Craft Time

We made the frog puppet Monday. Both Syd and H enjoyed the crafting. Though H was a loud sass when Brokeback wouldn't let him paint the table. That is what I get for not putting down newspaper this time!

Mixing the paint. From reading the book Mouse Paint and mixing colors Syd knows that yellow and blue make green!


Hayden painting in a serious manner.


Final product. Someone is getting a tan!

Photo Shoot

Brokeback took these after a long swim. My parents and I were working on the yard, and Syd was hiding in the tree, watching. Some of them turned out really cute!

Pic of the Day

Our Kite Adventure

So, I can't even remember the last time I flew a kite. I am sure it was with my dad sometime in elementary school. My mom gave the kites to Brokeback at some point. We walked to the park to feed the ducks and do some kite flying yesterday. Woul have loved to play at the park as well, but it has been replaced by some modern monstrosity that is too advanced for my kids, and is still within a chain link fence. But that is a vent for another day.

The kids LOVED the wide open space, I can tell you that much. Here are some fun pics!

Great Weekend

Hope everyone enjoyed their long weekend! We had a great one, and it was a long time coming. I was really bummed not to be able to go on a trip to the river with friends, because Ron's doc told him last Wednesday that he is healing nicely but 6ish hours sitting in a car was a no go. He made it up to me!!

We had a "date night" Friday night. Ate at an "adult" restaurant and went to see Prince Caspian, which we both greatly enjoyed. The kids spent the night with Gigi and so I slept til close to 10. I was thrilled to do this as I was up sick most of the night before. We had a cookout with friends from church Saturday. The men folk brewed beer. We all swam, and I won't post any pics of the kids in the pool because I forgot to take any! Ron bought all the food to cookout, etc. It was great. He had the massage therapist come that night, he called her and set it up and everything. So great. We had my fam swim and cookout and swim again Sunday, then yesterday we had some other friends and their 3 kids come over. All in all a fab weekend!

Spoke too soon

Okay, I hate to admit it but I don't think I am going to be up for posting everyday this summer. We are not at home too much, and if we are we seem to be swimming or sleeping. So I will post as much as I can, but pics of my kids in the hot tub everyday get old.

Hope no one is tooooo disappointed!

Awwwww.......

She is such a lover. This picture speaks for itself.

Summer days are here again

I have a feeling there are going to be alot of pool pictures from now on. We had our friends, cousins C & C over with Aunt Fiffy tonight. We had a midnight swim (7:30 to 8:30 for 3 year olds). They preferred the hot tub over the cold pool. Can't say I blame them. H-Dubya was already in bed, I don't think he was feeling too great today. I must say, it was nice to be able to sit and chat with a friend while the children entertained themselves in the pool.

Notice there are several pics of a particular brown haired boy smiling. I couldn't stop myself, because in large groups he can be on the shy side. He is not one to enjoy being photographed much. Typical man. But he was in his element tonight!

Who knew a water hose could be so fun?

We were cleaning the pool this weekend, and H got a hold of the hose. Mercy. He used it to squirt himself for about 30 mins. Too funny.

A good one to start with. Right in the face.


That looks like a fake smile, Syd.


He truly loves it. So cold that the double chin is protruding.


I remember the days of lounging around while my parents did all the work. Must be nice.

Summer Plans

I am trying my darndest to keep Syd busy this summer. She asks me every night, "Mommy, are we going somewhere tomorrow?" She knows her schedule Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, but other than that she fears she will be left at home all day and she doesn't care for that one bit.

I plan for us to swim everyday, and she will take gymnastics through the summer. As will H-Dubya. I took him with me to watch Syd last night and he was a holy terror. I won't go into all of it, but suffice to say I was sweating and frustrated when I left.

Syd will also do a week long VBS, 4 weeks of soccer (she is most excited about this), and two week long art camps. I want to find someone to give the kids swimming lessons at the house. I also plan to make my way to Dallas at some point just to hang out. We will also go to visit family at the lake in Altus, I would assume, and we have a birthday/anniversary celebration for Mimi at some point in July.

I hope all of this with some crafts and "school work" added in will suit her just fine.

Anyone else have big summer plans to share?

Summer Activity Guide Available NOW!

The Recreation and Leisure Guide for summer activities is now available. If you are a Buttocks resident, be sure to check it out. There are many preschool classes available.

Syd got to choose her own classes. She is going to do soccer in July, and two week long Art Factory Workshops. They are 1.5 hours a day for one week. She is excited!

H-Dubya will be taking a parent-tot class called Jump-A-Bunch. It involves both balls and balloons, which are two of his favorite things.

I am interested in the cake decorating, stained glass, or floral arranging classes. But I don't believe we wil have time for that this summer.

I told Poppy all about the LARGE and UNBELIVABLE number of senior classes available for those 55 and over, which he is. Of course, the only thing he asked about was chess and I didn't see that in the guide. He snorted rudely when I told him he could do balloon volleyball, there is even a balloon volleyball scramble, OR he could take Gigi to the "SENIOR" Prom. They even crown a king and queen. Such a stick in the mud.

Here is the link to the guide:

Summer Classes

Blog of the Week

For me, this was the blog that started it all. This MOY has such an amazing love for reading. I often go to her site and look through her recommendations then go to my library catalog online and request the children's books she recommends. We have yet to be let down. She does preschool at home with her two precious children. She also often gets up at 3:30 in the MORNING to run on her treadmill, because her youngest is up for the day around 5:00. That is right. 5:00 a.m. Now that is a type of discipline to aspire to. Perhaps I could start with taking a brisk walk around the block everyday, no matter what time it is. She does post all that often lately, but it is worth going though the archives, in my opinion.

Painted Rainbows and Chamomile Tea

Babes in Sunglasses

Did you have a Happy Mothers Day?

I did! Brokeback and the kids brought my breakfast in bed after I slept in til 8:30. Then we all made a tent with the sheet and cuddled in the bed. After that I was allowed to laze about and read for about an hour. Such a great morning. I wish that was my routine everyday.

I received many cards in person from my family, and many in the mail from Ron's. Makes me feel ever so special! My sister and mother even gave me some fabulous gifts. And my own little family gave me the cutest apron made of amy butler fabrics that I have had my eye on.

I took an afternoon nap, and we went to Walmart as a family. Then Ron had a family fishing trip planned at our local park (I wonder if it is even legal to fish there? At least we threw them all back). Due to busy boy who I fear is going through another wild phase, it wasn't quite as relaxing as I thought. But it was great, quality family time either way. Here are some pictures, of course.


Setting up.


On the rocks where he is not supposed to be. And raising a stick that could poke someone's eye out.


Syd enjoying family fishing time in the manner we had hoped. H trying to force his stick into the grate. Still on the rocks.


Getting involved now that he sees what the point of the poles in the water is.


He refuses to use his Snoopy child pole.

Congratulations, Aunt Morgy!

Aunt Morgy finally graduated with her Masters of School Psychology on Saturday. We went out for a fancy supper to celebrate her accomplishment and her birfday. The steak was delicious. Unfortunately H-Dubya was in rare form and was quite the onery cuss. Here are some pics from the celebration.

Bad angle for Syd.


Better.


Rude.


Bad/FAT angle for H-Dubya.


Good as it is going to get.


"Look Mommy, I'm a moose." Such a creative child. Did I mention the food took awhile?


And the best for last. A picture of myself and my youngest child. I think it is about time to go back to blonde. Don't you?

Is that a SMILE?

Brokeback took the picture. He thinks that H-Dubya was just babbling and this was the way his lip looked. But I think this is going to be as close as I am going to get for awhile.

Syd Caught a BIG ONE!

Syd and Brokeback went fishing last night. They went down to our local park. She had the time of her life, and actually caught THREE FISH! What makes this more impressive was that her father caught none. I am sure much of her success has to do with the fact that she used her Aunt Morgy's old Woodstock pole.

H and I weren't up to going. We cleaned out the garage today,(that's right, 7 months later we are finally moved in)and I enjoyed putting H-Dubya to bed and taking a shower with no distractions. Anyway, because I didn't go, there was no camera. BUT Brokeback was good enough to take a picture with his phone. So here is the picture to commerate the experience. You can tell by the chipmunk cheeks that she couldn't be more proud! I love it.

Sensory Activity for H-Dubya and his Annoying Sister

So this bean activity was mainly for H-Dubya. But since Syd would rather die than be put second, I knew to make her a little bowl of her own. I didn't know that she is such an attention hog that when I would help H and take his picture, she would loudly request that I watch her. And didn't I want to take her picture?

They both really enjoyed the beans and listening to music. We did this for about 30 mins. When the beans started flying we cleaned up and we were done.

Here are some pictures of H-Dubya at work:

Busy at work. Um, does anyone notice that Sydney just has one arm through her tank top? Maybe she is trying to start a new trend. It can't be comfortable. This is actually before nap, this time, but she stripped down to paint.


He just loved getting in there.


The diva/camera hog realized which way the camera was pointing and ditched her bowl so she could be in the pictures.





Practicing scooping.

Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

Such a nice day here in Buttocks. In the 70s with a light breeze as opposed to full-on wind. Syd made some watercolor bookmarks for her Nana and Grandmama and they are so pretty. A tad large, but that is my fault. We also decided to make some love bugs. We got the idea from Let's Explore.

We set out around 9:30. Both kids were strapped in the wagon, enjoying their drinks and holding their sand pails (thank you very much for the party favor, Griff). We took a fab walk. Went all the way to the park to collect rocks. Such a pretty day, as I stated previously. I wanted to burst out in song, and was about to rock and roll with "The Hills are Alive" when I remembered I live in the desert. Anywho, we walked around the lake. Saw the fish splashing up close and personal, saw the ducks. Saw Dre and Griff and their friends walking the track. Saw someone else that I knew but couldn't place. She was terribly friendly for someone who was running the track. Just fabulous to be part of the community.

Unfortunately, however, no suitable rocks for love bugs could be found. H-dubya found a few sticks, and Syd picked up what could only be classified as gravel. So we set off for home, purposely going past a house that had a rock garden. And I hate to admit it, but we borrowed a couple. Or five.

We washed the rocks, painted the rocks, and decorated them. We are going to give them to Gigi and Granny for Mother's Day. We also plan to send one to Mimi, and give one to Aunt Morgy for her 19th birthday, which was yesterday.

Little hands rock washing.


H in his "smock". I really must look into some child aprons.


Diligently working. Or at least Syd is.


Fabulous final product.


Syd admiring her handiwork.

Playhouse Disney Live

Bonus post!

These pics are from the end January. But these were on my "purse camera" and somehow didn't get downloaded. Gigi suprised us with the tickets. Brokeback wanted to go but it was the same week as his first surgery, so Gigi went and had the time of her life in his place.

Here are some pics:

Syd ejoying her $8 melonade, as she calls it.


Syd and Mama.


Syd and Gigi.


A slice of the action. I don't think flash cameras were allowed. But I have been known to break the rules a time or two in my day.