Christmas In Snowflake County!

Last week Will had his very first Christmas musical..."The Secret of Snowflake County".

It was a fabulous musical that reminded everyone in the audience what Christmas is truly all about.

Every year (myself included), we get all wrapped up (pun intended) with the commercial aspects of celebrating Christmas.  But this little play performed by a bunch of elementary students gave me pause about the true meaning of Christmas.

It isn't about presents, it isn't about parties, it isn't about fancy Christmas cards, it isn't about decorations, it isn't about coordinating family outfits for Christmas Mass etc...

 It is about the birth of of Baby Jesus.

Here is our little snowflake (complete with the oversized standard school play shirt)

Here's Will with one of his friends, William (by the way, his mom's name is Carolyn)

And here he is in action (dad, don't worry, this is the first and last time Will will wave pom poms ;))

And for the grandparents who couldn't be there...a very short snippet.

Great performance Will!

Letters To Santa

Last week, Will wrote out his wish list to Santa...his top three gifts that he wants most.

We "mailed" it to the North Pole and sure hope Santa gets it in time!

In all seriousness though, I think Will has already wised up to the myth...asking all sorts of questions about Rudolph, why there are multiple Santas around town etc!  I fear the gig may be up! 

Spider-Claus-Man

Yes, that's right, Spider-Claus-Man.

That's what you get when you cross Spiderman, with a Santa Claus hat, and a Batman cape.

Little imaginations are at work this season!

They Say...

..."Everything is bigger in Texas"...

I'm becoming a believer.

Santa Claus is Coming to Town!

Every year we head out to a dear friend of ours place to meet up with Santa.  It all happens at the Combs' 5 Acre Farm and this year was no exception...we were there at 9am to meet Santa!

The conversation with Santa went very well with Will....

John...um...not so much...

Once we were outside, John cheered up and all was well again...

We went for a pony ride...

And took some family photos...

Will just loves riding, maybe we'll have to take some equestrian?

Johnny on the other hand, not so much...

So we took another break for some family photos...

O

M

G

I just want to eat these two up!

We headed out back for some tractor swinging (yes, tire swings that look like tractors)...

This is pretty much Johnny's, 'if you don't give me another kolache, someone will get hurt' face.

And yes, these guys have been nice (ok, I can't lie, they've been sometimes naughty, but mostly nice) all year...

The four Browns...

After a morning full of food, fun, and festivities, we set out to buy our Christmas tree...photos coming soon!

John at ELEVEN Months Old!!

Oh

My

Goodness

John is ELEVEN months old today!!!!

John is chattering quite a few consonants these days...dada, gaga, baba etc... (still waiting for mama!!)

If he isn't walking and on the move with something (usually a golf club) in his hand, he isn't happy...

He loves being outside more than anything...

He enjoys long walks in his stroller around the neighborhood, particularly looking at all of the Christmas lights/decorations...

He screeches, much like what Will and I imagine a baby velociraptor would sound like at the dinner table until he has tried all of our 'adult' food...

He loves swinging and sliding down slides at the park...

So far, he is definitely appearing to be left handed...

He wants to do absolutely anything and everything Will does...

And he is getting a pretty serious attitude!

Here is our Johnny B at 11 months old

One of his most favorite things to do is ride the wagon down our driveway much like an out of control soap box derby car...thanks to Papa Dave's ingenious imagination...

Also, he is a crazy climber.  Not so pudgy babies, don't try this at home!

And did I mention he has an attitude?  

Here is a good example of his attitude when Will tried to take over his climbing game...

And finally, the next to the last monthly photo comparison...drumroll!!!

Please meet, our Johnny Football

And the original...

 And you probably knew this was coming...John David Crow, Johnny Manziel...

and John David Brown!

Just saying... :)

Splish Splash!

Now that my parents are gone (boo hoo!) I have lost not only my dishwasher (mom!) but child washer as well (dad!).  So I decided to streamline the nighttime festivities...I have been bathing the boys together and it sure is a lot easier than giving two baths every evening.  

John is fairly reckless in the tub, trying to swim, trying to climb over the side, trying to rip the soap dish and/or faucet off the wall, walking around as if he were in the living room, trying to eat everything possible and so on...so Will actually helps me control him haha!  Man these boys couldn't be more opposite (and cute)!

It's Beginning To Feel A Lot Like...

Christmas, well, er, uh, summer these days...but a few weeks ago it was GORGEOUS!  So gorgeous the kiddos actually had to don hats and sweatshirts before heading outside. We even made a huge leaf pile before putting out all our Christmas lights.

Here's John...pretty sure he's wondering "You want me to sit still for how long?!"

And Will, forever aiming to please...

If one leaf pile is as close as we get to a fall/winter, I'll take it!

Traveling Has Its Perks

I have been traveling A LOT lately, and it is always hard being away from the fam...but traveling has an upside too!  For example, I always have the chance to come home with 'surprises'!  

Last week I was in California...and I got to bring home quite possibly one of the coolest gifts yet...yes...your eyes are NOT deceiving you...this is a REAL scorpion forever trapped in time inside a lollipop.  

Now before you go pick up your phone to dial CPS and turn me in, we DID intervene when Will got too close to actually eating it haha!!

Babies Babies Babies!

Well, my dear friend Kim is having a baby girl in January (congrats!).

This Saturday, Johnny B. and I attended her glorious baby shower while Billy and Will went to a birthday party at the Houston Zoo.  While at the party, we met up little miss AE and I was able to snap a photo of them...aren't they the cutest!

And poor John, apparently the party was just too much for him (or maybe it was all the estrogen lol)...by the end of it he was so exhausted he fell asleep in the car seat before I even started the car!

(note to readers, please notice the size of his knees...pudgy enough?)