New York City

Okay...here are the some of the best pics from the city. We did not have near enough time here...so it was a CRAZY whirlwind! We arrived around 6pm on Friday. Friday evening we went straight to the empire state building, then we took the subway to canal street & ate dinner in Little Italy. We also did our souveneir shopping there. We were both wearing the wrong shoes for walking so we headed back to the hotel relatively early. Saturday was crammed full: 3 hour boat tour around Manhattan in the morning, Times Square, 1.5 hour 'lost in the city' time, Yankee Stadium tour, Central Park tour by bike, & then dinner. We were both so exhausted...we called it a night at 9:30! Whew!Derek turned on his 'texas charm' to the lady at the reception desk to score us this corner room. Views from the top of the Empire State BuildingOur first subway riding experience. Derek adamantly wanted to ride the subway everywhere! I was all about the taxi's...even if they were more expensive. However, we did see some EXTREMELY interesting people & things!On the boat tour. It was in the 30's when the tour started...so with the wind chill on the boat, it was booty cold!!! But, I loved every minute of it. I especially loved wearing my big winter coat that usually collects dust in my closet.Manhattan skyline...The UN building (green one) & our hotel Millenium UN plaza on the rightStatue of Liberty & the moonThe twin towers were right behind these buildings. The building on the left is having to be torn down one story at a time because it did not survive the attack.View of the Manhattan & Brooklynn bridgesTimes Square. I decided that times square is equally as interesting as it is scary. It was just a little too much for me, not being a city girl.This guy with the feathers on top of his head, kept imitating bird noises REALLY loudly while walking around. Not something you see in Friendswood everyday...The 'Friends' fountain at Central Park. The buildings in the background are the ones from the Ghostbuster movie.

Another fountain at Central Park. It was getting really dark by this time, so I was not able to take very many pics. So, I had to put the camera down & just enjoy central park at dusk...it was lovely. You really need a full week to do New York city justice & not kill yourself trying to see EVERYTHING in a day & a half!

Yankee Stadium

Visiting Yankee Stadium was definitely the highlight of the trip for Derek. Even how we got into the stadium was entertaining. We got lost in the city, easy to do, and were delayed arriving at the stadium by almost 2 hours. We knew they stopped doing tours at 4 & we got there about 2:45. We arrive to find out that the last tour of the day was already sold out & they had already been turning people away for several hours. I immediately begin thinking of cash bribes I could offer because Derek was absolutely CRUSHED! We were leaving the next morning at 6:50am & they are only doing tours of the stadium for two more weeks before they tear it down. We basically told the lady that NOT going on the tour just didn't work for us. We were there from Texas & had to be on the tour...what could they do? She told us to stand at the front of the line. When she started letting everyone in the stadium, she took us up one ramp & had us pay her $20 cash each for sneaking us in! It was too funny...hiding around the corner...discreetly handing her cash...like we were some thugs doing drugs or something! ANYWAYS...we got in!!! And, that meant the rest of our trip was enjoyable since the husband was happy. He even got a little teary eyed during this part of the vacation. The only bad part of the tour, was that they would not let you take pics in the locker room...which was one of the coolest parts to see. But, they did let us go in & see it so that was cool.

I loved seeing the worn-out seats...everyone one of them was duct-taped together

The line up from the last game played in the stadium: September 21, 2008

Derek sitting in the dug-0ut.

View of the field from the press box.

Dawson funnies

Here are some of Dawson's latest funnies:

The other night, Dawson called me back into his room after I had put him to bed.
"Mom...I got snot...I need a tennis shoe."
I laughed & replied
"You mean, you need a TIS-SUE."
He looked at me, like, duh...that's what I said, and replied
"Yes mom. I need a TEN-NIS-SHOE."

Today I took the kids with me to the Cake Lady to order the cake for Alicia's shower. I had told him where we were going & if he was good I would let him pick out a cookie. When we pulled into the parking lot he said..."Here we are at the Cake Man."

My CRAZY brother...

Last night the kiddos were being crazy & jumping on Dawson's bed...of course I had to take pics & they turned out hilarious! The funniest part was watching Dawson laugh hysterically when he got to look at the pictures of himself later!he wanted the undies on his head...

Earlier in the day, they were wearing their new matching longhorn shirts...too cute!

Andi's Birthday Party

Here are some pics from baby girls birthday party. We had a very low key party this year....but it was a lot of fun. Andi had a wonderful time.Here she is staring her cake down
her mouse cake
after she snatched a bite from the side...

playing with balloons...dawson had just woke up & was getting dressed.
drinking alicia's drink
blowing out the candles

eatin cake
opening presents
in the present box
andi & brynn dancing/ running

Falling in Love

This afternoon when Dawson woke up from his nap, he found me on the computer designing a wedding album. Here was the conversation that followed:
D: Mom, is that you getting married?
Me: No, this is somebody else...mommy is just working on these pictures.
D: Am I gonna marry you someday mom?
Me: No...but when you grow up & fall in love, then you will get married. Like how Mommy & Daddy fell in love & got married.
D: (Looking at me with a furrowed brow) You and Daddy....fell down?...on the ground?...in love?...NOO...not in love, you fell in the leaves Mama.

Baby Andi is TWO!!!!

My beautiful baby girl turned two yesterday! I cannot believe how blessed I am to have been given this sweet, beautiful girl. She is everything I could have ever asked for in a daughter!

Here is just a little bit about baby girl: She is HIGH maintenance, loves red or sparkly shoes & clothes, gives tons of hugs & kisses all day long (especially to mom), is the pickiest eater anyone has ever seen...even the pediatrician, loves to play with Dawson when he is being nice, loves all animals, loves to sing & dance, loves school & Bible class, loves to watch Mickey Mouse & Thomas the train, and LOVES HER BUNNY that she named 'Botz'.

Thanks to Ike, we are behind on 'official' birthday pics...so I will post some of those later. But, here are just a few I took of her yesterday on her real birthday.

They look like twins...she is just barely shorter than him. Somehow, even though she doesn't eat, she is still HUGE for her age.

I have taken a lot of pics of her 'lounging habits'...but this has to be my fave!

Here is my favorite baby picture of her. This is her at 3 months.

And, here are a few of my favorite Botz pictures...when Botz was still pink instead of dirty gray. We DO NOT go anywhere without this bunny.

And, a recent picture of her and Botzey.

EWW...GROSS!!!

Toddlers do some pretty gross things, but today had to be one of Dawson's best. I had already put him down for his nap when he called me back into his room saying "Mom, come wipe THIS off...it's stinky." I went to investigate. He was holding his hand up to me. I asked what part was stinky. He stuck out his pointer finger and said, "I touched my butt...then my nose." Oh my.