Visitors from Down Under

 We had some special visitors last week!!!  This is Michelle, and her 2 daughters, Isabella and Amber.  They are from Australia, where Mark served his mission. 

 The kids love having special visitors, it means special treats...like doughnuts for breakfast, and...

 ...fun trampoline places.

 I have to say that the place we went to in Utah, with the foam pits, was more fun.  But the kids definitely had a good time!

 Then we loaded everyone up and headed to San Antonio for the weekend.

 We hit a couple accidents and construction on the way there.  I think it took us 5 hours to finally get to our hotel.

 Luckily the Alamo and the River Walk were a huge hit.  They all loved it!

 It was fun taking the kids.  They are getting old enough that they can enjoy the sites too.

 We were lucky to go on a weekend when they had lots happening.  They had reenactments and period-dressed people all around the Alamo, and there was some sort of art festival right outside our hotel.  The streets were blocked off and everyone could color all over the sidewalk and street with chalk. 

 Luckily it only took us the normal 3 hours to get home.

 Michelle and the girls taught us all the Australian ways to say things...my favorite was "Mackers" for McDonald's.

 Then Michelle treated us to a night of Australian dishes, including pumpkin soup from scratch, pumpkin slice, bread and butter pudding, pumpkin scones, and pavlova.  Mark was in heaven!  I think the pumpkin soup and the pumpkin scones were my favorites.  It was all so yummy!

Next, we carved pumpkins...something they don't do back home.

I love...

 *When I hear Bailey invite Reilynn to sit on her lap so she can see better.

*Finding my girls like this without any prompting from me.

Conference Weekend

 We had a family from AZ come visit us for a couple days. 

 They were going on a cruise, heading out of Galveston, so they dropped by to say hi before they left.

 Parker LOVED having three boys around.  The poor kid is surrounded by girls all the time...it is nice to even the playing field a little.

 They enjoyed using Mark's truck as a toy.  Parker came in and asked for the keys so he could "roll down the windows and turn on the A/C"...Dream on buddy, you aren't getting keys for a LONG time!!

We showed them Town Square.  I'm sad that the picture turned out so blurry...I don't know what happened.

 

It was fun to see y'all!!

Saturdays

 Addison is enjoying soccer right now. 

 For being a little shy sometimes, she isn't on the field.

 She doesn't hesitate to push her way to the ball, and I'm not going to lie, it makes me one proud mama.  I love watching her be so confident!

I finally bring my camera on Saturday, and I miss the only time Parker is playing on his flag football team.  Addison's game is always at the same time and I timed it wrong...next week I will try again.

Saved by Mom and Dad

 I have still been forced to take it easy with my annoying ankle.  Mark had to go out of town for 2 1/2 weeks, so my parents flew in for a long weekend to help.

 They were so amazing!  My mom shampooed all the carpets downstairs, mopped the kitchen floor, and mowed the lawn.  My dad hung two doors in our office upstairs, fixed the annoying flapping sound my A/C was making in my car, and fixed the lights in my garage. 

 Found time to take the kids to a movie,

...and sit with them every night and chat about everything happening in their lives.

 

Come back!!!  Love you mom and dad!  Thanks for coming and helping, you are the best!

"She's Pegged"

Can you name where the post title is from?  If you can, we probably get along really well.

 The kiddos figured out what those silver things sticking out of Parker's front tire are for.

 Bailey came running in the house, full speed, to drag me back outside so I could see their discovery.

 I caught myself holding my breath as they rode by me down the street.  I kept expecting them to crash and burn...but they didn't.

 I had to draw the line when Reilynn wanted to hop on...I'm not ready for that yet.

 Parker never tired as he gave his sisters turn after turn after turn...

 I love seeing them become friends.  Parker and Addison have little inside jokes together (which Kasidee hates).

Now, if we could just get the mosquitoes to go wherever it is they go when they aren't here...then we could sit outside and ride for hours on end.  Right now, we ride in a fog of Off.

 

By the way, the quote is from Kevin James' stand up...Sweat the Small Stuff.  Go watch it!

Weenies

One last dip in the pool before the water is too cold to swim.  Let's face it, we are now weenies when it comes to swimming...We like our water warm!!! 

When did I become an embarrassment?!?!?

The other day I was scheduled to go and read to Addison's class.  I told Addi about it that morning as I was taking the kids to school. (And just a side-note, I take the kids to school everyday in my pj's.  I don't have to get out of the car....I don't hang out in them all day....just sayin'.)

Addison says to me, "Yeah, you are coming in to read?  Good!  Oh, mom....can you please wear clothes to my class, not your pajamas?" 

REALLY!?!?!?  I have never shown up to school in my jammies...thank you very much!!!  When did I become an embarrassment?!?!?  I am a cool mom...right?!?!?

 

P.S. This picture is of the preschool craft we did for Joy School, C is for Caterpillar.  Addison had to make one when she got home from school.  She couldn't miss out on the fun.

I promise I haven't picked up smoking!

I just reek like smoke...

I ordered a boot off amazon, and when I opened the box, I got a big whiff of smoke.  I never would have thought to ask if the previous owner was a smoker...now I know.

 

FYI-I sprayed vinegar water all over it, and it took away most of the smell.  I need to do it a couple more times. I love vinegar, thanks pinterest!

Miss Independent

 I know this picture is a little fuzzy, but Bailey was very proud of her bunny ears...I couldn't leave it out.

I had to document these two outfits...they were abnormally "awesome." 

 

Bailey is very independent!!  She dressed herself in this church skirt, "matching" brown cowgirl boots, and this Utah State tee. 

 

Reilynn is sporting her dance leotard under her tank and favorite purple skirt that she wears every day it is clean, and some days when it isn't.

 

Usually I try and steer them in a better direction if we are going in public.  But since I hurt my ankle, we are doing good to get out in public dressed at all. 

I have a good excuse!

 I wish I had a better story for why I haven't been blogging, but here is what happened...Once upon a time this amazing woman started out her morning feeling good. She worked out at the gym and decided to be nice, and on her way home she vacuumed out her husband's truck that she was driving (because that is the nice caring wife that she is).

 

Well, she finished with Mark's car, drove home and decided hers was in desperate need as well.  She left her cute little girlies at home with Mark and went back to the vacuum place.  She was vacuuming away, when to her dismay she heard the machine beeping that it was almost out of time.  The car was horrendous from their road trip this summer and she needed more time!  She jumped out of the back of the Expedition and sadly her ankle gave out.  It popped, and she dropped to the pavement.

Well, she knew she wasn't thinking clearly, but even though her foot hurt, she still needed to get that quarter in the machine.  She got up, added more time to the vacuum, courageously limped over to the car, and finished cleaning.  As she was hanging up the hose everything started going fuzzy and black.  She sat down on the cement, ears ringing, eyes unfocused, and cold sweats (in the TX heat), led her to believe she probably hurt herself more than she thought.

 

After the wave of nausea passed, she called her handsome, loving, hero, Mark, who came to her rescue....and the rest is boring.  Hours on the couch icing and elevating.  After most of the swelling went down she had it x-rayed, luckily no broken bones.  Now she hobbles around the house with crutches (from when Mark hurt his knee that are for a 5'10'' person at the lowest setting) and a walker (compliments of her neighbor).

 

The End

 

Moral of the story, don't vacuum out your car...pay someone else to do it, it is very dangerous!

First Day of School...

 I say this at the beginning of every year...but,

 I can't believe I have two 3rd graders and a 1st grader.  They are growing up!

 "First day of school, whatever mom.  I'm too old for these pictures now that I am in 3rd grade."

 "Wait mom, take one more, I wasn't ready."

 "Mom, did you get my whole outfit in the picture?  It is my very favorite."

I hope that we can survive this school year, Parker and Kasidee already have shoulder aches from bringing home so much homework...and Addison is complaining that she hasn't had any yet. :)

Mother Bailey

Reilynn and Bailey were upstairs playing this morning, and I yelled up to ask Bailey to help Reilynn pull the soiled sheet off Reilynn's bed and throw it downstairs.  This is what I heard...

"Mom, why do we need to pull off Reilynn's sheet?"

"Because she wet the bed last night."

"Oh, Reilynn why didn't you tell me?  Let's go get it off, I'll show you."

Reilynn goes to Bailey to ask for help before she comes to me...all the time.  I'm not sure if I love it, or if it makes me feel like I am a slacker mom....

I'm just going with it.

The last stop in our Summer Extravaganza!

We stopped in Mesa on our way home to Texas.

 Great Grandma Alice (who Bailey is named after, by the way), was so sweet to come let 5 little wet kids come and terrorize her house for a visit.

 She made a special trip to the grocery store to have cookies and pop there for us.  So sweet. We love you Grandma!!!

 Lucky for us, Greg and Angie were staying at Grant and Judy's house while they were waiting for their house to become available.  It was fun for the kids to play.

 The older kids set up a whole scavenger hunt for the little kids to go on...they had a blast!

Brevan and Conner were so nice to babysit one night while the adults went out for dinner.  I don't think you should move to Arizona, I think you should just come back to Texas!!! 

 

We had such a fun trip with summer.  We were able to see family and friends, spend about 52 quality bonding hours in the car, and I can't wait to do it all again next year. 

Thanks everyone who fed us, housed us, or drove to come see us.  We love you all, and y'all are invited to our house any time!!!