doggone cute

With a sister that pretends she's a dog all day long, is it any wonder that Benson's first animal sound is a dog? Yesterday he picked up "Rescue," Bailey's little Dalmatian dog, and started making doggy noises. It was too cute! He's been doing it ever since. Although, in this video he was more interested in the camera than the dog.

happy birthday, dad!

Wednesday was Brandon's birthday (29!). We celebrated by going out to eat and having everyone over for cake. Bailey picked out some presents for him, which included a polo shirt, and "Fraggle Rock". (you know, the muppet show from the 1980's!) I think it was more for her than him. I gave him a nap, and he's also is getting his much awaited air compressor. (he's wanted one for forever!)

Brandon got a little help from Bailey and Gavin blowing out the candles. Yes, the cake is pink...Brandon wanted a white cake with homemade cherry icing. But after the 'help' he got blowing out the candles, it was more of a GermCake.

Benson serenaded us at the party...he's finally tall enough to reach the piano keys, and boy is it FUN for him.

on the hunt

Friday's Egg Hunt

We went to TWO Easter Egg Hunts this weekend! We went to one on Friday with our church playgroup, and one on Sunday at Guh Wallace's house. Bailey had so much fun at both. She was so excited about all her prizes! She also got to dye eggs on Saturday night, as part of Aunt Becky's family (Vallett's) tradition. Thanks, Becky...all that dye is too unnerving for me!

Sunday's Egg Hunt

I think I like this!! But I really just want to get down and eat the grass.

a peachy keen easter!

I went for a "peach" color scheme for our Easter outfits. (Thanks, Guh L.! Another beautiful dress!!) Just so happened that Gavin matched us, too!

My Mom used to make a Bunny cake for Easter when we were little kids. I decided to try it out this year (you use two 9" round cake pans...one for the face, and one gets cut up into the ears and bow-tie). Turned out pretty cute, although it kinda looks like it has a bad case of mange.

having a cow...at the livestock show

We (the kids and I, and Becky and her kids) went to the Houston Rodeo and Livestock Show yesterday. It totally lived up to it's claim to fame...the biggest rodeo and livestock show in the world. The livestock show (we didn't do the rodeo part) was never-ending. We were there for 3 hours and only saw about 1/10th of it! I've never seen so much livestock all in one place. (The show is at the Old and New Reliant Center/Astrodomes) Surprisingly, it was REALLY clean, and didn't smell too bad either. The kids had a blast, and were such troopers. Gavin and Bay had a fun time at the petting zoo (I was too busy chasing them to take pics) and seeing all the exhibits (highlights...petting rabbits, feeding baby lambs and goats, and cotton candy) and Laynie (5 weeks!) slept the ENTIRE time in the Snugli, and Benson hung out happily in the stroller the ENTIRE time!! Going to the Rodeo/Livestock show is the big event of the spring around here, and a must see if you're a true Texan. It was totally exhausting, but very fun. I'm so glad to have Becky to on adventures with (and trust me, driving anywhere in Houston is an adventure, especially when you add 4 kids to the mix!). I couldn't ask for a better sister-in-law, or FRIEND!

Something about this picture reminds me of my life.

Even the long-horns have bling in Texas.

(it was actually for protection)

The 'livestock' were all primped up...they sell for lots of $$. We saw some getting 'blow dried' and brushed. We also saw some that would make beautiful couches. :P

The kids really wanted to go on the pony rides, but while we were waiting in line, we realized we'd have to go wait in another line for tokens, and then wait again. We were all to tired, but the kids were SO sad. So instead we gave them a 'ride' on the foot massaging chairs. They thought it was a BLAST! Bailey said it was one of her favorite parts.

* I didn't get any pictures of Becky or Laynie, check out the "J.Wallace's" blog, should have some soon.

I know this is probably in poor taste, but they sell all sorts of interesting products at a Livestock show. 'nuff said.

a cougar, once again!

Starting this fall, Brandon will be a Cougar once again. This time a red, all expenses paid, University of Houston Cougar!!! We found out today that he got accepted into the Bauer School of Business, EMBA Program!! Most applicants have an average of 12 years experience, Brandon has about 5 years, but 5 pretty impressive years. We know it's going to be a long, tough two years, but are excited for the opportunity.

standing for something

Benson finally decided to put some weight on his floppy legs! Before, when we'd lift him up to try and get him to stand, he would just draw his legs totally up (like a newborn). It wasn't because he couldn't stand, he just didn't want to. Brandon bribed him with food on the ottoman to get him to pull up to it and he's been pulling up ever since. Not only will he pull up and stand, he can climb. About an hour after pulling up, he figured out how to climb the stairs. He can scale the stairs so fast, he looks like Spider Man. He now tries to climb everything. We're in for it.

Sunday Best:

This dress is SO adorable (so is the model!). My Mom made it for Bailey for Valentines. It's the cutest dress I've ever seen!

This is the best picture I could muster from Benson in his Sunday clothes. He's not much on modeling. :)

beautiful

Bailey came in the bathroom this morning while I was getting ready. She said she wanted to be 'fancy like you' (me) today. I flat ironed her hair and she applied her own make-up, and we've scheduled a 'pedicure' for tonight, after Benson is in bed. She's usually not much into the 'girly' things, so we're having fun with it while she's in the mood. She even picked out her own 'fancy' outfit......betcha can't tell....:)

Shamrocks and Valentines!

She was disappointed that I didn't have similar clothes so we could match.

Speaking of beautiful....

How beautiful is my niece, Laura??!?!! She has the most gorgeous auburn hair, and greenish/hazel eyes, and porcelain skin! If she wasn't Benson's cousin, I'd totally arrange their marriage. :)

floppy gums, and a girl puppy

"You got teeth in that floppy mouth of yours, or just gums?!?"

(from the movie, Babe)

I took Benson in for his 12month Check-up, and he's tiny! He's 18lbs 11oz (which is up a pound from two weeks ago) and he's 28.5 inches....which puts him in the 3% for weight and height! He's completely opposite of his sister, she was always at the top of the charts, and he's always been at the bottom. He doesn't look so small, because he's proportionately small all over. Hopefully now that he 's finally sleeping and feeling better, he'll start growing. In the mean time, the doctor told me to nurse him when ever I can, including the middle of the night. ugh.

Oh, and Benson finally has a tooth! (for real this time). No more 'floppin gums'! His bottom left tooth has poked up thru the gums, and he's getting another one right next to it! Not to be out done, his little cousin, Laura (only 5.5 months old!), got the very same tooth the very same day!!!

What can I say, Snow Buddies has gone to her head. Bailey really thinks/wishes she was a dog sometimes. Brandon rigged up Benson's truck and to make her a 'sled' to pull.

put me in the zoo

We finally went to the Houston Zoo on Wednesday with our Preschool Co-op and some friends from church. It was beautiful weather, and we had a BLAST. We were there for about 3.5 hours, and still only saw about 1/2 of the zoo! The Houston Zoo is HUGE!! The kids were so good, and such troopers! Benson hung out in the stroller the whole time, and loved it! Bailey walked the entire time and never complained! We had a picnic by the Okapis, and stopped for a snack in the shade by the Flamingos (just for you, Guh L!).

It was a great day!

We got to stand about 3 feet away from an 8 month old Cheetah Cub while he was out walking around the zoo with the keepers. The Cheetah Cubs are being raised with the Anatolian Shepherd Dogs so they both learn how live in a pack, like they would in nature. The dogs were HUGE, and also only 8 months old! The Cheetah Cubs made funny little chirping noises. Bailey was SO interested in the 'puppies.' I hardly call something the size of a pony a "puppy."

joy

We were supposed to go to the Houston Zoo yesterday with our preschool co-op, but it was too rainy. Bailey was pretty bummed about not going. We spent most of the day inside, but tried to make the best of it by playing with the left-over balloons from Benson's b-day party and his new Ball Popper toy that we gave him. They had SO much fun with the balloons, and the Ball Popper entertains them both for hours! (I highly recommend this toy... Playskool's Busy Ball Popper!! It's a must have for babies/toodlers/preschoolers/adults/etc!!) It was really cute to watch. We'll attempt the Zoo again tomorrow.

happy 1st birthday, benson!

I can't even believe that Benson is ONE today! This year has gone too fast. My baby is getting so big (if you call 17.5 lbs big for a 1yr old ! haha!)! Benson has never been a good sleeper, but everyone kept telling us that he'd be sleeping through the night by the time he was 1. Well,

Benson proved it right. For the last couple of nights (since his surgery) he's been sleeping pretty well, and even slept THROUGH THE NIGHT last night! I think it was his birthday present to me. We had the Wallace's over for a family party/dinner (hamburgers). Bailey has been SO excited for Benson's party/birthday. She's been telling everyone all about it. We decorated the house up really cute with yellow and blue streamers and green balloons. (We went for a 'baby boy' theme....see cake....)

Who does this look like? I was looking online for cake ideas, and Bailey and I saw a cake like this. Bailey thought it was SO funny, and it looked like Benz. I was feeling pretty crafty (It's all those "Ace of Cakes" episodes that I've DVR-ed) and replicated it. It was pretty fun.

Benson and Bailey LOVE presents! Benson got a lot of cute necessities...clothes, jammies, and TRUCKS!! Thanks everyone!!

You can see Benson had no reservations about getting the cake. Check out the ear...Cousin Gavin wanted in on the action! Benson liked the cake, and LOVED the ice-cream!