Aggie Football!!

College football started this weekend and the Jacobus family is super excited about that!! We live so close to Kyle Field now that during games we can hear the stadium announcer & the crowd roar. It's so cool! Today we had a tailgate party for the college ministry at Spence Park. I walked with the kids in the wagon to meet up with George. The kids did really well and had a good time seeing all the sights. Hallie HATED the Aggie Band & later on the Corps guys lining Houston St. (I must say, a part of me was slightly happy about that -- maybe she got more of my Burnt Orange blood than the other kids!). It was so funny but after the band marched through every guy Brooke saw in a Corps uniform she referred to as "bands"... "look Mommy, more bands!!" It was so funny (and she saw a ton of them!) Eventhough I'm a Longhorn through & through I love the atmosphere here on game day!

Hallie sitting on someone's hunting chair

Keeping cool with ice cubes (Thanks SEB!)

The family (too bad half my face is hidden by the shade from my hat!)

Brooke loved the Corps guys, Hudson was interested in the chips & Hallie wanted NO part of this shot!!

Lazy Days of Summer

Well it seems like nothing has been "blog-worthy" lately... so here are just a few pictures of the kids.

The Jacobus & Reed kids after one of our neighborhood walks.

We love our new neighborhood and like to take the kids for a walk (or ride). Sometimes we end up walking with our friends who live near by. One night we were out walking and could hear the Aggie Band practicing (not that this Longhorn gets much thrill from that!!). But it so neat to be so near campus and all the things that come with it!! I may be changing my tune once Football season starts!! (and the crowd that comes with it!).

Swimming in the front yard

George's grandmother sent Brooke a tea set for her birthday. Here are the girls having their first tea party.

Girls hanging out on the couch.

Sisters!

Well, obviously since we had two girls we do a lot of clothes sharing! I happened to find an old picture of Brooke wearing the same shirt Hallie is today and thought I'd post. They were both about the same age. Brooke was 18 months (almost 19) and Hallie is just over 17 months. They have similarities...but mostly just the eyes.

Hallie today (ignore the food on her face!)

Brooke February 2008

Brooke - Self Portraits

These just crack me up. Brooke loves taking pictures of herself with my small camera. I always find random shots when I upload to the computer. She used to cut half her head off and cover the lens with her finger but she's getting better. As you can see below...she's even learning to "pose". Oh she is just such a joy!!

Party, Party, Party

We rented this bounce house for the party because Brooke had been talking about bouncing for a while... it was a hit. The best part was that the man was supposed to pick it up at 2:30 and we had it until 7!! So, we got bonus time and had a "2nd" party with some of our neighbor friends.

Hallie & Momo

Hudson enjoying the blow-up pool

Hallie having fun with me in the bounce house

Mommy, Daddy & the birthday girl

The big 3 year old!!

This year I made the cake myself instead of buying it like normal. Even the frosting was homemade -- I think it turned out pretty well for my first one! I had a bigger "better" idea - but it just didn't work out this time. I may try it for Hudson & Hallie's 2nd birthday next February.

Some of the girls using sidewalk chalk

Hallie trying to sneak some more cake... it was so funny to watch her

Brooke putting on her bike helmet & knee pads

Trying out her new bike

About to make a basket in the new goal

Happy Birthday, Brooke!!

Can't believe she's three already!!! Brooke is such a sweet little girl. She's so smart and funny and TALKATIVE (when she's not being shy...). Right now I'm listening her "play" on the piano singing "Happy Birthday" to herself. She's a little mommy to Hudson & Hallie and often repeats things I tell them ... "Hudson, we don't do that buddy!", "You're right Hallie...that IS a duck". We sure do love her! I'll put pictures of her super fun birthday party up later -- so many pictures to sort through!!

Just hours old

Sweet One-Year old girl

2 years

3 year old little lady

House update #2 ... kitchen

I've finally gotten the kitchen in a "picture perfect" clean state. Some people have been asking what it looks like after the remodel - so here's your peek! I posted the before pictures so you could see what all we did and where we started!! All the stuff in the before pictures were the guy's things left for us the day our remodel began! We are really enjoying the end result. We still have some touch ups to do. The crown moulding is missing up top, some chair moulding, a few of the holes in the cabinets were drilled crooked so they have to fix that before our pulls can go in and we have to have the nail holes patched. But, all in all it is a significant improvement! We replaced all the original cabinet doors and added about 12' of new cabinets and doors (including the desk area). New countertops, new sink, faucet, light fixtures, backsplash, flooring, back door & pantry door and appliances -- it was an undertaking but we are so glad we did it!!! George just installed the ceiling fan in the kitchen today. I've never been a fan of those, but this is an old house with poor air circulation and it was getting really stuffy and warm in the kitchen/dining area so we decided it was a must have. We are considering putting a matching fan in the kitchen where the pendant light is now... what are your thoughts? Sometimes function overrides the aesthetics, right?

BEFORE

BEFORE - view from our new dining area

AFTER