We headed down to Houston this past weekend to visit the Double J ranch & go to Alex's Birthday party. We had a great time & I'll post some pictures soon. But for now, here are some of the favorite things I remember:
Looking in at the 3 cousins sleeping on one air mattress. Clara & Alex were even holding hands.
John Michael trying to scream "Alex" as he was trapped in his high chair and listening to the other three playing hide-and-seek.
A sweet kiss on the head for John Michael from Alex. Alex was amazed at some of the "new" things JM could do - stand, "walk" (only with a hand on something), "talk" - Alex declared that JM told him "yes!"
During the long drive, I guess JM got bored. The only person he can see is Clara, so he decided to initiate a game of Peek-a-Boo with his blanket. It was so funny to see him & he thought he was just too funny!
Several times in the car on the drive home, John Michael would start giggling at Clara. I guess she is more amusing to him when he knows he isn't in danger of being over-enthusiastically hugged!
Watching the kids run around at the Little Gym - so proud of walking on the balance beam or swinging on the rings.
Alex sharing his new bike with the girls & letting them each ride it multiple times!
Having a delicious breakfast with everyone on Sunday morning (okay and Monday morning, too - if I just hadn't slept in later than everyone).
Getting to chat lots & lots with my Big Sis and not having to be on the phone to do it!
I know there are more, but unfortunately, John Michael has started to cry. I guess he doesn't think I should blog anymore tonight! Pictures coming soon...
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Friday, February 13, 2009
Birthday Boy!
No - it's not yet time for JM's 1st birthday. This is a belated birthday post for Mikey!
So it will mostly be pictures since we seem to have a lot of them.
1st party - on actual birthday 1/22 (I'll be nice and exclude the year)
Good thing the party planner (Gigi) was in the house.
I was on the second or third day of running a fever and not in good shape for birthday celebrating. When I finally dragged myself out of bed on the birthday morn, the birthday banner was up, the cups and plates had been unwrapped & party hats were on. Gracie announced that they were in the midst of birthday games & did I want to play? So I joined in for a few rounds of hide and seek. Then they moved on to a new game. Check out the video below.
So I don't really know what happened after games - I went back to bed. I'm sure Gracie, Clara and John Michael kept the birthday boy busy with something. Later that afternoon, I summoned up some more energy and rounded up what presents we had (thank goodness I had done some shopping a little early) . Then after watching the girls wrap everything up, we threw together a cherry pie. The girls did a good job, but I'm not sure I had a lot of patience and my whole goal was to get the pie in the oven. The cherries probably needed a little something more (they just got dumped from can to pie crust) and the crust was a little thick. But Mike was kind enough not to complain!
Clara worked hard to get that crust into the pie pan.
I guess birthday day was also the day JM really discovered the pantry. He was quite pleased with himself. I think Mike thought it was alright for him to play there ... at least until he found an applesauce container and a rice krispie treat with bites in them!
So we got through the day and managed to have some presents for Mike that night and then pie & ice cream. Here he is with his kiddos:
Clara was pretty sad about her Tootsie Roll...
Well, about a week ago, I got a chance to redeem myself for the lack of a birthday celebration for Mike (although looking back I think Gracie & Clara did a stellar job). I hadn't been able to take the girls birthday shopping earlier, so we did that. Then we came home and decided to have an impromptu party & surprise Mike. We decided to make snickerdoodles (thought they would be easy and quick!) wrap the presents and put out the party hats (you know who had that idea). It turned into a pretty good second celebration and Mike definitely was surprised!
One in charge of measuring, the other in charge of the mixer
Everybody had to help at present time!
Daddy & Miss Rose
Okay, and the last installment of the birthday celebration (this is starting to rival Uncle Todd's birthday jubilee, hmmmm) came tonight. Mike finally got his last birthday present - a new bicycle! He had ridden his old one for 10 years, so I was happy he was finally ready to splurge and get himself a new one. We picked it up this afternoon & rolled it into the house this afternoon so the kids could see it.
The boys inspecting the new bike
John Michael approves - what more do you need?
So it will mostly be pictures since we seem to have a lot of them.
1st party - on actual birthday 1/22 (I'll be nice and exclude the year)
Good thing the party planner (Gigi) was in the house.
I was on the second or third day of running a fever and not in good shape for birthday celebrating. When I finally dragged myself out of bed on the birthday morn, the birthday banner was up, the cups and plates had been unwrapped & party hats were on. Gracie announced that they were in the midst of birthday games & did I want to play? So I joined in for a few rounds of hide and seek. Then they moved on to a new game. Check out the video below.
So I don't really know what happened after games - I went back to bed. I'm sure Gracie, Clara and John Michael kept the birthday boy busy with something. Later that afternoon, I summoned up some more energy and rounded up what presents we had (thank goodness I had done some shopping a little early) . Then after watching the girls wrap everything up, we threw together a cherry pie. The girls did a good job, but I'm not sure I had a lot of patience and my whole goal was to get the pie in the oven. The cherries probably needed a little something more (they just got dumped from can to pie crust) and the crust was a little thick. But Mike was kind enough not to complain!
Clara worked hard to get that crust into the pie pan.
I guess birthday day was also the day JM really discovered the pantry. He was quite pleased with himself. I think Mike thought it was alright for him to play there ... at least until he found an applesauce container and a rice krispie treat with bites in them!
So we got through the day and managed to have some presents for Mike that night and then pie & ice cream. Here he is with his kiddos:
Clara was pretty sad about her Tootsie Roll...
Well, about a week ago, I got a chance to redeem myself for the lack of a birthday celebration for Mike (although looking back I think Gracie & Clara did a stellar job). I hadn't been able to take the girls birthday shopping earlier, so we did that. Then we came home and decided to have an impromptu party & surprise Mike. We decided to make snickerdoodles (thought they would be easy and quick!) wrap the presents and put out the party hats (you know who had that idea). It turned into a pretty good second celebration and Mike definitely was surprised!
One in charge of measuring, the other in charge of the mixer
Everybody had to help at present time!
Daddy & Miss Rose
Okay, and the last installment of the birthday celebration (this is starting to rival Uncle Todd's birthday jubilee, hmmmm) came tonight. Mike finally got his last birthday present - a new bicycle! He had ridden his old one for 10 years, so I was happy he was finally ready to splurge and get himself a new one. We picked it up this afternoon & rolled it into the house this afternoon so the kids could see it.
The boys inspecting the new bike
John Michael approves - what more do you need?
Chalkin'
This is what my girls did yesterday afternoon. The weather was great and they really had a good time!
Gracie was inspired by Curious George. Do you know what this object is?
And Clara practiced doing one of her favorite things these days. If I'm around, she acts like she needs me to tell her the next letter or trace dots for her. But here is proof she needs neither. I was busy cleaning out the van when this was completed!
Then, it was on to "windows" and bear feet:
And last, one of the most fun things you can create with chalk - a hopscotch!
Gracie was inspired by Curious George. Do you know what this object is?
And Clara practiced doing one of her favorite things these days. If I'm around, she acts like she needs me to tell her the next letter or trace dots for her. But here is proof she needs neither. I was busy cleaning out the van when this was completed!
Then, it was on to "windows" and bear feet:
And last, one of the most fun things you can create with chalk - a hopscotch!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
This is what happens...
if you leave the house to go workout (Zumba!) in the evening. And leave two nutty girls with their Daddy and a ten month-old alone for dinner and bathtime. Oh, and right after valentines have been given out at school. You know, it's not just candy that you get from your friends anymore!
Yes, that's his first tatoo on his back! Kung Fu Panda.
Lucky for Daddy, most of it wore off today and the rest came off in bath tonight. Clara is being very careful of her spider on her arm - she wants it to last as long as possible!
Yes, that's his first tatoo on his back! Kung Fu Panda.
Lucky for Daddy, most of it wore off today and the rest came off in bath tonight. Clara is being very careful of her spider on her arm - she wants it to last as long as possible!
Aunt Sue & Mimi's Birthday
It was a double celebration last Saturday. We got to see Aunt Sue (it had been over a year since I had seen her and even longer since Mike & the girls had!) and we had a belated birthday celebration for Mimi.
Mike was a great guy and let me run off to try Bikram Yoga ("hot" yoga) with Sue as soon as we pulled up in Dallas. I just jumped out of the van and into Sue's car and we headed out. Thank you, Mikey! So as Sue & I were dripping stretching and sweating, this is what the girls & JM were up to:
I tried to minimize the icing on the top since I know Mimi's not a big fan of frosting. Plus, I knew the girls would want to decorate. Apparently, they each took half the cake & decorated their halves.
Breakfast for JM with Mimi (and some bopping with the birthday balloon)
After semi-recovering from the yoga (which was fun, but very intense) with a great brunch, we hung out with the kiddos for the rest of the afternoon. Aunt Sue was a very good aunt - she played games, snuggled, allowed herself to be bopped with the birthday balloon, posed for endless pictures from our budding photographer, carried John Michael around, the list could go on...
Here are a few shots from the day:
Can you see the family resemblance?
That's our Clara - ready to give a good wallop with that balloon!
For Mimi's party, the girls had picked flipping frogs for party "favors." I didn't really want to buy these, thinking they wouldn't be a lot of fun. Okay - I was completely wrong. Everyone had fun making them fling across the table (especially Gracie & Clara) and Mimi & Clara played with the frogs for almost an hour, with Clara making up various games and different ways to arrange the frogs. There were endless variations of things to do with the frogs. I think Pap might win the prize for the most unusual.
Clara perfecting the launch
Pap keeping an eye on Clara and those frogs!
Sorting and making patterns
Yes, check out the top of the head...
As a great finish to a fun day, we sang Happy Birthday to Mimi & had some yummy spice cake.
Mike was a great guy and let me run off to try Bikram Yoga ("hot" yoga) with Sue as soon as we pulled up in Dallas. I just jumped out of the van and into Sue's car and we headed out. Thank you, Mikey! So as Sue & I were dripping stretching and sweating, this is what the girls & JM were up to:
I tried to minimize the icing on the top since I know Mimi's not a big fan of frosting. Plus, I knew the girls would want to decorate. Apparently, they each took half the cake & decorated their halves.
Breakfast for JM with Mimi (and some bopping with the birthday balloon)
After semi-recovering from the yoga (which was fun, but very intense) with a great brunch, we hung out with the kiddos for the rest of the afternoon. Aunt Sue was a very good aunt - she played games, snuggled, allowed herself to be bopped with the birthday balloon, posed for endless pictures from our budding photographer, carried John Michael around, the list could go on...
Here are a few shots from the day:
Can you see the family resemblance?
That's our Clara - ready to give a good wallop with that balloon!
For Mimi's party, the girls had picked flipping frogs for party "favors." I didn't really want to buy these, thinking they wouldn't be a lot of fun. Okay - I was completely wrong. Everyone had fun making them fling across the table (especially Gracie & Clara) and Mimi & Clara played with the frogs for almost an hour, with Clara making up various games and different ways to arrange the frogs. There were endless variations of things to do with the frogs. I think Pap might win the prize for the most unusual.
Clara perfecting the launch
Pap keeping an eye on Clara and those frogs!
Sorting and making patterns
Yes, check out the top of the head...
As a great finish to a fun day, we sang Happy Birthday to Mimi & had some yummy spice cake.
Asgronaut Update
I think I blogged about Clara's desire to be an "asgronaut" after we saw the space shuttle launch a few months ago. Daddy had agreed to be an "asgronaut" with Clara since she seemed to want an adult to join her in her chosen occupation (I was asked first, but declined).
This has been an ongoing topic of discussion for her.
Several weeks ago in the car as we were coming home from picking Gracie up from school (and I had probably been asking them about what they wanted for lunch), Clara gave me her latest thought on the subject. "I'll eat lunch on the spaceship, but Daddy won't get to. You have to be strapped in tight and there won't be enough room for Daddy to have lunch." Poor Daddy - I guess he will have to be a hungry asgronaut.
Also, she keeps telling us that she will just be an "asgronaut" for one day. Then, she is planning to be a ballerina with Gracie (although Gracie is not committed to being a ballerina, she is also considering a doctor or a nurse).
Today, we were discussing taking a scooter and a tricycle for our trip to Houston (so they can ride around with their cousin). Clara suddenly started talking about a unicycle. "Unicycles only have one wheel and there is nothing to hold on to. They are very scary. I don't ever want to ride a unicycle. I'm going to be an asgronaut. Because you just drive into space. But you have to know where to go..."
I guess her next thoughts might be on who "drives" the spaceshuttle or what kind of map you use?
This has been an ongoing topic of discussion for her.
Several weeks ago in the car as we were coming home from picking Gracie up from school (and I had probably been asking them about what they wanted for lunch), Clara gave me her latest thought on the subject. "I'll eat lunch on the spaceship, but Daddy won't get to. You have to be strapped in tight and there won't be enough room for Daddy to have lunch." Poor Daddy - I guess he will have to be a hungry asgronaut.
Also, she keeps telling us that she will just be an "asgronaut" for one day. Then, she is planning to be a ballerina with Gracie (although Gracie is not committed to being a ballerina, she is also considering a doctor or a nurse).
Today, we were discussing taking a scooter and a tricycle for our trip to Houston (so they can ride around with their cousin). Clara suddenly started talking about a unicycle. "Unicycles only have one wheel and there is nothing to hold on to. They are very scary. I don't ever want to ride a unicycle. I'm going to be an asgronaut. Because you just drive into space. But you have to know where to go..."
I guess her next thoughts might be on who "drives" the spaceshuttle or what kind of map you use?
Friday, February 6, 2009
Katie's First Communion
The First Communion Girl, looking lovely!
I love this picture of Katie - it just looks so much like I always think of her
Last weekend we went to Amarillo so we could go to Katie's First Communion celebration. Mike had been up to Amarillo just before Christmas when his Mom had knee surgery, but the rest of us hadn't seen everyone since John Michael's baptism in October. Aunt Mary Jo & Uncle Dick were also coming down from Colorado, so the girls were really excited to get to see them as well.
Everyone getting a chance to visit on Saturday morning
Katie was great and really played a lot with Gracie & Clara. Clara especially seemed to bond with Katie - I think it must be that 2nd child thing ...
Gracie & Clara having a sweet moment before we head off to church for mass.
That was about it for sweet moments. Mass was at 5:30 and unfortunately, Clara didn't get a nap before church and apparently, JM didn't get enough of a nap. It was quite a mass! As Katie's godparents, we got to walk into mass with her. So Mary Jo held John Michael for us. It was too bad he screamed the whole time. She got him to quiet down for a little bit, and then Mike was able to take him. Meanwhile, Clara had mostly fallen asleep on my lap. But she was still fussy, couldn't get comfortable, needed milk, etc., etc.
The funniest part of mass was when Mike came back to our row with John Michael & JM clearly wanted me to take him. So I shifted Clara over to Mike (she was unhappy with that & that was the end of sleeping for her) and then took JM. You should have seen the look John Michael gave his big sister. He was definitely gloating over winning the battle for Mommy.
After mass, everyone went back to Joseph & Virginia's for a quick dinner and (we thought) then off to bed with our kiddos. But it wasn't to be. As tired as Clara was, she didn't go to bed until 8pm. And John Michael would probably have stayed up until 10. I made the mistake of trying to put him to bed before 8pm - what was I thinking? The three pictures below are all after that attempt. He was quite pleased to be up and playing with everyone!
The next morning Susie & Dave had a yummy brunch for us & then we headed home. It was a quick but fun weekend!
Watching cousins open presents is almost as good as opening them yourself!
John Michael's first time to sit in the grass - in Aunt C's hometown on our drive back!
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