Indoor Fun

After about 11:30 here it's SO hot. So I have to think of fun things to do inside. So we decided to make cupcakes one day. The kids had a blast...it was a little messy, but well worth it. Grier saw them and immediately wanted one. How did she know what they were? I'm amazed at children's radar for sugar!

The Patriotic Tribe

Look how sweet they are!
They were VERY excited about going to the party
They were losing patience with me
Aiden LOVED playing in the bounce house with his friends
Gracen had a great time with her friend Emery!

We had the best 4th of July this year! Our friends Barry and Amber hosted their annual July 4th party, complete with tons of grilled meat, a huge bounce house for the kids and a pinata. It was a blast! There were lots of young families there from church, several of which were in our previous small group. It was great hanging out and getting to talk to my girlfriends, knowing the kids were having a blast bouncing. And believe it or not the heat wasn't terrible. Thanks Barry and Amber for including us!

Backyard Fun

So Sweet
Going Fishing
Here Comes Trouble!
Avoiding the Pool
Getting Braver

It has already been such a hot summer here. We either stay indoors, or find a body of water these days. I love filling up the pool in the backyard and letting them swim. It beats packing a swim bag, lunches, pool toys, floaties, water bottles, extra swim diapers for Grier, and of course the stroller to strap her in when Mommy gets tired of holding her. The neighborhood pools are fun and we have really enjoyed them when the temperature spikes, but going to the pool with 3 kids, 4 and under is tough without Daddy there to lend a hand. So I feel a lot more in control in our little backyard...and the kids don't seem to mind...yet!

Our Little Diva Likes Her Bling

Grier LOVES her jewelry and her big sister's bows.

Our Little Thug

So Sweet...Grier loves to give kisses...and they are always with an open mouth!

(Notice Blake's light Sunday afternoon reading! )

As you can see Grier does not have a lot of hair. But she insists on wearing a bow lately. I guess she wants to be like big sister. I humor her, and put the bow in over and over again...b/c of course it can't really grab wisps very well. I'm sure I'll get tired of doing that at some point. But I think it's pretty cute for now. And the girl always has a necklace on...and usually a shower curtain ring for a bracelet. Grier likes her bling...

Lars and the Real Girl

So Blake and I have just finished watching this movie and I wanted to recommend it. I just picked it up on a whim because I like Ryan Gosling, and Blake and I usually enjoy quirky movies, like Juno or Best in Show. Anyways, this movie was great...completely quirky, and odd...but so heartwarming. It's clean...and has a great message about community...and loving people through difficult and messy times that come up in life. But before you get to the heartwarming part, you'll be laughing your head off! Go rent it...let me know what you think!

Don't Turn Around

We can't turn our backs for 2 seconds or this monkey will be climbing on something, eating leftover dinner off the floor, or finding all the things she should not touch. I'm convinced it'a 3rd born thing. And then she gives us this "Who Me" smile that melts us. She's a MESS...but a lovable one for sure! (These pictures all happened within like a 5 minute span!!)

Theological questions from the mind of my little guy

Aiden is constantly thinking. His mind seems to never stop. Knowing Blake as an adult and hearing stories about him as a kid, I'm guessing Aiden gets this from his father! I can certainly shut this puppy down and not think about anything significant for a pretty long time. :) Aiden gets excited learning about God, and has SO many questions. He wears me out with his questions...and for some of them, I'll confess, I've had to go ask our resident seminary grad. My newly turned 4 year old is stumping me in the theology department!! This is not good. I'm gonna get off the blog now and go read my bible!! :) It's a cool thought that God is using my preschooler to sharpen me. I love it!

Here are just a few of the questions that plague my little guy:


*Why can't we see God?

*Does God have hands?

*Is God or Jesus bigger?

*How will God help that homeless man?

*Why does God want that man to be homeless?

*Does God even love the bad guys?

*Which sin is bigger...?

*How can God be in Heaven and here in my room with me?

*Who is stronger God or Jesus?

*Does God have bones?

*Does God love us even when we sin?

*Where does God live?

*We can't hear God right?

*Is God the strongest? Even stronger then Super-Man?

*Can God count all the stars?

*Why can't you hear God?

Cheap Date

Gracen looking at birds
Gracen screaming like a monkey, scaring kittens
Gracen looking at fish
I asked Gracen what her favorite colors were for the sake of conversation on our date. At this point in the date she knew we were getting ice cream so she said, "Um...pink and brown...ice cream!" So, we got pink and brown ice cream (i.e. strawberry and chocolate). Incidentally, pink and brown are Mary's favorite colors.

Kids love animals. That's why zoos exist and Shamu has a job. But the truth is going to the zoo or some other theme park can be a bit pricey. That's why, dads, when it's time to take your daughter on a date (while she's still under 13 yrs old) you need to take her to Petsmart. So, I took Gracen out on a date last night and we had a blast. Mary and I had been pumping up Petsmart to her for two days and she was absolutely stoked (do the kids still say that?). I mean, c'mon, Petsmart is a blast. We looked at lizards, we looked at birds. We watched kittens as they sat bored to death behind Plexiglas boxes and tapped on aquariums full of funky looking lizards. We watched dogs get disciplined in doggy day care and we put our hands in the open fish tanks. Actually just Gracen tried to do that, but I knew better. We watched hamsters and gerbils run in circles (that's a pet we'll never have). They call gerbils "fancy rats" and "fancy mice" now - don't ask me, but I'm sure the experts at Petsmart know what they're doing. And then after about twenty minutes of exhilarating fun we left. We were so worn out after a night at Petsmart that we went home and crashed. Not really, we actually went to go eat ice cream. But in all seriousness, dads, take your daughter out on a date.

And don't let them talk you into going to the zoo.

Our Spring Family Pics

My good friend Joanna took these of our family a few weeks ago. We needed a family picture for a slide show at church. We are getting Grier dedicated on Mother's Day...first servcie for those of ya'll who want to come out and support our family. Anyways, Joanna did a fabulous job...especially considering we have three very squirmy children.

Best Show Ever...

Thursday May 22nd. 7:00 on Fox

My very favorite show is starting in a few short weeks....So You Think You Can Dance. I love any dance show or dance movie...but this tops them all. I love the wacky judges, and the broad spectrum of styles and talent. Although, I gotta say my favorite is hip-hop and crunking! I'm glued to the TV when this show is on. I love to dance, but am not even on the same playing field as these people...but for a few months I pretend that I am...as I "dance" around the house and try to imitate what I've seen. I'm so glad we don't have a nanny cam...It would be ugly. If you have never seen this show, check it out...it's awesome. I especially get a kick out of Mia Micheals, a choreographer and judge. She's a hoot!

The Tribe is Growing

Nosy Neighbors

Aiden and Gracen are so nosy...they are always peeking through our neighbors fence. This picture was just too cute. And I promise, contrary to what you might think...I do have shorts for them. They just like to nap in their undies, and sometimes their shorts just never get back on when they wake up...oh well, for those of ya'll who know specifically where we live...Blake and I figure we have just acclimated to our surroundings! :)

Have a good OB-GYN in the Austin area??

I'm looking for an OB-GYN in the Austin area...preferably North Austin, Cedar Park, or Round Rock. Does anyone have a great doctor they want to recommend to me or others??? I would greatly appreciate it! Come on now girls...this is something we hold near and dear to our hearts...and I know there are opinions out there!! :)

Aiden and Gracen's Birthday Party...a little late

Happy Birthday Gracen

Happy 3rd Birthday, my precious daughter. Mommy and Daddy love you so much. We are so proud of you...you are such a sweet sister, a great encourager, and Mommy's big helper. We have had a fun 3 years with you...

Sweet Baby Grier

I could just eat her up!

The Line Up

Nothin' like playing "Red Light, Green Light" in your undies.

Not Quite What I Meant...

Mommy: "Aiden, I have a big job for you."

Aiden: "Ooh, what is it?"

Mommy: "Can you put this screwdriver in the drawer for me?"

Aiden: "Sure."

Mommy: "You have to be very careful though, because it could hurt you."

Aiden: "Yeah, I'll be very careful, because I could get screwed."

Mommy: (giggling under my breath) "Yes Son, you don't want to get screwed."

NKOTB Fever

Wow, I am so super excited...anybody else there with me?? New Kids was my first concert...well unless you count the concerts I was forced to go to by my mom, including Sandi Patty, Carmen, and Harvest. Yikes! I still remember every detail of that 6th grade school night. My mom took me, my best friend Jo, Chrystie, Elizabeth, and my brother to TGIFridays and then to the Frank Erwin Center to rock out. We thought we were pretty hot stuff. At one point the guys starting taking off their shirts and my mom started freaking out. I was totally mortified...but she let us stay. Later we made up this whole story about Joey Joe inviting us up to his hotel room to party. We actually told people this story at school the next day...and the scary thing was, I started to believe it. The 8th graders looked at us like we were crazy...and now I'm totally embarrassed. I'm sure the guys would love to hang out with four 12 year olds with braces, and frizzy hair. Anyways, fast forward to 2008. I am so thrilled they are back together...I know it sounds crazy. But I will totally buy their new album and buy tickets to their concert...well, if it's local...because I will need to be back in time to get some good sleep, take a shower before my kids wake up, start a crock pot meal, put on a load of laundry, and play Candy Land for the 100th time. Wow, times have changed. I totally realize my cool factor has gone WAY down...But now that I'm 30...I care less then when I was 12. So all you late 20's, early 30's gals in denial like me, get ready to bring out your big buttons, t-shirts, pillowcases etc. It's time to relive 1989. Who's in?

Gracen is Potty Trained...

And I couldn't be happier! I was doing the math, and this is my first time to have only one in diapers since April 12th, 2005. That is a long time to change 2 little diapers at a time. It took Gracen about 2 weeks. This past Sunday, she wore panties to church and did awesome! We are so proud of her. At some point it just clicked for her. I love to see her little chubby bottom and legs in panties. I have purposely left off her pants many times, so I can get a little pinch here and there. :)