No Camera's!

Here is my little miss Thang! It is like one of those paparazzi shots... get out of my face! She was just being so diva-lishious with her awesome shoe sock combo. She comes up with the best/worst outfits ever!
This one was the other morning she woke me up in this... hat included. I guess it isn't much. Just jammies socks and a hat. But she just cracks me up.

And we are bestest buddies. I love having a little girl who is just right at being my bestie! The other night we were trying out something we (I) saw on the Today show about getting beach babe hair... lets just say, it was soooo disguisting. I hate when experts think they know what they are talking about. It looked sick. And yes, that is one bunish thing that I got up on Nat's head too!

Now onto something more delishious.....

We are having a fun week!

Ya, so?

Yes there are alot of pictures. So what? I love them all. We had a wicked fun 4th of July and had to document with all of the pictures.
The last few years we have kinda made a tradition to go to IHOP for breakfast. So we went and Natalie found it fun to go play at an empty table beside us. We were kinda in a separate little room so she wasn't bothering anyone. She slowly moved her drink, and her cutlery and just was playing by herself. After a while she walked over, very strange, and was saying there was poopy in the table. I thought she was just telling me she was poopy... which she was (she rocks at potty training!) and Anna said "Uh, there is something strange under the table." I went to get a closer look and there is was in all its glory - poop. She was in a pullup, a little poop on her leg but how some squeezed out? I have no idea. Eric made the similarity to playing with play-do when you push some out of those shape things, it kinda goes in every direction. So Nat got a wipes bath in the bathroom. Later that afternoon we headed over to Brians' Aunt and Uncles for some pool and BBQ. The boys are always coming up with some kind of competition or fight with noodles or something. You can see it going on in the background here, Poor natalie kept getting the brunt of it and getting squirted in the face.

The spectators... all I can say is this: if you are sitting by a pool you WILL get wet. Deal.

Of course she is impossible to get a picture of so Papa made her smile for food. I was just trying to get a shot of her AWESOME new swim suit that I am in love with! I wish they had it in my size. LOVE IT!

Chillaxin'

She put herself in timeout, as she often times does. I think it is her excuse to play and sing. A little later we caught her playing "He loves me, he loves me not" with the flowers.

Again takin it easy and getting her tan on!

That night we went over to Ann's house for the fireworks.

Best place ever to watch. You can see like 10 different shows right there out front of their house and it is on a lake so you have nothing in your way. Boots LOVED curly(dog) and followed him everywhere! He also LOVED the trampoline while Natalie CLUNG to my leg and cried till she got taken off. Oh we love Yaya's house, it was 11 and Natalie didn't want to leave. It is cute cause everytime we pass her house Natalie will ask if we can go play with Yaya (Ann) I hope you dont mind Ann but I think Natalie thinks of you as another Grandmother! She just adores you!

So this 4th I had the opportunity to really think about our freedom here in this country and how blessed we are that we dont have to be scared to go outside, or scared that our children will be killed or taken by ambushes. That they aren't used for slave labor and that we can do pretty much what we like. We are blessed to be able to worship how we wish and be able to openly talk about our Love for God and Country. We truly are blessed.

Although yesterday was so fun, today was a polar opposite. Church. Boots has reached the constant wiggle stage where nothing will ever do. I spent pretty much 3 hours in a zone following him around the church. There is no quiet moment or sitting still with him. He is everywhere. 6 more months till nursery. AH!

Triple Digit Camping

I thought it would be nice to post a BLOG for all the parents that are on vacation from their kids this week. I know Jeni will be mad that I never BLOG for her, but I am willing to take the heat so the parents get a feel for how much fun we are having.

Needless to say it is HOT! Luckily we have spent tons of time in the lake. Don't worry moms, we have made sure that every boy gets nice and lathered with sun screen every day.

The boys are working hard on their merit badges and by the time they leave they will all have completed at least five merit badges! They are all looking at rank advancements when they get back.

We haven't had any accidents although there was a short time when a few boys wanted to get hurt just so they could see the camp nurse. Luckily that mindset was short lived because they found out that she had a boyfriend on Wednesday.

I think the number one activity for the week has been water football. We have spent hours in the water right by our campsite playing football, Frisbee, and just horsing around. There is a distinct tree that is a good distance away from the shore which the boys have named, "I can't believe it's not a tree, tree." Why it was given that name, I don't know. We actually got Jon to swim out there today which was a big accomplishment. His swimming has grown by leaps and bounds.

The boys have also come up with nicknames for everyone that I would like to share:

Landon- The Weatherman
While it was raining one morning, Landon called to me, "Brother Rawlins." I walked over to his tent and he said in total seriousness, "Brother Rawlins do you know what time it is going to stop raining?" I told him that I don't have that kind of power yet. He was subsequently called "the weatherman" from that time forward.

Dayton- Toast
There was one football game that Dayton consistently let his man score. From there on out he was called “Toast” because he kept getting toasted. Also, it sounds cool when we say toast.

Matthew- Shoreline
Without a doubt, before the ball is snapped Matthew would always swim over to the shoreline to line up. It is his favorite place to catch the football. That boy loves the shoreline.

Aaron- The Fountain
Let’s just say that Aaron’s favorite thing to do is put the fire out at night. Sorry Sister Jackson, you can blame Matthew Stegeman. Regardless of how he got it, it is a cool name.

Jonathan- The Tin Man
Jon got a little burn on his arms one day and he kept saying “Look guys I can’t move my arms!” “They are so stiff.” We asked him if he wanted some lubricant, and from there someone yelled out, “He’s the Tin Man”. He loves his nickname.

Charles- Big Evil
Those that know Charles can attest to the validity and accuracy of this name. Charles is a great boy but he is definitely Troop 623’s “Bad Boy”.

McKennon- Chips
Mack got some sweet Aviator glasses here at camp and he totally looks like a CHIP. You know, the TV show.

Kendrick- Shoes
This boy cannot keep track of his shoes. Almost hourly Kendrick will say “Anybody know where my shoes at?” (Quoted exactly) We need to sew those things on!

It has been a great week with the boys. It has gone so fast. Although there have been definite highs and lows, you all have raised wonderful young men. They have shown to be true to the scout law in every way. What a blessing it has been to learn from them and grow with them.

We look forward to seeing you all soon!

Here are a few pictures from the last few days.



We have seen all sorts of critters, but the worst was this big spider in one of the boy's tents.

Just keeping it real after a great day of swimming.

You gotta "pound it".

This is Dayton's Model shot.

Not as cool as Dayton's model shot, but at least he is trying.

Aaron and Jon just living the dream.

This is a good shot of some of the fun water events that are available at the camp. With swimming, canoeing, BLOBING, sailing, and rowing the boys had plenty of things to do.

This is what kept me sane!

Kendrick and Charles flexing like there is no tomorrow.

foodies

Eating a meal around here is the LONGEST part of my day. Meals take forever to finish in this house. I eat SUPER fast but Natalie has a love/hate relationship with her food. One day she will down it and others she will take an hour. I have to sit there and hand feed her every bite to get her to finish. 5 minutes after giving her a bite, I try for another and she says “I finish my bite ok?” and pretends to chew the bite that has already gone down. It is frustrating!

Eating a popsicle is the only time they both are happy for a good 5 minutes with what they are shoving in their mouths!
Dressing is another one that takes forever. I have had to come up with names for all of her clothes. Her play clothes, her Party clothes, Her church clothes, Her backyard clothes, Her store clothes. If they don’t have a name they aren’t going on her body. This is the only way to get her out of her jammies. And changing through the day? AH! Today she picked out some play clothes and then after I got dressed and came out in a dress she insisted that she had to wear a dress too. Just time consuming! I have the best Sis in Law ever, Anna is so good to me. Since Brian is gone, she has made a very special effort to make sure I don’t get lonely. Driving out with ice cream treats to hang out at night and having us over for dinner. Anna you are the best! Last night we went over for Dinner. We had baths and ready for bed there too but the only jammies they could get into were boy jams for Nat and of course Girl jams for Boots. Classy! We played till after 9 last night, the kids were just too cute to put to bed!

This is stephens Shy face. He tilts his head over and looks at me with this little face. He is so cute.

And speaking of food? I NEVER want to cook but when Brian is gone, I especially dont want to cook anything. I find it pointless since the above mentioned 2 children will not really eat what I cook and so to cook a meal for me seems like a waste, of food and time. I would rather waste the money and get take out. Brian will not be happy when he gets home!

This Summer our sweet cousins, Brandon 11, and Dannielle 10, have been able to spend some time with us and we are going to have them once a week all summer! They are so fun and helpful! Yesterday we went to our little beach here in town and they had so much fun building sandcastles and swimming in the lake. Natalie's favorite part there, aside from sand and water castles is going out deep to look for mermaids. Any girl in the lake she thinks is a mermaid. haha

We tried to make it over to the church bookstore this morning but made it not even halfway there and I got so fed up with the kids crying and complaining that we came back home. I guess I cant blame them, they survived through 4 returns stops. I dont know why I always have returns to make, I dont shop that much but I always seem to have a stack of returns. So this afternoon I think we will make the try again, or I might just give up and go swimming.

blab blab

Brian left on Scout Camp for the week this morning and last night they all slept over at our house. So me and the kids went into the In-laws, no biggie. EXCEPT for when I get home to a “clean” house to the eye. It smelt like nasty dirty stinky feet and when I went to take Natalie to the bathroom, the seat was up, pee splots everywhere and pee un-flushed in the toilet. Why are boys so nasty? So I have been cleaning all morning. I want all traces of that OUT!

I am finding that the older Natalie gets and the more mature she gets, she is quickly learning the tricks of us adults. I try to bribe her and that isn’t working so well. For example, for church yesterday her little dress had a sweater to go with it and she DID not want to wear it, so I told her “No blanky if you aren’t wearing your sweater” I thought for sure she would be all for the sweater, and she looked at me and said “ok, no gigi mommy” (gigi=blanky) and we proceeded into church where she saw her blanky sitting in my bag and she then saw the sweater again and said “No gigi mom!” rascal. Since then she has decided that compromise comes with everything. I am not going to eat my lunch, but don’t worry “No gigi k?” She is apparently making up the rules now.

So while making lunch today she decided that the cheese needed to be in timeout and she wouldn’t let me touch it until it was finished with timeout. I am waiting for me to be put in timeout.
Speaking of Timeout though, today she had to be in timeout for hitting brother very hard and on the way there she looked up at me with these sweet eyes and asked “Are you mad mommy?” I continued to tell her I was sad and I don’t like it when she is mean to brother. When I said I was upset, this made her soo sad. So when timeout was over she immediately asked me if I was still mad. I told her that after she made up with Brother and said sorry I would be fine and she was so relieved to know she could make it better. So sweet. It is hard to scold when they are sweet.

She is my motivation on days like today though. She has a new found love of the gym daycare center and so all day she has asked me if we are going to the gym. I promised her that after naps we would go. UG! Now I really have to go!

We were soo busy this last weekend but of course it was all fun! Friday night we went out to do some shopping, dinner and a movie. We saw The Proposal and it was very cute. Brian really wanted to see Star Trek but I wasn’t in the mood. But the Proposal was really funny!

Then Saturday started off at a baptism for our friends little 6 month old twin girls. It was downtown in a beautiful cathedral. Natalie has never been to another church and she loved the little benches to kneel on and that all the little babies and kids were in white. At one point during the baptism she turned to me and asked when it was her turn to go. She did not like when we told her had to wait till she was 8.

So then we headed to a family friends 80’s birthday party red white and blue styles. I think the kids looked adorable, especially the cute little 4th bows I made for Nat. After the party we went to the baptism after party for the babies. AH! It was sooo fun. They had like a 12 piece mariachi band playing (which boots would sing and dance through the songs) and awesome buffet (homemade guac, tortillas, so yum) and some AWESOME Mexican drinks. A game they do for the kids, they make hundreds of doallrs into quarters and then each kid gets a cup and they throw these quarters out into the grass and the kids get to race and pick up as many as they can, as fast as they can. We walked away with about 5 dollars, thanks to Natalie and her quick eye! This culture is soo friendly, I could just have stayed all day. They treat everyone like family and we just had so much fun dancing and talking. (most of which was in Spanish, so I didn’t understand) At one point Natalie asked me what they said and I told her it was in Spanish and she looked at me really confused and said “Dora?” I had no idea she could put that together. Of course I forgot my camera in the car for that and was too lazy to go get it.

That night we headed to a Baseball game with the best seats we have ever had, and it was sooo hot to sit through being 106 that day! UGH! But it was one of the best games I have been to. They played horrible but it was fun.

Ok nice LONG recap!! We had a fun weekend so here is to a week without Brian!! Cant wait to see him on the 4th! Anyone have fun 4th of July ideas?? Crafts, food, games anything! I want some fun ideas.

I CANT get enough

this kid is so stinkin' cute. He hears the bath water from across the house and comes running. As you can see, he tries to crawl in sooo bad!

He has learned the sounds he can make inside a bucket or bowl and is always playing with them and yelling into them. Silly.

In his new Kicks!!

And he just doesn't have time to lay down and eat his bottle anymore. I will lay him down and in seconds he is up and tipping his head back to down it. He totes it around the house and slowly enjoys it as he plays. It is like it gives him little bouts of energy as he plays.

And what did Natalie want for Dinner tonight? Cereal and cherry Tomatoes, together. sick.

We recently got a car that requires some new licence plates. In my quest to try and get these I have been sent all around the metroplex. It has been very unorganized and very crazy. Well today I was sent up 30 minutes away to the Sheriff's office. In my quest to find it, I got lost and called. "Do you see the Courthouse? We share the parking lot with them." ok there is the courthouse and the only building sharing the parking lot is the prison. Electric fences, tall walls, security, everything you imagine in a prison. This cant be right. But it is the only building so I go in. After walking in and noticing the only man in the "lobby" is wearing a black and white striped jumpsuit (reading a book albeit) I see a woman back behind some bars with a sign overhead "information". Surrounding this are numerous signs reading different instructions for visitors and inmates and money for inmates etc. Well long story short, I was scared, Natalie started to talking to said inmate, and we had to wait there 20 minutes only to be told we had to go somewhere else. (I got a picture of this man, it will be posted later as it was on my cell phone and i dont know how to load those). I learned today just how friendly natalie can be to strangers.

high hair

Edward Cullen
Prince Harry

Syndrome

What do they have in common?

Long hair. Crazy hair.

Who reminds you of these guys?? No one I know. But apparently People are reminded of them when they look at Brian.

He has been growing his hair out for a while now. This is at my request cause I think it is super cute on him. This picture of Edward is the exact one hanging in my closet and I like to joke that Brian gets his styling inspiration from him. Syndrome was announced by his brothers on Sunday that this is for sure who he reminds them of with his hair.

However today while we were walking through Costco an older woman shopper and a Man working the salmon booth approached Brian together very giddy and excited that indeed they had spotted Prince Harry. Yes, Prince Harry has come over from England to Texas to shop at Coscto with his homeless looking girlfriend and 2 children. They came up and asked him if he was indeed Prince Harry. This totally made my day! hahahaha

Oddly enough I got a phone call from my mom today minutes later telling me that I have not blogged in WEEKS. Lucky for you ma, I have this story that you already heard on the phone to share in blogland!!

BEST DAD AWARD

In loo of Father Day being tomorrow I will make this wonderful half post about Brian.

Brian is such a great dad.

So yesterday I had him run to the mall to get me some face lotion and while he was there he decided to get Stephen some shoes. He has none and since he is walking, obviously he needs some. So he brought home the most adorable pair of shoes ON SALE. Great right? haha the cute part is that he bought him a size 1W. He wears a 4. I looked at the 1's and they looked like too small for a newborn. Now I will let him off the hook as he is a male and probably has no idea at all about those kinds of things and just say Thank you for the sweet Gesture!

Another great daddy act was last night. Brian and Natalie went out on their first Daddy Daughter date. I think I cried a little. It was so cute. They went out to Cheesecake Factory to dinner(only the best for our girl! kidding, I have no idea why he took her there. He is crazy) and then to the movie Up in the theatre. This was a big monumental thing for us as this was her first Movie theatre since she was a baby and Brian said she did great. She sat there the whole time.

Funny story though, So Natalie is STILL in the process of being potty trained and so she wears a pullup, occasionally she will wear panties though. Last night was one of those and she would not put on a pullup before she left. I knew she would pee her pants though since Brian isn't the greatest at taking her, and so I sent a pullup with them. Brian said that when they got in the movie he went to go put her pullup on and natalie kept saying panties, since she didn't want her panties off. So instead of seeming creepy and having his daughter crying about her panties he just put the pullup on overtop. Of course when they got home panties and pullup were wet. I am just glad he put it on at all!

(small note on Nat and moving on from Brian) She has been really clever lately and knows how to get the dryer. If she is looking for something (like a certain pair of jammies she has to wear every night) and I tell her they are dirty, she goes in here to look and see if they have been cleaned. She goes in the dryer once a day to check out the laundry.

What am I learning? I cant do handprints with finger paint with a 3 year old and a 11 month old alone. We were trying to make cards for Daddy and Grandad and Grandpa and they all turned into smudgy messes. But being Natalie's first finger painting experience, she loved it!!And yes, this is how she wears her headbands, ANTM styles.

Backyard fun, which happens ALOT in this house. I totally regret teaching her how to spray this. I am never safe out there.

The other night Brian took us out to the Ballpark for our first Rangers game of the season. AHHH It felt good to be back in there watching a game. The kids were great, another surprise, and it was so fun!

Walking back to the car, I dont know what he was doing or what he liked about it but he had his arms up the whole walk back and he kept giggling. haha

NOT frazzled Daddy

While I was at Girls Camp Brian was here with the kiddies and he did such a great job! I know some people dont completely trust their hubbies with the kids, understandably, BUT Brian is the best! When I got back I found a binder of a menu for the week for each kid, and a camera with lots of fun pictures from things they did. The House was spotless and it was sooo great to come home to everyone happy!
Handsome boy!!! He was Pimpin' it to church on Sunday!

Brian has started this new diet and all I can say is "WOOF"! It is sick. It is kind of like Atkins but way more protein and carb load on weekends. ok that might be just like Atkins, I dont know. Anyway I was trying to get babyfood out the other day and this is what I saw. Really bri? there are other ways to get protein you know.

I have been exhausted since Camp and Last night this is what Brian looked over to...

The flash woke me up and I was TICKED! dont take my picture, bring me to bed.

boots walking, and camp pictures coming soon!

music.

Growing up I learned to play the piano. When I moved out to college, I didn't get to play very often since we were in an apartment without a piano. Then I kinda lost it. Now that I have a family and a house, I feel empty.

There is nothing that fills the house like music, and not just ipod or radio music. I mean real I am playing the instrument making this music music. The sound of a piano filling the house is such a beautiful thing to me. I have so many memories of playing and listening to my sis Libby play growing up that I love. When she would practice the whole house would shake, I swear! She was is sooo amazing! Ah Sis, I miss that! I just love the sound of those keys.

So I miss it. And I want one. I want to get good again. I want a piano in my home so my kids can learn to play and listen to me play. So this is the gift I ask from now on. Other things are great too, but this is on the top of my list. (If you are wanting to get rid of yours, I will gladly take it on)


In other very exciting news, Stephen is officially WALKING!! (video footage to come)

Love the Lake

Last weekend we were invited out on the boat with our friends Chris and Sarah and it was so fun. I haven't been wakeboarding or anything in like 10 years so it was so fun to get out there. I have to say the next day, I was SUPER sore! and the next day and the next. goes to show I am working out the wrong muscles for that sport!

Here I am showing my skillz!!


And that Kat - You rock girl!
I thought for sure she would be scared of the boat but she had alot of fun!

Thanks guys, we had a ton of fun! I wish I could go boating every weekend!

snoozzer

So we made it home alive from girls camp. It was so much fun and I love those girls so much but I am so exhausted from it. I need a full day of napping to recover I feel like!

I just have to say how awesome Brian is, I got home and he made me lay down, then he proceeded to unload my car, then he unpacked my bag and immediately started my laundry. What a sweet heart! Then he planned a date for us too. I did ruin his plans though as it was HOTTER than hot outside and he wanted to go to a Rangers game, I had been sweating all week, I needed a sweat break. But we still had a fun date. What a sweetheart I married! I love him!

But I am home!