Lately Annie has two phrases that we love to hear. First, when there is a quiet moments, she will say, "Mom, I love you." I will return the phrase. Now, it's turned into, "Mom, I love you all the way to heaven and back!" We once played the game of who loves who more, so now she just goes straight to the big guns!
She also needs a hug each time she gets a kiss. Can't have one without the other!
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Backyard fun
I finally took some pictures of our backyard. We haven't been playing out there much the last few weeks because Andy is trying to grow grass again. He has until the end of the summer to get fescue in nice and full before we overseed with something else! Here is the fabulous sandbox he built. The lid is superduper tight - and heavy! I can only open it halfway unless we have someone come over to play and open it all the way.
Here's our firepit! One of my true loves in life is smores! My sister has a fire pit in her backyard in Utah and I have coveted it! We had some leftover bricks from doing the front, so Andy made me a pit!
These are our garden boxes. We have been learning a lot through the growing process! Didn't realize the value of miracle-grow until a month too late! Our vine plants (cucumbers, cantalope, watermelon, squash, etc) aren't doing very well. I don't know if it's because I planted them from seeds and just waited too long or what. But, we have two boxes. One is 12 ft x 6 ft x 12 inches. The other is 16 ft x 6 ft x 12 inches. We covered them with black tarp to keep the weeds out and that has worked fabulously! Andy made me a drip system attached to the sprinklers that can be removed to till the dirt for fall planting. Each plant has it's own line, except for the small area we tried for carrots and peas...
For some reason our pepper plants didn't grow very tall, but this one has a lot of promise!
The tomato plants are all doing well, except the cherry one. This one also has the most promise.
I was looking around for bugs this afternoon and realized the plant I thought was a pepper plant is acutally a green bean plant! So, we pulled these four green beans off and each had one for dinner. They were amazing!
Here's the big view from the patio. We just need the grass to fill in a little bit, add a new fence and it will be perfect. Of course, by that time we will probably move and leave our beautiful hard work for someone else's enjoyment. Isn't that the way it typically works? This weekend we are planning to work inside on the crown-molding project that was purchased last fall and is still waiting in the garage! Yippee!!!
Here's our firepit! One of my true loves in life is smores! My sister has a fire pit in her backyard in Utah and I have coveted it! We had some leftover bricks from doing the front, so Andy made me a pit!
These are our garden boxes. We have been learning a lot through the growing process! Didn't realize the value of miracle-grow until a month too late! Our vine plants (cucumbers, cantalope, watermelon, squash, etc) aren't doing very well. I don't know if it's because I planted them from seeds and just waited too long or what. But, we have two boxes. One is 12 ft x 6 ft x 12 inches. The other is 16 ft x 6 ft x 12 inches. We covered them with black tarp to keep the weeds out and that has worked fabulously! Andy made me a drip system attached to the sprinklers that can be removed to till the dirt for fall planting. Each plant has it's own line, except for the small area we tried for carrots and peas...
For some reason our pepper plants didn't grow very tall, but this one has a lot of promise!
The tomato plants are all doing well, except the cherry one. This one also has the most promise.
I was looking around for bugs this afternoon and realized the plant I thought was a pepper plant is acutally a green bean plant! So, we pulled these four green beans off and each had one for dinner. They were amazing!
Here's the big view from the patio. We just need the grass to fill in a little bit, add a new fence and it will be perfect. Of course, by that time we will probably move and leave our beautiful hard work for someone else's enjoyment. Isn't that the way it typically works? This weekend we are planning to work inside on the crown-molding project that was purchased last fall and is still waiting in the garage! Yippee!!!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
The Circle of Life
This story was heart-breaking to me. We love to visit the elephants at the zoo and sometimes eat lunch watching them. We went Monday, but they had the elephants blocked off because one of them had a stomach-ache. When we were leaving the zoo around 4:30 pm, channel 5, 8, and 11 news were outside the entrance. We asked one of the camera guys what was going on and he said an elephant had just died. So sad...
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Small Details
I wish I had been able to capture more pictures, but my camera never seemed readily available when I needed it.. here are a few highlights from the past two weeks...
Swimming Lessons
Cowboy Roman and Cowboy Ben tying up the cow they caught (Grandpa)!
Keeping kids occupied while I cleaned up broken glass plate. It worked rather well, and I already had the broom out!
My sweet Emily loves to finish Ben and Annie's apples - after they have eaten the skin off.
A hot morning at the Arboretum. I LOVE this picture!
Everyone loved the swing!
Swimming Lessons
Cowboy Roman and Cowboy Ben tying up the cow they caught (Grandpa)!
Keeping kids occupied while I cleaned up broken glass plate. It worked rather well, and I already had the broom out!
My sweet Emily loves to finish Ben and Annie's apples - after they have eaten the skin off.
A hot morning at the Arboretum. I LOVE this picture!
My Almost Perfect Mother's Day
Mother's Day was fabulous! It was actually the best one I think I have ever had! I woke up to Andy taking the kids out of our room, then woke up again to fluffy pancakes, a perfect flipped egg, grapes, milk and yogurt! I got chocolates in church, the young women participated in my lesson, my little niece played with Ben and Annie after church, my family (minus my mom but plus my brother's girlfriend) came over for dinner and we had LEFTOVERS, my sister and the kids had fabulous mother's day surprises for me ($ for pedicure, beautiful roses, and Arbonne beauty things), and I was asleep by 8:45 that night! What a fabulous day!!!!
To top it off, my sister and her family were here from Utah visiting and she let me borrow her brand-new dress to wear to church so I could feel like a princess! It was a great day!!! The only thing that could have made it better was for my mom to be here, but alas - she does have other children to visit...
To top it off, my sister and her family were here from Utah visiting and she let me borrow her brand-new dress to wear to church so I could feel like a princess! It was a great day!!! The only thing that could have made it better was for my mom to be here, but alas - she does have other children to visit...
The Law of the Garbage Truck
Thanks Andrea for posting this!!!
One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches!
The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'
This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.' He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.
Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home or on the streets.
The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so..... 'Love the people who treat you right.. Pray for the ones who don't. Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!
One day I hopped in a taxi and we took off for the airport. We were driving in the right lane when suddenly a black car jumped out of a parking space right in front of us. My taxi driver slammed on his breaks, skidded, and missed the other car by just inches!
The driver of the other car whipped his head around and started yelling at us. My taxi driver just smiled and waved at the guy. And I mean, he was really friendly. So I asked, 'Why did you just do that? This guy almost ruined your car and sent us to the hospital!'
This is when my taxi driver taught me what I now call, 'The Law of the Garbage Truck.' He explained that many people are like garbage trucks. They run around full of garbage, full of frustration, full of anger, and full of disappointment. As their garbage piles up, they need a place to dump it and sometimes they'll dump it on you.
Don't take it personally. Just smile, wave, wish them well, and move on. Don't take their garbage and spread it to other people at work, at home or on the streets.
The bottom line is that successful people do not let garbage trucks take over their day. Life's too short to wake up in the morning with regrets, so..... 'Love the people who treat you right.. Pray for the ones who don't. Life is ten percent what you make it and ninety percent how you take it!
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Woes of My Life
Well, it seems that I have misplaced my wallet yet ANOTHER time today! It was 31 cent scoop night at Baskin Robbins from 5-10pm today. Since Andy had Young Mens and wouldn't be home, I took the kids for a scoop of ice cream before Ben's t-ball practice. Granted, a fabulous sale like this is likely to have lots of people - so many that we waited in line a good 30 minutes before being served and by the time our ice cream was done that line had doubled.
Tonight Andy needed his debit card from my wallet. Why was it there? Because two weeks ago mine dropped out of my wallet while I was shopping and the kids were playing with it. Some dishonest person took my card and hopped from gas station to gas station all around town trying to use it. Thankfully we check our money at least every 3 days and quickly found the pending transactions that were not ours. The old card was cancelled, a new one was sent to me, and the fraudulent charges were credited back to our account. LOVE USAA!!!!!
So, I have been using Andy's card as the main shopper in our household. And he needs it back. It's not in my car hiding place. It's not in the diaper bag. It's not in the box of produce that I gave my sister after we got ice cream. ARGGGHHHH!!!! Not again! You would really think that someone who just had their debit card 'stolen' would be more careful. In all reality, I tend to lose my wallet a lot. I can't even count the number of times that I've returned to Walmart of Target because I left it in the cart after loading my groceries! My poor husband is very patient with me because each time I think I lost it and the store doesn't have it, I call and he walks my through different places it might be. Sometimes the trunk, others wedged in between the seat and the door. It's really ridiculous that this problem continues to occur.
It was actually quite shocking how calm both Andy and I were this evening as we looked up the number for my cheap ice cream date night. Some kind honest person at Baskin Robbins turned in my wallet, and Andy is now on his way to pick up my wallet - and his debit card that he needs to go to Home Depot tonight. Maybe he'll buy the stuff to fix the sprinkler heads that the workers next door broke while putting in a new fence...
I think the real problem is that I try to do too much at a time. Who in their right mind would take 3 little kids to get ice cream on a busy night without another adult to help? Of course, we all know that I am NOT in my right mind. Oh well - the kids were fabulous - waiting in line and carefully eating their ice cream comes. I couldn't have asked for more perfect behavior. It appears I am the only one with the problem! I just need to train Ben and Annie to make sure I always have my wallet...
Tonight Andy needed his debit card from my wallet. Why was it there? Because two weeks ago mine dropped out of my wallet while I was shopping and the kids were playing with it. Some dishonest person took my card and hopped from gas station to gas station all around town trying to use it. Thankfully we check our money at least every 3 days and quickly found the pending transactions that were not ours. The old card was cancelled, a new one was sent to me, and the fraudulent charges were credited back to our account. LOVE USAA!!!!!
So, I have been using Andy's card as the main shopper in our household. And he needs it back. It's not in my car hiding place. It's not in the diaper bag. It's not in the box of produce that I gave my sister after we got ice cream. ARGGGHHHH!!!! Not again! You would really think that someone who just had their debit card 'stolen' would be more careful. In all reality, I tend to lose my wallet a lot. I can't even count the number of times that I've returned to Walmart of Target because I left it in the cart after loading my groceries! My poor husband is very patient with me because each time I think I lost it and the store doesn't have it, I call and he walks my through different places it might be. Sometimes the trunk, others wedged in between the seat and the door. It's really ridiculous that this problem continues to occur.
It was actually quite shocking how calm both Andy and I were this evening as we looked up the number for my cheap ice cream date night. Some kind honest person at Baskin Robbins turned in my wallet, and Andy is now on his way to pick up my wallet - and his debit card that he needs to go to Home Depot tonight. Maybe he'll buy the stuff to fix the sprinkler heads that the workers next door broke while putting in a new fence...
I think the real problem is that I try to do too much at a time. Who in their right mind would take 3 little kids to get ice cream on a busy night without another adult to help? Of course, we all know that I am NOT in my right mind. Oh well - the kids were fabulous - waiting in line and carefully eating their ice cream comes. I couldn't have asked for more perfect behavior. It appears I am the only one with the problem! I just need to train Ben and Annie to make sure I always have my wallet...
Monday, April 28, 2008
Ben's Bravery
I posted last time Ben was asked to give a talk in Primary - it was a disaster! He was asked to give another talk for yesterday. I spaced it until Sunday morning, when we finally sat down to write it out. I was in Young Women's when they came to get me. Ben was worried that I wouldn't be there in time. He did so great! I said the first line and one in the middle and he said the rest. I think hearing his voice in the microphone was a little bit unnerving, but he did it! Here is his talk:
"Today our prophet's name is Thomas S. Monson. He teaches us how to live with God again. He says, 'in your home to serve one another' because that is like serving God. I serve by helping my family. When my little sister Annie was sick, I would bring her blanket to her. I serve my mom by coloring with Emily and by doing the dishes. I serve my dad by shoveling dirt and raking leaves. I know when I serve my family that Heavenly Father is happy with me. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
He really wanted to draw a picture to go along with his talk, so I told him he could draw one of the things he had done to serve. He picked giving Annie her blanket and drew a cute picture. It's a good thing that I was helping him or I would have been bawling in the back. Sadly, Andy missed it... but will NOT miss the next one!
"Today our prophet's name is Thomas S. Monson. He teaches us how to live with God again. He says, 'in your home to serve one another' because that is like serving God. I serve by helping my family. When my little sister Annie was sick, I would bring her blanket to her. I serve my mom by coloring with Emily and by doing the dishes. I serve my dad by shoveling dirt and raking leaves. I know when I serve my family that Heavenly Father is happy with me. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."
He really wanted to draw a picture to go along with his talk, so I told him he could draw one of the things he had done to serve. He picked giving Annie her blanket and drew a cute picture. It's a good thing that I was helping him or I would have been bawling in the back. Sadly, Andy missed it... but will NOT miss the next one!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Another fun-filled week!
Last night I was up until 12:30 making tamales with a friend. It was such a fun experience, and my freezer is full of yummy tamales. This means I have a very happy husband! We are making the masa here. The kids love my friend and were even happier that they got to watch!
Here is our fun train ride. Annie and Brynnley were getting to the boredom point as we rode there!
Annie was sick this past week and continued throwing up into Tuesday. That translates into naps! One day Ben and Emily were coloring so cute together. I can't even describe how much he loves his little sister!
This is my very favorite site - clean, fed, happy children just waiting for me to read to them. When I had Annie I called a friend in Austin and jokingly was mad because she hadn't told me how much fun two kids would be. She just laughed and said 3 was even better! It totally is. Sometimes it's a whole lot harder, but we love all being together! I love seeing the kids interact with one another and how they play together. I love how they take care of each other and make accomodations when necessary. Emily got out the kitchen stuff this morning and it has occupied the majority of our time inside the house today. I was doing dinner dishes and the 3 of them played restaurant. At one point Ben told Annie to leave and read a book. She looked at me kind of hurt and confused. I just explained that Ben wanted her to leave the 'kitchen' and read a book while she waited for her meal. So, she went a got one of her favorite dinosaur books and read until he 'served' her meal. It was so heartwarming to see. It's moments like this that make the fighting forgotten!!!
Oh yes - Andy turned the big 3-0 this week! It was a very anti-climactic day, but we did end it by watching the western Once Upon a Texas Train! We also had our 8th anniversary this week. I made a 'fun' dinner (read there freezer meal - although I did make the cucumber mango salsa to go with it!) that we all ate at 7:30 after Ben's soccer practice. Then we watched a little bit of Bell Cosby's stand up comedy and were asleep by 9:45 - what a party life we lead!
Yes - Andy got rakes for his birthday!
To finish out our week, we did a 5K with the 14-18 youth for Youth Conference this afternoon. They were running to raise money for those who couldn't - run that is. The money is for the humanitarian services to buy wheelchairs and is completely 100% tax-deductible! Ben rode his bike, Andy pushed the double-jogger, and I failed miserably at keeping up with them! We all finished (one adult pushing 3 kids in a double jogger and the other adult a little bit further behind) and had a great time. Although with the yard work all morning and doing more when we got home, I don't know that either of us will be walking very fast tomorrow! Andy is now chaperoning the dance and will hopefully be home soon with some ice cream to go with the homemade hot fudge I have waiting...
Here is our fun train ride. Annie and Brynnley were getting to the boredom point as we rode there!
Annie was sick this past week and continued throwing up into Tuesday. That translates into naps! One day Ben and Emily were coloring so cute together. I can't even describe how much he loves his little sister!
This is my very favorite site - clean, fed, happy children just waiting for me to read to them. When I had Annie I called a friend in Austin and jokingly was mad because she hadn't told me how much fun two kids would be. She just laughed and said 3 was even better! It totally is. Sometimes it's a whole lot harder, but we love all being together! I love seeing the kids interact with one another and how they play together. I love how they take care of each other and make accomodations when necessary. Emily got out the kitchen stuff this morning and it has occupied the majority of our time inside the house today. I was doing dinner dishes and the 3 of them played restaurant. At one point Ben told Annie to leave and read a book. She looked at me kind of hurt and confused. I just explained that Ben wanted her to leave the 'kitchen' and read a book while she waited for her meal. So, she went a got one of her favorite dinosaur books and read until he 'served' her meal. It was so heartwarming to see. It's moments like this that make the fighting forgotten!!!
Oh yes - Andy turned the big 3-0 this week! It was a very anti-climactic day, but we did end it by watching the western Once Upon a Texas Train! We also had our 8th anniversary this week. I made a 'fun' dinner (read there freezer meal - although I did make the cucumber mango salsa to go with it!) that we all ate at 7:30 after Ben's soccer practice. Then we watched a little bit of Bell Cosby's stand up comedy and were asleep by 9:45 - what a party life we lead!
Yes - Andy got rakes for his birthday!
To finish out our week, we did a 5K with the 14-18 youth for Youth Conference this afternoon. They were running to raise money for those who couldn't - run that is. The money is for the humanitarian services to buy wheelchairs and is completely 100% tax-deductible! Ben rode his bike, Andy pushed the double-jogger, and I failed miserably at keeping up with them! We all finished (one adult pushing 3 kids in a double jogger and the other adult a little bit further behind) and had a great time. Although with the yard work all morning and doing more when we got home, I don't know that either of us will be walking very fast tomorrow! Andy is now chaperoning the dance and will hopefully be home soon with some ice cream to go with the homemade hot fudge I have waiting...Sunday, April 20, 2008
A Busy Weekend
First and foremost, I am a fabulous mom. A better mom than I was yesterday. Wait - let me back up a bit. Friday night we went to the members only event at the Dallas Zoo. We had a great time and I will post some pictures later. We rode the dart train and missed out on great amounts of TRAFFIC! Yippee! It was fabulously fun, but a late night for the kids.
Saturday was Ben's soccer game. I stayed home with the girls for much-needed naps - only to miss Ben's first (and second) goal! My cute little boy scored! My mom said a few people in the stands said they, "needed to watch out for little number 8!" I'm so sad to have missed it! Saturday night was dinner group at church, so the kids were up late with Aunt Jamie babysitting and after we came home we all watched the end of the Mavs game.
Sunday morning Andy has meetings starting at 7am. Annie wakes up somewhat happy but just gets honeryier as the morning goes on. We finally make it to church, which starts at eleven. Around noon Annie is laying in my arms like a baby (totally Atypical). Her body went heavy and her eyes close. I'm thinking this is going to be a great church day because I was going to get to cuddle Annie! All of a sudden, her body tenses and she throws up - all over me, the bench, the bag Andy puts next to us. Thankfully the closing song was just beginning, so I got up and walked out with my head turned away. I took Annie outside, stripped her down and am just standing there covered in barf - not so good. However, I am a great mom because I didn't throw up too!!! Last time I was holding Ben when he threw up, I joined him and Andy got to clean up after both of us! What a day!
Saturday was Ben's soccer game. I stayed home with the girls for much-needed naps - only to miss Ben's first (and second) goal! My cute little boy scored! My mom said a few people in the stands said they, "needed to watch out for little number 8!" I'm so sad to have missed it! Saturday night was dinner group at church, so the kids were up late with Aunt Jamie babysitting and after we came home we all watched the end of the Mavs game.
Sunday morning Andy has meetings starting at 7am. Annie wakes up somewhat happy but just gets honeryier as the morning goes on. We finally make it to church, which starts at eleven. Around noon Annie is laying in my arms like a baby (totally Atypical). Her body went heavy and her eyes close. I'm thinking this is going to be a great church day because I was going to get to cuddle Annie! All of a sudden, her body tenses and she throws up - all over me, the bench, the bag Andy puts next to us. Thankfully the closing song was just beginning, so I got up and walked out with my head turned away. I took Annie outside, stripped her down and am just standing there covered in barf - not so good. However, I am a great mom because I didn't throw up too!!! Last time I was holding Ben when he threw up, I joined him and Andy got to clean up after both of us! What a day!
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Fathers and Sons Campout
Last weekend was the ward fathers and sons campout. Needless to say, Ben was just a little bit excited - a complete understatement! Ben was packed on Monday and would add things each day.
I don't know who was dressed first or second, but these pictures were priceless to me!
Saturday morning, the Maases were the lame-o family without jackets. Yes, the kids are eating marshmallows for breakfast. They were hungry and it was taking a little while to get the fire going.
I don't know who was dressed first or second, but these pictures were priceless to me!
Saturday morning, the Maases were the lame-o family without jackets. Yes, the kids are eating marshmallows for breakfast. They were hungry and it was taking a little while to get the fire going.
The Garden is In
Andy is convinced that things in our garden will grow! He built some raised beds and then last week, we had 8 cubic feet of dirt delivered. It was a very long afternoon, however we all worked together and planted seeds and plants the next day. We also got one of the flower beds in the front filled and have planted some flower seeds there as well. Hopefully the bounty will come...
There is just one potential problem - those nasty little fireants. There is a pile right next to one of the beds that we have poisoned 3 times with no results. Fireants like to eat young plants and germinating seeds. That doesn't bode well for a young garden. So, this weekend we are doing to take drastic measures to wipe those babies out - boiling water! They better prepare because we have worked way too hard to be defeated my burning little bugs!!!
There is just one potential problem - those nasty little fireants. There is a pile right next to one of the beds that we have poisoned 3 times with no results. Fireants like to eat young plants and germinating seeds. That doesn't bode well for a young garden. So, this weekend we are doing to take drastic measures to wipe those babies out - boiling water! They better prepare because we have worked way too hard to be defeated my burning little bugs!!!
Emily's Busy Day
Well - little Emily is such a hoot! She had a very busy day last week. I am just starting to find this a little bit humorous... Yes, this is an entire box of cereal that was dumped on the carpet. It wouldn't have been so bad if it wasn't my coveted GOLDEN GRAHAMS!!! I love them, and obviously Emily does also...
Not more than an hour later, the kids were riding bikes outside where Emily found the puddle of water. I figured once she was wet, there wasn't really a point in changing her clothes until she was tired. No, Ben was not here this morning - the girls figured these messes out all by themselves! However, our dirt was supposed to be delivered one hour later!
Not more than an hour later, the kids were riding bikes outside where Emily found the puddle of water. I figured once she was wet, there wasn't really a point in changing her clothes until she was tired. No, Ben was not here this morning - the girls figured these messes out all by themselves! However, our dirt was supposed to be delivered one hour later!
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Mr. Zuckerman! It's a miracle!
And it truly is! Yesterday I gave Emily some grapefruit for a snack as an idea from a friend. She loved it and ate it without making a face. Then Annie wanted some, so I traded bites between them. Ben came in and wanted some also, so I cut another grapefruit. Ben liked his half and I gave the other to Annie and Emily. I decided to take a bite, just to see what the big deal was. Preparing myself for bitter bitter tastes, I was actually shocked that I LIKED it! We've been getting grapefuit from our produce co-op for some time, but I either give them to my sister or squeeze them into smoothies because it takes Andy so long to get to them. Sorry - no more sharing! We like them!!!
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Daddy's Big Boy
Well, Ben has his first soccer game on Saturday. Andy wasn't able to come, so I was very prepared with both the video camera and the digital. However, about 30 seconds into the game, the video camera died. Isn't that just grand! I did get some good shots; the kids really aren't moving fast enough to blur the images. :)
This little boy bumping into Ben was only in it for the physical contact. I don't think he kicked the ball one time, but he did shove Ben in the back hard enough for my little boy to come off the field crying (after he'd down a face plant in the grass) - not an easy task for this kid! We didn't score but the other team got about 10. They had one little girl that knew what she was doing and would just dribble down and kick it in the goal. Ben didn't seem too discouraged and was thrilled with the blue snowcone that Aunt Jamie bought him after the game. :) As a parent this is going to be very hard - to watch these games! This little boy below caused my tame, mild-mannered sister to yell, "Who's kid is that? He's pushing all over the place!" It was a good thing the quarter ended when it did because I greatly feared that Ben would turn around and deck him. I don't know how my mom did it, child after child...
This little boy bumping into Ben was only in it for the physical contact. I don't think he kicked the ball one time, but he did shove Ben in the back hard enough for my little boy to come off the field crying (after he'd down a face plant in the grass) - not an easy task for this kid! We didn't score but the other team got about 10. They had one little girl that knew what she was doing and would just dribble down and kick it in the goal. Ben didn't seem too discouraged and was thrilled with the blue snowcone that Aunt Jamie bought him after the game. :) As a parent this is going to be very hard - to watch these games! This little boy below caused my tame, mild-mannered sister to yell, "Who's kid is that? He's pushing all over the place!" It was a good thing the quarter ended when it did because I greatly feared that Ben would turn around and deck him. I don't know how my mom did it, child after child...
Another Morning at the Arboretum
Ben is trying to rope this steer. This has to be the funniest thing I have seen! He twirls the rope above his head and his hips are going a mile a minute. He had all the workers covertly laughing.
It took Emily a few minutes to warm up to the sheep and chickens, and then she was in love! They had brushes for little hands that she 'used.'
It was a cloudy day wtih scattered thunderstorms predicted. We got caught in a downpour and had to hoof it to the covered gazebo. It seemed like a good time to eat lunch (who doesn't like to eat lunch at 10:30?) so we rested for a bit. Thus - the wild hair!
The flowers are just beautiful! It took me a few minutes to figure out what Annie was saying. She wanted to see the lollipops! Translation - tulips! She's a girl after my own heart!
It took Emily a few minutes to warm up to the sheep and chickens, and then she was in love! They had brushes for little hands that she 'used.'
It was a cloudy day wtih scattered thunderstorms predicted. We got caught in a downpour and had to hoof it to the covered gazebo. It seemed like a good time to eat lunch (who doesn't like to eat lunch at 10:30?) so we rested for a bit. Thus - the wild hair!
The flowers are just beautiful! It took me a few minutes to figure out what Annie was saying. She wanted to see the lollipops! Translation - tulips! She's a girl after my own heart!
She's Almost There
Emily has been trying to walk for so long. She has taken 2 or 3 steps several times. Here, Ben is trying to help her. She loves to hold onto hands and walk around the house, in the yard, wherever. If she wants to get to something quickly, she knows that she needs to crawl. However, yesterday afternoon we went to the Arboretum with some friends (post to follow) and she took 12 steps, with shoes on, going downhill! What a treat! She is much more confident today and probably even more so tomorrow!
Andy is my organizer. I tend to buy a lot of something when it is on sale, and Albertsons has had some fabulous sales lately. So while he was organizing, Emily pushed the stool over and climbed right up like she belonged! It was the cuteest thing; I love her hands!
Andy is my organizer. I tend to buy a lot of something when it is on sale, and Albertsons has had some fabulous sales lately. So while he was organizing, Emily pushed the stool over and climbed right up like she belonged! It was the cuteest thing; I love her hands!
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Easter
Our neighborhood always has an Easter Egg Hunt, and as luck would have it my camera battery was almost dead, so I only got a few pictures. Andy was camping from Thursday to Saturday with the Young Men, so I went with Ben, Annie and Emily. Since I knew I wouldn't be able to watch all three of them and take pictures, I recruited a fabulous friend without kids to help! Here is Annie with her little friend, Brynnley.
This is Easter morning. Andy was at a meeting before church, so I tried to get the three of them to look at me. These are the best two - next to my gorgeous azeleas!!! I think I have beautiful children!
Yesterday in Target, I had 3 different people come up to me and say, "wow, looks like you have your hands full." Or - "looks busy." Most of the time, it's said with a sympathetic look or a sneer. I've tried to come up with a few pat answers and got a few from friends.
"Yep, I like to be busy!"
"You should see them on a bad day!"
"We love kids!"
If you have any other ideas when people make comments about your adorable children, please pass them on!
This is Easter morning. Andy was at a meeting before church, so I tried to get the three of them to look at me. These are the best two - next to my gorgeous azeleas!!! I think I have beautiful children!
Yesterday in Target, I had 3 different people come up to me and say, "wow, looks like you have your hands full." Or - "looks busy." Most of the time, it's said with a sympathetic look or a sneer. I've tried to come up with a few pat answers and got a few from friends."Yep, I like to be busy!"
"You should see them on a bad day!"
"We love kids!"
If you have any other ideas when people make comments about your adorable children, please pass them on!
Maases Visit
Grandma and Grandpa Maas came to visit last week, and we had a fabulous trip to the Arboretum to see Dallas Blooms!
Emily is trying so hard to walk, but just hasn't gotten it down yet. Yes, it is St. Patrick's Day - thus the variety of shades of green! Ben was NOT feeling the need to wear green, and no amount of convincing was going to work. He settled for his green lephrecan socks under his cowboy boots.
The boys made a cover for the sandbox that is a little bit sturdier than was previously covering it. This also means that the kids can't play in it without me opening it!
Cowboy Ben running down the hill at the Arboretum!
Grandpa was trying to get rid of the jingling in his pocket, and Ben and Annie benefited by making wishes into the pond.
Emily is trying so hard to walk, but just hasn't gotten it down yet. Yes, it is St. Patrick's Day - thus the variety of shades of green! Ben was NOT feeling the need to wear green, and no amount of convincing was going to work. He settled for his green lephrecan socks under his cowboy boots.
The boys made a cover for the sandbox that is a little bit sturdier than was previously covering it. This also means that the kids can't play in it without me opening it!
Cowboy Ben running down the hill at the Arboretum!
Grandpa was trying to get rid of the jingling in his pocket, and Ben and Annie benefited by making wishes into the pond.
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