If You Build It...They Will Play

So one of the things I really wanted to splurge on was a playstructure for the kiddos. We enjoy our friends' a lot so I knew it would be a great addition to our yard. And now hopefully we can have friends over to enjoy ours! The kids went down for nap right after the workers arrived to put it up and when they woke up...ta-da! Instant fun! Nevermind that it was raining. :P


Captain Ryan at the helm! He's already pretty good at climbing the ladder and giving Mommy a heart attack :P


I think she likes it :)


Cutie


And a few of Ryan (obviously a few days ago...pre-hair cut)and the loves of his life...his trains

Life's A Beach

Last weekend we took a much needed relaxing trip with my parents to South Padre Island. We had so much fun...beached it twice a day...ate ice cream...spent time with each other. Love it! Katie would have probably stayed in the water from sun up to sun down if we let her. Ryan on the other hand was not a fan. He didn't like the sand at first...cried because he got sun screen in his eyes and was generally miserable. He came around a little bit on the last day and had fun digging in the sand and picking up sea shells. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for a wonderful getaway!

Beach babes...





The second night we did a 2 hour sunset dolphin watch cruise. It probably could have been 1 hour and been just fine. There's just not much to see on the coast of South Texas. But we did see LOTS of dolphins! We also watch two dolphins "playing" National Geographic style...yeah...


Also on the island is a really great Sea Turtle hospital and rehabilitation center. They take in injured or sick sea turtles and if possible sent them back into the wild once they are healed. They have to have at least 3 good flippers. Some of the turtles are permanent residents. They also protect the sea turtle nests on the island. It was a great little place.


We got one picture of our little family!


I thought this picture was sweet :)

Thanks Barbara!

Sorry for being MIA! I went on a much needed vacation to South Padre Island with my parents. It was lovely! Lots of pictures to come. These pictures are from last week on an adventure with friends to find a field of bluebonnets. The original place we were going to wasn't so hot so we cruised around and eventually found a fenced in field next to a house. In front of the house was a little building with a sign that said "Barbara's Hair Studio" or something similar. Well, being the rule follower that I am didn't think we should go in the field but good old Colby went and asked Barbara (who turned out to be soooo nice) and she said go right ahead! Little did we know what we were quite getting ourselves into...let's just say crocs and smooshy green cow patties don't mix. Poor Landon! Also...2 adults, 5 kids, and a very friendly horse is an interesting situation. But....we had FUN and got some cute pics :D

Since Friday....

We haven't left the house. Let me give you a glimpse...
Thursday night we met Keith near his work for dinner, came home and played and watched a few cartoons before bed. Ryan was playing like he normally does, running around the playroom from thing to thing. Then I felt him lean on me...nothing strange about that, but I could feel his little body temperture rising. I took his temp and although I didn't trust either of thermometers completely it ranged from normal temperature to 103. Within 5 minutes he was lethargic so I knew something was up. He went into a cool bath, had a dose of tylenol and then fell asleep before I could even say the word "book." The next morning the temperature was still there though not quite as high and off to the doctor we went. Diagnosis...Coxsackie Virus - Hand Foot Mouth. UGGGGGH!!

Oh but it gets better. So for lunch that day I had yummy spinach dip with pita chips. Sounds delightful right? Well within a couple minutes my stomach didn't feel right and then at 2am...yeah...food poisoning. I was sick all Saturday. Thank GOODNESS for my mother in law who has saved my butt twice in the last month because of my own sickness. She took the kids and left me to wallow in misery. Keith was FINALLY taking his Corvette Racing School.

Anyway now I am back to normal, Ryan is still dealing with some after affects including the lovely sores on his lip and chin and a rash all over his body from his high fever and cabin fever from being couped up for 4 days.

Oh and poor Katie. She missed 2 birthday parties because I was afraid she might be carrying the nastiness, plus Ryan couldn't go so I had no real way to take her.

But, we are mending and hopefully will be back to normal within the next couple days.

Here's a picture of Ryan to show his little sores. They are hardly noticable and you would probably think it was just a scratch or a cut lip.


I coaxed him into drinking chocolate milk because he hasn't wanted anything but ice water. He thought saying "chocolate milk" was hilarious! It was the funniest thing.


Katie doing some crafts

Singing in the Sun

I shot these from inside the house...I couldn't help but wonder what was going through that pretty little head of hers...

3 Year Blog-iversary!!!

Yes...today is my 3 year blog-iversary. Can't believe how far my little family has come since THEN. Thanks for enjoying the ride with us.

Here are some pictures of the little girl who inspired me to start this blog modeling for Miss Priss Tutu's and their Team Calgon for Autism Speaks Tutu. 50% of the sales from this special tutu go to Team Calgon and Autism Research. I also combined the session with accessories from Bowtique Designs...a fun monthly class where you learn how to make beautiful bows!!! I've taken the class and had so much fun! Please take a couple of minutes to visit both these fantastic mom-businesses!



And see those other beautiful girls? You can check out more of their pictures for Miss Priss Tutus soon on my BIZ BLOG! Until I get them posted check out all the beautiful bluebonnet families! ;)

Egg-cellent Easter!

So Friday night Saturday morning I got yucky sick so pictures are few and far between of the Easter preparations. I missed the big Easter Egg hunt at the church (boohoo!) and was really not feeling well while we quickly colored eggs Saturday afternoon. The kids had lots of fun though!



All ready for the Easter Bunny!


Tried to get a picture of the kids...Katie was ready!


Ryan had more important things to tend to...


Easter Morning (Katie was dressed and ready for church when I went to get her up...haha!)! Checking out the goodies and hunting for eggs :)




I should have tried to take pictures before we went to church. By this point the kids weren't too interested!





We hope you had a wonderful Easter!

Serenity NOW!

I can take pictures of other peoples' kids all day but my own? I honestly they make me want to pull my hair out! Just a glimpse, Ryan took off with my keys....in a huge field of bluebonnets....and dropped them. Can you say needle in a haystack. Yeah...

A Texas Tradition...2010 Bluebonnet Pictures




Want too see some past bluebonnet pictures? 2009 2009 Again 2008