50 Years

On June 20th we went to Bryan to take part in a 50th Wedding Anniversary celebration for Dave's Grandparents. 50 years seems like such a long and amazing thing as I look at us who have only been married 6 years. It was a great experience to see that love does last, and the joy it can bring to so many lives. Friday we attended a nice reception where LOTS of family and friends from the area came to congratulate. It was amazing to see the people who turned out and others who couldn't but sent cards. All people whose lives had been in some way touched and blessed by Grandma & Grandpa. What a great example of LOVE they have set for those around them. Here's hoping that we have the opportunity to make 50 years too!

The following day we all gathered at Grandma & Grandpa's house for a day full of fun activities. They had a monkey bridge set up, the big swing, and a pool. Later a rented moon bounce and giant water slide arrived. There was also barrels for rolling, fun to watch, I was too scared of breaking myself to even try. Best of all was all the family. There were more cousins than I could count. The kids loved it! There was someone to play with every where they turned!

I'm Back

So, I've been gone for a little over a week, but now am home! We had lots of fun, and I have lots of pictures to post...when I get the time. For now, here is a short video of the kids. It's proof that they can play nice together...for at least 1 minute anyways. So, pause the music, sit back and laugh. Warning may be loud! But what else could you expect from 3 kids.

random addyism

so i was just bathing addy and she said, "get my foot elbow." i questioned "what?" she said, "my foot elbow is dirty, get it!" it was her knee. i tried to tell her that body part is a knee, so she said, "ok clean my knee foot elbow." just a random bit from the mouth of a 3 year old.

What a weekend!

We enjoyed this past weekend at our house. Dave came home happy on Friday and the party began! We had friends over and played late. Saturday was wonderful!!! Dave got up with kids and let me sleep in! Thanks honey!!! I slept until 10:45. It was amazing! I haven't done that in a REALLY long time. It was another FUN day with friends, with an weird twist at the end, but that's another entry for another day. Oh and end of day Saturday I wished out loud for a indoor pool because lately it has been too blasted hot to even want to go outside to the pool. Which explains the lack of attention it has received and the grossness which you will see in a slide show. So with a stroke of genius Dave suggested we drain it, clean it, and set it up in the newly cleaned garage. That way it is shaded, we can open the door for a breeze and set up a few fans. I was game for the idea immediately! SO with that the pool has been drained and is now in the being cleaned stage. We will update later to let you all know how the garage idea works out. I'm hoping for the best!

Sunday was of course Father's Day. We let Dave sleep in and surprised him with breakfast in bed and some gifts. The kids gave him a personalized hat, pen, note pad, and post it notes that all say world's greatest dad according to Jimmy, Addy and Timmy with little caricatures of them. I gave him the second set of hero stamps framed to match his first set. Then he surprised us all with gifts too! He said he wouldn't have this day without us. How sweet is that??? I love my husband!!! I got boom blox, rabbids, and chocolate! YEA! Jimmy got a puzzle and Pokemon cards that he is thoroughly enjoying. Addy got a puzzle and princess jewelry that she loves. Timmy got a ball almost as big as him and is in heaven. Thanks for surprising us Dave/Daddy. You are too good to us!

Sunday we also had Des (Dave's sister) & Kit (her hubby) over for dinner and birthday cake. Her bday is later this week and we wanted to celebrate her. Happy bday Des! After dinner we introduced them to wii, and had fun with that. The competitiveness really came out. It was great! And once again we had friends over. So much FUN! We LOVE our friends!!!

Which brings me to now, Monday. Dave started his new job this morning. They had contacted him and said not to come until 9. So he slept in and had breakfast with us. What a way to start the day. He said it all went well, and was very excited to tell us about his office. Farewell to the land of cubicles! Four walls and a door is where it's at! He worked until 5 today, but get this, the new office is only 1 exit closer on the highway, but he made it home so much faster even leaving at 5! He was home in 28 minutes! Just that 1 extra exit cut out so much highway congestion! I'm loving it!

After dinner came the inevitable. That which I've been putting off for nearly a month now. Timmy's first haircut. I think that is one of the hardest parts of having a baby boy. Watching those soft wispy baby curls being shaved off transforming your snugly baby into such a grown up looking big boy haircut toddler. And of course I cried. I was expecting it, I did the same with Jimmy. I know it's silly, it's just hair. But it makes such a drastic appearance on the baby, it really hits home that your baby is growing up. That is why Timmy and his haircut have a slide show all of his own.

And with that, I think I am done for the night!

Counting Down

So, for those of you who have not heard Dave got a new job! We are all very excited, the new job comes with many perks. One of the favorites is flex time; he will be able to go into work early each day so that he can be done at 3! Thankfully Dave does well with mornings and is willing to be up early (I on the other hand would have a hard time, not a morning person) all so that he can be home sooner to spend more time with us. We love you Dave! We are in the final days of the count down. He starts on Monday with the new company. Jimmy is most excited watching the clock and saying "it's 3, soon daddy will get to be here!" Even now I'm getting excited seeing that it is 3 and knowing starting next week Dave will be here. I'm just as giddy as Jimmy. Another bonus will be the cut in his commute time. The office isn't far but driving to be there at 8 am and leaving at 5 pm make it easily a 1 hour drive. But driving at 6 am and 3 pm will have a lot less traffic on the road, making a shorter drive, and less gas usage. Positives all around. No more on call, no more bringing home work, no more odd hour conference calls. Congrats Dave! We are proud of you and looking forward to the changes coming!

The ZOO...oh so much to say...

SO today we set out to obtain our Zoo pass and begin our year of fun that it will encompass. All was going well and we were all having FUN! We entered the "tot spot", which on a side note I must say is a really cool part of the Zoo for the little ones, spent awhile checked it all out and headed for the exit back to the main zoo.

This is where things get crazy...I was in the lead with the stroller and Jimmy followed by Dave with Timmy on his shoulders and I assumed an Addy sandwiched in between us. Well at rounding the exit Dave yells up "Is Addy by you?" I turn frantic already and say "I thought she was back with you!" At this we split into teams...this isn't the first time Addy has disappeared in a public place. Sad to say but I don't think it will be the last either. Here's the thing Addy is an adventurous girl, so no doubt she was having a blast exploring and NOT yelling "I'm lost" or "MOM, DAD". So after about 5 frantic minutes that seemed an eternity my little angel (with horns) appears center crowd like nothings wrong. I rush her, I hug her, I chew her out! SO many emotions all at once. I call Dave and we meet back up (thank goodness for cell phones!). At this we slam Addy in the stroller and take a lunch break. As the day progressed she was confined to the stroller or to the Elmo leash much to her disappointment. But it worked, she was with us and no getting away...

Later in the afternoon while in the Africa part of the Zoo, a sudden urgent cry of a child's name comes out as a frantic mother runs past. My heart went out to her...I was there just a few hours ago. As I stood helpless hoping at any moment her daughter would answer her desperate cries that echoed past the lions and the tigers, I glanced around to see a couple holding one small child giving a disapproving scowl at this woman. At this I heard the man utter to the woman something to the effect of "way to be a parent" in a most sarcastic way. At that moment I wanted to trample the man and point out that it only takes half a second for a little one to wander and be lost in a crowded sea of people, but then I wondered was this man right? Am I and Dave to blame for Addy's disappearance earlier in the day? Were we being neglectful parents? OR is it just Addy's nature and a sad mishap? I don't know, is this man naive to children because he only had one young child with two adults to tend to it?

I want some feedback please. And be honest, I won't take offense. What is your opinion regarding this type of situation...busy, crowded, public place and a child wonders...whose to blame? how can you keep it from happening? can you, or is it inevitable? Whether you have no children or 10! Doesn't matter I want some feedback. And by the way to those of you with more kids, how do you do it? Because clearly we can't keep up with 3!

OK on to a cheerier note! Anyone who is interested here is your open invitation!!! Whether you live in town, hours away, or states away...let us know if you want to visit the zoo with us! We got the contributing membership which means we can bring up to 5 guests each time we visit (children under 3 don't count against the guests, they are free :)). We would love to see any and all of our friends! Whether you come for the day or want to make a weekend of it...just let us know!

Need something to do this summer???

We did this last summer and really enjoyed it! The best part is it's FREE! It's always a good way to escape the summer heat! Click here to find a theatre near you:
http://www.regmovies.com/nowshowing/familyfilmfestivalschedule.aspx?state=TX

How was your weekend?

Ours was great, but it's sad they always seem to go by so fast! First off Friday afternoon I found Jimmy playing dominoes, pretty cute. So I brought out the camera and then he took over from there...just watch:

FUN times! I also found this video of Timmy that Jimmy took.

Friday night we hung out with friends, and for the first time ever I witnessed someone solve a Rubiks Cube. Very cool! Way to go Rick, Jimmy was impressed when he saw it Saturday morning.

Saturday I gave blood, and we did some work around the hosue. Then we spent the afternoon out wandering stores. Fun family outing. Later that night after the kids were in bed Dave went to WalMart to pick up something we forgot, and he came home with flowers for me!!! Yea! I love flowers!