Ummmm good!

This evening Ella had her first bites of food! She was not so good with the spoon...and she was not too keen on the cereal. I guess when you are on antibiotic nothing is quite like that pink stuff. :)

Another Typical Weekend

This weekend was full of...NOTHING SPECTACULAR! Isn't that awesome?!?!

So, what do we do when nothing is really going on? ---- THE YARD!

When we moved into our house at the end of June we knew that one of the first things that we needed to do was landscape the front yard. We had some pretty good grass, but everything else was...well, less than desirable.

Yes, it is now late October, and we are just now getting around to the front yard! (Looks like one of the first things we were to do took four months!)

Eric spent all last weekend working his butt off to complete ONE of the beds. So, we are about a quarter of the way finished! (I keep telling myself that a quarter is better than nothing! Right?) We also know that this bed will also need more work. After all, being October the plant selection was not too hot, so we know we will be purchasing more this spring. I am sure I will update the progress.

Other than the yard, we did not to do much else...Aggie game stuff, church...Oh, and my parents arrived home safely from their cruise! They did have some stories about a scooter and my dad's ill driving.

I have attached some of the pics from this weekend...the one of the landscaping is bad...

Until next time...Grayson is trying to give Ella some stir fry!

Setting Priorities

If there is one thing I know, it is that I want to be a mom. It is, by far, the most fulfilling job one could ever have, and I feel almost honored that I have been blessed with the gift of motherhood.

Yet, it is also the most difficult job one could ever have...

Today I am at home with sick little ones. This is only the third time since Grayson was born that I have actually stayed at home! When they are sick I usually manage to figure out a way to still get to work...even last week after Ella spent the evening in the emergency room, sadly, she went to school the next day!

I know in my heart I need to be at home today, yet guilt overwhelms me. I feel as if there is so much that I need to and should be doing. I somehow feel as if I am letting others down by not going to work. And, I am bitterly angry that I feel this way! I am wrong for not staying home more often...

For an hour this morning we all laid in bed watching cartoons. I cannot remember the last time that I did this, and I hate the fact that it took them being sick (and me being scared) to actually stay home.

My challenge to myself is to remember this...I often get so caught up work that I forget my most important job. I can move mountains at school, finish that silly PhD, and be certified to teach anything; however, it is all for not if I do not remember what I am really working for.

Off to the doctor...

A Birthday a World Away

Today is Gigi's birthday! :)

Sadly (for me anyway), Gigi is with K-Dan in Panama on an eighteen day cruise! However, we all wanted to wish her the very happiest of birthdays!

I asked Grayson what he wanted to get her for her birthday (although I believe she does not deserve a thing...I do not get gifts for frequent cruisers! Ha!) He said, "I think she would like a football!"

I must have looked at him funny because he then added, "So she can give it to me, and I can play with it!" Of course, I explained that this is not exactly kosher...to give a gift that you are going to take back. However, he explained that he knew she would give it to him!

He is right. Gigi's worst fault is that she gives too much!

Grayson sang the birthday song for her, and I attempted to post it...but I had some major troubles! I am going to search for some technical assistance tomorrow and see if I can get it to work!

Happy Birthday, Gigi! We hope you are having fun, and we love you!

Heaven and a not so fun first...

All seemed well when I picked the kids up from school today...yet, things are never quite as they seem!

When I got home, Ella began throwing-up uncontrollably! It was crazy scary! She threw-up close to 10 times in less than an hour.

Not knowing what was causing the vomiting and worrying that she might soon dehydrate, we dropped Grayson with his grandparents and headed for the ER. Of course, by the time we arrive, she is no longer vomiting. (I always feel slightly like a liar when we get to the ER and they seem fine, but my fear of looking stupid could never stop me from taking them!)

They took a bunch of x-rays and checked her out from head to toe, but could not figure out the true cause of the vomiting...

So, 4 1/2 hours late we are at home...watching...

Funny/sweet/sad though...When we picked Grayson up it was close to 10:00. He, of course, wanted to know if Ella was still sick. We told him "a little, but she will be fine."

He said, "Oh, is she going to die?" We told him no...that she will be okay.

Somewhat confused he said, "When Papa was sick he died...and now he lives in the clouds....in heaven." We did not know what to say...

"Ella is a different kind of sick. She is not sick like Papa was."

"Oh, but it is okay to be in the clouds...it is happy there."

"It is; you are right, but my prayer is that you will not go there for the LONGEST time."

With that, he proceeded to start telling us about his bubbles and ball he bribed out of his Aunt Emily!

At the Pumpkin Patch...

Pumpkin Pickin'

We make a big deal out of traditions in our house, and going to get pumpkins each fall is one of those traditions that is a pretty big deal!

Each kid (and Eric being biggest kid) spend some SERIOUS time, energy and effort selecting the perfect pumpkin. I believe for them that this pumpkin picking might be one of the most important decisions that make all year! They each make a selection and change their minds MANY, MANY times before the select the pumpkin the goes home with us!

Most years it is a competition as to who can select the largest and most bizarre pumpkin; however, to my liking, this year it was about who could find the smallest! :)

I do think they picked they picked the perfect pumpkin...

Skiing Mt. Aggie

Skiing in Texas? In October?

This evening we celebrated Gunnar's 7th birthday at Mt. Aggie!

The boys all had a blast, and I must say that Eric and I truly enjoyed being able to watch them have so much fun. It is not often that we do something that ALL of them enjoy. One of them is either too old or too young to do something...However, sledding down Mt. Aggie was fun for all!

Straight up weird...

Grayson has always been a little bit weird. I do not think that anyone will deny that. He has some quirks that make him...well, unique! :)

Some of the things that make him so unique are is bizarre obsessive habits. For example, he wakes up EVERY morning and DEMANDS chocolate milk in a RED sippy cup with a GREEN lid. He changes clothes at lesat 10 times a day. He insists on wearing boots most days. He LOVES to be naked (and tells me he has to "spend some time" that way every day). He insists on doing unassigned "homework" every night in a PURPLE homework folder. He makes shapes out of his food.

However, perhaps his most bizarre habit is his obsession with his EARS. He ALWAYS has his hands on them...and at any given moment they are both tucked in his head. Yes, his ears are tucked in his head.

He folds the top inside themselves! Weird!

One would think that this would hurt...However, when you ask Grayson he says, "No Mommy, I do not have any bones there."

Weirdo...

Let Her Roll!

A little over couple of weeks ago Ella was on the floor with Grayson in the playroom. I laid her on her back...they were both watching Signing Times. Just seconds later I walked back in the room to discover that Ella was now on her stomach and Grayson was proclaiming, "Look Mommy! Ella is on her tummy!"
I, of course, assumed he put her there!
About two days latter I laid her on her back in the middle of our bed while I went to brush my teeth. This time Gryason was asleep...Yet, when I walked in the room she was on her belly again!
I found it interesting that she did this, but I chalked it up to an accident...
Well, two weeks later, I now know that it was probably no accident! She rolls ALL over the place! Set her down, and she rolls across the entire floor!
Just one more sign that she is getting big far too fast.

Grayson and Kyle Field

So, Kyle field is a special place for Grayson...He truly believes it is HIS stadium...That it was built just for him!

He also loves football.

And, we have talked about his love for the Aggie Band...

So, needless to say when we begin to leave campus after step-off each weekend he ALWAYS starts to cry. He sees us leaving...just as the Aggie band walks into HIS field to play his favorite game! It devestates him!

So, for a while now he has been begging Eric and me to take him to a game. However, we have felt he was too little...the game was too long and too hot... and have let him stay with his grandparents while we attended the game.

One can only imagine how excited he was when he FINALLY understood that HE was going to be going to the game too!

He LOVED the game...He was mesmorized by the "shapes" the Aggie Band made, impressed by the "big tackles," terrified by the fly by, and fascinated with the "big tv;" however, I think that he was most facinated by the BATS that live in Kyle Field!

As we walked back to our car he said, "Thank you Mommy, I think Aggie football games are great!" His words warmed my heart...What three year old says those things? And, when I asked him if there was anything that he did not like about the game he replied, "I wanted Ella to come..."

More of a Great Weekend

Already 3 months!

Can you believe Ella is already 3 months old? I cannot...

A Knightly Time

I do not know that there are times when I am happer than the times when I am with my family. Yet, with a family so big it is not often that all of us get together.

However, this past weekend all of us (but Joe...who was working :() were able to be together. It was incredible to be able to spend time with those I love the most.

Thank you everyone for an awesome day...I am counting the days until our next time together.

Cousin Adam's 1/2 Birthday

Adam is 6 months old!

This weekend we celebrated my nephew Adam's 1/2 birthday. I had not seen Adam since the week Ella was born three months ago -

When I last saw him in July I thought about how BIG Adam looked compared to Ella. I remember thinking "it will be forever until Ella is that big and doing those things!" Yet, three short months have passed! Now Ella IS that big, and she IS doing those things I swore she would not do for the longest time...

6 short months from now Adam will be a year old...the next time I see him he could be walking! That is so crazy to me.

It was wonderful to be able to share in Adam's special day. Because he does not live close to us, we all cherish the time we are able to spend with him!

We love you Adam!

Aggie Game Day