Take Me Out to the Ball Game!

Shawn was given tickets to the Astros game for tonight at work and we decided to try to take the girls this time.  The last time we did that was last season and it was not exactly a success.  Braelyn had just learned to walk and had no intention of sitting and watching a game.  This time we had a blast!  We got to Minute Maid over an hour before gametime but it gave us time to ete dinner and take the girls to the kids play area before the first pitch.  Emerson was so excited about the actual game and was so worried we were going to miss the start of it.  Both girls actually watched the game and had so much fun.  Just because it was getting pretty late, we left after the third inning and Emerson was already planning our next trip to the stadium!

Mom's Homework

We have been so impressed with Emerson and Braelyn's new school.  In Em's new class, Ms. Kathy sends home a folder with her artwork from the week on Friday and we are supposed to return the folder on Monday.  When I opened the folder on Friday, I discovered a cut out of a little person, much like an oversized paper doll, with an instruction sheet for me to decorate it head to toe to look like Emerson and return on Tuesday.  In the instructions it said to "be creative".  Well, of course I don't do anything the easy way and might have gone a little overboard and waited til about 9:00 Monday night to even start.  I have always done well working under pressure!  I was pretty proud of my little person and Emerson couldn't wait to take her to school!

Big Girls or Babies?

While Shawn and I were cleaning up the kitchen from breakfast, Emerson got in the drawer where I had all the bibs and pacifiers that I haven't been able to bring myself to get rid of and asked if she and Braelyn could play with them...

Sunday Fun Day!

We had such a fun day today!!!  We slept in this morning and went to second service at church.  After church we came home, changed clothes and headed outside to do something that Emerson has had on her mind for a few days now-water balloons!!!  After we came in and got changed(AGAIN) we met up with our life group for a cookout.  Another item to check off on Emerson's wish list because she has asked numerous times lately to go to Clair's house!  We left there a little before the festivities were over to continue on our mission of family fun.  We came home, hopped into the truck and headed to the drive-in.  Yes, there is still such a thing as drive-in movies!  We didn't tell the girls where we were going.  When Emerson heard me tell the guy which movie we wanted to see, she started saying "Disney Planes, Disney Planes....YESSSS!"  We got the full experience by hitting the concession stand for a massive tub of popcorn and drinks.  We took out the carseats and folded up the seats in the back so that Braelyn could play.  I climbed back there with her and Emerson and Daddy got to recline the front seats and enjoy the show.  On our way to the concession stand, Emerson said "This is the BEST day!"  I couldn't have agreed more!

Daddy spent a lot of time getting all the balloons ready-too bad they all pop really quickly!

Hide Braelyn!  Daddy's going to get us!

Do you think he sees us?!

Run Braelyn!  Let's get balloons!

Keeping busy while Daddy fills round two of balloons

Braelyn had no problem throwing them at everybody else but was less than thrilled when they came her way!

Watch out Momma!

Em:  "Are we going on a boat?!"

Does it get any cuter?!

New Shoes

Em and Braelyn's new school asks that they wear tennis shoes every day for safety reasons on the playground.  So far not a problem with Emerson, but a little more so with Braelyn.  All the clothes that I have had for her have gone much better with sandals.  The child has never had typical running shoes.  She has had some Keds and, thanks to Grandma, some Twinkle Toes by Skechers but in recent days she has outgrown both.  When buying Emerson shoes in the past I have tried to get very neutral-gray and pink, mostly, in an effort for them to go with anything.  I got anything but neutral for Miss B!  When I saw these New Balance tennis shoes they, for whatever reason, screamed "BRAELYN"!!!!  When I put them on her for the first time she was sooo proud!  She walked over to Shawn and pointed her little toe and twisted it back and forth to model.  After he carried on about them to her satisfaction, she ran to the living room to do the same thing for Emerson!  It was absolutely adorable.  There was no way I was going to pry those shoes off her to go out to dinner!

Logical Solution

We have been working so hard to keep the house perfectly clean to be ready to show at any time.  That is quite a task with a two year old and four year old but they have done great putting their toys up.  I told them that before we baked cookies, all of their toys needed to be put up.  Emerson was in the dining room cleaning up the play food and tea set and I heard...

"Maybe we just shouldn't play anymore because we have to clean up SO MUCH!!!"

I cracked up!  Life is rough, isn't it?!

Cookie Monsters

After our trip to the pool we of course had to make a Target run and I told Emerson that we could get some cookie dough for later.  Our girls both got Mom's sweet tooth for sure!  I am about convinced that is the only thing Braelyn got from me!!  They were so cute making them together!

The longest 12 minutes ever!!

Time for sprinkles!

Braelyn, do you need more sprinkles?

Oh no, Mom caught me getting a second cookie!

Maybe if I give her my sweetest smile she will let me keep it...it worked of course!

Silly girl, licking sprinkles off her fingers!

 

Sweet sisters!

Fun With My Sweet Girls

We can't wait to finally be moved and get to go the pool all the time!  We decided we better take advantage of it at least one more time before it closed for the start of school!  The girls have a blast!!  We plan to start Emerson in swim lessons at the Y right after the first of the year so she will be all set next summer when we will be right around the corner from this awesome pool!

Good News

Yesterday, Braelyn and I went to the allergist to have her allergy test done.  A couple of months ago, the ENT was a little concerned about how many antibiotics she had been on and the fact that she was still growing bacteria in her sinuses despite them.  He sent us to the pediatrician to have an immune system work up.  When we got to the pediatrician, he thought it was possible that the root of all the problems could be allergies...it made sense given the family history!  The allergist went ahead and did the testing on her immune system but agreed that allergies were much more likely to be causing the problems.  Thankfully, yesterday she had the results from the blood test and it seems as though her immune system is working just fine!  We went ahead with the allergy testing and the only thing that popped up as an allergy was dust mites!  We were so relieved that her allergies were not worse.  It was especially reassuring to see that she did not follow in Emerson's footsteps with food allergies!  She did great with the tests.  She hardly cried at all and had a big smile on her face by the time it was all over.  The nurse practitioner (and MOM) were shocked!  Thankfully, it has seemed that having her adenoids taken out has already made a big difference.  She seems to get over things much more quickly. 

Not the best picture but I had to get one of her in this outfit.  This is the outfit Emerson wore in her 18 month pictures!  B has grown so much lately but I guess she will never keep pace with her sister...different(and perfect!) in every way!

I couldn't believe she stayed at this little table and played when I moved to the back of the waiting room.

This is about the time she realized that everybody in the waiting room was watching her.  Seconds later she started crying, running for Mom!

Poor baby!

Wish Us Luck!

I realized that I haven't posted an update about the new house situation in awhile.  A LOT has happened!  Our plans are finalized, or should I say finalized enough that we signed our contract with the builder about 3 weeks ago.  Little did we know, it is a long time between when you sign the contract and when you actually see progress...the first tree has yet to come down on the lot.  The builder warned us about this slight disappointment and assured us that plenty is going on behind the scenes.  They are working to get all the necessary paperwork over to our lender, ordering soil tests, and surveys and starting the process with the HOA.  In the meantime, we have been on the hunt for the brick and stone that we want to use on the outside of the house.  We FINALLY think we have decided on that.  Think is the operative word in that sentence!
Last weekend we decided to take another step in this big transition that we weren't planning on doing until much later...we put our house up for sale.  We were going to wait until closer to completion on the new house but the market is great right now and we really didn't want to miss out on that.  These days we are pharmaceutical rep and NOV sales manager by day and Brooks Realty at night!  We decided to try our luck at selling another house by owner.  We had huge success going this route with our last house and are hoping good luck will strike us twice!  As excited as I am about the new house, the prospect of saying goodbye to the house that we brought both girls home from the hospital to is a little sad!  Nonetheless we have many amazing memories here and I can't wait to see the memories that we will make on Blue Cedar Court!

Living Art

It has been so hot outside lately that it seems like we have been somewhat trapped inside.  It was a little better this weekend so after a day inside of cleaning, we decided to get outside and cookout before the Texans game.  The girls always love playing with sidewalk chalk but this time the changed things up a little bit...