A windy Saturday

We have an incredible weekend planned.... nothing. I am trying to play catch up on laundry and chores since I was out part of the week at a conference in Austin. Wes is outside trying to take care of a few things since he couldn't get out and do much while I was away. Yes, he kept all 3 kids by himself... with a little assistance from Mimi & Popo. We can't get out and do too much outside today.... the wind would blow the kids away. We live on a hill and we REALLY feel it. Avery and Austin have been playing so well together all morning and Caleb was doing pretty good until he got sleepy. So, there you have it, a pretty uneventful day. I think we have something going on the next 5 weekends so I'm enjoying staying in my jammies today.

Finally... a little down time

Seems like we have been in a rat race since Thursday afternoon. Today we are all enjoying a little down time. Actually as I blog (is blog a verb? oh well, it is now), all the kids are sleeping, Wes has escaped outside to play on the tractor and I am sitting on the couch with my feet propped up and it's only 12:30pm. Usually putting A&A down for a nap on Sunday afternoons is like pulling teeth, but today all it took was watching Mickey Mouse Club House for about 30 minutes and they were out. Their little bodies need some extra rest! We cleaned up most everything this morning so I am allowing myself to sit and just be.

Uncle Jason stayed the night last night and this morning we were able to get out a bit, despite the cold wind, and try out the kites he brought for the kids. He got them 2 really great kites, a fish and an elephant. These pics are of Jason showing Austin how to make the elephants ears flap in the wind.

I'm hoping the sun warms things up a bit and we can spend the afternoon outside.

Caleb's 1st Birthday Party

Friends and family came, a big meal was prepared, a special cake was made, "Happy Birthday" was sung, presents were open and Caleb will remember none of it!!! Oh well, we have a few pics and stories to share. It was cool and windy outside so most everyone mingled in the house and out in the garage, but no one seemed to mind. Caleb was fashionably late to his own party. At 4pm he still had not gone down for his second nap and the party was scheduled to start at 5pm so I called in back up and Aunt Dorothy came and picked him up so I could get last minute things done. He fell asleep right away with her and arrived to a house full of people around 6pm. He loved his cake, as did everyone else. Mimi did a great job on the cake, it was scrumptous. I think Caleb opened one gift and the rest Austin and Avery tore through. I tried my best to keep up with who gave what. Overall it was a great party!!

Caleb's cake.

Wes & Caleb grubbing on some fajitas.

Caleb enjoyed his cake!

Caleb is 1!!!!

This is a day early, but I know tomorrow I will be running around like a maniac, so I will blog today. Tomorrow is our little guys 1st birthday! Can you believe it? OK, so maybe you can, but I can't. I remember when I first found out I was pregnant with Caleb. Excited is not the first word that comes to mind. We had 18 month old twins, how were we going to manage another baby!?!? Love him, care for him, enjoy him... that's what we were going to do and I think we've done a pretty good job so far.

So what stands out about Caleb... Wes picked his name out as we were walking up to labor and delivery; as a baby, he rarely cried; he has beautiful blue eyes; he hates to be by himself...must be where the action is; he loves to bounce balls; his first word was uh-oh; he started walking well at 11 months; he eats well, but prefers not to sit in his high chair; when he's tired he loves to cuddle on your shoulder; socks mysterioulsy disappear off his feet; he is SO loved by his big brother and sister
Here are a few pics of Baby Caleb from the past year

Caleb Wesley Maurer 2-21-09

Break my heart...

As Grandpa's birthday party (see previous post) was winding down, Avery and Austin finally started to come out of their shell - all my children are "slow to warm up." At one of the back tables, a group of 5 or 6 young kids, including A&A, were playing around and one of the little girls was handing out chocolate hearts from her Valentine's stash. Austin got a heart and noticed that Avery didn't have one. Wes was close by and Austin went to him and said "Daddy, Avery want a heart." Wes turned to Avery and asked her if she wanted a heart and she said "no." Austin didn't hear her say this and a few minutes later when he realized that Avery still didn't have a heart, he went up to Wes and said "Daddy, willyou break my heart in half?" He then went and gave Avery half of his heart. Melts your heart doesn't it!?!?

95 and counting....

Saturday was not only Valentines, but it was a very special birthday party for a very special man in our lives.... Grandpa Keen or "Grandpa Pete" as Austin and Avery call him. Grandpa Pete (my mom's dad) turned 95 and we had a party at their church to celebrate. There was a great turn out, no doubt a lot of people think highly of Grandpa Pete. Grandpa isn't one for big crowds, but you could tell he loved the attention as well as seeing family that drove a good distance to be there. He was so proud of a picture that a friend of theirs was able to refurbish with Photo Shop. It was a picture of his parents and siblings before he was born in front of the house he was born raised in. It's the only picture of the house they had so it meant a lot to him. Grandpa Pete was born 1914 and has lived an unbelievably full life.... and he's still kickin'. He still goes down to the farm and gives his two cents about how things should be done. He loves to watch college sports on tv and has a better mind than I do most days. Happy Birthday, Grandpa Pete!!

Valentines

Here are a few of the cards Avery and Austin made (with a little assistance) for Valentines Day. They are just foam board and cut out foam hearts so all the kids had to do was stick them on.... much easier than having them cut and paste. It amazes me at how much our candy stash increases on holidays. I help myself to a few of my favoites, stash a little, and then take the stuff I really don't want the kids to eat to work to share. Personal rant: suckers for 2 year olds!?! I'm just not a fan. Anyway, we have a fun Valentines Day planned. My grandpa turned 95 today and we are having a big bash for him at their church on Saturday. Then we are leaving the kids with my parents and Wes & I are going on a group date for dinner and drinks. We're looking forward to it!

A trip to the hospital

No worries, no one is hurt. Popo got a new knee!!! Well, he had a partial knee replacement done on Wednesday so we went to see him in the hospital tonight. Austin enjoyed pushing the elevator buttons and both Avery & Austin got a kick out of the hospital bed that moved up and down. Avery decided she wanted one of them at home!

After the hospital we headed over to Target. Avery & Austin were in heaven, especailly in the dollar aisle. Our main goal of the night was to find Caleb a forward facing carseat, but Avery was more fascinated with the Pull Up and wipe boxes on the end of the aisles. Dora pull ups!!! She grabbed a few shirts while we were walking through the clothing and they both grabbed Valentine cards from the card section. Those mysteriously left the basket before we checked out. We didn't make it out with a car seat, but we were able to fill the basket with other "neccesities". That always happens at Target!

After Target we needed to grab a bite to eat so since we were out of town we thought we'd go some place different. Where did we wind up?? You got it.... McDonald's. Not my favorite place by far, but we stopped at one with a great indoor play area and Avery & Austin were in heaven. Caleb even got to play a little too.

The toy of the year.....

So, we have a train table, toy kitchen, tons of books, puzzles, legos, push toys, baby beds and stroller. ... just to name a few. There are so many times we want our kids to play with their toys so that we can get a few things done. Well, tonight I was able to make cookies for the kids Valentines party tomorrow, wash all the dishes, and type an entry in the blog only because the kids are playing with their toys... toys?? no, not toys.... plastic bags and pull ups. Not quite sure what the fascination is, but A&A have gone into their room and put pull ups in plastic HEB bags and then carried them all around the house. They make pit stops in different rooms and take the pull ups out, but them put them back in. It just makes me laugh.....

Children's Musuem

Saturday the kids were invited to a birthday party at the Children's Museum in The Woodlands Mall. (Thanks, Claire!!) What a great place for kids!!!! Austin, Avery & Caleb had a fun time exploring everything that was there for them to do. We will definitely go back.

This is my pavorite picture from the day. Wes is playing playdoh with A&A at one of the crafts tables.

A&A got a kick out of beating on these drums.

Caleb checking himself out...

Avery getting some fresh produce...

Avery spent almost 30 minutes just moving these adorable chairs around to the different tables they had in this one area.

The girls got to make princess crowns and the guys colored pirate bandanas. Austin preferred the crown over the bandana so we made him a manly crown.

Avery found a friend at the museum. By the way, the girls were supposed to dress up like princesses... hence the skirt and tiara. They were also supposed to wear shoes, but Avery didn't think she should have to, that was until we threatened to take her home.

This was so cool! It was a dinosaur digging pit... like digging for fossils. It was full of these rubberized chips that looked like dirt and parents could hide bones and let the kids find. A great place for little guys!

Austin enjoyed checking out the reptile room... lizards, snakes and turtles... oh, my!

I just had to take a picture of this couch. Isn't it fun!!!

Saturday breakfast.. coming right up

Friday night we went up to The Woodlands to stay with Steven & Candice. We don't get up there as much as we should although they are back here in Brenham more than they'd like to be :-) Anyway, we had dinner and got up Saturday morning and Avery & Austin help Aunt Candice make muffins and eggs for breakfast. Good thing someone is showing them how to cook.

Just a swingin'

Everyone has their own swing and you better believe that Caleb cannot ride in Avery's swing and don't even think about putting Avery in Austin's swing. Are we territorial? You better believe it.

Avery talking and swinging. I guess this is the kids version of talking and driving. I think she was "talking" to Toppe. Her conversations usually go like this:

"Hello, how are you today? Yes... yes.... you feeling ok today? yes... yes.... uh huh.... silence OK I will see you later. Bye" A pretty realistic conversation except there is no one on the line... except when she calls someone for real and I realize 5 minutes later that there is really somone on the other end. That has happened before!

7 years and counting

I am a bit late on this, but Wes and I celebrated our 7th Anniversary on Monday... we were married 2-2-02. 7 years... that sounds like a long time, yet it doesn't seem that long. These last few years have flown by... wonder why?!?!
There are so many things that Wes and I experience on a day to day basis that only we can relate to. I am so fortunate to share my life with him. I don't give examples enough on the blog that show what an AWESOME dad and husband Wes is. I can't imagine being married to a man who took the old fashioned route of fatherhood and sat back and let the mother primarily raise the kids. I love that he fixes pancakes on Friday mornings and takes the kids along when he goes out to do his "projects." Wes, if you are reading, I love you with all of my heart and am looking forward to many years ahead.

Jamie & Kyle's Wedding

Here's a few pictures from the wedding this weekend. I am praying that the photographer got some good shots. Avery & Austin played their role as flower girl and ring bearer to a T!

Dear God, please help me to walk down that aisle and stand still so that I can get the surprise that Mommy has in her car.

Princess Avery practicing her twirl for the dance later on.

Austin looked so handsome and much to my surprise kept his tux on the whole night.

Baby Caleb was dressed up too! He on the other hand was not crazy about keeping the tux on.

Kennedy Schramm and Avery. This is one of the only shots I got of them without the Twizzlers they carried around before the ceremony.

The flower girls found the piano!


The Maurer Boys!

Kelcie Maurer and Caleb.

Uncle Jason and Avery. Jason was the coordinator for the wedding and he did an AMAZING job.

The wedding party.

Bride and groom and munchkins.


We got married this weekend 7 years ago!