random pictures

We have had some lazy weekends around here, and we have loved every bit of it.  Here are some random pictures

Doing puzzles with mom

He loves a pink bag and a Michael Jackson glove

Cute little ghosts

If Natalie is outside when I get home, she runs to meet me so she can "drive" in our cul de sac.  Just call me Britney Spears

Preparing for Green Bay. These are long-johns that Zoe let her borrow for our Green Bay trip (next blog post), and I came home to find Natalie dressed like this....

Coloring Valentine's Day boxes for school.  Sweet brothers

Gymnastics and Basketball

James has started another year of basketball, and I can't believe how much he has grown!  This was him two years ago

This is him during his first team win this year!

This team is made up of boys that were in Bridge last year, and they are playing against teams of 1st and 2nd graders.  The first game they scored 4 points; this game they won 34-20!

Victory!

And this little girl has started gymnastics with Zoe.  I cannot describe the level of excitement she has, but these pictures do a pretty good job

The former gymnast in me loves how much is enjoying it--the mom in me hates not being there each Monday.

And I couldn't not include this cutie.  The puppy is from Gran Gran (Mrs. Rosemary)--a great Christmas present that now has its permanent place at school so Luke can sleep with it at nap each day.  And by the looks of the second picture we are going to have a hard time getting rid of the paci.

And who doesn't love a good naked bath pic....

2016 thus far

Well, I've had some trouble with my computer, and so I've been slow to update the blog this month.  January has been a month of relaxing weekends and crazy weather.  We have had temperatures of 30-ish to 70 and everything in between.  As a result, everyone is coughing and has a runny nose.

Papi and Reet Reet gave the kids a new swing, and James and Natalie are a big fan.  Luke hasn't gotten up enough nerve yet, but I'm sure he'll join in soon enough.

James's school had an event called "Flight Night"--part basketball pep rally, part fundraiser, part crazy.  I took James and Natalie to it, and Brad and Luke chose to forgo the "fun" for chip and dip at El Tiempo.  Brad said Luke was the most well behaved child--of course, he had food in front of him :)

Brad ran the Houston Half Marathon again in January and did AWESOME!  The kids and I were about 5 minutes too late to see him cross the finish line, but we were so proud of him!

Brad and James at a Houston Rockets game.  James's favorite player is James Hardin, whose nickname is "Fear the Beard.  These two....

And some random pictures: Natalie in carpool, James's first basketball game (more on that in a later catch-up post), and my three little light saber loving kiddos.

Happy New Year!

Happy 2016!

 Brad and I were watching the Alabama v. Michigan State game, and James decided to come down and join in on the fun.  Toasting to a new year!

2016 has started off great: a Rebel win in the Sugar Bowl!

We had the BEST time in New Orleans with friends and family celebrating the new year and the Rebels.

lunch at Borgne

I started with Couch, Conville and Blitt on January 4th and had to be in their New Orleans office that Monday-Wednesday, so Brad stayed an extra day in NOLA.  We relished in the lazy time spent watching college football, eating beignets and napping here and there--all capped off with dinner at Commander's Palace with Katie and Chris.

One of James's after school teachers kept the kids, and I don't think they got out of their pjs the entire three days.  Granted it was cold and raining in Houston...

Here's to a great 2016!

Merry Christmas!

Warning: these is an extremely long post with a lot, and I mean a lot, of pictures.

What a fantastic Christmas.  This year we had both Reet and Papi and Grandmama and Granddaddy for Christmas!  It started with our usual trip to eat lunch with Brad--these kids are so happy to eat pizza, french fries and yogurt in his cafeteria.

Papi and Reet Reet arrived a few days early, and their gifts included a tea set for Natalie.  These two have had a long standing tea date.

Papi on babysitting duty

Christmas Eve mass was beautiful.  Last year Luke was sick and threw up all over himself and Brad as Brad was getting him out of the car.  Brad texted me during church saying that they were going home and that he would pick me up later :)  This year we all made it without anyone being sick.

Luke is still not a fan of taking pictures and would have no part of a Christmas Eve pictures.

After church the adults enjoyed Papi's fried oysters, a Wall family tradition.  We were all too busy eating to take a picture.

Christmas morning Natalie and James came downstairs yelling "He came, he came!".  I told Brad this may be the perfect age for Christmas: Luke is old enough to somewhat understand (especially the unwrapping gifts part), and James is still young enough to be excited.

two Evil Green Ninjas! 

again, no Luke

iron bead project--huge hit

 

upset that there were no more gifts to unwrap

ballerina music box from G&G

Hess car 

 

building with Crazy Forts

enjoying Natalie's Barbie car

 

All of the gifts were a huge hit, but by far Luke's bike was the best present.  He has all but slept with the bike since opening it.   His legs are quite long enough to sit on the seat and scoot, so he "walks" the bike all around.

Extremely mad when he had to get off the bike so Brad could lower the seat.

Since both Luke and Natalie got balance bikes for Christmas (and James recently learned to ride without training wheels), there was a lot of time spent outside riding/walking bikes.  Again, lots of pictures, but they were just too cute in their new pjs from Mrs. Rosemary (Gran Gran)

taking care of baby brother 

 

taking a rest 

worn out 

Natalie asked Santa for one thing: a fan.  Amber from Sophia the First has a fan in one episode, and she was thrilled that Santa brought her a "fancy fan" like Amber's.  My sweet girlie girl.

Luke not feeling the love from Papi so early in the morning.  Usually these two are thick as thieves.

A fun Christmas morning.

A very special time.....