This is for the birds!

We fed the birds at the zoo...they are so cute!

fOrT wOrTh, tX zOO!!

Here are just a few of the boys and I at the Fort Worth Zoo. You will notice that Chris and Baylie aren't in any photos....the fact is they decided to just mope around the house all day. Baylie said the zoo is hot and sweaty and smells like poop. Whatever.....the boys only mentioned those 2 things maybe 5-10 times throughout the day. The highlight of the day was Nolan's facial expression when the gorilla puked right by him...how cool. (it was actually so gross- of course the gorilla had to eat it again)

Nolan scooping ice-cream

Nolan sings while he does everything. He sings while showering, riding in the car, coloring pictures, going potty....well you get the gist. Today while scooping himself some ice-cream, Baylie captured a couple of seconds of the end of his song "ice-cream rocket" (Beware: my butt looks GIGANTIC in this...I promise it is the skirt I was wearing. I have always heard the camera adds 10 pounds- but this is ridiculous!! Baby got back!)

Something missing?

Something missing from your life? Feeling down and out, gloomy, or just plain mopey? Here's the problem....it's a humor deficiency. This next video is sure to put a smile on your face!! There is just something funny about your loved ones faces put on someone else's body!

kids break dancing

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What a waste of $2.99

The other day while at the grocery store, (taking my time with no kids!) I came across a cookie cutter looking thing in the shape of 2 dinosaurs...one upside down and one right side up. It is really a sandwich cutter that cuts your sandwich in 1/2, cuts the crust off and leaves it two cute brontosaurus's. With me having a 5 year old boy who needs to bring a packed lunch everyday, I thought this the perfect accessory!
Today when I drove up to the car line, I scan the sea of kindergartner's waiting anxiously for their parents. Where is Nolan? Pouting on a bench with an angry face. Apparently he is way too cool for cut out sandwiches & now miraculously loves the crust. It is still sitting in his lunch box, crumpled up in the bottom half of the baggie. All I had to say is "it's a long wait until dinner!"

Brad Paisley Concert

While Chris was in Chicago he was able to catch a Brad Paisley concert with Brooke, Jill & Nate. Christian Svensen hooked them up! Brooke and Chris got to go backstage to meet Brad. Luckily, Jill took some photos! You can see Brad playing behind Chris & Brooke in the backround.

hApPy BiRtHdAy ChRiStiAn!!

Homemade kids cards...priceless!

Yee Haw it is Christian's birthday!! We are eatin' some cake in his honor today! Ice-cream cake...YUM. Can you tell he really likes the Wii game the kids picked out?
Chris- We love you and hope all your wishes come true!! XOXOXOXOX

We also want to wish a Happy Birthday to Aunt Brenda too... way across the U.S. in Chicago! Sending you xoxoxox's from Texas.

FiRsT dAy oF sChOoL!!

Baylie is in Mrs. Watson's 6th grade class. Baylie is so excited about that because she had her in 4th grade as well. Super nice teacher.

Ben got Ms. Schneider for 3rd grade...which he has had as well for 1st grade! He LOVES her.

Nolan is in Mrs. Turnage's kindergarten class.

They are all so happy with their classes and teachers. This is the first year that we have had no one cry!! (including me)

Be Careful What You Wish For

I have said mulitple times to my kids this summer, "you guys just need to go to school!" Of course it is during the teasing, fighting, mess making, & whining times this phrase has just flown out of my mouth. The last couple of days, I have been thinking about my kids starting up their new educational years, Baylie in 6th grade, Ben in 3rd and my baby Nolan starting a full day of kindergarten! It really hit me tonight at dinner when we were all sitting around talking... it is really here... the first day of school is tomorrow. Baylie mentioned that she is wearing all black today because she is in mourning. I mentioned that I am going to wear all black too because I too am mourning. Baylie quickly responded, "what are you mourning?" in her usual sarcastic tone. Christian decides to chirp in..."Mom's whole life changes tomorrow. Her whole life has been dedicated to taking care of you kids and now that is over!" My first reaction was to throw my dinner roll across the table and hit him in the mouth with it. Now, first of all I wouldn't go that far as to say my ENTIRE life is dedicated to kids, but the last 11 years has anyway. BIG difference...11 years vs. an entire lifetime. So, I just ate my roll and thought about how he is PARTIALLY right with tears running down my face.

As I was cleaning out a cabinet we use for all the pool towels and swim suits I came across a big, fat, black beetle...it was dead. Not only was it dead, but hollowed out from sitting so long. I sat and cried again. Not because my house needs to be cleaned but because I thought I had just cleaned that cabinet out...where has all the time gone? It seems like Nolan was just a baby. Reality has hit...it has been over 5 years. My kids are growing SO fast. I treasure every second I have with them.

With all three of my kids in school all day, I will have lots of time to wash the loads of laundry, dishes, make beds, and clean out the cabinets with dead hollow beetles in them...maybe that's why I am so sad. That will surely make anyone cry!