Three Boys and a Lady

Our Halloween was part sweet and part spooky!

2011-11-02T13:45:00.001-05:00

We had a fun Halloween with the kiddos! Jackson was a scary clown, Charlie a phantom, and Camryn a fish! Mimi, Papa, and Pops joined in on the fun and our friends came over too! Little E and Camryn had a blast giggling and collecting candy! The boys got to go on their own this year and I think they enjoyed the freedom!

I thought Charlie looked like a mad scientist with his head piece off!

All about me...because I am THREE!!

2011-09-28T13:15:00.000-05:00

My little baby girl is officially no longer a baby - she's 3!!! In lieu of having a big party with a bunch of friends and family, we decided to have a day all about her with just the five of us. Simply for the reason that I don't think she's ever had a day focused on her since the day she was born! This little girl has David, the boys, and I wrapped around her finger - we adore her. She's such a special little girl to us and we are so enjoying watching her blossom (at her own little pace) into a darling little lady!

It started with cupcakes at school with mommy... (this is the shy face most people know)

After school - the boys played WHATEVER Cami wanted - even dress up!

Next was Monkey Bizness - jumping and playing with brothers!

After dinner it was all about presents and cake!!

I'll leave you with the little girl we know at home - a silly, sweet, goofy, loud (yes, loud) little girl! My wish for your 3rd year is that the rest of the world sees you just as we do!! We love you - Happy Birthday!

A New Year at St. John's!

2011-08-24T09:22:00.002-05:00

My smallest little chicken started her first day of school today! She was super excited this morning when we got the nap mat and lunch kit out. She did well today - no tears but lots of extra hugs and kisses! I love you little lamb lamb! I love how hard you try, I love how much you "go with the flow" of our crazy busy life, and mostly I love how you are so uniquely you. Hope you have a great day baby girl!

First day of school 2011!

2011-08-22T13:13:00.004-05:00

Yes, it's that time again - the 1st day of school! I have so enjoyed looking at everyones pictures of all of the kids going back to school - some look beyond excited, some look less than thrilled! My boys were pretty excited. Jackson - ready to jump in head first of course, and Charlie - a bit hesitant, a lot nervous! We talked about our goals for this year last night at dinner and Jackson is shooting for the moon - with "no notes home" and Charlie could never really decide on one. Boys - I love you both "to pieces" and hope you have a school year filled with lots of learning and lots of fun because learning should still be fun, right?

On another note of firsts...Charlie has started his first year of tackle football. Both of the boys are so enjoying football starting! Go Seahawks!!!

Dietz Sister Beach Trip - Watercolor, FL - 2011

2011-08-01T15:09:00.000-05:00

We spent our beach trip this year in Watercolor, FL. It is the cutest little beach neighborhood where people ride around on bikes everywhere. We met my sister Melissa and her kiddos from Chattanooga, and my other sister Jennifer and her family from Austin. It was Jen's turn to find the house and she found a great one! It was comfy, fit all of us, and except for the lack of knives that could actually cut, was perfect!! It's quite a miracle I am still alive seeing that you spend a lot of time on your bikes here - I am not a bike rider!

Here's all 8 of the kids!

Just for a trip down memory lane, this is our crew from our 1st Dietz sister beach trip! (Charlie was there, he was 1 1/2 - just refused to get in the picture. I know, this suprises no one!)

The kids couldn't wait to go crab hunting at night so that's just what we did our very first night!

Even my little Cami enjoyed the crab hunting! (or maybe it was the headlight?)

Here they are youngest to oldest...

Camryn (2 1/2)

Claire (5 1/2)

Charlie (7 1/2)

Catherine (8 1/2)

Jackson (9 1/2)

Connor (11)

Madeline (13 1/2)

Nicholas (15 1/2)

Lots of fun times...

Just my babies...

So long Watercolor! We so enjoyed the house, the sand, the sun, the family, the laughter, the food, and the wine! Until next time...

Dietz Family Reunion

2011-07-11T21:07:00.004-05:00

We spent the weekend of the 4th reuniting with the Dietz family at Gramps and Kimmy Lou's house in San Antonio. My aunt, uncle, two cousins and their families all came to Texas. We had a blast and the kids loved getting to play with cousins they had never even met! We had a busy schedule as you can see!

Day 1: Morning horseback ride...

...followed by a trip to Wimberley, TX for some shopping, dinner, and a rodeo!

Day 2: Bus ride to downtown San Antonio for a private river boat tour, bus tour of historical landmarks...

...followed by a yummy catered dinner, swimming, and a mariachi band by the pool!

Day 3 : Happy 4th of July!! We spent the morning at The Creek, then went home to swim, have dinner and we even got some "fireworks" even though they were banned!!

What a great time! Thanks Gramps and Kimmy for all the planning and hard work! We loved seeing all the Dietz's and plan on not waiting so long to do it again!

Christmas 2010

2011-01-01T14:12:00.001-06:00

Just a quick recap of our Christmas this year!

Trimming the tree...

Visiting Santa...

Christmas Eve church with Melissa, Gramps, and Kimmy Lou...

Christmas Eve dinner...

Christmas morning presents with Nickie and Maddie...

The Bain nativity scene...

Christmas dinner...

Round 2 with the Bain's...

Christmas Round 3 in San Antonio...

Enjoying the creek...

Charlie's Birthday Bowl!!

2010-12-17T21:39:00.000-06:00

Charlie just can't get enough football and celebrated the big 7 with a flag football game. It was COLD out but the boys didn't care! There were lots of flagrant fouls, laughter, arguments with the ref (David), and of course lots of fun! Pretty much everything yo would expect with a bunch of little boys! Happy 7th birthday Charlie Bain!

Thanksgiving 2010!

2010-11-25T15:06:00.000-06:00

We were so thankful to get to spend Thanksgiving with BOTH of my sisters this year. It's hard for us all to get together and when we do, it's always such a good time! Mom made a fabulous turkey day meal and everyone stuffed themselves silly!

Each of us made one of the casseroles - I'm pretty sure mine was the tastiest! :)

We went to College Station to see the lights at Santaland. It was a warm night and the lights were beautiful as always. It was a great way to kick off the holidays!

The kids had a great time together!

And only in Texas, can you still swim in the lake on Thanksgiving - the kids were definitely thankful for that!

If it's not one sport, it's another...

2010-11-15T14:04:00.001-06:00

Both boys has super successful fall seasons! Jackson's soccer team, the Pumas, won the league this fall! Jackson plays mostly on defense and as you can imagine is super aggressive. He loves slide tackling - the ref does not love this! Charlie's baseball team, the Cyclones, won their fall league as well. Charlie plays mostly short stop. Both boys have been with both of these teams for many seasons. Jackson has played soccer with some of these boys since he was 5 and Charlie has been playing baseball with these boys since he was 4. Lots of fun!

Just a lot of treats this Halloween!

2010-10-31T22:46:00.002-05:00

Well, I really can't believe it but we missed the pumpkin patch this year. It is always one of my main priorities in October but well, life got in the way. We got some nice pumpkins from the local Kroger though and they worked just fine! (and were much cheaper!)

We had some neighbors over to eat mummy dogs and other goodies and the kids all looked adorable. The boys pretty much took off this year - there was no keeping up with them anymore! Camryn had the best time and loved it! She rode in her wagon from house to house and had no problems walking right up to the door and staring at them with her basket! David even dressed up this year in his vintage baseball uniform. Halloween is the beginning to my most favorite time of the year!

Jackson was a dirtbike rider - shocking, I know...

Charlie was a spooky dead pirate...

And Cami was a bumblebee...

Camryn Nicole is Two!

2010-10-28T21:49:00.003-05:00

My sweet baby girl has turned 2! I really can't believe it and while I love watching her grow up, it is a little bittersweet! To know that we will never have another little one toddling around the house saddens me. Camryn is such a fun, silly, sweet little girl! She is always watching, always observing. She adores her brothers, her babies, her dog, and her snacks. We love you little Cam - Happy 2nd Birthday!!

Seahawk Football 2010

2010-10-25T20:57:00.000-05:00

The boys both played on the Sampson Seahawks this fall. Jackson plays defense (usually safety or nose guard) and Charlie got to be a quarterback for his flag team. They both had fun seasons and both had a great time!

Charlie's team made it to the superbowl this year and unfortunately lost. They had a great time though and we were so proud of those little boys!

Win or lose, the boys both had the cutest cheerleader cheering them on!

We're Off!! Part two...

2010-08-26T09:40:00.003-05:00

Our little Camryn "little lamb" started her first day of school today. She did fine and could have cared less that we were leaving her there! Her teacher is Ms. Letty and we have never had her but have heard she is fabulous! Camryn will have so many little friends in there to encourage her speech and we are grateful she is able to go where the boys went. It's very weird to think all 3 of our kiddos are in school right now. I have a very quiet house!! We love you lamb and hope you have a great first day!

Of course she immediately found the babies!! A little mommy in the making!

We're Off!!

2010-08-23T12:09:00.014-05:00

The First Day of 1st and 3rd grade. Can't believe Summer has come and gone. It was a fun one but oh, so tiring!! I know there are many moms out there who cry when their kids go back to school - I must say I am not one of them at this point. I love my boys - don't get me wrong. My boys possess more energy in their little bodies than I thought was possible. I love their energy, in fact I admire their energy - but I don't share that same energy. We had a big summer (of which I promise to update my blog to show pics) and now is time to get down to the business of a routine and school. Routine is good for this mama. To quote something I believe David's mother has said - "How can I miss you if you never leave?" So very true today. Jackson and Charlie - I love you two like crazy - sometimes you even make me crazy - but I am so excited for what the year has to bring you both. I love you boys to pieces!

The picture makes me giggle - look at Camryn - it's a bit what I felt like but it would have been oh so inappropriate for me to do it!!

While I work on getting this blog up to date - here's a hint to what is coming in the future....

Are you ready for some football???

Traditions of Christmas

2009-12-10T17:53:00.001-06:00

Our most favorite part about the holidays are traditions. Some traditions we have from our childhood and others have been created later in life. One tradition that has occured for about 8 years is our "Fundue" night. When it was just Mimi, Papa, David and I, we used to get out fancy dishes, make a pretty table, make everything from scratch, and have a nice dinner. Actually, it was called "Fondue night" at that time. Three kids later, it has changed a lot. The boys coined the phrase "Fundue night" and it really is. Lots of laughing, lots of kissing, lots of eating, and lots of mess! If you drop your food in the fondue pot, you have to kiss someone. The boys love it! No more fancy tablecloth, fancy dishes, etc. While it has changed a lot, it is a ton of fun and something our kids will always remember!

Another tradition that has started since we had kids is going to the Galleria to see Santa. Camryn didn't love Santa so much! It's always a fun day and this day, we topped it off with dinner at the Cheesecake Factory.

Sampson Seahawks - Superbowl!!

2009-12-02T12:24:00.002-06:00

The boys rode to the superbowl in style!! It was such a treat for the kids to play at the Berry Center. Although it was FREEZING - it was really cool! They had a lot of fun and played hard. They unfortunately didn't come out on top but they had a super season! Jackson had such a blast and although he was disappointed to lose the big game - he would do it all again in a heartbeat!

2009-12-01T22:50:00.001-06:00

We spent our Thanksgiving in Chattanooga at the Siragusa's. We had a super fun time and loved it there! The weather was beautiful and there was so much to do. First off, this is the back of their house. They have plenty of room for my boys to run around!

They loved the trampoline and all of the leaves in it! Unfortunately, a lot of those leaves came inside with them in their clothes!

On our first day there, we headed up to a place called Rock City. Now I really didn't know what to expect and I really don't know how to describe it. It's a gorgeous set of pathways that were cut into giant rocks. It's up in Lookout Mountain so the views are amazing. There is a path called "Fat Man Squeeze". They had lights set up for a special Christmas Night that night. Hey Melissa, how come we didn't go at night? That would have been really neat!! (ha, ha)

At the park for a picnic...

...and at Rock City.

Camryn and I enjoying the view.

I loved this...

The next day, we went downtown to check out the city. We ate at a cute hot dog place called The Good Dog and walked across the 1/2 mile bridge to the other side of the town. After some yummy ice cream for the kids, we walked back. There was a great park that the kids could play ball in.

All the fresh air wore Camryn out. She never took a pacifier but had no problem falling asleep with this shoe in her mouth!

We went to the Chattanooga Aquarium which was very nice. The exhibits were the best I've seen at an aquarium and the kids loved the butterfly exhibit too. David learned what a docent was and poor Melissa got stuck talking to that sweet talkative docent. At times it seemed that even though it was crowded, people really left our group alone and often gave us plenty of space. (Why do you think that was Bry?)

On Friday night, we went out to eat and fought the crowds at the boat parade and lighting ceremony. It was cold but a great way to get us excited for Christmas.

And finally, I had to post this sweet, on accident picture of Maddie. Isn't she just gorgeous! I love this picture of her and yes, she is as sweet as she looks!

Thanks Siragusas for lots of laughs, lots of yummy food, and lots of great outings. We had a great time and love Chattanooga!

Halloween Fun!

2009-11-04T22:47:00.004-06:00

What fun it is to have a whole day of Halloween! We started out the morning with a soccer game but quickly got home to start the fun. We carved the pumpkins and they were our best ones yet! The boys did a great job cleaning them out and David did the carving. If you know my boys well, there is no way they can be around each other with a knife so Daddy did all of the carving! We had some friends over for chili and mummy dogs for dinner. I didn't get any pictures of that unfortunately! When the sun went down, we headed out! After the last treat was handed out, we hung out with our neighbors around a fire pit and let the kids run WILD! A great night!

Jackson was a dirtbike rider, Charlie a UPS man, and Camryn a 50's girl.

My boys...

Me and my girl...

Our spooky pumpkins!

Dear Time: Please Slow Down!!!

2009-11-01T15:18:00.006-06:00

It pains me to say that my little girl has turned ONE! She has been such an easy little girl and has been so much fun. She loves to dance, laugh, watch her brothers, kiss her puppy, love on mommy, and swing outside. I can't imagine life without Camryn and although it's been interesting adding a baby to our crazy household, she has given each of us a joy we would have never had. We love you sweet Cami girl!

On her "real" birthday, we met Daddy at the mall. (isn't that where all girls want to spend their birthday?) She rode on the carousel for her first time and wasn't quite sure about it!

On to her party! We had a fiesta complete with fajitas, cake and a pinata. We had lots of fun and were so glad to share the fun with friends and family!

Two of her three great-grandmas were there too!

Cake Time! She was much more dainty than the boys were. She loved it though!

Pumpkin Patch...

2009-11-01T14:01:00.001-06:00

I have to settle for 3 separate pictures at the patch this year. It just wasn't going to happen to get them all 3 together. That requires one of the boys to hold her and look anywhere in the vicinity of the camera and well, it doesn't happen!

This picture is on here simply because I love the back of her dress!

Major Catch-Up

2009-10-30T21:55:00.006-05:00

I have been horribly bad at updating the blog. Here is a major recap of what has been going on since the start of school. Quite frankly, it's been pure chaos! We have literally been at a practice or game every day of the week. Thankfully, the rain has given us a little break lately. The boys have done well but are tired! I think they will enjoy a little break when football is done in the next couple of weeks! Camryn is doing great. An absolute joy and quite a trooper as she spends way too much time at some type of sports field. I will post our pumpkin patch and her birthday pics tomorrow!

Jackson is playing soccer. His team is the Pumas. They have played together for many seasons. They have done really well and are undefeated so far this season. They are also playing up an age group so that is quite an accomplishment!

Jackson has also played his first year of tackle football. His team is the Sampson Seahawks. He is the smallest little guy on the team but he doesn't care. He plays mostly noseguard and is usually up against the biggest guys on the other team. He's tough and has made some good tackles. He is having a blast with it!

Charlie is of course still playing baseball as this is his love. The Cyclones had another great season and made it to the Championship game again but unfortunately didn't end up on top. A second place finish isn't too shabby!

Charlie is on the Sampson Seahawk Flag team. He has had fun even though the team didn't do all that well. He has learned quite a bit about the game and that's what is important, right?? Well, winning is much more fun but...

If the above is not enough, somehow they find time to sneak off to the track too. They finished Round 1 of the "Mini Wars" and came home with some hardware. Dad is happy!

Cam is crawling, laughing, spitting, getting close to walking, and eating a ton. She's still a peanut even though this little girl eats and eats and eats. More on her in the next post as we just celebrated her first birthday!

Camryn's Baptism

2009-08-23T11:37:00.002-05:00

We celebrated Camryn's baptism on Sunday. We were joined by Mimi, Papa, Gramps, Kimmy Lou, Mops, Pops, Jaime and Michael. I was hoping that maybe they could run the boys through again - I think they need a baptism booster!! We had a great time and enjoyed some laughs, food, and yummy cake at home. We love you Camryn!!

99 years!

2009-07-28T17:31:00.015-05:00

Our "Nonnie" just turned 99 this week! This is Ron's (my stepdad) mother. She does so well as you can see. The party was at the Walden Yacht Club and the singer had quite a group dancing for her. The kids loved it. Nonnie and Ron danced to "The Way You Look Tonight". It was sweet. The Kiehl's were in town for the party and it was so good to see them. They are all three so absolutely delightful and so grown up. Happy Birthday Nonnie! We can't wait for the big 100!!

Sister Beach Trip

2009-07-12T23:59:00.015-05:00

We just returned from our every other year beach trip with my sisters' families. We had a great time! Now I have to start working off the extra weight I gained. We ate like crazy!!

Lots of Boogie Boarding

Camryn

Claire

My Boys

Maddie

My nephew, Nickie, hates to have his pic taken but I think I got a few cute ones.

Our 3 beach bums!

Good Times!!

School's Out Beach Trip

2009-06-18T00:28:00.001-05:00

We were lucky enough to get to go to our friend's condo on South Padre Island. The weather was perfect, the beach was perfect, and the company was perfect. There were five rough boys and three girls in the clan. It was a great way to kick off our summer - thanks Callaways!

Being silly...

I can't get the image of Jaws out of my mind on this one...

Wipe out!!!

Cade and Charlie - talking about whatever 5 year olds talk about.

Another milestone...

2009-05-29T00:13:00.001-05:00

Charlie has graduated from St. John's preschool and is ready to go big at Sampson. I have been to St. John's every Monday, Wednesday, Friday for the past 5 years. It will be a bit weird to be out of that school for a couple years. They may be glad to have a Bain break! :) He graduated with his buddy Cade. They were awfully giggly during the ceremony! Afterwards, Cade's family came over to enjoy a cake that said, "Look out Sampson...Here comes Cade and Charlie!"

Charlie and his teacher - Ms. Kari

Charlie carried the flag during the graduation

Silly boys!

Graduation Cake

Champions!

2009-05-28T22:40:00.005-05:00

Charlie's 5U team won the League Championship game! It was a marathon of a game. It started one hour late because the field was flooded due to the sprinklers being left on all day. Then, since the game can't end in a tie - we had to play for a win. After almost two hours of playing time, we came out on top with a score of 35-30. These little boys did such a good job and it was a blast to watch them this season!

Taking after his Mommy!

2009-05-17T12:13:00.006-05:00

Charlie had his gymnastics program last night to show all he has learned. They do rings, high bar, parallel bars, pommel horse, floor, and vault. He really does well and I'd like to think he inherited a little bit of natural talent from his momma! While baseball is definitely his first love, I'd like to see him stick with this a bit too!

Charlie and his best bud Cade with Coach Mike

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2009-05-06T12:08:00.002-05:00

David hit the big 35 today! We left Camryn at home with Mops and Pops and headed to an Astros game. The night wasn't so great for the Astros but we had a good time!

So much excitement for a little girl...

6 months has flown by!

2009-04-28T11:54:00.002-05:00

Our little girl is already 6 months old! I really can't believe how fast time has passed. So, what is Camryn like at six months? Well, she adores her brothers, loves to smile, rolls around, still working on sitting real sturdy, sleeps from about 7:00pm - 7:30 am, and is an absolute joy! She is by far the easiest baby of the three. We love you Cammie!

Backyard Baseball

2009-04-26T11:45:00.003-05:00

Gramps came to visit this weekend, and when Gramps is here - you can bet there will be some backyard baseball going on! We had a great weekend!

Action packed Easter!

2009-04-15T13:24:00.016-05:00

Ok - we had a very action packed Easter. This post will just be a list of our many activities for the weekend...

1.) The very important dying of the Easter eggs

2.) An impromtu photography session by Jakcson and Charlie

3.) Jumping through hoops - Literally!

4.) Easter surprises

5.)Chocolate Egg Hunt

6.)Ready for Church

7.)Egg Hunt

8.) Confetti Eggs (are these supposed to hurt so bad??)

9.) An Easter boatride - and more importantly - Cam's inaugural boat ride!

10.) Sleep, sleep, sleep! Whew! We were tired but had a great time! Thanks Mimi and Papa!

Mama, don't let your babies...

2009-04-01T13:04:00.002-05:00

...grow up to be cowboys! I don't think my sister or I have to worry about that! This year the kids were all about the carnival rides and food at the rodeo this year. We did the Ag center for about an hour and they were done with it! My how times have changed! My sister and her fam were in town for Spring Break and we hit up the rodeo and had a great time. Mimi and Papa joined us there too. We had a great week with the Logeman kids. We went to Galveston too but I didn't get any pictures because I forgot my camera (and diapers too!) Here are some of my favorite pictures...

Mimi went on the flying ride with Connor and Jackson!

Claire enjoyed being the big girl to Camryn!

A VERY Belated Birthday Post!

2009-03-30T17:24:00.004-05:00

Do you ever feel like you are so behind that instead of even attempting to get caught up you just do nothing instead. Well, that has been me for the past month or so. Maybe I am just now coming out of the baby fog? Surely I can blame it on that! Anyhow, Jackson had a great 7th Birthday at the batting cages. We took 15 boys (and Cam) to the batting cages. They all hit in the cages for a bit and then they played a game of whiffle ball. It was a fun time and the boys were really funny and very silly.

It's GONE.....ALL GONE!!!

2009-02-26T15:29:00.002-06:00

Well, it was a hard day for us today..... Charlie decided he wanted to cut his hair all off! While I dreaded "doing" his hair every mornng, it made me sad to see all those cute blonde curls get cut off. He still looks handsome and a bit more sweet and innocent now. David was crushed - I had to remind him it is just hair. I hope he grows it out again one day though.

Before...

During...

After!

Telluride - Day 5

2009-02-09T21:27:00.003-06:00

This is it....the last day of skiing. The boys stayed out most of the day while Camryn and I stayed in. We went to the grocery store via the Gondola. It's a different life out here! Dad and I went into town to walk around. The snow is still coming down heavily as I type. We have had a great trip and are so thankful for such a great time! We are passing the torch over to the Siragusa's as they are coming up tomorrow when we leave.

Telluride - Day 4

2009-02-08T21:11:00.002-06:00

Well, the snow finally came early this afternoon - and boy did it come! The boys did another full day of skiing. I met them in the afternoon and let's just say if it weren't for the boys - I would certainly not have been out on that mountain in the massive snow storm. My toes were numb, my face was numb, I couldn't see out of my sunglasses, and well, it seemed like being inside was the best idea. However, I tried my best to buck up and be a good boy mommy. We went out to eat to a yummy Mexican place and Camryn looked adorable today in a cute little outfit Gramps and Miss Kim had given her for Christmas.

Before the snow...

Riding in the Gondola in the snow

Telluride - Day 3

2009-02-07T15:36:00.003-06:00

The day started out with anticipation of a big snow storm coming. We waited, and waited, and waited but it never came. So, we had another good day of skiing in some sun, but a mostly cloudy day. Charlie and I headed in early and started the hot tub session. We stayed in and had some yummy soup and chili. We ended the night with a game of Yahtzee (I won by the way!) We went to sleep assuming we would wake up to tons of snow!

cuddle time with Charlie

Telluride - Day 2

2009-02-06T15:16:00.004-06:00

We had our first day of skiing and it was a beautiful day! David, Dad and the boys went out first thing and the boys got their skiing legs back on. I went out for a few hours in the morning and then again in the afternoon. The boys did great. I had a great time skiing but felt rather out of shape - my thighs were a burnin'! Miss Kim and Kyle went out on the mountain too and Jackson finished his day with Miss Kim down the slopes. After a hard day of skiing, the boys went in the hot tub and we had another great dinner in town. Charlie fell asleep at the table which is a usual thing for him here.

Telluride - Day 1

2009-02-05T15:08:00.002-06:00

We had a suprisingly easy time at the airport with all of our luggage and children. The flight was a breeze and Camryn did just fine. We loaded up Dad's car in Montrose and headed for Telluride. It was a gorgeous day. We rented our skis and headed out for a yummy Italian dinner.

ok - this is a horrible pic of me but I thought it was funny that the man at the airport wanted to take a picture for us. I now know that if I am ever on an episode of What Not to Wear - this sweater is one of those things they will throw away!

A Few of Our Favorite Things.....

2009-01-27T20:08:00.002-06:00

Lounging with Charlie on the couch when he gets home from school

Accessorizing (this is NOT daddy's favorite thing!)

standing, standing, standing (she LOVES doing this!)

Kevin Windham - big supercross rider

Growing like a weed (well, that may be pushing it)

2009-01-23T00:24:00.005-06:00

Our little bit is now 8 whole pounds! I had to put most all of her preemie clothes up which has made me a bit sad. On a lighter note, I am so happy that I have found a play gym that is still just toys hanging down with no lights or noise. I tried so hard to find one for Christmas with no luck but finally came across one. Does every baby toy really need to have lights, music and vibrate?

Playing Catch-Up

2009-01-20T23:54:00.000-06:00

It's been quite some time since I've blogged. Not sure why - maybe because all of the tv shows are back on and new again or maybe because I'm just being lazy. We had a great Christmas. We spent Christmas with the Bain's and then went to San Antonio to see my side of the family.

Lots of pics below...

Santa Clause at the Galleria

Our Santa Baby

The kids before Christmas Eve church

Christmas Eve nativity scene (Camryn is baby Jesus)

Charlie's new dirtbike from Santa

Jackson's new DS (Ask me to tell you why he is on his THIRD DS someday)

This picture makes me giggle because Charlie looks like such a punk :)

The kids with Great Grandma and Grandpa (my grandparents)

Charlie with his namesake - Charlie Dietz (my grandpa)

Lights in Aggieland!

2008-12-13T23:22:00.002-06:00

Well, as most of you know we aren't huge Aggie fans but went up to College Station for a beautiful Christmas light show. We went up with our friends the Richters and minus the detour through Midland (ha,ha) to get there - we had a great time!! I highly recommend it and although Jackson may get beat up in the years to come by proclaiming "I hate the Aggies" during our hayride filled with Aggies, it is something we look forward to doing in the years ahead.

What a bunch of goofballs!!

Camryn thoroughly enjoyed the view from her pouch!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!!

2008-12-10T23:10:00.001-06:00

In a very rare and unusual occurance, we got SNOW here! It started right after Charlie got home from school. He was running around like crazy with his tongue out trying to get a taste of it! The snow continued for even Jackson to have some fun in it when he got home from school. What a treat!

Seriously??

2008-12-07T22:28:00.000-06:00

Is our baby boy really 5? It can't seem possible but yet I know that time is flying by! Charlie had a camo themed birthday party at a fun place where boys can ....well, just be boys. The owner said it was the "best party ever" because a lot of parents were out there playing along. I think fun was had by all and it was a very easy party for me!

The zip line was a big hit!

Although this hair drives me crazy sometimes, he does look like the ultimate skateboarder!

Finally....his new bike!

It's the Superbowl baby!!

2008-12-05T23:10:00.002-06:00

Jackson's flag football team made it to the superbowl. We met up at the school for some tailgating and car decorating. It was FREEZING out but lots of fun. They got to play under the lights and had a great time. In the end, we did not come out victorious but the boys got 2nd in their league - a great accomplishment!

Lots of giggles on gobble day!

2008-12-01T21:33:00.004-06:00

We spent Thanksgiving weekend at Mimi and Papa's house. All the kiddos had a great time - it is major chaos when these kids all get together. Lots of giggles, lots of foul noises, and more giggles. We have much to be thankful for this year. We have a sweet baby girl, the boys are healthy and are doing well in school, David has a job he actually enjoys, we have amazing friends and family.

Ice Skating the day before...

Jackson lost his 2nd tooth on Turkey Day!

I couldn't resist this turkey onsie - I ordered it for her while I was in the hospital before she was born. David was so worried I was doing some major internet shopping but this was all I bought!

She's growing!

2008-11-19T19:12:00.000-06:00

Camryn went to see the Dr. and she got a thumbs up for her growth! She is now 4 lbs 9 oz.

FINALLY!!

2008-11-14T19:06:00.000-06:00

Jackson lost his first tooth today finally! This boy was convinced that they would never come out as all of his friends have already lost numerous teeth! It was hanging by a thread so he let Daddy pull it. He was SO excited!

Home Sweet Home!

2008-11-11T18:58:00.000-06:00

Camryn came home today! We are thrilled to have her home and thrilled to not be driving to the hospital anymore! They transferred her to an open crib (no heat provided) in the middle of the night and she has maintained her temp just fine. I figure between the constant beeping of machines in the NICU and the sound of construction constantly, she will have no problems adjusting to the chaos of our house.

Her "open crib"

Riding in the carseat - her first glimpse of sunlight!

There's no place like home!

Big Brothers

2008-11-05T18:41:00.001-06:00

Today the boys got to go up and see Camryn. They get to go in for 20 min. so we raced them up there and then raced them home for Charlie's tball game. I think they like her but she is rather boring to them right now. I'm sure that will change!

Jackson - Mini War Round 1

2008-11-02T18:49:00.000-06:00

Jackson is participating in a series of races called the mini wars. The first round was today and he got first place in one class that consisted of bikes just like his and he got fifth in the other class the consisted of bigger bikes than his. He had a tough race in the class he won because he fell twice in his second moto. He cried the entire time he was racing and was so mad. I guess that anger helped because he caught all the way up! David was so proud of him that he didn't give up - an important life lesson!

Under the Lights...

2008-11-01T18:32:00.002-05:00

Camryn gets to be in a tanning bed for a day for her jaundice! The two big stickers next to her eyes are velcro for her protective eyewear!

Halloween 2008

2008-10-31T17:30:00.001-05:00

We had a great Halloween this year and this was the day I got to come home from the hospital. The boys had fun and while Camryn had no clue of course, she got to be a little ghost thanks to our friend Kristi! The nurses loved it!

Happy Birthday!!

2008-10-29T19:31:00.004-05:00

Camryn made her early entrance yesterday at 12:47pm. The c-section went very well and she did amazing. She didn't need any breathing assistance at all! She is 3lbs. 9oz. and a whopping 15 in. long. She is so sweet and so calm. We are probably looking at a 2-3 week stay in the NICU. We are thrilled beyond words that everything went so well. She and I already had a discussion where she promised me that she will NEVER put me through that amount of stress and worry ever again!

baby update...

2008-10-20T18:38:00.002-05:00

I was admitted to the hospital today so they could keep a closer eye on the baby. She only grew 1 oz. in 10 days - so basically nothing. She looked healthy again on ultrasound though and has passed all of her non-stress tests. If this continues - we will deliver on Oct. 28th at noon. I can't believe that is only one week away!! If she shows any signs of stress or deterioration - they will just take her immediately but we'd all like to see her given at least one more week to mature. So, the next update will hopefully be pictures of our teeny, tiny HEALTHY little girl!!

I had to get this in...

2008-10-05T22:47:00.006-05:00

With my Dr's threats of possible hospitalization and early delivery, I knew I wanted to get to the pumpkin patch as this is one of my favorite things to do each year. As always, we tried to get "The Picture" first which didn't really go so well this year, then the bounce house, then the train ride, then the snow cones, and finally pick out your pumpkins to take home. The boys had a great time but as they get older, you can tell it's just not as exciting as it used to be. Don't worry though, as you'll see below they will find a way to liven this pumpkin patch up!

Let's not sit on the turkey like all the other kids - let's jump off of it!!

Wait...even better....if we really try hard - we can totally take this turkey apart!!!

Just for the record!

2008-10-04T18:16:00.000-05:00

If you see my cute, sweet, innocent blonde boy in this hat - just know that I did not approve of his, let's see, I think my husband calls it his "awesome nickname"on his baseball hat. So, in the spirit of the upcoming election - This hat was NOT endorsed or approved of by mom.

Track Day

2008-09-28T09:47:00.003-05:00

Well I did something today I don't normally do - I went to the motorcycle track with the boys. I figured I hadn't been in quite some time and with the baby coming, I might not be going for awhile after that. The boys are doing so well and they have both really come a long way since I last saw them. Jackson is getting used to a bigger bike so Charlie loved taking advantage of that and passing him at any opportunity. While I sit and watch I question why I allow them to do this but the joy they have on their faces when they ride is just undeniable!

Charlie...

Jackson...

They could do this for endless hours...

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words!

2008-09-24T10:13:00.000-05:00

This picture of Charlie is my new favorite for many reasons. One, because per my extremely biased opinion - he is adorable. Secondly, we were giggling that day and had a fun day outside playing catch and soccer together. But mostly, because I think this little boy is finally truly at peace and happy. Now if you don't know Charlie well, I guess I should explain. This gorgeous baby was the easiest baby ever. So much so that David and I always felt guilty for how easy he was. Then literally, on his first birthday, his whole demeanor changed. For the next three years, he was frustrated, angry, physical, and was quite a challange on many levels. He was that child that everyone had to walk on egg shells around. We have seen him finally come out of the fog throughout the summer and even more so as this school year has started and he is delightful to be around. He just has a calmness and sense of sureness about him that I haven't seen in him before. He still has his same spunky personality, but it is controlled and he is clearly happy - which makes me one happy mommy!

The Calm Before the Storm

2008-09-19T15:26:00.003-05:00

The sky was really gorgeous right before Ike came through. We are good and only lost a fence and a garage door. We got our power back on Monday which was "totally unacceptable" (a joke b/w David and I) to me but I know we are VERY lucky as there as many without power still as I type!

Lyla was unfazed by the storm - she was just thrilled to have a new bone to entertain her!

It's all fun and games......

2008-09-10T20:26:00.004-05:00

until someone gets hurt :(

Labor Day 2008

2008-09-01T20:28:00.000-05:00

Every year, David's family gets together in New Braunfels for Labor Day. The kids spend the weekend floating the river, going to Schlitterbahn, playing at the park, and basically running around like rag-a-muffins. They have a great time and this year was no exception!

The boogie boards at Schlitterbahn are always a favorite. Someone in our crew always manages to give the crowd a peep show. Last year it was David, but this year Melissa gave the show! (Don't worry Mel, I don't have any revealing pics!)

It's My Turn!

2008-08-27T21:06:00.002-05:00

Charlie had his first day of pre-K. He was very excited and was very ready to go! He's already asking me how many days he has to be in pre-K before he can go to kindergarten - always trying to catch up to big brother!

Skate or Die

2008-08-26T21:20:00.004-05:00

There is a funny story from David's childhood about skateboarding. Bill, David's dad, built the boys a big skate ramp which of course wasn't really aloud per the deed restrictions. Anyhow, Peggy wanted the boys to have their parents sign something that said they could be on the skate ramp. One of the friend's mom wrote, "Ozzie has my permission to skate or die." It's always a funny story to me. So today, when the boys were out skateboarding, I couldn't resist taking pics of them just in the beginning of the "skate or die" phase.

A day of Firsts!!

2008-08-25T17:04:00.003-05:00

Today was Jackson's FIRST day of FIRST grade. Once we got over getting up at the crack of dawn, he was ready to go. He was very excited and rode his bike to school with his friends. I met him up there today for the first day to make sure he knew how to get to his classroom which he did. He had a great day and loves his new teacher - Mrs. Alexander. I think it is going to be a great year for him - his teachers seem fantastic (and by my own admission, I know I am hard to please!)

Speaking of firsts, today was the FIRST time we got ONLY good news from our Dr.'s appointments. The cardiologist was very pleased with Camryn's heart and her aortic valve now falls right within the bell curve. Her two vessel cord is holding up just fine and blood flow is perfect. She says she doesn't need to see me again! Yeah! She may do an echo on her heart once she is here but says she really has no concerns at all. AND, the Dr. that seems impossible to please (my perinatologist) said she was "pleased with how she is doing." Not only did Camryn not fall any further behind on her growth but she actually made up some time so she is only 7 days behind which is just fine! The ultrasound tech tried to get a good 3-D picture for me but Camryn put both hands on her eyes. She said she'd try next time to get me that good facial shot. Maybe though, a little element of surprise in this whole process may be nice.

Gramps Camp

2008-08-12T16:46:00.000-05:00

We just spent a wonderful 5 days at the Hill Country Hyatt for Gramps Camp. We had a great time and the kids got quite spoiled with an organized activity every minute of the day. We also went to Sea World on what felt like the hottest day of the year but I'm sure that's not really so. Gramps and Miss Kim made sure it was a fabulous time for all and we are so thankful for a great vacation - THANKS!!

The log flume....the best part of this was the teenage attendant giving me a speech about riding this pregnant.

The alligators Miss Kim brought provided hours of entertainment.

Water Balloon toss....the winners were two competitive dads. (What wife would let her husband do that???)

Smore's at night! I am quite certain Camryn will love smore's as I indulged in them every night!

Catherine - the future water ski babe. Hopefully they will have updated thier outfits by then and allow the girls to do some of the cooler stuff!

Go Cyclones!

2008-08-03T21:31:00.003-05:00

We had our summer tournament over the weekend and the boys did great. We lost the championship game by one so we ended up in second place. We so had that team beat but totally fell apart in the last two innings. Oh well! The boys didn't care as they got a nice trophy after the game which is all they really cared about. It was miserably hot so some of us went over to the Bain's to relax at the lake after it was over. The boys had a great time there as usual and I think the Dad's had a pretty good time too! :)

A Strong Heart

2008-07-29T11:14:00.002-05:00

We just got back from the cardiologist at TCH and she said her heart looks great! There was nothing that is a cause for concern. She said that her heart would definitely not fit into what is typically seen in a T13/T18 baby which was great to hear. The only thing she wants to follow up with is the size of her aortic valve which measured a bit small but was nothing serious. It was a good appointment and David and I feel much better knowing that God has given her the tools she needs to be healthy. So, I am hoping that our only existing issue right now with this little girl is her size which is something I have struggled with my whole life. Like mother like daughter!

Lessons

2008-07-24T21:14:00.002-05:00

My little girl crazy Jackson learned a tough lesson about girls today. He was ice skating with his cousin Maddie and apparantly a little girl, also 6, approached them and was quite the talker and show off. So, when she was skating in the middle of the rink, Jackson took off to chase her and show off. Well, his wobbly ankles got the best of him and he crashed and busted his lip open and had to come off the ice for some clean up. I think an important lesson was learned but I'm sure he'll have to learn it again one day...

If your going to chase down a girl...you'll probably end up getting hurt.

Two steps forward, one step back

2008-07-22T13:16:00.002-05:00

Well, I was hoping this would be the last baby update needed and that we would be smooth sailing after today but that is unfortunately not the case. The baby herself looked great again and as we saw three weeks ago looks anatomically great! Unfortunately, most babies have a three vessel umbilical cord and our little girl only has two vessels. That in and of itself isn't a HUGE deal but it is indicitive of a possible chromosome disorder and given that we already are at a high risk, this isn't exactly the news I was wanting. 2/3 of the babies with the two vessel cord are born completely healthy, and 1/3 of the babies have some sort of heart defect/kidney defect or chromosome abnormality. From what she could tell today, the heart looked structurally correct with no apparant holes, the kidneys are structurally sound, and she confirmed that she does not have a cleft lip palate or rocker bottom feet which are two more frequent markers of the Trisomy 13/18 babies.

So all in all, we are still hoping for the best as they can still find nothing on her body that looks abnormal in any way. I am going to go to a cardiologist at Texas Children's in the next 1-2 weeks so he can hopefully definitively tell us if the heart looks like it can/will function properly. The only other issue is that she has definitely grown in the last 3 weeks but has fallen back a little in size. My regular OB wasn't too concerned with this though as she knows that my babies full term are only about 6 lb babies. If her growth continues to slow down, I may have to go on bedrest at some point b/c due to the 2 vessel cord, it can cause problems sustaining a third trimester baby. I of course will do it if I have to but am simply not able to imagine being on bedrest with the boys running around. That has nightmare written all over it!!

At this point, we are opting out of the amnio. It is getting to a point that it is too risky for us to feel comfortable and it wouldn't change our course of action anyhow. Given the issues at hand, we will have a NICU Dr at the delivery most likely anyhow and will definitely have a chromosome test done after she is here to "just know" even if she appears healthy. David and I are I think at peace with any possibility at this point but really would just love to know for sure what is going on. We are getting a lesson in patience and faith right now which was probably well needed anyhow!! :)

We are spoiled!

2008-07-13T20:27:00.004-05:00

We had yet another amazing day out on the lake today. This time it was Lake Houston with our friends the Richters who graciously took us out on their boat. We had a great time and as usual laughed a lot. Clayton and David looked absolutely hilarious in the tube together as I am sure you'll agree and Kristi really got them good! Thanks Kristi! It was Madison's first time out on the boat and she did great and didn't get a lick of sun! (just a football to the head!) We did have a minor accident that involved David, Clayton, and an almost chopped off big toe but I'll spare you the details!

The Dads' ride was so bumpy that I couldn't get a good pic of it but here is what they looked like afterwards. This pictures really don't show just how funny they looked!

Sweet Madison - just chillin' on the lake...

Really....we do like eachother!

2008-07-07T21:01:00.000-05:00

I CAUGHT the boys actually getting along in the backyard having a friendly game of flag football. This has been a rare occurance this summer and I think at times if I let them really have at it with eachother they would do some serious damage to one another. So, it has been a summer full of breaking up many a fights. But, here was proof that there was one shining moment where they actually got along and dare I say enjoyed eachother!?!

Independence Day

2008-07-04T14:40:00.000-05:00

As always, our 4th started off with the ever so steamy Coles annual parade. I had to work the night before so I slept through the parade. It sounded to be more of the same so I am glad I opted to sleep so I could enjoy the rest of the day!

We went to the Bain's house and the kids played all day on the lake. The neighbors had a great fireworks show and Charlie learned an important lesson about fireworks. Shoes should be worn at all times. The poor little guy stepped on some sparkler droppings and got two burns on the

bottom of his foot......lesson learned.

Baby Update

2008-07-03T15:15:00.005-05:00

As most of you know, after some testing in our 11th week, we were put into a "high risk" group for a chromosome disorder called Trisomy 18 and/or Trisomy 13. For some reason, because of the devastating and similar effects it has on the baby, they are grouped together. These disorders are typically called "incompatible with life" and about 70% of the babies diagnosed in utero are terminated due to the grave outcomes. Only about 10% of the babies diagnosed in utero that are not terminated actually even make it to birth because of the serious implications it has on basically all of the vital organs. There was no question in our minds that we would not terminate the pregnancy. If she is not ok, we were/are willing to let God decide when her time would be. We wanted no part in that decision.

So, as you can imagine it was quite a shock to us. The genetics counselor we dealt with suggested an amnio as did my OB. David and I felt rather strongly from the beginning that we did not want the amnio but the more we spoke with the Dr and genetics counselor, we started to sway our opinion and figured we just needed to know. We were told we needed to follow up with a perinatologist for a US to look for the markers of this disorder. We had decided previously that if she found anything, we would have the amnio - if not, no amnio. Well today was the day and I started bawling before she even turned on the machine. This week was a rough one for me and I felt like I could barely catch my breath at times. I have never felt angry, or sorry for myself during this but the realization that we may have to bury a baby had gotten the best of me this week. I knew we would get through it, I knew we would be ok, but I knew it would be devastating and the hardest thing David or I would ever have to do.

So, on to the good news -- as of right now, the Dr found not one thing wrong with the baby!! She measured perfectly on all parts of her body and she could see all 4 chambers of the heart. She is progressing perfectly. The Dr still said we could do the amnio to know for sure but we decided to stick with what we had previously decided and not do it. While we are not completely out of the woods, this was a major step in the right direction. We go back in 3 weeks to take a closer look at her heart. These babies are so severe that typically several things are seen on ultrasound immediately. Have there been babies born with this that had normal ultrasounds - yes, but it is rare. If the heart shows some issues in 3 weeks, we may go ahead with the amnio but we are hopeful that the good news will continue.

The Dr did say that due to my blood levels being so off, it may suggest a complication with the pregnancy down the road. It may cause pre-eclampsia, pre-term labor, poor placental function, or low amniotic fluid levels, etc. She told me this after I called the testing we did "that stupid test" Ok, I acted like a 5 year old for a minute but I couldn't help myself. She wanted to be sure that I knew that the test wasn't "stupid" so she rattled off all sorts of things my stupid test may be trying to tell me even if my little girl doesn't have a chromosome disorder. I guess she told me!

I know many of you have been praying for us and I certainly appreciate it. I have decided right now to "let go" of the fear and allow myself the joy in thinking about my little girl coming home to us in December! I know it is out of my hands and I know that her path was decided long before we even did that "stupid test". So, here is a picture of our little girl - well, actually it is of her girl parts. She is sitting in a straddle and the 3 little white lines is her girl parts! I figured if David got to show off the boys' boy parts than I get to show hers off too!! I'm sure I'll get a, "that is so embarrassing" remark from her someday

Friends,Food,Fun,Family

2008-06-15T14:50:00.002-05:00

I think our basic needs are friends, food, fun, family. Really besides God, do we need anything else??? We had a great time with the Richters at Mops and Pops' lake. The Richters have two boys Jackson and Charlie's ages and a little girl Madison who will be almost exactly one year older than our little girl. They are a great family and have become fabulous friends of ours.

Chase and Jackson had too much fun being pulled by the wave runner on the huge raft and the little boys took it a bit slower by sitting in chairs in the water waiting to be slammed with water by the jet ski. Apparantly that's a ball when your a little boy. Mommy didn't think it was all that hilarious being that I always had my camera in my hands when the huge tidal wave would come. That of course made it that much more fun for David and the boys.

Miss Lyla loves the lake as well. My prissy, girly, lap dog (yes, I am being sarcastic - she is anything but those things) loves the motorcycle track and also love swimming in the lake and rolling around in the sand. Obviously, I don't know how to raise a proper little girl! :)

VBS 08

2008-06-13T14:29:00.002-05:00

Another year of VBS has come and gone. It was as always a blast for the kids. My sister Jennifer and her kiddos came down and my mom volunteered with us as well. I taught Charlie's preschool class which he loved but I sure missed the "big kid" VBS part. It was a great week and our kids had a great time together.

The kids had some spats but the main arguments were between Miss Claire and Lyla. Let's just say Claire is not a Lyla fan. We also learned that Connor is destined to be a guitar player as he literally played "air guitar" the entire Lads concert. Speaking of the Lads, they are a Christian rock band that all of the kids love. The guitarist is a bit of eye candy for the moms volunteering so I've attached a pic of him too! There was a giant foam machine a the concert too which the kids had fun playing in. It really is a great event and although I am a bit biased since we go to the church I truly think it is the best VBS of all. They definitely make it an event the kids will never forget.

And last but not least - have you seen the new hairdo that is all the rage??? Jen and I were thinking of sporting it at Halloween next year!

just because....

2008-05-15T14:19:00.001-05:00

Here are some pics of Lyla. She is an absolute mess but is so darn cute.... and she puts up with the boys which is no easy task. They don't give her a minute of peace and are constantly messing with her.

Where in the world is the Bain family?

2008-05-03T17:42:00.004-05:00

Well, chances are......we are on some sporting field. While Matt Lauer's whereabouts may be harder to guess - we are pretty easy. I feel as though we have spent every waking minute lately either at a game or practice. We have been juggling 2 soccer teams and 1 baseball team. Luckily, soccer is basically over. Does baseball ever end??? Apparantly not - the Cyclones are sticking together for summer ball. The parents are great, the kids are great and well, I think the adults are having too much fun to quit! Here are some pics of Jackson.......

Happy Easter

2008-03-23T13:27:00.000-05:00

We spent Easter with the Bain's and had a great day. We had an egg hunt and also a confetti egg fight. Poor Pops and Daddy got the brunt of that!

Rodeo Part 2

2008-03-20T13:19:00.000-05:00

We went back to the Rodeo with our neighors to let the kids do the carnival stuff. It was great because they were all old enough to enjoy the rides by themselves so we got to stay back and enjoy watching the smiles on their faces and the screams of pure excitement.

Miss Lyla

2008-03-15T13:11:00.000-05:00

Well, after much thought and begging for my husband to agree, (well, he never really did but I got him as close as I could) we got the boys a puppy. Now anyone who knows me knows that I am not much of a dog person anymore but this little girl has stolen my heart. She is a Cavachon and is such a cutie! The boys love her and well, David absolutely adores her but he will never admit it. We are definitely going through the puppy stages of biting, getting into things, and the lovely potty training but I think she is the perfect fit for our family. We surprised the boys and they were about speechless when we picked her up as they had no clue. We had to drive 3 hours to get her and they thought we were going to a farm. It was a fun surprise!

Muttin' Bustin'

2008-03-12T12:53:00.001-05:00

We did the yearly outing to the rodeo this year with Mimi, Papa, and the Logeman's. I think fun was had by all. We saw the baby chicks coming out of their shells, brand new baby cows, and we all were introduced to Muttin' Bustin'. Now clearly if Jennifer and I knew what this was before we entered our eldest children in the event, we probably would have had nothing to do with it. Muttin' Bustin' is riding on sheep and trying to stay on for 6 seconds like a bull. It is bareback and the kids basically just hold on to their wool for dear life. They both did great and they thought it was fun. Connor was too old to be in the actual competition but Jackson won his competition and won a shiny belt buckle. He was thrilled - he was the only one to hang on for the full 6 seconds. It was a sight to see!!

Jackson's Brithday - Part 2

2008-02-28T00:10:00.000-06:00

I sure sign that Jackson is getting older is that I didn't get the usual "chicken nuggets and
mac-n-cheese" request for his birthday dinner. This year instead he requested steak, his favorite rice (rice pilaf) and shrimp! Daddy put together a fabulous meal while Jackson and I were at his soccer practice and Jackson loved it. Charlie gave Jackson a skateboard for his birthday and I know Jackson was thrilled.

Pure Joy!

2008-02-25T23:52:00.002-06:00

Gramps and Miss Kim took us on an amazing trip to Telluride. I absolutely love this place and while Dad swears I would get tired of it after a long winter - I can't imagine. To me, it is about as close to perfect as it gets. The boys had never seen snow before and they immediately dove in as soon as we got there. Jackson couldn't resist himself and he had to lay down and make snow angels in the first 10 minutes. The boys did so well skiing and loved it. Charlie didn't quite mesh with Mary Pat the ski instructor (imagine that?) but he caught on fine with us. It was beautiful scenery with loads of good food, fun, and memories to cherish! Thanks Gramps and Miss Kim!!

Can it Be??

2008-02-16T23:34:00.000-06:00

Somehow, someway our little boy is already turning 6! Jackson wanted to have his party at the Supercross this year and while I was a bit nervous about taking 8 little boys to Reliant Stadium - it was a ton of fun. I think they had a great time and I am pretty sure it is a night Jackson will always remember. We gave the boys red "fauxhawks" and they all thought they were beyond cool!

Pizza at home beforehand....

Friends, Fun, and Fireworks

2008-01-01T23:24:00.000-06:00

We were able to spend New Year's night with the Sipkema's and do a few fireworks. It was great to get to spend it with them as they are moving in two weeks :( We will miss them tremendously. The boys have been playing with Isabel and Loes for as long as they have been able to walk so it will be quite an adjustment without them. We are keeping our fingers and toes crossed that they will move back quickly!!!

The Birth of Baby Jesus - Bain Style

2007-12-29T23:15:00.002-06:00

We celebrated Christmas #3 with the Bain's, Johnston's, Stewart's, and Aunt Jaime. They always like to reinact (that's a term I'll use loosely) the birth of baby Jesus. Birdie the dog was our baby Jesus this year. We had a great time and this was a great end to the Christmas Season!

Did Jackson raid Elton John's closet??

We Wish You a Merry Christmas!

2007-12-26T22:36:00.000-06:00

We had yet another fabulous Christmas! We were at my sister's house and she really showed us a great time and the food was scrumptious as always! The kids had a great time playing with their cousins and also getting to goof around with Gramps and Miss Kim. Electronics seemed to be the big gift this year and it only reminded me how quickly these little boys are growing up. Thanks Logemans for a memorable Christmas!

Twas the Night Before Christmas......

Game Time!

FUN-do!!

2007-12-17T22:54:00.000-06:00

Every year we do a fondue night to celebrate Christmas with Mimi and Papa. The boys have coined the night "Fun - do" night and it is always a night filled with laughter! Mimi makes some great fondue dips and not only is the food awesome but if you loose your food in the dip - you "owe" someone a kiss. The boys get a big kick out of this and I think we will all take kisses from them as long as they will give them. David, on the other hand, drops his food on purpose - shocking, right??

This also happened to be Charlie's REAL birthday so we had a special dessert!

Heaven on Earth....

2007-12-09T16:59:00.000-06:00

The motorcycle track is literally heaven on earth for my boys (all 3 of them!) I rarely go to the track for numerous reasons (fear being the biggest) but I decided to be a trooper and go this time. It was pretty fun I must admit. These little guys are just like mini men at the track and the men act like a bunch of little boys having a blast. Jackson is riding really well and against my better judgement Charlie rode for the first time by himself today too but just on the field. Jackson is starting to actually get air on the jumps. I have a hard time watching because I am in a constant state of fear! They all love it though and smile ear to ear the entire time we are there, so for that I am grateful I guess! :)

Happy Birthday Charlie!

2007-12-08T16:42:00.000-06:00

Our little guy is already 4! I can't really believe it. Time is flying a little too fast - as fun as it is at this age, it's hard to realize he's not a baby anymore. He had a super hero party at Pump it Up and had a blast. We had 21 kids jumping and running like crazy and several mommy's and grandmas having some fun on the super slides too!!

We went scary this year!

2007-11-01T20:47:00.000-05:00

We had a great Halloween last night. The weather was pretty perfect - not too hot, not too cold, and not raining! The boys each picked out their costumes about a month ago out of a catalog and both decided to go scary this year. Well, Charlie thinks his is scary but the only thing scary about his costume was the fact that you could see is undies hanging out the back. They lasted a long time this year but the sprint from house to house slowly turned into slow walk by the end of the night. Their mops and pops and Aunt Jaime came over to join in on the fun. The poor kids who came to our house were probably wondering why we had two refrigerators, a washer and dryer, and a kitchen table in our living room and entry way. (I am getting my floors done! YIPEE!!) Well, here are my scary little guys!

And don't forget the best part of the night..........................................

SORTING THE CANDY!! :)

From the patch to the porch!

2007-10-21T18:08:00.000-05:00

We had our annual trip to the pumpkin patch today. Fun was had by all. I don't think that when we grew up the pumpkin patch entailed a bounce house, snow cones, a train ride, a hay ride, and a giant slide but I guess times have changed!! When we got home, the boys of course wanted to carve a pumpkin. Charlie was totally grossed out with the pumpkin slime at first and of course Jackson decided the messier, the better.

And in case you were wondering, testosterone in our house is even out in full force while carving pumpkins - who knew?

Little candy pumpkins and wood floors

2007-10-17T12:43:00.000-05:00

What a day it is going to be since it began with an argument over tiny candy pumpkins. The day started out with one tiny little 3 year old begging for a candy pumpkin. After said 3 year old got dressed for school and brushed his teeth - I obliged with a little candy pumpkin. Well, I should have known better. Next, little 3 year old said, "I will go to school without tears if I can have more candy pumpkins." "No" I said, "we agreed that we will have one candy pumpkin before school and if you behave at school you will get one when you get home." Well, he wanted nothing of that and said, "Then I am going to cry when you drop me off!!" "Ok" I said, "I guess you won't get a candy pumpkin when you get home then" So off to school we went and my little negotiator went straight into his classroom and gave me a hug and kiss and said goodbye. Thank goodness! While they are few and far between with this little man, I had a small victory!

Now on to my wood floor saga...... My wood floors have been an issue with me since the day we bought this house. My poor family has heard me complain and complain about them and religiously sweep my kitchen because you can see every spot on them and with two little boys, that's a lot of spots!! These floors give me "brain tremors" (a family joke) So, I am trying to decide if I should pull out all of the wood floors and put tile in the kitchen and new wood floors in the rest of the downstairs or if I should add to the existing wood floors and have it all sanded down and restained. I am usually very quick to make a decision and since I have thought about these floors for over 6 years, one would think I knew what I was going to do but I just can't make up my mind.

Well, I am off to more important things in life - picking up my littlest man at school so we can come home and have a chat over little candy pumpkins and milk! Life is good!

Hickory Dickory Dock......

2007-10-12T17:26:00.000-05:00

Charlie had his Nursery Rhyme Festival today at preschool. Luckily I got pics before we left for school as you can only imagine what his face looked like by the end of the day! Me going back to work has been quite an adjustment for him but I think we may be past the hump. That boy!

Jackson is doing so well at school and is really getting the hang of reading which is so fun to watch. Yet, it also is a little bittersweet because it really makes me realize how fast they grow up. He has made lots of friends and has become quite girl crazy! When I come up to school he shows me the girls he chases at recess - I must say he has good taste! :)

Soccer Time!

2007-09-27T21:23:00.000-05:00

We had our first round of soccer games last Saturday. David is coaching Jackson's team this year and they have quite a team! You would have thought we handpicked this team - they are pretty darn good. They beat the other team 12-3. They are all so competitive and aggressive - it's hard to remember they are only 5 after all.

Charlie's game was hilarious. After the first whistle blew, every child on both teams stood completely still. The parents were screaming, "Go get the ball!!!" It took awhile for them to all realize they were in fact playing a game. Charlie did so well and he had a blast. He scored 4 goals (well, two of those were for the other team :) ) but he hustled and played the entire game. He was the little star of the game and he knew it - he was so proud.

Let's Give This a Try!

2007-09-23T22:32:00.000-05:00

Well, after visiting a friend's blog, I thought - Hey, I can do this. While I currently spend entirely too much time on the computer doing mostly useless, mindless things, I figured I could use my computer time more wisely. So, since I am horrible about keeping a journal, I decided that this would be a great way to satisfy my computer addiction and keep an online journal of the happenings with my family. We'll see how it goes, but I really am going to give this my best effort. Of course I haven't started work yet so we'll see how inspired I am after that starts!!