Our Normal

No excuses for the time in between posts...just life.  Here is what the Pope family has been up to.

We FINALLY got around to having family pics made.

The photographer that we used was awesome at capturing some amazing moments.

Popes, through and through!

This is my favorite pic of Camo!  I bet there were probably 20 outtakes on this one!

Little Pope is growing into such a handsome little boy.  I can't believe that he will turn 5 this summer,

They may bicker some days, but at the end of the day they are best friends!

Grandma Bread, also known as Spirit Fingers, went to the zoo with us in early November as they were getting ready for Zoo Lights.

We attempted ice skating at Typhoon Texas' holiday park.  This was about the extent of it all, but great for the Little Popes' first adventure on ice skates.

Ok so technical difficulties arise again, but priceless memories while decorating the tree!

Little Pope really got into decorating this year.

Of course what would the holidays be without the Nutrition Nazi dancing at his holiday party.  This year they asked him to kick off the dancing!

Another first this year was making s'mores.  They became obsessed with them.

Stay-at-home mom bonus...getting to attend school Christmas parties and seeing this cuteness!

This guy was so proud of his artwork that he made for us as a gift!

This little one was SOOOO excited for the Nutcracker ballet.  In all fairness we had the best seats in the house.  He only asked one time during the second act towards the end if it was over yet!

Family shot courtesy of the Nutrition Nazi's long arms!

We took this handsome guy to a 'nice' restaurant to celebrate the holidays and my birthday!  He did so well!

I let go a little bit more this year and let them help with the sugar cookie process.  Luckily they had their listening ears on that day!

Then they decorated cookies with NN!  Family fun was had by all!

A shot of all of the desserts that I made.  I jokingly texted my parents to wear their fat pants to Christmas.

I am going to keep doing this for as long as possible.  I love dressing them in Christmas pajamas and taking their pics!

It is amazing how much they grow each year!

The calm before the storm.  Little Pope was not happy when he woke up and saw that 'Santa' did not bring him Star Wars legos.  I explained that since it was a late request that he probably did not get it.  And for the record he did get Star Wars legos from his brother.  Did I hear someone say entitled and spoiled?  I see some volunteer work in his future.

A sweet moment captured!

Someone is excited about the giant dinosaur Grandma bought him!

Happy Little Popes!

A rare pic of two-hard working ladies!

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!