Crunch Time

April and May are simply crazy for moms. I don't remember them being particularly crazy in that period of time when I was an adult - no longer a student - but not yet a parent.

For parents, you basically take a deep breath around spring break, dive into it....and surface for air the first week of June. Agree? Spring Break, Easter, Mother's Day, MY Mother's actual birthday, field day @ the elementary school, shop for teacher gifts, Spring Programs, Spring sports - WHEW! So it is May 24th....the last day of school for the boys...and I can see the light...


Justin has graduated Kindergarten. I now have a first grader. Who wears a size 3 shoe and tends to get a bit sassy in the mouth. We took him to Cracker Barrel after the celebration and Carleton got him a Mav's jersey. Pretty sure it will have holes worn in it by August. He told me on the way to bed that he plans to wear it tomorrow. We are really proud of him. He had a great year - lots of maturation. Not the best picture, but it was hard to get good ones in the crowd. I just concentrated on watching.



Collin finished up the year @ Presby as well. He was blessed with the world's most amazing teachers, just as Justin was three years ago. He had a wonderful year and loved every minute. He is such a cutie - very into the weather right now. I believe I've mentioned our crazy spring. This morning, as we were heading to school, he looked at the overcast sky and announced "These clouds aren't headed to our beach (we are going on vacation next week), they are headed to the Northwest part of China" and proceeded to climb in the van. A&M has an excellent meteorology school. The top picture is the boys with the preschool teachers. They are amazing.


Blaire, Blaire, Blaire. She's a happy chunk. She is on a good routine. Not sleeping through, but sleeping longer....2 or 3 am. She's into her food more now. I believe she'll be moving to her big girl carseat this weekend. At 18 pounds, I can't say I get much use out of the infant carrier any longer.


And here is the girl. Post-bath glee:

And I'm going to print this and carry it to dispel the disbelief I'm met with when I tell people she's in a size 4 diaper @ 6 months. "No she's not!". Oh yes, she is. You can reach up and pinch that booty on your monitor, but it's much more fun to squeeze in person. I really could eat this little girl up with a spoon. And I propped her there on the stair. She did not get into that position on her own. She fell over shortly thereafter! :)

Mother's day

Mother's day was wonderful. Justin made a poster that says "I Love You". It's still hanging in the kitchen....just to remind him that he loves me as we readjust to life together EVERY DAY now that school is out. At the ripe age of 6, he no longer thinks I know everything...and doesn't think all my "great ideas" for activities are always great. I can't sell Kroger as a reward any more, for some reason.

Anyhow, we went to a very snazzy brunch after church at a new restaurant in town with a trendy chef. All the food was excellent. A Mimosa for mommy and three perfectly behaved children. It was everything a mom wants! And we came home, put everyone to bed and Carleton and I proceeded to watch a marathon of "Deadliest Catch". As I said, the day was wonderful. We haven't wasted an entired day on marathon in ages. I didn't even do laundry. We were lazy, lazy fools. Hope to do it again on Mother's day 2008!

Six Months....gone by so fast!

So my girl was six months old yesterday. How did that happen? It seems she just got here!

We had her appointment today....sister was 17lb 15oz (90th %) and 28" (off the charts). So she's growing JUST FINE! She's proving to be a different person than the boys, much more laid back physically. The boys at this age were chomping at the bit...trying to figure out how to coordinate each limb with the others in a general effort to get SOMEWHERE...Blaire? Not so much. She's cool with her sitting.....chewing on her toes......and when that gets old, fussing so mommy will pick her up. She's not in a hurry to get anywhere...and as Andria told me today, "That is your gift from God after the other two!". Amen.

We started rice cereal tonight while we all ate dinner. Blaire could not get enough and was quite ready to take the spoon herself, thank you very much. I wasn't as ready as Blaire and got teary...but I guess she'll move away from home eventually, so I have to start with these baby steps.

Here are her six month portraits and some shots of her eating tonight. Not to neglect the brothers, they are in swim lessons this week. They are fish. No....fish are quiet. What swims well but is still loud? Elephant seals? Anyhow....they swim like fish. Day two of lessons today and Collin swam the width (not length) of the pool without assistance. Yea!

And the food pics....have you seen a baby get this happy over gruel?

Just give me the spoon!

Big brother helping out:

Love to all -

K

Say Cheese!

Three little monkeys.......

Pretty days....

The weather has been beautiful the last few days! Just sunny and a perfect temperature. Spending as much time out as we can. Took the little bits to the park yesterday, and when J got home we all spent the afternoon in the backyard. They were all so content - I even got to read a magazine while everyone enjoyed themselves!!

Anna - B LOVES her floppy hat! Never complains!!

:)

K

All's well...

Another week, another tornado. I'm telling you....Texas has never felt truly like home to me...and this spring is going to do me in. We had another severe weather day on Tuesday...does it mean I'm getting really paranoid if I tell you this is third Tuesday we've had severe weather? We've had one bad Friday, too. Anyhow, no trouble here at our house, thank goodness. I'm realllly getting ready for summer...

The kids are good. Miss B and I took a road trip to Houston this past weekend sans males. She was a gem - the trips there and back were completely unremarkable. In Houston, Anna's mom shot Blaire's 6 mo portraits. Love, love, love them. I'll post when she officially turns 6 mo next week. I'm in no rush for this girl to grow up.

We had a lovely weekend with our good friends, though, celebrating the news that they are joining us in the looney bin. They will have a third before Christmas! So this time next year we'll be requesting a table for TEN when we go out to eat. I'm about to pop I'm so excited about this baby!

I can't tell you exactly what went on around here with me gone....but there were krispy kreme boxes, Happy meal boxes...and evidence of missed bedtimes. So I think everyone was happy! It is so sweet to see your kiddos when you've been gone long enough for them to miss you, too! Justin nearly bowled me over....he's getting a little big for the running-leap-into-my-arms....but I'll take it as long as I can get it.

Here's an old (january) but cute pic....

K

A whole new world

We had a great weekend! It started off rough....we had tornado activity again on Friday night. When the sirens went off, I realized we might have to get Collin treated for a stress disorder. He was really quite terrified. But off to the powder bath we all went with our mattress on our heads and the gameboys in hands. They have determined that four touched down. This spring is not turning out to be my favorite, in terms of severe weather. Thankfully, we and all our local family were fine.

Anyhow, Papa came in for a visit this weekend. He came and saw Justin play soccer (it was freeeeezing on Saturday!). Collin was a little-brother-popsicle. Blaire and I arrived at halftime and rescued little C. Saturday evening, Dad and C took the boys to see Meet the Robinsons, while I hosted a baby shower. They had a big time and we girls did as well. Blaire was well behaved and only spit up in front of people once.....or twice....

Sunday we went to a late brunch and spent the day at the zoo. The weather was perfect and it was a very nice surprise for the kids. The mandrils were putting on a great show, chasing each other around. They reminded me so much of two little people I know.......

Collin got a haircut and just looks so GROWN UP to me. Something about this cut made him just look older suddenly. And Blaire has found a whole new world....the upright one. She's sitting pretty well....longer periods each day. Not LONG, mind you...but getting longer. And she's found her toes. And she likes those toes!!