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?)

Reinforcements

So for the last two months, my parents have been in town to help Billy while I was away and take care of the kiddos.  Well, sadly, they are leaving Saturday :(  They have been SO helpful, taking care of the boys, dropping Will off at school and picking him up, keeping the kiddos entertained, cooking, cleaning, bathing BOTH boys EVERY night, taking them on endless nature outings, park visits, running errands, and more.

* - you name it, they've done it - *

We are so thankful (tis the season to give thanks right?!?!) they were able to drive down and help us...we couldn't have survived without them!  

THANK YOU NANA AND PAPA!!!

Clips From The Park

We've had some really nice weather in Houston lately and thought we'd share just a few tidbits from our most recent park outings...enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!

We had a full day of family, fun, and food.

Will made us all a special sign on his chalkboard to commemorate the occasion (seriously, I think his penmanship is better than mine)

And here I am with my two favorite turkeys!

And of course, what you do for one child (pottery to memorialize each and every first holiday) you must do for all...

Will enjoyed his Thanksgiving, picking through all the food like a little bird, pretending to be 'full', then wolfing down an enormous brownie which he specifically requested to be made by Nana Rosie.

John on the other hand plowed through a healthy portion of sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, rolls, and maybe even tried a little bit of brownie himself.  He became so excited when the feast was set at the table he started screaming for food while Papa Max tried to say grace.  

This kid is an EATER, weighing in at only 9lbs less than Will!

And Jude slept through the entire event :)

Hope you all had a fabulous turkey day!