Saturday, December 24, 2011

Merry Christmas!

This morning, 12/24, Taylor's family came over to celebrate "Christmas morning" with us. We're doing dinner with them tonight, and then we're off to Surfside to meet up with my dad's side of the family (from Denver, Chicago, Kentucky and Shanghai). Christmas certainly feels like a season and not a day this year.
Ain't he the cutest?!
The trampoline Santa left + 60 balloons and Christmas lights.
Santa stuffed our stockings.
These were from last Saturday.
Second Baptist's Really Really Big Christmas Show was a little much for Brady and Anna Belle. We ended up watching the recording of the performance from the lobby... we weren't the only parents in the lobby with kiddos.
The dinner table set for our "Express Christmas" dinner (this term is from Modern Family <3). On the day before, my parents and sister decided to exchange gifts with us. It was a whirlwind, but it all worked out.
Daddy thinks her tutu's are ridiculous, but I love them.
Last, but not least, this is a video of Brady jumping on his new trampoline.

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Bacot Family Projects

Here's the Christmas tree and fireplace at the new house. I love having a "light switch fireplace". We turn the fire on almost every morning and every night, now that the weather's cooled off.
Taylor finished a few projects for us this weekend. For a long time, I couldn't decide what to do with these mirrors, so they've been sitting in Anna Belle's room. Taylor hung them in our bathroom. They're pretty heavy and they each have 2 mounts, so it's a rather tedious task.
This week the kids and I went to Home Depot to buy shelf supplies, and then Brady and I painted the shelves. Anna Belle wanted to help, but I made her play on the side. Taylor hung everything for us yesterday. The shelf system on the right was existing when we purchased the home. We just installed the shelves on the left. I really love having a play room for all the kids stuff.
Brady's boo boo is healing up nicely, for the most part. The Harry Potter scar looks really good. The one on his nose has one little part that I think may scar. I'll post pictures as soon as I take them.

Saturday, December 3, 2011

Santa Visit and Learning to Ride a Bike

Brady woke Taylor up around 3am to turn on a movie for him. By 4am, I was awake and doing my morning chores. We went to my mom's house, so Taylor could trim shrubs before my mom and sister put up the Christmas lights. At 10am we went to visit Santa Claus (played by a friend and former vendor of mine). We then dropped Brady off at Grammy's so we could finish our Christmas shopping (woo hoo!), and now we are absolutely wiped out. When we came to pick up Brady, he showed off his new bike riding skills. Megan had been working with him.
Anna Belle's started clapping a lot... so cute.
My cute little guy on his bicycle.
P.S. Brady should get his stitches out Monday night. The scar is looking a lot better, but he's still not looking forward to the doctor's visit.

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Dog Bite

Our neighbor picked up our mail for us while we were at Disney. We went to their house to pick it up last night. They have a very friendly great dane, who Brady has played with a few times before. Brady and the dog were in the other room when we heard Brady scream. Since I first saw him, I keep thanking God that his eyes weren't effected.

Long story short, we took him to one of the retail center ER's (Excel) to get 5 stitches. They saw him quickly and tried to make the process as painless as possible. The doctor and nurse said Brady was their most polite patient. He kept saying, "Don't touch me! Please?" He also called both the women "naughty boys."

It was my hardest moment as a parent, thus far, to hold my baby while he was clearly so afraid and in pain as they stitched him up. I was up most of the night worrying about him.

This morning I picked up his anti-biotics, some ointment and rented a few movies for him (my mom always rented movies for me when I didn't feel well, which I remember fondly). After watching some hard-to-find how-to YouTube videos, I cleaned Brady's sutures. He did really well; I'm so proud of my little guy. The photo above was taken after this morning's clean up.

Anna Belle has a little cough (I think she was on germ overload from all her well-meaning fans at Disney world) and Bailey has some sort of stomach bug. It's time for me to put on my Dr. Mom hat and get back to work.

Monday, November 28, 2011

Disney Photo Pass Pics

Giving Vader a bump.
Biting his lip, after turning to the dark side.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Last day at Magic Kingdom

Though challenging with 2 young children, we stayed at the park late to see the 10:00 pm fireworks show at Magic Kingdom. I'm so glad we did. I didn't really capture the fireworks in this video, but the dialogue with Brady is great. The Disney castle looked beautiful in it's icicle lights too.
We had an Aloha dinner at the Polynesian resort, and got a lot of good family pictures.
Brianna, Luke and Brady do the hula while we wait to be seated.

Anna Belle is increasingly mobile and loves to crawl through the coffee table in Grammy's condo. She's so proud of herself.
Brady enjoyed the jungle cruise with Aunt Megan. He got his Frontlock at the pirate's gift shop and used it to ward off unfriendly animals.
The Pirates of the Caribbean ride was a little scary, but Brady did well and enjoyed it. Captain Jack Sparrow was a dead ringer for Johnny Depp.
Brady rode Aladin's magic carpets 3 times.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Harry Potter Land

As you enter Universal Studio's Islands of Adventure, you have to go through Suess Landing. We just stopped for a quick picture on our long walk to Harry Potter Land.
Entrance, with the Hogwarts Express
Hogsmeade (with a little Diagon Alley flare)
The quaffles were jiggling around in the box; Brady watched and waited for them to break loose.
Grammy got Brady a Harry Potter wand...
...and a really cute Hedwig.
We stopped for Butterbeer and a bite to eat at the Three Broomsticks / the Hogs Head (they're the same building). Moaning Myrtle's voice was piped into the restrooms. I think we all had fun shopping at the Owl Post, Olivanders, Zonko's and especially Honeydukes.

Taylor and Megan rode both the big rides. Papa rode one of the rides too! I was on kiddo duty, and Anna Belle was not a fan of leaving me long enough to stand in line. All in all, it was fun, we're glad we went, but I know that Disney would have made Harry Potter Land a lot more magical and true to the movie. We're going back to finish Magic Kingdom this morning, come back home for a desperately needed nap and then we're going to a Luau at the Polynesian Resort.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Hollywood Studios (cont)

Monday's visit to Hollywood Studios started very slowly, but ended with our magical Jedi experience. This morning, we went back to ride Toy Story Mania and the Tower of Terror. It was a short, but productive trip. We didn't want to stay long because we're going to Harry Potter Land tonight.
The Toy Story Mania ride was VERY much like the Toy Story Mania iPhone app. We were pushing and shoving to get in line for Toy Story as soon as the park opened. We were 2nd in line, had a great time, and found a 75 minute wait as soon as we left?! It was an insanely busy ride! Here's what the carts look like and a really blurry picture of Megan and Brady during the ride.
Here we are with the Bowers family at the 50's Prime Time Cafe. The wait was long, but the food and service were really great.
Here's Brady while we were waiting for our table. You can see Walt Disney playing on the TV in the back. The restaurant is supposed to be like having dinner at grandma's house. The wait staff bribes you with dessert for eating your vegetables.
Here we are at the park entrance on our first day of Hollywood Studios.
My precious little Anna Belle has gotten a lot of attention on the trip. She's been very sweet and happy in the park.