Book worm

You are looking at Avery & I's bedtime book collection. We have read these 3 books pretty much every night for the last month and a half. Rarely do we add another book and if we do, these 3 are still included. Overtime it has become apparent that Avery has memorized most of the words in the books and in her terms she now knows how to read. Truth is she really does know most of the wording in the books but leaves out a few things here and there. Right now her favorite is Fancy Nancy.... we have a girlie girl on our hands. She loves to repeat the words "posh" and "ooh la la"!

Dennis the Menace

A&A&C have enjoyed watching Little Nemo, requested Toy Story, and seen their fair share of Dora movies, but the unanimous household favorite, without a doubt is "Dennis the Mennace" - the 1993 version w/ Walter Matthau.. This past summer, we went to Wal-Mart and let the kids pick out a dvd for our road trip to the Frio. We stuck to the $5 movies and though I was initially against this movie because I didn't think the kids would like it, it was the one we walked away with. We wound up not even needing the movie for the drive, but the first time it played after we got home, it became an instant hit.
A few weeks after it's first viewing, Wes heard Avery in her room by herself talking. He couldn't tell what she was saying at first, but then he picked up on words from the movie. Yes, at the age of 4 she can recite words from movies better than her mama (I am terrible!).
There is one part of the movie where Margaret calls one of the little boys a "stupid baby rump kisser" (if you haven't seen the movie, she made this boy close his eyes and tricked him into kissing the baby's "rump"). Stupid is not a word I wish for the kids to use in everyday language, but to hear them recite the entire scene word for word cracks me up. If that makes me a bad mom, so be it... it really it pretty hilarious.
Caleb is still scared of the "bad man" in the movie. When they watch it, they often climb behind all the pillows on the couch to "hide" from him. Avery holds his hand and reassures him the bad man won't get him.
Considering Wes and I aren't really movie people, we don't see new movies too often, so this could be a favorite for a while!

Happy Birthday Uncle Jason

Hope your day is as awesome as you are! Happy Birthday Uncle Jason. You have a special place in our hearts.... especially now that you have a pool!!!! We love you and thank you for all the things you do for us.

A few more fair pics....

Yes, we haul hay too.

Austin & Avery gave it their best shot in the hay hauling contest Saturday morning at the fair. This event was for 3-5 yr old only and you had to sign up early. The goal was to get the 9 small hay bales on the wagon and get back to the finish line as fast you could. A&A were the last group to go so they had plenty of chances to see what to do and what not to do. They were excited to get to go and gave it their best shot. They didn't get in the top 3, but they sure put on a show for us.

He did what?!?!

Austin rode a sheep!!!

I can't say I know much about rodeos. Sure I know they involve cowboys, clowns, horses, and bulls but I'm not versed in all the events and lingo. In fact it wasn't until last year that I heard of "mutton bustin'" aka sheep riding. Apparently this is an event for youngsters to get a taste of what bull riding is about, or I think that is what it is for. A few nights before the fair this year Wes asked Austin if he wanted to ride a sheep at the fair, a real one. Austin's response: "sure". So when got to the fair Wednesday night, the only night mutton bustin' would occur at the rodeo, Wes and Austin went to sign up. Both Wes & I would not have been surprised if once being around the rodeo arena, Austin backed out, but we were wrong. They signed him up and we were to be back at the arena around 8pm. We brought along a small cheering crowd and I was pretty clueless of what to expect. I was still doubting that he would get on and ride once he got down into the arena and he saw others ride. I think there was a small part of me that wanted him to change his mind.... my little guy might get hurt! Once again, I was wrong. Our brave little guy climbed up on that sheep, hugged his neck tight, and had a less than glorious ride. We were so proud! He still has a long way to go if he wants to do the mutton bustin' rodeo circuit, but just knowing he climbed on and stuck with something he said he was going to do makes me one proud momma and I know for a fact, he's got one proud daddy! Of course it also scares me a bit. What's next!?!?

Fair rides....

Hey ya'll....

it's Washington County Fair time!!!













so this isn't the best pic, but my subjects were antsy to go. I hate that I didn't get their boots. Lots more pics to come.

Barrel/Bull riding

Never in my wildest dreams would I have guessed I would be taking a picture of my children riding a barrel.... I mean bucking bull. You see it is fair time and the kids, especially the boys, are super excited about boots, cowboys, and bucking bulls. Not so sure where they get their cowboy ideas from seeing that Wes and I aren't exactly "country." Though we may live in the country, we don't exactly live the cowboy way. Back to the barrel, I mean bull... apparently when Wes was little he had something similar to this bull riding aparatus. He put it together on the playscape the other day and wa -la, bull riding at it's finest. Just tug on the ropes and the rider goes up and down and side to side. The boys LOVE it, especially Austin. He gets real serious when he starts to "ride". I am praying that this is the closest to bull riding they ever get!

Not sure a dress and black Mary Janes are ideal for bull riding???

Caleb's school report

Frisky Frogs rule! I love my new classroom and teachers. Ms. Becky & Ms. Carima & Ms. Stacy are the coolest. The first week I was a little hesitant when going through carline and would cry, but I just wanted mommy to take me inside herself. She tried to explain something about being late for work, but I know the truth.... she is usually late whether she takes us in herself or drops us off in carline.
Ms. Becky says I am a good helper. On the first day of school mommy picked me up early and Ms. Becky said she was sad to see me go because I was the only one that helped pick up the toys. Mommy was so proud! We get to do lots of art projects. I bring home something almost everyday for mommy to put on the fridge or put in my special art box. We've done lots of frog projects - ribbit!
The best part about being a Frisky Frog is that I get to play on the big playground. I love it! I am pretty sure I am going to have a great year being a frog.

Avery's school report

I am loving life as an Ocean Treasure. My teachers are Ms. Winkelmann and Ms. Moehlmann and they are both super nice. We get to do all kinds of fun things in our new classroom. I love the kitchen center and playing games on the computer. We get to paint a lot in my new class and I love that because mommy doesn't let us paint much at home. She says we are too messy. We even had to bring a special paint shirt to school!
I am really growing up and that means I have to do homework. Not sure what the big deal is about homework, it is usually super fun. I had to make a picture of myself and put together a special poster all about my family. I usually get my homework done before Austin. For some reason he doesn't really like to do his homework right away like I do. I am learning to write my letters and I love to practice writing them on mommy and daddy's important papers. Sometimes mommy gets mad because I write my letters all over my school art projects, but I try to remind her that practice makes perfect.
I'm making lots of friends and will be sure to keep everyone updated on any Ocean Treasure gossip!
Love,
Avery

Last splash for the summer

The summer is coming to an end and somehow we have failed to make a trip to The Woodlands to see Aunt Candice and Uncle Steve. Going to see them in the summer is always a treat because it usually means a trip to their neighborhood kid pool, a real treat for all of us. So this past weekend when Wes went up to get their deer lease ready, we went up to stay with Steve & Candice and get in a trip to the pool. A&A&C are at a perfect age... the perfect age for me to sit on the side and just watch! Yes, I love doing things with my kids, but there are times that I savor the opportunity to sit back and watch them interact and play. Of course it was great having Candice & Steve along because they got a little play time in with the kids and wore them out. In fact Steven & Candice had the kids by themselves for most of the morning. They had breakfast at Chick-fil-A, made a trip to the PetStore, ventured to the dollar store for some high quality goodies, and finished up at the park before meeting me to go to the pool.

Thanks to Steve & Candice for the hospitality. I probably did not help our families desire for the two of them to have children of their own. A day A&A&C probably serves better as birth control.

Are you ready for some football?!?!

It's that time of year.... time for Cub green Fridays, Hook 'Em Horn Saturdays and whatever Sunday pro football game effects Wes's fantasy football team. Football is here and we are ready!

The kids and I headed to The Woodlands to spend some time with Aunt Candice and Uncle Steve this weekend while Wes headed to Mason for deer season prep. Friday night Uncle Steve broke out the football. The kids had a blast in the back yard trying to tackle each other and make touchdowns. We may not have made it to the Cubs home opener, but the kids were still sportin' their green and showing their Cub pride.

Let the hunting begin

Today was the first day of dove hunting season. Wes picked up Austin from school early to get him out for his first "official" hunt. They came back with a bag of doves that will taste great wrapped in bacon on the grill. No doubt this will be the first of many hunting trips for Wes, Austin and in another year or two, Caleb. Austin was so excited and proud!