids and I went in to town around 10:30 this morning, with stops at Target, HEB Plus, Papa Murphey's Pizza and a Mexican lunch. We were in town for over three hours, we didn't have one tantrum, outburst, potty accident - both the kids were perfect. When I was ordering our take and bake pizzas for the Super Bowl tomorrow I decided to conquer my biggest fear, eating alone in a restaurant with two kids. Thank goodness for iPads, Connor played games and ate most of his food. And Allie discovered a new love, Avocados which kept her happy. I feel like I can do anything now!

Bob the Builder

Oh my sweet, cute Connor, you never fail to make me smile. Lately you have been signing yourself to sleep at night. You're song of choice, Bob the Builder - the same line over and over, "Bob the Builder, yes he can". When I ask you what you are doing you say "singing Bob the Builder so I can go to sleep". Seriously, you could not be any cuter. Your dad and I are loving your singing voices filling our house at night.

The Ultimate Girlie Girl

So far Allie is proving to be quite the ultimate girl. Her teachers say that she is the daintiest and prissiest in her class. She loves her shoes; playing with them and wearing them and she loves playing with her dolls. So the other night before bed I took some pictures of her playing with her girlie toys, being the ultimate girlie girl.

Playing with her baby doll.

Playing with her shopping cart.

Playing with her purse.

Playing with her cell phone.

Playing with her tea set.