Big Ocho!

Jack turned 8 last week and had an all-boy sleep over to celebrate. But, Mommy and Daddy dropped by to lend a hand and drop off a gift...so I got to help crash the party. My cousin, Anna, also crashed...because she was staying with Mimi, who was helping Aunt Vickie with the madness. There were so many loud and crazy boys...it was FUN!!! Here's Jack proving that he can count to 8!


Jack grew a beard! Oh no...that is just a messy cake eater...I told you they were crazy!

Here I am posing with my cousin, the birthday boy.

Anna and I had a great time! We hung out on this chair and rocked for a good portion of the night. We figured out that we could go faster if we put our legs into it!

Just chillin with my cousin.

It's A...

BOY!!! Uncle Jeff and Aunt Tamara just found out that they are having a boy! The first Strauss Boy in the new generation! We are so excited to be able to buy something other than pink and girly, which has been the case for the last 7 1/2 years...starting with our first girl (Dani who showed up after Austin and Jack, and after Dani came Anna, Katie and Collins). Apparently our new little guy is proud of his gender (as is evident by the sonogram below)! He is due to bless our family on February 18...so we will keep you all posted. This will be the first child to warm Uncle Jeff and Aunt Tamara's home...so we are very excited...no matter what his gender turned out to be. Congrats you guys!

Brushin'

I am learning how to brush my teeth, which is pretty funny. I refuse to let Mommy do it...and Daddy only gets about 30 seconds of having the brush in my mouth. But, I think that I do a pretty good job on my own. Mommy says that at least I have the right end in there and I seem to know what to do...this is probably better than nothing!

Ft. Bend County Fair Time!

Mommy and Daddy had their first date at the Ft. Bend County Fair in Sept. 2002. And, we all know how that turned out...they got married! So, it is kind of a family ritual to head out to the Ft. Bend County Fair. Even though the last couple of years have kept us away. Last year I was just too small and the year before Hurricane Rita scared Houston...and Mommy and Daddy were busy hunkering down in their house.

So, we finally made it out and had a great time. I got to play some carni games...and for all who know my Daddy will know that I am a chip off the old block! I was a champ at picking rubber duckies!



Here's Daddy winning me another stuffed animal...this one was too hard for me!

Check out my tiger...I kept throwing it on the wet ground...so Mommy stashed him away for later.

Mommy and I rode the carousel...we had fun!

And, the rain had us scared all day...but as soon as we got to the fair this is what we saw...

Dancing, dancing, dancing! I love dancing!


Hanging out on the arena floor...the cows were already sleeping, so no danger to me!

More music? I could dance all night!

Hey Dad, lets go over here and dance with Mommy...

Man, I am tired! So much fair fun!

Another 1 Year Anniversary!

Today is the 1 year anniversary of the day we were FINALLY able to bring our Katie home! Although Sept. 11, 2006 was the most wonderful day...because that is the day Katie entered our world, it was also one of the scariest days of our lives. They took her away for a "4 hour observation" and she never came back. The next 16 days seemed like an eternity as we waited and prayed. So, September 27 is the best day of them all...we were finally able to take our car seat into the NICU and bring it home with a warm little body barely filling the seat. Our wonderful adventure began with these amazing memories. So, I thought I would share the pics of our baby coming home...again...1 year later!



(Yep, that is me in the backseat...I swore that I would never be the "ride in the backseat with the baby" mom...but I used the heart monitor as an excuse! I couldn't take my hands off of her! And, it hasn't happened again...I hate the back seat!!!)


One of my co-workers asked me today how many more "anniversaries" we are planning on celebrating. (She likes to ask the tough questions.) My answer is that I will celebrate every day that I have with Katie...and especially the days that change my life. Maybe I won't blog a 1 year anniversary post every time this happens...but our family celebrates Kaitlyn Faith each and every day. Especially the day our dream of bringing our special little child home to the room that had been waiting to hear the sound of a baby's cry for close to 2 years. So, here's to our Katie and her 1st year at our home...which is finally complete with her presence.

We're On a Roll!!!

JMS is winning! Our 8th grade boys beat Revere 25-18...and it was a fight! Those Revere boys can throw like crazy (and they catch it too, which is unusual for middle school!) But, we were able to stay focused and play our game. Plus, we have a kicker who can make it through the uprights...not very many middle schools have that either!


Unfortunately our cheerleaders were not able to make it to this game...blame their sponsor for that snafu! So, these little sisters got creative, made a sign, and cheered their brothers to victory!

Here's a great action photo! Scott is so into the game that you will often see him running down the side lines with his guys...here he is checking out his boys.

Blurry post win pic...sorry!

Here are Daddy and his little cheerleader after the game. She is a great cheerleader and claps her hands the entire game! Mommy would have taken pics...but she was quite busy keeping up with a 1 year old in the stands at Butler Stadium...not an easy task. Our principal was helpful...but Katie just used him for his popcorn (the safe part, of course!) Maybe next time we will get some Cheerleader Katie action pics!