They Can't Start Without the Ring Bear...

WOW-so its been a month again!! I don't know where the time goes. And this time, I had a TON of pictures and just never updated the blog!

What a month March was for us!! We started out the month by me going to California with some girlfriends for a weekend getaway. We had a great time...but I'm not so sure Joe did! Nothing in the house got redecorated this time, but Joe was definitely ready for me to get home! The following weekend, Austin was the "ring bear" in one of my girlfriend's wedding. He looked so handsome and was so concerned that they were going to start without him. I kept trying to convince him that he wasn't the star of the show, but he wasn't picking up on that! He did great and was such the ham all day long (as well as at the rehearsal dinner the night before!

I may be a bit biased, but I think he could be on the cover of a magazine!

Austin and the Bride-to-Be the night before the wedding!

Again...this just seems too perfect. So does the one below...does anyone know an agent?

And, of course, Kayla and the beautiful bride!

...and with Austin, possibly the most handsome "ring bear" ever. I'll rent him out to anyone who needs one!

I'm not sure why we can't get a picture with everyone looking at the camera!

And then Mommy and Daddy stayed and had fun after the kiddos went home!

The following day, we went to Austin to watch my soon-to-be 80 year old grandfather fly an old WWII plane! For those that don't know, he is a retired Air Force pilot and the family bought him a 30 minute flight for his 80th birthday this summer. Needless to say, we weren't going to miss watching him fly it, so we all made the drive to Austin to check it out. The kids had a BLAST watching him and we all really enjoyed it as well. I think he had a really GREAT time, and its something I'm so glad we all got to be there to watch him!

This is my Poppa, right before he got into the plane! I think he was bursting with joy!

Right before take-off...

...and after the flight with all the grandkids!

We've already done the obligatory bluebonnet pictures that every Texan must do each spring and the kids had a great time. We made a small drive out of town to Independence, Texas, the sight of Old Baylor University. We went with some friends and made an afternoon out of it, having a picnic virtually in a field of bluebonnets. And then, of course, we had to plant our bottoms in the middle of some to take some pics. We're almost to the point where they will sit still and smile for the camera.

This was at the park where we did the picnic. I thought it would be funny to lay under the swings and take pictures of the kids as they were swinging. However, I underestimated the length of Kayla's legs and got nailed in the face the first time...

Don't they just look so sweet and innocent?! Austin's just like his daddy and can't help but squint when we're taking pictures outside!

And then you get to this picture and realize that we are in SO much trouble when Kayla gets older...WOW!

At least I know they CAN sit still and smile for the camera...it just doesn't mean they WILL!

Finally, this weekend was Austin's birthday party. Pics from that event are forthcoming!

We also had another edition of "Austin dresses up Kayla"...a bit more elaborate this time. I'm telling you...he's going somewhere with this!

We hope March was as great for you all as it was for us. I'd like to say I'll be better about blogging this month, but no promises! Maybe that'll make it actually happen!!

God doesn't like to make people slaves...

Ah, yes...Deep Thoughts from a five year old! The other night, Joe was trying to get Austin to clean up his room. The conversation went something like this...

Joe: Get in there and clean up your room.

Austin: You help me...

Joe: I didn't help you make the mess and its your room.

Austin: No, its not my room. It's GOD'S room!

Joe: (after a lengthy pause) Well, God wants you to pick it up (well played!)

Austin: That's not fair...you're making me a slave...God doesn't like to make people slaves!

Joe: (nothing!)

As you can see, we've been reading the Bible quite a bit! Next thing you know, Joe will be Pharaoh!

Today, we went ice skating with our Sunday School class (well, two other families!) We had a BLAST...OK, me and Austin had fun. Kayla went around the rink once, pretty much with me holding her up and Joe made it around a few times. I think I saw him hit the ice a few times, too!! Austin and I had a GREAT time, though its hard to teach an almost five year old how to keep his feet underneath him when he's standing on two blades on a sheet of ice!

Austin after one of the many times he hit the ice! I'm not sure if he is reaching for help to be picked up or telling Joe not to take any pictures!

Aren't they so darn sweet to each other!

Here's Kayla with her skates on! She did a much better job of walking around in them on dry land than she did on the ice!


Me and Austin on the ice together! He did such a good job for having never done anything like that before!
Last weekend, I went out of town and Joe had the kids to himself ALL WEEKEND (GASP!) Before I tell this story, remember my post around Christmas time when I said I would regret buying Austin his painting set? Well...I now regret it! Somehow, Austin got the paints out and the kids were painting in the kitchen while Joe was playing his video game (that's a whole other issue!) They were allegedly doing fine for a while and painting on paper. However, Kayla decided she didn't like the color of our tile floor and PAINTED THEM ALL BLACK! Joe realizes what's going on and puts a stop to it. He cleans up the floor and bathes Kayla (although, the bathtub is still black from it!) Thank goodness for water soluble paint! Anyway, he puts the kids in the room watching a movie and returns to his video game, leaving the bottle of paint on the end table. Well, our darling 2 year old comes out, gets the paint without being seen and paints the wood floor black, as well as the carpet and the walls! Why is it that you can't get a child to make a handprint on paper when you're trying to make something, but they have no problem making perfect handprints on walls?! We were able to get it all cleaned up, except for the wall that will need to be repainted!

She's so proud of herself in this picture!!!

Reference back to one of my earlier posts, as well, about wishing I would have my cameral available to take more pictures of things. Well, below are two pictures of Kayla in moments that we busted her in. Apparently, Austin is not as mischievous as she is, so I don't have as many pictures of him doing funny things.

I think Kayla might actually be working on her own blog here!

So, we busted Kayla climbing up on the cabinet to get her Flinstone's vitamins down. I of course grabbed the camera to take a picture and then got her off!

Hope you're all still doing well and ready for March to get here! I can't believe that next weekend we will return to Daylight Savings Time (don't forget!) 2009 is already moving right along and taking us with it!

Hello, Hello, Hello!!!

So...WOW...I can't believe it has been almost a month since I posted! We have (obviously) been VERY busy! Valentine's Day brought some much needed family time...we had a great day just spending time together. The kids went to a birthday party and had a wonderful time. Later, we got them to show some love to each other so we could take some pictures!!



About a week before Valentine's Day, we went to the zoo in Houston with some friends. It was very much a last minute decision, but we went and had a great time together! The kids all had so much fun just running around and being crazy. Its a long way just to go to a zoo, but it was worth it to spend some family time together!



This is Kayla crawling through the tunnel in the aquarium. The tunnel lets the kids "feel" like they're in the water with the fish!

Austin was standing up against the glass looking at the fish and I loved the way he was silhouetted against the light!

Other than that, we've just been busy doing the many things we do! Joe and I are playing softball again and are heading to a softball game in just a little bit. Austin is playing soccer again this spring and has his first soccer game this weekend. He had his second practice tonight and seemed to have a good time, even though it was pretty cold outside! Its funny to see how he remembers things from the fall. They all actually seemed to remember what they were supposed to be doing when they were out there practicing!

When we got home tonight, I walked into the bedroom and Kayla was laying on our bed "watching TV." It was just one of those moments I had to grab the camera!
I hope all has been well for all of you and that you haven't missed us too much! As always...I'll try to post more!

Austin the Hunter? or the Fashion Designer???!!!

Happy Thursday, Everyone!

So, tonight has been relatively peaceful in our house...the kids have been playing back in their bedrooms and I haven't heard any yelling, so all must be well, right? Well, I decide to listen what they are saying to each other and I hear the following exchange:

Austin: Ok, Kayla, let's take those off (uh oh...that can't be good!)

Kayla: Ok, Bubba

Austin: Kayla, step in. KAYLA, STEP IN

Kayla: Ok, Bubba

A few minutes later, Kayla walks out of the bedroom dressed like this...

Austin was QUITE PROUD of his creation!

He told me that she was a princess who just had a baby. They are continuing to play in her room, she's still in the leotard with the tutu, the yellow high heels and the necklace. I think I just heard something about her having three twins...OH, LORD!

Austin and Joe went to Joe's mom's this weekend for his "first hunting trip." Duck season ends soon, and Austin has been wanting to go all season. For those of you who don't know, duck season around her this year has been pretty scarce because of the relatively mild temperatures. Joe's mom has a pond down behind her house that they hunt at sometimes. Well, Sunday morning, Joe and Austin went down to the pond to hunt. Not sure how many times Joe fired the gun (he probably wouldn't tell me anyway, since he didn't come home with much!), but Austin came home with A DUCK!!!



He was so excited about it and I know he can't wait to shoot his own duck. Joe was quite proud as well that Austin was wanting to "play" with it. The "treat" came later that night when he requested that they eat "fried duck" for dinner! Joe obliged and said it actually wasn't too bad (unfortunately, I wasn't here to try it!)

While Joe and Austin were out of town, Kayla and I stayed here to have a "girl's weekend." Unfortunately, Kayla was pretty sick all weekend, so we just stayed around the house. Towards the end of the weekend, she was obviously feeling better, and I walked into the living room as she was reading to her babies. I think they were all enjoying it!

I hope you're all having a great week. The playing still seems to be going well, although I just heard a very frustrated "NO, Bubba's not done!!" We'll see how long this lasts! I also keep hearing the sound of toys being pulled out of toy boxes...I wonder who's going to clean that up?!

Inauguration Day...

No photos today...just my random ramblings regarding the "festivities" occurring in our Nation's Capitol.

I am fully aware of the historical nature of today's events. Don't get me wrong, this is a day to go down in the history books. However, is it really necessary to spend this amount of money when the country is in the economic crisis that we're in? I can think of MANY better ways to spend the money. Can you imagine if a Republican were spending this sort of money on an inauguration event?! There is a bill that has been passed AND signed that would give federal loan forgiveness to prosecutors...but, there's no money to fund it! Maybe, if we cut back on an inaugural ball (or five!), we could use that money to pay back the great public servants in our country who don't make nearly what our private practice counterparts make.

I get that our new "leader" has a perceived "great vision" for the country...I just wish I could say that vision would be good for everyone. From what I've seen so far, it appears to me that the status quo would be better for me (yes, I'm selfish...I know!)

Obviously, Obama wasn't my choice for president in November. However, as an American, I know that he is now "my" president. I just wish his "hope" and "change" wasn't so divisive already. Only time will tell what his legacy will leave. I just hope people look behind the smoke and mirrors to what action he actually takes, what good he actually does and whether he actually leaves this country a better place than when he found it.

My Baby Girl is 2!!!!!

So, today is Kayla's birthday, although it has really been more of a birthday weekend! We had Kayla's party yesterday at The Bounce. The Bounce is really a very smart idea on the part of some entrepreneur here in town to fill a building with jump houses. What more could a kid ask for than about 10 different play things to jump in...and what could make a parent more crazy?! Well, we had about 15 kids come to celebrate with Kayla and I'm pretty sure she had a good time. OK, I'm not really sure she realized that the party was for her, but she had a good time anyway. We were there for about two hours, and she was definitely worn out by the end of the day! When we opened presents when we got home, it took forever because she wanted to COMPLETELY open every present she got. That also caused some problems for Austin. He was having such a hard time with Kayla getting a lot of presents and him not getting anything. And then he was getting really upset when she didn't want to share her toys. My mom kept having to sit him down and talk to him about how his birthday was coming up soon and that he would get presents then!

Here's Kayla jumping in one of the jumpie things! She had a BLAST!!

Austin joined in the fun, too. Here is he coming off of one of the slides!

Here's Kayla climbing the stairs to one of the slides!

Again, Kayla playing in one of the jumpie things. She is growing up so fast!

Austin had to show Kayla how to blow out the candles...and then he ended up blowing them out himself! She's lucky to have a big brother to show her how to do things!

I joined in on the fun, too...but only because Kayla convinced me she needed me to take her down the slide! I'm pretty sure those things aren't made for grown ups!

This is one of the presents Kayla got...a princess chair. Doesn't it look like a throne?!

Before Kayla's party, we had her two year pictures taken. I know, I know...like I really need more pictures of the kids, right?! Well, this time, Mark Sykes, the photographer we use came to the house and took pictures of Kayla playing in her room. He basically just let her play and followed her around the room and took pictures. I can't wait to see them...I think he got some really cute ones!

Its so amazing to see how much Kayla has changed, even in the past year. She is such a sweet girl, although we are definitely starting to see signs of the "terrible twos". She is talking so much now, although there are times I'm not quite sure what she's saying, but she is such a doll. I can't wait to see what this next year brings us...hopefully not too many temper tantrums!