Lucky....

St. Patty's Day is about the luck of the Irish... or something like that. I'm not Irish, but I'd say I'm pretty lucky that I get watch these three amazing kiddos grow up every day.

No one in our crew was going to get pinched today (except for daddy - they got him good!). At least I got them all in green today.... not lucky enough though to get them all looking at the camera.

Rodeo time

Our Bouncing Bear Cowgirl & Cowboy. I regret that I didn't get a picture of Caleb. He insisted on wearing his cowboy boots (rubber boots) and straw cowboy hat.

Boot story

So at the beginning of March, the kid's monthly calendar of activities was sent home and we noticed that Avery & Austin would be having a good ol' fashioned rodeo - Bouncing Bear style. The rodeo is held in conjunction with the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo (at least I think they do... seems logical) and weeks prior they talk about Texas history and the cowboy way. The calendar was hung up in its usual spot, but it took until the week of the event that I REALLY noted, the kids have rodeo on Thursday this week! As I started asking a few questions and talked to the kids a bit more, I realized this rodeo was a little bigger deal than I thought. Then my last minute mind jumped into action... what are they going to wear? We are not quite the cowboy family. We love our outdoors, but they are usually steer and heifer-free. Besides a hand me down set of chaps, a few play guns and some worn out straw cowboy hats that we got as a party favor, our cowboy gear is slim to none.
So Tuesday, two days before the rodeo, I was determined I was going to look for A&A a pair of boots. Brenham has a great wetern wear store where you are going to get good quality, but also pay for it. I haven't been there in years, probably not since high school, so I wasn't sure what they'd have. Turns out they had a wide variety of kids' boots and a number of styles to choose from. After looking at the price and not knowing how long the kids would even be able to wear them, I determined Austin would be the only one getting boots. When it comes to shoes, he's usually the one that gets the shaft. Anyone who looks in Avery's closet would agree. So, after debating the shoe size and leaving the store to mull over my choices, I decided to go to the kids resale shop downtown. I have found a few random things there, mainly shoes for Avery. I had popped in the week before and they didn't have anything, so I wasn't holding my breath. I walked into the store and told the lady what I was looking for. We looked on the shelf, nothing. Then she remembered that a lady had brought in boots the day before... pink ones.... cute ones... size 9!!!! SOLD for $7.50. That sold the deal for Austin's boots as well, and a hat!
So on my way home that night (I had a church meeting so I was coming home later) I knew my next dilema was that I was coming home with 2 pairs of boots, not 3. Caleb would expect a pair of boots and I could see a total melt down if he didn't get any. Believe me, we've seen it happen. The kids were playing in the backyard with Kelcie when I got home and didn't see me when I drove up so my first stop was the attic above the garage. I knew Austin didn't have any boots to pass along, but there had to be something up there. As I walked up the stairs, my eyes darted across to where I have their hand me downs and there they were - a pair of black rubber boots... size 8 - Caleb's new cowboy boots!
Later when they all came inside, they were all surprised with a new pair of boots, of some kind, and we had smiles all around! Yee haw!

Tough question

Last night as we were about to take baths, I found Avery in the hallway looking at her Rhyme Bible. This was a gift that the kids got from the church when they turned 3. We've been reading out of it quite a bit lately before bed, especially the Easter story of Jesus dying on the cross. Last night as I was walking through the hallway I saw Avery on the page that showed a picture of Jesus nailed to the cross and Avery looked up at me and said "Mama, when am I going to die?" Talk about being taken back. I didn't know how to respond. Before I could think of an answer, she said "When I am old?" All I could think to say was, "I hope so."
As I walked down the hall, I thought how ironic that Avery would ask this question on the same day that baby Layla Grace passed away. For those of you who may not have been following her story and the familiy's tremendous faith, it can be found at www.laylagrace.org. Her story has touched the lives of millions of people, including mine. When you look at what their family has been going through, it really makes you take a step back and realize what is important in life. It makes me ashamed of some of the things I "worry" about. It makes me ashamed of wanting things I don't have when the truth is I have SO much. I have my faith in God and a wonderful family - including a loving husband and 3 healthy children. I get to hear their laughter everyday and together we have the opportunity to live life to it's fullest.

Half marathon

If you are looking for an interesting post about the kids, this is not it. This one is about ME! This morning I accomplished something I've wanted to do for some time now - I completed a half marathon... all 13.1 miles! I have run a few before, all before kids. In fact in 2002, a few months after Wes & I got married, I ran a full marathon. It's not for everyone and I don't know that I have the desire to ever run a full again, but the half is an accomplishment I am proud of. I ran a 1hour 53minute & 43 second race, under my 2 hour goal ... finished 5th in my age group (30-34 females) and if you do the math, that is a 8:39/hr pace. This was much better than I have run in "training", but having lots of people around me helped me pick up my pace. It was a great morning for running - cool, not cold, and most important - no wind.
When most people find out that I enjoy running, they ask "WHY?" Not real sure that I know the answer, but truth is I am not really "good" at anything else and running gives me some "me time", something I feel ALL mommies need. The next question is "How do you do it with 3 kids, a home, and a full time job?" Well, my answer to that is I make it happen. Wes often times picks the kids up during the week so that I can run after work and on the weekends I try to get up early and get a run in and get back home before the fam even wakes up. There are times it takes me away from the kids and mommy duties, but truth is, when I get to run, I feel better about myself. When I feel better about myself, I am a better wife and mommy. When I get my "me" time,I am ready to give 100% to my family.... of course running 5 miles makes me feel a little less guilty when indulguing in birthday cake as well.
Now that my half marathon is over, I don't have my sights set on any other long runs any timje soon, maybe just a 10K. I do hope to refocus an dkeep working out but do some strength training to tone up. Summer is right around the corner and we have a number of "swimsuit required" events scheduled.

Shoe fettish

Yes.... Avery has one. The other night this is what we walked in on.....

She had taken all the shoes out of her and Austin's closet.

Digging in the trenches....

What a great Saturday - spring like weather and NO birthday parties! Even better, Popo came and picked up the kids this morning to take them to the park for a little while. Now they are all sound asleep and fell asleep without us even having to "negotiate" with them. Did they play that hard at the park? Well, not exactly, though I'm sure it had something to do with it. In addition to the park, they spent about 2 hours playing in a trench... I know, only in the country. Wes has been doing some dirt work with the tractor around the tank and it involved having to dig out a water line on the lower half of our property. Today he was restoring that waterline but not without the help of his right hand men and woman. They loved walking in the trench with the small amount of water that had seeped in. Even more, they loved getting MUDDY, DIRTY, FILTHY.

As you see, by the time I got my camera the kids had stripped down to just the neccesities. I have more very entertaining pics of them due to the fact that by the time all said and done, they were completely naked and dirty from head to toe. Not sure who all looks at the blog, so I will save the naked pics for just my humor (and blackmail.)