Daddy's Days Off/ My Birthday

My sweet husband took off 2 days of work to celebrate my birthday.

We started his vacation/ my celebration with a pancake breakfast.

Then it was off to the zoo.

(Tom hadn't been since we were sophomores in college, so it was fun that Henry got to show his daddy one of his favorite places to go)
It was a beautiful day and to make things better- not many people were there.

Henry is making his elephant noise and showing his elephant trunk.

Mommas with their babies

For some unknown reason, instead of eating our lunch at the zoo, we went to a nearby park to eat. We learned that kids really don't want to eat when they are staring at a playground.

Kids really, really don't want to eat after they fall off the playground equipment.

It was so nice to get out enjoy the beautiful weather and my sweet boys!

That evening, Henry got dropped off at PatPat and PawPaw's for a sleepover.

Tom took me out to eat in downtown Fort Worth and took me shopping. We completed our "trip" with a hotel stay.

I can't believe that I am posting this picture of myself, but I was really, REALLY excited about breakfast in bed.

The actual night of my birthday, Tom's parents cooked me a steak dinner.

Tom got me my favorite- a cookie cake.

(whoa, can you tell how much food I ate in the last 24 hours!)

Tom's parents got me this rockin' trophy.... the "Better or Worse Award"... it read "When you said I do, you married us, too."... They had to have a little reminding that it was my birthday ;)
I love my in-laws.

It was a great birthday!

Thelma and Louise

Several weekends ago, Liz and I decided to leave our kiddos with their daddies, and take a road trip back to our home state. It was a very last minute trip, and we are so glad we took advantage of our sweet husbands' offer to keep the boys.

We went shopping, ate out, relaxed... we were foot-loose and fancy-free!

We meant to document the trip better- oops.

We had to stop by our old apartment in which we lived in college.

Good memories....

Sunday night, we went to our friends' performance.

Nate sang (you can sample his sweet voice here), Taylor accompanied on the piano, along with other instrumentalists.

We enjoyed songs by Michael Buble, James Taylor, John Mayer, and the like.

My roommate from junior year, Abby, was there too. So good to see her sweet face!


Liz, Kristen, and Taylor

We headed home after the concert. Liz being in her 1st trimester and me in my 3rd, we were quite the traveling pair!

What a fun time we had!

Friday Night Lights

Last Friday night, we tagged along with the McAdams Family to take Henry to his 1st football game. Rocky's brother is a coach of a small Texas town 6 man football team. This was their 1st playoff game.

Henry and Brinley
Watching the game intently with his dad

I love these kisses

Henry did pretty well sitting and watching the game... but as 9:00 rolled around (1 1/5 hours passed his bedtime) he got pretty restless. A tootsie roll pop helped keep him content.

Sweet Brinley- trying to stay warm

The Penelope Wolverines won!

Leaves, Leaves, and Cookies

A few weekends ago, Tom decided to start tackling the massive amount of leaves that bless our yard each year.

Henry was so intrigued with his dad being on the roof.

He wanted to go up there, too.
(Such a good mom- pictures before safety)




We're convinced that our across the street neighbors blow their leaves in our yard.

"Is this helping, Dad?"

Here is a video of Tom mowing over the leaves for the 2nd time that day. Henry loves to follow his daddy around.




Tom made Henry some cookies as a "thank you" for helping.

(and for Baby Margaret Gray to enjoy, too!)

Canton

Several weeks ago, Amy told me that she was making the trip to Canton to meet up with a friend. I invited myself to go along. I knew I probably wouldn't buy anything, but was willing to drive an hour for....

A FUNNEL CAKE!!

Miss Brinley got this adorable hat

To be honest, Henry was kind of a disaster. I thought he would be fine just riding in the stroller or walking beside us. But he was a little high maintenance- did not enjoy the experience.

I was very surprised when he fell asleep in the stroller.

Unfortunately, he woke up during our 30 min search for the car. Screamed. a lot.

Well, it was a good time with Amy and Brinley.... but probably won't be going back anytime soon.

PawPaw's Birthday

We celebrated PawPaw's birthday a few weeks ago.

One of PawPaw's awesome gifts. A reciprocal saw- everyone needs one, duh.

PawPaw and PatPat got this "roller coaster" for the grandkids.

I try not to think of the dangers.

We once tried to make Henry wear a helmet.... that definitely put a damper on the fun.

WEEEEEE!

30 weeks

Margaret Gray turned 30 weeks last week.

She's moving all around... sometimes I think more than Henry did.And thank goodness Henry is getting better at picking up his own toys, because its getting a little hard to bend over.

(Jenny, this is for you. I remember your belly pic wearing this shirt :)

Baby Jackson

Our sweet nephew, Jackson Barnard Louis, was born on November 6th to proud parents Megan and Walter.

We are super excited that he has arrived!

Absolutely precious!
His red hair has me green with envy!!!

We love you, Jackson, and look forward to meeting you.

And she has a name!

It's been a battle here in the Louis household... Tom holding out for one name, and I holding out for another. But little did Tom know, I had been calling her "his" name for quite some time now.

Margaret Gray Louis

It just feels right to me.

(So sorry all you Anna fans. )

>

Some info behind the name-

Both my grandmothers are named Margaret.

My father's mom's name is Margaret Gray, her mother was named Margaret Gray, and her mother was named Margaret Elizabeth Gray.

Tom also had a great aunt whose name was Margaret.

I went to get the paint for the nursery... "Sunny Day".... a light, buttery yellow.

Hopefully we can get it painted soon.... Margaret's nursery will completed before she comes, right?

(Sara, I stole your idea of writing her name of the wall. Thanks.)

Halloween '09

Henry wanted to start out his 2nd Halloween with a shout out to his baby sister:

We then headed out to our friend, Cooper's 1st birthday party. His mom, Liz, and I met in college. I wish we lived closer so we could get together more often!

She is super creative! The party had so many amazing details!

Here's the cake she made-

Liz and Cooper


The kids at the party
(Coop's older brother, Jackson, is the UPS worker- 2nd from the left. notice Henry's feet/knees... ha!)


Henry loving his ghost cake pop



With the birthday boy

Great friends! Both with child!

(Liz is expecting in June with her 3rd... I had a dream she was having a girl before she even knew she was preggers, so we'll see!)



After Cooper's party, we headed over to the Seamans to hang out with them and the McAdams family.

Carrot-girl, Brinley, with Amy

Isn't that the cutest costume!?!

Henry (unwilling to take another pic) and Brinley.... Ava was already asleep :(

Kristen made us these matching Halloween flowers...

and one for Baby Girl Louis- I sported her's on my belly.

Turned out Henry didn't get to go trick or treating because by the time we made it to the Seamans, it was time for him to go to bed.... there's always next year.