Things that happen...

Mom's go to the bathroom too!  We have needs too!  And sometimes, we just like to shut the door!

These are the things that might happen when the door is closed...  

"Someone" may reorganize your cupboards...

"Someone" may try on your glasses and rings...

"Someone" may decide that she wants to play video games on the X-Box...

"Someone" might empty the dishwasher for you:)

"Someone" might dress up their little sister in a teddy bear vest...

Guaranteed that the little sister will not like this!

And "someone" who thinks that she is really bigger than she is, might try to pour her own juice...

But when that fails, she is big enough to take it upon herself to start cleaning up!  

Or maybe fear made her do it!

(Quote:  "It's ok Mom, I'm cleaning it up!")

Maybe it would be better to leave the door open next time!

Wordless Wednesday--My Little Texans:)

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder....

I have come to appreciate friends...play dates...ADULT conversation (that isn't a doctor or therapist:)  These are all BLESSINGS in my life and I appreciate them more now that Aubrey is here...

Last year, we were SUPER germaphobic as she prepared for surgery and then recovered.  We had a lovely summer and fall, when it happened.  GERMS!  They landed Aubrey in the hospital and then most outside contact was done for.  No play dates with other kids, no handing her around at functions.  We became super germaphobic again...we had to...we couldn't keep ending up in the hospital.

Mid March was our last synagis shot...so come mid April, we had the green light to play with friends again.  She might still get sick, but she NEEDS to be with other kids:)  So with such low risk, we headed to playgroup with friends...and we are happy...no matter how many tears over unshared toys...or stolen toys...or unfairness...we are happy to be with OUR friends again.  We appreciate them more now than we did before...we love our friends...

 and we love to try out boy toys at all the other houses:)

 Who didn't have a BIG WHEEL when they were growing up?!?!

 And our love (obsession) with bubbles is ongoing.  And the pink tutu that twirls as you spin your bubbles, and the red sparkle shoes, does in fact make blowing bubbles better!  

 Ella has also found a deep love for tools and "building".  I'm sure that Woody will spend many weekends in the next few months at home depot with his big girls...sporting the orange aprons...busy building banks and birdhouse and bird feeders...

Aubrey found a great friend last week...his name is Ace and he is the most gentle and loving dog.  

He put his paw out and she new exactly what to do...shake and make introductions.

 He patiently let her explore his eyes and nose.

 And then she gently gave him a nice pat on the back.

 We love Ace and can't wait to see him again.

And we are really looking forward to time with Gramma and Granddad Smith's golden, Rocky, this summer.

I think he and Aubrey will be fast friends too.

So here's to appreciating your friends, no matter how big or furry and for adult conversation!

Good News!

Hey everybody!  Good news from my cardiologist yesterday.  I tipped the scales over 17lbs!  And my heart sounded great!  I had an echo in November that showed improvement (I have some leakage still from surgery--not much, but just a little).  And it had improved again in December!  (they did one when I was sick in the hospital) She thinks that I can go off my meds!  Half doses for 4 weeks, then nothing!  We will follow up with an echo after that to make sure I'm doing ok.  Yeah for fewer things to do each day and think about when on vacation!!!

Texas Blue Bonnets

Spring in Texas...means the Blue Bonnets are in full bloom.  Most often, they are planted along freeways and busy roads, but someone told me about this beautiful patch, in a field behind a church.

It was an impromptu photo shoot with the girls.  I'm lucky they had combed hair!

They would rather have just enjoyed the flowers...

Than sit and let me take pictures.

They are a state flower and beautiful.

The girls were all very careful to sit where others had already come....

And there was to be NO PICKING OF THE BLUE BONNETS!

And they kept each other in check!

And everyone had a good time!

Everyone got their fill of beauty...

I got beautiful pictures and they got to do what they wanted.

I have long learned that sometimes the best pictures and moments are not always of them looking at the camera and smiling.  Sometimes it is just seeing them doing what THEY love to do...enjoying the beauty around them.

This FAIRYTALE photo shoot was followed by a trip to the doctor's office for Miss Aubrey.

Apparently, the mom taking the photos should have worried less about the couple bees that she saw and more about the ants that were biting her youngest baby!  

(for the record, she didn't even cry!  I only noticed all the bites and welts as I was sticking her back into the car)

Some meds and a bath to get her all washed down and clean, she was doing much better.  They are almost gone now, but she keeps pointing to the bites:)  Her one hand got it the worst.

Summer weekend?

And just like spring came last week for me...the kids have decided that SUMMER is here for them!  80 is warm, but I don't find that to be swimsuit/water season quite yet.  After all of the begging for weeks now, they finally convinced their Daddy to get out the slip and slide.  And so begins the weekends of setting it up at the end of the playset slide and creating summer, backyard memories.

(if he had been able to find the plugs for the pool, he'd have set that up at the end of the slide...maybe next week!)

This takes some thought.  First you fill up the "sandbox" with water.  

Fill buckets from "sandbox" and dump on slide to make wet.

Then slide...

And slide...

And slide some more.

For those who felt that it was not quite warm enough for water fun,

we swung.  Aubrey could spend all day in the swing.

She just exudes happiness in that swing.  

Worth all the money that we spent on the playset and swing to see that precious face.

Our little girl has discovered a love for this bitty baby doll.

It's just the right size.

And Ella learned how to ride a "Big Girl Bike" with training wheels.

She is soooo proud of her accomplishments and so are we!