France

On the way home from school, Kate was looking outside the window and said "Look, it looks like France." I had no clue what she was talking about, so at the stop light, I turned around to see what she was looking at. She pointed to a metal power line tower and said, "It looks like the one in France." After seeing what she was pointing at, I realized she was comparing the metal power line to the Eiffel Tower. The metal tower looks very similar to the Eiffel Tower and I am so impressed that Kate was able to see the similarities between them.
After Justin got home from work, I told him what Kate had said and he said "What are we going to do, when she becomes smarter than us?" Hmmmm...I think she might already be :)

This kid...

is crazy!!! Brody is into everything, climbs everything and seems to constantly get hurt. Just last week, he was trying to get on Kate's scooter and fell and hit his head on a bolt that was on the scooter. He had a cut and a BIG bump on his forehead. He is seriously taking years off my life. No matter where he falls, it seems as if he is always hitting his head on something, its either the wall, door, base board, etc. Justin and I joke that we need to buy him a helmet and wrap him in bubble wrap to keep him safe. There is no way, Im letting him play sports :).

Top 10 in 2010

The top ten things I am thankful for in 2010.

1. My family. I cant imagine life without them. Justin took the kids to San Antonio several times to visit family while I stayed back and I didn't know what to do with myself, I was so bored. Justin kept saying "go do something, go shopping, have fun."

2. Moving back to the states. While I enjoyed our overseas experience, I was ecstatic to move back; friends, family, American food-aka Tex Mex.

3. Being able to be a stay at home mom. I will admit there are times when I wish I could go to work and have an adult conversation. But then I am reminded how lucky I am to stay home with the kids. Not too mention the house would never be cleaned and we would never have clean clothes to wear as that would be the last thing I wanted to do when I got home.

4. Our gorgeous new house. I loved our old house but LOVE our new house.

5. Our health. The worst that has happened is all of us getting the nasty stomach bug. I will take that any day over anything else.

6. Watching Kate learn and excel in school. She loves going to school and her friends. She just learned to sing Itsy Bitsy Spider in Spanish.

7. Watching Brody learn new things. Even though this is the second time around, it never gets old. Watching him crawl and walk for the first time is just as exciting as it was watching Kate.

8. My first 1/2 marathon. I'm glad I finished it at a better time(2:07)than I predicted and without walking.

9. My incredible husband who puts up with all my crazy ideas and projects. Justin is a great father and husband and we are extremely lucky to have him.

10. My friends. I have a great group of friends who are wonderful, fun, smart, funny, great listeners and who I consider my sisters. I can always count on them for anything.

Happy New Year!!!

Christmas

We decided early on that we wanted to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas at our house so that the kids could play with their gifts all day. We didn't want to open presents and then have to drive several hours especially on Christmas day. Justin's dad and step mom came up on Christmas Eve and spent several days with us. Santa was very generous with gifts this year. Kate got a Rapunzel and Belle doll, books, clothes and a new movie. Brody got some cars, a play phone, clothes and books. Justin's aunts got Kate a bath rob that has her name on, she liked it so much that she slept in it.
Putting cookies and milk out for Santa

Finding Santa's presents





Brody's favorite thing about Christmas-climbing on the presents



The day after Christmas we went to San Antonio to spend time with Justin's family. Justin's mom and step dad totally out did Santa by getting Kate a Princess car. Both kids loaded up with good presents, clothes, books, and toys.




Christmas was great and I cant wait to continue our traditions as the kids get older.

1st haircut

We took Brody to get his first haircut on Saturday. I held Justin off as long as possible because I knew after the haircut he would look like a little man instead of my baby boy. He sat well for most of the haircut but started to get antsy at the end. His baby curls are gone but still looks handsome clean cut.
Before

During

After

Santa

I took Kate and Brody to see Santa yesterday and it turned out just like I thought. Brody screaming and crying and Kate not talking to Santa. Kate had written a letter to Santa earlier in the week and was very excited to show him, that was until she saw him. As soon as we walked up to him, she covered her mouth and wouldn't say anything. As soon as I handed Brody to him, the tears started and he was trying to reach for me. I was so preoccupied with Brody that I wasn't watching Kate and how she was taking the pictures. I guess she was trying to pose by tilting her head to the side but instead it looks like her neck is connected to her shoulder.
My crazy kids.

13 Months

Brody turned 13 months today and there is no stopping him. He is constantly on the go. He now can get up all by himself without needing any help. It's so cute watching him put his little butt in the air when he is getting back up. He is now toyless in the bath as he is constantly throwing them out and getting the floor all wet. Brody still takes 2 naps a day and is a great sleeper at night. He loves being held-which I love, except when I am trying to get things done. Two new teeth came in this weekend, which led to a horrible diaper rash that lasted a couple of days. He still thinks Kate is the funniest person and loves giving her hugs.
13 Months

Hugging Kate