Two Little Girls

I took this picture of Madison when she was twoish.  My sweet little cowgirl in Texas!

This is Harper Belle, my sweet little snowbunny in Cleveland!  The similarities were too much for words, but what a difference a decade makes...

Christmas

 First Christmas

Waiting to see the loot from Santa

First cheesy Christmas photo in the stocking

Taking a break from playing

Santa Clause!

Today we visited Santa at the mall.  My first said trip in many years since Madison has refused the tradition after one harrowing experience at age 5.  So obviously I was a little bit apprehensive about how Harper would respond. 

In true form, Harper was, of course, a precious trooper and after staring at Santa awkwardly for about 10 seconds she jumped right up into his lap.  Otto was obviously entranced by Santa or so frightened he feigned sleep!  Although not entirely perfect because when asked what she wanted for Christmas and what her name was Harper sat silently and stared longingly at the crayons and coloring book he was giving out. I guess the childhood obesity epidemic sweeping the nation has resulted in no candy canes from a fat guy at Christmas...too bad.  Next year should be just as exciting and wonderful and we will have the picture to prove it!

Just a side note...Madison watched from afar after opting out of the picture.  She has been renamed "13 year old doesn't want to sit in an old guy with a beard's lap in the middle of the mall in fear of some of her school friends seeing her."  Typical teenager...but at least she didn't start crying and run hysterically from the display as she did at so long ago.

Good Morning

 Harper woke up with just a teensy bit of bed head today...winter static!

Snow Day!

 This week we had a bit of a snowstorm. Madison even had two days of school off...which rarely happens!

Ice Skating

Madison has started ice skating.  Last year we couldn't pay her to get on the ice and now we can't keep her from Friday Night Skate! 

She is getting much better and the bruises are fewer and farther between!

Over Thanksgiving we took the fam to the skating rink and watched the spills.

First Haircut

Bangs!

Introducing...

Our little guy...Otto Brooks

Although in the picture he looks like he wistfully wishes he were back in the womb!

He is such a chill little fella and this household is completely smitten. 

And Then There Were Five

A new baby.

 A new family.

A new blog.

A new kind of energy.

A new life.

And so it begins.....