Gap-Toothed Gang

Number 11

Yesterday, Matt and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary. It began as a normal Saturday: Matt playing basketball at church and mommy attempting to sleep in. After a pancake breakfast, we headed over to the Y for Logan's soccer game. Once again, he was the star, despite crying through almost the entire game. The Kiwi's won (their team is green and the coach is from New Zealand) and Logan scored at least 6 goals. The afternoon was spent in the yard, napping, and playing XBox. Then Jessica came over to babysit the kids so we could go out to dinner. Noah has a HUGE crush on her. He turned absolutely giddy waiting for her. He watched out the window and then ran and hid when she got here.

Jimmy and Chey always go to Perry's on their anniversary. I looked it up online and discovered one in downtown Austin. That's where I wanted to go. We were not disappointed. Even though this is not a picture from last night, it is what we were both wearing. This was from NOLA, which was part anniversary celebration last month.

This however, was what Matt ordered. The symphony kabob. Yes, I am the dork who pulled out the camera to take a picture in the middle of an elegant dinner. It was too crazy not to be documented!

Dinner was amazing: scallops wrapped in bacon, a crab cake, pear and pecan salad, filet mignon and lobster tail, fried asparagus topped with crab meat, and the symphony kabob. And I'm drooling just thinking about the dessert - Nutty D'Angelo. Vanilla ice cream rolled in toasted almonds and topped with white chocolate. Then tableside they make a praline sauce to pour over the top. It definitely gave the Diablo Helado a run for its money. We will definitely go back to Perry's again. There were many things left on the menu that we want to try.

After dinner we walked to the Elephant Room to try and listen to some jazz music. No such luck. They were full and it didn't look like anyone would be leaving again soon.

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful hubby. It's been an amazing journey over the past 11 years. No one else I'd rather share it with. I love you!

18 Months Already

I can’t believe my baby girl is already 18 months old.  She is growing up so fast!  Her latest stats:

Height:  33 inches (75-90%)   Weight:  25.8 lbs (50-75%)

She’s mastered all of the milestones for this age, and even exceeded some (she has 35+ words).  I can’t even begin to sum up all that she is doing.  She is literally a whirlwind.  I call her Hurricane Mattie.  She leaves destruction everywhere she goes.  She loves to dump every puzzle and game she can get her hands on.  Just recently she has started to clean up a little of what she dumps, while singing the“ean up” song.  She LOVES the Wiggles, and “cock doo” is her new favorite word.  When we get in the car she asks for the Captain Feathersword song by saying “cack cack cock doo.”  In August, we are going to go see the Wiggles in Houston with Cousin Sarah, Aunt Chey, and Grandma.  We can’t wait! 

She loves to be outside.  She loves to climb.  Like her mommy, she loves carbs, mashed potatoes and pancakes are her favorites.  She’s always after a “nack” (snack).  She loves to dance by spinning in circles.  She loves to splash big in the bathtub.  And most of all she LOVES her brothers.  If she comes across one of them laying on the floor, she will flop on top of them.  They love to make her laugh, and she loves to laugh at them.  She loves to find her “da da” in pictures.  On Mother’s Day, I picked her up from her classroom at church, and she immediately started asking for Daddy!

As you can see, when she smiles, it lights up her entire face.  I love her big hugs and open-mouth kisses.  I love her beautiful brown eyes, her chubby legs, and her big belly.  I love the way she throws her blanket and puppy into her bed, and then dives after them.  I love that my mom says that looking at her is like looking at a “little Brandy.”  I’ve put a picture below of me around this age.  What do you think?   

Logan vs. The Coffee Table

It’s hard to believe that this accident-prone child took 3 1/2 years to have a trip to the ER.  (The emergency dentist visit last November was close, but doesn’t count)  I’m not really sure exactly how he fell into the table.  I was sitting at the computer in the kitchen and he was in the living room watching Scooby Doo.  I thought maybe he was trying to jump from the step to the rug, but he says he can’t remember.  I did hear the thump/whack/bang.  Then the tears.  Then saw the blood.  Then went into Mommy crisis mode.  He ended up needing 3 stitches.  He was very brave, even though he will tell you he wasn’t.  Every boy needs at least one scar on the face, right? 

“Deck”-orating In Progress

Here’s a quick update on what we’ve added to the deck.  After visiting several stores, taking pictures, and not really knowing exactly what we wanted, we ended up back at Home Depot (where we started) for the glider, two sling chairs, and a side table.  We already had the round table (Matt’s parents bought that for us as an apartment warming when we first moved to Austin – 10 YEARS AGO!).  It definitely needs some color, but it’s a start.  Strawberry margarita’s count, right?!