Rockport Beach

On Tuesday morning we loaded up and headed out to the beach. At this point we knew that Hurricane Dolly was headed into the Texas Coast and we wanted to make sure we made it to the beach just in case... All three kids enjoyed piling onto Daddy in the shallow water.
Connor spent a lot of time chasing the birds! He would yell, "Here birdie, birdie, come here now!"

Of course, sand castle building was in store! Bailey and Jack are expert sand castle planners. Connor is the expert sand castle destroyer.
After an hour and a half, Bailey just went to the umbrella and sat in the shade. She really isn't in love with the beach. She would much rather be in the pool.
The boys enjoyed some football.

Who is that really skinny kid relaxing in the water? Someday when he is older and has a little meat on his bones I'll show him this pic.

Take Me Out To The Ballgame...

A few months before our beach trip, I began to look for something new to do around Rockport. We have been so many times that we feel like we do the same things every year. I decided to check out the Corpus Christi AA team, the Hooks. It just so happened that they were playing the Frisco Roughriders while we were in town. And, it happened to be dollar dogs and sodas! What else could we ask for, baseball, dogs and cokes. We settled into our outfield seats on the lawn and ate a few dogs. Bailey enjoyed resting on Mimi.
The kids loved standing along the wall and looking down to see the players and Jack really enjoyed begging after each and every inning for a ball to be thrown at him.
Connor didn't appreciate the game too much yet. He was more interested in running away to the really nice kids play area below us. One home run ball was hit like a line drive directly between our blanket and Terry and Nicole's. It hit the ground very hard and flew to fast for us to get it behind us. I was so grateful that none of the kids were in the path of that hard hit ball.
It was a fun, new adventure during our beach vacation.

My Favorite Summer Blog

Yes, what you are seeing is Connor in underwear. Diego underwear to be exact. Mommy bought him some underwear and a potty seat to see if he was ready. He does love the underwear. Just that he forgets to take the diaper off! He wants to wear them with a diaper under them all the time. My little Comedian. I guess I got my answer.

Fireworks!

We headed out to Memaw's and G-Dad's the weekend after the 4th and the boys couldn't wait to shoot fireworks. Of course, Connor thought it was so funny to blow out the match before they could light the pump. It took Daddy many, many tries before he could beat Connor to get it lit.
Jack loves lighting fireworks and wanted to do it all by himself this year. It made me a bit nervous but Daddy let him. Connor got to hold his first sparkler this year. He wasn't quite sure what to make of it.
Now, notice I said my boys love fireworks! This is where Bailey parked her fanny. In the garage as far away as possible. She has always been scared of the noise they make and is not thrilled to see them.
We also got to do Connor's favorite thing, feed the Neigh Neigh's.

Again, the boys loved feeding the horses but Bailey wouldn't get close enough to feed them. I keep hoping she will outgrow a few of her fears but not yet.
Daddy rode them all three around the pasture on the tractor and they love it.
Connor loves to "drive" the tractor.

It was a fun Sunday at the farm!

Outrigger Island

VBS was in June and really we spent the whole month getting ready and having it. Don't get me wrong I love helping to make it so special for the kids, but it definitely takes a toll on all of us.
Bailey's friend Kylie went with us this week and the girls had a blast.

Connor was in a classroom for the first time and he loved it! He didn't cry once when I dropped him off and he could see me during the day and not get upset. He would smile and say Hi mommy! This is Connor with his buddy Mason. They are so cute together.
Of course, Jack had a blast. This is Jack and his buddy Clay clowning around. In their class picture they are doing bunny ears to each other. Oh well, that fits the two of them perfectly. These two have been friends since they were around 6 months old.

All in all, VBS was a huge success. The director, Chelsea does an incredible job of organizing and running it. The kids loved it and now finally our summer can begin.

My Favorite 8 Year Old

This is what our playroom looked like at 1:00am. Six 7 and 8 year olds laying in sleeping bags and playing our gamecube and their Nintendo DS's. This was the biggest birthday adventure Greg and I have had so far... We started the evening with our family coming over for a cookout and cupcakes. Jack got everything he wanted and more. We gave him a new "moto" style bike he had been wanting. He also got several lego sets he wanted and new games for his DS. He got a cool archaeologist set to play outside with. He is sure that he wants to be an Archaeologist when he grows up. He also got a set of matchbox cars that he gave to his baby brother because he has so many and Connor really wanted them.

After the family dinner all Jack's friends showed up. While Daddy cooked the dogs they bounced and bounced and bounced. That is my child completely out of control in mid air.
Here is the tent that they were suppose to sleep in that night! It didn't happen for several reasons. I am the one who decided not to put them outside. It was really humid and hot and I was afraid we would never get them to sleep.
After playing outside and eating our campin' cookout we headed in to have cupcakes with worms on top! Then he opened more fun gifts. After that Daddy asked them if they wanted to go to the High School baseball game. We can walk to the field just one street over and 4 of them jumped at the chance to go to a High School game. Then they went to Blockbuster and got a movie to watch.
While they watched the movie the had seconds on dinner and had root beer floats and popcorn!
They really just loved hanging out and playing games and eating! Yes, I stocked up on snacky foods. And it was a good thing. One friend ate four hot dogs! I don't think I could ever get Jack to eat more than one! Around 12:30 we began the long process of getting them into bed and trying to get them to sleep. Finally, at 1:20 when I checked on them they were all snoring! Thank goodness because three of them had a baseball playoff game the next morning at 10:20!

Happy 8th Birthday, Jackson!

I still remember that night eight years ago that you came into my life. You came in with a bang and haven't stopped since. Every time you walk up to me and hug me and tell me you love me I still melt. God has blessed us with a wonderful first born son. Continue to honor God and your mommy and daddy.

End of the Year Zoo Trip

Bailey's Kindergarten class went on a year end zoo trip in May. Her sweet teacher, Mrs. Lehner, broke the kids into several groups and we took off to visit all the animals. We had a great time, everyone in our group was so well behaved.
A few kids you could tell didn't get to the Zoo often and were just amazed at all the animals.
Bailey's best friend, Serena was in another group but Bailey had fun anyway. I could tell why Bailey was so liked by her classmates, she was very sweet to everyone, including them in things and helping them if they needed it. There is one little boy though, who likes her a lot and keeps trying to kiss her. I've got my eyes on him!!!

More Spring Soccer

Jack played soccer this Spring also. This picture was the same game day as Bailey's and Jack was the co-captain too. I think they won the coin toss. Jack is almost always a forward. He is agressive beyond belief and is wherever the ball is. Scoring was tough this year. His team wasn't gelling well together and they lost most games.
He seems to have a definite aptitude for soccer. We are checking into special soccer clubs and practices. He needs some tough coaching and fine tuning of his skills.
Jack was so agressive that the other teams seemed to target him a bit. He (not OK) tends to put his shoulder into the other players as they run along beside him. Which causes the other team to push and trip him alot! You can see the other players hand on Jack's back. If he breaks away they almost always push him down. In this game he and number 20 had a battle all game. Jack is also the team drama king! He tends to end up on the ground so he makes the most of it and rolls and moans. Which also almost always gets him a free kick because the other team gets a penalty. In this pic he is running the ball with his best bud Clay. They had fun together.

Jack hates to come out of a game. He would play the whole game and has when they were short players. I have to say that I love to go to the kids soccer games. I love to watch Jack play so hard and Bailey get so excited.

Spring Soccer

Bailey played soccer again this spring. Her little team has been together now for a while and are becoming a good little team. This particular week she was one of the captains at the start of the game. I think they lost the coin toss. She is still timid and a little shy even on the soccer field. Once the game gets going though she usually begins to get aggressive.
She was playing half back during this quarter and was waiting on the ball. She is a pretty good defender. She tries hard not to let the ball past her.
She does stay focused during a game. This season she scored goals in several games and was so proud of herself. She also looks really cute in her uniform with her hair pulled up in a "pony".
Way to go Bailey!

A Special Two Year Old

Connor had a very special two year old birthday. Yes, it was in April!!! I am way behind. He loves Diego and wanted a party with Diego. So, Aunt Tamara came as "Click the Camera".
My friend Sam's did a great job on the cake. I would normally make the cake but had a few things going on and didn't think I could do it justice.
We had a big Mexican fiesta with all our family and the kids loved playing in the backyard. Connor just loves having all his family around him.
He also loved tearing into the gifts and had a little help from sister, brother and all his cousins!
Greg and I feel very fortunate to have our big boy Connor in our family. A year ago he got very sick and we were faced with the unthinkable. We say a prayer of thanksgiving everyday for Connor staying healthy. When those hard sick times come around we are just grateful for the doctors we have and the care he gets. We stay focused on our blessings.

Easter, Finally

Granny came to have Easter lunch with us. Connor wanted to help with the unwrapping of a gift.
Isn't that sweet! Look quick it doesn't happen often.
I loved this one. Connor's favorite thing to do is look for the quack, quacks in the creek behind Mimi and Papa's house. They were all three looking and I asked them to look at me. Notice all three of my kids looked at their mom when she called!

I actually got some pretty good pictures this Easter. We are really enjoying our little compact camara. It takes nice pics.

Yea Pictures Again!

My sweet friend, Traci, will be happy to know that I have finally gotten my software loaded on our new computer and can post pictures again. This is the first of many!

Sweet Connor decided to dump his crib and sleep in his Big Boy Bed! He and Jack have bunk beds and we decided for the time being that we would leave both on the ground. A great idea since Connor spent the first month in Jack's bed with him as soon as the lights were out!

A Quick Catch up

Since my last blog we have finished Sunshine School, VBS is in full swing, several family birthdays, and lots of end of school fun at the big kiddos school. Oh, and Greg started his new job.

Sunshine School ended with the final program and open house. Connor didn't have to go but I did because all the kids sang some Spanish songs I taught them. Connor had a great year at school this year. He made some really good friends and loves to talk about Tedi and Mason. He will definitely miss his Mrs. Leslie. He really loved his teacher. It was Mrs. Leslie's last year so our class gave her a really pretty bracelet for her end of year gift.

VBS planning is going full force! Since I am in charge of supplies I have actually been shopping a ton lately. Connor is a trooper when we go out to Wal-Mart or Party City and the basket is so full you can't even see Connor anymore! The theme is Outrigger Island (Hawaiian theme) and the kids are so excited to see it all come together. We all sing the songs in the car.

We have attended several birthday parties. First, Garrison turned 7 and we celebrated at Planet Pizza. Then, we went to dinner for Aunt Nicole and Papa's birthdays. The next birthday is Aunt Tamara's and then my big boy turns 8!

I have been very busy at the older kiddos school lately. We have had a field trip to the zoo and conferences and Popcorn Friday, picnic on the lawn and talent show and PTA. Next year I am the First Vice- Pres. on the PTA board. I will be in charge of all luncheons and teacher treats and Teacher Appreciation week. I am so excited and already have several ideas for surprises for the teachers. I love going to their school and helping out. Both kids teachers are just amazing. Greg and I feel so blessed to have had them in our kids lives. They are both kind, Christian young women and have been a very positive influence on our kids. We all will miss Mrs. Lehner and Ms. Bradley when school is out.

Greg started a new job last week and it is going well. He was in Weatherford for two weeks for training. After having him around for nearly 3 months taking the kids to school or running to the store for me or letting me run errands by myself it is a big adjustment not having him around.

More to come...

Neigh, Neigh

Connor has named all animals by the sound they make. Lions are Roars, dogs are Woof, Woof, ducks are quack, quacks and so on...
Our favorite and Connor's is neigh, neigh for horses. He loves to feed the horses at Memaw's farm and runs to her fridge all day and begs for her to get carrots for the neigh, neighs. For his birthday we gave him a big stuffed brown pony. He was so excited when he saw it and screamed neigh, neigh. When Greg and I asked him what he would like to name it he screamed, Hee Haw!
So we now have a Neigh, Neigh named Hee Haw at our house!

Quick Catch up!

Wow! Where did March go???
I have so much to catch up on and no time to do it. So, here is a really quick catch up of the last month and a half.

Greg- His boss decided to close the Dallas stores (while Connor was in the hospital!) and didn't tell Greg until he tried to go to work one morning and the doors were locked! So, with no more stores in Dallas that means no stores for Greg to manage. He is in the process of looking and interviewing. It does mean lots of "honey do" things are getting done! We also found out Greg's disease is in remission and he was cleared by his pulmonologist to only come in if symptoms reappear. That was great news! Greg had a birthday yesterday and we went to eat barbecue, daddy's favorite.
Me- Sick, sick and more sick! I haven't been well since the hospital in January. Finally after another ER visit they told me to go see a Pulmonologist (we already knew a good one!). As I told the Doctor, I can go, go, go even sick but with this whatever it is, it knocks me down hard. I end up in bed for days. The Pulmonologist listened to my lungs and the look on his face scared me! He sent me to have a CT Scan the next day because he thought he heard something in my lower left lung. He told us he needed to rule out Blood clots because it sounded like them and they were very serious. He said if that was what they found he would put me in the hospital immediately and start blood thinners. The CT went well and the tech who ran it made me feel better because I was a nervous wreck! We didn't get the results until Monday around 6 and they saw no blood clots but some infiltrations, which means the infection from January is not going away. I am now on long term anti-biotics and hopefully that will get rid of it.
Jack- Playing soccer and baseball and loving it! He is such an active energetic boy. I can't believe it but my sweet first born is almost 8! He is a BIG mommy's boy. He constantly tells me how pretty I am and how much he loves me. He is doing great in 2nd grade. His teacher is wonderful and loves Jack. Who doesn't? He has such a warm, friendly personality. He has also become a super big brother to Connor. He lets Connor crawl into bed with him at night to help him go to sleep and lets Connor play with him all the time. It is fun to see the boys playing dinosaurs and pretending together.
Bailey- Sweet Bailey! She is excelling in Kindergarten. Her teacher came to her soccer game last Saturday and was bragging on Bailey. She is reading on a 2nd grade level! She is writing so well and not just sentences but stories! I let the ball drop on the second child because I don't really ever work with her like I did with Jack, but she doesn't need my help! Her hair has finally grown out and is rather long. She won't wear bows anymore but I can get her into a headband with a bow on it. She has scored goals in her last two soccer games! She is the one who has had the hardest time with me being sick. She really gets upset when I am sick and worries about me constantly.
Connor- He turned 2!!! I will blog about that milestone when my computer it fixed. Right now I am on Jack's computer because mine is not working. So, no pictures and I have to put pictures of Connor on his big day! He is in a big boy bed now and is the hardest of the three to get to sleep in the big bed. The boys have bunk beds and we left them both on the ground for now because Connor crawls into Jack's bed every night. We have babied Connor more than the other two because of his illness and now we are paying for it! He is talking like crazy all of a sudden. Our favorite saying is when he tell us, "Chill out mommy!" "Chill out daddy!" At his check up he was two inches taller than Jack was at this age. The Doctor thinks he is going to be about 6 foot 4! Daddy's size. His and Jack's personalities are very similar. I will have my hands full with these two boys!

I'll blog later about Connor's birthday!