Spring Break

Still recovering from an awesome Spring Break vacation!! We headed to Galveston last Saturday morning and the kids were so excited to get in the water that they didn't even wait to get changed into their suits before they got into the sand and water!! We spent the whole day out on the beach and lucked out with beautiful weather. The water was pretty chilly but our "water baby" Emma didn't mind at all...we had to practically drag her out for dinner!!

We got up Sunday morning and enjoyed a "surrey" bike ride down the seawall. The kids had a blast sitting in front of us and telling us where to go! Patrick and I didn't realize what a workout it would be, but both of our legs felt like noodles for the rest of the day!

Sunday afternoon we headed to New Orleans and got there just in time to have a wonderful dinner at Chris and Michelle's house. Monday included breakfast at Cafe Du Monde, a ferry ride across the river, street car ride to City Park, lunch and play at the Park, and a wonderful dinner before back to the hotel to rest for another day of fun!

(The peristyle where Chris & Michelle are getting married in October)

Tuesday included another street car ride, playing at yet another beautiful park (Audubon Park), a wonderful lunch at Chris' new restaurant (The American Sector), a very moving 4-D movie on the history of WWII (adults only!), a great dinner with all our relatives that lives in New Orleans, and a trip to the casino to wrap it up!!

We had a great breakfast before we headed home on Wednesday but we cannot wait to go back in October!!

Patching...

Emma had her four month follow-up with the opthamologist yesterday and we were hoping to avoid it but we have to start patching her eye. When the doctor was telling Emma about it she started to cry but her mood turned to super excited when she saw how many cute choices of patches there are and that she could get a box with all of them and pick a new one to wear each day!! Her left eye has started to improve but the doctor felt that we wouldn't see anymore significant improvement if she didn't do the patching. Fortunately she only has to patch two hour a day so we can do it in the afternoons after school!! And luckily the kids are in LOVE with Jake and the Never Land Pirates on DisneyJr. so Emma now says she's "Izzy the Pirate" and Bryan is "Jake"!! We go back to the opthamologist in another two months so we are praying this really does the trick!!!

Bryan had to get in on the pirate action!!

He did it!!!

So proud of my little boy, he has gone 5 days in a row in underwear (with the exception of a cloth trainer at night), including a couple days at school with no accidents!! We had been working on the potty thing since he turned 2 but I was starting to back off because I knew he would do it in his own time and he is only 27 months old...but it clicked for him this weekend and I was daring enough to take him out of the house without the diapers and he did great!!! I think Patrick is more excited than I am because he washes our cloth diapers and this means no more stinky diapers to wash out!! But I'm super proud that we stuck with cloth, in the past 27 months we have not bought one single pack of disposable diapers!!

LOVE this little guy in his "undies"!!

Vday, Bdays and Plays!!

Last Friday night we took the kids to CATS to see Pinkalicious (super cute children's book if you haven't read it!). The kids LOVED it and they had a "Pink" party afterwards with pink cupcakes, cookies, cotton candy, pink nail polish and a chance to meet the cast!

Then on Sunday Emma and I had a girls afternoon and went with our friends the Crissey's to see Beauty and the Beast Junior at Theater Arlington. Emma was a little scared at first (OK she hid under her seat) but once the singing started and Belle came out she started to really enjoy it!!

Patrick and I celebrated our 29th birthdays with family parties...of course the kids had to blow our candles out!

And we had a wonderful Valentines Day...the kids got pillow pets from Patrick and I and had fun Valentines parties at school!

(super cute gift that the kids gave me, all the hearts are coupons I can trade in....they says things like "Help you with the dishes," "Let Dad put me to bed," "Play nicely in my room with my brother.")

Super Bowl 45

About a week before the big game we headed out to the Stadium to check out all the fun! The City was working on submitting a bid for the game when I first started working there, so it's been kind of cool to watch all the preparation and planning that has gone into hosting such a big event.

Pee Pee in the Potty!!

We've been working so hard on the potty business lately...he totally understands it and will sit on the potty for hours, but unfortunately he has a bladder of steel and can hold it for hours!!!

Emma even helps out with reading books once mommy and daddy get tired of siting in the bathroom!!

Holidays

Patrick and I took vacation from Christmas to New Years and it's been so nice to spend the time together as an entire family during the Holidays! Christmas Eve Mass at SMG was beautiful...we got there an hour and a half early but it was worth it, the children's caroling was so cute and the church looked beautiful!

We hosted Christmas Eve dinner at our house and had my parents, sisters, brothers in law, Patrick's parents and siblings as well as our neighbors over for dinner. It was fun to host and get to use all the Spode Christmas dishes I've been collecting!

We had a Birthday Cake for Baby Jesus...McMahon Family tradition!

Emma, Bryan and the Brigg's girls!

Mom & Sister pic!

A rare pic of just Patrick & ISanta came...

And the present unwrapping begins, first we opened gifts from Santa and gifts to each other from the four of us...

Then my parents, sisters and brothers in law came over for breakfast...yummy cinamon rolls from Ginger Browns!

Everyone in their PJs, stuffed from breakfast!

Lindsy and Chelsey getting excited about the tamales for breakfast!

Then the Shortalls came over and we did some more gift unwrapping!

Then we stayed in our PJs and headed over to my parents house, Patrick and I have had these for several years...always fun to take out at XMAS!

Lindsy & Juan in their PJs!

And we opened some more gifts...Emma opening a new outfit for her American Girl dolls

The super cool, super cute, activity kits that Aunt Chelsey made the kids- they worked so well at church today!!!

Mom suprised by the pearl drop necklace Dad got her!

Then we had a light lunch at my parents and since the tables were all set for dinner the kids had picnics with some of their new toys on the floor!

Didn't get any pics of XMAS dinner at my parents but we ate in our PJs!!Then on the morning after XMAS we headed back over to my parents for a brunch with Aunt Julie, Uncle Chuck, Jason, Jenna and Jessica! The kids got to bring one toy along, Bryan brought his umbrella...

And Emma brought her new American Girl doll

Chels & I

Emma, Chels, Julie, Jessica, and Jenna

All the girls!

Then we headed to Dallas for dinner at the Shortalls...the kids decided to stay for a sleep over so Patrick and I had a night alone!!! We spent the next couple days being lazy, hanging out and playing with new toys!! On Thursday it was so warm outside that we took the kids to the Zoo

We also went to the Olson's new hanger/house for an open house...Emma and Bryan both LOVED the plane Mr. Olson built, Bryan wouldn't sit inside for a pic because he was afraid it would take off!!

I didn't get any pics but we had a great New Years Eve....Patrick and I went on a date for lunch, and then we went to our neighbors for dinner!