The greatest show on Earth

My dad is the world's best reminiscer. Is that a word? It seems like, especially more since we've had kids, every event or trip is followed by, "Don't you remember when we went to...." I always respond with an appropriately sarcastic, "How old was I dad?"

Back in August, my parents decided they wanted to take all the grandkids to the Ringling Brothers' circus. Apparently, when I was two, my parents took Kelly and me to the circus in Dallas. So, my dad was really excited to take the grandkids to the circus where their mommies went, 27 years ago!

These three are hilarious together (pretty soon it will the FOUR of them...Kelly's pregnant!). For the first 15 minutes after they see each other, there is non-stop squealing! I don't think there was one quiet moment on the ride to dinner.

On the way into the show!

There were teary eyes when the lights came up and the show started. It's pretty cool to watch the things that you loved as a child, through the eyes of your own for the first time.

Tate was the most funny during the show. He was silent through the whole show. This kid talks non-stop, so we were all laughing about how quiet he was. The car ride home was a different story:)

Mallory was really into the oohing and ahhhing. A little on the dramatic side:)


Morgan spent the night pepped up on cotton candy and popcorn! She was a trooper and stayed up until the last 20 minutes, then crashed.

Way too distracted to look at the camera!

Everyone was exhausted by the end of the night.

Thanks to Mimi and Grandpa for the fun night and lots of memories!! Mallory talked about the circus for about a week after. I know for a fact if you even bring up the circus around Tate, he would still respond with, "I see motorcycles go round and round. Like this!" So much fun. Now I'll be able to say, "Mallory, don't you remember when I brought you to the circus back in 2009. You loved it! You don't remember? I mean, you were three and all!" Love you, dad!

A summer wrap up

I just can't seem to keep up with this blog lately. So, here is a recap of June, July and August. Two more posts to go, and then I'll be caught up!!

The girls coloring a sign for Father's Day. Also the day that I found out Magic Erasers work to remove crayon from painted walls. Thank you, Morgan!

By far, the most requested activity in our house. From the moment Brad walks in the door, Mallory is begging, "Can you tickle me on the couch?" Tickle on the couch = Brad grabbing the girls by their ankles, swinging them like monkeys, plopping them back on the couch and indeed, tickling them on the couch. To say they love it is a gross understatement!

In August, we took a little "vacation" to Dallas before soccer started back up. The girls loved the fountains in the West End area.

Another favorite past time, the tent. It's really sweet how the girls read books together. and the tent has become a little hiding place.

A must have accessory for little girls: princess shoes.

Licking the beaters after making some cupcakes. What a sweet big sister!

The birthday boy with his girls.

Lots of pretend play with the big girl. I asked Mallory who she was. She said, "I'm Dr. Riser! This is how she wears her stethoscope."

In July, we headed west to the Bankhead Reunion. Mallory and Morgan got to spend some quality time with Nanny, Brad's grandmother. She is one of the sweetest ladies I know!

Morgan is slightly obsessed with babies. She will spot them before I do! Our friend Stephanie came over with her little girl, Elise. Morgan was in heaven! She was rolling all around Elise and giving her hugs. Hilarious!

Aunt LaShay (and not pictured, Uncle Steve) was in town for a day. We met up with them at Texas Roadhouse for a quick lunch.

Mallory had her first official sleep over. The Richardsons came to stay with us for a night. We braved it, and all three big girls sleep in the same room.

Morgan loves to rough house and wrestle, but she is also one of the girliest girls! She did not enjoy being sprayed by Nemo. Check out those prissy hands!!

Lots of popsicle eating this summer....and the last time for Morgan to wear those shorts, they were a mess!!

Random, I know. But I feel better now, after documenting our summer memories! I cannot believe it's already the middle of September!!!!

Help a sista (in-law) out!

Brad's brother and his wife are trying to sell their house in McKinney. Jason just got a new job in a different city. He's commuting back and forth each week until their home sells. They have two kids, so obviously this is not fun for Jenn (or Jason)!!!

Their home is absolutely beautiful and has a great layout. It's also in a convenient location, too! She just posted some pictures on her blog of the inside. You can check it out here.

We're praying it sells quickly, so they can start enjoying their new adventure!!!

Give-a-way at Kristi's!

My super talented friend from college and local life, Kristi, has an awesome business. She designs blogs (she did my Jelby's blog), Christmas cards, birth announcements, birthday invitations, and her latest....baggie taggies!! What mom doesn't want a cute tag on her diaper bag, kid's backpack, lunch box or your very own luggage?? Well, the cool part is that she's giving away THREE sets of her newest product! Go, right now, and enter to win a set of fabulously cute baggie taggies!!

Are you ready for some futbol?

We are a soccer family. We will be a soccer family until Brad stops coaching, or the girls rebel by not playing soccer!

Brad just started his fourth season at UMHB last week. I can't believe it's already time for soccer again! I still haven't decided which I like better...high school season in the freezing cold, or college in the blazing HOT sun, without any shade in sight. It's really six one way and six the other. Nonetheless, we have become soccer field rats! The girls donned their purple and gold to cheer on the Cru. I love "memory lane trips", so let's take one!

September 2006, Mallory is 3 months old. She was a trooper through the games. I looked like a bag lady pushing the stroller up to our spot. There was so much stuff piled on top, it was ridiculous!! Not sure why this picture is so small. And, yes, she is in a UT onesie. It was the first game of that season as well. Plus, the UMHB bookstore was lame and didn't have any infant clothes!

September 2007, Mallory is 15 months old. I got smart (or cheap) and made my own Cru onesie! I know I am biased, but just LOOK at that face!! And, those pigtails!!!!! She was just barely walking here...sniff!


October 2008, Mallory 2, Morgan 10 months. Mallory finally got some "official" Cru-wear and Morgan sports the homemade onesie. Notice the bag lady set-up. That golf umbrella saved our lives!!

August 2009, Mallory 3 and Morgan 20 months. Oh my! Morgan is running now, and Mallory has someone to play with! I have a feeling it will be a lot easier to keep them entertained this year. Aside from the heat and sweating like grown men, the girls had a blast!

We are excited for another season of Cru soccer!! Maybe this year I'll be able to see the goals live, instead of on game film 5 hours later:)

Go CRU (and especially the coach)!!!!!

It's not flattering.

They say imitation is the best form of flattery, right? I wasn't very flattered in Walmart the other day.

The girls and I were in the check-out lane waiting on the customer in front of us. I hear Mallory talking to herself and ask her to repeat what she said. Here's the conversation:

M: "That will be $1.08, please drive forward."

S: "Who says that?"

M: "Silly...McDonald's...when you get your Coke!!"

Busted!!!!! This one is going in the (non-existant) baby book.

Morgie

Morgan has become quite the hilarious little girl. She deserves a whole post, so that will come soon. For now, I leave you with this picture. It is so Morgan. Fruit snacks, baby doll, no smile and watching Veggie Tales! If it was full body, she would definitely have some sort of shoes on her feet (princess shoes, my shoes, her shoes, Mallory's shoes, Brad's shoes....the girl is obsessed!).

What is that in her hair? A bow? Does she really have enough hair for a whale spout and a bow? No, not really. But, she has loved it for the last 10 minutes, so I think we may have a hairless bowhead on our hands!!! Look out Walmart, she really is a girl!!

New stuff at Jelby's!

I've just posted a bunch of new burpies and pillowcase dresses over at Jelby's.

I'm also starting to offer personalization. Go check it all out!!

Got dinner plans?

We heart CFA around here. In fact, Mallory has figured out that CFA is, in fact, Chick-Fil-A. That is how much we talk about it, eat it and love it!! I mean, we dress ourselves in trash bags with black spots to get free food. That is some dedication!

So, naturally, I assume everyone else loves it as much as we do. I think I am wrong. It dawned on me the other day that not everyone knows about "kid's night" at CFA. What? You don't either? Shame on you! You are missing out on some serious fun and good food!

Every Tuesday night, from 5-8, you can receive a FREE kid's meal with the purchase of an up sized combo meal. So, if you are a family of four, like us, that equals out to about $12 total. Crazy!! I don't think I can buy groceries to make a meal at home for that cheap! Okay, well, I probably could, but it wouldn't be near as tasty! And, I know a certain someone that has gone through the drive-thru on a Tuesday night, and eaten the kid's meal PLUS his combo meal. So, you don't even have to have a kid with you!!

Our small group meets on Tuesday nights and it just ended up where we all eat at CFA and then head over to the Johnson's home. Perfect! No clean up, great company, kids can run around, free dessert (please tell me you all know you can turn your toy in for ice cream??!!). What can be better? Plus, our CFA is pretty kid friendly and they do a craft on top of all of that!

Sigh. I heart Chick-Fil-A. Like, a lot.

Happy birthday...

...to one of the most fun guys around!

I knew that our life would be a blast when I married you,

I knew that your love for family is a priority the first time I was around you with them,

I found out really quick how passionate you are about making soccer fun (not many people can pull off Fidel Castro, at the World Cup, with such confidence and poise) (yes, I will get in trouble for posting this picture, but it's worth it!),

And, I've always known you would be the most fun dad of all!

We are lucky to have such a well rounded man in our life!

Happy birthday to you! We love you so much!

So excited!

I am so excited about the newest product for sale at Jelby's!! I've had my eye on pillowcase dresses for over a year now, and finally made two back in May.

They are the most adorable thing on little girls!! I've decided to make and sell pillowcase dresses at Jelby's. Stop by and take a look!! I'd love to make one for your little girl!!

Catching up!

Blogging hasn't been a priority (reading others, just not updating mine!). Summer has been super busy. Check out the posts below to see what we've been up to!

Cousins in Conroe

Just keep swimming, swimming, swimming

Happy birthday, America!

First day of "school"

Brad's away, time to play!

Cousins in Conroe

Back in May, we went to Conroe for a weekend with family. Brad's Aunt Pam and Uncle Dickey live right on lake Conroe. Their children (and families) live there too, so we all got together and met the newest cousins!

We stayed with Brad's cousin Keith, and his wife Jana, in the Woodlands. They are parents to this cutie pie, Kaitlyn:

Can you be any cuter? Mallory and Morgan didn't think so! They were mildly obsessed with Kaitlyn. She just sat there and smiled the whole time!

Sharon bought cute, coordinating outfits for all seven kids. We attempted a picture with all of them. We gave it a good try, but ended up with mostly this:

L-R: Johnathan, Mallory, Julia, Morgan, Hunter, Kaitlyn and Hannah (aka Morgan's long lost twin!)

Sweet Johnathan. Morgan, Johnathan and Hannah could all be siblings...that blonde hair...or lack of!!

These two had a ball together!

Two seconds after this picture was snapped, one of the fish JUMPED OUT OF THE COOLER!!! Holy moly. I think I was more freaked out than the kids!!

Pam and Dickey borrowed a pontoon (sp?) boat for all of to take on the lake. We thought it was a good idea and that the kids would enjoy it. Morgan and Johnathan thought differently:)

With her "night night", everything is better!!

Those girls. So sweet!

Slip n slide fun! L-R: Twins, Hunter & Hannah, Johnathan & Julia, Morgan

Proof that there were adults present to supervise the chaos!! We spent our last night at Incredible Pizza...and it was incredible!! Actually, I can't remember what the pizza tasted like, but the homemade, fresh and warm cinnamon rolls were to. die. for. Holy moly!!

It was great to be with everyone and we're hoping to make it a tradition!!