Babies are Gone

Mom came to Houston on Sunday and took my babies home with her yesterday. The house is so quiet with them gone!! Last night Walter and I started talking about the kids and he said, "You do realize they've been gone less than 24 hours and we already miss them!" It was nice to sleep all night without a little one climbing in bed with us...if only we didn't have to get up early.

Walter had a Dr. appt in Clear Lake this morning, so we spent the day there. We went the doctor, Goodwill to donate some goods, Scrapbook Junkie, Mamacitas for Lunch, the movie theatre to watch Mall Cop then came back into Houston and picked up Walter's prescription at Target. Now I need to fold laundry so I can pack a suitcase cuz we are going to San Antonio sometime tomorrow. Brittney's birthday is today and she and Brady are having a party on Friday night. Brady needs Walter's help in constructing an outdoor drink stand for the party.

My Funny Kids

"Mom, will you play in a band with me? I need more people to have a band."

"Why don't you ask Josiah? Can't he make music with you."

"He's too busy."

"Doing what?"

"Putting on lipstick."

"Oh my gosh. Grab it!"

We were in the car driving to Boerne when an energizing song came on the radio. Avery pulls out her air guitar and starts playing. "Mom," she yells. "What instrument are you going to play? You can play the glockenspiel." "The glockenspiel," I say increduously. "Yes Mom. You know it's like a wooden xlyphone." "Yes," I replied, "I know what it is. How do you know it?"

"Sesame Street"

The other day we went out to have Chinese food. I ordered orange chicken. When I got my plate, Josiah leaned over on my shoulder. He got a look of total disgust on his face. He poked the brocolli (covered in oranges sauce causing it to be brownish in areas). He looked at me and said, "Ribbit?" "Oh no, Baby. That's not a frog. It's just brocolli." (I don't think he was ever convinced that it was a plant instead of an amphibian!)

No more brothers...No more weddings

Brandon got married March 28th to Tammy.

Throughout the ceremony Josiah kept saying, "Tammy, pretty!"

Brady got married April 24th to Brittney. We had a lot of fun dancing at the reception. Mom and Brady chose the Chicken dance for their Mother/Son dance. It was soooo Brady!

You can check out more photos on my Facebook page!!

Mountain Dew and Mater

It is amazing how quickly Josiah can get into trouble! He found a bottle of Mountain Dew colored paint and managed to dump it all over himself and the leather desk chair while I went to the bathroom yesterday. My first thought was "how do I get him clean without making a bigger mess?". I rolled him and the chair into the bathroom. I picked him and put him in the tub...fully dressed in shirt, shorts, belt, diaper, socks, and shoes. I pulled his clothes off and put them in the sink which I filled with soapy water. The belt and shoes were the easiest things to clean. Then, I wiped down the chair, I'm glad it came clean! I couldn't get the paint off his shirt or shorts. I think we can use the shirt for pjs. Grunge is popular right now, so maybe he can wear the shorts still and people will think they are supposed to be that way!!!

Could someone please talk to my husband? When Avery says, "that guy has teeth just like Mater," Walter should not laugh. How am I supposed to explain that it isn't nice to say that when he can't keep a straight face???

Current Avery-isms

"Mom, do you know how big a foal is?"
"How big?"
"Smaller than a tree, but bigger than a trash can."

"Mom. Can I explain to you about the Roly-Poly Sit-u-wation?"
"sure."
"Well, Josiah wanted to feel the roly poly bugs. His hands are not the right size. Only my hands are the right size. When he tried to takc the roly poly bugs, he killed them. Now, they are just laying there all dead and stuff."

Last night Walter commented that Josiah was really going to town on his corn. Today Avery told Walter that she was really coming to town on this sit-u-wation.

New Testament books: Golash-ians, Cornithians, and Thesallippians.

Empathy

After a brief conversation with the nursery worker on Sunday, I feel like I'm making a positive difference in the lives of my children! One of Josiah's nursery workers has a relative named Julio. Julio is about 10 years old and is visually impaired. He frequently stays in the nursery with Josiah's group. Ms. Irma told us that Josiah intuitively goes and picks a musical toy to give to Julio. She said she has never seen a child so young that understands that Julio can't see, but that he can hear. She said that Josiah has a "good heart". I'm so proud of my little guy!

Peace At Last!

Whew!!! I love Christmas with my family, but I also enjoy coming home to a quiet house!!!

We had a really great time in Roscoe this year. It was a lot of fun to have a house full of kids. They get so excited about everything and it makes everyone else excited!! Brandon and Brady both brought their fiances so we could get to know them better. They handled the chaos well. Our family is a lot like the one on My Big Fat Greek Wedding, so any newcomer can get overwhelmed easily. Next year I think we need to make a pictoral family tree so Brittney, Tammy, and Sam (my cousin's hubby) can figure out everyone's name and who belongs to who!

We played a bunch of board games...with no tears, punches, or name calling!!! We also played 84 and Mexican train with the dominos. As always, we did lots of eating as well!!! There were several trips made to the K-Mart in Sweetwater...it is kind of a family tradition for everyone to get Joe Boxer pj's there. The kids did a lot of jumping on the trampoline. Avery and Brooke got along very well. They spent time reading to each other, playing in a 'band' together, playing with their babies (they were taking turns giving birth to stuffed animals), and playing in the bathroom where the little ones wouldn't bother them. Brooke wanted Avery to go outside with her, but Avery was afraid there would be ants. Brooke told her, "Don't worry Avery. The ants just bite for a little while and then they let go." Avery went out with her so I guess she was encouraged! Boaz (29 mos), Josiah (22 mos), and Reese (17mos) played with each other, stole toys/food from each other, wrestled each other, chased each other...they got along really well for how little they are!!!

The kids have spent the last couple of days playing with all their toys from Christmas. They both recieved a lot of money and today we combined it and bought a trampoline. The kids are jumping happily while Walter watches them. I have a feeling it will end up being the best gift of the year!!

I have to brag on Walter!!! I normally pick out my gift and he goes and pays for it. This year he picked something out on his own. He ordered it online and was so disappointed that it didn't get here before we left. We got home on Tuesday night and the mail was on hold...so Wednesday he gave me a great gift. It is a beautiful 1.25 carat and square cut Aquamarine ring! I love it!!!

Gotta go scrapbook...just ordered over 400 pictures at Walgreens...