A little of this, a little of that

We did a little of everything last weekend.  Braved the outlet mall with Grandma  Chris and Aunt Leslie.  The kids got shoes and Reese entertained herself on the ride home.
Went to Austin’s baseball game and end of season party that night, which I will post more of later.  All the kids had fun, but it was hilarious to watch Reese and Rhett eat everything they could get their hands on.  Reese was enthralled with the fruit chews.
Used our Sea World passes for the first time on Sunday morning.  The kids had a blast and I see many more trips in our future-Reese was worn out.

Broke out the sprinklers and pool that afternoon.  It was Reese’s first time, and like Ella she had no fear and loved it.  Poor baby got my belly button, just like Ella, that sticks way out.

I love how Austin and Ella have the same stance.       Basketball and popsicles, good times. 

A before work shot so we had a picture to bring to school.

First Grade – Here we come!

  Hard to believe, but summer is upon us and Austin had his Kinder End of Year celebration yesterday.

For the most part, it was a fairly calm year with lots of learning and fun.  

Austin has grown a lot in the last 9 months-of course with things like his improving ability to read, love of math (ok, maybe not love, but it is one of his stronger skills), but most notably, his love of sports.

In the early spring, Jeff took Austin and Drew to a Texas Longhorn basketball game in Austin.  Ever since then, the boy has become obsessed with sports.  He was so desperate the other day, he was watching college baseball on TV and I will often find him in the morning watching Sports Center.  My 6 year old…watching Sports Center??  Amazingly, this isn’t even really from any pushing by Jeff, just an innate passion that he seems to have. 

Anyone who know me, knows I am not a big sports fan, but it is sweet to see Austin and Jeff bond, and pretty impressive to have this little boy tell me which plays are what and who the best players are:)

Hard sometimes to get a 6 year old boy to smile for all the pictures I make him take.

Good job Austin, we are so proud of you and love you so much!!

Red and We get a night out!

Summer is upon us, and in June we will slow down quite a bit.  Austin is so excited, every day I pick him up from school he tells me how many days he has left.  We plan to celebrate the end of his first year of school with his first sleep over. 
In the meantime, we fill our weekends with baseball, birthday parties, and family.  This past weekend was a little different because Jeff and I got to escape for the night.  For my birthday (Yes, back in January) my parents gave me the gift of sending Jeff and I away for a night and watching the kids.  It took four months, but we finally took advantage. 
Austin had a 9am baseball game, that he did amazing at!  They are starting to not just hit the ball, but make plays, get outs—I love it! I love the look on his face when he is proud of the play he just made, and watching him give Jeff a high five.
Halfway through the game I left and took Ella to her two close friends birthday party – Ella Perkins and Addie Brown.  Ella adores these girls, they and Jack Putnicki are who I hear about everyday.  It was nice to get some one-on-one time with her.  What I found hilarious, was that every ride she rode—had to be red.  There was a red helicopter, red boat, red airplane, red ring-pop.
 
Addie, Ella P., Ella, and JackAfter the party, we headed home, left the kids with my parents and Jeff and I escaped.  We ate, we drank, we shopped, we relaxed by the pool, we ate more, we listened to a band, and we slept late Sunday morning (that might have been our favorite part)  Most importantly, we came back feeling refreshed, reminded of how much we love our three monkeys and each other.

My poor parents were EXHAUSTED.  My mom said “I will be helping out more, I feel bad for you!”  My dad said he woke up Sunday morning to find all three kids at the bottom of the stairs,
I wasn’t expecting that!” Not sure how, but Austin got Reese out of her crib and all three of them made it down the stairs.  Addie’s mom told me that at the girls 2nd party of the day, they hid under a tiny corner and were nowhere to be found for 5 minutes, scaring my mom and Megan.  My mom left that part out from me, since there wasn’t much time for words as they were running out the door as soon as we were home:)
They had a great time, and so did the kids!
Thank you Mimi and Papa, we love you!!!

Everything is new

Before heading to my parents on Mother’s day we were relaxing at home, which usually includes playing in the backyard. 
While Ella was perfecting her basketball game, Reese was discovering shadows.

This last one is my favorite for two reasons – first, I love that at this age this position is actually comfortable for them.  Second, if you look closely, and it is probably just my mother’s eye, but I can see her belly and  belly button sticking out under her dress.  I love how at this age, she hasn’t yet lost her baby fat and still has a nice round belly to smother with kisses.

Mother’s Day 2011

It was not picture perfect, but it was wonderful.  We started the weekend with dinner at Beto’s with friends.  The service was awful, but the weather, company and food was great. 
Jeff was a crowd favorite as the bubble man.

Poor Austin started complaining of a stomach ache, which unfortunately turned into the stomach bug that Jeff and Ella had earlier in the week.  Reese woke up Saturday morning with an odd fever, and she and Austin proceeded to be puny for the day.  We missed baseball and just hung out at the house. 
Sleeping has become an irregularity in our house lately.  Ella, who used to be an amazing sleeper, we always had to wake her up, is now waking everyone up---all night long.  On this day, Reese had taken a short nap, and wasn’t feeling well.  It was only 6:30pm, right after bath.  Ella tells Reese “come lay down, I am going to put you to night-night.”  As you can see, Reese obeyed, and fell asleep within seconds on our bedroom floor.  I guess she is conditioned from how they go to sleep for nap time at school.
We were trying to reward, ok—bribe, Ella with better sleeping with her very first night gown.  It didn’t work, but she loved it and looked pretty cute.
Austin and Reese were still sick on Sunday, so we didn’t make it to church, but we did go to Grandma Chris’ for lunch and my parents for dinner.  What struck me that night, was how amazing my own dad and my husband are.  Growing up, my dad was a great role model for what a good husband and father is.  Luckily, I found someone who completely fills this role.  My dad made a full meal for my mom and the rest of us, and got flowers for she and I.  Jeff did the same for his mom and myself, and step-mom.  So, although it was Mother’s Day, my thoughts were focused more on the dads. 
Because, the thing is---this mom job is hard!  And the only way I am able to do it with any success is because of my village helping me, including the amazing husband and father I have with me. 
Hard, as you can see, because I look very tired in this picture.  Tired, but happy to the bone!

Thank you mom (a.k.a. Mimi), for giving me such support and unconditional love!

Jeff turns 34!

On May 4, my wonderful husband turned 34 years old.  I have realized we have now approached the age where we ourselves actually forget how old we are.  I am 32, Ohhh, nope, I did turn 33 already. Are we both 34, nope, I am still 33, that is just Jeff.  Scares me a little, because if we can’t remember how old we are at this age, what is going to happen to us in 30 or 40 years.  As long as we are healthy and have our family, I am guessing that it won’t really matter.

We celebrated the occasion with friends, family, and just the 5 of us on the actual day.  One of our friends, Kathryn has a birthday a few days before so 5 couples left the kids at home and headed out to Trattoria Lisina in Driftwood, Texas—almost to Austin.  Reese stayed with Grandma, but Austin and Ella joined 7 other kids with a babysitter at the Sharpstenes, who is also a teacher at their school.  Austin asked “just one person is going to watch ALL of us?  Wow, that is crazy!”  I laughed, and confidently headed out the door.  She did fine and so did all the kids.  The food and company were just what we needed.

 Birthday group – with birthday girl Kathryn across from me. 

The next day, we celebrated with the family at Jeff’s mom’s house.  Swimming, cake, and food—how we celebrate everything in the summertime.

 

Reese discovered a new ride.

  

Buffalo wings and a cupcake capped off the celebrations on Wednesday.  I intended to make a birthday cake with the kids, but when we went to make it I realized we had no eggs.  This is pretty par for the course these days, but plan B was buying a few birthday cupcakes.  The love and intention was still there:)

17 years older from when we met, but even more handsome.  Happy Birthday Baby!

Just for fun, a peek back when what age we were was very important! We were going to my prom, I was 18 and Jeff was 19 years old.

The backyard

   We have been spending a ton of time in the backyard, especially since Austin got an awesome basket ball hoop for his birthday.  It isn’t too hot yet, so we are enjoying it.

Austin will play basketball.

Ella will push Reese on the swing, while I sing songs to them.  Reese’s favorites are Itsy Bitsy Spider, Wheels on the bus, Twinkle Twinkle, ABCs, and Jesus Loves Me.  (She will do the hand movements to the song while I sing, and then sign please when the song is over, requesting more)

We might even have an ice cream push-up, which of course they all love.

Easter Weekend 2011

There was no baseball game this weekend for Easter, but it was still a busy one.

Austin and Jeff went to an Easter egg hunt on Sat morning in Deerfield with friends.  Which by the way, are amazing.  I may have commented this in here before, but when we moved back from California and I had hopes of finding friends and a community that we would feel a part of.  It took us a few years, but once we moved the kids to Concordia we seemed to have found it. 

Friends, who care about your own kids, enough to remind them when they might not be making a good choice, but will take them to the grocery store with their own daughter, let them wear their dress-up heels, and eat donuts while they shop…just because it will make them happy:)  We are very lucky!!!

One of these other friends, is the Perkins family and kids.  Ella Perkins is in class with my Ella and Easton is in class with Reesie.  Easton turned 1 and had a fabulous party at the park.  Jeff was even able to join us for part of it, while Austin went to a 2nd Easter egg hunt with his friends. (Thanks Megan for the pics!)

  

After the party we headed home, Jeff and Reese stayed at the house, while Ella and I went to meet up with Austin and friends to see Ella’s first movie – Rio.  Her first response was “it is too loud, I want to go home.”  She actually sat in my lap for most of the movie, and 4 potty breaks later we were done. 

We headed to church the next morning for Easter service and then headed to Grandma Chris’ to play with family. (Not quite picture-perfect, but still cute to me) 

Austin being silly.

 

I love the feeling of being with family, and Easter will always hold an extra special place in my heart, since Ella was born on Easter in 2008. 

I was off to Phoenix for work the next day, and Jeff braved the kids by himself for the week.  He did an AMAZING job, I am a lucky lady:)