Goodbye

Grace and I happened to look out the window this morning just in time to see Ashley and Izzy's car drive off to Kansas. Boo hoo!

Big Love?

Jim watched Weird Science this weekend, and now can't help but think of Bill Paxton as Chet when we see him on HBO. I told him I'd been thinking that same thing ever since the show started, especially every time he does a big ol' grin. If you are into Big Love and haven't seen Weird Science in a long time, just try to avoid it when it pops up on cable these days. Trust me, you will be happy you changed the channel.

It doesn't get any easier

I took Grace for her 4-year old check up today. I'd been warned by quite a few moms that the shots at that appointment are a killer. And yes, they are. And I discovered that watching your child get shots doesn't get any easier as they get older. Grace certainly cries a lot - sometimes fake, sometimes tired, sometimes angry. But that last shot today made her cry with pain, which brought tears to my eyes. You don't see your child cry from actual pain too much (at least I don't with Grace - danger-boy Alex may end up being another story), and it just killed me to see it happen.

But big girl that she is, she sat there and took the shots with tears but without squirming. I'm proud of her. Even though she then said her legs her so much the rest of the day that she needed to be carried everywhere. Well, she's only about 6 pounds heavier than Alex so I'm used to it.

Welcome new blog!

Kevin the neighbor has his blog up and running - Over the Globe. I've got him bookmarked over on the Links area. Check it out when you get a chance. Look at it soon and you may score some free stuff!

She really can reach the pedals

Grace showing off her birthday gift from us. Very pink, of course. No mistaking that this is a girlie bike.

Izzy again

Grace was chasing Izzy around the house until I could finally get a picture of them together. The kids were outside in their pool today when we saw Izzy's head poking through the hole in the fence. We invited Izzy and Ashley over to visit, and much to my kids delight they agreed to stay for dinner. Kevin jetted off to Topeka today, so he couldn't be with us. My kids are going to miss the neighbors when they are gone!

She's either talking to Izzy or trying to give her a kiss.

Birthday visit from Izzy (and Kevin and Ashley) last weekend.

Happy Birthday Grace!

Well, Grace turned 4 today. Can't hardly believe it. She had her party this past Saturday (some pictures below) that turned out great despite the 50% chance of rain. It was a Spring Garden theme party - flowers and bugs and stuff. I had the kids all plant a flower in a pot I'd decorated as both an activity and a "goody bag" prize - that event went MUCH faster than I'd planned. Thank goodness all the parents were there to help as the frenzied garden shovels hit the potting soil. But Grace had a good time and loved having a bunch of school friends over that had never been to her house before (and of course loved having her other friends there too).

Today was much more low key. We made a Sara Lee coffee cake for breakfast in honor of her actual birthday. We were housebound because the car was in the shop, but Grace got to practice riding her new two-wheel bike a bit while Alex was napping. Since it was her birthday I told her she got to pick what we had for dinner. She chose sandwiches - specifically PB&J for her - and chocolate pudding for dessert. Not homemade chocolate pudding. Jello chocolate pudding. Easy meal for me to make - just whip together a sandwich, put some Cheetos on the plate, and finish by pulling back a little foil top.

She's a wonderful little girl. We are so happy she's in our life!

The hammock was probably the best party game we had. 

 

The only reason Grace started playing alone in her car (while all her friends were in her backyard) was because Alex decided he wanted to play in it. 

Everyone planting their marigolds to take home. 

My little gardener. 

The homemade "Pin the Butterfly on the Sunflower" game. Grace told me it looked beautiful. 

The cake I made for Gracie (I'm actually quite proud of it - not exactly how it looked in the magazine but quite close). The flowers were rolled-out fruit gummy candies, cut with a small cookie cutter, with mini M&M centers. The ladybugs were red M&Ms with mini brown ones for the head, and a line and dots iced on their back. The grass was green-tinted coconut (on green icing), the dirt was crushed graham crackers, and the cake inside was devils food. Picket fence was found at Joann's and the rabbit was from the toys in Grace's room. It also used to have Blue from Blue's Clues in a chef hat on one corner (from Grace's 2nd birthday party cake), but the minute Alex saw that he snatched it right off and ran away with it.

The boy loves corn

He had corn on the cob for the first time the other night (I usually cut it off the cob). He did a great job eating his, Grace's and almost half of Jim's corn.

Alex and his scepter of corn.

Annual fishing trip to Port A

We went on the Buccaneer Hunt & Fish Club annual fishing trip to Port Aransas a couple weeks ago. This is the group of my dad's friends from high school that still get together a few times a year. Jim goes on the fising part of the trip; I head to the beach with Mom and the kids. The kids had a great time - I can't wait until we go back in June for a week there with all the cousins. Grace has always loved the ocean, but Alex seems to only like the sand. The minute the waves hit his feet he was freaked out and wanted to be picked up.

Posing near a palm tree.  

Grace flying her new octopus kite. 

Alex showing me the kite. 

Alex and Grace showing off the dolphin grabber Jim bought them. For some reason Alex started winking every time he said cheese. 

From a couple weeks ago

"Mommy, take a picture of me with all my friends"

Happy Birthday Sis!

And happy birthday to me too!