Party of 8

This weekend, the girls stayed home with their Nana and Beiboo and had a great time.

Dan and I went to New Orleans and joined my folks, Aunt Funny, Eagle, Uncle B and Sam. From the delicious chocolate martini(ha!) to the lively political debate, Friday night was fun. Saturday began at Acme with a celebrity sighting(CNN Style-our first of two...this one being much more tame) then to the psychic in Jackson Square(only works if you believe people-Barrett you just have to believe that this will be the year for marriage and a child) to drinking and checking out Bourbon(and a certain CNN celeb's "friends" at Pat O's). I was also turned away from Harrah's(they must know how good I am at poker) but we ended up at the Cat's Meow for shots and songs.

We had no idea that this was NBA All Star weekend in the Big Easy so we were treated to a different side of life than we are used to...a little too primal for me. We ended our trip on Bourbon early in fear....

Sunday we hit Brennans and then to the airport to fly home to the babies.

Here is my only pic from the weekend-I will collect more and add too(so sorry the ones from karaoke did not turn out)

Dinner at la petite grocery(Friday night)

Laura, Eagle, Barrett & Sam at Acme

Ready for oysters & beer at Acme!

February is here!!

Sorry I have not posted recently-girls are great. They LOVE school and the weather is letting us get outside and play more often. They have not seen their doctor since December(I probably just jinxed us...) and we are closing in on SOMEONE's second birthday...wow...Here are some pictures taken in the last few weeks-sorry there have not been more.

Girls in their pj's from Jeremy and Mabrie(they LOVE them!)

Full on 2 year old fit in action....

Friends who play together, stay together...

A day at the park

Lauren too!

Kate is getting into this picture taking thing...

Her sister would rather just act two...

Riding the car at Chuck E Cheese(our first trip there)

The birthday boy and his girl kate

Kate and Reese ride the snowmobile....fun times

Brayden blows out his candles-great party!

Playing out at the ranch

Tuesday was a very important day in history...Grandad's birthday!! The girls and I headed out to one of his favorite places, the ranch. It has changed a lot since we were last there and we can't wait to get the girls out there again-they LOVED it(and they have yet to see all the deer and turkey who call it home!).

Grandad tries on his "birthday hats"

First order of business: the birds must be fed

Girls love to help...

They also want to know when they can drive the tractor

Lauren already has first dibs on the mule

Lauren finds my favorite chair

Grandad's Chair

Saturday night was steak night at Queenie and Grandad's. Two girls thought that being in Grandad's chair was a huge coup d'ete. Giggles and laughter followed...

Kate and Lauren as Trout

Queenie and Grandad love to fish. The fish in the Henry's Fork River are some of their favorites and now, two of them are that much more special. Scroll down on this web page to meet Kate and Lauren, two beautiful brown trout swimming in those waters now.
Brown Trout Kate and Brown Trout Lauren

Granny's 80th Birthday Weekend

What a great weekend we had here in Austin. My Granny celebrated her 80th birthday with all of her family. It began with lunch at Vivo, then dinner and a video(thanks Nancy!!) at Sicolas, and finished with breakfast at Queenie and Grandad's. So many pictures were taken-easiest seen this way. A photographer also took pictures at dinner so those will come(if possible).

Nana and Bieboo Visit

The girls Nana and Bieboo visited the first weekend of January. The girls got much reading done and Dan and I got a much needed night out!!

Happy New Year!!

We got off to a great start this year! Both girls are well and enjoying all the new toys Santa brought them. They don't go back to school until the 9th so we are busy finding fun things to do until then. Everything from the Children's Museum and the park have kept us occupied outside. Inside we took full advantage of "the castle" and the end of college football...

Itsy Bitsy Morning...

Milkshakes with Dad

Thank you Thank You Granny for our castle!!

We love it!

Queen of the castle...

Cody and Brayden visit(the girls are fascinated by baby Cody)

Brayden jumps in the castle too

and then gets in touch with his feminine side(his dad is going to KILL me for posting this!!)

Castle Bouncer

Granny's Christmas present to the girls was a giant bouncer. Dan took my car to get fixed on Friday so I knew we would be inside all day....out came the bouncer. The girls had a BALL. It is a HUGE hit and we are leaving it up until after the bowl games(finally we can watch football without someone begging for a book, snack, Diego&Santa(one of Dan's favorite shows)). Thank you thank you Granny!!

Christmas Day

The girls had a great Christmas. We started at our house where Santa brought a dollhouse for Kate and a baby/crib/stroller for Lauren. He also managed to get an easel here which has been the biggest hit post-Christmas. Santa also delivered a princess tent and sleeping bags to Queenie and Grandad's house. We spent the morning there, unwrapping and eating biscuits and gravy. It was really special to have everyone here. BUT all the excitement wore the girls out-they were asleep by 11am!

I think Santa stopped at our house!

Looking over the dollhouse

Her new baby goes into the stroller(I am sure they are off to the grocery)

The Easel

The Princess Tent-and ANOTHER rapper frog!?!

Queenie's Tree

The gang gets ready to unwrap

Unwrapping with Dad

Lauren gets more shoes-LOVES those heels!

Kate learns from the gadget master how to work her new Leapster

Christmas Eve

So great to have Aunt Funny and Uncle B in for Christmas(no matter how short their trip...Barrett). We had Christmas dinner on Christmas Eve(the new tradition that works out so well for everyone). Another new "tradition" is the rap star stuff animal. The girls LOVE them and so great that there are now seasonal ones(thankssomuch Aunt Funny). Here are the girls with one of their new "rappers".