a day at the zoo

a day off from school meant a day at the zoo for my monkeys! we had such a nice day. really perfect weather, the kids were in great moods, and we had great friends with us too! it was wonderful to spend the day outside just enjoying the kiddos! ken and mck were very interested in reading the info at the zoo . . . kam (plugging her nose in many pics!) was very into the smells, and b.c. just thought everything was cool . . . but really loved the orangutans! i think everyone though the coolest (and grossest) thing we saw was an elephant peeing . . . it literally peed a bucket-load! it was really neat and i think we talked about it for days!

our zoo veterinarian!

yes. that is mck with a lion and a dr. kit . . . ready to head off to school for a day of pretending to be "dr. mckenzie bailey, head zoo veterinarian".

and yes, this is the same 6 year old who doesn't like any of the animals that we have . . . except for maybe the chickens because they leave her alone! couldn't believe that's what she picked for career day. (on a side note, i did get several comments that "i have to pick a REAL job. so i can't say i want to be a fairy . . . but that's what i really want to be." love that girl!)

our little start student

mck was the star of the week . . . her poster was complete with purple, glitter, and a big giant "m"! could it be any more "her"? she put words that describe her all around the "m" and couldn't wait to share it with her class! gotta love this girl!

yes, those are my kids in a dog cage!

ha. this was too funny not to capture on film! :) we got a new dog cage for brock and the kids thought it was soooo cool that they could all fit in it . . . along with graham. they literally played for 45 minuted in the cage.

new years eve 2012

wii dance, noisemakers, junk food, and fun drinks. a simple, fun new years eve at home. . . and this year all the girls made it until midnight . . . and then some! even little b.c. hung in there until 11:30. (of course we paid dearly for it the next day!) so much fun to just hang at home with the family.

here's to 2012 and a much better year for the bailey bunch!

walking at the nature center

we had a wonderful post-christmas celebration with the stahl's and before we headed home we spent the afternoon at the nature center. it was the perfect ending to a great visit. the weather was amazing and the kids loved walking on the trial and playing on a giant playscape. even graham enjoyed a few trips down the slide! the kids all loved having g and g hold their hands and run and play!

post-christmas with the stahls

we had a great post-christmas celebration with the stahls! more gifts . . . rollerblades for the big girls, a gas station for b.c., and a lalaloopsy for kam! and some really cool p.j.s and toys from they cousins! we had a wonderful christmas dinner and dessert too (kind of made up for the christmas dinner of pancakes that we'd had!). so nice to have everyone together. makes my heart smile.

christmas 2011

from the barbie dream house to the big four wheeler, the pirate ship to the trendy toys, we had some happy bailey kiddos on christmas morning! the look on the kids faces as they were coming down the stairs was awesome! everyone got everything they asked for . . . and then some! we took most of the day to open and play with presents, taking a break fro breakfast and hot chocolate. we were in pajamas all day, hanging out, and playing and watching movies. we had pancakes for christmas dinner! does it get any better than that?

christmas eve 2011

this christmas eve was really wonderful. we went to church, had our traditional appetizers for dinner, decorated cookies, read the night before christmas, got our matching p.j.'s. too!
what a difference a year makes. we have so much to be thankful for . . . so much. a beautiful, healthy family. four amazing kiddos. a new extended family. and a bright future ahead!

girls night at the nutcracker

the bailey girls started a new tradition this year . . . and evening at the theater. the girls had so much fun getting dressed up for a night on the town! we went to see the austin ballet's nutcracker and it was AMAZING! the girls were soooo enthralled with it! ken and mck thought it was magical and were staring through the whole thing. kam loved it, but felt the need to talk in my ear, non-stop through the whole thing! (it was a little too much silence for her. we can't wait to do a special evening out again next year!

our gingerbread village

making the gingerbread village is now a bailey tradition . . . a little house for everyone! it was amazing how independent mck and ken were this year . . . they did everything themselves. and even little kam knew how she wanted each piece of candy! b.c. wanted help from daddy to decorate his cabin! it really turned out cute! now we just have to keep b.c. from crawling ont he counter to steal pieces of it!

k's choir performance

ken's first choir performance was wonderful! she loves choir and is so enthusiastic about learning all these new songs! the performance was a great collection of holiday songs from around the world. . . so mck, kam, and b.c. enjoyed learning new songs too! the performance was even more special because ms. s. and her family came to watch . . . ken felt so special! then it was home for coffee and dessert with everyone.

lights in belton 2012

this may have been the best year at the belton lights . . . ever! we went early and during the week so the crowds were minimal. we even got to hop out and take some pictures in front of the lights! nothing beats the excitment you can feel in the car as the kids first see the lights and we turn on the music. this is truly the magic of christmas. it's so wonderful that we still get to share this tradition with our friends . . . not wishing time away, but i can't wait until next year.

magical moment with santa

i don't think it gets much better than this . . . the kiddos got some one-on-one time with mr. claus on the g'town square. the girls were a little bit in awe and b.c. was a little shy at first, but after he gave santa's beard a little tug he was comfortable. they got to share their wishes for christmas . . . ken - a caboodle, mck - a caboodle and doll stuff, kam - a pony (not a real one!), and b.c. - a firetruck! not sure we'll ever be able to top this one.

topping the tree

all the kids took a turn topping the tree . . . and then i put the snowman on for real . . . but we left that picture out! the kids did a great job helping to decorate this year . . . with only minimal readjusting necessary! they are really enjoying pointing out all of their ornaments on the tree and talking about when they got them. this christmas is going to be so much fun.

gs farm visit and campout

the girls had so much fun visiting a "farm" and having a mini-campout with our little girl scout troop! they went on a scavenger hunt, a hayride, fed and rode the horses, got to see lots of longhorns, and then settled back at our leaders house for a campout in the backyard. . . in tents! it was a great evening!

a visit from the switch witch!

the kids found this note on the counter when they came home from school yesterday. . .

the switch witch is coming,
but don't be afraid!
she'll only take the candy
you wish to trade!

choose ten to twelve pieces,
all your favs please!
then leave her the bowl
and she'll leave you the treats!

she'll leave you a goodie
or maybe two or three
and take with her the candy
and the chance for cavities!

sure am hoping she comes every year! she took all our candy and left us with some movies and popcorn for movie night! i think the switch witch might be one of my favorite chicks! many thanks to the mom who shared the bailey family's name with the witch herself!

halloween 2011

okay, the kids looked pretty stinkin' cute this year . . . what a fun day it was! the kids could not wait to get home from school and put on the costumes! we had our usual scary dinner . . . mummy dogs, zombie brains, and witch fingers . . . and then it was off to get some candy! the kids were a big hit . . . they were pretty cute all walking together . . . and mck and ken each took a little one by the hand and took them up to the door when they were getting tired! b had the "trick or treat" thing down . . . anything for candy! they kids had a blast . . . and got way too much candy! we ate a few pieces and then called it a night . . . i think the switch witch may be coming . . . hahahaha!

bewitching the school

look out ford . . . the bailey witches are on their way! the girls looked great this morning as they headed off to school for the parade and their pumpkin day! gotta love that eyeshadow. omg. they looked so crazy cool! can't believe that the girls were so happy with costumes we bought on clearance last year . . . gotta love it!

twas the day before halloween

the kids got the halloween goodies this morning . . . instead of waiting for monday and school! they loved checking out their loot . . . and had fun playing until it was time to carve pumpkins! this year EVERYONE helped me scoop out the "junk" . . . well, b didn't really help, but touched it for a second . . . the girls actually got in there and helped! they each chose a design, and bailey carved or drilled! mck had "fairy lights" . . . marbles in the pumpkin, so bailey convinced kam that she should make a smiley face out of marbles (i think he realized drilling was easier than carving!). ken chose a very complicated skeleton face. . . so bailey sat for a good hour carving that! and b got potato head pirate pieces and made his a warty pirate! pumpkin prep was a success!