Birthday Fun!

Yesterday was my 37th birthday! The plan was to go to Dallas for a Def Leppard concert and then come on home. I decided that I didn't want to be away from the kids, so we decided Peter and Bradley would go to the concert and Laurel Ann and I would stay at the hotel and swim, get room service, etc. So- off we went!


Lulu is checking herself in the mirrored ceiling.


Bradley chillaxing.

Laurel Ann and I head to the pool, and Bradley and Pete head to the concert. About 30 minutes later I get a call from Pete- the concert has been postponed! Apparently the lead singer's Dad passed away and Def Leppard has postponed two weeks of concerts! It helps to check your email more than once a week (Peter!). So, the boys head back to the hotel, and we head to dinner. We decide on El Fenix and have some of the best Mexican food! The tortilla soup was fabulous! Bradley tells the waiter it's my birthday, so of course they come sing. I did get a complimentary sopapilla, so it was worth it!


After dinner, we headed back to the pool and swam until it closed. After a great night's sleep (you know you're getting old when you're excited about the sleep you got!), we got up and swam again! It was wonderful, because we had the whole place to ourselves. After showering and checking out, we had brunch at IHop and now we're on our way home. Even though it didn't go exactly as planned, it was still a great trip!
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Laurel Ann's 6th Birthday Party

It's Party Time!!

Avery, Laurel Ann and Chloe waiting for the fun to begin!


Lining up for the first event.....(That's as good as I looked all evening!)


Smashing confetti eggs on Bradley's head! He was equipped with a helmet.....


He was a very good sport about it!


On to the pinata!


Toni! She was highly recruited during t-ball draft! Look at that stance!


After the games, I told some Moms I didn't realize how violent our games were until we were in the middle of smashing eggs on Bradley's head and then whacking a pinata! They got their aggressions out! The rest of the time, the kiddos ran wild! I think they had a blast!


Time for presents....


Finally, the cake....Three guesses who is on her cake....Heard at the party---"Medusa", "the Cowardly Lion", "Brittany Spears".....and the answer is......Taylor Swift! Laurel Ann really likes listening to Taylor Swift and wanted a Taylor Swift cake for her birthday. Most Moms guessed correctly- the Dads- not so much!

Laurel Ann had a great party with great friends. It was another one of those times when our decision to move home to Hamilton was once again affirmed!!

There's a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place

...and I know that it's the Spirit of the Lord.

Laurel Ann has been especially sweet this week. I first noticed it Monday morning when she let me brush out her hair without complaint. When I commented on how well she was behaving, she told me she had asked God to help her be "kind, wise and smart." This sweetness has carried on through the week even during our current stomach bug. Last night she told me she would clean up her pillow after she'd gotten sick on it. That almost did me in- talk about a happy Mama's heart!


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No School!!

What a crazy three days it's been! Make that four as of tomorrow! We've played lots of Wii...Pete and Laurel Ann doing the "lasso" while playing Dancing with the Stars...



We've sung lots of songs...



We've played board and card games, roasted marshmallows in the fireplace, argued, fussed and fought, hiked to Nana and Papa's, and put icicles in the freezer. All in all- we've had a great week! We just hope Meridian is out tomorrow so we can have Pete for the day!

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The Planner...

Laurel Ann has an apparent talent for planning. I'm sharing with you what she worked on most of the day yesterday while sick at home. Let me also mention she would like a Wonder File (as seen on TV!) for her birthday!

Im haveing a christmas party
On december252011 and.
The gest Lest the pepol are chloe avery Averi Alyssa alyssta grace Allyson peter Alanae jazman Leae alyce roys
Boys list the pepol are levi sutton
Landon skylar bradly Levi Caden Cade Leunele en Zack
cj you are comeing To my party at 6pm and thes are the
Helprs Allyson Peter roys Alyce
Jim Kathy carylin leue thankyou
Helprs you wil have a meeting at
5pm you wil do a good job helprs you
Can come in fance close
Decorations and toys

Keep in mind- she's 5, so spelling, punctuation, spacing are non-existent! Did I mention she's a tad bossy as well?!?

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Too many "-isms"

Peter's mom has been with us for the past two evenings and (thankfully!) has helped Bradley with his homework. One assignment was to write a paragraph on the ecosystem and what would happen if half the "systems" disappeared...or something like that....Anyway, after a consult with Pops (Peter's dad) it was decided that Bradley should see what his textbook says on the matter. After Bradley reads a couple of paragraphs, he asks, "can't I just copy these two paragraphs- or is that evangelism?" Needless to say we got a good chuckle and explained the two words and how it might be evangelism if you were copying straight from the Bible!

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THE TALK.....yes THAT talk....(Reader Beware!)

On more than one occasion, Bradley has asked, "How does a woman CHOOSE to get pregnant?" Peter and I have been very creative in our way of evading the answer. "God blesses the family." "It's a special love a mommy and daddy share." "The stork drops the baby off on the front door step." While these are all true, (well, except for the stork..) we've not given the WHOLE truth. Well......tonight we decided to share a few more pieces to the puzzle.

Bradley was going about his evening chores, and while putting up dishes, I tell him that when a man and woman are married they have a special way of showing physical love. His reply- "Like arm wrestling?" I couldn't help it- I bust out laughing. I can tell this is going to be a typical "Bradley" conversation.

I decide a more direct approach may be needed...

"You know how you have a penis?"
"Yes...."
"Well a woman has a vagina."
"That thing on your belly?"
Hhhhhhuuuuuuhhhhhh?!?!? What in the world is he talking about? (Later I realize he thinks that because I had C-sections that's where a woman's vagina is located.)

At this point I realize a visual is going to be necessary, so I send him upstairs to get this anatomy pamphlet that we bought at Target in the dollar aisle- not realizing at the time how "anatomically correct" it was. So Peter and I sit on the couch and talk about the differences in a man and woman's body. At one point Bradley says, "Vagina- that's a fun word to say. Va-giiii-na." At this point I remind him that he doesn't go around saying "penis" or talking about it- and the same holds true for vagina. I'm afraid we're going to be getting a call from school!

Anyway, we continue on with our conversation and talk about how sperm fertilizes the egg.
"Sperm? Is that like spam?" Ummm.....not exactly! Again- laughter.

The funniest moment of the evening may be when Bradley realized the sperm has to meet the egg. And there's only one way for that to happen....

At this point, we realize we've overloaded him for one night and decide to end with the technical basics.

I can't wait to see what our next TALK will entail!

And again...

Today after church we ate at the pizza lunch buffet at Haile's. Laurel Ann and I were at the salad bar, and she asked me to please put tomatoes on her plate. I try not to do things for the kids that they can do for themselves and reminded her of this. She proceeds to heave a big sigh and say, "The things I do for myself." She's heard a different version of that on many occasions from her mother.

"WOMEN!"

This word was uttered in complete exasperation by my...DAUGHTER! Apparently she did not want to go down the hill to get the mail for Nana. Again I say, "She's been around her Papa too long!" When I reminded her that she too is a "woman", her response was, "I just mean big women." I'm sure she meant spiritually =)

Little Miss Sassy Pants

Christmas 2010

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Confession time...

Hello, my name is Allyson, and I'm a stalker...

a blog stalker.

I love to read blogs,

and learn more about people,

and be inspired to be a better person,

and get ideas on decorating,

and find new recipes...

Blogs are better than any magazine, book (except The Good Book), TV show...

I love blogs!

Well, that's it. I'm going to stalk some more blogs...

Random thoughts while cleaning the boys' bathroom...

1. What IS that smell??

2. Why is there only one dirty washcloth?

3. Why do they have more bath products than me?

4. Why is Laurel Ann's Barbie bath mirror in their shower?

5. Why do I even bother cleaning in here?

Equal Air-time for Laurel Ann...

This weekend while we were in Alabama, Mom, Laurel Ann and I did a little shopping. We were in TJ Maxx looking at clothes when I pulled out this cute little dress for LA. I asked her how she liked it, and she says, "Mom, it's not 'edge' enough." Excuse me?!?! What did you say?!?! I proceeded to ask, "What would make this dress "edge"? Her reply, "Peace symbols." OK. Later she pulled out a top and tights number that had some big, blingy butterfly and tattoo-looking thing on the leg and asked me if it was too "edge". Again I say, WHAT?!?! We did buy a little top and tights set with a peace symbol on front. It was just enough "edge" for both of us!

A few words from Bradley...

Bradley has been on a roll!

My cousin, Barrett, is getting married this weekend, and Bradley is going to be an usher. Mom was asking him if he knows what he needs to do, to which he replied, "So Toots, where ya want to sit?" Wouldn't put it past him!

Later I said, "Bradley, you'll get to check out the cute girls as they come in." His reply- "I'll tell the other usher, 'I've got this one.' " What a gentleman!

Today, Bradley and I are home getting our things together to head to Alabama. He informed me that he wants a big truck when he gets his driver's license so his girlfriend doesn't have to ride in the backseat. Such chivalry!

We'll be in the car for 22 hours over the next four days, so there will be more to come!

Shopping!

Laurel Ann and I went shopping with my mom yesterday to buy me a dress for my cousin Barrett's wedding and to find shoes for them. At one point on the way to Waco, I turn around and Laurel Ann was blowing a kiss and saying something. I asked her what she said and she replied, "to Chloe wherever you are." Now that is sweet! She loves her best buddy Chloe!

She was a real trooper throughout the entire day and was even quite helpful! At one point she pulled out a pair of white pants and said, "These are sexy." To which I replied, "WHAT?!?" She would also pull out various items and ask, "is this your style?" and "is this too hot?" I'm not really sure what she meant by hot, but it kept me entertained.

Of course, I gave her my iphone off and on through the day to keep her entertained, and at one point she was taking pictures of clothes and fabrics. She would come over to me and say, "I just knew you would like this!" and she would always tell me how beautiful I looked! I think I'll always take her shopping with me!

I will say we had our moments finding clothes for her, and I was quite thankful I only have one girl to buy for- God bless mothers of two or more girls!! But all in all, we had a great time!

My blog???

So I've changed the look of my blog twice in the past week, but I have not posted a thing in almost 3 months!! And, I'm really not going to post anything now. Maybe tomorrow...

April Madness....It was all about T-ball, baseball and ballet

We had a wild and exciting month of April with T-ball, baseball and ballet keeping us busy! Not to mention school, church activities, and Peter participating in the civic theater play. Whew! We were in need of a break!

Here is Laurel Ann getting ready to knock it home!

She made it around to 3rd base! You can see Bradley the Bat Boy in the foreground swigging on his Powerade...it's hard work being the T-ball bat boy!

The most exciting part of the season (besides snacktime!) is getting the coveted medal!

Unfortunately, I do not have any pictures of Bradley's baseball season. I'm such a slacker!

Stay tuned for a ballet post...

Easter Sunday

Pictures in front of the Easter lilies at church...

I like that you can see the cross in the background of this picture.

After church the kiddos went home with Nana and Papa, and Pete and I headed south to San Antonio. I don't know who planned the tournament, but the Semi-Finals for the NCAA women's basketball was that evening, and Kathy got tickets to see Baylor Ladies play. She very generously shared two with me and Peter.

Here's Peter driving us south...

We stopped here first for a hamburger dinner and pep rally.

The following pictures are the front of the Alamadome all decked out for the tournament.

We were too far away from the court to take any good pictures of the game. Baylor made a good run towards the end of the second half, but they could never pull ahead of UConn. It was exciting all the same, and we really enjoyed our time. Maybe next year the men and women can be in the semifinals!

March...Laurel Ann's birthday continued

Laurel Ann's birthday happened to coincide with her Easter party at school. She was very excited to wear her new butterfly outfit with the "dance skirt" on it. (For twirling!) Here she is ready to head to school...
Before her program, I took pictures of the decorated tables and wall decorations. I thought it was all so cute! I have to say, St. John's Preschool is top notch in all they do.

Here is her class performing one of the many Easter/Spring songs they performed for the parents and grandparents. I love to listen to Laurel Ann sing the songs she learns at preschool and church. Her sweet spirit shines through. (Even if you can't see it on her face!)

Of course, we ended the morning with an Easter Egg hunt. It took us 20 minutes to hide the eggs and about 5 minutes for them to all be found!

I'm back in the saddle again...

There are so many things I could be doing this wonderful Saturday morning, but I've decided I would like to post on my blog...It's been too long!

The past two months or so have been a whirlwind of activity, so I'm going to give an abridged version of our life...

When I last left you, Bradley was wearing Pete's new super hero underwear on his head. From there, we made a weekend trip to San Antonio to spend some time with Peter's parents and his brother's family. Here is a picture of the kiddos on the truck in front of Cheesy Jane's- a cool burger joint in SA. After we ate, the plan was to go to the Witte Museum, but the line was out the door! So, Kathy bought a trampoline instead and the kids had a great time playing in the backyard! She was spending a little of her bonus money before her retirement at the end of the month!


The rest of the month of March was spent gearing up for T-ball, baseball and Laurel Ann's birthday! Of course, she had been gearing up for her birthday since November, but the rest of us were starting to catch up in March. Her big gift from Mommy and Daddy was a bicycle. We later bought a basket for it which she loves to fill with stuffed animals, rocks, or anything else she can get her hands on!


More to come...