Bluebonnet Pictures

As Texas tradition mandates, everyone must have annual Bluebonnet pictures. This state flower of Texas only appears in the springtime, and after about 3 weeks the colors begin to fade and soon the flowers are gone until the following year.

As soon as the flowers came out, Elliott started asking me, "Have you taken the Bluebonnet pictures yet?"

I don't think he wanted a repeat of last year - where I was parked on the side of the freeway trying to get pictures in the smallest batch of flowers because I'd waited too long and there were no others.

So - I tried to find an open day to take the pictures. But, due to baseball...and softball...and ballet...and cub scouts...and church...and trips to Idaho...and rainy days...and too sunny days we just never seemed to find a time. Finally, last Sunday after church, I stopped at a home in our neighborhood where the yard is full of bluebonnets. I knocked on the door and no one answered - so I took that as permission to use their lawn to take pictures.

I herded the kiddos out of the car. Leah was really trying to fall asleep, and I was desperately trying to keep her awake.

We started with William - maybe if Leah saw the other kids taking pictures, she would want to as well.

We got a couple good ones, and by now Leah acted like maybe she would cooperate. So, I found a nice little brick for her to sit on and I started taking pictures.

She obviously wasn't interested in pictures - she was all about the flowers. I know when I'm defeated, so I decided to move on to Brooke.

True to form, Brooke would smile her sweetest smile...and then look to the side. Somehow, I managed to capture a few pictures where she was looking at me.

Aubrey was next.

Aubrey was great - she's always loved taking pictures. She smiled and sat still...it probably helps that she's 10. But, at this point Leah was running in the road, so I had to act quickly.

I huddled everyone together for a group shot, and this is what I got:

The sun was shining in everyone's eyes, the wind was blowing, Leah was picking flowers and screaming....like I said, I know when I'm defeated.

So, we loaded back up in the car and headed home. I guess there won't be a group picture this year.

Oh well....there's always next year!

To Blog or Not to Blog

Helloooo Friends!

Yes, I know it's been over six months since I last blogged, but I am going to try to come back. However, I have tried this comeback before and it has never gone well, so don't expect much from me. : )

Okay - on to the blogging -

Over Spring Break Week, we went to The Zone. The kids got to play miniature golf, ride go-carts, and play in the arcade (a la Chuck E. Cheese). I think they all had a lot of fun...but, there was some frustration because they were only allowed 1 go-cart ride. Maybe we'll go back in the near future and get a different, unlimited go-cart rides, package.

A Tale of Two Aubreys

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.....just kidding.

This story begins 9 and a half years ago on a cold winter day. Early that winter evening, a beautiful baby girl was born. She was perfect. She had 10 little fingers and 10 little toes. She had small tufts of dark blond hair and piercing blue eyes. In fact, she was even blessed with an angel kiss...right on her cheek.

As this little girl grew she became smart, talented, kind, beautiful, and funny. She was everything that a little girl would want to be. But there was a curse lurking in her life...the same curse that lurks in every child's life - adolescence.

Soon she would be growing up, and with the joy of youth moving behind her, she would also be losing her angel kiss. This adolescent curse would transform her angel kiss into a large, bumpy, possibly cancerous, spot. And no smart little girl wants that kind of "spot" on her face. Something had to be done. The angel kiss must be removed.

With trust and bravery that only the young possess, this girl embarked on the most difficult journey of all - allowing someone to remove a part of herself - taking something from her that she had known since birth - taking part of her away...forever.

While the decision to embark on this path was difficult, she knew it had to be done. She put on her brave face, smiled for the cameras, and moved forward.

The removal went well and the young girl came out of her surgery looking groggy, but fine. In fact a few hours later she was ready to resume the childhood entertainments of running and yelling. Everything was going to be ok.

While the young heroine is still continuing to recover from her journey, she is grateful for the decision that she made and her parents are thankful that she is healthy and happy. Her story will continue on for many years. But for now, she is doing just fine.....a smart, talented, kind, beautiful, and funny girl.

We love you Aubrey!

End of Summer Mom

We have officially reached the end of summer. With the temperatures cooling down (to the mid 90s) and the start of school, the summer - as we know it - has finally come to a close.

As school started a few weeks ago, I was impressed by all the wonderful moms that lamented over the loss of their children as they went back to school. Many were sad to see them go, upset that they couldn't spend just a few more days with their precious angels.

And then there was me.....

I was the mom, standing on the sideline in my cheerleader outfit and pom-poms (pre four children body, of course) cheering for the end of summer. "Come on Summer! You can do it! End this!"

I don't mean to be harsh. I love my children and I do enjoy a good summer. But by the end, we are all ready to move on. After I have exhausted my efforts in keeping my children entertained, they are ready for another adult to take on the responsibility....they are ready for a teacher.

So...while I do lament the loss of swimming and sleeping in, I also rejoice in the knowledge that my children are exactly where they need to be. They are crafting, reading, writing, running, and socializing under the supervision of some amazing teachers.

And I still get the evenings.....

Birthday, Baseball, Ballet and More

Birthday

For my birthday Elliott and I went out to dinner with some friends. Then we came home and had a birthday celebration with lots of chocolate cake and presents. It was a great day.

Baseball

William played baseball and Aubrey played softball this year. Unfortunately I can't seem to hold a baby, chase after a 3 year old, watch a game, and take pictures. So...I don't have very many. However, this was a good one of William playing catcher. He only did it once and I'm not sure if he liked it or not. But he LOVES baseball and maybe next year I'll get more pictures.

Aubrey was the only Lefty on her team. She had a lot of fun being on the same team with one of her friends. Plus, she was great at 2nd base. There was one game where she got two outs right in a row. She's also quite good at shortstop. Next year should be fun!

Brooke had fun just watching all of this. She would often forget water (okay...I guess that was me forgetting the water) so she had to use Williams. They had a fun system going at one game. Brooke looks like a hamster.

Ballet

Aubrey and Brooke both took ballet from Miss Lisa this year. They both LOVED it. Lisa is such a great teacher plus she made it fun! Here are their professional pictures as well as some from the recital.

And More

Bluebonnet Pictures

Between softball, baseball, piano lessons and rain we never seemed to have time to do our bluebonnet pictures. So on Wednesday when the kids got home from school we quickly changed clothes, did hair and set off to find the last remaining bluebonnets. There weren't many left to choose from.

I finally found a small patch off the side of the road by the Fellowship Church. I pulled off the side of the road, turned on the flashers and looked behind me at the kids - Brooke and Leah had fallen asleep.

Okay - new plan. I had Aubrey get out and I did her pictu

res first. Then I had William get out. The sun was bright which makes for a beautiful day but not so beautiful pictures. He was having a hard time not squinting - actually I never got a picture without him squinting. He was really upset by it, but he did his best.

Then it was Brooke's turn. I asked Aubrey to wake her up and when that didn't work, I climbed over Leah in her car seat and tried to wake Brooke up. It wor

ked well enough to get get her out of her car seat, but once I got her in the flowers she couldn't keep her eyes open.

Then on to Leah. By this point, she had woken up and so I p

ulled her out and tried to position her so that she was sitting in the flowers. It didn't work so well. Because if the incline of the ground, she had to be facing the sun so her eyes were shut in almost all of the pictures.

Finally I got all of the kids together and went for the big group shot. The kids did great considering the bright sun and crazy wind. We got some okay sh

ots. When I was looking at the pictures in the car, William wasn't quite happy with his. So, on the way home we stopped by our neighbors house and took some in their little bluebonnet patch.

Moral of the story: Take your bluebonnet pictures early so they can be redone if necessary.

Leah Rolling Over