Just Another Day in Paradise

2012-01-27T09:27:00.003-06:00

God really creates some amazing things.

This is Bess. I don't know if you can see it in this picture but her lips are a tan color. Bess loves to people watch, so much so that she has learned about lip stick. They are given chalk for playing with and she wears hers as make-up!

2012-01-26T06:17:00.001-06:00

Halloween Past

2012-01-23T21:29:00.000-06:00

2012-01-21T21:27:00.000-06:00

2012-01-20T17:04:00.001-06:00

2012-01-17T13:09:00.000-06:00

I have the most amazing job in the world!

2012-01-04T01:27:00.000-06:00

What do you do when you are cleaning out the fridge but you don't want to throw away your sweet potato? You create a great memory and one super amazing cookie.

Cookie Timothy's are really yummy!

Don't know if we will survive the next 10 years scar free

2012-01-02T01:16:00.000-06:00

Kati "She is trying to kill me. She just wants me to diiiiie!"
Jeff "What's the matter?"
Kati "She wants me to clean up all the poop by myself!"

After no one would listen to me I decided to take Charlie on a walk alone.......
Kati "But I haaaaave to go," dramatic sobbing "I neeeeeed exercise. I'll just die without it!"

Oh Bear, someday we will laugh at all this

2011-12-29T01:43:00.000-06:00

"He doesn't like me anymore. That's why he is pooping all over the house!"

"Your Love and Logic isn't gonna work on me. Nuh-huh!"

"Well that is just Mean and Logic."

Charlie Barley

2011-12-27T01:22:00.000-06:00

Kati loves that Charlie is a cuddlier. That cutie just can't get close enough to you.....Charlie I mean.

2011-12-25T01:39:00.000-06:00

Lunar Eclipse

2011-12-24T01:14:00.000-06:00

You can't see it here but Timothy and I got to experience a rare occasion, a lunar eclipse. It was too cold for Bear and Bug was still sleeping but Bo and I braved the chill and made a memory. He was adorable dancing all around. I got to hold him in my arms while he slipped his cold cold hands into my warm robe.

School Time

2011-12-22T01:14:00.000-06:00

When Bug grows up she wants to be a mommy and a teacher.

Charlie Brown tree

2011-12-20T01:11:00.000-06:00

This poor tree has been knocked over too many times. And as pathetic as it looks Kati still wants to plug it in.

Found these under Kati's pillow

2011-12-19T01:09:00.000-06:00

Oh Charlie

2011-12-18T01:58:00.001-06:00

Didn't I say my boy needed a dog. How cute are they!

Don't judge me it's really cold here in the mornings and he is a tiny little guy. I had to swallow my pride to do this....

Charlie just can't get close enough to me!

Ice Cream with Grandpa

2011-12-17T01:56:00.000-06:00

Feel better Grandpa.

Yay!

2011-12-16T06:53:00.001-06:00

We had our small group Christmas party and this is what I won in the elephant gift exchange.....and I love it!!!

Prayers

2011-12-16T06:51:00.001-06:00

A sweet woman from our small group is in the hospital and it is very serious. Please pray for her and her family.

One of my all time favorite things to watch...

2011-12-14T01:59:00.000-06:00

Now that is a terrible camera angle!

2011-12-12T01:44:00.000-06:00

Baby girl is finally growing her top front teeth back. Bless her heart, she has my big teeth. All that money Jeff and I were gonna save on medical school is gonna go straight to her mouth....

but after all these years regular teeth are finally coming back!

Meet Charlie

2011-12-10T07:14:00.002-06:00

Buttercup passed away before Thanksgiving. It was hard on all the kids and myself. About a week after she passed Jeff started looking for a new pup. At first I wasn't so sure. I couldn't quite put it into words but I just didn't like the idea. But then I got to thinking about my Bear. Bear needs a dog and so that did it for me.And into our lives came Charlie. I swore I would never get a Chihuahua. Those little yippy rats just aren't for me (sorry if you have one. I 'm sure your yippy rat is quite lovely). However Charlie's other gene's and his looks won me over. Charlie's other half, the only half I will be claiming, is cow dog.

Isn't he adorable.

We bought Charlie for the kids but really he is my dog. He loves us all but he has a special place in his heart just for me. He follows me where ever I go. His eyes are always on me. I can see so much of his cow dog side.

He is really a fantastic dog.

Jeff sure knows how to pick 'em!

2011-12-05T09:24:00.001-06:00

I think it's pretty obvious Jeff and I don't have to worry about coming up with money for medical school.

11 years

2011-11-24T05:02:00.002-06:00

Happy Anniversary Baby. It feels so good to be with you this year. I love you always.

The words don't exists.....

If we weren't already......

I'd do it again.......

2011-11-23T09:52:00.000-06:00

2011-11-23T05:47:00.002-06:00

I am about to start my Thanksgiving cooking and I am super excited! Just wish Mom and Al would have been able to make it. Really I wish everyone could come. About to bake my first pumpkin pie. Wish me luck

Where do they come up with this stuff

2011-11-22T21:05:00.000-06:00

Oops, Buttercups picture got loaded on accident. As long as it's here.....Buttercup passed away this weekend. She is missed dearly already. Can't find a better dog than her.

2011-11-20T21:03:00.000-06:00

Zoo Trip

2011-11-15T14:59:00.006-06:00

I can't believe how tall my baby girl is.

We got a good show in the goat area. Those guys are stubborn.

Look at her with her hand on Bo's back. Even if the boys drive her crazy and she can be a stinker to them she still has the gentle hand to reach out and protect them.
The kids have been dieing to go on the paddle boat and Daddy saved the day!

I love his map reading. He does this every time we go.

We had to stop and find the route to the roaring animals.

ignore to order of pictures, blogger seems to have a mind of it's own this morning....

2011-11-11T01:27:00.000-06:00

Wow,

2011-11-10T01:13:00.000-06:00

God makes the most beautiful things....and I get to see this beauty everyday. Love it!

Seriously?!

2011-11-08T22:07:00.001-06:00

My builder

2011-11-02T02:36:00.000-05:00

Cowboy Rule

2011-11-01T02:21:00.000-05:00

You sleep where ever and when ever you can get it.

Happy Halloween 2011

2011-10-31T14:43:00.008-05:00

The kids were in a costume contest. The judges must have been blind......

The kids, I say kids I mean Kati and Bear, bobbed for apples for the first time.

They also had their first cake walk.

Bo wouldn't go, he was a scaredy cat.

Daddy to the rescue, he walked with Bo.

Kati joined in the walk again and won Timothy his prize.

Jeff got surprised the kids with pizza and what better place to eat it :)

2011-10-28T14:55:00.001-05:00

2011-10-18T15:13:00.000-05:00

There are no words for what this picture makes me feel.

Phew!

2011-10-15T22:46:00.004-05:00

He looks so good now. I feel so blessed with how quickly Bear is healing.

I have no idea who reads our blog anymore but just in case you hadn't heard Bear had a trip to the e.r. this week. Bear fell down a......well, I have decided to name it a "hilltain". It's certainly doesn't look like a hill but it's not what people think of when you say mountain. I tried finding a definition between the two and this was a very common answer, "The distinction between a hill and a mountain is unclear and largely subjective".....soooooo "hilltain" it is.Bear had his accident on Monday. This photo was from Saturday.

Some bruises are popping up now.

This was taken on Friday morning. Grandma Al, I want you to go ahead and brace yourself. Maybe grab a tissue. I put the original photo at the end so it wouldn't be the first thing you saw but know that it is coming and you aren't going to like it. But remember the first picture and that he is doing so good now.

This was from Thursday night.

This is Bear Mountain. (Grandpa named it)
I am going to attempt to tell what happened but I am sure I am going to get something wrong.
The kids were climbing to the top and of course our very athletic Bear made it to the top first. He was sitting up there waiting when

from this point Kati and Bo started screaming. Some rocks started sliding under their feet and scared them. Grandpa looked up and saw Bear jump up and start running for his brother and sister. And well, you can't run down a "hilltain". He was able to run a ways but then he was airborne and according to Bear and Kati he did a flip in the air. He did a face plant and slide for an undetermined distance.

This photo was taken from the top of the "hilltain". Check out the arrow, that cute pink thing is Kati at the bottom. When you see how far down it is you have to thank God. He could have been hurt so much worse.

This was Bear on Thursday.

And this was my baby on the same day that it happened. It still breaks my heart. I am holding back tears even though I know he is just fine. It's so painful to look at.
We asked Bear if Kati and Bo were falling again would he still save them and he gave a sure "yes". We are so proud of him. He is my little hero!

I think the shirt pretty much says it all.....

2011-10-15T07:43:00.000-05:00

Super Grover

2011-10-14T07:36:00.000-05:00

That dumb dog!

2011-10-13T07:27:00.000-05:00

When Buttercup gets bored she just knocks over the laundry basket that holds the kids outside toys and entertains herself. I guess after she chewed up most of their toys she needed something new.....this use to be the basket that held all their toys. Dumb dog!

2011-10-12T07:11:00.000-05:00

It was mismatch day at the kids school. Since my dorks wear mismatch socks everyday we had to get creative. Mismatch hair?

Out of this World

2011-10-11T07:16:00.000-05:00

"Out of the World" was the theme at school and the kids were encouraged to dress up. This was the best I could come up with.

This might have been an excuse to play dress up with Kati and put make-up on her......but I'm not telling her that.

Such a boy

2011-10-10T07:02:00.000-05:00

Even making a pizza, an activity he loves, can't beat out watching video games.

2011-10-09T01:25:00.000-05:00

Kati was very serious about her cake this year. She sat down with Jeff and they designed it all out on the computer after they sketched it out on paper.
I love watching them spend time together.

Grrrr

2011-10-08T06:42:00.000-05:00

I just can't get over how tall my baby girl is.......

I thinks it's offical,

2011-10-03T01:22:00.000-05:00

his love language is gifts.

2011-10-02T01:17:00.000-05:00

How many guns can fit in ones kids pants?

Curious

2011-09-30T01:01:00.001-05:00

The bonus features on the Curious George movie offer this great clip that teaches kids a simple step by step of drawing George...........
Bear

Bug

Who knew

2011-09-29T02:08:00.001-05:00

Eight months ago when this tiny precious creature joined our family I never would have imagined that one day she would be able to yank me clean off my feet and drag me down a hill behind her.

Daddy Bubba may never speak to me again.....

2011-09-28T08:41:00.001-05:00

Timothy has a new love!

Picture Day

2011-09-27T10:21:00.001-05:00

It's a bird, it's a plane

2011-09-25T01:31:00.002-05:00

When pretending to be a super-hero it's important to remember that you aren't actually a super-hero.

Sometimes you just gotta be a little crazy

2011-09-23T00:50:00.000-05:00

2011-09-22T00:27:00.000-05:00

It's raining, it's pou.... well it's raining

2011-09-21T00:05:00.001-05:00

It actually does rain during monsoon season.

Kati kept telling Buttercup she was chicken for not going out in it.

2011-09-20T02:07:00.000-05:00

This is not a dramatization. What you are about to read is a recording of actual events.....

This is a photo of my entry way just after I swept.....

This is the amount of hair that was accumulated in that same spot just two and a half hours later. That is just one small area of my home....now just imagine my entire downstairs is tile.

I love my dog I love my dog I love my dog I love my dog I love my dog......

It's time to get your hair did

2011-09-19T02:21:00.000-05:00

BFF'S

2011-09-18T00:17:00.000-05:00

Oh Mister Sandman, bring me a dream

2011-09-17T02:02:00.000-05:00

That can't be comfy.

2011-09-16T00:15:00.000-05:00

This was taken after the kids went to bed.

2011-09-15T00:36:00.000-05:00

I'm totally in love with this leg crossing. He has done it since he was super tiny.

Happy Birthday Grandma Al

2011-09-14T01:53:00.000-05:00

2011-09-13T11:50:00.001-05:00

Every year on their birthday we wake them with the happy birthday song. Some day when all the videos are compiled it will be a treasure to me.

Princess Buttercup, my how you have grown

2011-09-13T00:06:00.000-05:00

2011-09-12T11:27:00.000-05:00

Baby girls turns eight

Reading Rainbow

2011-09-10T11:21:00.002-05:00

I love that at any given time during the day you might find one of my babies doing just this :)

My kids are just weird

2011-08-31T08:19:00.002-05:00

Notice anything similar?

2011-08-30T19:58:00.000-05:00

2011-08-29T08:14:00.000-05:00

2011-08-28T08:10:00.002-05:00

2011-08-27T07:46:00.000-05:00

His First

2011-08-26T08:01:00.000-05:00

Bo got his very first hickey.....from a lamp. Don't ask me how it happened. I mean we are talking about Timothy here. The same boy who walked into something four days in a row. All I know is I was down in the kitchen and the boys who were suppose to be cleaning in their own room were not. There was a loud crash and blood curdling scream that came from my room. Some how he tripped and fell on our lamp......I don't know, your guess is as good as mine.

2011-08-25T07:45:00.000-05:00

2011-08-24T07:52:00.000-05:00

2011-08-23T07:42:00.000-05:00

2011-08-21T19:48:00.001-05:00

New Tricks

2011-08-14T09:16:00.000-05:00

2011-08-12T09:00:00.000-05:00

Bo finally got there too. At some point all the kids have hit this stage, and they are still in it now, where they load their beds down with "stuffies". It might make for cramped quarters but it sure is cute.

Game Time

2011-08-10T08:47:00.000-05:00

First Day of School

2011-08-08T12:31:00.004-05:00

One of my fondest childhood memories is my mother's breakfast (what can I say, I like food). I didn't have cereal until I was in junior high at a friends house. Every morning my mother made breakfast. Pancakes, eggs, bacon, biscuits, gravy, muffins, etc. Delicious.
My kids aren't that fortunate but this morning I wanted to send them off right. :)
And in Bear style, after bacon, eggs, a muffin, an apple slice, and oatmeal he said he was still hungry.

Daddy got to call right before we left. I know that made their day even better.

Headed to class and just look at that smile.

I just love the look of their school.

This is a friend of Kati's from last year. Not only are they in the same class this year, they get to sit next to each other.

What a looker!

It's hot out there

2011-08-08T07:22:00.000-05:00

This may be one of my all time favorite pictures. How cute are my kids!!

Time to check the map.

My Bear. He couldn't just cross the stream. He had to jump it.

Bear was a little excited to see the water.

We saw a total of two exhibits that day. The water was just too much fun.

This picture just cracks me up.

Oops! Crash!

We may have only seen three animals but we couldn't have had a better time.

Speechless

2011-08-06T07:10:00.002-05:00

This is how Bear feels about starting school on Monday

2011-08-05T08:14:00.001-05:00

The zoo from my regular camera

2011-07-31T23:32:00.004-05:00

Rachel and I couldn't get over this. As part of the snow in July they made the tiger a bone-pop!

Dog Tag

2011-07-29T01:59:00.000-05:00

Nobody ever listens to me.

I'm just the mom,

what could I possible know?

Hopefully the lesson was learned. When mommy says don't play tag with the dog she knows what she is talking about!

My Builder Hard At Work

2011-07-28T04:19:00.000-05:00

Look at this awesome picture

2011-07-27T22:56:00.001-05:00

that my baby took from outside our window.

2011-07-27T04:18:00.000-05:00

You are not going to believe this!

2011-07-26T04:08:00.000-05:00

This is Timothy's first attempt to write anything. I spelled out Indian for him and this is what he brought to me. He was 4 years and less than one month when he did this. I sent Jeff a picture right away. He wanted me to try and get him to write his name.

And this is my babies very first attempt to write his name.

And this is his second. The red one he traced and the one and black was all just him. Kids his age just don't write that small at first. We are really proud of him.

Hhmmm?

2011-07-25T04:04:00.000-05:00

Found this in the freezer after a putting up the groceries. Not really sure what was going on with me there.

The Zoo From My Camera Phone

2011-07-24T03:44:00.000-05:00

Jeffrey had to work so he had me send him texts throughout the day. Again, they may be kind of fuzzy.
We had been at the zoo less than an hour and the kids needed to stop for a snack.
Bear asked if he could take his play camera to the zoo. Bo and Kati also took one. The kids just cracked me up with all their picture taking.

Somebody didn't think I would really send him to timeout at the zoo.

Guess who was wrong?

We stopped off for lunch in the coolest place we could find.
Yum-o! Ms. Rachel makes great sandwiches.

Cold Stone

2011-07-23T03:40:00.000-05:00

We were a hot mess after the zoo. It was a good day for an ice cream stop!

(The phone is so much more convenient but they sure can come out fuzzy!)

Boo

2011-07-22T03:36:00.000-05:00

Some dog broke somebodies birthday ball. And there may have been some tears.

The Zoo From Rach's Eyes

2011-07-21T14:59:00.004-05:00

Ms. Rachel came from Texas for a visit. We had so much fun! We just drove her to the airport a few hours ago and we already miss her.

We made a trip to the zoo on Saturday and these are the pictures from her camera.Bo gets in these moods where he doesn't want his picture taken. We thought this was just priceless.

Bo won't say it with his words but his actions say he is in love.

The zoo had winter in July. They brought "snow" in for some of the animals and piles for the kids to play in. It was all dirty by the time we got to that spot but that sure didn't stop the kids!

2011-07-17T21:55:00.001-05:00

There is nothing like Daddy reading a bedtime story.

2011-07-14T07:54:00.000-05:00

While we were in Texas we of course had to go to our old zoo.

I was so excited to see online that the dinosaur figures would be there again. The very first time I took the kids to the zoo they were there.

Wish I had video of this. While the kids were checking them out the momma t-rex roared. Timothy literally ran away!

You can see in this picture that he is cautiously making his way back.

We had to leave so very much sooner than I wanted but we had a great time while we were there.

Bo is so cool

2011-07-12T19:40:00.000-05:00

that even his stuffed animals have to be cool too!

More 4th Fun

2011-07-09T01:45:00.000-05:00

We had a little lesson on Uncle Sam, and I mean little, there isn't much to learn. After that we made a wind sock of Uncle Sam just for fun.

It's a shame I don't have a picture of the finished project but as I learned in my childcare classes "it's not the product but the process".

Good Times

2011-07-07T00:40:00.000-05:00