Wes turns 4!

W's birthday was the first thing for us to celebrate at our new house.  Since it was a Wednesday, B & R had to go to work and school, but they did wish W a HB before leaving and we let him open his gift from the family.  We got W a TMNT digital watch and he LOVES it.  That's the only thing he asked for and we found one that's perfect for him.  Later that morning, we face-timed with others and he opened gifts from the grandparents and AC.   He was very excited about his special day and did not get tired of hearing "happy birthday".  We had a normal day that did not include MOPs (although it was a Wednesday), so we played games and rode scooters in the cul-de-sac.  We had to pick up R from school then we went to the YMCA before Bible study at church.  At the Y, Ms. A (our favorite) gave W balloons and a Spiderman bubble toy.  The balloons were a big hit because he's never received balloons for a birthday before.  In fact, we've never gotten any of our kids balloons, except for maybe R.  You know, that first kid gets all the good stuff.  Poor Ell...haha. At Bible study, we were just having a prayer meeting with dinner and all the kids to help get to know each other's families.  I ordered TMNT cupcakes from Wal-Mart and brought those for dessert.  Dinner was yummy and I enjoyed the kids being with us. 

 I took W to the pediatrician for his 4 year wellness check and he's very proportional said the doctor.  He's around 38 lbs and 37 inches which puts him in the 70th percentile for both weight and height.  He's a little above average, but the same percentage.  We knew he wasn't small, so it's good to know that he's proportional.  He got his school shots and he took them like a champ.  He only cried on the last one and he received four of them.  I think 3 out of 4 is pretty good.  He was so good at the doctor during his vision and hearing test and he showed how smart he is too.  While Dr. Turner was talking to me, her tablet shut off.  When she swiped it and put her code in, W watched her and he was able to repeat her code back to her.  "Gotta watch this boy" she said, "he's a smart one".  I already know that Dr. Turner.  He's very smart! 

Easter Bunny Pictures

 Our tradition has always been to take picture with the Easter Bunny.  Just because we lived in Texas didn't mean we would change our plan, so we found a mall bunny at First Colony Mall in Sugar Land.  I was a little worried about E, but she followed the lead of her siblings and gave the bunny a big hug before the picture.  We haven't actually tied the Easter Bunny into Christ's Resurrection, but we will try to do that eventually.  Our kids know that the reason we celebrate Easter is because that's when Jesus was raised from the dead.  They also know it's the time for bunnies and egg hunts....but not sure if they relate the two together or just think about them as separate things.  Sometime we will need to be more intentional about addressing next season, during Lent leading up to Easter. 

Spring Break 2015

Our spring break was a bit earlier than we usually have it in NC, but we welcomed the break.  We had a full week planned and it started Friday, March 6th, when my parents came over for a visit.  They were coming to watch a soccer game and go to Sea World.

Saturday was the kids' last soccer game.  The boys played at 8:00 and R played at 11:00.  Between the 2 games, we went to McDonald's for breakfast and playtime.  B and I left the kids with my parents so we could watch Cherry and clean her out for our drive to San Antonio.  Both soccer games ended well and the kids very much enjoyed their first soccer experience.  We ran home just quick enough to load up the car and grab a quick drink before getting on the road to San Antonio.  We arrived at the hotel and checked in first, before going right back out to downtown to the Riverwalk. Granddad wanted to do a River Boat tour and eat Mexican for dinner so we were going to make that happen.  It did happen, but maybe not the way we all thought it would happen.  The boat tour was fun, except it started raining at the very end and got cold.  The kids were all fine though.  Dinner was next but all the restaurants had LONG waits, so we ended up leaving and finding a Taco Cabana down the highway a few exits.  Dinner was good except A didn't eat any of his cheese quesadilla.  We knew he was hungry, but didn't make him eat so he drank his lemonade instead.  Why is that important?  Oh, because it is!

We made it back to the hotel, but did not swim because it was nearly 10 pm.  It was jammie and bedtime for everyone especially because the clocks were going to spring forward.  Our goal was to eat breakfast at the hotel before going to Sea World the next morning, but getting there right as they opened.  Yeah, nice goal.  Around 3 in the morning, A started crying and moaning because his stomach hurt.  Of course it hurt!  He hadn't eaten anything since lunch the previous day.  B was so good and got up with him, took him to the bathroom, and took a long shower with him.  I think A dry-heaved a few times, but we just figured his stomach was so empty, that it was getting upset.  I think the boys got back to sleep around 5:00 am and A just got in our bed.  No one got much sleep that night, on top of the time, change we already were scheduled to have.  I got up at 6 am and we to the fitness room for a while.  When I got back to the room, it was still dark and everyone was still sleeping, which is a good thing.  I laid down in A's spot, next to W and fell back asleep for 30 minutes or so.  I think we all go up around 8:00 and showered/got dressed and headed down for breakfast.  We let A eat cereal without milk, and an apple just to be on the safe side.  We took our ice bucket with us in the van, just to be on the safe side and I'm thankful we did.  He lost his breakfast on the way to Sea World, and it sure enough was gross.  He managed to keep it all in the ice bucket, but then the smell just lingered until we were able to clean it out.  After he puked, he said he felt all better.  Poor boy....I guess he had the stomach bug.  We were not changing our plans and he was just gonna have to puke on a bush if he felt the urge again.  We were an hour later than planned, but after the sleepless night we all just had, no one cared.  The weather wasn't pretty at all.  Rainy and chilly, so Sea World was not crowded.  We got there and our first stop was Pets Ahoy, a cute show with dogs, cats, fish, birds, and even a mouse.  The kids loved it and wanted to watch it again.  It wasn't a bad idea seeing how it was a dry auditorium.  But we ventured out into the Sesame Street Bay of Play and let the kids do some kiddie rides before going to see another show.  I can't remember all the shows we saw, but we pretty much saw them all.  Between the 2 days we were there, we saw/did just about everything we could that did not involve getting wet.  We did not sit in the splash zone at any of the shows, and we did not do the Atlantis ride because of the water.  We will do those things when we go back and we will definitely go back.  The weather may not have bee nice, but the crowd-less park was a great exchange for wet shoes and socks.  We spent an entire 2 days at Sea World and loved it all. 

Monday night we got back home around 9 pm and put all the kids to bed.  Lorenzo had been house sitting for us and taking care of Cooper while we were gone.  B had to go to work Tuesday and my parents got up and drove home too.  The kids and I went and had lunch with B, then met the Marshes at IKEA for food.  Kids eat free on Tuesday so that's always a nice treat.  We let our kids 'play' in the little area next to the cafeteria for a while and then I looked at my watch and it was 2 pm.  I needed to get E in bed for a nap so we all left and I made it home by 2:45.  E went down for a nap, but I let the big kids watch TV.  It was a fun Tuesday together.

B took off Wednesday also, because we were headed to the Houston Rodeo and Livestock show.  We were told the rodeo had a carnival for kids, so that's mainly what we focused on.  We did go into the arena and look at baby animals, watch a cow milking demonstration, look at rabbits, and learn about bees.  It was so crowded in the Agventure, that we didn't stay very long.  We ate some fair food and then used our tickets for the rides.  We decided to go on  Value Wednesday because it was cheaper to get in, and all the rides were 4 tickets instead of 5, 6 or 7 like normal.  We got a good deal with our tickets and food vouchers.  We finally left around 5 pm and our kids (and us) were exhausted.  I can see the rodeo being so much fun when the kids are a little older and all of them can ride the bigger rides.  Poor E, was only able to ride the carousel. 

Reading about ants

Thursday, I took the kids to Sugar Creek's playscape and we met the Marshes again.  We ate lunch with B before going, so we just played for a couple of hours.  Avery was great with E, so I had a chance to just chat with Anna.  It's always nice when we hang out with the cousins and my kids get so excited.  I, of course, enjoy having adult conversation with my sis-in-law too. Thursday night we went to the YMCA and I had a chance to take my aerobics class that I like so much. 

Friday we had planned to take the kids to the Houston Children's Museum, but we were so tired of just the busy week that we had a chill out family day.  Since B is home with us, we just went to the Y, ate lunch out (somewhere, but I can't remember), and all took an afternoon nap.  We wrapped our week up with the kids winter soccer season awards ceremony and party on Saturday.  The kids had fun playing soccer for the first time and we enjoyed watching them play too.  Sunday after church we met the Marsh family for lunch to sort of celebrate the end of Spring break.

Our first spring break in Texas was a ton of fun and we can't wait to go to Sea World again!

Famous Couples ABF Party

Our Sunday School Class, or as Sugar Creek calls them, ABF classes (Adult Bible Fellowship) had it's ABF childcare night back in March.  B and I went to the Christmas party ABF night and we had fun getting to know more people in the class.  This childcare night had a theme of Famous Couples.  The only instructions were to dress as a famous couple.  The couple could be real, fictional, biblical, pop-culture artist, or athlete.  B and I talked a lot about who we could dress up as that was easy to be, recognizable, and wouldn't require purchasing a lot of stuff.  Finally we settled on...

Did you recognize us?  I had to do some convincing, but then I just made the decision and B went along with it.  We had a blast and the costumes were not that hard to make.  And now, we are ready for Halloween.  We actually own best costume of the night and we both got a gift card to Berry Hill. 

E is a big girl now

E has started refusing to sit in her booster and wants to sit at the big table with the other kids...

This happened last month (February) but I'm just getting around to posting it.  She's growing up and claiming independence.  She wants to walk alone, put on her own clothes, and sleep in R's bed.  I let her nap in R's bed, and on the weekends, she can sleep with R.  I'm not ready to get rid of her crib just yet....but E is ready.  My baby is growing up .

Valentine's Weekend

B and Paul M worked out a trade off for babysitting for Valentine's weekend.  We would have our date on Friday night (the 13th) and they would watch our kids.  Then Saturday we would keep the cousins and they would have a date.  It worked out great.  I was concerned that we might have to cancel because early Friday morning, on my way home from the Y, Cherry's power steering went out.  I was able to pull into a parking lot and called B.  He came to us and drove Cherry, while I drove the Camry with the 3 kids (R was in school) to Firestone.  Firestone had just worked on Cherry's power steering pump, so it was naturally the first place we thought to go. They basically said they couldn't fix it and we needed to go somewhere else.  That was more than frustrating so B brought us home and went back to Firestone and met a tow truck there and towed Cherry to a mechanic all the way down town Houston.  I had the kids at home and R came home from school.  Since it was Friday, she didn't have any homework, so I let them watch TV while I got ready for our date...if we were still going to have one.  I think B got home around 5 pm and jumped in the shower very quickly.  We managed to drop our kids off at Anna's around 6 pm and then grabbed dinner at Panda Express and ate in the car. 

We originally were going to dinner and a movie, but a couple from church asked if we wanted to see a play with them.  It was As You Like It (Shakespeare) so of course B was excited.  We like this couple and still want to make Christian friends so we ditched our boring plans and decided to join them.  The play was at 8:00 down town at UH.  It took us about 50 minutes to drive there from Katy, TX and that's why we grabbed fast food on the way.  The play was good and I was happy to hang out with Matt & Shara.  They have 3 kids and are expecting their fourth in April.  She stays home and Matt is some VP at some business some where.  I think we got home around 11:30 and crashed, but had to wake up early to go get our kids for their soccer games.  I don't remember the times they played or if they won/lost, but we always have fun watching them play on Saturday mornings.

 After soccer we headed to Erica and Arts house (MOPs friend) for a Valentine's lunch/party.  Art was making home made pizzas and Erica had cute crafts and games for the kids.  It was really a fun time and all the kids exchanged little valentines at the end.  Our kids took a quick nap when we got home, but then Marcus & Mandy arrived and shortly after, the Marshes with all the cousins.  A & P had their reservations for 6:00 so they came by around 5ish.  We were excited to have all the kids at our house.  I had planned to cook, but Marcus wanted Mexican so we drove to Jimmy Changas for dinner.  Typically we find seats at Jimmy Changas rather quickly, but not this night.  It was Saturday, Valentines Day, and about 6 pm so we waited, waited and waited.  Our beeper finally flashed and it was 6:50.  Avery and I had about 15 minutes before we needed to leave for her bat mitzvah.  We ordered and they brought it out quickly and then we left.  B, M & M ate with all the kids and from what they tell me, it was good and relatively peaceful.  When I got back to Jimmy Changas, they were outside and the kids were playing in the play area again.  **I need to stop and say that we were driving Ruby since Cherry was in the shop, A & P let us borrow Ruby for the evening**
Around 8:30, M&M headed back to College Station and we took the Marsh cousins back with us.  It didn't take them long to fall asleep and B went to pick up Avery at 11:30 and because I fell asleep. 

The next morning, we headed to church at 9:30 and then back home for lunch.  The kids were great and we had a great time.  A & P came and picked up their kids (and Ruby) around 5 and then our family went to Awana at College Park Baptist Church.  A fun weekend full of love and family!

 

Soccer Fun and Creole Festival

I must admit that I'm totally embracing this soccer mom thing.  I love watching my kids play soccer on Saturday morning and cheering on all the other players with proud parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles.  It's been fun spending our Saturday mornings playing indoor soccer.  Spring sport sign-ups are now, so B and I will have to decide if/what we will sign the kids up for.  We have enjoyed this winter soccer season and the kids have liked it too.

Last Saturday, February 7th, was a creole festival in Houston.  We wanted to check it out since it's the Mardi Gras season, and Lorenzo came with us.  I must say that we were disappointed with the 'Creole' part of it.  By the time we got there, we had missed the parade, but there also wasn't any food left.  I think there were only 3 food booths to start with and one was Chinese food.  We ended up eating at the cafe which wasn't creole, but it was still good.  We walked around for a bit, but left, feeling unsatisfied.  We look forward to eating our King Cake from granddad more than ever!