Magic Time Machine

Only a few of you out there would know what Magic Time Machine is.... it's a classic SA restaurant where the waiters dress as characters and the whole experience is a wild ride. Anyways, Jen and I took the boys, and met Gabby and her kiddo's. It was a blast.

Lawson sporting his sunburned face he acquired earlier in the day at Sea World.

Aunt Jen and all the kids. Kalina and Anisten call her Aunt Jen and me Aunt Cindi (which is nice b/c my own niece and nephew refuse to call me "aunt", hint hint).

Our waitress was Minnie Mouse, and let's just say that Lincoln was very "fond" of her... He asked for her phone number and asked her to go to the movies with us the next day. He is still talking about going to find Minnie at Disney when we are in Florida....

by the way, Lawson took this picture.

Lincoln's Spring School Pictures

sPa NiGhT

While in SA, I got to go to Gina's annual Spa Night at her house. This is where all of old AOII and BFF's get together, eat, chat, drink wine, and get spa treatments (massage, pedi's, mani's). It was great to see everyone and spend some quality time together, and of course Gina is the Hostess with the Mostest.

Me and Jen (Uncle Mark babysat the boys...)

Some of the girls...

(top: Michelle, bottom: Jen, Suze, Gina, Gabby, Me)

Jessi

Here I am with the Rock's new addition, Jessica. She's a cutie, and happy and so "holdable". Loved having some "baby time".

Sea World Moments

On Friday, Jen and I took the boys on their 1st Sea World experience. They loved it, and we have plenty to do still when we get back there someday. We went on the Shamu rollercoaster (even Lawson), saw the Shamu show (the boys were in splash zone and got drenched), Clyde Sea Lion Show, a 4D Pirate movie, lunch and dipping dots, splash/water park...

(Note: the boys wanted to wear spikey crazy hair for the day, lol...)

Rocks

We returned today from a great trip to San Antonio. On our way into town, we stopped in and saw friends The Rock's... Here is Thomas and the boys... We also got to meet his baby sister Jessica, but pictures with her will follow when I get them from Traci!!

SA Plans, Will we Keep Them???

Heading for San Antonio, again.
Looking forward to it, here is our "plan" and let's see how it goes.

Thurs
Leave by 9am
Stop in Universal City to visit friend Tracy Rock, meet her new baby, and Thomas and the boys can play a bit.
Head on over to Jen and Marks for Taco dinner. Settle in.

Friday
Seaworld
Dinner at Magic Time Machine

Saturday
Lincoln will go with Jen to see Monsters vs Aliens, while mommy and Lawson go to Sunrise Pottery to buy Ron some new coffee mugs (and me)
Uncle Mark will babysit for the boys, while Jen and I head to Boerne for an AOII spa party at Gina's. I'll get to see lot's of old friends...

Sunday
Head on back to the Big D

The Big Rake Sale

I'm trying to teach Lincoln the value of saving money, and developing a work ethic. Last year, he earned enough money to buy his own ticket to Disney World. Of course, we could have bought him his ticket, but I think it is better to make them "earn" things that they really want. So this year, he is earning money again for his Disney ticket. He gets 25 cents for every chore done at home (that's a lot of chores folks..), plus he saves change, and finds "odd" jobs to do. When it was cold, he had a "hot cocoa" sale. Today was his "Raking Sale" as he called it. He went door to door with his wagon and rake. He charged 25 cents for a wagon full (of course everyone gave him more!). He is a great entrepreneur, guess he takes after Daddy in that area.
Anyway, he raked and raked and raked today. He is exhausted. And well on his way to see Mickey Mouse!

See Saw

Daddy, we really want one of these See Saw's.

Not sure where we would put it... but we would have lot's of fun!

San Antone Part II

The boys spent hours and hours at the indoor pool at the hotel. They met and played with several new friends, while mommy lounged and read a book.

We had dinner over at Uncle Stephen and Aunt Karen's. Special surprise was to see the Crouch's, Karen's sweet parents. Aunt Karen played Wii with the boys.

We were all going a bit crazy on the way home, at one time talking on the banana phone to imaginary people.

San Antonio Trip, Part One

WOW what a trip to San Antonio!!! (and we are going back next weekend!). We did a lot, and I won't go into everything.... But the boys swam, and swam, and swam. We also got to see Lisa and Jessica Sixty, Aunt Jen and Uncle Mark, Gabby and Kalina, Gina, Cara and kids, Uncle Stephen and Aunt Karen.
In spite of our nightmare 8 hr drive home.... (Friday Spring Break traffic), it was a much needed trip back "home". It had been a yr since we had been back, and after our next week trip, it may be another yr until we return!
Here are some highlights:

See Saw at Gabby's. We so need one of these.

Lawson and Gabby's daughter Kalina.

Jen came to watch the boys swim...

Special treat for the boys: picking out a donut at Krispy Kreme


Jen and Lincoln: We had dinner at our old fave, Sea Island

Mark and Lawson at Sea Island

On the way home, crashed (not for long)

Lincoln and Jessica (Lisa Sixty daughter). They are now Webkinz friends.

Old Stomping Grounds

Having a great time on our san antonio visit. Have lot's of pictures to post when we get home!!

Our Spring Break

Excited about our Spring Break this week!

The boys have Spring Break gymnastic camp at WinKids on Monday from 9-12, then meeting friends for lunch.

Tues through Friday.... Last minute plans to head to SA. Ron will be going on business, so we thought hey, let's tag along. So while he is working his you know what off in SA, we will be lounging around the hotel. We booked one with a nice indoor pool... So I figure the boys can swim like ALL day, then we can go back to the room and order room service and watch the boob tube until Daddy gets off of work and takes us out to dinner. Fun vacation, huh??? I'm looking forward to it, and also hoping to spend some time with my sister and maybe some friends will come and visit me at the hotel.

Coincidentally, me and the boys had already been planning a trip to SA for the following week, so we will be there for 2 weeks in a row. But the 2nd time, we will be staying with Jen and Mark, and I will be attending a spa party, which is a college sorority reunion.

I'll probably have my share of SA for the year!!!

So that's our Spring Break 2009, What do you have planned???

Ron visits NY

Last month, Ron got to take a quick trip to upstate New York.

Highlights of his trip included:

Snowmobiling with brother, Moses

Hunting with his Dad:

Chloe

This is Chloe.

She is Coach Candice's 11 m old Golden Retriever.

She is visiting us for the weekend.

Her and Lucky are friends.

(by Lawson with help from Lincoln)

Spring, Lincoln

Lincoln's Spring School Picture.

It's just okay.

password is 5800

Once again, just click here.

Liverpool Dance, Fun

Click here to watch the funny T Mobile dance in Liverpool. Lol

This will probably make you laugh, I did

Click

HERE

To watch a funny video of a "dancing" bear taped by the USGS (was it Mark???)

Rainy days...

Things like this happen to my living room floor on these cold rainy days.

hmmmm I wonder who will be cleaning this up later??

Glamour Shot

My Glamour Shot picture from TWENTY years ago!!!!

I was 18 or 19.

And I had big hair.

Roller Boys

Jen and I took the boys rollerskating today.

It was a 1st for the boys, and it's been about 25 yrs for Jen and me.

They caught on pretty quick. Lots of falling, but they have these contraption things

that they can balance on...

We were the ONLY ones at the rink the entire time, so we had our own private session.

It was fun. I am so going to be sore tomorrow.

Adios, Jen

My sister has come and gone. She had a quick trip here, so as usual we crammed tons of things into a small time period. So per request our of Mom, I'll be posting some pictures...
Every time Jen comes, we go to a new local winery. We hope to check them all off our list, this is our 3rd one here. Located on Main Street in Grapevine, it's called D'Vine. We got to do a tasting of 3 wines they made right there at their location.

Spy Kids

I think I mentioned this b4, but one of the boys favorite things to play together lately is "Spy". They go and spy on imaginary bad people, and they even spy on me! So, here is a picture of them playing spy this am, they didn't even wake me up: they were just playing together in their rooms... They thought they also had to be dressed alike to be spy's together... They both have great imaginations.

Another favorite for them lately is playing "pirates". Such a boy thing!!

Another popular hit is doing "homework". I have these workbooks and things printed from online, and they will sit at the table with me "teaching" them for hours at a time, sometimes doing 20 or so worksheets a piece at one time. I can totally see myself homeschooling them (I'm not), I love to teach them and watch them learn, and they love for me to teach them and they love to learn. Brag alert: I'm certain that I have 2 "very" smart little ones, they are going to do well!

Mist

So, I got one of those mist-on tans, Veraspa at LA Sunset Tan. It lasts 5-7 days. Looks like I just got back from vacation. I just had to stand in this thing for about 2 minutes while I was sprayed. So much healthier I guess than the beds. But, in just a few weeks I'll be on the beaches in Florida where I will get the real deal!!!

MP

Did you hear that Melrose Place is coming back????

woo hoo

Preschool Playdate #2

Preschool Playdate #2:
Mr. Willy performance. Wonderful!
(www.misterwilly.com)
then Lunch at McD's
Fun!!!

Peter Piper Pizza

A few weeks back, I planned a fun playdate for Lincoln's preschool class. It was a private tour of Peter Piper Pizza. The kids got to go back in the kitchen and watch how pizza's and dough, sauce, etc... was made, go in the freezer, etc... They loved it... They even got to each make their own personal pizza to cook and then eat. They had so much fun playing together outside of class. And the most fun part, I thought, is that we did this when the restaurant was still closed, so the kids had the entire place to themselves to play....

Here they are watching them make the dough...

This picture is funny b/c that is Lincoln in the back checking out Abby

(who he says he is going to marry...) busted!

The boys especially liked the dough process... they were chanting.

Lincoln riding the rides...

In the kitchen freezer...

It was fun! I like planning things like this, in fact

we have our 2nd preschool playdate tomorrow...

PS: Abby's mom took these pictures and put them on shutterfly for all of us..

Mommy Questions

Lincoln is 5 and Lawson is 3

1. What is something mom always says to you?
Linc: Clean up your room and do your chores.
Laws: No more crackers

2. What makes mom happy?
Linc: Hugs, Kisses, and Valentines.
Laws: When I make a funny face, like this.

3. What makes mom sad?
Linc: When she gets punched (???), or if I hurt a friend (???). And when Daddy is in another town.
Laws: When I be bad

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Linc: Tickling me or doing something funny
Laws: When she makes a funny face. And tickling me.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
Linc: She went lots of places, played with her sisters and brother.
Laws: She ate chicken nuggets.

6. How old is your mom?
Linc: 22 or maybe 23 (mommy wishes)
Laws: 9

7. How tall is your mom?
Lincoln: 42 inches
Lawson: Thiiiiiis tall

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Lincoln: Play with us, cook, not be bothered or annoyed.
Laws: Do her chores (nope)

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
Lincoln: chores
Lawson: chores (I'm seeing a theme here.. my boys think I'm always doing chores, and liking it!)

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
Lincoln: she will be the president
Lawson: Bowling

11. What is your mom really good at?
Lincoln: Sleeping, and finding things
Lawson: Working on the computer, cleaning

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Linc: Being bad
Lawson: Taking the boys to their room

13. What does your mom do for her job?
Lincoln: Mommy, you don't have a job do you? Is it cleaning? Before you were a mom your job was helping kids.
Lawson: Play computer, helping daddy

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
Linc: apples
Lawson: banana's

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
Linc: Being the best mom, everything she does, she is better than the rest.
Laws: all the things

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Linc: a flower
Lawson: a princess, or Blue from Blue's Clue's

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Linc: watch movies, talk, read books, go on walks, piano
Laws: Play and read books, park, winkids, play catch

18. How are you and your mom the same?
Linc: We both like to watch movies
Laws: We like to play and run

19. How are you and your mom different?
Linc: Mommy likes scary movies like Lost, and I don't
Laws: we have different names and mommy is a girl.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Linc: She takes care of me, and she is nice to me
Laws: She plays with me and kisses me

21. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?
Lincoln: To her meetings
Lawson: To get chicken nuggets

Audrey

Today, we had a visitor. Lincoln has been asking all year long to have his friend, Audrey over to play, and we finally arranged it. Audrey is Lincoln's preschool teachers daughter. She is 5 too, and is in the preschool class next door to him. But she is in AWANA with the boys at another church, and Audrey and Lincoln are in Moppets and Bible study together.
Anyway, today was 75 and sunny, so we took Audrey to the park for playtime and a picnic lunch. Then they came home and played, mostly outside. It was a great day.

Bye Bye Matthew

Bye Matthew, we enjoyed your quick visit with us.

Guess we will be seeing you again next month.

(Matthew toured Texas Tech this weekend, has been accepted, and is considering going there)

He did lot's of driving this weekend, so he got a dose of how the drive home would be. He drove 5 hrs from Houston to Dallas, then 5 hr from Dallas to Tech (Lubbock), then 5 hrs from Tech back to Dallas, then 5 more hrs from Dallas back home to Houston (area).

Funny thing is yesterday, when he was doing all that driving, Ron drove to Dallas to Houston then Houston to Dallas as well for work. They were both on the road for hrs and hrs yesterday, traveling across Tx in different directions.

Esther Study

I am on week 5 of 10 in my Bible Study. I am doing Beth Moore's study on Esther.
I'm pretty sure that this is my all time favorite bible study...
Here is a quick clip of Beth Moore talking about the Esther study, if you are interested...

Beth Moore: Esther, It's Tough Being a Women

PS: This bible study has a ton of homework, but it's good homework! I'm learning so much about myself.

Is this Talent, or just an abundance of energy?

Lawson, our 3 yr old, "dancing??" to the Wiggles.

Ron and I, before kids....

Book Share

try it, and post in my comments, or on your blog....

Rules:* Grab the book nearest you.
* Turn to page 56.
* Find the fifth full sentence.
* Post that sentence
* Don't dig for your favorite book, the coolest, the most intellectual. Use the CLOSEST.

"Had he just slipped me a key?" The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Party Today

My sister Jen told me it seems like we are always going to bday parties. Well, we go to one pretty much every weekend, it seems. But for a 3 and 5 yr old, birthday parties are like the most funnest thing to do....

Today was our next door neighbor, Patrick's 4th bday at a bounce house in Southlake. It's cute to see how Lincoln and Lawson stay together and play together the whole time... I'm glad they are best buds and have so much fun... opposites attract I guess b/c they couldn't be more different. I'm pretty sure I've talked about this before!

Here is Lawson and Patrick, the bday boy!!! He doesn't look very happy in this picture, but he really was!!! Lawson is still napping, he was so worn out.