Summertime

This summer, have you taken the time to ...........

....enjoy a cool splash on a hot day?

 

...taken yourself out to the ballgame to cheer on your favorite team?  (our favorite is the BRAVES)

.....taken advantage of any opportunity  to refresh yourself in the killer heat?

....spent some time out on the water?

....made your own water park in the backyard?

WELL, WE HAVE!!!

HAPPY SUMMER, YA'LL!

(I just have to tell you that when I saw that last picture, I noticed the little "beach ball" in the background and thought, "That's weird, I don't remember us having a white beach ball."

That was no ball.   Sorry kid, you have your daddy's noggin.) 

Much cuter than a beach ball.



Run Kaelan, Run!

Kaelan has become quite the little runner.  She recently completed her first 5K race and by completed, I mean she RAN the heck out of that sucker.  She has participated in several 5K and 10K races with mom and pop usually riding in the jogger for most of the race and then jumping out and running a bit here and there.  However, this year she really wanted to run the whole Pflugerville Pfun Run.   We decided to give it a whirl, and much to our surprise (and the bundle of folks she passed), Kaelan really did run the race.  Her finishing time was around 37 minutes.  Mom made her sit down in the jogger long enough to fix her shoe and get a drink.   We were hoping she would want to rest for a bit, but she begged us to let her out to go, so off we went!   She even wanted to do the Kid K after finishing the 5K...and she smoked that one, too!   I have a feeling a marathon is in her future.

Kiddie Tri

This was the third year for our Kiddie  Triathlon here in the 'Hood.  The kids did a great job running around a pond (about .25 mile long), biking a course through the 'hood (about .5 miles in length), and then swimming from one end of the pool to the other (about the length of a pool).  Ha, I made a funny.

Pre-race hugs and fun

Taking off for the biking portion

Stripping down and heading to the pool

I love that each kid did great, and each kid won a medal.   They were all winners!

This year, Kaelan designed the shirt decal.  They came out so cute!   Our buddy Jaime did a fantastic job putting everything together.    Next year will be just as awesome!

May Potpourri

Time to purge some pictures.  I gotta get help for this.  

Here are a few I pulled for the end part April and beginning of May.   You will just have to live in wonder of the things we did at the end of May and all the photos I have left out.  I just can't keep up with my life.    Geesh.

Crowe's Nest Farm

Sweet K and I headed out for a day without brothers for a visit to Crowe's Nest Farm in  a little town near our home.   Kaelan still plans on being a farmer (and  a spy on the weekends), marrying Darian, and saving every animal that has ever been hurt.   We decided to head to this farm because it is also special in the ways of helping animals.  Kaelan took photos and notes for future reference on our trip.  I think that will also come in handy in her spy career.

Kaelan learned how to milk and feed the cows.  She also fed the chickens.  I am not going to show you pictures of all that.  Kaelan took those photos, and I am afraid they are a little blurry.  In one I can't tell which is the chicken and which is the Kaelan.  That blurry.

 

Summer and Kaelan took a break from the animals to head to the Fairy Wonderland.  They had a great time searching for fairies and making wishes.

 

Meanwhile, back at the ranch, this cutie just continues to grow and well, be cute.

      

Egg Hunts

We had a lot of great egg hunts this year.   Our favorite would have to be the flashlight egg hunt here in our 'hood.  The kids had a great time searching for glow in the dark eggs and items while using their flashlights and neon necklaces to light the way. 

Here is Kaelan at a friend's egg hunt.  It was held on Earth Day, so she felt like she was doing her part to rid the earth of those pesky candy filled eggs. 

And on the sidelines on the egg hunts sat a sweet little boy who just loved watching all the excitement.

Baby Dedication

Seth had his dedication in church this month.  This is not like a baptism, it is just a chance for us as parents to get up and pray for Seth and pronounce our willingness as parents to raise Seth with a love for God.   Pastor Joe and Lori prayed over our family while Kaelan danced around. 



   

We left the camera in the hands of our dear little aunt hoping she would get a few shots.   Doug had just taught in the preschool, so he rushed over to meet us and we had no time to give her a tutorial.  There were a few shots where I could almost make out the chicken from Crowe's Nest  on stage with us (I kid).    After some pretty blurry shots, she resorted to shooting the jumbo tron.  Bless her heart, she tried.

 

This next photo shows a very worn out family.  After church a lunch and a barbecue, we were tired and ragged.   Kaelan looks ready for a nap.  Mommy looks ready for a brush.

And here he is again, growing and looking adorable.  

           

Driving Me Crazy

My kid is obsessed with Angry Birds.  I blame her father.   They love playing that dumb game on the iPhone, and now on the iPad 2, computer, in their sleep......wherever.   I finally intervened when I realized that the kid was one step away from going on A & E 's Intervention show.  I made a rule that there would be no more playing Angry Birds on any electronic devices in or out of our home. 

Who knew they made plush Angry Birds?

Here, Darian and Kaelan prepare to build and destroy pig towers.   They do this over and over many times a day. 

  

I am cool with this, though.  At least they are using their brains and not turning them to mush with those games.  I sound like my mom. 

I have tried to stop it, but he just keeps growing and growing.  He did it all month long no matter how hard I tried to pause life. 

So there you have it.    A little taste of April and May.  I have more.  You may get more, but probably not.  I gotta go, my kids are growing.

Sweet Berry Farm Strawberry Edition

Ah, Spring......that wonderful time of year in Austin when the weather is absolutely perfect. It usually lasts about four days, and then WHAM you are hit with triple digit temperatures. We soak in our spring and spend as much time outdoors as we can in preparation for our summer hibernation.

Yes, I know it is now summer. This post is a little dated, but let's just all close our eyes and think back to those days not long ago when we needed a jacket in the evenings and long pants were still doable.

Are you there?

Great. Now, welcome to Sweet Berry Farms.

We just love this place. My future farmer of America loves the beautiful drive out to Marble Falls to pick yummy goodies. Each spring we head out for strawberry season, and then later hit the blackberries and potatoes. Fall brings pumpkins. But we are in spring mode, spring mode, spring mode. You back with me?

The drought (oh, I just hate that word. It gives me cotton mouth just saying it.) really hurt the crop this year. There were still plenty of berries, but they were much smaller.

Our usual caravan of friends came along. Last year, the kiddos trekked through mud and muck. This year, we fought a mighty battle with wind and dust.

This being mom's first trip to the farm with 2 kiddos, dad was nice enough to take the day off and help out. We loved having him come along. He is tall and makes great shade. AND he is kinda cute.

The littlest McBrayer was sleeping in the stroller. We decided to let him nap out of this photo op.

Next year, the farm will be much more exciting for him. He will get to enjoy the berries, get his face licked by the goats and donkeys, and run wild in the fields, just like his daddy did.

We always end out trip with a fresh strawberry Popsicle or ice cream. Delish!

Strawberry waffles, strawberry shortcake, strawberry smoothies.....we made them all!

Don't think I won't take Kaelan out of school next year to make our farm trips!

I am not messing up this good thing.

Month by Month: 3

Month 3

Awesome!  You conquered another month.   This one brought lots more "firsts".  We seriously thought you were going to be like your sister and cut your first tooth this month. 

 Man, those were some fun times.....I will never forget your dad's face as he put his finger in her mouth and screamed that something was stuck in there.  We were on a plane headed to Austin to look at houses with your sweet little 3 1/2 month old little sister, and when your daddy screamed his declaration, flight attendants came running ready to perform CPR.  That something was a tooth.  A TOOTH!  Two days later a second on appeared. 

The drool, the bumpy gums and a couple of days of  I AM NOT A HAPPY CAMPER syndrome let us to believe you were going to have the same orthodontic future.  

Whew!  Nothing yet. Don't feel the need to rush that.

 

 

Kaelan asked me why we take all your monthly pictures on the changing table.  I told her it was the best environment to contain you.   She asked me what contain means.  I told her it meant to control you and keep you safe.  Then she asked me what environment meant.  I told her it was the place or surroundings for where you put something.  Oh, she said.  Then she looked at me and asked,  Why  do we take all your monthly pictures on the changing table? 

That went well.  

To minimize future q & a sessions, I agreed to let her be creative with future pictures shoots. 

Sorry for that ahead of time.

 

You figured out how to push some air through those lungs this month!  Wowsers!   When you get unhappy, you know how to project!   You scared us pretty good this month with a few Holy Lightheadedness, Batman! moments.  One time you screamed so hard and long you actually passed out!   I would have freaked had I not seen this show several times over with MY little sister.   She used to to this all the time, and my mother has angina today as a result.   Luckily, the Oscar performance kind of scared you a little too, and you have decided to keep the theatrics to a minimum.  For now. 

You pretty much roll like crazy now.  You have begun to pull yourself from your back over to your tummy if you are around something you can grab and pull.  That head, man it is a force in itself.  If you are on your tummy, all you need to do is pick it up and turn it to the side.  It automatically will make you flip over to your back.  Hey, no judgement here.  It works.

Your fits of uncontrollable laughter are the best.   Our whole family gathers around you daily to tickle and nibble on you and delight in your giggles.

Some more firsts: 

*This month you were dedicated at church.  I hope to post more on that later.  It was magical.

*This month you took some short road trips, and despite your new dislike for being in the car, you did a great job.  Just don't stop the car, and hit lots of bumps, and hum.   See?  We are learning how to keep you happy.

*First Easter.  You found 0 eggs.  I think you will break that record next year.

*You moved out and got your own place.    It is right down the hall from us, so we still see  you often.   You love your new digs.

*You tried out your exersaucer and jumperoo.  You lasted about 34 seconds in each one.  Oh well, we will try again later.

Here's  Daddy......

Dear Seth,

Your affection of fans is beginning to worry me, although I have to admit, when you are a little on the unhappy side, the mere mention of the word fan has you stop and look around for the whirling object.  It amazes me how quickly you've learned to control the house and rule the roost.  The emotional switch you can throw has us all in awe.  When it's good, it's the best, your smile and laughter is contagious.  When it's bad ....even WalMart can't allow your rath.  We love you and can see your personality coming though.  Can't wait to see what next month holds.

Love,

Dad

THE FANS!  I almost forgot about that.  Your dad is right.  You have developed this love for ceiling fans.  You love watching them and talking to them. 

That whole Walmart thing?  Well, I don't like Walmart at all, and apparently you don't either.   Basically, you went bananas when I took you in one, and I made a comment that they were not going to allow me back in there ever again.....I think that worried your father.  I mean, how bad to you have to be to get banned from a Walmart?

We love you, Chubber Bubbers, even if it means we won't get those "fall back savings".

Love Without End. Amen.

After a particularly trying day in motherhood, I collapsed in bed fully expecting to fall asleep without incident. However, my mind mind was wondering and drifting and I could not seem to wind down. It was really one of those days. One of those days when you just feel that you are sinking in the sea of parenting. Seth screamed inconsolably a good portion of the day, and Kaelan's new eye-rolling pouty response to pretty much any request I made had grated my nerves to shreds. I was tired, frustrated and now unable to gather the much needed rest I desired.
I found myself checking the clock and doing the mental countdown....if I go to sleep right now, I can get in at least 6 good hours before Seth wakes up. But then, he got up early last night, so maybe I will only get 4. Great, now another hour has passed and I can only get 3. Now 2.........don't you just hate stomach turning nights like that?
Exasperated, I flicked on my Kindle at 4:13 AM and began reading. The book I am reading deals with the tough subject manner of child abuse. Not the stuff of happy dreams.
Thus, when I finally did pass out, an excerpt from the book invaded my dreams.


In her eyes, this child epitomized her failures. And so it was that one evening as she lay in bed chain-smoking, as Vernon lay curled up beside her warmth, sound asleep, Hetty stewed over her predicament. Disgusted, she took the cigarette from her mouth and placed it to her baby's thigh...
His entire body jerked. Then, he looked up and smiled and confused warm smile, and that made her more angry. So she did it again and again until he began to scream.

The dreams were vivid. A sweet little baby lying there taking on the face of my children. Sweet Little K as a baby and now Seth, with his sparkling eyes. I could just see that initial smile of shock on their face. What just happened? Followed by a reassuring smile. Oh, it is okay, you are here, mama. And then, BAM, the realization that the mom was the source of the pain. I woke up in a pool of sweat and turned to the clock. 4:46. Did I really even fall asleep? My mind whirled back into the black hole of painful thoughts. There are kids out there who live this pain. Kids who are living it right now. I could feel the cracking in my heart as I thought of an innocent little baby who only knows how to give love, wanting only the same in return. Instead, they were on the receiving end of nothing but pain and ugliness.

5:11 AM

Through the monitor, I could hear the stirring sounds of my baby. Instead of the usual slow drag to the crib, I found myself bounding out of bed and rushing to his room. I scooped up my little guy and sniffed him in that unusual mommy manner of checking his diaper. He smelled perfect. Just a perfect little mix of sleepiness and unconditional love.

I broke the rules and carried him back to my bed to snuggle him as I fed him. I wept as he curled my finger in his small hands and sighed a sleepy sigh falling back into dreamland. As the early light began to creep through the blinds, I stared at him and smiled as he gave me a dreamy smile back.




Thank you for you love, Little Guy.  I promise to always give you and your sister what you deserve.

Such wonderful love in return.

Fairytale

There once was a fair young lass who was married to a wondrous prince.  The prince, sensing his sweet bride desperately needed a little break from life and her wee ones, sent her away to a magical kingdom of massages and facials and big comfy beds for lovely weekend.   The princess took her laptop in her satchel fully expecting to catch up on the latest internet gossip and delight herself in blogging to her heart's desire.  But alas, she found herself shopping at the nearby Anthropologie and sleep, sleep, sleeping herself into happiness.   And though her laptop gathered dust on her magical spa weekend, her body gathered strength and peace to come back and face the world of poopy diapers and whiny five year olds. 
For she loves that world.
The End.