Aubrie's Bday Party

We had Aubrie's 1st birthday party today at the house. It was cowgirl themed and we intended to host it in the backyard complete with a petting zoo... unfortunately it drizzled all day and we had to find a workable plan B. Plan B ended up being our garage! My sister and brother-in-law were awesome and brought the petting zoo to the garage! The kids had a blast and the party was a real success! We couldn't have been happier and Aubrie and her friends couldn't have had more fun!

Aubrie's Bday

Aubrie had a wonderful party at daycare on her actual birthday with her friends from school. She wasn't sure what to do with her cupcake until I encouraged her to taste the icing... the rest was all her! I really can't believe that my beautiful little girl is 1 year old already! It has been a very fast, very eventful year!

At her one year doctor visit, she weighs

18.3lbs (10th%)

29inches (50th%)

Rub-A-Dub Dub

After a long Saturday of playing hard, we had to use lots of scrubbing bubbles to get cleaned!

Hollywood

We can't forget our little side excursion to Hollywood! Ironman was there and told me to be sure to tell Branson and his friends Hello!

Rose Parade

So after driving all day back from Big Bend, Brandon and I kissed the kids goodbye and climbed on a plane in San Antonio to fly to Las Angeles late Thursday night. We were stoked about our trip to the Rose Bowl and Parade! Although we were swimming in a sea of red the whole weekend, TCU was victorious and David beat Goliath! It was an amazing experience!

Big Bend Adventure

December 26th, we headed out early for the long drive to Big Bend. Let me explain a back story for those of you that might not know... when I was a kid my family went on a big family trip each summer. The summer I was 12, we were supposed to go to Big Bend, the McDonald Observatory, and Marfa Lights as a family... however, I got really sick with Tyfus... (who gets that?!) and was hospitalized for a week or so which inevitably meant no summer trip! Speed forward 16 years and I'm 28. My family plans a Christmas trip to Big Bend to see all of the above... when low and behold I end up in the hospital AGAIN! This time trying not to have Aubrie! So despite the apparent cosmic powers trying to keep us away, we once again planned a trip to Big Bend and this time --- WE MADE IT! Brandon and I had been on our own once in college, so we played tour guides for the rest of the family. Fun was had by all (except Courtney and Jason who had to stay home and work :( ) Here's a few of the shots from the trip!

Stop One: McDonald Observatory --- unfortunately - nothing to see there! :(

Stop Two: Marfa Lights - no photos and really nothing to see! (at least not the night we went!)

Stop Three: Lajitas -a nearly abandoned resort in the desert... it was really pretty!

Stop Four: Terlingua Ghost Town - Yummy food, cool things to see briefly

Big Bend - Ernst Tinaja - this was mine and Brandon's favorite place the first time we went to Big Bend

Big Bend - Santa Elena Canyon - this is a cool place with huge boulders and cold sand. The kids loved playing in the sand!

Big Bend - Balancing Rock - this was the only new thing Brandon and I hadn't done and we are so glad we made the vertical hike to see it. Very Worth It!

Big Bend - Lost Mine Trail - although we were all tired and didn't go all the way up, this was our venture into the mountainous terrain at Big Bend.

Pay close attention to Branson's face... he gets soooo tired of his mommy taking pictures!

Christmas 2010

Finally a moment to post some Christmas photos! I don't have access to my computer right now, so a few of the highlights will have to do!

Christmas was amazing this year. We enjoyed spending time first opening presents at our house with the kids then headed to my folks house for Christmas lunch. The kids were of course spoiled rotten, and Brandon and I didn't do too bad for ourselves either! I got a new fancy camera and Brandon got an Ipad (our big gifts)! We are so blessed!