Family is Family

Family is Family in church or in prison.  You can't live with or without them, you might talk about them, but if someone else does well then you'll knock them out because when it's all said and done their the only ones that you got.  Thanks to Kacey Musgraves for the very poignant lyrics.

Today I would like to celebrate my mom for all she has done for me. 

She was a great mom growing up, but I think she waited her whole life to be grandma! Though Mother's Day is this weekend, her birthday is today! 

My mom was so excited when she found out that she was going to be a grandmother.  She started spoiling Little Pope before he ever arrived!

And then he arrived and she was, as usual, the foundation that held everything together in a very challenging time.  I know underneath it all she did not feel that way, but being a mom is about continuing down the sometimes broken road.

I always tell her that she is definitely an old lady trying to get into heaven the way she spoils the kids because that is not the woman I grew up with.

Little Pope took his first steps towards her on his first birthday, which was a huge achievement for a preemie.

I am so happy that my crazy little ones have my mom to love them and say yes when I might say no!

She has always been there, even when things were a little scary, or even a lot scary!

When I was looking for pics there were about 10 of this exact shot of her holding a new-to-the-world Camo.  Guess she was a wee bit excited! Hopefully I picked one that you love Mom!

Every year she makes sure to get a pic with the kids, even if they are oblivious.  The memories are what matter!

I love that she watches my kids so I can shower uninterrupted.  They love her so much.  I love this blurry pic!  She later realized that the kids had gotten peanut butter on the lens!  It's all part of our crazy world!

Happy Birthday and Happy Mother's Day Mom!  I love you for all that you do for us!

Time Keeps on Slippin into the Future

For those of you now stuck with the Steve Miller Band song stuck in your head after reading the title, I am somewhat sorry, but it was what came to mind.  I did not mean to stretch out my posts to three months, but it has been C.R.A.Z.Y. at the Pope house.  I am hoping that going forward my posts will be a little more frequent!  Here is our first quarter of 2016 in review.

We finally sold our house in Sienna.  Everything always works out just as it was supposed to be, though the road is often uncertain.

It took 2 large moving trucks and a trailer to move us and all of our stuff to Katy.  It was definitely different with the kids this time, but our wonderful family helped watch them so that we could pack and move with minimal disruption to the Little Popes and Team Leader.  We love being closer to the Nutrition Nazi now!

This sweet little monkey turned 2 in February.  We somehow managed to have a wonderful party with our family and friends in the middle of packing!  The rule was everyone had to pack two boxes before they could have cake!  Just kidding I'm too Type A to let someone else pack my stuff!

I seriously don't know where the time is going and can't believe how big he is getting.

There is still no denying who this kid belongs to! 

He learned how to open gifts from his big brother, and with a little help from our friends ripped through them in no time!

Every year I try to get a pic of me holding them to show how they've grown, and this may be the last year for that.  He is so tall his legs will probably be at my knees next year!

Of course there is the camera switch and NN gets in on his own pic! 

Shortly after we moved into the new house there was a brutal ninja sword fight that NN got caught up in.  Just kidding!  He was playing with the Little Popes when Camo's teeth caught his forehead.  Ouch! 

The kids settled in nicely in Katy.  They love the parks!

They especially love to chase each other up the slide!

The Team Leader is loving our new patio!

The beginning of March brought us another trip to the Rodeo, and we actually went to the show this year.  Beforehand Camo had to sample some of the food in the midway!

Of course they loved the rides!  This was Camo's first year of eligibility in carnival rides!  Luckily he had Little Pope close by to ease his fears.

Surprisingly this sweet face loved the actual rodeo, especially the bull riding.

I love this photo of the amazement on his face.  He was so enamored with the fireworks show before the concert.  The concert was less impressive.

The end of March brought several days of Easter festivities, beginning with a soggy parade at school.

This was how things were going about halfway through all of our events.  Definitely not a good sign.

Camo did at least participate for a few minutes in the egg hunt.

Little Pope was really excited, though, the picture says otherwise!

Thank goodness Little Pope looks like his mama!  Camo is looking at his future in this pic!

At least one of my children was excited about their Easter basket!  She also learned a new trick...blending in with the new rug!

Every year she always has the most fun in the Easter egg hunt, though Camo is starting to jump on her train.

This one used up all his excitement in the days leading up to Easter.

Once they woke up I got a few smiles!

I guess this is Camo's way of telling me no more pics.

And just for grins I threw in this pic of their reaction to seeing me blow a bubble with gum for the first time.  They thought is was the funniest thing ever.  Luckily we 'ran out' of gum or otherwise my jaw would be beyond sore!

Fourth Quarter in Review

This past year was definitely our busiest year yet, as evidenced by the large gaps in between my posts.  Our house is up for sale right now so that we can move closer to the Nutrition Nazi's job and spend more time together, but it also requires our house to be much cleaner than normal.  Cleaning is not my forte!  Anyway here is a look at how we spent the last 3 months of 2015.

The Little Popes love to go to the park, and especially play train going down the slide.

This one is getting crazier by the day!  With each passing day he morphs just a little more into being a full-fledge mini Nutrition Nazi.  Just what I need...two of them!

Selfie lessons are critical.  If you ask Camo if he handsome he will say yes.  He also refers to himself in the third person as Cam Cam.

One day we convinced the Nutrition Nazi to go to the zoo with us.  We had so much fun!

A fun perk of having a mom who bakes a lot.  They love the idea of dessert more than the actual dessert!

Naps with the Team Leader, or sissy, as they refer to her.  I am not too certain that she likes him in her personal space.  I know how she feels sometimes.

Apparently this is the only shot I got at Halloween of Little Pope in his Optimus Prime costume.  Came refused to dress up at all, but loved trick-or-treating, though he did not like the candy!  They might be a little spoiled with the desserts that are normally served in our house!

More trips to the zoo and a very up close experience with the gorillas.

Somewhere my parents have a picture of my brother and I standing at this same fountain at the zoo.  It's amazing it is still around!

Then there was our attempt at a family pic for the Christmas card.  I was feeling good about the process so the Team Leader made the card this year.

This year we spent a lot of time doing some of the iconic Houston Christmas events with the kids, like going to the Galleria.  There might have been some shopping thrown in as well.

This Super Sac, as Camo calls it, might have been one of my purchases.  It is awesome and huge!

I reiterate...most patient dog ever.

We got to spend a little time together at the Nutrition Nazi's company christmas party at Hotel Zaza.

Even the Team Leader loves the super sac!

The Nordstrom Holiday party was a first for the Little Popes this year.  They had a blast and showed off their dancing skills.  Love these two!  And for the record it is a cup of pretzels that Little Pope is holding, not a cup of bubbly!

We spent a lot of time feeding the turtles on our way to the park, and looking for alligators!  

We decorated a gingerbread house, and the boys had a blast.

I got a gold star on this day for setting my Type A personality aside and actually let them do most of the decorating.

Little Pope and I even managed to see a movie together, though he refused to even try my Icee!

Cut from the same exact cocky, arrogant, dancing fool mold.  One has more hair!

Our Team Leader is slowing down a little bit and I find her snuggled up a lot more.  It's hard to believe that she turned 7 last September.

I love this pic taken with my phone a few nights before Christmas when all was calm one night, which is rare!

I love my tradition of dressing them up and taking their pic in front of the tree every year.  I get some of the cutest pics of these two monkeys.

A little grainy, but still a good shot my sweet crazy one.

This one is sweet, but such an old soul.  With each passing day he is wanting to help me with things around the house.

Finally Christmas morning arrived!  The Little Popes were so excited!

Look mom Superman!

Then there was the second Christmas of the day, chaos and all!  The man formerly known as Soon-to-be Grandpa Pat even got in on the action.

Camo loved his toys, all 50 of them!

Look mom more crap for you to have to pick up.  Yay!

Christmas number 4 the following day.  I am so coming back as one of my kids just to get all of their presents!

Gotta love the shorts and t-shirts at Christmas time!

The Little Popes also got a new ride that we all pitched in to buy.  Little Pope drives it like a champ!  It even has a functioning radio that he turns up when he drives off.

On the flip side of Christmas, New Year's Eve was so windy and cold that our sparklers were burning way too fast!

We hope that all of you had a sparkling good time during the holiday season, and that your 2016 is the best year yet!