Happy 2013 "Kiddo Style"!!!

All the Joseph cousins were still in town for New Years so I thought it would be fun to have a party for the kids.  Brooks has no idea what is going on, but I'm always up for a reason to celebrate!  

Everyone came over for pizza, ice cream, and lots of dancing!  

The kids made their own sundaes.

I found out that Brooks LOVES sprinkles, a boy after his mama's heart! 

 Then they made noise makers to ring in the new year! 

 Caleb liked his party hat!

 My 4 year old nephew introduced my husband to "Temple Run" and over the course of the 10 days we were all together, everyone became obsessed with playing it.  We had a mini-tournament by hooking the I-pad up to the TV.  These kids TOTALLY whooped me! 

 When I wasn't looking, Caleb grabbed someones left over pizza and started gobbling it up! 

I don't think that is on the list of approved foods for an 8 month old!

We rang in the new year a little early (well about 3 hours early).  Happy 2013!!  Mark helped me make a "Ball Drop" over our entertainment system and we dropped 100 of those little colored balls at "midnight".  It needs a little tweeking for next year, but the silly string and noise makers were a hit!

Then we had a KILLER dance party!  Let me tell you, AnneMarie and Hannon can come to any of my parties from now on, these girls know how to have a good time!  

This boys LOVED the party, he had such a good time watching everyone and was SO excited!  I have a hilarious video of him in his jumper going CRAZY but it won't upload. 

We danced until some were partied out! 

Then the oldest three cousins stayed the night- we watched a movie, stayed up until the midnight, and rang in the new year with an apple juice toast!

Happy 2013!!!

Christmas in New Braunfels

We celebrated Christmas with Mark's side of the family at his brothers house in New Braunfels.  It was super fun and we all loved the warmer weather!  We also were very excited because Mark's sister and her family came from Florida.  

We went to the park and rode this adorable train.  Brooks was in heaven!

Here are the boys after Christmas Eve church.

 Caleb and his 1st stocking!  

 One of Brooks' favorite gifts!  A "dow-boy hat" and boots!

 

 Here are all the cousins celebrating Jesus' Birthday by singing him Happy Birthday and having cake.  We are so lucky to have each side of our family love and serve the Lord, and are all raising their children to know Jesus as their Savior!  We are of course so glad that Christ was born, so that through his death we can have everlasting life!  A wonderful reason to celebrate. and that we did!!!

We had a GREAT time in New Braunfels and the fun didn't end because ALL the cousins came back to New Mexico with JoJo and Papa for a week! 

Fun in December

On Brooks' real birthday, we had a yummy breakfast (he got donuts- his favorite), then I had him paint a picture to go in his baby book, met Mark for lunch, and then had JoJo and Papa over for dinner. 

 Lovin his ice cream cone!  On birthdays, eat what you love!

This little guy LOVES to blow raspberries, all the time!

One more big piece of cake as a final "Happy Birthday!"

Here are just some random pictures from my boys this month- they are so much fun!  Caleb is enjoying eating food- likes sweet potatoes, apple sauce, and peach greek yogurt best. 

 Not a fan of carrots!  (I normally use a bib, not sure why I didn't here).

Here the boys are before we went to dinner to celebrate Christmas.

Brooks was eating apple sauce or something and when I came back in the room, he had found this huge spoon and was using it- cracked me up.

Caleb wearing Brooks "Bike Football Helmet" 

(I have no idea why his shirt isn't on? Must have been right after a meal- 

maybe this was after the sweet potatoes picture above)! Ha.

I think this is just a super cute picture of Brooks.  

He was showing me how he can put his hand in his pant pocket. 

I gave him a pen and paper so he could "write his letters" as he calls it.

He decided to write on his hand instead of the paper.

The other day I was in the kitchen while the boys were eating, Brooks came and told me "I eat baby puffs", then when I went to sit down I saw what he meant.  He had given Caleb all the puffs and was helping himself to them!  Funny boys- Caleb was thrilled!   

 We have a good time together, I am so, so glad I get to stay at home with them everyday.  Some days get long and I can't wait for Mark to get home but I am beyond blessed by these two little cuties!

Brooks' 2nd Birthday

Brooks turned 2 on December 11th, we had a Tractor Party to celebrate!  He was so excited for it, and probably thought it was never going to happen because we had been talking about it for a few weeks.  Brooks defiantly knows what birthday parties are after the Fall we had, and celebrating all his cousin's birthdays.  He was very excited for his Tractor Happy Cake.  My family from Dallas came for the weekend, it was so fun to have them all here!  We had the party at our church's rec building.  It was nice to be able to decorate the day before and to have a gym where the kids could run around.

Here is my little buddy- 2 years old of adorable cuteness! Love him!!

I had lots of fun planning the decorations- Thanks to Pinterest, it took all the thinking out of it!

My three boys, love them!!!

He loves singing "Happy Birthday" but was a little shy when everyone was singing to him.

He was very excited for his "Tractor!"

Using his utensils like a big 2 year old! 

We played with farm foamies, decorated tractor cookies, played Pin the Wheel on the Tractor and broke the pinata.  Then the kids ran around the gym with a roller coaster (from JoJo and Papa), tractor and bounce house.  Lots of fun and better yet, lots of space for the kiddos to play!

 I was so glad my family made the trip out here to celebrate with us! 

 Brooks loved the gifts from his friends and family- Thanks again to everyone!  Our house is now full of all the trucks and tractors a little boy needs!  

Someone was all partied out by the end! 

Happy 2nd Birthday Brooksie!  I Love you! 

Santa!

On Saturday while the boys were at the football game, the girls loaded up the kiddos and went to visit Santa.  That morning I asked Brooks what he was going to ask Santa for and he said a "Tractor Party"- we had already started talking about his birthday party which was in two weeks.  The kids reactions were great.  Caleb loved Santa and just smiled a ton, then grabbed his beard and tried to pull his hat off.   Brooks was excited at first but then when it was his turn and I got him out of the stroller, he didn't want to sit on Santa lap- so he sat on my lap instead.  Charlotte was not a fan of him at all, she cried and didn't want to go near him.  Ava went right up and told Santa exactly what she wanted, so I guess 3 is the magic age where they get excited and aren't terrified.  

 Here is Caleb eyeing the hat, then goes in for the grab.

 I believe when we got there Brooks was going to ask for "Happy Cake".  He was very fixed on his upcoming birthday and the things we had been talking about for his party.

These have nothing to do with Santa, but I took a few Christmas pictures of the boys with ideas I stole from Pinterest.   I love how chubby this little guy is!