Themed Restaurants!

Within two days, we hit both the Rainforest Cafe with Ducky and the Aquarium Downtown with Ducky, Pong Pong, and Uncle Matt.

Olivia hid her face in my chest for the first 10 minutes we were at Rainforest Cafe. They sat us far away from the moving animals, but they were still pretty scary...at first. Then she loved them and didn't want to leave.

Pong Pong and Olivia pulled up a chair to get a closer look. The manager soon told them they were a fire hazard :)

Feeding the Horses

My friends Carrie and Cheryl found out that you can go to the Houston Police Department horse stables and feed the horses! You can feed them carrots and peppermints. It was so much fun. Olivia fed them at first. After getting tickled a few times, it was more fun to watch Mommy feed them.

"How bout Mommy feed the horsie"

How fun!

My buddy Sophie

At lunch after the horses with Aiden Phillips, Ella Fuller, and Sophie Leedy (all Doha buddies)

Swimming with Uncle Matt

Mike flew back to Edmonton while Olivia and I stayed in Houston for three more weeks. When Daddy is not there, it really makes me realize how much help a daddy is! While I was taking a much needed break one evening, Uncle Matt took Olivia swimming in Ducky and Pong Pong's new hot tub. She finally got the hang of her new floatie and was finally willing to swim over to the side by herself. Yea Uncle Matt, the swim teacher!! That evening was the beginning of "Uncle Matt hero status".

1,2,3 JUMP!!!

Happy 40th Anniversay Nonna and Papa

We enjoyed a delicious dinner at Magianos in Houston to celebrate Mike's parents FORTY years of marriage. Congratulations!!!!!!!

New Years in Rockport

What a blast we had with the Rhodes Family and both Hagarty Families in Rockport for New Years!

Canal cruising with Uncle Fife and Chaser

Olivia's first time fishing!!! With cousins, Haylie and Aiden and best bud Chaser

With the Hagartys

They caught one!


With Hayden Hagarty


Happy New Years!!
Sparkling cider...not so good

New Years day in Port Aransas on the beach

On the beach with Chase

First time flying a kite. Thanks Aunt Heather for being so prepared!

Looking stylin' in Mama's flip flops, Dada's hat, and barbie sunglasses

Adler Playdate

Olivia had so much fun visiting with Katelyn and Madelyn Adler. For me, it was now more relevant than ever to see two sisters interact. The girls loved playing on the new swing set!

Thanks Aunt Carrie for the push!

Christmas!!!!!!!

Mike, Olivia and I stayed at Mike's parent's Christmas Eve and my family came over to watch Olivia come downstairs to see all of the gifts from Santa. It was really fun and nice to not have multiple Christmases all day. Santa brought Olivia a pink tricycle this year!

First glance, "Oooo a tricycle"

A fun Plasma Car from Ducky and Pong Pong

Baby Sister's very first gift, a gorgeous dress from Ducky and Pong Pong

Pong Pong enjoying Olivia's piggy Pillow Pet

Christmas Eve I was looking for a gift for someone else and saw this cookie set on sale at TJ Maxx. This was by far her favorite gift and the only thing she wanted to play with all day. Of course, the last minute cheapest gift she got was her favorite!

Trying on Mommy's new apron

Safety first! Elmo taught Olivia all about helmets and she wouldn't get on her tricycle without it!

After all the fun at Nonna and Papa's we headed over to the Peden's for Christmas lunch. What fun! I wish I had gotten more pictures!

Hiding and then jumping out of the powder room. As we were leaving, she asked me, "Mommy, what house was that?". I told her, "Uncle David and Aunt Tish's house". She said, "I had so much fun that house". She really had a good time!

Cute!

When Olivia is playing with a toy or reading a book that has been given to her, I make a big effort to tell her who it is from. She will often pick up a book and say something like, "Aunt Murf gave me this book".

Today we were playing and talking about her body parts and she looked at her hands and said, "Who gave me these hands?" I laughed and said, "Your Mommy and Daddy gave you those hands because we love you so much". Later she said, "My Mommy and Daddy gave me these knees". I loved it!

A NAME!!!!!!!!!

We have really been struggling to find a name we love for our second daughter. We used our perfect girl's name for Olivia. We both LOVED "Olivia" despite how popular it has become. Olivia's middle name "Masel" was my maternal grandmother's maiden name. She was such a special person to me and I was so excited to give Olivia her name.

So now what!!??! We had a special boy's name, but to date, NO girl's name. I bought one of those 1 million baby name books and so far that hasn't helped. I sought out help from family and talked with Mike's family about family names from their side. Jokingly, the best they came up with was Earnestine. Great! I am really worried we are going to be staring at this child in the hospital and still hoping to come up with something special! Ahhhh!

Carriage Ride

Ducky and Pong Pong took us on a super fun carriage ride to look at Christmas lights all through River Oaks. Olivia is still talking about her new pal Bubba the Horse.



Apparently some people have a lot of money and a lot of Christmas spirit! This house had a Santa just sitting out in front of their house. Olivia was TERRIFIED. She wouldn't even look at him!

Awesome awesome candy cane house!

Mike thought it was hilarious that Olivia kept wanting to leave our table at dinner to go sit at the bar!