Circus

On Brinley's actual birthday, my whole family went to the circus. First, we met and ate a yummy dinner at Pappasito's. After dinner, all the waiters came and sang happy birthday to Brinley. They put a sombrero on her head, gave her a bowl of ice cream with a candle on top, and sang and clapped very loudly! She was all for this celebration until they started singing and clapping, it was very loud and she was skeptical!

We got to the circus and had front row seats! Jason nor I have been to the circus since we were little and had never experienced it from the first row, it was quite magical! Brinley was absolutely entranced by everything! She laughed at the clowns and all their silly skits, she ate popcorn and told me her favorite part was the elephants!

No zoom needed, this was the view from our seats!

In the middle of the circus, they brought out these trams that looked like big motorcycles, being we were on the front row, they ushered us into them and drove us around the middle of the ring for about 15 minutes. So we were in the circus!! They stopped us at each corner and we got to watch all the action from pretty close up! The ringmaster came and patted Clayton on the head and gave Brinley and Reese high fives! It was quite an experience!
Me, Jason Clayton, Robin, Blake, My Dad, Reese, Brinley and My mom

This clown was sticking his tongue out at me but the light is shining right in the way!
Clayton enjoying the ride around the circus ring

After the circus was over we headed home with two completely exhausted kids! It was so much fun! Thanks mamaw and pops for such a wonderful night!

Brinley's 3rd Birthday

Whew, things have finally calmed down enough for me to blog about Brinley's birthday weekend! On Thursday evening, Rachel and Meredith flew down from Arkansas to visit with us for the weekend. The girls enjoyed playing together and Brinley had fun teaching Meredith all about dressing up with shoes and earrings....sorry Rachel :) We had a wonderful visit and can't wait to see them again!

Friday, we took them to the pool for some swimming and then to Kemah for some yummy seafood.
I also spent every free minute that day making Brinley's birthday cake!

Saturday morning, with the weather actually cooperating (no rain and not too hot), we had Brinley's ice cream themed birthday party at our house. We had cake, ice cream bar and big bounce house with slide. Brinley had a blast playing with all her friends and family! All the kiddos were dripping in sweat by cake time. She has been waiting for everyone to sing happy birthday to her for months, so she sat, listened and then blew out her candles! After cake/ice cream, Brinley opened her presents to receive tons of new dresses, shoes, purses, and crowns for dress up! Since Brinley practically lives in dress up clothes when we are home, she was really excited to have new options. She also got a make up vanity from my parents and kid touch digital camera from Jason's parents. She loves taking pictures and has taken over 100 with her new camera! Poor Clayton will be blind due to the flashes! We now also have a photo catalog of every toy she owns :)

Here are some pictures from her big party day!

On Sunday, we went to the circus, but that is another post in itself! Be on the lookout!

a little bit of everything

We have had a busy week at our house! It started Wednesday with a trip to the Astros game. It was an afternoon game, so Jason took off work and we went with his parents, uncle and his family. The Astros won, which is always a good thing, it was Clayton's first game and we were chosen as the Whataburger lucky row of the game! We were given free t-shirts, coupons to Whataburger and they put us on the big screen at the game! It was quite exciting!
Marian, Clayton and me on the big screen

Friday, I spent the day making a cake for my cousin, Allison's, baby shower the next day. She is decorating her nursery in the farm theme, so I made this cake. It turned out really cute!

Saturday morning, Clayton and I woke up bright and early to head to Katy for the shower. It was so nice and great to see lots of family. Clayton enjoyed playing with two little girls at the shower which were right at his age! Although his shrieks of delight kept scaring one of them!

After leaving the shower, we headed to Austin's first birthday party, which Jason and Brinley were already at! I missed all the fun stuff, but Brinley told me Austin was a mess eating his cake and got it all over his face and nose!

Brinley and her BFF's

Sunday evening we headed to the beach with Jason's family, Aunt and family and grandparents. We grilled hot dogs on the beach and make smores! It was a great evening! Jason's cousin is almost 4 years old, so she and Brinley had a great time running to and from the water with buckets to fill the drench built by another cousin. We got home at 10 last night and are exhausted today!

Brinley and Clara at the end of the night

Brinley and Clayton enjoying their dinner

No time to rest because now we are in preparation mode for Brinley's 3rd birthday party this weekend!!!

Our 4th of July

We spent the 4th of July over at my brother's house. Technically, we were in his pool the entire day! Considering it was 100 degrees with a feels like temperature of 110, I think that was the only place to spend the holiday without dying of heat exhaustion!

Here is a video of our little fish swimming all by herself...she really took to swimming very easily!

We enjoyed a great seafood cookout including fried shrimp, oysters, hush puppies, and catfish! We also had homemade ice cream and cherry pie. It was delicious and we were stuffed! We climbed out of the pool, all pruney, around 8pm to get ready for the fireworks! We shot some poppers before we left, which Brinley loved! She really loved the fireworks, rolling down the hill and running on the green (we watched the fireworks from the golf course).

Sammie helping Brinley pop her poppers

Sammie, Brady, Brinley and Reese waiting on the fireworks to start!

Brinley and Reese watching the fireworks


After all was said and done, we were all exhausted! Brinley had no nap and been in the pool all day, Clayton decided he didn't want to miss the party and only took 1 hour nap and was up from 8am-10pm. Considering those circumstances, both kids were troopers with no melt downs and passed out in the car on the way home! It was a great way to celebrate our nation's birthday!

Clay-man enjoying his first 4th of July celebration!

Happy 4th of July!!!!