Girls' Weekend

I am so excited about this weekend! Exactly one week from today, I will literally be flying through the treetops in the Texas Hill Country. But, I'll get to that in a minute...

My 2 sisters & I are meeting at my mom's house in Bastrop for a long-awaited girls' weekend. My sister, Jonetta, turned 40 this summer & for her gift, her husband gave her a plane ticket to Texas. (She lives in Atlanta.) So, we planned a fun weekend for all four of us girls!

On Friday, we'll be visiting Round Top, TX for their Antiques Fair. (Sure wish I had lots of money for this!) On Saturday, we're heading to Wimberley, TX for their Market Days. (Lots & lots of walking...) Then, on Sunday, we are driving over to Spicewood, TX to do some "flying"! I had seen an article in one of my Texas Highways magazines about this new recreational activity & knew instantly that this was something I wanted to try. It's called zip line canopy tours & basically, there are cables strung throughout the tops of trees that you hang from & "fly" from tree to tree. We have reservations at Cypress Valley Canopy Tours in Spicewood to experience this adventure. I can't wait! I know my mom & one of my sisters is very excited about this... I'm not so sure about my middle sister. She may decide to leave early on Sunday & skip this adventure altogether. But, I am pumped! I think it will be so fun & a wonderful memory. Hopefully, we'll get some good pictures to share when I return.

I'll let you know how it goes...

Here are some pictures of our girls' weekend last year:

Visiting a beautiful, historic home in Bastrop

Eating lunch at a tea room

Sunday morning church

Cars & Football

While walking into Wal-Mart the other night, this little remote control car zoomed in front of my feet. I looked up to notice the night security guard was the one controlling it. I guess he had to do something to keep him awake! Anyway, it got me to thinking about something that happened back in college when I was living at home with my parents...

There were a few "punk" boys that lived in our neighborhood. (Well, that's what I thought of them anyway.) One day, they were out driving a remote control car in the middle of the street. I was pulling out of my driveway & heading towards this group of boys & their little car. But, instead of controlling their car out of the street, they decided to push their luck with me. They kept swerving the little car in & out in front of my car. I had slowed way down to give them time to move it, but they continued to "tease" me. And, of course, they were all laughing, thinking it was so funny that they could swerve their car around my tires since I was basically crawling at this point. (I could have walked faster than I was driving!) After a few seconds of this immature behavior, I decided to step on my accelerator & let fate take over. And, yes, I crushed that little remote control car with my tires!! I remember looking in the rearview mirror at their horrified faces & laughing by myself in my car! They looked shocked! It was great! And, I didn't feel bad AT ALL about it... and I still don't!

Last night was Wylie's homecoming, so we decided to attend the Wylie vs. Berkner football game. It was a beautiful night for a game... not too hot, not too cold. However, Wylie got demolished! It was pathetic & embarrassing! At one point, the score was 50 to 14. We left at the beginning of the 4th quarter & as we were walking to our car, Wylie made another touchdown. So, I guess the score changed to 50 to 21. And, I saw in today's paper, that the final score ended up being 50 to 33. So, I guess they stepped it up there at the end... just not enough to make a difference. Those Berkner Rams were really great last night!

But, my very favorite part of last night was watching the homecoming court walk onto the field & listening to the announcer tell about each nominee. I heard phrases like "faithful Christian", "devout Christian", "active in his/her church youth group" and "member of -- church". I thought it was great that these young kids were not afraid to profess their faith in Christ in front of all their peers & thousands of others who attended the game. They just told their entire school & several members of their community what they believe, where their faith lies, who they worship & that they follow certain moral guidelines & standards. Others will now watch them to see what they do & how they handle certain situations. They will be held accountable for their actions because others now know that Jesus is their Savior. That's a big responsibility for these kids & I think they are wonderful for being so bold!

I'm Irritated!

It really irritates me when I think I am done with my shower, I turn off the water & step out into a fresh towel... only to then remember that I have forgotten to wash something on my body! Maybe I forgot to shampoo my hair or wash my face or elsewhere... So, I end up hanging up my now wet & slightly used towel, turning the shower water back on & stepping back into the shower stall. I am wet all over again & frustrated about the whole situation! That happened to me this morning. After shaving my legs, I thought I was done. So, I rinsed off completely, turned off the hot water, stepped out onto our new bath mat & enveloped myself in a clean, comfy towel. It's at that point that I realized I wasn't entirely washed! ARGHHHH!!! Back into the shower I go. Such a pain & highly irritating!

I'm stealing an idea from my friend, Rachel's, post about why people do stupid things. She talks about drivers who swerve over from an exit lane at the last minute, as if they hadn't realized before that point that their lane was going to exit! It got me to thinking about one of my driving pet peeves. It really bothers me when people change lanes & cross a solid line. It's like they just can't wait the few feet that the solid line will end. They HAVE to cross now or else!! It bugs the heck out of me! Especially when I'm obeying the law & I wait to exit or change lanes until the solid line ends. And, of course, by that time, 20 cars behind me have decided to cross over the solid line & exit way ahead of me. I hate that! Do they think this law doesn't apply to them? And, believe me, it is a valid law! I've taken defensive driving enough to know that!!

Banned Books & Pumpkin Seeds

I just got on the computer a little while ago & saw the following blurb on Yahoo! News:

"Hit List: The 25 Hottest Banned Books"

So, I clicked on the link, expecting to find a list of books that were foul or immoral or bordering on illegal. Instead, what I found was a list of books that are considered "classics". I have read or watched the movie versions of several of these so-called "banned" books and most of them were required reading during my school years! Since when did we start banning classic literature?? It seems so crazy!

The first book listed on this list is the Harry Potter series. I have read the first book in that series & have watched all of the movies. And, I can't wait to read them to my children someday! The fact that they banned this series, however, doesn't surprise me, since there was so much irrational controversy surrounding its release. But, the second book listed is To Kill a Mockingbird. Are you kidding me?!?! According to the article, To Kill a Mockingbird has "been denounced for so-called racial slurs and profanity, and banished from school library shelves". This was quite a shock to me! This book was required reading in my school & I LOVED it! After I read the book, my Dad & I rented the old movie and I loved it, too. (In fact, my Dad always wanted to call me "Scout", but I wasn't crazy about the nickname. He sure did try, though!)

Here is my list of books from the "banned books" list that I have either read or watched in a movie version:

* The Outsiders (watched in my senior English class)
* Lord of the Flies (required reading in school)
* Of Mice and Men (required reading in school)
* The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (required reading in school)
* The Adventures of Tom Sawyer (required reading in school)
* Carrie (watched the TV version at home)
* Flowers for Algernon (required reading at school)
* American Psycho (watched at home & can understand why it's banned... WEIRD!)

If they are banning these classics from our libraries, I wonder what books would be considered "classic literature" nowadays?

Last night, Sammy & I went to Wal-Mart for a late shopping trip. Mom & Dad were at home with the sleeping kiddos, so we had the opportunity to go shopping together... alone! I forgot how fun it was to browse the aisles without kids! And, browse we did! While getting some tortilla chips, I ran across a package of roasted pumpkin seeds. I love pumpkin seeds & was so excited! I'm sure these have always been out on the shelves, but I never had the chance to look so closely at all the varieties of nuts & seeds available. One of my favorite things about carving a pumpkin is digging all the seeds out & roasting them in the oven. I sprinkle a little garlic, a little salt & whatever else looks good at the time & roast 'em up. DELICIOUS!! I can't wait to do it again this year.

Here is a great recipe for roasting pumpkin seeds:

Toasted Pumpkin Seeds

So Long Nursery...

We've been a part of our church's nursery class for 4 1/2 years now. And, sadly, last night was the last time we'll ever have a child in the Richardson East nursery. Nicholas will turn 2 on Saturday, so he will move up to the 2-year-old class on Sunday morning. It's hard to grasp that I will not be having any more babies. And, even harder to grasp that my "baby" is now TWO!! How did that happen so fast?

So... so long nursery. You've been good to us & we'll definitely miss you!

Moving Music

I love to listen to music! Always have. Music can take me back to my junior high days, such as when I hear Vanilla Ice sing "Ice, Ice Baby".
Wow... does that bring back some awkward memories! And, anytime I hear a Selena song, I'm instantly back in Kingsville. I can vividly remember the moment one of my best friends in high school, Ruthie, ran into our homeroom class to tell me that Selena had been shot in Corpus Christi, just an hour away from where we stood. Ruthie was a big Tejano music fan and sang in a mariachi band in South Texas. (In fact, she surprised me by singing a few songs with the mariachi band that Sammy & I had at our wedding reception. She was great!) She had followed Selena's career and was truly saddened by her death. (So was my Dad, by the way.)
Selena had an awesome voice and was on her way to becoming quite a star. Her death was a senseless tragedy.

One of my newly discovered passions is downloading songs from iTunes. Sammy & I splurge on a $15 iTunes card from Target every once in a while & then we get to split that amount between us. We each get to download about 7 songs. It's so much fun!

Another new discovery of mine is The Zoe Group. I had heard of them several times before, but had never listened to any of their music. So, one day last spring, I decided to order an album off of their website. I LOVED it!! The music is awesome, the words are powerful & every song stirs my soul. After I ordered that first album, In Christ Alone, I promptly went online again & ordered 2 more CDs. I love all of them. There is not one dull song on there! However, between all 3 albums, there is one song that especially moves me. It's titled, "You Were There" on the In Christ Alone CD. I love, love, love that song! (Or, as my friend, Karen, would say, "I L-O-V-E, love that song!" When she really likes something, you know it because she spells out the word "love".) The lady who sings the solo part, Sheryl Thomas, has the most beautiful, angelic voice. It sounds so pure and truly pretty. The words are incredibly moving. I can't sing it's praises enough! (Ha... pun intended!) One thing I would recommend is visiting their website & clicking on the song for a sample. You will not be disappointed. Well, you'll be disappointed when the sample is over because it just gets better! Recently, this song has meant so much to me and has been some of my best worship experience lately. (However, that might be because I rarely am able to attend a full worship service, thanks to my very clingy & disruptive son! 2 year old Bible Hour... here we come!) Great, great song!! Get the CD... you'll L-O-V-E, love it, too!

Now, I think I'll go search on iTunes for some good Selena music & take a trip down memory lane...

September 11, 2001

After watching the film United 93 the other night, I decided to write my (late) entry about how I experienced 9/11. I've watched both the A&E movie, Flight 93, and now the version that came out in theaters a while back. I haven't seen World Trade Center with Nicolas Cage yet, but plan to someday. Both movies that I did see made me mad all over again about this senseless tragedy! Mad at men that believed they were following God's will by killing thousands of Americans. And, of course, it was terribly sad. As all senseless tragedies are...

On the morning of September 11th, I had been keeping a big secret from my co-workers. We found out we were pregnant sometime near the beginning of August. After our first doctor visit to confirm the pregnancy, we decided to wait to tell anyone until we told our parents first. And, I really wanted to tell my parents in person, which wouldn't be until Labor Day Weekend. So, that's what we did. When we went to Kingsville on that weekend, we told my family. After returning to Dallas, I waited a few days before informing my boss. When I finally did, he was very supportive and understanding. I had been feeling very nauseous those first few weeks, so he was sympathetic to my late arrivals and general slowness in the mornings. He told me he would leave it up to me to let our team know whenever I was ready. So, on the morning of September 11th, after another slow start, I decided I better let them in on the news before they wondered why I'm always dragging myself into work later than usual. I was driving from Richardson to Addison a little before 9 pm when I heard some initial reports on the radio about a plane hitting one of the World Trade Center towers. I immediately called Sammy (who was also still at home) & told him to watch the news. I told him I didn't know what was going on, but that they thought a plane had accidentally crashed into the tower. I didn't hear much more after that, until I got to work that day. I made it my first priority to sit down at my desk & send out a mass e-mail announcement to everyone in my group. And, that's exactly what I did. When I was done, someone told me to come with them to the screening room. Everyone was packed in the tiny theater watching the news unfold on the big screen. Apparently, another plane had hit the second tower on live television and we were starting to realize that this was an intentional attack. So, for a good portion of that morning, we stood in the screening room watching the news coverage of the attacks and quietly sobbing. Publicis had a major office in downtown New York and we knew several employees from there. Obviously, we were worried about their safety. So, after returning to our desks to check on some of our New York co-workers, some of my teammates finally saw the e-mail I had sent that morning. I got a few very monotone & robotic sounding "congratulations", since everyone was in a state of shock. It wasn't until several days later that people would actually be able to show a little more excitement & enthusiasm about my pregnancy. Of course, in hindsight, announcing my big news on that day wasn't a smart decision. It was a terrible, tragic day of mourning. However, I was stubborn & wanted to go ahead with my plan that I had already made.

So, when I remember 9/11/2001, I will always remember that was the day I stubbornly decided to make my big announcement about new life amidst so much death & destruction. I cringe when I realize how selfish that mush have seemed.

The 30s

Last October, Sammy turned the big 3-0! In December, a good friend of ours turned 30. In February, another good friend turned 30 one week before I turned 29. :) Then, again in July & August, two of my closest girlfriends entered their thirties. (August also brought two more milestone birthdays... first, my mom turned 60 & second, my oldest sister turned 40!) I just saw the date today after I posted my previous entry & realized that it's an ex-boyfriend's birthday. And, yep, he is 30 years old today. Exactly two months from today, one of my very best friends will celebrate the beginning of her thirties. And, then, four months after Sammy has rounded the corner into 31, I will be joining this massive group of thirty somethings. (Remember the TV show?)

For some odd reason, I still feel like I'm 21, hip & cool. (Well, actually, I was probably never very hip & cool, but I sure was 21 once!) I feel like I could walk onto a college campus today & fit right in. I know that is absolutely not the case, but I still feel that way. And, even though I'm completely delusional, I really hope that I feel this way for a long, long time!

The Diaper Rash from Hell

My heart is breaking right now as I sit & listen to my sweet little boy screaming at the top of his lungs "Owwwww!" while his Daddy is changing another horrendous diaper. As I mentioned in my previous post, Nicholas has had diarrhea for about a week now. We have no idea what is causing it. Could be a virus, he could be cutting his 2-year molars... it's anybody's guess. But, it is terrible & is doing terrible things to his sensitive little skin! Last night, I picked up some Boudreaux's Butt Paste at the store. (We usually use Dr. Smith's diaper ointment, which is wonderful & works great, but they didn't have any at the Albertson's near us.) So, I've used Boudreaux's once before & have heard from others that it's great. His rash seems to have gotten slightly better, but not near as healed as I would have liked to see. So, in the meantime, with every dirty diaper, we either stick him in a warm bathtub or listen to him yelling at us that his "tee-tee hurts" while we gently try to wipe it clean. It's an awful feeling, knowing that you are hurting your child. I'd rather leave that to the doctors and nurses and other trained professionals. I want to be the one that gets to hold him & tell him that everything is okay & Mommy is here & that I love him. Instead, I have to use all my strength to hold down his legs & pin down his arms while reassuring him that we will be as quick as possible. I tell him over & over how sorry I am that he is hurting. And, I have to turn away when my eyes start filling with tears, because I feel the need to be strong for his sake.

And then I think... all of this over a simple, non life threatening diaper rash. Parents go through this on a daily basis with their children. They administer all sorts of procedures in order to keep their children healthy & strong. Procedures much worse than having to clean & doctor a raw bottom. My heart goes out to these parents. I would do absolutely anything for the sake of my children, but I am so thankful that my toughest battle right now is a severe diaper rash. I know I will win that battle & it will be over soon!

Potty Talk

WARNING: This post contains potty talk! You've been warned...

Let me preface this story by explaining that Nicholas has had diarrhea for the past 2 days now. Therefore, he's been around a lot of poop lately. And, he's heard me talk a lot about poop lately:
"I wish you would poop in the potty!"
"Did you poop again?!"
"Is that poop leaking out of your diaper?"
"THAT'S DISGUSTING!!"

So, I guess it shouldn't have come as a surprise when I gave him a glob of brownie after dinner this evening, he looked at it & said, "Ewwww... yucky poop!"

Two Months

After posting the previous entry, I just realized that my last post was exactly 2 months ago... to the day! Weird...

Home

Well, we have managed to make this new house our home. The kids are adjusting well to their rooms and Sammy & I are enjoying our room way far away from the kids! Well, actually, there hasn't been a single night yet that one or more of the kids haven't ended up in our bed. But, I promise, as soon as I muster up the strength to walk upstairs in the middle of the night, that will come to an end! In the meantime, it's fun to snuggle in the morning with whoever happened to climb in our bed while we were sleeping.

The weather today has been so wonderful! I LOVE these cool, sunny days! We walked down to a nearby park this morning (which wasn't as nearby as I had originally thought) and played for quite a while. And, I don't think the kids even broke a sweat, which is quite amazing for September in Texas! I sure wish it would stay this way through the fall.

So far, we've had no luck on potty trainig Nick! I don't know what I was thinking. I can't make any of my kids do what I want them to do... no matter how much I beg, bribe or cry! It seems true what they say: "They'll do it when they're ready." What about when I'm ready?!?! (And, who are "they" anyway?)

My "baby" will be two years old on the 23rd! And, he is my last, so this is a bit sad. He's growing up so fast & is such a big boy. He imitates everything his older brother does, which makes it even harder for me to accept because instead of watching Blue's Clues or Sesame Street, he watches Star Wars & Batman. And, not only does he watch them, but he acts it out. His favorite character is Darth Vader, instead of Elmo. He sword fights with his pretend light saber and makes fighting noises while doing it. He's a typical boy... growing up way too fast for me! I sure do miss those infant years!

Hopefully, I'll be blogging a little more continuously now that we have our Internet back up & running. (What did I do before the Internet?)

Time to go catch up on my blog reading...

Caillou

There are several children's shows/cartoons that I don't mind watching with the kids, but there is one in particular that I CANNOT stand... Caillou! I avoid turning on this cartoon as much as possible, but every now & then, my sneaky kids start channel surfing & happen across this whiny little Canadian boy. And, I think that is the one & only thing I hate about this cartoon... he whines ALL the time!! He whines about his sister, when he wants something, when he's upset... ALL the time! I get enough whining at home with my own kids. Why do I want to hear more whining for another 30 minutes from a cartoon kid on TV? It just absolutely drives me crazy when I hear his voice! It's like nails across a chalkboard for me! I CAN'T STAND THE WHINING!! I'll take Barney any day over Caillou!

Why??

Why does it have to be God's will instead of my will? Why can't God's will always be what I want? Sometimes, praying for His will to be done is the toughest thing for me to ask...

Did God make Aliens?

Today, the twins & I were discussing how God creates babies inside their mommy's tummies. We talked about how He created both of them in my stomach at the same time. Then, we talked about how He created Nicholas 2 years later. We talked in length about God's different creations, then Samuel surprised me when he asked, "Did God make aliens?"

"No" was not an acceptable answer for him. He actually got upset when I explained that aliens were just pretend creatures, like monsters and ghosts. Maybe he knows something I don't...

Done with Diapers!

That's it! I am done getting kicked in the shins by a wiggly kid who hates to have his diaper changed! Potty training starts today!!

After I changed Nick's dirty diaper this morning, I about lost it. I practically have to sit on his legs with my knees in order to avoid being kicked repeatedly. All the while, he is yelling at me "no... no". And, when I have to clean those extra sensitive areas that little boys have, he says, "ouch... ouch!" It has become such a battle between the two of us & I am done with it! So, every 15 minutes, he & I make a trip to the potty & pray for success. We turn on the faucet in the hopes that the noise of running water will contribute to this success. And, we sit & wait & wait & wait... He has been successful once today & such a big deal was made of it. However, his diaper has been clean & dry in between. Always a good sign! He is now napping, so we'll see what the afternoon brings...

Wish us luck!

Swimming & Watching Fireworks

In addition to enjoying our neighborhood's 4th of July parade, we also spent most of the day swimming and relaxing with our friends. Kelli's parents live in this great big house with a swimming pool, a hot tub & a theater upstairs. We swam until we were all shriveled & wrinkly... we ate until we were stuffed... and we watched Firewall in the theater, while all the kids watched The Little Rascals downstairs. Then, we all headed to the new Firewheel Mall to enjoy the fireworks show. It was so much fun!

(It was much more enjoyable due to the fact that Teresa literally saved Nick's life! I'm forever grateful, but still can't talk about it. Maybe later...)

Samuel is swimming like a pro:






Sydney is content to hang on to the side of the pool:


All the kids (minus Jackson) are waiting for the fireworks to start:

Unsolicited Advice is Unwelcome!

I get so irritated & angry when strangers offer unsolicited advice about how to raise my children!!! My blood starts boiling & I'm almost certain you can see steam spewing out my ears. This instance was no different...

We took the kids swimming last night after dinner to their Uncle Jake's pool at his apartment complex. We've been several times before, both during the day & in the evening. After about an hour or more of swimming in the pool, we decided to relax and chill out in the hot tub. The kids LOVE the hot tub and have been in this one several times before. In fact, they spent a lot of July 4th sitting in a hot tub at a friend's home. So, hot tubs are really nothing new to us or them. As we get out of the pool & start walking towards the hot tub, a couple (probably in their 40s or 50s & without kids) opens the gate surrounding the pool area & starts heading towards the hot tub as well. Usually, the hot tub is such a small area, that this would be uncomfortable, but this particular one is especially big, so it doesn't bother me one bit. So, after they get in, Jake, Sammy & I get in each holding a kid in our arms. We situate ourselves on the opposite side, which is a good distance away from this couple. After we all get in & are enjoying ourselves, this man tells me from across the way that it's not safe for them to be in here. He says it's "too hot". I politely smiled & just said that they seemed to enjoy it & returned my attention to my family. Meanwhile, this couple lit up their cigarettes & sat on the opposite side talking. After a bit of time soaking, I got out to check Nick's swim diaper. He was clean, so I climbed back in the hot tub with him in my arms. As I was walking over to where Jake & Sammy sat with the twins, this man asked me, "How old is he?" (Pointing to Nick.) I said that he was almost 2. He pointed to the hot tub rules & guidelines posted on a sign behind him & told me, "It says here that the hot tub is not recommended for kids his age. It's too dangerous." He proceeded to tell me that the chlorine levels they put in hot tub water are not safe for babies' skin. It's too harsh... dries out their delicate skin... blah... blah... blah! I replied that he has been in a hot tub several times before, thanks for your concern. And, then he said, "Well, I've never seen you here before." WHAT?!?! Is he the hot tub police? I looked at him & said, "We usually come during the day." Then, I was so mad at myself for saying that because it felt like I was trying to justify my decision to him! It's none of his $#@* business! At that point, Sammy looked at me & said, "I'm ready to get out." So, we all did, which is what I'm sure this guy wanted all along. And, then, of course, after fuming for a bit, I came up with all these great "comebacks" to his unsolicited advice:
* "Well, second-hand smoke is far worse for my child than the chlorine in this hot tub, but I'm not asking you to stop smoking, am I?"
* "Just thought you should know that cigarette smoke can cause cancer and numerous other health problems."
* "It's funny that I've raised 2 other children to the age of 4 so far without your help."

There were lots more in my head. I finally had to stop & pray. And, I'm still praying about it...

Celebrating the 4th

We celebrated July 4th by enjoying our neighborhood's first annual parade and picnic. We all had a great time, the kids loved the parade (especially the fire truck!) and we all met new neighbors. It was so much fun and what I have always wanted out of a neighborhood. I sure hope we can find that when we move into our new house.

Sydney & Samuel smiling big:

Patiently waiting for the parade to reach us:
First Annual Northrich 4th of July Parade

Dallas Zoo

Texas Instruments hosts free weekends at the Dallas Zoo about a couple of times a year, which seems to be the only time we make it out there. So, we went last Sunday afternoon while it was HOT, HOT, HOT! Thankfully, they have a children's water play area where the kids spent most of their time. It was a fun family day!

Samuel the Shark

Anytime I tell Samuel he is swimming like a fish, he corrects me... "No, I'm swimming like a shark!" He LOVES sharks lately, so he is thrilled to finally be swimming like one. Well, he's almost there. He prefers to swim underwater, rather than lift his head out of the water, so we've still got some work to do. And, even though he does great in the shallow water, where he is more confident, he feels insecure in the deep end of the pool. But, I am sure he'll be swimming "like a shark" by the end of this summer!

Today, I finally bought him some good swim goggles instead of the cheap ones he had been wearing. The new Speedo goggles actually keep the water out of his eyes, which is good since he enjoys swimming under the water entirely. We didn't have these goggles when we went to the pool yesterday & his poor little eyes were so red & irritated for the rest of the night. It hurt me to look at him. So, he was excited to wear them at the pool today. They did the trick!

I've always loved swimming & have been anxiously awaiting the day one of my kids can swim with me. So, I will be thrilled when Samuel & I can finally race each other up & down the pool!

Daddy's Little Boy

Nicholas has become a HUGE Daddy's boy lately! It's crazy, because I feel like I'm the one who is home all day with him, who caters to his every need, who cuddles with him, who comforts him, who plays with him, who reads to him all day long and yet the minute he sees his Daddy, I am but a distant memory!! (Just so it doesn't sound like I'm dissing Sammy, he does do all of the above mentioned also.) For instance, on Friday, Sammy got up early with Nicholas and spent some time with him before he had to leave for work. So, when he walked out the front door, you would have thought Nicholas was in immense pain by the sound of his crying. It was pathetic! I felt so sorry for him because he wanted his Daddy so bad. He kept crying "Daddy, Daddy..." Then, he would ask, "Where Daddy go?" (He asks this about everything! "Where bunny go?" "Where Sydney go?") So, I explained that Daddy had to go to work. Later that afternoon, we were swimming at a friend's pool & Nicholas was getting a little tired. He started fussing a bit and crying again for his Daddy. When my friend, Kelli, asked him why he was sad, he said, "Daddy go work. I wanna go Daddy work." My heart broke! He said that same phrase several times, "I wanna go Daddy work." Poor little guy. He adores his Daddy!

Tying a Shoelace

Okay, I thought potty training would be the hardest thing I'd have to teach my kids... until I tried teaching Samuel how to tie a shoe!! This is not as easy as I had hoped it would be. Are there any tricks or good ideas on how to master this skill? Mom, when did I learn how to tie my shoes?

Home Depot NASCAR

I think Sammy is brainwashing our kids to love NASCAR as much as he does! When he found out the Home Depot car was going to make an appearance at our local store, he made sure he had an excuse to be there! How many times have I used my kids as an excuse to be (or not be) somewhere?!? More than I can count, I'm sure!

Feeding the Turkeys

Mimi & Papa have flocks (is that what a group of turkeys is called?) of wild turkeys that visit their backyard several times a day. Mimi is very protective of her turkeys and throws food out for them daily. Sydney & Samuel love doing this when they go visit. They follow Papa around, throw out corn for the turkeys and attempt at making turkey calls while doing it! It is so funny to watch! Apparently, Nick has joined in on the fun now...

Bastrop Park

Feeding the ducks at the park:
Mimi says this is how hot it was... even the squirrel was pooped!

Capital of TX Zoo

The kids visited the Capital of TX Zoo while staying in Bastrop. Here are some cute pictures from their day.

On our way in our new monkey caps:
What are these strange creatures?
Funny looking llamas:
A PIG... kinda looks like our brother, Nick!

Mowing with Papa

The kids really enjoyed "helping" Papa mow the lawn!

Hanging out at Mimi & Papa's

Nick & Gigi watching TV together:

Snuggling on the sofa in our new Mexico blankets from Gigi:

Fun in Bastrop

The kids had a great time at Mimi & Papa's house in Bastrop. They went swimming, they went to the zoo and to the park, they "helped" Papa mow the lawn, they fed the wild turkeys and enjoyed spending time out in the country. They were anxious to get home, but once back in their bedroom, they wanted to go back to Mimi & Papa's home! Go figure! Here are some of my favorite pictures from the week...

Nicholas wanted to wear big brother's swim goggles:

I LOVE this picture of Sydney hugging Nick on their picnic:

My Incredible Hulk:

Rosy Centerpiece

As someone who has a very hard time keeping plants & flowers alive, I am VERY proud when I have something to show for my efforts. This is definitely worth showing...

I'm hoping they will help sell my house! Wishful thinking...

June 15!!

I cannot believe it is already June 15! This month is half over!

First of all, thank you, Rachel, for your reassuring comment on my last post. Although it was pretty traumatic at the time, Sydney will now proudly tell you all about her allergy test. The doctor tested her for the 8 main food allergens and included a separate test for egg whites and egg yolks. The scale runs from 0 to 4, with 0 being no allergen present and 4 being a severe allergy present. Sydney tested negative on all main food allergens, but scored a 2 reaction to egg whites and a 3 reaction to egg yolks. So, although it's not severe, she definitely does have an allergy to eggs. And, thankfully, it only seems to be direct contact with eggs... scrambled, fried, etc. She can eat foods that have eggs baked in, such as cakes, cookies, breads, etc. Apparently, the property of the egg changes when it's cooked in a product. Good to know! So, we will go back in 6 months to re-evaluate the severity of this food allergy. (I'm going to make her Daddy take her next time. That was torture hearing my little girl cry for a good 15 minutes & not being able to hold or comfort her.) Hopefully, it will go away with time.

Well, today was the big day... our house was listed on the market! WHEW! After about 2 solid weeks of hard work, sweat & several curse words, I'm sure, we have finished all the necessary repairs to make our old 1962 home shine! Sammy & his friends installed wood laminate flooring in our bedroom & the hallway. We had the carpet & tile professionally cleaned. We repainted our bedroom, three living room walls & the entire ceiling running through our kitchen and both living room areas. Sammy repainted the exterior trim. A good friend of mine sealed & painted over nail holes in the walls. And, we have cleaned this place like it has never been cleaned before! I think it looks great & I really hope we get some interested buyers SOON! Because, it is HARD keeping it neat & clean with 3 small children. This is definitely not going to be fun... but, I sure hope it will be worth it in the long run. Here are some pictures:



The kiddos spent a week at Mimi & Papa's house while Sammy & I were working on our home. I've got some cute pictures to share that I'll post in a later entry.

Enjoy your June 15th!