All's well...

James is feeling pretty groovy, but he's fine, after his epidural/injection this afternoon. Hopefully this will give him some relief...it's definitely comic relief for me until the meds wear off. Hee hee.


-- out & about, courtesy of the wonderphone

Summer's End

We had a short list of things we REALLY wanted to do this summer, but one thing we almost missed out on was Splashway, a waterpark in Sheridan. Sherri mentioned to James the other day that they might go, and we decided we'd go before summer's officially over. The Trevinos went, too, which is always fun! And we're glad we went--it was a blast! There was a little something for everyone, and it was very mellow. We'll definitely go back again...next year. :)




Oh, we ate at this cool place across the road...Dairy Delite. We'll be going back there, too! Bad pic of their sign...




-- out & about, courtesy of the wonderphone

Readers are leaders?

We drove through Sealy yesterday on our way to Katy Mills, and Kayci popped up with, "what's doitbest?" (rhymed with Voight-fest)




And to switch gears, here's why we went to Katy Mills...we're sad to see his prewalkers go :(.



-- out & about, courtesy of the wonderphone

We made it!

We made it through the first week of school...ahh, there's a collective sigh of relief. Other than a few moments of kid anxiety, we all made it through with smiles intact. Yesterday afternoon the kids and I were so tired that we basically just hung out on the couch for the hour before Daddy got home, then we all went to run a couple of quick errands. The picnic we'd planned was rained out, but Kayci was okay with that because her back-up plan was to build a fort and watch a family movie. :) So, we did...but the movie was "Stuart Little 3" so maybe Daddy and I got a little shut-eye, not that we'd admit it. This morning we're up and around, just enjoying being at home and not having anywhere to be. That's a good feeling, isn't it? Hope you're having a great weekend so far, as well!

The happiest first grader in the world!

Noble has adopted an old pair of Bitty's sunglasses and tends to wear them at odd times. The pacifier has made a comeback recently...strangely...as well. :) That's our silly little guy...

Walking from Blockbuster to HEB. Aww...

Of course we had to stop for the unh unh...Kayci has decided that if he rides, she rides.

Poor car.

This was actually this morning after the first diaper change but...wait for it...guess who slept in the fort ALL NIGHT LONG? If you guessed 2 kiddos, you're right. And we all WIN! :)

Saturday morning breakfast: Daddy made awesome french toast. Noble has decided that he's big enough to sit on the bench with Kayci now (instead of in his seat), so that's been fun. He also wants to drink out of a big boy cup, which is both a good and a bad thing. This morning we pulled out a very special cup (it's one of the treasures from Grandma and Granddaddy Curtis' house) and Noble was so excited to have Mickey Mouse on the table that he kind of forgot to eat. But he's back up at the table now working on his french toast while I type. (Kayci has rediscovered her iphone/ipod--she'd lost privileges before school started and just remembered that she can use it again. She's a happy girl, all around.)

What's next for us? We're not quite sure. We know what we're having for dinner, but we're not sure what the day looks like between here and there. It's time to go to Stride Rite and get Nobley some new tennies, we need to make a menu for the next week, Sami needs a hair cut...or who knows, maybe we'll just take naps. But whatever we do, the one thing I'm sure of is that it will be low-stress and something all 4 of us can enjoy. After the last couple of weeks, we're ready for DOWN TIME--as I'm sure you are, too. :) Enjoy yours!

That's Our MommyGirl!!!

Kristi is published!

She is the guest blogger today over at Today's Housewife - a blog about, as best I can tell, today's housewives.

Her post is about saving time, and she has some really great Kristi ideas to share. Be sure to check it out! And be sure to check out Kristi's blog, The Adventures of MommyGirl.

Congratulations, Girl!

For this?!

This is what I rushed home for?!



-- out & about, courtesy of the wonderphone

Days 2, 3 & 4...

Here's our happy girl getting in the car on Tuesday...




...talking to Grandma before school on Wednesday (she didn't know she'd be seeing her that night!)...



.
..and before school today. :). I worked late yesterday and started my new gig in LaPorte this AM, so Grandma rode along and got a quick kid fix. By the way, note the shoes--the much-anticipated Chalkboards arrived yesterday!




So far, so good...only one meltdown this week. Her teacher called me this morning; Kayci was crying because she didn't know if I would pick her up or not. We'd left it at I would try...but now I WILL be there. :)
-- out & about, courtesy of the wonderphone

Summer 2009 slide show

It's been a fun, fun summer!

Great day!!

I hope she's this happy at 3:10 every day!



I'd planned to take Kayci for ice cream, just the two of us, but she wanted to get Noble first...so she could tell him all about first grade. :)


It's just flying by so fast...

-- out & about, courtesy of the wonderphone

Happy first day!!

-- out & about, courtesy of the wonderphone

Where's Noble?

Noble plays peekaboo in his "clubhouse"

Pop! Into First Grade!

Yesterday we had Kayci's 2nd annual back to school bash. Last year it was the Kindergarten Kick-Off (I may have persuaded her to go with a football theme as I had some football paper goods I was dying to use...perhaps) but this year, she knew exactly what SHE wanted...Pop! Into First Grade. We had some preschoolers, a 2nd grader and two 3rd graders, as well, but that was the theme she picked. So, we moved things around to make room on the deck (good thing, as I think we counted 26 all together!) and put out some of our favorite bubble activities. We only lasted about 45 minutes outside before everyone was just roasting, so we moved inside for floats (get it?) and a keepsake craft and a whole lot of free playing, noise-making fun. It was a blast--I can't wait to see what Kayci wants to do for 2nd grade! If you haven't seen this idea in Family Fun magazine (I saw it for the first time last year, just in time!), we are huge fans...Kayci has been so excited about her friends coming over for the party, it's totally held the first-day jitters at bay. We have been so pleased both years! And you can do it totally on the cheap--we did, both years. The key is to do activities that involve things you already have, and to plan cheap/simple food. Last year we decorated cupcakes, but it was too hot to bake this year and honestly, I didn't want to spend the time on it. So I thought the floats were particularly inspired, and Kayci dug that it tied into the theme. :)

I wanted to get these pics out to you guys last night, but seriously, we were all in bed by 8:15, I think...and all asleep pretty close to 8:30. But we had a great morning this morning (Kayci was SO excited about seeing her friends and her teacher again!) and things just couldn't have gone any better. After we dropped the kids off, James and I headed over to Starbucks for the 2nd annual kidless coffee group...there were really a couple of infants again this year, but ours wasn't one of them so we totally were celebrating the kidless. :) Not that I'd want to be kidless for more than a few hours a day...but when you realize that you haven't had adult time in like, 3 months, let me tell you--it feels like a party day. :) So now James is at work, I've had a pedicure (and read US magazine cover to cover!) and now I'm sitting here working. Well, and then I found this blog post that I started but didn't finish. We're going to have a hot date for lunch at Ernie's--I've wanted to go there FOREVER, but it's not kid-friendly so I'm way excited. After lunch I'll work for about an hour, then take magazine #2 (Shape, trying to get inspired!) and head to car line. I think I'll take Kayci for some ice cream at DQ or Must Be Heaven and give her some face time before we pick up Nobley...then we'll have some time at home if there's homework, etc. before Daddy comes in. I can't describe the feeling I have today--so...hopeful, I guess. It feels like great things are coming, for all of us! :)

The Other Side of the Haircut Story

Kristi left out a couple of crucial details in the haircut story.

It's true that Noble's hair looked crazy after I tried to cut it. But he didn't have a bald spot - it was just uneven in back because Noble wouldn't hold his head still. Kayci was riding in circles around us on her scooter and Mommy and Grandma were on either side of us trying to get his attention.

So, in my defense, it wasn't as bad as it sounded. Besides, now Noble has the haircut I wanted him t get a few weeks ago when we got his hair cut. My evil plan is working. >:)

Tired of hair...

He slept through the whole thing...
















-- out & about, courtesy of the wonderphone

Hair-brained

Daddy was heading off to get a hair cut, and I asked if he'd take Noble--it's time to get it shaped with a trimmer.

So...you know where this is going, right? Daddy asked us to meet him out on the deck.




And, ahem, now we're on our way to Sport Clips to see if they can even out Bubby's hair. As Grsndma said, better today than the day before he starts first grade. I don't think the bald patch will scar him toooooo much...but I'll enjoy picking on Daddy for a quite a while over this one.


-- out & about, courtesy of the wonderphone

Saturday morning in Brenham

This morning we got up and got moving early. There's a new bakery that just opened downtown that we've been wanting to try, so we decided to go for breakfast.

Walking into the old building, the first thing that you notice is that it smells awesome. The decorations are very well done in a vintage style that really fits the old building.




We ordered sausage and cheese kolaches and muffins. To out surprise, the sausage inside was pan sausage instead of the link-type sausage you find in most doughnut shops. It also had real cheddar cheese inside, and they had pepper jack available. It's a little pricey compared to a doughnut shop or grocery store, but I think it's worth it in quality.




We're definitely going to make the new bakery a part of our routine. The cookies and cakes looked amazing. And they serve Blue Bell ice cream, too (which I think might be a law in Brenham).

The next time you're in Brenham, be sure to head downtown (a block off the square, near the Longhorn steak house) and try the Brenham Olde Town bakery. It's got the Pharaon seal of approval!

Lori K on Amazon!

A CD I did the art direction on is now available for digital download on Amazon.com!

My friend Lori self-produced a Gospel CD and gave me the opportunity to do the cover art, CD design and photography. The photos were shot in her front pasture one chilly day in March. They had a bumper crop of bluebonnets this year, and it made for a nice shot.

She said it's also on Napster and eMusic.

The CD was released in disc form in limited release a couple of months ago. It's pretty cool that it's available for download now, as well. It was already going into my portfolio, but this clinches it.

Way to go, Lori!!!

Sheer Determination...

Much to Daddy's chagrin, biking has NOT been one of Bitty's favorite pastimes. In fact, we can count the number of times she's been on this particular bike on one hand...in the past year and a half. Noble woke up with a fever today and Mommy's frantically scrambling to get some work done while he's down for a nap, so Kayci and Daddy have been playing outside (okay, if you call mowing playing) this morning. I got a call to come outside, and this is what I saw...she's going fast (for the first time EVER), turning around, and has even learned how to dismount safely when the bike tips. I know we were supposed to go to church this morning, but I think God's been spending PLENTY of time with our little ones this morning, right here at home. :)

Tree-riffic!

-- out & about, courtesy of the wonderphone

Technicality

I'm a bit of a Nazi when it comes to watching TV during the day--unless, of course, one or more of us is sick...then I'm all for the all-healing couch/TV combo. But I digress. When we got home from the grocery store this morning, Kayci and her cousin asked if they could watch a movie. I said no, you guys need to play while Noble's at school, you can watch a movie at bedtime. And I thought that was that. They came up with a whole concert idea and were working on that before lunch. Well, I admit, after James left at lunchtime I came back and sat down to work. After a while, I realized I didn't hear the bumping around and singing...in fact, I didn't hear any girls moving around at all. So I listened a little harder, and sure enough, heard a laugh track. I went out into the living room and sure enough, the TV was off. I knew exactly what they were doing, curled up together in the red chair.

I said, "Girls, are you watching TV?"

Their answer? "No, we're watching Hannah Montana...on the ipod."

And now they're back to bumping around and singing and doing what Hannah Montana fans do...and we've closed up that little loophole.

Big boy haircut, take 2

It was time to say goodbye to the mullet. We tried to leave a little bit of curl but poor Noble ended up with a bowl haircut. So we went back today and tried it again...from the side now, he's the spitting image of


baby Gavin. :)


-- out & about, courtesy of the wonderphone

Asom!

Yesterday was a great day...I finished up in Houston, picked Grandma up for a ride-along, came back to Brenham, picked up Noble, then we headed to Pflugerville to pick up Kayci and have dinner with Ronny's family (minus the still-traveling Ronny). To all be under the same roof last night and sleep in my own bed--priceless! I thought it couldn't get any better than that, until Kayci showed me some texts she attempted to send me from her ipod (it used to be my iphone, but now it operates as a touch for her).

Aug.4, 9:50 AM

I'm playing woo with reagan. We are playing Hannah montana!!!!':):)

(Translation: I'm playing wii with Reagan. We are playing Hannah Montana!)

Aug.5, 10:38 AM

Now we are going to the techer stor. hope you'r day is asom.

(Translation: Now we are going to the teacher store. Hope your day is awesome.)

Aug.5, 9:31 PM

I love you!mchaaaaaa!

(Translation: that's a kiss there at the end...mwa!)

Aug.6, 1:27 PM

I'm so exited that I am go'ng home today! I no haw exited you our to.becous I get to speend time with you!that's the best part!

(Translation: I'm so excited that I am going home today! I know how excited you are, too because I get to spend time with you! That's the best part!)

Aug.7, 8:21 AM

Oh, ya it is!

(Translation: She added these last two this morning...and you have to hear her reading this in the James-Kristi-Kayci fashion: Oh, YEAH, it is!)

Aug.7, 9:04 AM

Hey, and by the way you our the best!ha, ha, ha,

(Translation: Hey, and by the way you are the best! Ha, ha, ha.)

Aww...no, Bitty...YOU'RE the best!

So good to be home! (Well, for a few hours anyway--the kids, Mom and I are headed to Deer Park here pretty quick so I can go to a meeting, then the kids and I will come home for an evening with Wyatt & Daddy and then just a plain ol' family weekend...maybe with a bit of school shopping thrown in. Who knows!)

From the new York times:

Senate Confirms Judge Sonia Sotomayor as Supreme Court Justice

Voting largely along party lines, the Senate on Thursday
confirmed Judge Sonia Sotomayor as the 111th justice of the
Supreme Court by a vote of 68-31. She will be the first
Hispanic and the third woman to serve on the court."

I had hoped that after Obama was elected that we had gotten the "appointing someone based solely on the color of their skin, even if they are wholly incompetent for the job" thing out of our collective systems. I guess not.

I just got it!

Kayci is spending the week with Amy and the kids, and is loving every minute of it. Last night was her first night there and I was very happy when she called this morning. We had a fun conversation, and I thought we were having a Mommy-Kayci moment when she told me about watching "Jon and Kate + 8" last night and about how Kate was trying new things and we were talking about how we (our family) are all trying new things this week, too. I thought it was a moment, but I think it was lost on Bitty...she said, "I finally got the title!" What? "You know, Jon and Kate plus 8. It's Jon, and Kaaaate...plus there's 8 kids!" Alrighty.

So she gets it. Well, kinda. I'm just grateful that she's having a great time and I can focus (theoretically!) on work for a few days. Who knew it would be so hard to work with all this quiet?!