A Special Visit

The week before Easter my aunt came into town from NY for a special visit. It's so great to have her here and see the boys form such special relationships with her. Logan is already planning his activities with her when we go that way in August, he just loves her so!

She made me a scrapbook of my 30 years of life. What a very special gift!

Opening Easter goodies

Our yummy holiday cookies... Bet you can't tell which ones Logan decorated

Two babies 11 months apart... this is very normal for me!

Easter Egg Hunting

Seriously, he has quite the life!

Checking out the loot!

Every time Aunt Maureen comes to visit, we try to show her another fun thing that Houston has to offer. This time it was the zoo and it just so happened to be our hottest day of the year up to that point. Hey, at least it wasn't July, but yes, the New Yorker was sweating bullets for sure!

Ryan's favorite animal

The crew

We love the recently updated chimp exhibit!

As a special 30th birthday present, we also enjoyed a day at the spa together... just the two of us, nice and quiet. Best massage I've ever had and we finished it off with happy hour and some shopping in Market Street! Really, how often do I get to enjoy a massage, a pedicure and then some raspberry martinis at 4:00 in the afternoon! It was a lovely time!

Thanks Aunt Maureen for always making us feel like such special people and for loving my boys as if they were your own. Your generosity with your time, money and thoughtfulness doesn't go unnoticed and we are so thankful for you!

Friday Funnies

L: Mom, when I go to college we need to give my toys to Grace Crossing (his former preschool)
M: Why there?
L: Because, we don't have a Sunnyside Daycare around here and toys don't want to go in the attic.

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L:Mom, you aren't in the pattern.
M: Excuse me? What do you mean?
L: Daddy's birthday's in June, J Baby's is in July, Ryan's is in August and I'm in September. February doesn't fit the pattern!
M: That's because I'm special.
L: I know that mom!

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Logan has been learning some memory verses, one of which is "Do everything without complaining or arguing" Phil 2:14. So, his new favorite thing to say whenever ANYONE is having a conversation (and really, I mean conversation... we aren't arguing, we could even be agreeing about something going on) he says "STOP! Remember Philippians 2:14 says do everything without complaining or arguing. Stop arguing!"

It could be Jeff and me, my mom and me, or even Grandma and Grandpa when he's staying at their house. And really, these conversations are NOT arguments!!! Our little boss-man laying down the law!

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I've been using bible verses in discipline, explaining why it's important to obey your parents, understand how God wants you to treat your friends and others, etc... Maybe I've been overdoing it with every discipline pointing to God's word because...

M: Logan, seriously, go get a Kleenex and stop picking your nose!
L: Does the bible say that anywhere? Maybe that should be my next memory verse.
M: No, the bible doesn't talk about not picking your nose.
L: Well, maybe God should have put that in there.
M: Well son, he said to obey your mother... and I AM TELLING YOU TO STOP!

Seriously, if only God would have added that to Proverbs somewhere, my son may actually listen!

Sick and more...

May is flying by, mostly because we've been passing some unkind bugs around our house. It started with a stomach bug, passed from Baby J to mommy and Ryan. Fortunately Logan and Daddy avoided the mess and Grana was here that week to be a HUGE help as mommy was seriously getting taken down hard! We were all (barely) better for Mother's Day and enjoyed a great family day at Grandma and Grandpa's swimming and ordering in Pei Wei! Relaxing and lovely for sure!

Since Mother's Day, the weather here has been phenomenal and we have taken advantage (until this week of course!).  We had a couple of park playdates with friends, have been spending most evenings in the backyard and are bracing ourselves for this summer heat that is coming on full force.

This week has made mommy feel like she's been hit by a train... seriously depressing how incredibly weak I feel after doing the most minimal tasks. I walk up my stairs and feel like I just ran a race. The dr says it's a virus and needs to run its course, but I sure would rather it drop out of the race already... cause when momma's sick, it's hard for the house to function. The truth is, I knew it was coming last week when the sore throat and random headaches arrived, but I didn't want to miss our church's ladies retreat and when Sunday afternoon came, I was a goner! I have trained my kids to enjoy being on the go... and staying home for 3 days now is taking a toll on all of us! I'm feeling better this evening, even cooked dinner, and am hoping tomorrow brings health and a great Yoga class at the Y!

So, in absence of any new updates, that's what we've been up to.

On another note though, we had some family pictures taken in April that I still haven't shared with you all! Here is some of the amazing work of my sweet friend and photographer Sarah Grace. She's amazing really... and we're SO thankful for these memories! And, there were some GREAT ones of J Baby, but those will have to be shared at a later date, along with the family ones minus his face being blurred!!!!

Adoption update: Went to court last month and things went REALLY well for our case. It was a stressful hearing, the approaching weeks took a toll on my emotions, but thanks to our faithful friends and family loving on us and praying for us, we made it through! God proved Himself faithful, as always, and we anticipate with excitement the hearing in July that will line up making things official. J Baby's case file is officially in adoption prep and we will surely celebrate big when this thing is all wrapped up! We cannot thank our prayer warriors enough!

I cannot believe that our little man is 10 months old... and that Ryan is 21 months... and that my big man is going to be FIVE soon! Seriously, we are blessed beyond measure... yes, even when we're sick!

First Cut

Last month, my mom and I took Ryan for his first haircut, done by someone other than me! I usually just cut it myself, but thought it would be nice to get a real cut done and give him that experience and since big brother was out of town visiting Grana, the timing was good!

Lesson learned: It takes 3 lollipops and two Elmo toys to get him through the cut without crying. He did great and I'm sure those lollies were yummy!

Lollipop #1 and Elmo Guitar

This was a GREAT toy!

Mommy introduces toy #2... Elmo Radio

Chewing on stick from lollipop #1, mom unwraps #2 to get us through the top and front

Finished... starting lollipop #3 as a treat from the hairdresser!

Don't worry, this kid LOVES having his teeth brushed so I'm sure the lollies didn't do too much damage! :-)

A little Reunion

Back in March, we made a family trip to San Angelo for the Annual Women's Alumni Soccer Game. I had never been able to attend before due to pregnancies and other big family plans, so I was looking forward to the reunion and a nice family trip. The game was fun... but let me tell you, one can weigh the same they weighed in college and maybe even be close to the same size, but after three kids and years of yoga and pilates, there is a MAJOR difference between being in "shape" and being in "soccer shape." Let's just say I'm glad there isn't video of my soccer skills that could definitely use a tune up!

 

 

This is how the oldies "warm up"

My little fans!

The Alumni

Alumni with current team (my kids insisted on being the picture and it was that or listen to them scream!)

Dorothy and Me

Logan in my old jersey... so sweet!

Some of us girls at the dinner that night

We were able to make this trip into a great family weekend... one that I didn't take NEAR enough pictures of! Jeff's aunt and uncle live in Bronte (just 30 minutes from San Angelo) and we stayed with them... something the kids LOVED! They had enough room for our whole crew of 5, including Jeff's cousins, his parents, and his sister! What a great time we had! 

The boys LOVED the SHEEP!

This boy LOVED the red dirt and the wind didn't bother him one bit... out there every day in his jammies before I even woke up. Gotta love STAIN REMOVER!

This is Ryan "calling" the sheep... they weren't very good listeners!

Logan on a 3 wheeler

Oh, how I wish my boys had this kind of space around our home to just run free like this every day! They love it... I love it... it brings about a lot of laundry, but very good nappers! 

We also spent an entire afternoon/evening with two of my best college friends and their kiddos... and, you won't believe this, but NEITHER of us took even ONE picture of all of our boys together for the first time EVER! I KNOW!!! HORRIBLE!!! So embarrassed, beat myself up mentally for it for days... but then had to let it go and just put a little blurb here to let you all know how crazy silly I was. But, in my defense... there were THREE of us there... and not ONE took out their camera! Humiliating, really, but I can assure you, next time I see them, I'll probably go camera crazy! Love you girls!

Thank you to Benny and Jackie for so willingly opening their home to us and our crew and making us feel so at home. They even helped babysit so Jeff and I could go out to dinner with some of the players that Saturday night. We are so blessed to have such loving extended family! Love and miss you all and looking forward to family reunion this summer!

Ryan's favorite pal that week was for sure Aunt Jackie!