Thanks for the Paint Aunt Jodi!

Brenna's 3rd Birthday Party!

Brenna's 3rd Birthday Party was a huge success. She had a fantastic time with all her friends. We celebrated with a Sesame Street theme this year and we went Sesame all the way! From the decorations, to the food, to the crafts and games, to wrappings, even Brenna's birthday outfit included Elmo and friends. We started off the morning with a few gifts. She had been patiently waiting since Friday when she found all the wrapped presents in the upstairs bedroom.

Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey: Zing Zang Zoom

Well, Brenna's really beginning to show a liking for live shows! Last week we went to Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus. Brenna had a fabulous time. We were a little nervous about the clowns, since that seems to be a hit or miss for most children, but Brenna thought they were great. They were the highlight of the show for her and since they seemed to have a dance number between each act, she got lots of clown time! The show was very impressive. I was surprised at the magic acts, they actually made an entire elephant disappear, and having the engineering mind I have, its starting to bother me that I can't figure out how they did it.

God Bless Grandparents! (and Uncle Marcus too!)

Mimi, Poppy, and Uncle Marcus came for a visit this past week! We couldn't have been happier. Brenna gets the undivided attention from her fun playmates and Mom and Dad get a break and even got to catch a movie! Brenna kept Mimi on her toes the whole time, since she never really runs out of energy. I know poor Mimi was exhausted by the time she went home, but I sure did appreciate the break!
Mimi made Brenna a really cute fairy style butterfly dress. We debuted it at her friends Grace's birthday day party. Brenna had a great time at the birthday party and even Grace enjoyed having Brenna's Mimi there.

Dinosaurs!

Lately, Brenna has been asking alot of questions about Dinosaurs. We've run across the topic in a few books and TV shows. So, over the long 4th of July weekend, we decided to take her to Houston Zoo where there is a special exhibit this summer about Dinosaurs. We made a quick pass through some of Brenna's more favorite animals attractions, which meant we couldn't miss seeing the elephants.

Rainy Days!

It's been raining for 4 straight days, with no signs of letting up through the weekend. You can imagine how enjoyable its been trying to keep a 2 year old entertained indoors for 4 days. We're outside people anyway, so this is really starting to cramp our style.

We finally got a short break this afternoon, so we made the best of it. In between rain storms, we enjoyed some puddle jumping! Brenna was excited to get out of the house!

Brenna the Painter!

During Anna's birthday party last week, I showed Brenna the painting that Jodi had made for Anna's room. Painting is something we haven't really done yet. With previous experiences in mess management associated with crayons, markers, and play dough, I thought it best we limit our activities to non-permanant stains. Well, Jodi's painting is very impressive and I can see how it would catch the eye of a 2-year old.

Spaghetti!

I'm sure every mom has a good ole spaghetti eating picture or video of their kids. Well, here's ours. By the time Brenna was done with dinner, I not only had to clean the floor, but also the light over the table. She had a good time though! and ate more than usually!

More Pool! We Love the Pool!

As if we didn't log enough pool time this past weekend at Mom and Dad's, we met a friend at the pool this morning for some playtime! Grace and her family are friends of ours from church and they also live in our neighborhood. It's so much fun to watch the two of them play together, especially to hear Grace call "Brenna Mae, come here!" She's the only one of Brenna's friends who calls her by her middle name. I can only imagine the havoc these two reap in Sunday School together!

More Family Photos!

For a family who hasn't had professional pictures taken since our wedding more than 8 years ago, we've had quite the run of family photo shoots lately. Back in August, we had professional family pictures done of just the three of us. You can see those pictures scroll in my side bar. They came out great! Loved the red with the green background.

Then in December, we had professional pictures done in Mississippi of the whole McAlister Clan, which totals up to 11 adults, 3 kids, and 2 dogs! (And technically 2 cats, but Pickles and Moose stayed home in Texas. I'm pretty sure that would've made for an interesting family photo, with Sugar and Bullet!) Love the family photo!

We're one good looking group of folks!

Trip Home to Mississippi!

We made a quick trip home to Mississippi for the weekend. Brenna thoroughly enjoyed her time at Mawmaw and Pawpaw's house. Undivided attention along with a swimming pool, makes for good times for a 2 year old! After a great time at Anna's birthday party, we spent the rest of our time visiting and enjoying the pool. We also had some family photos taken by a local photographer, but more to come on that later. Here's some pictures from the week.

Anna's 1st Birthday!

I'm sure all of you have met, know, or have heard me talk about my best friend, Jodi! Well, her little girl turned 1 last week. It's hard to believe that little Anna is already one. It seems like just yesterday they showed up on my doorstep at 11 PM at night, all frizzy haired and sleepy eyed with their brand new baby girl! I've often commented that Jodi's baby shower had long been planned in my mind. Well, obviously, Anna's 1st birthday had long been planned in Jodi's mind. The party was beautiful, as beautiful as the sweet little girl it was for! It was a birthday brunch! Complete with breakfast casserole, sausage balls, and pink lemonade! Everything was dripping pink and green! Jodi did such a great job with the decorations! Check out the pictures!

Happy Flag Day!

Happy Flag Day! Courtesy of the Boy Scouts of America, Richmond Troop. It really is a beautiful sight to see all the flags line our street!

Fun at La Centerra Fountains

We paid a quick visit to the Fountain at La Centerra so Brenna could cool off on a hot day. She enjoyed playing in the water, but didn't like getting a surprise splash in the face when the fountains would spout water. After a couple of unexpected wet downs, she decided the best way to play and avoid an getting dowsed in the face was to back in. She's a smart girl!

Memorial Day Weekend!

We had a fun Memorial Day weekend, thanks to all the vets and soldiers that make it possible. We say a prayer for all those who are serving now and fighting for our freedoms, and we ask a blessing for all the families that are left behind by those that made the ultimate sacrifice.