Family Reunion

Yesterday we went over to Weatherford for a family reunion on my mother’s father’s side. It was a great afternoon and there is a park right beside the building where we all gather for lunch. Christy and my cousin’s wife Gigi did all the planning and made it happen and it turned out very nice. We got up at 6:00 am and went over. Michael and Mavrick went with me and Christy. Mom and Dad drive the little ones over and got there about 9:00. Needless to say, they both needed a drink after driving the baby bus!

I was able to take the kids over to the playground a few times. Michael and Mavrick played with Gigi and Jamie's daughter, Katherine, and had a great time! Bella ran around like a wild child and had a blast. She ran out of the building one time, and one time she ran into the street! She is a handful. Precious, but a handful. She really enjoyed swinging and going down the big slide.

I put Major in the swings once and he seemed to love it. He would look at me and just laugh out loud.

On the way home, we moved Bella back to Christy’s car, and me, dad, Mavrick, Major and Cooper all road back in my car. Mavrick helped with the babies, until he fell asleep. This is him entertaining…

My Pop-paw came to the reunion. He looks very skinny. It is really very strange to see him getting older. I guess I never thought he would get old. He was always such a pillar when my Granny was sick. The whole time I was growing up, he always had gray hair, but never seemed to be getting older. I saw him a few months ago and he seemed thin then, but now he is too thin. He just watched everything, like he was taking it all in, but I had to wonder where his mind really was… or if it was anywhere at all. It was strange, like I was sitting with a stranger. He used to read a lot, he was always out in the field working on something, working with some animals, repairing something. He used to be so strong. Now he is wasting away in a nursing home with his wife. He is faithful to a fault, and while she needs to be there, he will stay with her and waste away to nothing. It makes me sad. I think I hate change… I’m going to go cry a little now.

Bella's Beauty Shop

This is from last weekend. After Michael’s party, Bella needed her nails done for their pictures the next day. The only way she would let me take off some old polish and cut her nails is if I would let her paint mine! So I got my nails done. Looks like she might be a lefty. This is our trip to Bella’s Beauty Shop:

The Sicky's

Today I was at home with baby Major who is sick. I think it is allergies, but his nose was running and he has a cough. You can tell just by looking at him. He was very “needy” all day. I would step out of his site and he would start crying. We went through a few hours when he needed to be held. So he took two naps being held. I think by the end of the day he was feeling better, but still really tired. He fell asleep watching TV about 6:30 with Michael. He is so sweet, even when he is sick and needy.

Mark, Mavrick and my dad are all sick too. Sore throats, runny noses, dry coughs surround me!

How's your butt hole?

I can laugh because I am the one asking the question...

This morning I am sitting in the lobby at a Dr.s office in Plano. My sister is having a colonoscopy this morning. I didn’t know until about 2 weeks ago that she had had any issues, but apparently, since before she had Cooper she has. She had a check up with her Dr who sent her here for this procedure when he didn’t find anything abnormal in his initial exam. I told her this morning that I thought once they got the cob out of her @$$ that she would be a whole new person. She said “they’re not taking anything out.” Sorry, I guess I misunderstood!

I don’t know what she is expecting to come out of this, but I am totally not prepared for anything bad… Brian just came out and everything is fine. She had two polyps that they removed and an ulcer. Yea, God! But the Doctor did leave the cob!

Week in Review

We had quite a busy week last week. Let’s start with last Saturday the 11th. The morning started with a baseball game, then we had our neighbors birthday party up in Denton. Cole just turned 7 and had a swimming party at an indoor pool. It was fun and the boys enjoyed swimming again. I didn’t get Major in the water. The way he loves the water (not), I didn’t want to risk making a screaming scene. At some point over the weekend, Mavrick started riding his bike. Cole turned 7 on the 8th, and started riding his bike, so Mavrick, who turned 7 in May, wasn’t going to be left behind. So, yea Mavrick!

Sunday, I took Mavrick to his golf lessons and they we went over to Christy and Brian’s for Christy’s birthday. Michael went over with Mom and Dad, then Mark came around dinner time. All of us and all of Brian’s family went over for the Cowboy game and dinner. It was a nice evening. We left there about 9:00. Monday, they boys were out of school and it was Michael’s birthday. He started out the day with Mark shopping for a bike, his birthday present from us. They found a great bright yellow bike that Michael is very happy with.

After lunch we went to the pumpkin patch in Flower Mound, and then went to the pumpkin park next door to it. The boys always have fun running around, but Major wasn’t crazy about the hay. We did get some great pictures of him though.Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday were just regular life, regular work, regular busy! Thursday, Major was 6 months old! It kind of snuck up on me. I haven’t made him an appointment for his 6 month check up yet or had 6 month pictures… third child syndrome? I don’t want to be like that!

And Friday, I cleaned the house like a crazy woman. I went to yoga at 8:30, then got home and went to cleaning. I have always said that God gave me kids six months apart to make sure that my house got a good cleaning at least twice a year. I kind of go a little crazy when people who have never been to the house are coming over. In the end I always like my house better for a time because it is clean, neat and in order.

On Saturday we had another baseball game. It was at 9:00 and for a Saturday, which is really early for us. I am so thankful that none of my kids have wanted to play soccer! Their games start at 8:00! Then Michael’s party was from 2:00 to 4:00. There were three boys from school who came, and then his friends from the neighborhood came. We played “Pin the Hand on the Iron Man,” had an Iron Man piñata , opened gifts and had cake, and then it was time to go. It was a strangely calm party, which seemed to emphasize that they are all growing up! He had a great party and was thrilled with the wonderful gifts that he received, and that he now has more Webkinz than his brother does.

Michael's Field Trip

Yesterday was Michael’s field trip to the Ballpark at Arlington. It was so cool! It was a behind the scenes tour of the facility. We went to the press box, the City of Arlington’s suite, the press room, the dugout, the batting cages, the locker room or “clubhouse.” Then we ate lunch and went to the museum. Michael and I got some quality time together, so that was wonderful! He is getting so big and independent! I can’t believe he will be nine on Monday!

The rest of the pictures are on my facebook account.

Mav Fest

The elementary school behind us has a carnival each year and tonight was it… “Mav Fest” Of course Mavrick thought it was all for him, so we went. You know, community support and all. I think I have become all too relaxed with Michael and Mavrick because I just let them run. They stick together, and they seem so big to me. I hope I’m not being careless! Anyway, there were bounce houses, games, face painting and food. We all had a good time. Major was perfect in his stroller, even taking a nap! They chose this for their face painting: Nice, real nice.

Eating Habbits

As you all know from previous entries, we are working on Major eating food. And, many of you know what a balanced meal nut I am (not). So, Wednesday evening, I gave him his first cookie. I looked for the little teething biscuits, but everything was for 12 months or older, so I just got him a box of the good old fashioned animal crackers. He threw the first one, or two, on the floor, but finally got the hang of it and ended up looking like this… He choked a little, but once we got that washed down, he really seemed to enjoy it! He is also doing better on the other food too. He has never taken a paci because he pushes out with his tongue, rather than sucking. Well, he does that with food too. He pushes it out. He seems to enjoy what he gets, and always opens his mouth for more. It is just difficult to keep it in his mouth. I added pear juice rather than water to his cereal and he HATED it. I made him shiver!

Time with Mav

Wow! Time is flying! It seems we are in one of those times when we are doing way too much and everything is going 90 miles an hour!

Today, I went on a field trip with Mavrick to the Dallas World Aquarium. We had a great time. He is so funny and so loving. I love being with him. It is always so nice to spend some time with just one of the boys at a time and really focus on them. They need it, but it helps to ground me and remind me just how special each one of them really is. Here are a few pics from today…

The alligator is whispering something to Mav.

He said that the ray bit him on the bottom.

Mav, Noah and Drake with a very friendly octopus.

On Thursday, I am going with Michael on his field trip to the Texas Rangers stadium in Arlington. I am excited about it because Michael thrives on that personal time. His love language is “quality time.” If you have kids and haven’t read THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES OF CHILDREN, I recommend that you do. It is great, was really easy to understand and dead on about Michael and Mavrick.