Easter

Do you know I didn't get ONE photo of my kiddos in their Easter dress... I know.. bad mother. I told Hoot he was going to have put the pink shirt on one more time for me so that I could get some pics. they looked so stinkin adorable together. We had a wonderful morning. First things first.. Hoot was eager to get to his basket. Now the usual basket consists of 1.) one chocolate bunny 2.) a Pez dispenser of some Easter theme sort. 3.) usually Hot wheels 4.) tattoos (not of an Easter theme) He's always been pretty content with his basket... but this year... Lambert purchased a basketball goal. I know what you're thinking... I thought it too. Lambert coached an Upwards team this year and Hoot is all too excited to start basket ball in the Fall. Lambert didn't want to just give Hoot the goal just to give it to him and his birthday is a long way off so he decided the goal would make a fine Easter present... This is wrong on many levels... One... how did the bunny get it here? It took 4 hours to assemble the night before so there is NO way the bunny could have hopped all the way here with the goal in his basket. Secondly.... this creates a standard for future Easter presents from the bunny.. and we have a second child now that will expect something comparable to Hoots extravagant gifts.

So here is the goal in all it's glory!



This is Hoots face when he realized what the bunny delivered was not in his basket and was in fact set up in our drive way. he had NO idea

IT was prety awesome


The Doll... for her this Easter was all about the chocolate... she could have cared less about the bunnies, the games, the confetti or the story of our risen savior.. just give her the chocolate. She is still searching our house and the neighbor's houses for chocolate filled eggs every time we go outdoors.







She sat and atempted to open EVERY peice of chocolate she discovred in her eggs.

My two funny bunnies.

I'm way behind on the posts! We had a beautiful Easter and a great week. I have much to catch up on! More to come soon!

Good Friday

So lots has been going on at the casa. We've been busy hence, the long overdue post. First... Good Friday.






She just likes to scribble on WHATEVER Hoots drawing.


Hoot is getting old enough to understand the true meaning of Easter. We've tried to teach him from the get go that Easter is not about a visit from The Easter Bunny... however he does enjoy the visit. I stole this idea from Darby http://www.flythroughourwindow.com/ and think it's genius. Yes, I am the artist behind the fantastic Sharpie drawings... I have many other talents too... I laid the poster board and all the markers and crayons on the table and waited for the conversation to begin. Hoot started coloring and then he read the words. Lambert and I had a good chat with him about Good Friday. The best question was, "why was it a good Friday if Jesus had to die?" Great question... there wouldn't be anything good about that day IF the event that took place on the third day didn't happen! We celebrate that day because God loved us enough to send his son to take the punishment of our sin! When Jesus said, "It is Finished!" That was it... it was finished. There is a way for our sins to be forgiven and for ALL to have a relationship with God through Jesus. Hoot asked this morning if he was a Christian. I'm not sure he fully understands what that means, but were heading in that direction. I think these purposeful conversations are a great way to communicate with our kiddos.

Before Good Friday The Packag(s) arrived. How awesome that I get to say packages... plural!!! Libbie received her first Package from Granna. She was like an old pro. She was so excited about the opening of the package even before she knew what was in the package. We told Hoot he had a surprise he could open after bath time and he knew what was coming. He quickly ate dinner and then headed to the tub. He was squeeky clean in a matter of minutes and ready to receive THE PACKAGE! They both loved their gifts and Hoot has a call to make to Granna and Papa. He's not good about the calling..



She looks excited. I love how they watched each other to see what the other one got. I used to do that with my sister and I always thought she got the better deal.

I had to delete a couple of great photos... address was still showing on the packages..sorry

WAIT FOR IT!!!

Now thats an excited 3 year old. Look at Hoot's face... he thinks she got the better deal.. He is his mother!

The girl and her chocolate. She says yummmy OPEIT (open it)

Two happy kiddos!


I hope you enjoy this Easter weekend and reflect on the events that took place so that you and I could have hope for the future and peace for today.

John 19:28 Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29 A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30 When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Searching

So I am looking for this dress.... I stumbled across it here... http://pearlsandgrace.blogspot.com/2009/10/pumpkins-and-pearls.html
and have searched for it desperatly. The dress is by the famous Kayce Hughes who is now one of my favorite childrens clothing designers. She creates precious traditional clothing for the little ones... and the mommies too. I first discovered her in the April edition of Country Living... I adored her little girls daybeds from Pottery Barn and found myslef hunting for the amazing DISCONTINUED Priscilla daybed... to no avail. I thought Lambert could "make" it for me... HA HA HA!!! Now I'm on a new rabbit trail trying to find this darling red ruffle dress in ANY size.... 2,3,4 heck I don't care if she can't wear until she is 21... I just NEED that dress. I actually thought I had ordered it on the KH website... but it was not in stock... if anyone knows where in the world I can find this dress.. I MIGHT pay a finders fee :) Can you say obsessive? I've serched the web ebay etc... no luck.

The Weekend

We seem to stay pretty busy on the weekends. Friday night we had dinner with The Peanuts. http://3peanuts.blogspot.com/ sadly I didn't get any photos. We had such a great time visiting and EATING the most delicious meal, I didn't even think to take my camera out of the bag. The Peanuts made Oregano Shrimp http://3peanuts.blogspot.com/2009/09/teacher-giveaway-recipes.html (recipe here)served over pasta with a yummy spinach salad. Lambert didn't want to be rude and go for seconds so thankfully they sent us home with lots o'leftovers.... this is a MUST try recipe... Saturday we made smores in the backyard and played around at home. Today after church we took Hoot and The Doll to an Astros game. It was soooo much fun. They won!!! Were not big fans nor do we follow the Astros, but we have been very blessed to get great seats through my work and clients. Today we sat 8 rows up from 3rd base and Junction Jack came and flirted with the kiddos. He was too fast to catch a picture with the kids, but I did get one of his backside. We came home and crashed on the couch and then Lambert made us grilled chicken with roasted red potatoes. The kiddos are in bed, were finishing up the chores and Monday will be here in a few short hours. The weekends ZOOM by at our casa.


Isn't this nice?? Hoot is my dad... he HATES that I take so many photos... sometimes it's not worth making him smile. just capture the moment frowny face and all. We really had a good time and he was all smiles until I pulled out the camera.

Adjusting

We're trying to settle into our "new" normal. We're all trying to adjust and adapt to having a new little blessing in our home. I started back to work this week (part time) and have had to cope with all the feelings that go along with going back to work. Hoot is trying to cope with sharing daddy's attention and Lambert and I are trying to adjust to all the new responsibilities that comes with parenting two children. We thougt we were busy before, but now the thought of raising one child seems easy breezy. Hoot is an easy kiddo too so we had it pretty good. The Doll wants daddy's attention 24/7 and Hoot has always been Lambert's world. So sharing his time between the two of them has taken some getting used to. He's such a good daddy and has already made modifications to our routine so that he and Hoot can have some one on one time. Libbie is warming up to me day by day and I have learned that she operates on HER time table. She cuddles with me now (which you know I love) and she likes to give me kisses (I love that too). We visited the doctor last week and found out that she indeed does have a form of Arthrogryposis. We will visit a pediatric orthopedic surgeon next week as well as a physical therapist. Her doctor indicated that Libbie has GREAT potential and a long road of therapy ahead of her. All I can say is that she is one determined little fire cracker. She rarely uses her walker at home anymore. She thinks it gets in her way. She has the confidence to walk around our entire house without assistance. Now with that said... she has had MANY falls. She is never discouraged. She gets back up (crys sometimes) and keeps going. She is picking up new words every day too. She repeats everything we say and she is speaking some three word sentences. I am encouraged daily by his mercies. As I struggle and doubt, His truths come to me through his word just as I need them. His word is fresh and new daily and i realize now more than ever that His word is truly our daily bread. If I miss even one day of spending time in the word, what I feasted on the day before becomes stale and I quickly take my eyes off of Him and on to my circumstances and struggles. Psalm 27: 13-14 I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD

Surfs Up

So if you know us, you know we LOVE Galveston. I know it's not on the travel channel's list of top beach destinations, but we love sneaking away for just a night or for a weekend getaway. I always feel like I'm on vacation even though it's only a 45 minute drive. I love to walk the strand, pick up a cherry pie ice cream cone from LaKings Confectionery. (cherry pie ice cream at LaKing's is the best flavor I've ever had and I don't care for cherry pie). We ALWAYS eat on the seawall at our favorite haunt, Bennos, for gumbo and shrimp. Sometimes we head to the beach and other times we just drive through the neighborhood to stalk the beautiful homes. I love the shotgun houses with the maticulate front gardens and grand porches. I prefer looking at houses since I wont' step foot into Galveston Bay water... This weekend we headed for the beach. I fear flesh eating bacteria. Lambert calls me CRAZY. I usually collect sea shells while he risks his and Hoots lives in the dirty water. I try not to think about it. SERIOUSLY.

Lambert bought Hoot a boogie board and he has been DYING to try it out all week. The water was REALLY cold and The Doll, did not care for the rushing waves AT ALL. She was perfectly content basking on the beach tearing down the sand castles I constructed for her. She watched Hoot surf from a distance and squealed with delight when I cheered for him. She had no idea what I was cheering about, but she likes to hear her own LOUD voice so she cheered along. She loved the birds sweeping by calling to one another and she called right back too. Hoot was amazing. NO FEAR. He paddled out in true Keanu Reeves, Point Break form. (his hair is a little shorter) But he rode the fierce waves (on his belly) like a real surfer. This is the same boy that cries when Lambert rinses the (TEARLESS) shampoo from his hair every night!

We stopped at McCalister's Deli for large ice tea and then drove home. We ran early baths (hoot cried over the water in his eyes) and snuggled on the couch.Lambert tucked the kiddos into bed and fell fast asleep along with them. A sign of a great day! A helpful lesson we learned from Phil Mikcelson... always stop while the kids are still having fun. They will be excited to return again and again if you stop before they are worn out and cranky. Thanks Phil.





The beach photos are not what I was going for, but they will do for now. I think we need to go on a clear day near dusk. It was overcast and almost foggy.

We'll be investing in diaper covers for the next photo shoot!

she loves her daddy






The jellyfish we found. Hoot was sooooo intrigued. All he could talk about was the Nemo movie and how they are bad little stingers!


Hang Ten little Hoot!



I just love this picture. Where are her eyeballs?? She needs her sunglasses!

He loved this!!

What a Weekend!

I know were supposed to be hunkering down at the casa with Libbe and we do during the week days, but wow what a weekend. Friday we had dinner with the bff's in Kemah (so yummy) and then we let the kids ride the carousel and play a few games. Saturday morning the doll and I headed to Brenahm for our church ladies retreat. I couldn't go for the whole weekend, but I thought a 2 hour drive would be good bonding time for us. We had a ball! We drove to Giddings for the retreat, saw all the girls and then went to a special friends house for a visit. http://www.emilyandco.com/ It's a must visit if you're going to Roundtop this week. Her place is so darling and she and her husband are the most gracious hosts. Their house is AMAZING and their shop is to die for. Emily's daughter Leslie rode with us and gave us the tour of her mom's little haven. After Emily's we headed out for photos in the bluebonnets. The doll wasn't too keen on all the cars wizzing by so we didn't stay long. After the bluebonnets, we made a MUST stop at Leftovers... http://leftoversantiques.net/ another MUST visit while at Roundtop. We didn't know it but it was a very special day at Leftovers. Rachel Ashwell was appearing for a book signing. She recently purchased The Outpost at Cedar Creek. She was stopping in for a guest apperance. We were lucky to get in and out before it got crazy busy. I'm sure they would not appreciate a bulky stroller manuvering around with all the people. I did manage to get a couple of photos without getting busted.


I tell you he's the baby whisperer...


Whatever he says... works!

The doll loved the swings at the retreat (Camp Tejas)


Bare with me with the bluebonnet pics... I have waited 10 years to take these photos. I took some of Hoot when he was little, but there is just something about little girls in white smocked gowns in the bluebonnets that makes me smile. look at her precious feet. we don't get to see them often because she has to wear her AFO's to walk so she almost always has shoes on those feet! I love baby feet and she has the tiniest toes ever.













Rachel Ashwell was set up in this little area for her book signing. It was so shabby chic..








I could have spent all day in Leftovers. I could not get enough. Every nook and cranny was CRAMMED packed with eye candy galore. I knew I was sinning so I had to get out of there quick! I wanted and lusted after everything I laid my eyes on! You know me, I sooo want to make another trip up this week, but I just can't! I'm trying to remind myself daily (hourly) to be content with what I have and not want for more. It's hard, but I am truly so blessed and all that great stuff adds ZERO value to my life... but it sure is fun to dream!