Dallas gets 6" of SNOW!

After a few days of ICE and being housebound, last Thursday/Friday we received the mother of all snows! We got an impressive 6" and finally got to get out to PLAY! We started the afternoon by going outside to show Bridgette the snow, pull her and Ayers in the sled, and get some fresh air. Well, that turned into all the neighbors coming out, the adults being pulled in the sled behind Jeff's suburban*, and then happy hour, friendly competitions and dinner at our house! Can I just say once more that I LOVE our street!?!! You should have seen the number of coats, scarves, and boots in the house! It looked like a ski lodge! We had so much fun on that snow day that we're still talking about it! Thanks Jeff for driving us up and down the street a million times and Thanks Mary Nell for making us dinner! The day is best said in pictures, so follow bellow...

*Disclaimer: Acknowledgement by all parties involved that this was not a smart idea. But it sure was fun! :)

Bridgette & Ayers going for a ride

Brrrr! It's COLD!

Bridgette & Daddy

Aiden snoozing the afternoon away while we play

Mommy & Bridgette

Bob going one-handed while video-taping in the other!

Here comes Amy... right before she runs into a parked car!

MaryNell gets ready to ride!

Susan (the Doctor) is off! We made sure to ask her what to do if she crashed! ;)

That is Julie... probably the best wipe-out of the day!

Ayers feeds Bridgette a snack... awww

And the friendly competition begins... first up - the plank!

Next up: Wall Sits

Then a game of "quarters" rounded the evening out.

Our winter wonderland

Snow Days 1, 2, 3 ...

Last week was a crazy weather week here in Dallas! We got a lot of ICE, snow, and FREEZING temperatures! The first few days we were pretty much house bound because of the ice and temperatures. It was just too dangerous to get out and go anywhere! So, we got to have lots of "bonding" time with 2 babies, 2 dogs, and 2 adults inside - HA! Bob and I took turns trying to get some work done, and I pulled out every last toy, activity, and idea to do to keep Bridgette entertained! We baked, painted, played dress up, built things with blocks, and had tea parties while watching the snow outside. Here are some cute pictures of our week indoors:

Double Checkup

My how time flies! On Friday we went in for double duty checkups. Aiden had his 4 month and Bridgette had her 18 month check up (even though she's 19 months now). The whole appointment was pretty funny - both kids were being quite personable and showing off to the doctor and nurses. As the nurse was asking a series of questions for Bridgette, her actions were answering them for us... for example "Does she help undress/dress herself (at that moment she was trying to pull her skirt back on) ... "Does she climb on things?" (she didn't get to finish the sentence before Bridgette climbed onto Bob) ... and then as Dr. Dennison was asking questions and writing notes in their charts, Bridgette was cracking herself up by balling up the paper on the table and throwing it at him! HA! So what was Aiden doing you ask? Well, he showed off his strength by standing on Bob's lap and proving that although he's the second child, he's going to catch up quick! Here are their stats... funny how opposite they are!

Bridgette, 19 months

weight: 24lbs 7oz (50%), length: 31 3/4" (50%), head: 18 3/4" (80%)

...she's finally growing into that head ;)

Aiden, 4 months

weight: 13lbs 7oz (20%), length: 25 1/2" (75%), head: 16" (10%)

...not sure where that height comes from??

Busy Bee in the waiting room ...

Aiden giggling with Daddy ...

... and Bridgette modeling with Mommy.

Life's little moments...

First off let me start by saying being a mom is hard... and being a mom of 2 kiddos under 19 months is H-A-R-D! Things don't ever go as planned, there is never a "break", and some days it takes an hour+ just to get them both out of the house to go to the grocery store. But then there are these {little} moments that happen, and it makes any "hard" day seem like nothing. They remind me of how truly blessed we are, how grateful I am to be at home with my kids, and how happy and proud I am to be a mommy! These moments could be anything from Bridgette smiling at Aiden and him smiling back at her to Bridgette saying a new word for the first time or Aiden giggling at me when I change his diaper. It gives me such joy to watch! Here are a few of these "moments" I've been able to capture over the last week or so...

Christened with SNOW!

This past weekend was a very special one for our little boy! Aiden was baptized on Sunday, January 9th at St. Luke's Episcopal Church. He wore the same beautiful gown that Bridgette wore just a year ago. It has been in Bob's family for almost 100 years! Bob's grandfather, Vovo Zizo, wore it when he was baptized (95 years ago) and Aiden is the 26th to wear it. Since Bridgette, it has traveled to Brazil and back... and is ready to go back for Aiden's 2nd cousin Fernando to use. Aiden was surrounded by his grandparents, godparents, and his church family (and Tia Marthi, Tia Christina, and Uncle Jared in spirit!). Another fun happening: when we walked into church it was raining, and when we left it was SNOWING! So, Sunday was Aiden's first snow too. Thank you Vovo e Vovo and Sandra and Cliff for driving up for the weekend! We are so blessed with a beautiful, healthy family!

Carefully putting the gown on

The girls caught up on some reading

Getting ready for the Baptism with Sandra and Cliff (Madrinha and Padrinho)

Aiden playing with Father Robert's hands

Mimi & Aiden

Bridgette is so over this and Aiden is ready to get out of the gown - haha :)

What a beautiful family we have!

Lindo, lindo, lindo!

..........................................

{And of course the weekend wasn't complete without the girls getting to play!}

Uncle Cliff with the girls

Vovo with her grandchildren

Hangin' with Uncle Jared

We got a longer visit with Jared at Christmas this year, and it was fun to see him play with the kids. It didn't take Bridgette long to warm up to her uncle this time, and she had a great time rough-housing, playing hide-and-seek, and playing at the kid area in the mall. Enjoy the pics :)

Happy New Year!

This year we had a laid-back New Years Eve at our house. We spent the evening with some good friends + neighbors, good food, celebrating Marc + Allison's engagement and watching Bridgette and Caroline dance on the table. That's right... we let the girls dance on the table (because it was so cute of course) and now I'm having second thoughts about that decision. Bridgette's favorite new thing is ... (drumroll please) ... climbing on the table! Oh well... Marc got some videos of them that I will post later! We just want to wish everyone a Happy New Year!

the spread... oh, hi bob

Poppa caught coloring with the girls :)

Bridgette giving out hugs

sporting the cool headbands!

toasting the happy couple :)