Circus 2011

Adam and I went to see Barnum & Bailey in Raleigh when I was pregnant with Charlotte and the whole time I was thinking about how fun it was going to be to take her someday. Someday finally came this July when the circus hit Houston. And our little Bitsy was every bit as enthusiastic about it as we hoped she would be.

In the car about to head downtown. Does she look excited or what?

Anxiously awaiting for things to begin.

Of course, we sprung for the $15 glowing necklace. (And the bonus credit card identity theft that came along with that transaction at the circus. But that's another story.)

Some of our best friends, the Stewarts, came to enjoy the show with us. Little Jake got his nose painted like a clown.

Some of our favorite parts: The singing ringmaster ...

The massive, beautiful elephants ...

The tigers

The motorcycle posse who rode around in the cage-fighting ball ...

and the Chinese dudes who did tricks on multiple trampolines.

Yep, I'm already excited for when the circus comes around again next summer.

More July

Between circuses and weddings (is there a difference, really?), we managed to squeeze in some home time this past month. I've collected some of the best pics of my cute kids in their natural habitat here.

Famous post-nap hair

My boys

Yep, she is still sleeping with her binkie. But doesn't she look peaceful?

Just got up

Look what we found in one of the trees in our front yard!

Ready for church

With Grammy on a trip to the museum

I always get great pictures when I wear this shirt. I should buy five of these and wear them every day. (Thanks, Boden!)

Maxim #1 concerning the photographing of kids: When one looks, the other one looks away.

While Grammy was here, we made our second trip out to the Blue Bell Ice Cream factory in Brenham, Texas.

Charlotte was ecstatic. She insisted on wearing her hat the entire time.

Grey's favorite part: eating ice cream at the end.

"Little Mommy" likes to take care of her baby

Making bread with Mom

And last but not least ... someone started standing up all the time.

Hope your July was as fun as ours!

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall

... Who's the cutest one of all?

Come on! Do you really have to ask?

(Bubba, you are so precious sometimes I wish there were two of you!)

Aunt Ashley's Wedding

Just in case your wondering, this little flower girl outshone everyone at the wedding, even the bride. (Okay, so I'm totally biased.)

Getting ready with the big girls

Doing her job with serious intent

While several of my cousins and I were taking this cute picture ...

Charlotte was entertaining herself by "refilling" her flower girl basket by ripping petals off the beautiful roses in the garden ...

and then throwing them in the fountain. (My apologies to Thanksgiving Pointe.)

Bridezilla

My sister Ashley looked so beautiful on her wedding day that it almost hurt your eyes to look at her. That's why it's so awesome that Bridezilla emerged earlier in the day to keep it real.

Bridezilla's court

Wedding Rehearsal

My sister Ashley's wedding was held in the gardens at Thanksgiving Point in Utah. The roses were in full bloom and we took advantage of the beautiful setting during the wedding rehearsal to take a few pictures. (I felt a little sentimental about this particular spot since Adam and I had several of our wedding photos taken here. How fun to return with our beautiful daughter!)

Aunt Lolly and her Cha-Cha

The radiant bride, Aunt Ashley, and her flower girl

Adam and I at the rehearsal dinner