Cheese and Quackers

I had just told the kids that Nana and Paw Paw were bringing a surprise with them, when they drove up into the driveway. So the kids quickly jumped in the back to see if they could spy the surprise.

Can you guess what it is?

Baby ducklings....Five of them. Did you expect any less?

3 of them are Blue Swedish and 2 are Khaki Campbell.

In this photo it seems that Zane and Nana are practicing their duck imitations.....

The gig is up....

I've always prided myself in the fact that I can usually turn a chore into some type of game. Thus making the work seem fun or like a competition....
However last week I needed the laundry sorted between the boys and the girls baskets.

So I said, "Mia come here and let's play a game with the laundry"

She cocked her head back and said, "Come on Ty, This is gonna be lame"

Joleana

I would like to introduce you to the newest member of our family......Joleana

The girls have been talking a lot about wanting another sister. Mainly so that we can be "even" 3 boys and 3 girls. The girls don't like the fact that the women are out-numbered in this family. Add this to the fact that our dining table seats 8 and there is an empty chair at dinner.

So the girls decided to go ahead and make Joleana for us, complete with food and utensils. You may wonder where the name Joleana comes from....Before Ty came home we realized that we have children with a 3,4,5,6 letter names...Which lead us to Ty, because it is a 2 letter name.

So we've said that if we ever had another child he/she would have to have a 7 letter name. David jokingly came up with Joleana...which by the way would NEVER happen if I have anything to say about it at all.

On the other hand, as my friend Gayla pointed out, we could give him/ her a one letter name.... I said how? She said "just name it U"

When being helpful isn't self-serving

80% of the time I can understand what Ty is telling me. But there are times when I try my hardest and really can't understand him. So, I'll ask Mia, "What did he say?" and usually she's right.

For example....David took just Ty to Burger King. The order was taking a little while to process so they asked him to pull around and wait. While they were waiting Ty kept asking David something. David tried really hard to figure it out. Thankfully, Ty doesn't get upset and will usually repeat it as many times as you need it... Still he couldn't understand.
So as soon as he walked in the door he said, "Mia come here...Ty tell her what you were saying..Ty said it and Mia says,
"HE's saying What's taking so long?" Yes that was in fact what he was saying....

Well the other day Mia and Ty were playing by the backdoor. They were pretending to lock each other out of the house. Holding the door closed so the other one couldn't get in.(That same game got me a spanking in Elementary school, but that story's for another time) Anyway, The game got a little rough and Ty came in to me and said, "Mia is ........." I couldn't figure it out.

I said Mia what is he saying...She looked at me...Almost told me and then realized what she was doing to herself...She said, "I don't know"

Ahhh... I knew my girl was smart...

Park Day

Make a Smilebox slideshow

12 years ago today...

It's hard to believe that it was 12 years ago today that we became parents for the first time. I remember the day before delivery I weed- eated the front yard and David did the mowing. Little did I know that 3 days later I would have a new son AND break out in poision ivy. Our "little" bundle of Joy weighed a hefty 10lbs 4 oz. and was two weeks late. Come to think of it, to this day nothing makes Zane get in a real big hurry.........unless he hears the ice cream truck.

Zane was excited about going to school today on his birthday. For two main reasons...His math teacher doesn't make them do their practice exercises on their birthday....The second reason is that his group of friends sing very loudly in the cafeteria to embarass the heck out of each other....

but alas he did not go to school today. He woke up with "The Pink Eye" as Trent says. This is his 4th round of pink eye in the last few months. So his birthday included a trip to the doctor and a trip to the Sporting good store. Where he chose this new air soft gun. He and David did a little target shooting. We will celebrate his birthday with a few of his friends later in the week.

Up, Up and Away

Whew! It's been a busy weekend.
Among the things we've done this weekend are;
Mia's Dance Pictures
Kaylee and I saw a theater production of Sleeping beauty,
Trent raced his Pinewood Derby car, Not once but TWICE for Awana and then again on Sunday for Cub Scouts
A Sleepover for two friends
Church
A crawfish boil

AND.......

Zane got to go flying with his Boy Scout Troop. (Does riding next to the pilot count as flying?)
I think so. One of his leaders is a pilot for Continental and he graciously offered for the boys to come out to the airstrip and he took them all for a ride in his private plane. They all had a great time. The first thing I wanted to know was if they got to wear the headphones with the microphone attached. And the answer was Yes, They did. He thought it was as cool as I did.

A little bragging

The picture above has nothing to do with this story...but's it's so cute I had to share.

Today is the beginning of Kaylee and Trent's school book fair. It's held once a year and the kids can buy books, school supplies, etc. Kaylee is a great saver and almost always has money. She keeps it all in one place and on any given day she can tell you to the penny how much she has. But she's Ok with spending as well. Trent on the other hand goes through money like water in a strainer. Any birthday money is Spent ASAP and I mean ASAP...he watches closely for anyone who might happen to be going to the store...

This morning Kaylee got her wallet ready to go "shop" at the book fair. I asked her to please only take $10 and not her entire wallet. I didn't want her to A. Loose it or B. Spend $70 at the bookfair, (although she may be the librarian's favorite if she did)
Anyway, She went to Trent and asked him if he had any money. At which Trent replied "$1" She then gave him $10 to spend. I was so pleased. A tear may have even rolled down my cheek.

These two can go at with the best of 'em but sometimes these little sweet moments "Make it all worth it"

Purple

Look how pretty these flowers are....

and guess what they are sitting in my kitchen....

and I got them for FREE!

When we sold our house a year ago, our real estate agent enrolled us in a flower club. The flowers arrive on our doorstep every 3 months. Sadly, I think this is our last shipment. But they sure are beautiful...the picture doesn't do a good job of showing what a deep purple color they are...

funny

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFIGa2VwQok

A funny for Today. He has lots more songs you can watch as well. There's one called what not to say to your wife.

I luv faces

Migas

We're back home from Spring Break, (aka Nana and Paw Paw's house )and while I was away I had time to sleep, eat, sleep, eat, see a few friends while eating, and catch up on some blogs I read.

While surfing around I ran across a neat recipe for Migas...
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2008/09/ree-drummond-migas/
Basically it's a fancy omelet but I like the name Migas. especially since I made them.

Kaylee and I slaved in the kitchen for a full 30 minutes before presenting this dish to the family last night. They were good. I don't think it's something I would just crave often. But defintely a good brunch or breakfast dish. (Especially for women who aren't afraid to really eat in front of each other)

check it out. Pioneer Woman does a great job of showing you the steps exactly.
Let me know if you make them.

Last Day of Spring Break

We finished off 20lbs of Crawfish from JT's Seafood. then to chase them down we had a dozen cupcakes from Baked by Becca. Mmm! Good Food for a Great Friday.

A cat's life

Wouldn't it be nice to be a cat for just a week... Lie around wearing tiaras

Or sleep all day.......every day while someone gives you something to snuggle with.

Static

Houston Rodeo 2009

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Yard Work

As you can see our front flower beds have been suffering for quite some time. There is a whole lot of flower bed and lots of sizes of shrubs. Mostly Azaleas. So this spring we set out to take control of the yard.

Here's the Before: (of the largest flower bed)

The first order of business was to take up all of the landscaping rocks. It was apparent they had been down for quite a while and needed to be re-stacked. Before we restacked them we pressure washed both sides of them.

We had lots of helpers. And amazingly enough these two pulled more than their share of the load.

And here's the after

A few new Agapanthas and lots of Boy Scout Mulch that Zane delivered last weekend.

Now we just have to level out the rest of the dirt and get some grass growing.

This is another bed that we re-did. It had several old holly bushes there before.

And look who is peaking out, even after being transplanted....looks like an Apple Blossom Amaryllis to me

I can so relate

This made me laugh... after listening to everyone tell me they are hungry at least 3 times a day times 5 (or 6 ) I feel like pulling my hair out. Then I read this and it made me really laugh.
http://thepioneerwoman.com/2009/02/a_universal_struggle.html

Bonding...YES

I remember when Mia was home for only 6 months the social worker asked us if she had bonded with us. I immediately said Yes. But it wasn't until over a year later that I thought back. No we weren't really bonded then. Bonding is a big word in the adoption community. It happens slowly over time and a child might not be completely bonded for a few years. Do they know who makes the food? Yes, Do they only want you when they get hurt? yes, do they give hugs and kisses? yes. But true and lasting bonding takes TIME lots of TIME. It's something you take for granted with biological children but with adoption it means EVERYTHING.

Well all that to say... Mia and Kaylee have really been fascinated with newborns lately. They ask me at least twice a day if I can have a baby. I always say, "you mean go to China and get another baby." No Mom a baby from your tummy. I always tell them," no that's probably not going to happen again." What I really want to say is Fat Chance sisters....

But anyway after several pleas for a sister, I was rocking Ty before bed and he looked up at me and said, "I don't want you to have a baby" I replied, "Oh, because you're my baby" "No I'm a big boy" "Yes you're Mommy's big boy"
He looked me straight in the eyes and said "I love you Mommy" and gave me a big kiss and hug.

This was the first time he had said he loved me without prompting. It was a moment....a really sweet moment.
Bonding? Yes we're on a good road.

Maybe it's time

........for a new computer chair. The seat has been holding on by one set of five original screws. The kids thought it was probably time for a new chair weeks ago but I really didn't want to spend the money on a new chair. So we all just balanced very carefully and tried not to make any sudden moves. Sudden moves lead to finding yourself on the floor and the seat dangling next to you, (Trust me I know)

But it finally gave up it's battle and the screws succumbed to the pressure, on Friday night. Zane brought me both pieces and said, "MOM, now it's time, don't you think?"

And it knew exactly when to finally let go because Mom and I went to some Garage Sales on Saturday morning. Oh what joy when I spotted this chair in someone's driveway. I quickly examined it and said I"ll take it, because the price tag was a whopping THREE DOLLARS. After I paid I wanted to tell the man, "Buddy, I"d have given you at least $15 for it." But who am I to nose into his pricing strategies. It was a little dusty, and I"m sure he was just glad to get it out of his garage or attic. And I was OH so proud to help him.