Saturday evening

After Mini Camp, dinner at the Road House and errands to Lowe's, Target, Wal-Mart and the pet store we played at the park and in our backyard. This is probably why the kids were in bed so early last night. We wore them out!

Pacesetter mini camp

What a busy Saturday we had!

Alli spent Friday night with Robyn and Lainey at Robyn's house. She had a blast like normal. These girls are the sweetest!

(lf to rt Lainey, A, Robyn)

On Saturday they went to the annual Pacesetter Mini Camp. This is the drill time at the school they go to. The are going to get to perform Monday morning during their "jump start" program and then again on Friday night at the home game! I think Alli is a little nervous about performing in front of her peers tomorrow...I know I would be!

My Alli was worn out by the time it was over! My kids were all in bed before 7:30 that night.

Here are the girls after they performed for their parents. Added to the picture is Estella our little cousin.

Just for fun...

3 little monkeys...

having lots of fun!

Buddies

Little buddies!
Walker and Joey

Today after school Joey came over to play for awhile. Walker and Joey met at Discovery School last fall when we attempted Mother's Day Out. Mother's Day Out didn't work for us, but we made several great little friends.

Here are the boys on a treasure hunt! Walker found a rock and Joey found a big leaf!

Fight fighters...

The boys played "fire fighters" for a really long time. They tried to use the yellow water hose as the pole but found really quickly that did not work! So they've already made plans to put 2 poles on the fort for next time!
This is what the tunnels are for right?
And little Griffin is loving having the boys here to follow around! We've been so blessed with the big kids friends loving and being so sweet to their baby brother. In fact, Alli's BFFL (Best Friends For Life), Robyn begs her mommy for a baby at her house! Sorry Jeanette...hey, you can borrow our baby!
Here he is taking it all in!
It has been a great day! Griffin has played outside most of the day! Enjoying eating sand from his sand box which just grosses me out. The weather has been perfect in my opinion!

Jason had to go out of town this evening for business. Alli is at Robyn's spending the night. And I got to hang out with the 3 boys. Joey's parents have picked him up. I've given my boys a much needed bath. And I've got one down for the night and the other in my bed watching Funniest Home Videos, one of his favorite shows! All in all, it has been perfect!

Have a great weekend y'all!

The Texas Sky

This is what we watched tonight. It was absolutely beautiful. Ike was a beast, but he brought the most beautiful weather with him. These evenings and really days have been perfect!

Paul David's visits...

My good friend, Candice, has been home since Ike blew thru the state. And we've been able to spend 2 days with her and her sweet family this week! Her little boy, Paul David, will turn 2 on Oct 4th. So he and G are 8 months apart. I try everytime we are together to get a picture of the 2, but it is almost impossible because they are both always on the go. The picture below was taken on Monday when they first came over to watch CNN and use the net! I am lucky I got the front of both of their faces!

Then tonight we had dinner with them and I tried again. This time I told Candice we were going to try to tackle them to the ground...it worked! Well, actually there was NO tackling, but some tickling involved! So I guess this is as good as it gets until they are older!

My Griffin had alot of fun, bruise and all, with Paul David. He really really studied and watched his every move.

Notice he is hot on his heels going up that ladder.

It was a fun evening! The guys got to visit and get to know each other which makes me happy! Candice is a wonderful friend and precious mommy! Candice, I hope when you return home tomorrow you will have power and have NO damage to your house and not much work to do in your yard.

I guess we will have to change his name to Bruiser...

I swear I am watching him. In fact, I watch him so closely that I saw this one happen. I watched him fall and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it. Just as the bump from almost 3 weeks ago was about to go away he gets a new one.

But y'all really...he is my little spitfire. He is quick and into everything. We are joking about getting a helmet for him. But really, maybe we should? Anyway, as you can see he doesn't look to bothered by it. Bless his heart!

Pre birthday lunch...

Tomorrow is my mom's birthday. And every year her sisters and my granny try to get together for their birthdays.

(front: Mamie and Granny back: Mom and Sondra)
Griffin and I met everyone at The Olive Garden today for lunch. We had a great time! Griffin enjoyed eating and people watching.

They couldn't believe how vocal he is when he eats...he is very loud! I am sure they were happy for us to get done and leave. He has always talked during his meals even at 5 months old.

Happy Birthday Mom! You are the best Mom in the world. So selfless and loving. Thank you for everything you do for us and others! We had a great time and we will see you this weekend! I love you!

Black Beauty

Alli's AR book is Black Beauty. She is in 4th grade and it is a 7.3 grade level book! I'm very proud of her. We will just have to wait and see how she does on the test. Hopefully she is retaining the material she is reading.

Last night Griffin did not want me. He wanted Alli. He wanted her to put him on her bed and sit and "read" to him. He thought he was sooo big sitting up there on her big girl bed!

Here he is just a talking to her! I guess he is reading to her now!

Of course, Walker who was already in bed couldn't miss out on this. So up he jumped and ran in the room for a quick snapshot! My sweet babies.

I bought Griffin new pj's yesterday. I've had trouble for about 9 months or so finding pj's that were not so tight in the arms. He's only 15 months old (tomorrow) and already has the huge muscles. We've tried Old Navy's and those are way to small. I've bought other brands too. But yesterday I was in Wal-Mart and I found some Carter's. Now, I had to buy 3T but they fit and aren't too tight. It's so funny how he understands that he got new pj's. When Jason put them on him he ran in the room to me to show me his new pj's and he was sooooo excited. He just rubbed his arms and looked at me! They are smart!

It's time for another Words from Walker segment...

Today after school and on the way to Alli's gymnastics Walker said he got a stick for doing something good in class today.
Me: Really? How did you earn that?
Walker: I said, A-E-I-O-U!
Me: Good job! Do you know what those letters are?
Walker: Um...5 letters in the alphabet!
Me: Right...but they are also the vowels!


Walker: I can spell log...L.O.G.

So proud! He can spell log! It is the start to many!

I got nothing!

So I am leaving you with a sweet picture I took of Griffin today.

He figured out how to pull his dresser drawers open and pull out his clothes, but he also picked them all by himself! Sweet boy!

His new favorite toy.

His new favorite toy is his sister's babydoll stroller. This stroller has been in the "give away" pile 2 times now and both times has made it out. I guess I now know why!

He usually has a ball, his chickee and his favorite monkey in the stroller, but on this day tigger made it in!

He is just as happy as he can be pushing this stroller around!

Our visitors

This morning while Griffin and I were out hunkering down for Ike we saw our lizard that normally lives in this plant. What we didn't realize is...it's a little family! A mama and her baby!

Instead of moving this plant in the gargage which is what I was planning on doing, I guess I'll leave it where it is. In the corner of our front porch. Maybe it'll be ok.

Brown Bear, Brown Bear

This is the little book that Walker Ilustrated his first few weeks of school. Last night he read it to us!

Well, Jason actually did the reading, but Walker new most of it! Look at the smile! Looks like he is loving it to me!

My little dumpster diver!

Today after we got home from the doctors appt. I put Griffin straight to bed for his morning nap. By this time it was about 10:45 am. I came into the kitchen and started cleaning and getting something out for lunch. During this process I drug the trash can out from under the sink which is normally it's little home. Well, while cleaning I continue to hear G in his bed talking and whining. So 15 minutes into this I decide to feed him lunch since it was so close to lunch time anyway. I go get him out of his bed and am busy getting his tray ready when I see him running from the kitchen. I followed, cause it looked like he was chewing on something. Yep...he had found the nasty strawberries that I had just tossed into the garbage. He was running as fast as he could with a strawberry in hand. I'm not sure what grossed me out more...the fact that they hadn't been washed or that they were nasty, moldy, black, mushy...He didn't complain though. Like Jessi mentioned, maybe he got some penicillin out of it for his unhappy ears! My little dumpster diver!

Same story, one month later...

Well, it is croup and 2 unhappy ears. Not infected ears...yet. So he is on an antibiotic and a steroid. I'm sooooo dreading the steroid. I just gave his first dose to him and put him to bed. I should be napping too. So say a prayer that he recovers quickly and that we can stay away from croup from here on out. Apparently, it is going around alot right now.

I don't want to be called "lazy" again...

so I'm blogging even though I don't have much to blog about these days. So here are just some tidbits!

FYI (My dad called asked if I had been lazy lately? No, why? Because you haven't blogged in a few days. He says he checks it everyday! It's great to know he's my #1 fan!)

* Walker didn't cry before school today!!! Yay! But we did notice he got up on his own this morning. We didn't have to go in his room 5 times nudging him to get up. Do you think that is the difference? I don't know, but I am considering buying him an alarm clock to see what that'll do!

* Walker has a new little friend at school. His name is Jake. I said, "Oh, is Jake the little red headed boy that sits at your table?" He said, "Well, actually, he is orange headed..."

* Alli is loving school still! She got to go into the treasure box today for the first time this year and brought home some really yummy smelling lotion. I saw her after her bath tonight slathering it all over her legs...is this what happens during the preteen years? I gave her permission tonight to have her little best friend Robyn spend Friday night with us and that soooo made her day!

* Alli starts tumble and cheer next Tuesday. She can hardly wait. Those of you that have read my blog from the beginning know that she started doing her back hand spring all by herself at the end of the season last May! So I am so excited to see what she learns this year. She would LOVE to take gymnastics and learn the uneven bars and balance beam, but honestly...why? She took gymnastics in Tyler from a very talented man and honestly she was very good... at the ripe age of 5! We can thank the Olympics for this new found interest in gymnastics. I just know in order to be good it's going to require many hours a week up at that gym and too me their are other things much more important than swinging from a bar! I want her to do well in school and be well rounded! And honestly, I don't know that want her out of the house that much! I like them all at home with me as much as possible! (I do like my breaks though every once in awhile!)

* Griffin...poor baby. I think he has the start of croup. Or an ear infection...heck, maybe both. I talked to the nurse this afternoon. Our doctor didn't have an opening, but she gave me advice for over night. Told me if we have a bad night and still need to see the doctor to start calling at 7:30 am. Please pray he wakes up just fine! I've never had a child with croup and the finale, the caboose has already had it once...

* Griffin has also started trying to repeat words that you say to him. For example, yesterday he said "chickee" and "hot" all day... on cue. Now today he wouldn't repeat anything I said. But he also doesn't feel good. He can say "shoes" now and "Sissy" who is my mom. He is just growing so fast! I think he is going to be my little comedian. He likes to make you laugh. And if he does something and he gets a laugh..he'll do it then over and over! I really understands alot that I say to him. For instance, when I need to put his shoes on or am trying to give him a snack he will sit quickly on the floor and look up at me. If he hears the word outside...he makes a b-line to the back door! He loves to play outside! But really what kid doesn't!

* Jason is staying busy and just now called (It's 10:15 pm) from the office and tell me it would probably be a busy month...great! But I can't complain, busy means the bills will be paid and that is all I can ask for! I thank God for our blessings!

Like I said not much happening around here. Just trying to keep the house picked up and waiting in anticipation for that phone to ring for someone to come look at our house! It'll sale...I just have to be patient while waiting. And you know what? That is so much easier said than done! But I know in the end everything happens for a reason and know that God is in control of EVERYTHING!

I hope you all have a blessed week! And there dad! We're still here, just busy or maybe just boring around here lately!

Saturday morning...

Six Flags over Texas...

We took the kids to Six Flags before heading home on Saturday! It was the perfect day to be outside. There was a nice breeze and the park wasn't crowded at all for some reason! We basically walked up and got on every ride but one! We had a lot of fun!

I took these 3 pictures above to show how excited Walker was. He skipped all the way up to the gates. He can be so funny sometimes! And below here he is mapping out our day. Give this boy a map and he is in hog heaven! I could tell you some Disney storys here, but I won't...just imagine Walker, a book about Disney and their 4 maps to their parks...he could really talk until your ears fell off!

I thought this picture turned out cool. But I'm not sure who was having more fun my kiddos on the back row or the man in front of them!

A trip to Six Flags isn't complete without a ride on the Mine Train! Mommy sat out on this one, that Tony Hawk ride made my head hurt...yes, I think I am getting old! Poor Griffin, by the time he is old enough to go and ride the big rides Jason and I will have to sit on a bench and tell him to come get us when he's ready to go!

Here are some silly pictures we took through out the day! Enjoy!