Spring Concert

I can't hardly believe it is already the end of the "school year." The kids both had little spring concerts where they sang great. I could even hear Bear. It was too cute to watch all the kids get up there and sing their little hearts out. Of course they can't do them on the same day for whatever reason but hey I guess it makes it easier for the parents and school. Here are a few cute pics of them at their performances.

5 already

I can hardly believe that Isabelle is five let alone getting so big. I think she is growing before my eyes. She does not matter that she is turning into a young lady just so long as she gets older and can hurry up through life.

She finally decided to be good and let me take some pictures of her to symbolize her success at reaching such a milestone. I know I would have thought she would have been much better before too, but you know some days she has her moments as well. I think I heard a gasp from out East. Anyway, here she is in all of her glorious five years of age.

One year at last

Ok so things have been a little busy to say the least. With what someday's I'm not sure. But I have been meaning to update my blog and here is one thing for sure.

I am the worst mother ever, since I am just now getting around to taking my kids pictures for the birthdays or year changes whatever. Mostly because every time I tired before was terribly unsuccessful, I needed help. For some reason Cooper does not want to sit still. I know who would have thought that a one year old would want to just sit so mom could take his picture. Finally at last I have made them. Only after about four tries on my own. So frustrating, and I'm a photographer, makes me wonder what I'll do if this comes up durring one of my sessions. Either way his one year pictures are finally done and I made them into a little collage to show of some of my favorites. I hope you enjoy.

So silly

My kids come up with some of the strangest things to do. They found this box, because they wanted to make a project out of recycled items and instead of making things Bear climbed inside. Personally I could not believe he fit but hey, why not.

Earth Day

For Earth Day I made the kids some cute Recycle Symbol shirts. Bear loves his and will probably never take it off. As for the other two, I think they liked them a lot. I think I needed some backing under the t-shirt as well since they puckered a bit but they did the trick and the kids loved them. Which is all that mattered. I'm sure they will wear them a lot.

Bluebonnets

The other day I drug my family and some friends out to take pictures in the Bluebonnets, the Texas state flower. Everyone was thrilled to say the least, ha ha. At least the kids did seem to enjoy it. Who knows. So I thought I would post a few of the pictures here. Thanks to Angie and Gene for being such good sports about going to take pictures in the flowers.

Run With Your Life: Part 2

Ok I had a friend post this on Facebook and just had to share it here. I have to also start out by saying, I love Singing Time and my kids have enjoyed it so much, so this post by Rachel Coleman is really cool. Plus while I was in Salt Lake I actaully got to meet her at a Girl Scout function. Go Girl Scouts for being so open to people of all walks of life. I hope you enjoy this part of her story and find it inspirational for some area of your life.

Run With Your Life: Part 2 – No Exceptions

Posted using ShareThis

Bye-bye

This is what Ben did early Sunday moring.

That's right he went to go watch Texas Staduim be imploded. I heard on the news that it cost six (6) million dollars to take that monstrosity down. How crazy is that. I hope that also include clean up and removal of the stands. Hotels, businesses and Jerry Jones of course actually sold tickets for people to watch this. No we did not buy one for him, he just knows somebody, who knows somebody to get a free ticket. Crazy fun!

It's Here

Well friends and family, it is finally here. That's right my website for my Photography business is at last up and running. You can check it out at Seven Arches Photography. I'm so very excited about this and the many opportunities it will help to provide. So if you live in the area or want to fly me out, I would love to take some potraits for you and your home.

Let's Go Rangers!

That's right it is Open Day for the Texas Rangers. For those of you who don't know, they play baseball. And for those of you who don't know, Ben is a huge fan of baseball. How exactly I ended up with someone who loves this sport so much I just don't know. But he does and so we did. Anyway, he took the kids, Isa and Bear, to opening day. He was so excited to share this with the kids, I have a feeling we will be at plenty of games this year. Especially since, Ben talked me into get the kids in the Junior Rangers program. Eight vouchers and fun ranger crap all year long. So for sure we will attend at least eight games. But who knows how many more above that.

Ben already has them liking certian players and everything. Michael Young is a current favorite, and who knows if anyone else will be added to that list. The kids had lots of fun at the game and since it was a day game they made it all the way to the end. With the Rangers finally making a comeback in the bottom of the ninth. Go figure, but hey a win is a win.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter Everyone!

I hope that you all had a wonderful day filled with family, friends, food and fun. Look at all those "f's." Anyway, we had a wonderful day the weather was nice, and breezy everyone in our house made it on time to church and did very well. Bear probablly did well because he was not sitting with us but hey whatever. He sat with he favortie Aunt, Penny. Then we had a wonderful breakfast, since church is at 7:45a. Then an equally but possibly better lunch.

We had friends and family join us for a wonderful meal and great bonding time. I think that everyone had a good time and enjoyed the food and the company. The kids had a chance to play with friends, and checked out their Easter baskets. Kite flying was high adventure for today since that is part of what the Easter Bunny brought them.

One of our guests had never flown a kite before today. So I was happy that we could fullfil that childhood experience for him even though he is no longer a child. By brother was very helpful this weekend. He did a great job with the kids, helping with food prep and clean up. I was very happy to get this time to spend with him before he goes off to Nebraska to rejoin the Air Force.

Mostly I was just happy to spend some extra time with family and friends. Really we should get together more often.

Oh yea Cooper is trying so hard to be a big kid. Wants to sit in a regular chair, likes to run after the big kids. And even wants to ride the big kid bikes. At least he is too cute!

Eggs Everywhere

Ok so I think I miss doing stuff with the kids and their friends on a regular basis. Or maybe I miss spending time with the moms and just having a semi-adult conversation for once. In between nose wiping, breaking up fights and all the other fun stuff that comes with have a large group of kids over. The one thing I did say that I did not miss was the noise level, which would not have been that bad had it not be rainy and the kids could have gone outside.

Anyway we dyed Easter eggs with friends today and it was so much fun. The kids had a great time making their eggs turn all different colors and then making their lunch. Personalized pizza is the way to go. You can make them anyway you want plus if you don't like it oh well, you made it. Over all I think the kids just had fun being at home and playing with friends. I did notice that none of the little boys I invited over came to play, so Bear was kind of left to play with all the girls. The little boys who were here are closer to Cooper's age.

Plus I got a chance to visit with friends and catch up since I'm sure it has been forever since we had all gotten together to talk. It's nice to have someone to talk to about other things than just your children.

Bear and Soccer

Soccer started for Bear today. And I think he will have lots of fun. Especially after we teach him how to go after the ball even when it gets away from him. He got a little frustrated when this one little boy who was a stud, kept getting the ball and making goals. But man he put in some good effort to try to make goals. I'm sure the next game will be even better. And then T-ball, the fun never ends. Of course Cooper had to get out there and mix things up, he so wants to be a big kid.

Just a little bit

Somebody out there requested an update to the blog. Along with pictures, well I have some pictures to show but not really any with those beautiful faces everyone is looking for.

The other day we went to see all the butterflies at the Fort Worth Botanical Gardens. It would have been great if one: I did not have to carry Cooper or at least had him on my back, two: Bear would have listened, three: I could have taken pictures with my longer lens, which is hard with a small child who likes to reach and touch things. Oh well I did get some good ones with my new lens, so much fun by the way.





And then I had fun making treats for my mom’s group bake sale. Thanks to Anjie and her wonderful idea for V-day treats. I just used an oval shape to make “eggs” and they turned out wonderful. The kids really seemed to enjoy them. Cooper got one that did not have any chocolate on it and he went to town. I don’t think I could have pried it away from him, without inciting a war. He has such a little sweet tooth.

Yummy!

Ok so many of you know that I do not eat a whole lot of meat and what little meat I eat I try to disguise it so that I do not notice the flavor or taste. Or the fact that it is meat. Really when it comes down to I just do not like meat. I really should give it up all together, but I would miss this recipe and a few others. Hmmm time will tell, Ben might be a little sad without meat in his life.

So tonight we had soccer practice and instead of freaking out and trying to cook dinner at 4:30p or run through a drive thru, I think I hate that even more than meat, I made a meal in the crock pot. After talking with a new acquaintance about my meal plan for the week, she suggested Taco Soup. A great stand by favorite of ours, and many households. You know the one where you basically open up four cans, dump it in with some spices and add some meat. Well I never, or very rarely use any ground meat so my taco soup is always chicken. And I pretty much never use taco seasoning, because I can just toss in the seasoning that I like and make it work. And I usually forget to put in the ranch dressing package but this time I remembered.

Mostly because I happen to have this friend from college who has started her own homemade seasoning company, Lloyd and Buck, with loads of great offerings. I happen to have a jar of her Giddyup! Ranch Dressing mix and so I added some of that. My taco soup was way yummy. I think the mix really made the difference tonight. And I'm pretty sure that I will not be forgetting to add this one tasty ingredient in my soup again. So go check out her site and see for yourself, all her yummy offerings. We have also gotten the Warm & Cozy Hot Chocolate, the kids loved it. I think we will have more of those jars in our future.

If for whatever reason you happen not to have a taco soup recipe just send me a quick note and I will give you the low down on what we drop in ours. Sometimes it varies as to what is in my pantry but hey it is a great stand by and works wonders for multiple people. Plus if you add in the Giddyup! Ranch Dressing you will love it forever. Happy Eating my friends.

Kansas

Last weekend we went to Kansas to visit Ben’s youngest sister and her family. The kids had so much fun visiting with their cousins. They went sledding, made personal sized pizzas and just had fun playing and being kids. Plus it gave Ben and I a chance to have some fun adult time with his sister and her husband. Everyone did great on the drive up and down; hopefully we’ll be able to get together another time before they move.

Dress up Cats

So this is what my children do when they are left to their own devices. They dress up their cats to match them. Or at least Isabelle did because we do not have any boy baby doll clothes. So both of our boy cats were wearing girl doll clothes at some point today. Check out the matching backpacks.

The "man"

We started our day playing in the snow and we ended our day the same way. We made a snowman. Then after playing with the neighbor kid I thought we might shovel the drive for Ben. I got started and he came home. Hopefully he will be able to get out on Friday.

White stuff

Wow what an amazing thing for Texas. Real snow! Not like that stuff we had earlier this year, this is actual inches of snow. The kids I think thought it was great, but were outside for all of thirty minutes. Cooper about fifteen. Oh well, I’m sure they will play more soon. I think we should make a snowman, since the snow is just perfect for that, we’ll see what they think a little later on. I wanted them the play outside more, because it is hard work to get them all ready to play outside, all those layers. I guess we should enjoy it while it lasts, because tomorrow is going to be yucky, once all the water and slush refreezes overnight to make ice. Fun times!

Seeds

Our seeds are here! Our seeds are here. I am so excited that we can finally put to work our master plan for the garden and get going on planting. We just have a few things to do to ready our beds but we are getting closer to planting.

We have decided to expand our garden this year a lot. Ben would like to see the garden go all the way around the back yard in a U shape but we’ll see. We are going to plan an herb garden in the front yard that should hopefully come back every year, or at least that is my plan.

So as our garden progresses I will keep you abreast of the activity and harvest. I can hardly wait. Homegrown tomatoes here I come.

New Family Members

I would like to introduce you to our newest family members, TuTu and Viking. Can you guess which one belongs to which kid, oh yea their both males. Yes, I finally broke down and let the kids get kittens. Let me just say I am ready to give them back. Hopefully though after a new plan of action things will get better and I might change my mind into keeping them.

So far they are kind of cute and fun. It was probably good that we got two kittens because they help to entertain each other; so much like, at least two children. The kids love them and enjoy having them around. We did have to teach them how to carry their cats by the scurf of the neck because Isabelle was being too rough when picking up her cat.

I think they will be enjoyed for a while and once this crazy weather levels out life should get better. Then the cats can go outside for the majority of the day. I’m sure no matter what I say they will always sleep inside. Just not by me.

What they say

Isabelle: Mom

Mom: What

Isabelle: Mom I just heard a new "v" word, Vegas, Vyzs but I don't know what it means

Mom: That's not how you spell it, laughing.