It's a Threepeat!!

Another Day, Another Dollar

Another day, another dollar...

Do You See What I See?

Christmas Coal

Apparently I was not a good girl this year because Santa delivered my coal a day early... Lainey was home with a stomach bug today.

My little patient did enjoy some dress-up in the tub before returning to the couch.  Can you guess who she's excited to see tonight?!?

Are You Ready for Some Futsal?

First Snow

We're having our first snow of the season!!

Princess Lainey

Even a princess needs her beauty sleep.

BOO!!

Our Zombie Grim Reaper and Spider Princess had a great Halloween!!  They made the neighborhood loop twice - with our friends Caleb and Anthony - before taking over Mommy's job handing out candy.


Zach, Lainey, and Caleb are ready to go!

Can you guess... which pumpkin did Mommy carve?

Thinkings

Lainey: Momma, I have too many thinkings in my head.  Science things, color things, people things.  IT'S ALL JUST TOO MUCH!!

Like mom, like daughter...

Heartbreak

7-year old heartbreak: learning that we only play football in the fall.

Undefeated

The Raptors wrapped up their undefeated season with a 10-0 record!!

The boys have worked hard and played hard for many seasons... and all of that work payed off this season.  We dominated every game with great hitting and fielding.

Great job, Raptors!!

Silly Swinger

Love

It's a New Era

The new era of youth baseball has begun.  It's (almost) real baseball now.  The boys play with hard balls, can advance multiple bases, and must catch the ball or tag a runner to make an out.  I know that last item seems obvious, but the ball only had to touch the glove in previous seasons.

But, enough about outs.  Let's focus on the second item... advance multiple bases.  Players could only advance to 2nd base last year after a good hit.  They are now allowed to accept the risk and advance like "real" baseball.  

Which means...

Zach was able to score the Raptors first in-the-park home run last night!!  A HOME RUN!!

After the game, a few parents from the opposing team said, "Good game" or "You have some good hitters" on their way to the parking lot.  I bit my tongue from replying with, "Yeah, and did you see my son's home run to end the game at 20-11?"

And I know, I know... no one likes a braggart.  But, you out there reading this... you're family and you would have been biting your tongue too!!

This Time of Year

This time of the year is the very best!!  Weekends are filled with football, baseball and cooler weather.  

And my favorite day of the fall... Opening Day for the Raptors!!  We're ready for a great season.  Go Raptors!!

Ice Cream and Olives

The kids were able to find their favorite foods at the buffet.

Little Rembrandt

Lainey had so much fun in her first art classes in big school!!  She was excited to teach Daddy and I how to draw our own alligators last night.

Lainey's Gator

Self-portrait

Jesus Hair, Part II

Lainey had crazy hair day in her last week of daycare.  We did four braids, with 2 wrapped up into little buns.  She really had fun with it!!

Lazy Mommy that I am, and not wanting to hear her screams as I combed it out, I left her braids in for 3 days.  At Day 4, they NEEDED to come out.  She excitedly exclaimed, "I have Jesus hair again!!"

Are You Kidding Me?

It's July 31.

In Texas 

It's 75 degrees.

Did that sink in?

IT'S JULY 31.

IN TEXAS 

And, IT'S 75 DEGREES.

Are you kidding me?!?

Important Meeting

Driving in the car...

Lainey: Look at all of the birds in the grass.  They must be having a meeting.

Daddy: What do you think they're discussing?

Lainey: How to collect food together.

Figuring out dinner plans is a great debate amongst all members of the Animal Kingdom!!

Car Games

We are always thinking of creative ways to keep the kids entertained in the car.  Our favorite car games include finding common items along the road, like the games American Flag and Fire Hydrant.  We recently expanded our car games to include Pedestrian (1 point for a walker, 2 points for a jogger, 5 points for a cyclist), Jeep (like Uncle Loren's) and Jeep (like Momma's). 

The good: the kids like the games and are thoroughly entertained.
The bad: the kids often argue about who's winning/losing, who called out the item first, etc...

In an attempt to lighten the mood yesterday, I pulled out an old favorite - the Alphabet game!!  This way we can work as a team and we're all winners.  It was a little tricky finding all of the letters on the way to the restaurant, so Zach was trying to "cheat" our way to victory.

Mommy:  Ok, we need to find a Q.  Who can find a Q?
Zach: Here, Mommy, I have Q for quencher (from his Gatorade bottle, in his hand, in the car).
Mommy: Ok, that's fine, but we need to find the letters outside of the car.  Next, we need to find an R.  Who can find an R?
Zach: Here, Mommy, R is in frost (again... from his Gatorade bottle, in his hand, in the car).
Mommy: Ok, but we need to find the letters outside of the car.
Zach: Mommy, will you open my window?
Mommy: Why, bud?  It's so hot.
Zach: Mommy, will you please open my window?
Mommy: Ok, bud.  But it's really hot outside. 

A few letters later...

Mommy: We need to find the next letter.  Who can find a U?
Zach (smirk on face, hand outside window): Mommy, I have a U right here.  I have U in quencher.  It counts this time - the bottle isn't inside the car.

His logical mind far exceeds mine... and I love it!!

5 Going on 25

People keep saying that kids grow up faster these days.  It must be true!!  I didn't start practicing my married signature until college... Lainey started in Pre-kindergarten.

American Ninja Warrior

Our American Ninja Warrior in the making! 

Dawn Patrol

7:42am.  Lizard hunting starts early in Flower Mound.

World's Okayest...

This just about sums it all up - I'm not the greatest, not the worst... and I'm "okay" with that!!

Our Little Graduate!!!

Our little Lainey Bug is growing up too fast. Alaina Kathryn graduates from Pre K at the Primrose Day School tonight. In the fall she will join big brother Zachary for Kindergarten. Lainey was treated to breakfast by Grammy Gail and Daddy at the neighborhood Donut Shop and she has picked Sonic over McDonalds to celebrate after graduation. That's if Mom and Dad can't convince her to go to Christina's where kids eat free on Tursdays and the Margaritas are strong...

Monsters, Inc. Eye

Driving home from school today with Lainey in the backseat...

Lainey: Mommy, why do they have a Monsters, Inc. eye on the sign?

Mommy: A monster what?

Lainey: Why is there a Monsters, Inc. eye on the sign?  See there is one.

Mommy:  Do you mean the red stop sign?

Lainey: No, Mommy.  That one.

A Botanist in the Making?

Lainey has always been a good collector, bordering on hoarder-extraordinaire!!  She really collects anything, but seems to focus most of her attention on outdoor items - sticks, acorns, rocks, leaves...

Her newest fascination is pine cones!!  She comes home from school every day and excitedly shows us her newest treasures.

John Anderson

One more entry into our ever-growing book of Bad Parenting 101...

Zach and I were driving this past Saturday, rushing to a birthday party.  My patience was running thin with all of the other drivers and a little of my road rage kicked in.

Mommy:  Come on, JA, get moving!!

Zach:  I know what JA means?

Mommy:  What do you think JA means?

Zach:  *pause*. It means Jack bad-A word.

Mommy:  Jack, bad word?

Zach: No, Jack bad-A word.

Mommy:  *pause*.  No, bud.  I'm pretty sure it means John Anderson.

Zach:  Who is John Anderson?

Mommy:  He is a singer.  He sings country songs.

There are plenty of John Anderson's driving in Dallas!!

Another One Bites the Dust

Zach finally pulled out his wobbly front tooth this morning.  Another one bites the dust...

Still Undefeated

The Wolverines had a great win on Saturday - the boys were down 2-6 at half and pulled out a 8-7 victory!!  We remain undefeated with one game left.

We haven't always been the most skilled team on the field, but you can't beat our heart and hustle!!  Go Wolverines!!

Bracelet Master

Bracelet Master... self proclaimed :)

He's getting good use out of his Christmas gift from Uncle Rowlan and Aunt Jennifer!!

All is Well

This is the day that the Lord hath made, we shall rejoice and be glad in it!!

WE FOUND RUBY!!

The End is Near...

The end is near... we can't find Ruby.

Grandpa & Grammy's House

What a great vacation at Grandpa and Grammy's house in the last week of February!!  We must be some of the few snow birds that travel north for the Winter... and pray for snow!!  South Dakota (and Texas) were very accommodating for us.  We had a houseful during the vacation week - Grandpa, Grammy, Rowlan, Jennifer, Ryan, GG Alice, Loren, Brian, Marge, Margaret, and our clan. 

Highlights of the week include:

• Sledding!!  The snow brought out the young in all of us with Grandpa and Grammy both taking turns on the sleds.
• Mt. Rushmore (a.k.a The Mountain of Rushmore to Lainey)
• Skiing!!  The entire crew drove to Terry Peak for a day on the slopes.  Daddy and Zach were first timers on the mountain - Sal on skis and Zach snowboarding.
• The family February birthdays - Rowlan, Grandpa, Marge, Lainey, Brian - were all celebrated with cake and presents.

After a great week spent with family, we enjoyed a bonus vacation day after our return flight was cancelled.  Who would have guessed that ice in Texas would cancel flights from South Dakota?!?

Grammy's shoveling pro

The Mountain of Rushmore

Sassy Lainey at Mt. Rushmore

Sofa City, Sweetheart

Our first thought was to carry them to their beds, but they're too cute to move. Sibling love at its sweetest and very best!!

Lainey's 5th Birthday

Once again, I have to operate with the motto "better late than never" because I am FINALLY posting about Lainey's birthday.

Her birthday fell on Sunday this year, so we did our weekly routine of church and pizza at Sam's before her party later in the afternoon.  She had a gymnastics party at Best Gymnastics and she had a wonderful time!!

Happy birthday, sweet girl!!

More Than Gold

My little Leprechaun brought a smile to my face today.

Who is worth more to you than gold?
My mom is worth more to me than gold because she gives me band-aids when I'm hurt.

 

Mommy... ?

I love tucking my sweet girl in her bed!!  We have a routine of bundling her under the blankets, singing Jesus Loves Me and You Are My Sunshine before we wrap up with hugs and kisses.

My sweet girl tonight, knowing I don't feel well...

Lainey: Mommy, when will you feel better?

Me: Tomorrow, I hope.  I'm taking my medicine now, so I will feel better soon.

Lainey: Here, Mommy, you  can sleep with Ruby.  She'll help you feel better.

Me: Thanks, Angel Baby.  I know I'll sleep better now.

I had tears in my eyes when I told Daddy the story.  What a sweet girl to share her most cherished dolly with me!!

And the List Goes On and On...

Dinner conversation...

Mommy:  Lainey, you have a birthday coming up.  What would you like?

Lainey:  A rainbow pony.  And a rainbow doll and a singing doll.

Daddy:  A singing dog?

Lainey:  No, a singing doll.  Ella has a singing doll.  I don't know her name.  She isn't a doll from Frozen.  And a rainbow dress.  And a rainbow costume.  And a game like [my princess tiara] game.  When I lose my pieces, I will have so many more.  And a rainbow singing pony with sparkles.  And sparkly pretty tights.  With pretty sparkly bows and a necklace.  And new paint.  And a sparkly scooter with Minnie Mouse. And etc, etc, etc... 

The list would be much longer if I could type faster!!

Our Brave Boy

Zach did just great this morning with his tooth extraction surgery.  The staff were wonderful and commented on how well he did and how brave he was.  He has been a great patient today (as he peacefully snores with his head on my shoulder :)).  We are truly blessed!!