Ride On

I plan to do a great big up date or maybe lots of little updates but for right now I just want to put up a little piece about Bear. He is so sweet and INDEPENDENT. He was gone from us for almost two weeks, all by himself, no big sister or little brother. I only got a chance to speak with him once, other wise he was just not ready to talk to Mommy. I did get updates every so often, and they were always wonderful, and full of little boy antics. After all he did end up in Wisconsin with two of his little cousins who are also boys. He had a fantastic time.

Now before he left he was trying somewhat to ride his bike without training wheels, he would do pretty well, but did not have the right motivation. Well once he arrived in Wisconsin, his cousin Mason was riding the bike without the training wheels and this apparently was enough motivation for Bear to try to do this as well. So he worked really hard while in Wisconsin and figured it all out. Once home he immediately asked for his training wheels to be taken off. And then he stated that there was not enough room to ride his bike, but some how he is making the situation work. Aunt Jodi lives on something like 80 acres and they have a nice big hill to ride down and about three acres for the kids to play on. Go figure how the city would not provide this for him. But here are some images of him in his bike riding glory sans training wheels.


barrett (he typed his name, so proud of himself)

4th of July

Ok I know it's a little late but I wanted to make sure you knew I was doing something fun with my kids, in case you were not there to witness the fun. Isabelle and Cooper had lots of fun watching the parade, swimming and fireworks. Bear was in Wisconsin and all reports say that he had a blast and even tried to go home with another family. What love right? Although this did span two days since some people were Saturday celebrators only.

I had every intention of looking at my photos and making them look pretty but instead you get them SOOC, which how would you know otherwise. I think that next year we might try to do a little parade in our neighborhood, so long as we are here in Texas or Arlington at the time.

Then for the Fireworks, we went out to Randolf Air Force Base and watched them there, with thousands of other people. It was still pretty good, the fireworks that is.

USA Wins

I am so excited to be able to watch the World Cup. It is the pinnacle of sports in the rest of the world, except the US. Which is unfortunate but hey, it all works out some how. I would hope that the majority of you know that the US has advanced to the second round by winning in stoppage time against Algeria. Now they should have clinched their win early on but FIFA did not overturn the call of offsides against the US where they had previously scored a goal. I am a big fan of calling off sides and I think it's important but even I did not think the US player was off sides. Anyway, it seemed that when all was lost and the US would be coming home in the very start (or close to it) of the second minute of stoppage time the US scored the game winning goal. It was a great game and very well played by both teams. I am very excited that the US is going to advance. Although now I believe it is a straight elimination round, you have to win to advance any further. It will be decided who they will play I think on Thursday as those games have not yet been played then later on in the week, they will face their next challenge. I can hardly wait there have been some amazing moments that I have been able to see since the start of the world cup. GO TEAM USA.

The River

At long last, or so it seems I am going to give an update on what we did over the weekend. We went with Ben's youngest sister, her family, his parents and her mother-in-law to go canoeing in Arkansas. We had so much fun. The kids absolutely loved it. All day from 9:30 to 4:30 we were on the river. A few stops along the way to eat, swim, play, jump around, and just have fun, were all it took to keep these kids happy. No one got sunburned or at least if they did not very badly. Bear was the first one to jump off the big rock. He really wanted to swing on the swing and then jump into the water, but the line for that was rather long. Lots of beer and juice boxes were consumed, Ben stated that we should have brought some more Gatorade for the ride as well. The only mishap was when Bernie and Susie ran into a tree and the canoe flipped into the water. They all feel out including Cooper who survived like a champ. His life jacket is amazing. He did not start to cry until I showed up, but hey, he was half asleep when it all happened. The river did take it out of the kids, I think all but two fell asleep on the way back home, and everyone slept well that night. It was a great trip.

Things they say

So yesterday, Ben is out watering the garden, a daily event. And Isabelle walks up to him and says, "This peach fell off the tree and I caught it." Now does that sound like my daughter to you? At least she is excited about the peaches. This is only the second year they have been in the ground here and they are already producing fruit. How very exciting. I think we'll only get a handful but still. Maybe enough for a cobler so long as any more don't just fall off the tree for her or any other child to catch.

Fast Learner

Cooper is picking up on some of the big kid stuff way too fast. I'm still pretty sure that he should be acting like a baby and not a todler. I expect him to start spouting of some poetry any day now. Until that happens I only have this to report. The kids have been doing odds and ends projects recently which involved, paper, scissors and punches. So there of course is paper, scissors, and punches just lying around all over my house, since I guess they feel that it is summer time and no need to clean up after themselves. Either way, Cooper happend upon a piece of paper, and a pair of scissors. Why do they call it a pair, since really it is only one but I guess sense it has two sides that is reason enough. Who knows. He finds these scissors and paper and immediatly sits down to work on his very own project. He gennerally knows how this whole thing is supposed to work you put your fingers in and then move it some how and it will eventually cut the paper to your desisered shape. For the life of him he could not figure it out with one hand. Now with two hands he was all over it. But not once did he ask for help, by bringing me his project to help him. At least not until I interferred and stuck a camera in his face. Then he realized that oh hey, Mom's here she'll know what to do. Then he thought to himself well if I can't get it to cut then I'm just going to poke a hole in the paper, that should work out great. I just could not believe it, he did try pretty hard at getting them to work, it was just too cute!

Blackberries

Today, the kids and I went to go pick blackberries. It was a lot of fun but very humid, I'm pretty sure that I was melting. Anyway, Cooper had a little bit of a learning curve to go through before he figured out that the berries go into the box instead of his mouth. They don't like it when you eat the berries before you pay for them. We came home with almost three pounds of blackberries to eat and gobble up. Maybe I'll be creative and actually make something with them. Who knows!

Plus their cousins got to join in the fun and tastiness at the blackberry picking as well. I was really pleased to see everyone today and to notice that they all had such a wonderful time.

Get Big

Today as I was cleaning up the lunch dishes of five kids I happened to look out the window to find my baby boy looking so much like a big boy. Some days I cannot decide if I want him to grow up or if I think he should stay small and somewhat cuddly forever. He of course thinks he needs to grow up and fast. After all he has to catch up with his siblings. I'm not sure why this picture made me feel this way but for some reason it did. They all just grow up too fast!

Apple Pie

Today as part of our "summer school" program we baked a pie. I was actually a lot of fun and the kids really enjoyed the experience. I had two extras with me today, and that made it even more special. I think the kids enjoyed eating the pie the most. After all who would not want to eat what they made.

Preschool Celebration

Hug and Certificate

I won't turn left, I won't turn right

Well it is official, I guess, Isabelle is on her way to Kindergarten. Preschool is all done, and she even received a certificate for all her "hard" work this past year. The school did have a little ceremony for the kids which was sweet. I really enjoyed the little song they sang, which we had a preview of all week long. I really was planning on trying to do some video but my battery died half way through and so I missed Isa's class and the song. And them my pictures suck because I was holding Cooper who was not so happy to be there, nap time and all. But here are few images just so you can see how cute they are. Plus a pic of each of the kids and their teachers.

Class Photo

Isabelle and Ms. Heidi

Barrett and Ms. Josie

I love the Ren Faire

As is our spring or better yet May tradition, we went to the Renaissance Faire this past Sunday. The Scarborough Faire is always some much fun, it makes me wonder why more people don't go. The kids had a blast playing games, riding rides and just being silly. We went with a couple of friends who had kids as well and that made the event even better. Of course the food was very good too. I had a spinach pie that was way yummy and my crab cakes on a stick did not come with a stick. I thought about asking for a refund because of the lack of appropriate stickness but hey I was just so hungry that I might have eaten the stick.

Cooper did great again this year, he got out and played a little as a pirate but otherwise he was content to ride his way through the faire in style. Checking things out from the front seat of his carriage. Isabelle dressed up as "Princess Jasmine" and Bear went as an "Eagle." Really his costume is a super hero outfit but hey it has a picture of a bird on it so we will just go with it. Bear even rode the Elephant, which he thought was pretty cool. Isabelle did not want to get all stinky but later rode a llama, go figure.

Either way I think we had a lot of fun and I can't wait to go to the next one. We might have to check out the one called "Middle Faire," in Hillsboro, but since they just started, it might be a little rough, who knows. A good time for all at the Ren Faire. After all how could you not love it, the people are great, some really let their "hair" down and go all out and really get into character. So fun!

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

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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!