April: In Like a Lion...

April has been a whirlwind month for us...but we're just gearing up for the summer!

We started off by AUSTIN turning 5!!! 5 is such an important birthday and we had a party at "The Bounce" (where every other 5 year old in town has had their birthdays!). The kids all had such a great time and Austin is so excited to be 5 now. There are so many WONDERFUL things that come with being 5-losing teeth, starting kindergarten, learning to ride a bike without training wheels. We, of course, haven't done any of these, but we talk about them all the time and how they are things that 5 year olds are supposed to do! Here are some pics from his birthday party...

Notice how Joe and Austin have the same squint on their face!

He'll always be my baby boy!

Kayla thought he was going to let her help blow out the candles!

I just can't believe how big he's gotten!!!

Spring soccer season has been on again...well kind of. The kids have had a few games this spring, but it seems like everytime they get geared up again, we have a few weeks off (either planned for holidays or unplanned because of rain!) Austin seems to remember quite well the basics of the game and has scored several goals...I think at least one in each game. The team has definitely not won every game, but they have such a great time on the field. We have "doubleheader" this weekend...a makeup game from last weekend after our regularly scheduled game. We'll see how well we hold up from that!

Austin's second biggest fan-ready to cheer her brother on!

Doesn't he look so official?

This was right after he scored one of his goals!

I'm not quite sure if he knocked the other kid down or if the kid fell, but he definitely plays aggressively!

Kayla was trying to give her "Bubba" a hug after the game!

Of course, we celebrated the resurrection of our Savior, albeit a rainy celebration! The Easter Bunny had to come hide eggs after we left for church because of the rainy weather. It made for a great surprise after we got home from church, and the kids had a great time running around the living room together. The weather cleared up so nicely and we were so blessed to be able to spend the day with some friends of ours and then just to spend the day together!

This was right after we got home from church and the kids were getting ready to "hunt" for eggs!

Austin looking REALLY excited to be finding eggs!

And Kayla actually really does look excited!

The haul that the Easter Bunny brought in!

And, of course, the obligatory family pic!

We hope the spring has been treating you well so far and that you are enjoying some of the rain we have been getting in central Texas! We have so many more adventures coming up in the next few weeks/months, so I will definitely keep you in the loop!

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!