Zoo Trip for Two

Cousin Jake had never been to the zoo, so Stacie and I decided to take the boys to the zoo a few days after Christmas.  The weather was a little chilly, but we had a great time.  The boys love animals and being with each other, so the zoo was a perfect way to spend our morning.

In the jungle...

Big smile from Cole

Pasadena Eagle

Finally free from the strollers...headed straight to the fountain

Pizza Party with Jo Jo

Cole loves Jo Jo.  Jo Jo is Cyndi, my old cheer sponsor/friend's, daughter.  I met Cyndi and Jordan when Jordan was Cole's age and it has been neat watching her grow up.  She loves hanging out with Cole.  We went over to their house lots this summer to swim in their new saltwater pool, so when I say we are going to Cyndi and Jo Jo's Cole goes to get his swim gear.  It was much too cold to swim as the new year was approaching so we decided to make a brief (and I mean brief) trip to the park and then went to eat at Mario's pizza.

Christmas 2011

I know I'm a little behind on the posting.  So here's a quick recap of our Bailey Christmas...

We spent our Christmas as we always do...running from place to place.  On Christmas Eve, also my brother's birthday, we always go down to Kemah and eat at Landry's.  After naptime, we headed to my mom and dad's to hang out a bit before church...then on the the Candlelight Service at South Main and back to my mom's for a bit before rushing off to Stephen's grandparents. We got home around 10:00 p.m., which means Cole slept in on Christmas morning.  We had to wake him at 8:30 so we could have our Christmas before heading to my in-laws for breakfast before the 10:45 a.m. church service. Mom and dad's for lunch and Stephen's aunt and uncle's for dinner and....we're done.  I'm exhausted thinking about it again.  Here are the pics to go with the travelling. 

Waiting for Uncle Bubba's birthday lunch to begin

Our annual Christmas Eve picture spot

The one's with Stephen didn't turn out...the hostess didn't know how to use a nice camera.

Christmas Eve before church

Waiting for Santa at GiGi and Grandad's house

Riding his new 4 wheeler

Opening gifts at Grammie and Pa Pa's house

After church

Quick family pic

Opening gifts at Nonnie and Grandfather's

Last stop...Aunt Annette and Uncle Ron's

I Need A New Babysitter

I went upstairs when Stephen got home today so I could get ready to go out to dinner.  I was upstairs for maybe 30 minutes.  When I started down the stairs, here is what I saw...At least Cole was so tired from baking that he wasn't roaming around getting into things he shouldn't.

I ran back to the bedroom to get my camera.

Zoomed in... Cole is awake. Watching Elmo

Dinner pic...these boys love pretzels.

Yummy

Christmas Cookies With Nonnie

When I was a kid, my mom, brother and I would bake and decorate cookies for Christmas. Mom and I started this with Cole last year.  Cole helped me mix the ingredients and knead the dough...then he got bored so he sat in his chair and colored.  He did help me decorate once they were all cooled.  We took the finished cookies to the neighbors.  I had bought some cello bags, but the glitter gel didn't harden...note to self next year, so we packaged up the non-glitter gels ones in the bags and hand delivered a few of the glitter ones separately.

I'm ready, Nonnie.

Mixing the dough

Kneading the dough

He didn't like yucky hands.

Helping Nonnie with the cut-outs

Eating some M n M's on his break

Helping mommy decorate

Trying the glitter gel

Bells and Stars...some Mickey's too

Snowmen, Gingerbread Men, Ornaments

The Finished Products...I used the leftover eyes from the Elmo Pops

Christmas on Main Street- La Porte, TX

We took Cole to downtown La Porte last year for Cole to see Santa.  It worked out really well, so we decided to repeat the process this year.  Christmas on Main Street is a big fair/market with lots of booths, food, singing groups, and games.  There is even a sled with snow.  We also met up with our friends, the Helmle's.  Here are a few pics.

Cole's First Choral Performance

A few weeks back my father-in-law told me that when he picked up Cole from school they told him that Cole would be performing in the school/church's Christmas show.  I thought, seriously?  What on earth would the one year-old class do in the Christmas performance?  Well... Cole started practicing his big number at home.  They played bells for the Jingle Bell song and they did motions to Up On the Housetop.  It cracked me up.  His class was strapped into a big buggy and some kids had to be held because they weren't digging the confinement. Cole was a good boy; he stayed strapped in and rang his bell with gusto. Next year, he'll be old enough to grace the stage.  He faced was turned for most of my pictures because he enjoyed watching the big kids.



Seriously, mom?  Pictures already



Waiting in the wings for their big moment

Where is my family?

Motions to Up on the Housetop...patting his knees

Clapping for himself

Shaking his bell

Loves his bell

With GiGi and Grandaddy Bailey

Funny boys

Jake-Jake is so silly.