feliz cumpleaños, brazos!

May 25, 2011- Wow! How did a year go by so fast?  Just one year ago we were in the hospital welcoming our little newborn.  Fast forward one year and we're celebrating with Fiesta Grande!  Well, not too grande, just lunch with family and a few close friends.

The invitation I created:

goody bag loot



party décor



every fiesta needs a piñata

 



Brazos (refusing to acknowledge the camera) with his Godparents, Scott & Mignonne



the gifts

 

sombrero cake from Sophie's Choice Bakery



had no interest in cake mashing



at this point the meltdown began as more than one person commented "it's his party- he can cry if he wants to!"

 

he calmed down enough to take a few bites then it was off to siesta!

 

this is what i expected Brazos- not Gage- to look like after the cake!



desi got a little warm- and messy from the cake!



goody bags



piñata fun; Gage was so proud, or maybe just wondering if there were more prizes inside

 

Family photo- Casey was the only one that didn't dress in appropriate fiesta attire but that is because all he owns is blue and white shirts, Wrangler work shirts and a few random t-shirts including one from a cock fighting tournament in Mexico.  But it is black and he doesn't like to wear black other than a cowboy hat.  That shirt and how he got it is a long story to share some other time!

fun with the birthday gifts (in his dirty watermelon stained shirt), after a much needed siesta

  

After the party we decided a dip in the pool at MiMi & Paw Paw's hotel would be nice.  Pecos braved the slide...the same slide he has refused to go on ever since Paw Paw didn't catch him fast enough last year and he got dunked.  Every time we drive past this hotel in Fredericksburg Pecos reminds me that is where Paw Paw dunked him.  I think a promise of ice cream at Dairy Queen was his main motivation for going down it this time.

the (pre-k) graduate

May 20, 2011- Graduation Day for Pecos at HeadStart Pre-K in Harper!

the graduate with mom & dad


 

behind the scenes at cap & gown picture day a few weeks prior to graduation

 

Brazos and Desi awaiting the ceremony.  Is it just me or does he look like an old man?...just sitting there kind of grumpy, not wanting his picture taken.



With W as his last initial he was of course last to enter the ceremony.  Not many X, Y and Z kids in Harper.  They saved the best for last!

diploma in hand and tassel in eye!



picking up the diplomas so the performance portion of the ceremony could begin



tassels were a bit of a problem for everyone

This photo was taken at the very end of the program where the kids shouted "Go Longhorns" as they anticipate their entry to Harper school whose mascot is the Longhorns.  I suppose Pecos has too much Aggie blood in him; please take notice that he just couldn't get his hands to make the longhorn sign. 

the graduate with Oma & Opa

the graduate with MiMi & Paw Paw

one year, one great set of photos

So we've hit the one year mark.  And that means a photo session to document this stage.  I was honored to have my sweet friend and fabulous photographer, Tori Faulkner, spend a morning capturing the moments; you can see more of her work at http://www.barnraised.com/.  She really had her work cut out for her because Brazos was on the move the entire time and let's just say he offers plenty of facial expressions yet he is less than willing to be photographed.  All the jumping, clapping and waving of noise makers didn't really work on him as he had his own ideas of what he wanted to do.  Tori must have magical powers because I was there at the photo shoot and did not see with my eyes what she was able to capture with her camera.  Actually, she's been blessed with an amazing talent and we're fortunate that she has found the time and energy to share it with the rest of us.  She is allowing me to share the proofs here on my blog- enjoy!

Like most photo sessions there are so many great photos that I love it is hard to choose a favorite.  But I think this one is my favorite this time.  It is so true to Brazos...the tongue sticking out as he is making funny noises, his blue eyes that may not stay this color for much longer and that innocent look that makes you melt.  Yep, I think it is my favorite.

lock up your daughters, he's got those sweet baby blues

 


WildMan says enough crawling...ready to run now!









SILLY BOY!







the only time he sat still and it lasted only for a short moment!



 

Him and his tongue!  We have an ultrasound photo of him sticking out his tongue.  And a photo from his newborn session with it sticking out.  And at least three from this session.  I'm going to have a whole wall in my house of photos of him with his tongue sticking out!  Sure it is cute now but in a few years I don't think so!



does this Wrangler butt drive you nuts?



his favorite expression







   

A wrestling match to change clothes...daily occurance with Brazos!

stick a fork in him...he is DONE with this photo session!

berry tasty picking

April & May 2011- The annual strawberry and blackberry picking excursions to Marburger Orchard were delicious!

STRAWBERRIES- April

This year's picking was short and sweet.  Brazos had about all he could stand of supervising from his stroller after about 20 minutes.  The berries were very small this year due to some climatic force in February...oh yeah, it was the arctic blast that I'd prefer to never experience again!



pecos helped himself to a few strawberry samples



brazos loves the box I've used and saved for the past 4 years, but in his excitement he almost made it unusable!





me and my little Aggies ready to pick strawberries





MiMi was our assistant picker





brazos supervised the strawberry picking





pickin'



our harvest

 

Brazos enjoyed a sweet strawberry snack; much better than Cheerios or Goldfish!



BLACKBERRIES- May

We went as soon as we received notice that berries would be ready...and coincidentally it was the ONLY day that Pecos was out of school and we didn't have another activity to attend. 

 

lots of red and green berries on the vines, mixed in with a few ripe ones

supervising the blackberry picking



Pecos was in charge of the bamboo sticks that were intended to hold thorny vines to the side so Oma could get to the ripe berries.  No surprise that he preferred to tap them on every available surface and person in range.



sweet berry!  this one didn't even make it to the box as it had to be sampled immediately