Same Story, Different Day

We just can't quite escape it...the sick bug, that is. Bryan has pneumonia. Rocco has another ear infection. Both are quite miserable and cranky. Both are now on antibiotics and hopefully will be better soon.

44 days of school left.

First Easter Egg Hunt for 2010

Now I have two kids on the move and that makes Easter egg hunts a little more tricky for catching that perfect picture!!! Thank goodness Grammie and Poppy always bring their camera too. Then we catch all the action!

This was Rocco's first egg hunt and he is a pro already. He just watched Jillian and caught on quickly. Both Jillian and Rocco got a ton of eggs with candy, bubbles, bracelets, stickers, tatoos, play-doh, etc.

Palm Processional

Today is Palm Sunday, and Jillian did her part! She did a wonderful job waving her palm high in the air. The video is pretty jiggly! Sorry about that! I had it resting on the back of the pew but obviously that was not good enough.

Bluebonnets 2010

Spring is officially here in Texas because people are stopping by the side of busy highways and subjecting themselves to danger for the purpose of taking pictures of their kids in cute outfits in the bluebonnets. (That was a long sentence!)

We did it yesterday. The weather was gorgeous! We found the perfect patch of bluebonnets and had the cute kids in their outfits. It was awful. Both kids were tired and cranky! As Jillian kept explaining, "Mommy, I don't want to look at you and smile because the sun is in my eyes." Mommy replied, "Jillian you have a good point but I DON'T CARE AND LOOK AT ME AND SAY CHEESE RIGHT NOW!!!" Mommy to Daddy, "Please pick up Rocco and set him next to Jillian. No over there. NO OVER HERE!!" Basically, everybody left in tears. There was a family next to us all yelling at each other too. Good times, good memories!!

But of course, due to the fact that my kids are just darn adorable, the pictures turned out pretty good anyways!!!

Rocco (14 months)

Jillian (3 years 2 months)

The bluebonnets smelled sooooo good!!!!

Kids, please look at Mommy!!!! Plllllleeeeease!!!

Thank you!!!!

Proof of a Good Time

Look at their faces!!

Their expressions tell the story!!

Hunter looks dazed....

my Mom and Pam look like they died and went to heaven!

My Mom and Pam cornered H.unter P.ence in a restaurant. Mom said they were talking so fast that he didn't know what to do or say. This is how it went down.

During dinner, they planned their attack. Then as Hunter started to get up and leave the restaurant, they decided to attack.

This is what they said in approximately 2 seconds:

Hi Hunter! I'm Elyse and this is Pam! We just love you! We're from Texas too! Pam - My son went to U of Arlington too! And played baseball! We just love you! Can we take your picture?

and he said "sure."

Was the trip to Astro Spring Training Camp worth it? The picture says it all!!!

House-Sitting

Grammie and Poppy went on vacation. They have always wanted to go to the Astro's spring training and since it is in Kissimee, FL, they felt like now is the time! So off they went!!

This is how Rocco felt about that!

No really, he didn't like his Grammie and Poppy gone for one minute. Jillian was not thrilled either!

But somebody had to take care of their house and Melville and Gus and the vegtable garden, so we have been staying at their house since last Thursday.

We tried our best but we made quite a mess over there. I am not sure they will ask us to house-sit again. Photo Evidence #1...

Did I mention that my parents' house is also being renovated? Yeah, both bathrooms upstairs are being remodeled so no working tub at the moment. So we had to use the sinks! Good thing, Mom has already had the kitchen remodeled and got new, very deep sinks! They worked perfectly!!

Well, they are back and had a wonderful time, and we spent last night back in our own beds at our own house! It felt marvelous!

48 days left of school until the summer! Just sayin'!!!

Spring Break 2010

I cannot believe I am sitting down to recap Spring Break. Time is going by too fast for me. We had an awesome week! I savored and enjoyed every moment that I got to spend with my kids!

Monday

We got up bright and early and met Aunt Masure, Roy and Gavin at the Dinosaur exhibit at the Witte Muesem. It was awesome! Dinosaurs everywhere moving and roaring!! At first, Gavin and Jillian were scared because these were very real-looking and real-sounding dinos but then they warmed up and were quickly bouncing off the walls. They got to touch dinosaurs and make them move and they got to dig for dinosaur fossils. It was a really cool exhibit! The key to any Spring Break adventure is to start early. Everywhere we went we early and we beat the crowds. When we left the museum, there were at least 50-75 people waiting in line to purchase a ticket. Where are my great pictures?? See next section....

Tuesday

We got up bright and early and met Aunt Masure, Roy and Gavin at Natural Bridge Caverns in New Braunfels. Today we had Daddy with us and we had a great time. Again we beat the crowds by arriving at the start time! We used our baby carrier for the last time (as we had to stuff Rocco in it) and Daddy backpacked with Rocco. We walked down 180 ft into the cavern and had a grand ole time looking at all of the stalagtites, stalagmites and other wonderous cave creations. When we had to start making the climb back out, we had to push Daddy and Rocco up the ramps. Carrying 23 extra pounds is a lot of work but we made it out eventually. We then went "mining" and the kids "found" all sorts of different rocks and gemstones. They loved it and Jillian proudly showed off her rocks the rest of the day. As we were leaving, the line to buy tickets was at least 100-150 people. Really people??? Have you ever heard that the early bird gets the worm??

Anyways, where are the pictures you might ask?? I took great pictures of both visits. You know with my brand new camera that I got in November?? At Natural Bridge Caverns, I had this thought that I needed one more picture (because 150 was not enough) with the kids by the NBC sign. I took the picture and then.......I don't know. I cannot remember what I did with the camera. But we have searched everywhere and I even sent Bryan back to search and look in the lost and found and NO CAMERA!!! So sad.......I think it is a curse......

So to continue, Tuesday night we traveled to Houston for a fun visit with the McAfee fam! And I had to use my old camera to record the fun.

Jillian is reunited with her bud, Allison. Jillian wanted to show Allison her new Barbie movie and they watched it in Allison's tipi!!

Then it was time for nigh-nigh. As you probably suspected, neither girl actually slept in the tipi.

Wednesday

In the morning it was time to cook breakfast!

Tyler, please don't look but Aidan was really into the Barbie movie!

Then we took the kids to a new park in Downtown Houston. Rocco is so sweet. He is helping Aidan with his paci!

The weather was perfect and the kids had so much fun running all over the place. In fact, they ran so much that Amy and I had a hard time keeping track of them and before we lost one of them, we decided to pack it in and head for safer ground.

Did I mention the obsession with the Barbie movie?

Now with all 4 of them mobile, did I mention they are everywhere?

While the girls practiced tattling on each other and being very bossy, the boys played perfectly together. I guess it helps that neither of them talk!! Ha ha!!

These group shots are getting harder and harder to take! Aidan - 15 months, Allison - 4 1/2, Jillian - 3 and Rocco - 14 months

Thursday

We drove back to San Antonio for house-sitting duties. My parents are in Florida for the Astro's spring training so we are crashing at the parentals' house to take care of Melville, Gus and the garden.

The "other" P family came over and we enjoyed more of this great Spring weather! The little one blew bubbles!

Daddy, Uncle Bill and Roy played a serious game of basketball.

Then Jillian and Gavin begged to borrow Mommy's camera. They took some awesome shots!

I love capturing Jillian's laugh on camera. She has the best laugh.

Friday

Bryan had to go back to work and the kids hung out in the morning and then I met some other Moms in my MOPS group for a playdate. Then we had dinner over at Papa Cheese and Grandma Strawberry's house where Jillian and Rocco ate lots of cheese and strawberries.

Saturday

The weather is awful. It is so cold and windy. We have stayed in our pajamas all day.

That's it!! That's all she wrote! Tomorrow we will go to church and then get ready for the real world.

The good news is that I have 51 days until I get to do it all over again but for 9 weeks instead of 1!! Yippee!!

Daddy's Not Going to Like This

What is Rocco's favorite toy at this moment in time?

Jillian's turtle purse! It makes him soooo happy!!


Gotta go shopping! He is his mommy's son!!! Look at those curls in the back!!


He knows just how you are supposed to wear a purse!


Jillian is teaching him how to play the night-night game with the babies.

They make a great team!!!

One more day until my Spring Break starts!!!! I can hardly contain my excitement!!

Warning: Sappy Post

Flashback to 2007

Everyday of Jillian's infancy, my mother would say:

Ashley, when you were a baby, this is about the time your hair started curling.

or

Any day now, Jillian's hair is going to start curling in the back just like yours did.

IT NEVER HAPPENED!!! Jillian's hair is straighter than straight!

Flash forward to now

Right now, there is nothing cuter in the world than my son's hair. He has the most yummy, adorable curls you have ever seen. Yesterday, the humidity finally returned to SA and it gave new life to Rocco's curls. I just had to take some pictures of just how cute they are.

For you viewing pleasure (guaranteed to make you say "Awwwww!")

Happy Monday!!!

Already Preparing...

My mind is not where it should be. It is March 5th and my head is madly planning Spring Break AND our summer plans.

I swear I wish my mind worked differently. I wish it were a faucet and I could turn it off. Instead it is a leaky faucet and just runs and runs and runs.

Today's focus is on what activities Jillian should be in this summer. Last summer, the little gym worked perfectly. The time was perfect, the activities were perfect, Jillian's behavior was perfect. The whole sha-bang!

This year, the little gym's schedule is out and it is not great. Jillian still takes an afternoon nap and I am not willing to give that up b/c she still needs it and with Rocco going down too, it is essential to our day. I went there yesterday and talked to Miss Tessa (last year's teacher) and Miss Tessa cheerily suggested that I change her nap time. LOL. OBVIOUSLY, she does not have a child. I am leaning towards 9:30 on a Monday. Isn't that wretched?? The only other option is 11:45 on a Tuesday but that is lunch time and winding down for nap. I just think it would be too hard. They also offer a dance class (tap, ballet, gymnastics combo class) at 11:15 which is better but I fear Jillian will balk at the tap and ballet after our experience with the dance class. I don't know???

I also think maybe I should put her in an art class or something different to expand her horizons?? I don't know.

I am also suffering from mommy guilt with Rocco that I am not putting him in anything. BUT I am schelching it b/c I did not start Jillian in any sort of class until she was 2 and I just cannot see paying for a class for an 18 month old.

I signed up again to teach at VBS. Jillian will be in the 3 yo class and I will be allowed to have Rocco with me or next door in the baby class so it should be a good time.

Otherwise, with Bryan's work schedule and no vacation time, we are planning some "mini-vacays" for the summer. We are planning our usual Port A trips but also I think we are going to throw in a South Padre trip. I am getting out of my comfort zone and we are planning a trip with the sis, BIL, and boys to Big Bend National Park (you know, the one in the middle of nowhere). Guaranteed to be great fun with lots of stories to tell.

5 days until Spring Break!!!!!!!!!!

I think there are 57 days until summer vacay.........WA-HOOOOOO!

We All Fall Down!!

There have been many a-famous fall in the history of the world. This one was one of my favorites. Naomi C@mpbell in her 13 inch heels made falling look fun!!!


She picked herself up with a smile on her face. It didn't look like she had cuts or bruises and finished her walk down the runway.



This is a more accurate picture of what happened to me today. Just ugly!!!


I was taking out some trash this morning with Rocco in my arms. I walked outside, put the trash in the trash can, turned around and headed back in the house. I really don't know what happend but I think my ankle turned on me (it happens quite frequently to me and actually it is hereditary and I get it from my Mom who has very weak ankles). It happened so fast and I tried to turn in my fall and protect Rocco but I was not so successful. We fell and we fell hard. I scraped up my elbow and knee and poor Rocco's head hit the sidewalk. I fell so hard I ripped open my pants (my favorite pair of pants that I wear 10x a week). Rocco was screaming. I was crying. We were a mess.

My Dad and Jillian came running out of the house. Jillian offered to go get a Band-Aid. Rocco stopped crying pretty quickly and upon careful examination, we could not find a scratch on him. What?? Dad thought he could feel a bump on the back of his head but that's it. THANK GOODNESS!!

I, on the other hand, did not fare so well. Elbow and knee are a bloody mess and pants are ruined. I am meeting the new superintendent of our school district today and now I am a mess! Oh well!! I tried to look nice. Now I just need to find another pair of pants that fit!!

Are mornings always this hard in your house?

Geez!

How the Other Half Lives!!!!

On Saturday night, Bryan and I were invited to a friend's 40th birthday party. Our friend loves all things Elvis (and really, who doesn't?) and it seemed only natural to have an Elvis-themed birthday party. The party was to be held at his uncle's place. Bryan and I had heard rumors about this "place." And when we drove up, we realized that we had not heard rumors but the truth.



Here is Graceland!!





With over 9,000 sq. ft, Bryan and I got lost in Graceland several times. There was a gorgeous pool in back with an opulent pool house. It is pathetic that the bathroom in the pool house was way bigger than our master bathroom in our own house? There was an 8-bay garage filled with all sorts of eye candy. For dinner, they served Elvis' favorites - peanut butter and banana sandwiches and macaroni and cheese. They had a macaroni bar where you could pick your type of noodle and your type of cheese and it was served in a martini glass! So cute!!



Our friends taking dressing up seriously. We had 7 Elvises at the party and lots of Priscillas (the cute, young Priscilla not when she had all the plastic surgery later in life!). The birthday boy is in the gold jacket and that is his wife getting the royal treatment!



There were Elvises, Priscillas, showgirl dancers, ladies in poodle skirts, men in high tops and t-shirts! There was even a sighting of Lisa Marie and Michael Jackson!


A professional Elvis impersonator was the star of the party! He looked like the real deal!



Todd and Elvis did a great duet!!


When Elvis sings, the girls come running!! They were singing Suspicious Minds!!

There is the showgirl! I kept asking her if her neck was getting tired but she said no!

Bryan played poker and shuffle board under the disco ball!

Another Priscilla sighting!

Bryan and I won the shuffle board game but did not win at poker! But we didn't let that get us down!

We had such a fun evening!!! J & R stayed with my parents and on Sunday morning, Bryan and I got to sleep until the sun came up. It was awesome!! Thanks Mom and Dad!