Army Crawl

I just wanted to document that today J is officially army crawling. He has learned so fast. C can't protect her toys anymore and I've got to baby proof the house again. I need a walker!

April Happenings

Since I missed out on Aprils blogs, I will go through our activities with pictures . . .

M had a happy birthday -- the big 26!!
He doesn't like cake so I made him a pie.

Easter was fun this year C loves egg hunting. We practiced at home before going to the community egg hunt. It was a made house so we missed her age group. We just let her go with the older kids since she was turning 3 soon anyway.

She liked to watch everyone else run around like animals - grabbing and pushing. It was amazing to see all of the parents in the hunt with their kids. Making sure that they get more eggs than the other kids.

C finally got the idea to start picking up the eggs and she had a lot of fun. It was a bit cold so by the end she was shivering and shaking. We didn't stay for any other activities.

This is J at six months old. Handsome devil.

This is the story of J's life. The hardest part of his day is to keep from getting smothered and hurt from his big sister. Her tough love style isn't the same as J's. This picture happens about 50 times a day. Not kidding. I am having a hard time teaching C how to treat a baby. I don't think she can help herself.

This is our neighbors pool. We went to their son's birthday party. She didn't want to get in the water so she demanded to be pushed around the pool on the floaty throng.

C did pretty good at hitting that thing. When the candy fell she picked up one and had to show everyone what she found. In the mean time all the other kids were grabbing handfuls of candy as fast as they could. We had to coax C to pick up more. I think she was overwhelmed with all the treats around her feet!!!!

April 20, 2007 C"s birthday!!!! J is 6 months and they are happy siblings.

Thanks Grandma A!! She loves the present you sent her. You are so thoughtful. Thanks to all who sent C little presents. It meant a lot to her.

We got C play food and church movies and so much more. It was fun to be able to give her presents this year.

On the 21st we had a little get together with friends and had dinner and cupcakes. The kids had a blast!

Happy Birthday C!!

Tomatoes

We received our first tomato off of our plants today. C and I were so excited. We haven’t been spraying fungicide on them so the bottom leaves are a little sad. It’s not stopping them from growing though. I think we will have way too many tomatoes to handle than I thought. I should have planted green peppers. I eat those more than tomatoes. Does anyone know any good recipes or canning ideas for me? I would hate to waste them. C said her “little cute mato” is “a-licious” (delicious).

M bought a barbecue grill yesterday and we had friends over to grill some chicken. It’s a big grill! What a fun time we will have this summer. Oh, an idea. Grilled tomatoes!?! Does anyone have a recipe for that?

Gas Prices

Isn't it funny how people get mad at gas companies when they charge too much for gas, but they don't get upset at fancy restaurants or nice new car dealers when they over price. If it is costing too much; then use less. I think it is a great step towards conservation. If it is costing too much then maybe people will make an effort to use other methods of transportation. I hate that gas is high priced, but I hate that houses close to downtown cost so much too. Demand determines the price!!!

Thanks to the Coovers and other good friends M and I are doing better at conservation. We are starting a garden and a compost pile too. These are good steps to being more self sufficient and friendly to the earth as well. Here is more info on how to be self sufficient. http://www.providentliving.org/channel/0,11677,1706-1,00.html Does anyone have good suggestions about how to implement good conservation habits?

Bird Watching

These first two where taken at our apartement

These next two were taken at our house.

I love our bird feeder. We got it back in February when we lived in an apartment. I was able to watch birds all day long. I loved it. Now that we have moved into our home I thought the birds wouldn’t come. Luckily I was wrong. Beautiful cardinals are coming and feeding on the seed we have set out.

I am enjoying this moment; kids are napping (never happens at the same time! Or at all.), I am relaxing on the couch, and I get to watch these beautiful birds. Wonderful birthday moment!

I have been watching these cardinals closely for a while and I have come to a conclusion that they are such a romantic bird. The red ones (male) are beautiful, but not arrogant. If you watch closely after they gather some seeds they fly back to the female (brownish/yellow) and give them their seeds. He actually feeds her. Oh, my heart melted when I noticed them taking care of their sweetheart! You can see in the picture the red one sharing with the brown. Right when the male starts flying towards her she starts to fluff her feathers rapidly until she is done eating. I even saw a few females up close to the feeder; even on the feeder, but they wouldn’t be eating the seeds. They would wait until the male broke it open and fed them. It is so much fun to watch birds. I have to thank the Coovers for getting us interested in bird watching. M and I have decided that when we are old and retired we will be traveling bird watchers! Who knows – maybe?

Comical Kids

Sucking on toes is alway a favorite past time.

It makes him so happy!

C fell asleep in her little chair. She has been skipping naps here and there so sometime she decides to fall asleep with out telling us. Talented sleeper. By the way this is her favorite play dress - thanks C.W.

Abby Grace

We were invited to a fun birthday party that had a clown and a monkey! C followed that monkey everywhere, wait we aren't supposed to call her a monkey - her name is Abby Grace. The clown was particular about caller her by her name. Abby would run around picking at everyones plate of food and C would feed her nuts - she loves nuts. It was so much fun! Lisa - you are probably jealous. Thank you so much C and E - it will be a wonderful memory forever.

Fancy photos

Pics taken March 15, 2007

I received this Gerber daisy from a Releif Society meeting. I love the Gerber daisy.

Blue
I am experimenting with the one color option on the camera.

Red

All colors on this one! He is as handsome as can be. 5 months in this picture.

Party with graduate friends

Pics taken on February 18, 2007.

My good friends got together to roast mallows and have a good time. It had been a while since I have seen them so it was a fun reunion.

Texas A&M

Pics taken Feb 16, 2007

Texas A&M buddies! M and J love to play. When Daddy comes home it is play time!!!
J has the cutest little jeans!

Playdo

Pics taken on February, 15 2007.

If you don't know what these are then I am very offended! Just kidding. C and I play with playdo and I was pretty proud of these little creations so I took a picture. You can't tell how skilled of a work it is from the picture, but I assure you it is masterpiece worthy! Ok, so it is a sheep and a pig if you couldn't figure it out. C was sad after she smashed them. Nope, I don't think I could make those again!

Jaguar

This is back on February 16, 2007. C loves to stroll anything around. This day is was the jaguar that got the most attention and service. At our apartment she would run back and forth with the stroller making sure she was fast enough for the jaguar to enjoy the ride. She treats everything as if it was a baby. Hmm, I wonder if that is a reaction from having J? Either way, she has obvious maternal instincts. We love her. Oh, and Lisa; thanks for the jacket - it is so cute!

Funny Five Months Old

I am posting this a little later than I wrote it – ok a month later. Oops.

J is starting to develop his character more fully. He is so funny to watch. Here is a list of things he loves to do:

-whine for mommy and then smile, laugh, and wave his arms uncontrollably when I come to get him.

-rubs and scratches his head for fun. He has even left some bleeding scratch marks on his head!

-reaches to grab anything Mom is holding with gusto!

-Smiles when ever you look at him.

-He likes to be swaddled to help him sleep (an extra tight wrap!)

-He has his hand in his mouth 24/7. Yum!

-He likes to slap his hands together up and down really fast.

-Pulling C’s hair is always fun!

-He rolls on his side to reach the moving boxes and then scratches them. A fun interesting sound.

-Da Da Da, yup, already speaking! Just kidding. He does say it over and over when he is tired. I assume it mean that it is Daddy’s turn to change diaper and put him to sleep.

-Giggles at C only when she is at a reasonable distance.

-He loves to be held

-He is a happy mamma’s boy – sweeter than honey! Good thing too since I don’t like honey.

Wish you all could see him.