December 9, 2011: Is it weird?

Is it weird that we have a soccer player and pirate in our nativity?  (And don't be alarmed but baby Jesus is missing...last known location was Bryn's mouth...this doesn't bode well for our Savior)

 Is it weird that I think our elves look like Chuckie dolls and kind of creep me out when I see them in their hiding spots?  Good thing Liam doesn't know who Chuckie is...

 Is it weird that Bryn seems to be learning to walk with her tongue out?  Guess she is really concentrating...

Is it weird that I want to go back to school? (Don't have a heart attack, Nick Barker, I just mean community college!)  I would love to take some photography classes.  These pictures don't look like much but I took them using the manual setting on my camera (meaning I set my own f/stop, aperture, ISO...and I kind of know what those things mean!)  And they were taken indoors which I used to be unable to do without a flash...I like shooting without the flash because it seems more natural.  Hopefully, more and more of my pictures can capture our life like I really see it...

December 6, 2011: It's beginning to look a lot like...

Christmas!  Well actually to back track a little, first it was Mal's birthday :)  We took her to lunch at our favorite Chinese place...

and then had crepes for dessert with the fam...

 Mallie has taught 3 out of 4 grandchildren 'sooo big'....

Okay back to Christmas...we started early this year, getting decorations out maybe a little before Thanksgiving ;)  Here's a glimpse...

 The boys watching Ice Age under the penguin blankie :)

Just in time for the holiday season, we got our fireplace going!  The only person who loves it more than me is Liam, especially when he gets to drink hot chocolate next to it...(I realize now that these pics look a little precarious, but I promise we are very careful with the kids while it's going!)

 Brynnie getting in the Christmas spirit :)

Bryn and Liam got a very special letter from Santa!  Via Georgia :)

Love traditions like our Advent wreath and calendar (which was Nick's growing up, so special that Liam is now doing it)...

and our Elf on the Shelf...this year we have two elves, Wassel and Holly...

Just as I did growing up, Liam and Bryn left their shoes out for St. Nick on the eve before his feast day.  He usually brings just a little surprise...like Cars 2 cars for Liam and Weeble cars for Brynnie...and a new Llama llama book to share :)

 And going out of the Christmas theme again...Bryn is now 13 months old!!  Still no teeth and still not walking, but who even notices anymore with all the amazing toddler things she is doing :)  She is still such a great eater (like the asparagus, salmon, couscous dinner she is eating here)...I can't imagine she's not putting on weight because she definitely feels heavier!  We still give her jars around her table food and whole milk, just to get some extra calories in.  She will finally drink out of a straw which a relief since she just skipped the sippy cup phase and expected us to hold a lid-less cup to her lips :)

We have put away all the 'baby' toys as she is now into all the big kid (and most of Liam's) toys, like the grocery cart, cooking in the kitchen, and of course pushing cars down the ramp :)

She has spent a few one minute increments in time out already unfortunately...I had to snap some pics of the first times :)  She's really good about sitting there (although very emotional) and then hugs and kisses me after.  Right now it's mostly for swiping at me or biting (gumming) Liam...hopefully we'll work all this out well before age 2!

And we always have puffs as positive reinforcement...you can tell she must be doing something right around here (and that they were on sale) :)  Love you Brynnie, can't wait to see more of that personality and learn all about the little girl you are becoming!

December 2-4, 2011: NOLA weekend!

This past weekend Nick and I snuck off to New Orleans for our 8th (and final) wedding of the year (out of the 10 we were invited to...not bad odds considering only one was in the DFW area)!  This was a fun wedding because it was one of Nick's soccer friends that he played with since childhood, Jason.  Huge thanks to Mal who kept the kids for the weekend, sounds like all 3 of them wore each other out :)

We flew in Friday and had eggs/grits for breakfast, walked around the French Quarter, shopped, gambled, and had shrimp po-boys for lunch.  Have to mention to that the weather was absolutely perfect the whole weekend, sunny and mid-60s! Friday night we stayed with our friends from Vandy/LA, Juan and Val.  That night another couple from Vandy/LA, Terry and Vanessa, was in town and we all went to dinner at Palace Cafe.  So much fun to catch up with friends and such amazing food all weekend!  We walked around Bourbon and took in the crazy nola nightlife :)

 Saturday we met up with Chris, Debbie, and Linds who came in town for the wedding as well.  We did some sightseeing...

 I loved the St. Louis Cathedral...

 The Mississippi...

 Very windy off the water...

 We enjoyed more great food, including authentic muffalettas...

 And we caught a parade down Canal Street....This city knows how to do parades :)

 The girls were in it for the beads!

 Success :)

 All dressed up for the wedding...beautiful ceremony, amazing food and band...such a great night!

 We had such a good time partying with so many of Nick's friends, a lot of soccer guys and friends from high school as well.  I love that Nick and I have been together for so many years.  I literally met some of these guys after freshman year at Vandy when I first visited Nick in Houston.  I have partied with these guys a few times throughout college, and many times after...even lived with some out in LA.  We don't see them often, but it's always a fun time when we do as they are still a rowdy group...

 We have loved attending so many weddings this year...it has been an honor to be part of so many of our close friends and family events...and it wasn't too bad taking forced vacations (New Orleans twice, LA, Houston, Nashville twice, Maryland, and Fort. Worth) either :)   That being said, we are happy to be home-bound for a while, getting ready for the holidays and hanging with the kiddos!