Tuesday, March 31, 2009

photo 59...

This picture captures our listening preferences in the afternoon when I am escorting the girls places. Today we were on our way home from dance when I took this pic.

Ashton loves to listen to Radio Disney...I love listening to her sing a long from the backseat! Right now her faves are Taylor Swift, Kelly Clarkson, Hannah Montana/Miley Cyrus and any song from HSM.

Just to be fair....we sometimes listen to Elmo and the Kids Songs CD for Lan-Lan P. Her little head bee-bops to whatever is on....just like her Big Sis!

Monday, March 30, 2009

photo 58...

Does this look like a little girl who is in the doctor's office?

You wouldn't know it by looking at her {or listening to her babble} but she was in the exam room this afternoon when I took this picture of her.

She has had a cold since Thursday and hasn't been sleeping well and she is normally a fabulous sleeper. Today she woke up from her 45 minute nap crying {which rarely happens} and it took me a while to get her to stop. I thought it was teeth since she just got one of her top molars and the other one is poking it's way through. I gave her some Motrin and layed her down to change her diaper. She was holding her ear and crying.

So I checked out Babycenter to see what the signs of an ear infection are. She had pretty much every sign so I called the doctor's office, they wanted to see her today so I took her in at 5:10.

Yepper....she has an ear infection. Her first one...actually OUR first one. Ashton has never had one in her life...yep...knocking on wood as I type.

She has been in a pretty good mood this evening and went to sleep easily. That kid loves the medicine and was using her sign for "more" when she saw Daddy putting it away.

I am hoping she kicks this thing pretty quick and we get our happy, good sleeping, feeling good baby girl back!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

photo 57...

This little thing-a-ma-jig keeps Ashton quite entertained! It is similar to a jump rope....she jumps and spins the ball around and jumps over it. She picked this out of the treasure box at school and has spent HOURS doing this.

The Lil Sis in the house is also entertained by this fancy contraption. Landry likes to put the hoop on her arm and carry it around when Ashton isn't using it! Are we suprised?! Nope...not really!

Saturday, March 28, 2009

photo 56...

Happy 10th Birthday Buster!

Buster's 10th birthday was actually yesterday (the 27th) but we celebrated it today. The details will be on our original blog with many more details.

Friday, March 27, 2009

photo 55...

Date Night...

...or a version of it. So tonight we signed the girls up for "Parents Night Out" at My Gym so Bobby and I could have a date night. We had planned to go to a grown up restaurant for dinner and then maybe go to another restaurant for an after dinner drink or dessert. Nothing major but date-ish. Sounds like fun huh? And since both sets of grandparents live out of town, we don't have built in babysitters so this plan was a good one.

Weeeellll....as we all know when you have kiddos things don't always go exactly according to plan and that is to be expected. We learned early on with Ashton that we needed to be flexible so we were totally okay with it.

Our sweet Landry has a bit of a cough and ever so slight runny nose so we didn't take her. Ashton however still wanted to go. So we dropped her off, went and got some Pei Wei take out, came home, ate it, bathed Landry, put her to bed, watched about 30 minutes of a movie, then I went and picked up our Big Girl. Our house was waaaayyyy to quiet without Ashton.

We enjoyed this version of Date Night, but really would have preferred to have Ashton with us. We missed her...she missed us and she missed Pei Wei...but we ordered her favorite dish so she could have it for lunch tomorrow!

Thursday, March 26, 2009

photo 54...

A love note from Mommy {and sometimes Daddy}

You know, one of the things that I L-O-V-E doing for Ashton is leaving her a little note in her lunchbox every day. I started doing it last year when she was in Kindergarten and it has continued. I will do it as long as I can get away with it...and when the time comes that I can't get away with it; well, I guess I will put a note on her mirror or at her spot at the table for breakfast. Tear drop.

They are always simple and vary each day. I have only not done it once or twice and boy did she notice! {Which makes me happy to know that she reads them}. I also cannot even begin to say how much I LOVE the fact that she enjoys them too!

On the nights when Daddy makes her lunch...yepper...he puts one in there too! We miss her each day when she is at school and we want her to know that we are thinking about her and that we love her. It is the little things in life that make days special for the people you love!

Wednesday, March 25, 2009

photo 53...


Once a month I play bunco with a group of women from the school I used to teach at. Some of them are now stay -at-home moms, some are still there, and some teach at other campuses. It is a fun, energetic, and loud group of girls. I really enjoy catching up with them, hearing about their lives, and hearing about what is happening in the world of education.

We take turns hosting it and this month it was my turn. Our usual menu includes wine, appetizers, dinner, and of course dessert. Tonight I made spinach florentine pizza and Harry & David dip for appetizers; chicken spaghetti, bread, and salad for dinner; and for dessert....carmel drizzled brownies with ice cream {so not on my healthy eating plan~but oh well} ! Yummo!

We are a loud group, but we have fun and our kiddos and husbands only have to put up with it once a year at our house....they are troopers even though it is cuh-razy!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

photo 52...

Ashton has her cool shades that she picked out by herself {can you tell~did the bling give it away} and is looking oh so cute and ready for spring and summer!

As we were driving to dance today, I glanced in my mirror and caught a glimpse of her eating her snack and singing along to Radio Disney and I just couldn't pass up the picture!

She looks a lot grown up in these sunglasses but we need to protect those beautiful blue eyes of hers!

Monday, March 23, 2009

photo 51...

So my days of vacuuming in peace are over I'm afraid. Landry has discovered she likes the vacuum and wants to "help" mommy. It took me twice as long today since I had a cute little toddler with a fever helping me...that is just part of being a mommy!

Sunday, March 22, 2009

photo 50...

March Madness Baby!

{I truly apologize for this horrid picture...but you get the idea}

March Madness is a great time of year and so much fun even if you really aren't that into college basketball. I think it is all the hype surrounding it! I love filling out my brackets and keeping up with how well I picked~or didn't pick whichever the case may be! I love the stories and buzzer beater moments. We watch the men and keep up with our Lady Bears in the Women's Tourney too!

Saturday, March 21, 2009

photo 49...

Tonight after supper we went for a walk so Ashton could ride her bike and Landry could ride in her car.

Landry was way more interested in the neighbors across the alley rather than having her picture taken. I was even looking/acting quite foolish {in front of the neighbors} trying to get her to look at the camera. She didn't look my way...not even once! Again...she does things when she wants to! What a cute little stinker...at least Ashton posed beautifully for me! One out of two isn't bad! :0)

Friday, March 20, 2009

photo 48...

I love spending time with my 3 favorite people on this planet!

Today we took the girls to Main Event so Ashton could bowl and play a few games {details are coming soon on our original blog} as kind of an "End of Spring Break" activity.

These three people are my life and they make me happier than I ever thought possible. My heart is overflowing with love for them and oh the joy they bring me....there really aren't any words that could even come close to describing it! I am so blessed and so thankful that I get to be a mommy and wife to them.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

photo 47...

Ashton was tired...of walking and me taking her picture!

After I got home from Stroller Fit this morning, we met Miss Jill and baby Allie for a walk around the neighborhood. It ended up being a 45 minute walk because the weather was so nice and the babies were enjoying it! Ashton pushed her baby in the second stroller we have for Landry. She had a blast~but was tuckered out when we got home.

Once we got home, I was taking pictures of the girls and their strollers...I only took three, but Ashton was done and ready to go inside.

I didnt' realize I had captured this "look" until I looked at them on the computer....love it!

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

photo 46...

One of the things I love the most is when my girls laugh...it makes me my heart happy to hear them giggle and belly laugh! That is one of my favorite sounds in the world!

Today as we were getting ready to go leave for Ashton's softball practice, we put Landry's sunglasses on her. She saw herself in the mirror and laughed and laughed and laughed. Then we all started laughing because it was funny to see her 'seeing herself look funny'.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

photo 45...

How cute are Bailey's lil baby flip flops?
His momma is getting him ready for summer!

Monday, March 16, 2009

photo 44...

{please excuse Landry's tennis shoes with capri pants...I am aware this a major fashion no-no, but the kid has to wear sneakers when she is outside and rather than changing the outfit for the 3rd time today, I opted for the fashion no-no}


Today the fabulous spring weather was back....so we went outside to play for a few minutes before I needed to start supper. Ashton was playing with her jump rope and Landry just had to play too...I love sisters!

Sunday, March 15, 2009

photo 43...

Sweet Baby Bailey

We have some very special visitors at our house...The Olsons! They moved down 'round Austin this past summer and we don't get to see them much! We are so glad they decided to come back "home" to visit for a few days over Spring Break!

We kicked it off with a yummy dinner at Uncle Julios with the most of the crew.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

photo 42...

Here is the"after" picture from Ashton's haircut...she chose the "head tilted pose" so her hair looks uneven but it isn't when her head is straight!

We had her haircut at Sharkey's Cuts for Kids and she loved it. Her hair was washed and dried and on top of that she had a complimentary "mini-manicure" in the pink zebra room.

Friday, March 13, 2009

photo 41...

Ashton got her haircut...and she chose how much to cut off!

So....she has been asking me for a few weeks now to get her haircut and she really needed one. I made the appointment and today was the day; she showed the lady where to cut it....yepper...3 inches...gone!

This girl and her hair oh.my.goodness...she decided last year that she wanted to grow out her bangs....oh wow was that a process ~ I feel like it took FOR-EV-ER!

If you know me and how much I hate for her hair to be in her face you know how much of a struggle that whole process was. We kept her hair about shoulder length-ish while growing out the bangs. Once the bangs caught up and grew out, we let her hair grow (at her request). With her hair so long, I think it made her look older so I am glad she wanted it cut!

I asked her numerous times before the lady cut her hair if she was sure that is how much she wanted to cut and each time she said "yes" very emphatcially and asked me to stop asking after about the millionth time.

So she got 3 inches cut off and I do have to say that I love it! And most importantly....she loves it!

Thursday, March 12, 2009

photo 40...

Our weather here today STINKS!

It is super cold...I am talking my thermometer in my car said 38 degrees and on top of that, it is still raining....it rained all. day yesterday and it hasn't stopped. Actually it turned into a light rain but still....yuck!

I took this picture when I got in my car after running into Target to get Landry some more milk. Oh how I do not like this kind of weather....I am thinking of Spring weather!

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

photo 39...

This is Landry....doing her practice skill for this week from her My Gym class...a head stand!

Yep...that's right...our 14 month old loves doing assisted head stands and back flips. I am sure one of these days she will bust out trying to do these things on her own...that is just the "no fear" kind of kid she is these days! Lord help me....

She loved it when we did it in class on Tuesday and she loved even more doing it at home for Daddy and Ashton. Tonight after the girls had their baths....Daddy did a real headstand....impressive I know~I don't think I could do one! She {and Ashton both} got the biggest kick out of this. Then she wanted to do her hers...

She toddles over, she bends her little body over and lays her head sideways on the ground (hiney in the air) so one of us will help her up to her headstand. I am so glad we grabbed the camera and were able to get a picture of it. I didn't capture the ginormous smile on her face or the sweet little giggles and belly laugh that she was doing. Bummer!

We will work on getting video....my descriptive skills and the picture don't do it any justice!

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

photo 38...

Dinner. Together. As A Family. Love It!

One of the things I love is the fact that we have dinner together every single night (with rare occasions when Daddy is out of town or at a work dinner) even if it is bunco night for me or an early softball night for Daddy, we still sit together at the table.

I remember doing this growing up and I love that we do it for our girls. I love to hear all about Ashton's day at school, telling about Landry's day at home with me, and I love seeing how Landry is learning how to eat at the table. Dinner together is just another great bit of "QT" that we get in our day.

Tonight was "Chick Fil-A Night" for Ashton's school so that is what we had. Her school earns a portion of the sales made during a specific night once a month. The kiddos both love it...and it always falls on Tuesday which is especially nice since it is dance day for us, so that makes dinner easy!

Monday, March 9, 2009

photo 37...

Buster is oblivious....

...to the fact that his bed is outside his "bedroom". Since we are in the process of painting our laundry room (which is also where Buster sleeps and eats) we had to put his bed outside the laundry room last night. He couldn't have cared any less!

We had his bed on the patio yesterday while we were painting, he slept out there for a few hours. Then we brought it in last night at bedtime and he waited patiently for his treat, climbed up on his bed and went to sleep just like normal.

I vacuumed this morning while he was asleep on his bed and he didn't even blink! But really...not much phases this dog....not even Landry and all her so-not-gentleness!

Sunday, March 8, 2009

photo 36...

These are buds on our new tree...the Shantung Maple.

Our new tree was delivered and planted last Monday...in less than a week we have some new growth! I can't wait to see it with lots and lots more leaves and flowers! Photo credit must be given to my hubby...I think this picture is so neat!

Saturday, March 7, 2009

photo 35...

One of the things that I have done for Ashton since she was 2 1/2 or 3 years old is paint her toes. It is a very difficult task....she has such small toenails and she is squirmy even when she doesn't mean to be. If you know me, you are shocked that I actually touch her feet long enough to do it, but for some reason touching my girls' feet doesn't bother me like other people's feet bothers me....weird I know. It has gotten easier as she has gotten older, but they still never look "salon" quality which drives me nuts...but what do you do?

She loves when we paint her toes and she always has. I enjoy doing it for her and I am sure that in a year or so Landry will want to be a part of the action as well. Just one of the things you do when you are the mommy of little girls!

Friday, March 6, 2009

photo 34...

Today after Landry and I finished our Stroller Fit Class at the gym, I met up with Jodi and Carly for lunch but with a special added bonus....Katie and Cole!!!

Jodi met Katie through "blog land" when they discovered they worked out at the same gym. They were once workout buddies, but are now really great friends. I have been following Katie's blog and today I finally got to meet her and she is so sweet and super nice! Yes... I learned this in the whole 30-ish minutes I was around her.

The three of us talked and ate really fast....Landry and Cole really weren't interested in sitting still. It was getting close to nap time for both of them and poor Landry had been sitting in a stroller for almost an hour so a chair was making her happy. Carly however was a trooper and was just as happy as she could be.

We decided that we definitely need another get together without small children so we can really chat and get to know each other better! Thanks for meeting us Katie....I can't wait to do it again!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

photo 33...


"Sweet Luvin"

So this is one of my many weaknesses...you know how I LOVE me some sweets! I wait for the one time a year that I can buy girl scout cookies {thank goodness it is only one time a year}!

When I was teaching, I always had one or two little girls in my class that were selling cookies and then of course, there were those that had been my students in the past so I had no problem getting them.

Weeeelllll...since I started staying home, I have had a hard time finding a girl scout to buy them from or when I do, they have already turned in their order forms. So all I can say is how glad I am that the girl scout troops hang out in front of Kroger selling cookies!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

photo 32...

Landry's new thing is to "collect" things.

She almost always has something in her hands that she carries with her. Today I found her pushing her shopping cart filled with many random things that she loves. Notice her shoe on top...that was the last addition to the cart and just so happens to be her favorite thing to carry around. It is hysterical to watch her try and put the shoe on her own foot!

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

photo 31...

Here it is...the "official" Daddy Daughter Dance Photo. Bobby went and picked it up today....I cannot believe how much she has grown up and changed in a year...WOW!

Monday, March 2, 2009

photo 30...

Tonight after the kiddos were in bed, I went to Gina's house to watch the Bachelor finale! Jodi, Kim and Natalie also came over...we had wine and yummy not-so-good-for-you snacks like Gina's peanut butter popcorn.....soooo deee-lish!

It took us much longer to watch it because of course we had to pause and comment....so fun!

We loved every single minute....it was way much more fun watching it with them! Oh how I love my girlfriends and some pure entertainment tv!

Sunday, March 1, 2009

photo 29...

Today we traveled down 'roun Waco to celebrate two of my sisters' birthdays. Heather has her birthday tomorrow and Megan's birthday is on Saturday. Unfortunately, Heather wasn't able to be with us today but we got to see her for a bit anyway. {We are planning to go down and visit again when we can spend some more time with Auntie Heather}

The birthday cards with their cake is because Megan was "photo ready" and we didn't have Heather...we didn't want a picture with one and not the other!

We enjoyed our time seeing the family for "Family Lunch" instead of their traditional "Family Dinner". We truly appreciate everyone changing their Sunday around to accommodate us...thanks a bunch!