Happy Mardi Gras

We've had a fun time this year with Mardi Gras. In the past we've never really celebrated, since we aren't Catholic or heavy drinkers. But this year we've had fun with the beads, King cake and parade. James Odom brought us this king cake today. It was shipped from New Orleans and very tasty.

If you are wondering about the bear. He was the white elephant Christmas gift from the Walling's last year. He's been around for 3 years now and I got stuck with him. He will show up a lot this year until it's time to pass him on to the next un-suspecting owner next Christmas.

The Quote of All time...

Mia has been infatuated lately with being a Mommy. Like most little girls she likes to play babies and pretend she's the Mom.
And she often says, "Mommy, I want to be the Mommy"

So Friday, I was changing a Battery in Trent's MP3 player, Pouring Ty some Apple Juice AND holding the freezer door open for Kaylee while she got something out... Mia saw this and said "Mommy, you're so lucky, you get to do EVERYTHING for EVERYONE..... All at the same time."

Yes, Mia you're right. And someday you'll have the job (I mean Joy) of doing it all too.

Aquarium of the Americas

Several years ago David and I went to the Aquarium in New Orleans. I really enjoyed it then and couldn't wait to take the kids back one day. I think the time we were there last I was very pregnant with Trent. After Hurricane Katrina I was worried it wouldn't be repaired but it looks like nothing ever happened to it.

something we all wanted to see was the Albino or White Alligator. He was really eerie looking. I always expect them to snap at us and try to eat us through the glass.

After we left the aquarium we went next door for an IMAX movie that was called "The Wild Ocean" But really it could have been called Sardines. It was entirely about Sardines and how they move and all the animals (& people) that wait to catch them. I'm not knocking it, it was pretty interesting. The kids loved wearing the glasses and seeing the 3D show. Ty loved the popcorn so everyone was happy.

There's still more to come from this trip. Next up.... Mardi Gras parade.

Got Beignets?

You can't have a trip to New Orleans without having beignets. We visited with our cousins, Todd, Amy, Gabe and Aunt Joyce who live in Slidell, LA. On Saturday morning we went to The Beignet Station in Slidell. I was worried they might not be as good as Cafe Du Monde but....They were soooo good.

They make something called Beginet minis. They are about as big as a donut hole. Which makes them much easier to eat. You don't have to worry about the powdered sugar choking you as you try to eat, inhale and swallow. If you've ever had beignets you know what I'm talking about.

It was not a great day to wear a black shirt, But Trent managed anyway. We dusted him off and he was OK.

More to come about our fun weekend trip......

Happy Valentine's Day

Big Kisses to Everyone from Mia and Ty

Kaylee's 8th Birthday

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Cookies Anyone?

This year I volunteered to be the "Cookie mom" for Kaylee's Brownie Troop. There are 15 girls and each girl sold between 75 and 350 boxes each. Which led to having to pick up 2,100 boxes ( 178 cases ) of cookies. The pick up was really easy. All I had to do was drive by the 18 wheeler trucks and volunteers loaded them in the back of the Suburban. But once we got home, we had to unload all of the cases. Then sort them by individual girl.

It was a quite a job but thankfully mom was here to help with the kids and help me sort. I am happy to say that all the cookies have been picked up from my living room, dining room, and game room. Just look at all the Thin Mints above. They are by far the most popular.

Surgeries #3,#4,#5

Yesterday was an Extreme Makeover for Ty. He had work done in all areas. Some may ask what did he have done? A better question may be "What didn't he have done?"
We checked in at 6:00 and he was scheduled as the first case of the day, in order for all 3 surgeons to do their respecitive Magic.
Up first was a circumcision, done by the urologist. It was medically needed to correct a little "problem" I won't go into detail because Ty may read this one day.
Second on the list was a thumb reconstruction, done by a plastic surgeon. To correct his polydactyl thumb.
Third and finally was dental work that had to be done under anesthesia. The pediatric dentist gave him 2 crowns, 1 baby route canal, and 2 sealants.

I didn't think about it until later but after your child goes to the OR, the parents wait in a waiting room. Then the surgeon comes in, tells you the results, and a few minutes later a nurse comes in to escort you to recovery. We were the second family in the waiting lounge, and we had 3 different surgeons come in and give us reports in staggering times. I wonder what the other parents thought we were doing to our child.

But, after it was all said and done, everything went especially well. We were in the car headed home by 11:30.
He had a rough spell during the night but other than that he is feeling much better.
He has a soft cast on his right arm to protect the thumb and that will stay on a week.

Hopefully now he will have a little "break" from doctors and surgeons.

Is it Thursday again already?

Monday once was my only "dreaded" day. It is the day for laundry, and LOTs of after-school activities for everyone, which means I do a lot of "shuttling" on Monday.

But somehow Thursday morning has now ramped up equal to my Monday afternoon rush hour.
Here's how last Thursday went...

7:20 - Trent has to be at school for extra English reading practice
8:00- Kaylee has to be at school
9:15 - Zane has late arrival so he needs to be dropped off at Chick-fil-A for his Youth mentoring group
(thankfully one of the other moms gets him to middle school on time)
9:25 - Mia has to be at Pre-school
10:00 - 10:30 Back to Kingwood for Ty's Speech Therapy
11:30 Kaylee and Trent have early relase so they have to be picked up
2:30 Mia needs to be picked up from Pre-school
4:00 Mia has a birthday party to attend
6:30 Jewelry party for Mom
Then BED ASAP

So I guess I need to get in bed now to gear up for tomorrow's running....However, I have a few less stops to make, Zane is home sick with a fever, No early release, No afternoon birthday party, and no Jewelry Party....
But I will have to factor in a trip to the doctor for Zane if I can get an appointment.

D-Now Weekend

Last weekend we were a host home for 6th grade boys, Well half of the 6th grade boys anyway. Our job was to have the boys here for 2 nights and one day. They did some sessions at our house and some at church. There were 13 boys and 3 youth(high school) leaders. Foot Locker doesn't have a better selection of boys athletic shoes.

Of course with 11 and 12 year old boys there was lots of eating. and eating. and eating. and eating.

and more eating.

At some point during "chill" time one of the youth leaders CRASHED. I couldn't believe he could sleep in all the noise. He must have been really tired.

The boys had a great time. I was very impressed with how well everyone got along and with the youth leaders. The younger boys really respected and looked up to them. I am very excited about Zane being a part of the youth group at church. The kids there are not there just to have fun and hang out. They truly love Jesus and show it in their lives.

A day downtown

Around New Year we went downtown to the Museum of Natural Science. After doing the Butterfly exhibit, we went across the street the Hermann Park for a picnic. It was such a beautiful day and we had not seen the sun in many days. The weather was just perfect.

After lunch we walked around the fountains and Ty spotted the Zoo train. So of course we went to find the beginning of the train. We had fun riding the train.

We also spotted paddle boats. I guess those will wait for next time.

Guess who I finally met?

The Twins.... Kelsey and Kendall. Their mom keeps them dressed alike all the time. Is there really any other way to dress twin girls? And like all good southern moms they have matching hair bows.

I have to admit I could not tell them apart. They are not suppose to be identical but wow it's hard to tell. Tabitha says she can tell by their foreheads,,,mmm! OK! Still I couldn't tell.

We met up with them at the park and I got to visit with some sweet friends I had not seen in quite some time, while Mia and Ty had fun on the swings.

Something really funny happened while we were there. Tabitha has 7 children. 5 bigger kids and the twins. So I asked Mia if she wanted to play on the climbing equipment where Tab's big kids were playing.

She said, "mom, I don't know anyone." I said come on I'll introduce you to them. She said, "how do you know them" "Mommy, once went to church with Mrs. Tabitha and I know all her kids names." She said in amazement, "A L L those kids are hers?"

What's funny is that the amount of kids on the equipment is the same amount we have in our family. Maybe she's never stepped back and seen our family in such a clear visual.

Mia and Ty really enjoyed holding the girls and loved their little fingers.

I have been chastised by someone, You know who you are, about spending too much time on Facebook and not enough time blogging. So I posted these photos here first.

And by the way if you are on Facebook and we're not friends then let me know. I have really enjoyed FB and re-connecting with lots of old friends.

Kaylee just started writing her assignments down. The teacher dictates what should be written...(Meaning she doesn't copy it from the board) I couldn't stop laughing when I read the second block of words.....

Yes, I agree there were lots of times when I felt this way about homework

It's FLU season

Mia has won the Walling house award two years in a row for being the first one to get the flu. I"ve never been a fan of the flu shot. We've never gotten the flu shot and until last year never had the flu. Then last year Mia, Trent and I got the flu. So the plan was to get the shots this year. But you know how it goes....time passes... you forget....lots of trouble to get 7 people to the doctor.....lots of crying about having to get a shot.....and did I say you forget.
So next year it's Flu shots for everyone...Early!
(could someone please remindme though)

Kaylee Cooks

Kaylee got a cookbook for Christmas called Kids Can cook. So for dinner she made "Going Bananas Smoothies" They were a big hit all around. All the monkies in the house loved it.