HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday to you!
Happy Birthday MORGAN and JACK!
Happy Birthday to you!
Today the twins are ONE year old! We did not get to tell them "Happy Birthday" because they were already fast asleep when we called this evening, so maybe Kristen will read this blog entry to them.
We have been blessed to see them as often as we have this past year (Thanks Kristen and Les for coming to Texas so often). When they are not here we get to either talk to them over the phone, or see them on web cam (get one if you don't have one). They have grown so much from their small beginnings. We are blessed to have them in our lives. We hope their day was special...we cannot wait to see the pictures.

Jack on left and Morgan on right...I think they were about 10 minutes old.

I took this picture from Kristen's blog...the most recent picture I had was from December.

BATTER UP!

Jeff and I registered Joshua for Spring Valley Atheletic Association, SVAA, t-ball. As of Monday we did not have a coach for his team. Jeff said he would do it, but he is pretty much gone the first month. I thought about coaching, but I really only played recreationally, so don't have a ton of experience. Plus, what would I do with Andrew? Anyway, by Wednesday, the coaches meeting, there was a coach.
Well, we got an e-mail from him last night. Awesome! This is just so exciting...Jeff and I love sports and we hope the boys enjoy playing it as much as we will enjoy watching them play. So, the first practice is April 2nd, practice once a week, and first game is April 18th, games on weekends until June. They also have a family night at a Frisco Rough Riders game. I mean, seriously, can it get any better? I want to run out and buy his uniform pants, cleats, white socks, and glove now...Joshua is in South Carolina and it would probably work better if he were here. I hope I can wait!!!
I hope I can be just as excited if either of the boys want to do dance or band.

VOLLEYBALL

Most of you know that I play volleyball. Before Joshua started school and my Mom's groups started back up I played once a week. Now, I play on a reserve basis and in tournaments, when we have enough players. This past Saturday I played in the 1st Frisco Grass Volleyball Tournament. The division I joined was coed 5 on 5. They also had coed 3 on 3 and men's 3 on 3. You see a lot of the same people at these tournaments and it seems like everyone gets better with age...not me, but I don't feel like I get worse either. Anyway, I enjoyed playing with my team and we ended up winning our division...no cash award, just bragging rights. I hope to play in the next tournament in June. Maybe my legs will be in better shape by then...if you want to work on your legs just "bump" the ball with a friend for 30 minutes a day and see what your legs look like then. It is basically squats with the joy of a ball...lol!

BFF

Spring Break was not over for us on Thursday. Friday the boys and I metup with my best friend Danni and her daughter Emma, 3 at end of May. We enjoyed a nice picnic, playground fun, pushes/pulls in the wagon, and a small hike up to some lookout at Arbor Hills Nature Preserve. It was great fun. What is even more fun is to see our children together. Emma just loves Joshua so and Joshua talks about Emma nonstop. However, this particular day Joshua was being rather distant from Emma. Emma's little lip would come out and she would run and cover her face when Joshua would hurt her feelings. Danni and I think about the two of them being BFF, or maybe even oneday something more...take a look at her curly red hair. Wouldn't that be perfect with Joshua's curly (was at one time) hair?

SPRING BREAK FUN!

So, a number of my friends have been on me to update my blog...here goes.

The boys and I started Spring Break early. We left the Thursday before Spring Break to head to Oklahoma. We enjoyed the Thursday Night Mom's group and then drove late at night. It was great since the boys slept most of the way. Andrew woke the last 6 miles and screamed the remainder of the way. No problem once we got there though. Both boys fell back to sleep quickly. I enjoyed the time with my Dad, Grandmother, Great Grandmother, Great Aunt, my Dad's youngest sister, and many cousins and their kids. Joshua and Andrew had a great time too. However, I will have to keep an eye on my little UFC, Joshua, the next time we are there. He and Charlie, 3, got into a fist fight over a chair. Oh boy! Once that was over they began to climb trees and jump on the trampoline like they were best buds. Oh yeah! Andrew did NOT like the trampoline.



We got back from Oklahoma Tuesday, St. Patty's day. We drove straight to my Tuesday Mom's group St. Patty's party, at the Nelson's. The food and fellowship were grand. I also enjoyed seeing all the green. Funny note here, Joshua was upset that he did not get to play with Drew and Ty Dube...funny since he has only played with Drew once and Ty is still a baby. Amazing how one play time can make that great of an impression.



Wednesday was a time of relaxation for us. The boys and I were exhausted from all the travel. Thursday we picked right back up with a Dallas Zoo trip with my mom and sister...oh boy! They drove from Emory, we jumped on the DART rail train and headed to the zoo. More than halfway to our destination we were told we were on the wrong train. WHAT? It ends up the train we did get on was for a special event. I should have known since the sign was black, but when I looked the night before I did not see anything that said that. We were not the only zoo group on the wrong train. So, we had to go back a few stops, get on another train, and then made it to the zoo about an hour after we got on the first train. We all had a good time. However, the most memorable part was when my 3 year old nephew, Leelan, just whipped it out at the Children's Zoo area and peed right there in the middle of it all. OH MY GOODNESS! When you gotta go you gotta go. The train ride back went more smoothly. I know my sister will not ride again, but Joshua, Andrew, and I look forward to other train rides.


Kalab - 11, Joshua - 4, Leelan - 3, Oliver - 18 months, Andrew - 18 months...the girl is my sister's niece (sorry I forgot her name and she is 11)

COULD JOSHUA REALLY BE CLAIRVOYANT?

So many of you know that Joshua has seen people in our home...we cannot see them! The first time he mentioned it to us was about a month or two after we moved into our home (he was 2 1/2). He saw someone, he thought was Grampie, at 3 a.m. at our bedroom door. The second time he said that a girl was wanting to play with him. He was sleeping, I had checked on him, and he was moving frantically and saying, "Stop it! Let go of my leg." It was in the middle of the night and I asked him who he was talking to and he said, "The lady under my covers." Another time he mentioned seeing animals. He has always been afraid of his room (hence the early morning encounters, which is usually the time he comes into our room) and now we allow him to sleep with a lamp on...he has the lamp and overhead light on tonight. He has not mentioned any specific occurences in a while, until today. He and I were sitting on the couch. He said, "Oh! I just saw a walking shadow." I asked him to repeat what he just said, "I just saw a walking shadow." I asked him where and he pointed to the fireplace hearth and said, "The shadow walked through there." I asked him if he was afraid of it. He said no and we went about our business. What the freak! I try not to be freaked out about all this, but that is just messed up. I could have asked him more questions, but I thought if I kept questioning him he would either be afraid of the shadow, I would get more freaked out, or he may not think I believe him. What do you think?

SLOWLY BUT SURELY

Jeff and I bought our home almost two years ago. We have not done much to make the changes that we want to the home...change the hardware in the kitchen and bathrooms, update the floors in the bathrooms, kitchen, family room, office, game room, play room, paint most all of the rooms, and the list can go on. I once considered all of these "small" projects. At least that is what I convinced myself when I told Jeff I wanted this house, "small". Well, we have painted and just this week had tile put in the master bathroom, laundry, back entry, and guest bathroom. What a mess! There was/is dust everywhere, but we do enjoy seeing the end result. Updating our home is a SLOW process...one day we will have it all done.
I did not take before pictures, but the master bathroom had carpet and the other areas had old 6 inch tile white with gray markings.

Master Bathroom (my side)

Master Bathroom (Jeff's side)

The Thrown

Back Entry

Guest Bathroom

Laundry

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KALAB AND LEELAN

My nephews celebrated their birthday on Saturday. Kalab turned 12 on February 26th and Leelan turned 3 on February 26th. The boys and I were able to go to Emory and help them celebrate. Happy Birthday boys!

A DAY OF EXCITEMENT

February 18th I took the boys to the Dallas Zoo. Not only did we have the excitement of the Zoo, but we got to ride the DART Rail Train to the Zoo. I mean seriously, it cannot get any better than that.
Joshua was very nervous about the train ride. He looked like he was going to get sick when we first got on. He also held on to my shirt sleeve very tightly. However, he relaxed enough to smile, but still held on to me.
We met some friends at the Zoo and enjoyed seeing animals, having lunch, and watching the kids play together. Maybe we can do it again soon.
Guess what? It did get better. Not only did we ride the train there, but we got to ride it back. Joshua was non-stop talk. He was also very tired, but could not fall asleep because he was just so interested in every stop, sound, and the people.

PAY ATTENTION TO ME...

Joshua and I were working on the white board when Andrew decided he wanted some attention, see pictures. Once I started taking pictures of Andrew Joshua said, "Mom, I can do that too. Take my picture." Oh what fun it is to have to split my time.

WATCHING THE PLANES

Jeff and I took the boys to watch planes at DFW Airport a couple of Sundays ago...yes, a very late blog. It was pretty darn cold so Andrew and I sat outside for about 10 minutes and then moved to the car to watch. A plane would take off at least every 10 minutes, if not quicker. You could hear the planes as well as the tower talking to the pilots. Truly a great experience for our boys since they like airplanes. We were delighted to see the boys having so much fun. We must go again, when it is warmer and with a picnic. If you want to go let us know, or check out the website...DFW Founders Plaza.