Putting Baby to Bed

A little background... Henley received a baby bed from my parents for Christmas. In fact, this was my baby bed when I was a little girl, but it used to have a water mattress. Apparently the water in the sealed pouch has evaporated since I enjoyed playing with this...kinda makes me feel old...

Henley's custom bedding arrived today (yes, it matches her beautiful bedding in her crib). Daddy was showing her how to properly tuck baby in night-night.

Is this correct, Daddy?

I don't think baby needs a comforter (probably because Mommy doesn't let Henley sleep with hers)

Maybe baby should sleep on top of the covers?

Baby doesn't need all that fancy bedding

Maybe Owen needs to go night-night?

Henley doesn't think this is right...

Daddy steps in and shows the gang how to tuck the sweet baby in. It was so funny how into this the boys were. We had to fight them off so sister could play with her new toy.

Sunday Funday

Family Day at the Zoo

Saturday we all loaded up on the Dart Rail and rode it down to the Dallas Zoo.

Owen strollin into the zoo. This was a great weekend and all the kids got along so well together (as did the adults!). We had a great time!

What's that???? They're even cute from behind!

I guess we usually hit up the zoos in the summer when there's a high stink factor? Brody did this action for the first part of our day. And NO, it did not smell. Hmmm?

This was a hurricane simulator. Uncle Jody is bald so he did not show the affects of high winds and Owen is sporting the messy look so not much changed. A video really would have been MUCH funnier of this attraction.

Tortoise wrangling.

Elephant tackling?

Henley escaped her stroller! She was funny whenever she was out of the stroller and we approached an animal she screeched! For some reason she decided to be scared of every animal?

Our group had to split up for the tram ride. They look like the animals in a cage!?!?!

Sister was confuse why everyone else was in a different car...She was so funny on the tram ride. She would spot the animal and never take her eyes off it as we passed, as if she was daring it to come after her. Love her spunk!

Guess who insisted on the BIG elephant? Love Brody's smile!

That's me feeding Crystal

Owen actually fed her too. He was not a fan this summer when we went. Today, he let her take the cracker right out of his hand. We're growing up!

Even Brody let her take his cracker! So proud of my big boys!

Can you tell they love ALL the attention? Such an amazing experience. Absolutely beautiful!

Good lookin' guys!!!

Four monkeys in a jeep!

Elephant races

Owen was just hangin' around

We finished our day at the zoo with a ride on a gorilla for Owen.

And a ride on an elephant for Brody.

We went home with 5 extremely tired children and 6 pooped parents! Great way to spend the day!

Christmas with the McD's

We extended Christmas this year for a couple of weeks. This weekend we headed to Dallas for a McDaniel Family Christmas.

Yes, they are all in a picture together and mostly looking at the camera and almost all are even smiling! SUCCESS!

Is this better?

Nana got her a phone! This is her first land-line phone!

I think our cousins did a good job for Brody. Once he opened this, all other gifts ceased to exist. He just stared and studied his new Transformer fire station.

Who's gift is in that HUGE PINK box? Hmmm....I wonder???

Time to exercise. The boys' older cousin taught all his "minions" how to play duck,duck,goose

Who loves to party? Get your hand up Henley!!!

Papa D was pretty happy to have ALL his kiddos together.

Happy 2012!!!!!!!!

We rang in the New Year quietly at home...

with a 8-year old, a 7-year old, a 6-year old, a 5-year old, 2 4-year olds, 7 3-year olds, and a 17-month old (Henley did not stay up for this picture)...

and a few OLD people!

We did LOTS of poppers and littered the yard

Some more popper by the tree. This was at our faux-10 o'clock New Years celebration. We had no idea the group would hold together until the true midnight celebration!

Happy New Year!!!! Oh yeah, the Ags brought home a victory today at their bowl game in Houston against Northwestern! WHOOP!

Of course the glow necklaces had to come out!

Here's to a fabulous 2012! I can't wait to see what this year brings to us! Stay tuned!