Ready For Battle

By | Posted July 15, 2011

Posted in Baby Hulk, Boys, Family Life, Goose, pictures, Squirt | 1 Comment »

Watching your kids play together is a dream for any parent, I’m sure.  What I have loved watching is the creativity.

What I found upon walking into the room.

I admit that for half a second my first thought was “who is going to clean up this mess.”  Thankfully, I kept my mouth shut and just ran for the camera.

And they're ready!

The best part of this was that the three older boys made this.  When Goose and the Baby Hulk were concerned about the size of the fighters, Squirt came through with his trusty Bionicles.  He’s been saving them for the boys.

 

Comment on Ready For Battle »

Catching Up

By | Posted July 14, 2011

Posted in Random | 1 Comment »
  • I got a huge does of humility last weekend.  Not going to divulge details, but it was a big eye opener for me.  I learned something about myself in the process.  I always knew I had a problem with humility, I just didn’t realize how big.  Now to apply the lesson.
  • Why didn’t anyone tell me about Pinterest???  I might become addicted.  I am telling myself that this is just a way to clean up my bookmarks?  Does this sound right?
  • I have pretty amazing parents.
  • I love educational toys.  LOVE THEM.  So much so that I want a GC to Lakeshore Learning or the Homeschool Store for my birthday.  Despite the fact that $300 was spent at Lakeshore last week.  And then there were those educational toys I had to buy the other day.  But we’re not talking about that purchase.  But really, how selfless of me to want educational toys for MY birthday.
  • Because let’s be clear.  At a week away from 41, I am all about my birthday.  Other than the educational toys, I have two birthday wishes, and I have ordered them for myself already.  I’m smart like that.
  • Harry Potter, here we come!  I am taking Squirt to HP tonight.  Despite the fact that I am dead tired, don’t feel good and just want to sleep.  But this is it for HP and how cool to see the first show with the person who has seen all the HP movies with me through the years.  Did I tell you I have to be there an hour early???
  • Did I tell you I’d be getting coffee in about two hours?  A large coffee.
  • Squirt won’t need one because he’s sleeping right now.
  • I am missing some long distance friends fiercely right now.  My cold self is on the verge of tears if I don’t get to speak to them soon.
  • We did the couples meet up last night.  You know the one, wives get along then we plan something with the husbands.  It worked out on our end, let’s hope for the same on the other!
  • No David went from being on the top of the list to being auctioned off on Twitter.  We’re keeping him for now, but a deal could be negotiated.

Comment on Catching Up »

Three Years Old

By | Posted July 12, 2011

Posted in birthday, Kobra, pictures | 7 Comments »

New haircut, new shoes, new year.  Kid, you are ready to go.  And for the first time in a long time, I can say I’m not freaking out.  Don’t feel bad.  It doesn’t mean I don’t love or care about you as much, it’s just that you have taken to this stage so well.  And by well, I mean you could be the cutest, funniest toddler we’ve ever had.

You are ALL BOY.  I say this a lot about you because it is evident in all you do: from playing cars, to running around nonstop, to taking toys away from your brothers and running with them. You love playing with cars, it doesn’t matter the size: matchbox cars, big monster trucks, tractors, race cars.  And to watch you is so special to me.  But the best is when you ask me to sit and play cars with you.

No David, you are just too cool.  That may sound lame to you, but I mean it as a compliment.

Just a week ago, we visited Austin and everyone told me how grandpa talks about you nonstop.  Let’s be clear, he loves all of you, but right now, you are so damn cute and are the apple of his eye.  Today at lunch, a lunch in which one of your daddy’s listeners brought you cupcakes(!), one of the guys said you were his favorite.  Of course, those weren’t your only cupcakes today.  You had another surprise from a friend.  When you were upset and didn’t want to go to the gym, people offered to watch you.  They love you because you bring such joy to all of us.

Little boy, I hope you always have that twinkle in your eye.  I never tire of seeing it, and I promise nobody else will.  People can tell just by looking at you how much you enjoy life.  Oh my son, I want your life to be full of love, laughter and adventure.  I want to protect you from anything that will make you sad.  I know I can’t, but I will do all I can to keep you happy.

To be sure, you have our temper.  It seems to run in the family.  You’re loud and have stamina for tantrums like no other.  The ability to talk clearly has allowed you to tell us when we make you mad.  Like when you told me not to yell at your brother.  Or when you fussed at Mimi.  Or your dad.  You definitely have opinions about how you and your brothers are treated.

Tonight you wanted one kind of cupcake: Star Wars.  You’ve never seen the movies, but have two t-shirts. That’s all you want to wear.  And when they are dirty, well, I get the feeling that you are thinking “damn it lady, wtf? get my shirt!”  Today, I asked what you wanted to wear and you were so specific: blue Star Wars.  (Even though you decided to open only one gift, you do have two new ones waiting for you.)  Lance found the Imperial March and you stomped around the house listening to it.  Oh how I wish everyone could have seen you.  I smile just thinking of you stomping.

And then there is food.  I would be leaving something out if I didn’t talk about your love for food.  It’s kind of become a joke to people, your father and our friends call you Snax.  I admit I’ve caught you eating food from the floor.  Not my proudest moment.  But you do eat salad and broccoli and things I would never eat at your age.

I have had such fun with you this year.  When I get the mixer out, you drag a chair over to help me make cookies.  You love hearing stories now and bring book after book to the couch.  You like the bit of “school” you do while BH is learning.  And while we haven’t had tons of Super Saints this year, you get to participate now and you like it.  Listening to you recite prayers these past few months has been a dream.  Hearing you pray or talk about Jesus and Mary is truly amazing.

Watching you with Baby Z is so sweet.  You talk to her, lay down with her, play with her, pick her up and cover her mouth when she cries.  Those last two aren’t my favorite moves, but I understand that you are just trying to help.  You really love her so much and she already loves you.  She isn’t scared of you at all.

My sweet boy, you decided that you weren’t having a birthday today.  And that’s okay.  We can open gifts another day.  I don’t want to rush this year at all.  You are truly your own person in this house of seven, and I like the three year old person you are.  Three years I’ve had the joy of you in my life.  I am grateful for you every day.  I love you, No David. May God bless you always.  Saint Sebastian, pray for my boy!

Comment on Three Years Old »

Seven

By | Posted July 9, 2011

Posted in birthday, Goose | 4 Comments »

Goose, you are seven.  I still can’t believe it.  In the blink of an eye this year has passed.  And I fear with each year to come, I will feel the same.  I have a little boy who is starting second grade way too soon for me.  But how you’ve grown this year.

Physically, you’re a bit taller.  You’re much faster than before.  I think you finally figured out how to run without looking like a cross country skier.  Your biggest change is in the loss of four teeth.  While some of your friends have lost 8 teeth, you are taking your sweet time.  And that’s fine by me.  You were so excited about losing your first tooth last August.  You followed that by losing your second tooth at the pool.  We never found that tooth.  Then you waited until June to loose two more.

Your biggest love has become sports.  I hear balls bouncing nonstop in this house.  And it’s always you.  During football season, you pass the ball and make plays while watching games.  You can name more quarterbacks in the NFL than some grown men.  You know who played in the National Championship Game, and what the score was.  You are an encyclopedia.  People say that about your father.  Your swim coach will sit and have serious discussions with you about sports.  Sometimes you two spend more time talking sports than swimming.

Your passion for sports is not just football, you might love basketball even more.  Every day you are outside practicing your shots.  Or practicing your Nerf game.  You pretend certain teams are playing.  UT always wins.  Butler always wins.  Sometimes the games are close, it depends on your mood.

March Madness…what a year this was.  Your team made it to the Final Four again and it was such a thrill to take you to the games.  I can still see your face as the teams were announced.  You were beyond excited.  And that passion for sports is why you will go with us to TX/OU and a National Championship Game sooner than most children.

Your favorite author is still Tomie De Paola.  And you have your favorite books from him.  In fact, you are now pickier about your books, which is a good thing.  You know immediately if you like a book or not.  You are anxiously waiting for the newest Magic Tree House book.  While waiting we’ve found new authors to enjoy. The saddest part of you being in school is missing out on key reading time with you.  A lot of people just don’t get it, but the reality is that you are tired when you come home from school, you want to play and rest, then it’s time for dinner and then it’s the mad scramble for bedtime.  I miss our times of reading forty-five minutes at bedtime.  But when we do have the chance to read, I swell with joy. When I catch you reading on the couch, I smile.  When you sneak a book and a flashlight into bed, I turn the other way.  That love for reading, it’s still there, it just had to make room for some of your new loves.

As one of five kids, you are great at being a brother.  I give you a hard time because sometimes you are really nasty to the BH, but I have to praise the good times too.  You and BH have been best buddies all summer long.  You get up wanting to watch cartoons and when I say no, you guys come up with the best games.  Your new passion is to line up all your match box cars, Toy Story people, big cars and trucks, robots and so on.  You guys can do this for hours on end.  You have given up time at the YAK to help No David adjust to the gym and for that I am so grateful.  You and your big brother crack me up.  When we all drive together, I glance back and there you are listening to something together.  Whether it’s talking about cars or making videos, you two have fun.  And sweet Baby Z…you are truly the sweetest boy to new babies.  You are one of those who just love babies.  And the fact that you expect more kids, well, even better as far as I’m concerned.

I read somewhere that you aren’t supposed to tell children they are smart.  I don’t follow that advice.  Goose, you are brilliant as far as I’m concerned.  You continue to excel in academics.  There are times when you just decide not to finish work or read the questions, but I know what you are capable of and it makes me so proud.  Do I wish you would finish your work all the time?  Yes.  It would make this mom much less crazy if you did.

One of the best things I do with you is walk you into school each day.  While all the other kids get dropped off at the curb, you still ask me to walk you into school.  And since we are always there at the last second (sorry about that, but at least it’s not late) I get to walk you to the classroom.  I asked you if you wanted to try and get there earlier to sit in the cafeteria with the other kids, and you said no because you like your time with me.

Do you know that each day that I drop you off at school, I pray that God watches over you?  We usually say a Hail Mary together while walking (or running) in the morning.  I beg Mary to pray for us, to watch over you as I walk back to the car.  That walk back to the car is the saddest part of my day.  There are still days when I feel physically ill that I have to leave you with someone else.   And here is the thing, after two years in school, I’m still not sure we’re doing the right thing for your education.  I wish I felt ease, for your sake, but I don’t.

For all the changes in this past year, you are still my little boy.  The one after my heart.  And though you are getting older, you still requested a Snoopy cake for your birthday.  My heart melted just to hear that request because that means there is still a part of you that is young enough to want it.  And though I promised to live in the “now”, it breaks my heart a little to watch time pass so quickly.  I am so proud of the boy you are.  The one who loves his little sister, who snuggles with Snoopy, who loves playing with his brothers and who loves his mom and dad.  I love you so much, my dear son.  Happy Birthday to you.  I pray that this year is full of love, joy and new adventures for you.  God bless you always!

Comment on Seven »

Fourth of July Celebration

By | Posted July 7, 2011

Posted in Family Life, pictures, vacations | 2 Comments »

When you have a house full of kids, even ones as cute as mine, at times you need a change of scenery.

When your dad has a place in Austin where you can crash for free, you jump at the chance to get out of town.

As soon as W’s party ended on Sunday and Squirt finished work, we headed to Austin for a few days of rest.  We cooked, went swimming, saw Lance’s parents’ new place, had breakfast with my favorite aunt and uncle, saw my Granny, my cousin, went to a couple of museums, saw some bats and went on a canoe.

Breakfast with Uncle David and Aunt Diana is becoming a great Austin tradition for us.

Does Goose appear happy right now?

Snoopy, always along for the ride.

Wait for me.

We had not been to Austin as a family since Baby Z was born.  It was really sweet to see my Granny who is turning 90 next month with her.  She acted like Baby Z was her first grandchild instead of her umpteenth great grandchild.  Anytime someone loves my babies, I am happy.

Finally, Squirt and I see the damn bats.

Too cool to smile

Too cool to smile too.

Some time with daddy.

It wasn’t a fancy getaway, but it was perfect for us.  My cousin and his wife are the most amazing hosts around.  They don’t bat an eye when me and my crew enter their home.  Their house is as neat as mine and really nice, and they never mind us coming over.  I can’t say that about half my friends!

Back to reality tomorrow.   Rested.

Comment on Fourth of July Celebration »

Five For Friday

By | Posted July 1, 2011

Posted in Five For Friday | Comments Off on Five For Friday

Ever since returning from our weekend getaway, the kids have decided they need to sleep with us.  Talk about crashing back down to reality after the weekend we had.

In one of my smartest moves lately, I had not one but two meals outside in the Houston heat.  It didn’t start out that bad, but within 30 minutes, I felt like I had done a three hour workout.  I looked like it too.

I hate when people are passive aggressive.  I’m all about being overly aggressive and can’t stand when people aren’t just upfront with me.

1560 listeners are extremely loyal.  And passionate.  And I love that I call several of them my friends.

I got my Apedonkey.com t-shirt.  Go order yours today.

 

 

Comment on Five For Friday »

Field Trip~Art Museum

By | Posted June 30, 2011

Posted in homeschooling, pictures, the boys | 2 Comments »

“Mom, you’re hurting me.”  At the top of No David’s lungs.

That is how I will remember our field trip to the Fine Arts Museum last week.  If you know me, you know I don’t spank my kids.  No matter how much I want to at times.  Not even a hand swat.  It’s just not in me to do that.  Of course, I yell.  A lot more than I want to so I am not trying to pretend I’m better than anyone else by not spanking.

We're hoping to discover some raw talent here.

The thing is you can’t yell in a public place.  But you can get wine at Cafe Express, which is exactly what me and my friend did after our field trip.

Okay, it really wasn’t that bad.  But the boys weren’t as good as I thought they would be either.  Even when they were being good, the attendants would come and snap at them for getting too close to the art.  Totally frustrating because I wasn’t going to let them get close to the art.   I know better.  To keep No David away from the art though I had to hold onto him for a lot of the time.  And he didn’t like it one bit.

Can you imagine people worrying about him getting too close?

I’m all about exposing my children to culture, and now I realize that I’ve been missing in this key area.  I think I’ll be taking advantage of free Thursdays at least twice a month from here on out.

The goal last week was to look at Modern Art, specifically Kandinsky, then go home and create some of our own art.  Instead of looking at the map, we wandered the museum for quite some time before finding the Modern Art.  Afterwards, we came home and made our own art.  And had more wine.

Masterpiece 1

Masterpiece 2

Masterpiece 3

Masterpiece 4

No. 5, a class of it's own.

Comment on Field Trip~Art Museum »

Best. Decision. Ever.

By | Posted June 29, 2011

Posted in Lance, pictures | 6 Comments »

Happy Anniversary, Baby!

The best day of my life.

Comment on Best. Decision. Ever. »

Bon Voyage

By | Posted June 28, 2011

Posted in Jessica | Comments Off on Bon Voyage

Another one of my girls is heading to Europe.  This time it’s Jessica, and she is heading to maybe my favorite place on earth, Spain.  I was going through her itinerary last night remembering all the fun I had in Spain.  I am so excited for her, but so sad for us that our sweet girl is leaving for a month.  This is how sweet she is: she came over last night to say good-bye to the boys and when they acted shy, she came back again this morning for a real good-bye that included hugs and kisses.  The BH wrote her a good-bye letter, she took it with her.  Squirt’s face was swollen last night so he wouldn’t go see her so she went to see him today before leaving.  With lunch too. She was encouraged to bring photos of her family, she brought pictures of all of us.  And not just the cute little ones, me, Lance and Squirt as well.  There were lots of pictures in her photo book of all of us.  She made sure we had a last supper before she left town.

We love our Jessica so much.  I hope she has a great trip!  We can’t wait until she comes home!  Be careful, Jessica!!!  And have fun!

The last good-bye! 🙁

Comment on Bon Voyage »

Anniversary Weekend

By | Posted June 27, 2011

Posted in date night, Family Life, Lance, movies, pictures, Uncategorized | 2 Comments »

My one and only

What can I say other than my weekend was freaking wonderful.  Lance and I were talking about every anniversary we’ve celebrated and came to the conclusion that this one might be the best one yet.  And that is saying a lot because Lance is pretty romantic and thoughtful about anniversaries.  While I am not a fan of Hallmark holidays, I think it’s important to celebrate an anniversary.  And while not every anniversary has us going to a place like Dos Brisas, I am happy that it did this year.

The property

Our Casita

Our plans changed a bit on Friday morning which caused us to stay in town and leave early Saturday morning.  No problem.  My mom still came and took care of the kids.  We saw three movies on Friday and had dinner at Feast.  Have I mentioned that our first date was seeing two movies?  Friday was a dream come true for us.  I don’t even remember the last time we went to a theater to watch a movie.  And at home I can’t sit still while watching a movie.  We saw Super 8 and Midnight in Paris.  Super 8 was great and reminded me of the Goonies in so many ways.  I had just read an article with the director, and I think it made me appreciate the movie even more.  Midnight in Paris was really enjoyable as well.  We had dinner at Feast, but not before drinking wine from a Donald Duck cup and Lance taking a shot of tequila from a plastic cup.  We are a classy couple.  After dinner we saw Bridesmaids, a funny movie, but definitely a disappointment to me.  I was so looking forward to this movie, and I was just not overly impressed.

Tequila?

Our Friday marathon

The Inn at Dos Brisas couldn’t have been nicer.  We arrived to champagne and a leisurely lunch.  We took a tour of the grounds and had some time at our casita before taking a cooking class.  It seemed like all we did was talk during the cooking class, we felt so at home.  The chefs were so nice and seemed to genuinely like talking with us.  Dinner was incredible.  We had a five course tasting and the amount of attention we received was like nothing I have ever experienced.  There were three couples at dinner with three people serving all of us.  The attention to detail, to our needs was beyond perfect.  And the food was impeccable.  Did I feel a bit cheesy with my camera?  Maybe.  I am sure that made it obvious that we don’t go to places like the Inn all the time.  The fact that we received one piece of bread rather than a bowl of bread was another hint.  The man in the white linen trousers with his loafers was yet another hint.  Only rich people wear white linen trousers.  But it didn’t matter, everyone there was nice and wanted to make sure we enjoyed our stay.

Breakfast on the patio

Driving the property in our golf cart

My handsome husband

Today we went horse back riding before leaving the Inn and heading home.  It was a great way to end our stay.  Actually, we ended our stay by accepting a little gift of sweets in a box.  We hadn’t been in the car for 10 seconds before I opened it and started eating.  Only to be interrupted by our porter.  That’s our move, to eat desserts in the car, and we were totally busted.  He handled it with ease, asking if we liked the cookie, but I was so embarrassed.

It's kind of like we ride horses all the time.

We stopped at a cafe for burgers and if it weren’t so far, I’d suggest this place to my Burger crew.  Maybe one day when everyone is off work.

We ended the weekend by getting a slow leak in one of the car tires.  We couldn’t find anyplace to stop except Walmart.  Have I mentioned I’m not allowed to shop at Walmart because Lance thinks they are unethical and nasty?  After sitting in there for over an hour today, I can promise I will never return there. Even Walmart couldn’t ruin our weekend.  Thanks to my parents for watching the kids.  But mostly, thanks to you Lance.  You are an amazing husband.  This weekend was wonderful, and I’m so happy we got married all those years ago!

Happy Anniversary! What an amazing weekend, Baby!!!

Comment on Anniversary Weekend »