New Year's Eve Pre-Party in Joe's Crib

Later on Christmas day

Christmas Day

125+ views from 60+ places...Morning Note Hits the Blog

Benefit...kudos from your wife that the blog is your favorite website.

Cost...your wife figures out the Sunday morning pictures of her after two nights without sleep are out there for the world to see.

Quick Update

We spent our first two nights away from home. We are calling the experience a success as no one ended up either in the hospital or the loony bin. Christmas Eve and Christmas night at the Rueff's went fine. Charlie ended up sleeping with David each night after he fell asleep in the Pack-and-Play. Grace and Joe slept in the bouncy seats. We got the normal 2-4hours of sleep in two shifts. That means 9-midnight then 2-5am.

Yesterday we had Maria come during the day for a much needed nap. We are spending today out at Colin and Shelley's and Maria is watching the kiddos. Tonight will mark the halfway point in 10 days without nighttime nanny support. Naps during the day are vital.

We had a great Christmas. Thanks to everyone and expect pictures when I have a free minute to download the camera. Love David and Ann

Cameo showing to Kids Christmas Party Miracle

Sunday afternoon around 2pm we ventured from the house to the first annual Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co. Kids Christmas Extravaganza. Extravaganza it was...there were reindeer, wax carving, face painting, the big blow up things kids play in, and man made snow (entire front yard...actually here is a quick aside. If you live in a nice neighborhood in Houston and decide to create "real" snow you should understand the process. The machine is effectively a wood chipper rebuilt to make the biggest shaved ice you have ever seen. Everyone knows how loud a wood chipper is...now imagine the noise from the ice crushing feature on your refrigerator ice dispenser on steroids. Now put all that to work on Sunday morning before people head to church. Maybe not the best plan to ingratiate yourself with the neighbors, but now Maynard (Holt) knows.)

On to the miracle. So our kiddos had not taken a nap. They also are getting to the age where the have some stranger anxiety when being held. So we roll in to a party with 50 kids plus the required parents and for almost the entire party one of the kids cried (read screamed, whaled, sobbed). There was only one perfect moment where they did not cry. And here is the picture.

Merry Christmas!!!

Grace poses for Christmas

Joe poses for Christmas

Charlie poses for Christmas

First Green Bean Eating Experiment

Step 1: Undress babies down to their skivvies
Step 2: Put them side by side in their bumbos
Step 3: Unleash hell....Charlie was tired. Grace loved em. Joe just ate his cereal (still a little young for beans)

Maybe they were a little too close...
Happy Grace...Sad Charlie
Look at those sad eyes.

Mizzou got screwed, but our LSU Tigers are playing for the national championship

Geaux Tigers!!! Beat Ohio State!!!

Mizzou ranked #6 in the BCS doesn't go to a BCS bowl game. Instead Illinois and Kansas...two bitter rivals that Mizzou beat this year end up in BCS games. Kansas goes to the Orange Bowl because they only have one loss...to Mizzou...Total Bull Pucky!!!

A few quick pics from Saturday morning

Sorry for the lack of pictures

Lots of travel led to little time to update the blog. Expect an update today on the babies weights and lengths....maybe another poll?

Also expect new pictures tonight. All is well in Houston. Can't believe Christmas is only a few weeks away...

MIZ-ZOU

One of our Tiger teams kept it's National Title hopes alive last night. Mizzouu 36....Kansas 28

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=forde_pat&id=3126645&sportCat=ncf

We miss you Granny Ginny and Papa Peter

We miss you Brenda

Saturday morning

Mommy took care of everyone, while everyone packed to head home :(

The week went by so quickly.

Making Thanksgiving Dinner

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving with Aunt Brenda, Papa Peter, Granny Ginny, and Mommy and Daddy.

We had warm bottles full of formula. They ate fried turkey, sweet potatoes, garlic mashed potatoes, green beans, cranberry salad, and pecan pie. Mommy also made cranberry ice cream...Grace got a little taste of it from Daddy.

Family Time

Dogs were playing...

Family was catching up...

Babies were laughing...

Grandparent Time

Granny and Joey



Grandpa and Charlie



Grandma and Grace



Feeding Charlie (yes...that is cereal on his forehead...)

Grace Laughs at the Dogs

Sorry it is so dark, but Grace was giggling away

Weekend Pictures

Maddie's typical baby interaction

1. Babies happily laying on the floor

2. Maddie walks in...

3. Says "hello" to Charlie

4. Gives Grace a sniff

5. Maddie walks away...

Hanging Out on the Couch