First Hair Cut

Before


After, Bittersweet, no more curls, I feel like he went from baby to little man.But, still my baby, at least for while.

Happy Birthday Miss L!!!

Happy Birthday Miss L!

We had such a fun birthday week. Wednesday: Miss L got to tour Houston Port Authority with her family (Lil' G loved the tugboats), have birthday breakfast, Thursday: cupcakes to preschool, and Saturday: lunch/ decorating cupcake party with her friends today. ( Note the aprons that Corinne made with little cupcakes on them. They are darling!!!!)


Wednesday Miss L turned four. I can't believe how much my life has changed in four years. My family and specifically my children are my life. I guess that is how being a stay at home mom is. Miss L is the perfect trendsetter. She doesn't get pushed around and I love that about her. She knows what she wants. She is natural performer. She loves to read. She is sensitive. She loves her friends. She is independent. She is so wonderful!!!!!

Glad she is my girl.

Snow in Texas....

This is first year of the 4 we have lived here that snow has really fallen, a few flakes a few years ago, but this year it stuck, big fluffy flakes. Although my garden is very sad, and my hibiscus are sad too, the kids loved it. Lil' G didn't really realize how cold it was, but Miss L, was out several times to lap it up before it melted today.

Miss L's Birthday Date

Tonight was Miss L's birthday present/date with her dad. They went to Disney on Ice. She wore her princess dress, of course. She was so excited! I am still waiting for them to come home.

Piano Recital

Today was the semi-annual piano recital. A lot of students and nervous kids. They all did really great. And this year I was only left with 2 extra cookies, not boxes. I only made a few this time. Miss L decided about half way through when she thought it clearly her turn to play a song, and promptly walked up to the piano on the stand, luckily I had a friend/parent who graciously took her out. I think it is probably time to start her, so she can be a "student" at the next recital.

Caramel Apples

I decided to make chocolate turtles from our Walgreen's 1/2 price Halloween caramels, and my stash of 20 lbs. of fine Georgia pecans I am trying to eat up. I didn't quite make the caramel right, it was too runny for the turtles, but perfect for Miss L to make a caramel apple, which is a perfect project for her age. It tasted DEVINE. Good thing I have another bag tucked away another project next month.

Temple with Tots

We go up to the LDS temple and trade toddlers and babies so moms can go to the temple every month. It was gorgeous weather on Wednesday, so the tots and I ventured out for a walk.

On a side note, I had them all lined up on a bench for picture, when the sprinkler system system turned on with all five kids in tote. Classic.

Trick or Treat

Trick or Treat...lil' G's favorite phrase of the evening. He loved carrying around his candy and getting it in his bag.








We went to a pumpkin patch a few days ago. Miss L painted the pumpkin and then we carved it yesterday me and her.

My Boys

My boys. I love em, to death. I could have five more and be content with life. One is leaving me for the weekend to present a poster in Louisiana. I miss him already. Lil' G looked addicted to TV, sometimes I wish...especially during piano lessons, but o'contrar.

How Much is that Doggy in the window?

We are puppy sitting this week. I have decided from the last 24 hours that I will not get a dog anytime soon. And they don't take off their shoes when they come inside. They are like taking care of another kid, and I have my hands full with those.

Sleeping Babes

Miss L must sleep in style...I laughed when I found her like this.



Lil' G was just to cuddly not to take a picture of. I am afraid he is getting to be much more of a toddler than a baby. But he still loves to cuddle with me. Good thing.


Today was a nice break. Gary worked 14 hour night shifts OB all last week and all day Saturday. I was about done with it all. Sunday was so nice to have him here.

Go Astros

My friend who works for the police department gave Gary and I tickets to the Astros a couple weeks ago...and volunteered to watch our kids. We had a great time and ate way too many chili cheese fries. They lost miserably though.

The Usual

Note much has happened here lately. We are extremely busy with school schedules. You think with kids NOT is school I wouldn't say that, but once again I teaching a full load of piano students at night. On a different note, I decided to declutter the house again. With us possibly relocating in May, we need to have stuff cleaned out and our food storage eaten ( any ideas for beans or macaroni folks?)

It is definitely a team effort at this house. But it is nice to be back in routine and simplify.



A few things that happened to us:

Miss L: started preschool and loves it.

Lil' G: discovered Books and Bugs and rocks (and has the ant bites on his little hand this morning to prove it, just too interested not to touch)

Me: Discovered the secret to cooking the perfect scrambled egg. Did I mention I hate browned eggs. And started to pull out the Christmas music (you ask already?, yup)

Gary: Learned how to deliver babies yesterday via C-section, he on his OB rotation right now. In the throws of residency application process, but we have definitely seen a few blessing come our way during this very stressful process.

Beach Day

Today we spent the morning at the beach. We go to this place you pull right up to the water. The afternoon was a bit crowded, but the morning was just perfect. Lil' G just loved digging in the sand. And Miss L loved being buried alive.

Beautiful water, happy children, lots of friends, yummy food.

I'm really glad Gary had the day off.

Follow up on the bunnies

The bunnies which are the cutest things in the world have left the nest. The mom kind of built their next in a not so conspicious place next to our gate(Gary edged there 2 weeks ago). Tuesday they ventured from the nest about 5 feet, and yesterday they were gone. On a positive note that they were not eaten by some creature, I did see the mommy bunny in our yard yesterday morning, probably collecting and moving her babies. We were afraid she wouldn't come back after Gary disturbed the nest.

Miss L thinks Heavenly Father sent her the bunnies and has prayed for them 6 or 7 times the last two days that their mommy would come back to them to feed them. Guess prayers are answered.

Anybody know how to get rid of a rabbits' nest?

My new Do

Every spring and fall Kohl's send a $10 Kohl's cash card and for my budget-laden self, it is my gab money for home decor. I am in the middle of deciding what to put on my walls in my bedroom, I am thinking about one of the artsy black and white photo galleries, but I haven't quite decided yet. Usually I buy picture frames, but a friend of my just made over her laundry room, and it looks really good. I have a few more ideas to incorporate the blue, but I think I'll wait for more Kohl's cash.

Just a regular day

Just a regular day after school and piano lessons, I love how the role of women has changed, yes she is still wearing a princess dress, but she is Mulan and she is fighting with a sword. It is interesting how some children are just born leaders. Miss L is definately one of them.

He is just growing up TOO fast. He is in a rather destructive phase right now, just exploring new things he can reach for and new found freedoms, like how to defend himself from his sister. I thought my house was babyproof, but he quickly teaches me things I have begun to be lax on. He also has recently discovered books. He loves to have me read stories to him. He drags them around the house at any given time and throws them at me to read. He is still my little snuggler, I hope that doesn't change.

Pudding Party

They had a a coupon to buy 3 puddings get 3lbs. bananas free, and since we were buying bananas already...

The teacups are the perfect size serving for the sickeningly sweet Butterscotch pudding. Miss L just loved it because it was her size. I think the only improvement would be my mom's crumbly shortbread pecan topping.

Les's 60th Surprise

We surprised Gary's parents for his dad's 60th bday. We were going to dump a cooler of Gatorade on his head but we didn't have a cooler...or Gatorade. Below are some clips:

Les's surprise




Corinne's surprise (probably the best)





Les's sister Linda and niece Liet surprise Les and Corinne

I love weekends

I am grateful for the weekend. Since Gary was gone the 4 previous weeks, I just relished my time with him this weekend. We took the family swimming Friday, and then Saturday we had a long relaxing date. We went up to the temple for ward temple night. There were only 5 people from our ward in the session, but the temple was packed, I was actually the last person in the session. Then went out to dinner at a posh little Japan Sushi/Latin Grill, very interesting food, great atmosphere, but mostly I loved just being us for 6 hours.

My babysitter didn't have it too bad, considering my kids were asleep when she got there, and were only actually awake, for 2 1/2 before she put them to bed.

It was nice, relaxing and great to have Gary back.

Fun with Fondant

We have been a little in need of getting out, but a little too sick to get out the beginning of the week, and a little too hot out yesterday and today... so Miss L decided to hold a wedding. For herself. Specifically, the part she was concerned about was the 3 tiered cake and the dress. And it needed to be pink and have stars.






So we had a little fun with fondant. Everyone turned pink, because everyone had to lick a beater.

Miss L calls is bread frosting because she has seen me knead bread too many times.


I got the recipe here, which was really easy, and I already had marshmallows and powder sugar, so I didn't need glycerin or whatever real fondant calls for.





I think we will save it to eat when daddy comes homes tomorrow!!!!!!!!! A month is way too long to go with your husband!

Gonna Wash That Man...

Tribute to both grandmas, Grandma C gives her voice lessons whenever we go to visit, and Grandma S took her to see South Pacific last month

Beer Chicken

Gary's made a pottery piece for Beer Chicken, You fill the center with Beer and then Roast the Chicken, and it absorbs all the steamy flavor as it roasts. Since I don't frequently purchase Beer (or ever), we put in apple juice, and it was delicious. It will be fun to try different concoctions.

Hello Flour

Heaven forbid I brush my teeth alone for 5 minutes.