Monday, February 13, 2017

January Adventures & Fun!

Happy 2017!

Trolls with bestie Hailey was a great way to start the new year! 
We LOVED it ! I scoffed and complained about seeing it but it was fantastic. 

The end of the movie while the credits rolled Allie & Hailey were up out of their seats dancing to the music. The soundtrack is great too! 


Our movie date turned into a fabulous mommy-daughter lunch!

This guy! He deicded he was ready for Summer Camp! 
He'll be going to 6 Points in North Carolina. 6 Points is a Jewish sports camp and it's just perfect for him. We met the director and some other Austin kids who will be going and we were all sold!


The Pink Popsicles are back and Coach Daddy & Allie are ready for another season.

They may be more focused on headbands, hugs and 
hi-fives more but they're having a great time!
Jake remains a great Assistant Coach!



Alex and Jake headed to San Antonio for their now annual trip to the Army All-American Game and to meet some of the new Georgia Bulldog recruits! 

Jake looks like the mascot next to these big guys!






Meanwhile, Allie and I went to a wedding shower for our friends, Jeff & Larissa. Allie enjoyed the desserts table and the photobooth!



We're happy to have our best kid-sitter back but sometimes he falls asleep on the job. :) 

The continuing adventures from the Mustang Room...
They've been doing a unit on art and we're excited for the Art Show that is coming up. (Spoiler alert--it was amazing!) 

Here they're learning about Pointillism and George Seurat!


Allie's Mona Lisa inspired painting!

Daddy came home with some new shoes for both Jake & Allie. 
Allie was so excited that she wanted to go for a "run". 
Of course that didn't last but it was really fun. We "ran" all the way to Bubba's house (but we did get a ride home.)

 So many princess parties, so little time! 
First up: Millie's super cute Rapunzel party! 

Allie's mind was totally blown when Rapunzel knew who she was because, "her friend Jasmine told her to look out for Allie because she (Jasmine) had so much fun at Allie's party." Well done Lexi's Little Princesses, the check is in the mail (again).

 "See mom, it's Rapunzel! She's BFF with Jasmine, Millie is having the best time and Rapunzel will probably start singing soon!"

With Princesses Olivia and Mila

 These three!!!

Brunch with her main squeeze, Eli. 
Nothing says love like showing your guy a Barbie game on Kindle. 

We're still in the middle of basketball season and Jake, #23 and the Hornets continue to play hard and are even winning most games!


So many princess parties, so little time! 
Up Next: Sophie (and little sister Leah's) Royal Princess Tea Party 

Sophie's mom, Allison, throws a beautiful tea party. There was a jewlery bar, nail polish painting, photos and tons of fun. 

Allie with Elana of Avalor. Elana is new to the Princess scene but she's become one of Allie's favorites!

Like mothers, like daughters. ↑↓We even lined up the same! 

Backwards Day in the Mustang Room. Wear your clothes backwards, do your work underneath the table and why not rest under a table too! 


One of the best things about January is getting to celebrate Alex's birthday! The kids were so excited for it!

We went out to celebrate on Friday night to a Hibachi place with the Menfi Family. It was so fun and the kids were mesmerized by the fire and thought it was the coolest thing ever that the chef threw food at you to eat!


 Here comes the show!

 John caught something!
 Volcano!


We love you, Birthday Boy!

On Alex's actual birthday, the kids couldn't wait to celebrate. 
The all important job of making coffee for Daddy on his birthday!

Let's get ready to (Royal) rumble!
For Hanuakah, Jake and his buddy, Dylan, got tickets to see one of wrestling's biggest events, the Royal Rumble. 




Fun month! See you in February!























Wednesday, January 11, 2017

Family Filled December!

Happy December! 

This gem came out of a very quick and slightly crazy photoshoot with my talented friend Vanessa!

Alex's office LOVES dressing up for their events! So not surprisingly their holiday party had a theme. This year was 70s Prom! With fairly little effort I think we did ok!

Allie's ballet recital for her creative movements class 
was well...creative!
With our tiny dancer!
Flowers from Daddy!

More basketball with Jake and his team the Hornets!

Off to Chicago to see Great (and a surprise for Jake & Allie)
 They were awesome traveling companions! 
The Kindles helped but still, they were great!




We arrived to snow on the ground and temps in the 20s. 
We thought it was cold but that was nothing! 


 Surprise! We get Mimi here too!




We knew right away that Mimi was "in the house" when the kids got to their room and she had books all set out for them!
Ready for the snow!
Off we go to the snow!


Three snow angels!

Get her, Mimi!


Don't even think about it, kid!



Our (slightly sad) little snowman!






And we're done here!
Everyone takes a turn a Great's piano! 
I couldn't help but be reminded of the first times 
they each sat in that spot!


Also spotted on Great's piano...they're definitely our kids!

Storytime with Mimi

Time to get out of the house! We ventured to the Mall!
They had these creepy electronic ride on animals that you could zoom through the mall with. The kids loved it but I had to wonder who thought this was a good idea. 



We really loved our visit and think that 
you are the "Great-est"


 



We got back to Austin in time to get ready for more family and for Hanukkah. When I pulled out the Hanukkah stuff and Jake asked me when we got this toy dreidel. Dorry and Zayde got it for Jake for his 1st Hanukkah. It doesn't sing anymore (bonus) but it is still around. I do love a good comparison photo!
Meet Herschel Walker, our new FAKE puppy! 
Dorry brought this adorable but slightly creepy puppy that sleeps and breaths and that's about it. She thought that it might put them off wanting a dog but about 10 minutes into loving Herschel, they both asked, "we can still get a dog, right?"

Happy Hanukkah!
We had a wild game of dreidel with Dorry and Zayde who arrived just in time to celebrate the first night with us!

They both wanted to sleep with Herschel so...

I finally got to see Alex's new "office" and it's pretty cool!
Love how they've customized it! 
Check out the Ramati Inn!

Photo shoot time!

Before they headed off for home we had one last dinner together at a local place up the street from us. 
Allie was so excited that her Mangia dinosaur made the wall! 


Bubba is back for good...well, 6 months! Our wandering Jew is back in Austin and there are two very happy little people. Jake and Allie are thrilled that Bubba is back and that the after school trips to get frozen yogurt and treats are back!

We've been gettign him set in a new apartment and have been busy. Lots of pictures to come.

We've continued our very nice Hanukkah tradition with the Grey Family. Allie loves any occasion to be with BFF Hailey!
3 out of 4 looking at the picture is pretty darn good!


The next night Jake's BFF, Dylan, and his family over 
for a night of Hanukkah! They have both gotten crazy into wrestling and we had a big surprise in store for them!




And on the last night of Hanukkah, we celebrated with Mickey & Minnie Mouse...we're going to Disneyland in February!

What a Hanukkah these two had!

Hello, 2017!
We're glad you're here! A new year and a fresh start! 
Here's to a happy, healthy & fun 2017!
With much love to all of you!