Best Days Ever

If anyone knows me well, they probably know much about my sister. I talk about her a lot.

Eek...I know. It was really hot and my makeup kept melting off my face. But, we didn't take many pics together.

She's my favorite sister ever (lucky dog, she is...I only have one sister) and spending time with her makes me feel like a million bucks. So you can imagine my sheer joy at the thought of having her all to myself (well, sharing with my kids) for 10 days. And I've got the pictures to prove it.

Okay, so this isn't a picture proving anything about Katie, but Andrew takes his writing very seriously...Moving on...

We went to the children's museum in Waco. Super awesome. And the dress-ups fit perfectly! Could not have been more pleased.

I'm ashamed to admit I actually considered walking out of the museum with this beauty. The wooden shoes would have totally given me away, though. Like, hey, who let the Dutch girl in?

I could have stayed at this model train thing ALL day. Andrew liked it too.

Katie, however, needed to get somewhere quick. As you can see.

We built Legos in the Lego Castle exhibit. Andrew thinks that knights are "good nights." Cute.

Of course I always have to try a few new recipes when we have guests. So, crisp ravioli with fresh tomato sauce? Yeah. I know.

We also went to the Blue Bell (Ice Cream...redundant reference for Texans) Factory. Come to mama. Also got this bonus free paper hat.

Best part of the Blue Bell Factory: Andrew took so long to eat his ice cream that some dripped on his hand. He looked at it with disgust and said, "What is happening...(dramatic pause)...to my hand?"


Henry did most of his sightseeing from the stroller.

We let the boys swim a lot. It was really hot for Katie. She found out I have not been exaggerating how hot it is here.

While the boys swam or jumped, Kates helped me build my garden boxes. She is just so handy with the drill! (giggles ensue)

Thanks to Katie for giving me great joy in being able to share the lovely land of Texas with you.

My big buddies

It seems like the boys are growing up at lightning speed lately. Andrew has been advancing quickly in his speech and thought processes. He cracks me up every day. He's learning to tell stories lately and it is super funny. He told me one about a dinosaur, a bear and a dragon (who morphed into a lion). It ended with, "and they all said, RAWRRR. And they were friends. The end."Play-Doh is a big hit lately. He's very careful with his creations.


This is the book his AMAZING nursery teachers from Pleasant Grove sent to him. He reads it once or twice a day, after which he usually says something like, "I live in a new house in Texas." On Sunday, he asked to go to "the white church with my Brother Lloyd." So sweet.

I love this picture because he looks SO old and mature.
So far, Henry has seemed to be a really quick learner physically. He figures out how to use his body to get what he wants, whereas Andrew for sure used his voice. Either way works. I love little Henry's energy at most hours of the day. I wish I could figure out the video function on this new camera so you could see him bouncing in his Jumparoo. The picture will have to do.
Here's our other big buddy. I only got this close because he was actually dead. Bleh. It makes my stomach CHURN just looking at him. When Justin spread out the spidey's legs, he was as big as Justin's hand. Gross.

I feel dumb.

We have ants. Billions and BILLIONS of ants. In a weak and somewhat idiotic attempt to get the guys in our backyard, I put a little ant bait/trap thingy on top of the ant mound. After I sprayed it with the hose. And guess what? That have ABSORBED IT into their new home. (Which they rebuilt really fast. I was kind of impressed.) I'm sure it is sitting over their mantle in their little ant cave and they are just laughing at me, thinking I could get them with one puny trap. AND, I have fireant stings/bites all over my hands and legs from the boogers living in my pantry. Yep, you read that right. MY PANTRY.

But I have a message for you, little fellas. I do not give up easily. And I have a LOT of money for ant killing tactics. You will pay for this. Consider that a threat.

I need them.

Just found the new favorite shoe website for me, Justy, and kiddos...

sanuk.com

You should go look.

To my honey

Happy anniversary to the best husband, daddy and bug/small animal killer that ever lived on this earth...
*Hey, I have an idea...How about you do accounting all day to celebrate. Then we'll have the missionaries over to top off the best anniversary of your life. :)

What are kolaches? Anyone?

I think this is a good depiction of our lives until two days ago when Justin started school...Basically, we would go to the gym, Andrew would hang out in his undies most of the day, and we would run errands during naptime. That's it. Really.

I love that Andrew has some of my traits...Except I don't eat and spit out lemon peels.

This was pre-furniture...Oh my. It was so not awesome trying to feed Henry without a high chair.
We aren't very good at catching our frogs.

But I'm really good at getting awesome action shots.

Andrew is taking swimming lessons. I can get him to do anything in the pool if I tell him to do it "like a shark."Henry is sleeping through the night. Halle-freaking-lujah.

Henry sticks his tongue out when he's concentrating. But not very far, because even though it got snipped, it's still kind of attached.

Henry is still obsessed with doorstops.

He came crawling into my room yesterday with this in his hand. Before I had kids, I didn't even know that these were removable.

Summary: We love Texas.

Blue Bell wants me back...

So many things to cover, but first things first...We now live in the land of milk, honey, and Blue Bell ice cream. And I couldn't be happier. And we're pretty sure Texas is glad to have us here, since we've been warmly welcomed by many critters. Inside our house. Eek! And we have a little snakey living in our backyard. Double eek!

Let me go back...This post is going to be a photo montage of sorts, reviewing the last few weeks. We bought a new camera after losing hope that we'll ever find our old one.

MTC zone reunion - so fun!

cold stone birthday cake - yummers!

4th of July 5K

 

Uncle Chase

Best birthday present ever! (more party pictures to come)

Laney's face is SO timeless!

The journey begins

1st stop - Mesa with some of my bests~Love these ladies~

Texas sunrise
dinos

poop
our moving truck still isn't here with all our toys, so we're getting more creative.