School's Out For Summer!!!!

I officially have a son that is a junior in high school now. Wow!

Oh...and he made the drumline too!!!!

More of Richard's Visit

This little guy just cracks us up. He is always so happy and so fun to watch. I think that this is the longest visit that he has been here for...so I will put a few more up for us to laugh at:)

Yes....he is trying to make an escape through the backend. I don't know what is up with those shifty looking eyes. Aww....he loves his cousin Stefan....alot....

My 5-1/2 month pregnant sister-in-law trying to convince Richard that the water jets really are fun and not scary at all.

What....are you looking at me?

Umm....I'm not so sure about this......I think these trunks make my butt look fat....or maybe it is my really water loaded diaper.

Here I come!!!!

Just chillin in the pool....so...I got a yellow ducky float...he's my very best friend!

Watch out....that first lean back from the pool is a real doosy! Or...I've fallen and I can't get up!

My beautiful, pregnant, sister-in-law!

A few pics for Jinling

OK...you said that you wanted a few flowers....

And this one too...

Yuck

I finally had enough of feeling bad, so I went to the doctor on Monday. Yay for me....two bad ear infections. Sinuses stink!

Mother's Day

OK...so I am a week late. That's what happens when company is in town. We had a wonderful Mother's Day. Since Jinling is in town, we decided to take all the mother's out: Mom, mother-in-law, sister-in-laws, and me. I'm the one with the most kids so I got to pick...El Chico's it was!

We had a great lunch...no pics. Then we came back to the house, just our little family. We had a nice afternoon nap and just relaxed all evening.....which I needed (I wasn't feeling well).

My boys were very sweet. Stefan bought a dozen red roses for me...with his own money! And there were sweet cards from all. It was a great Mother's Day.

Roses from Stefan

Card from Greg

And all the sweet things that he wrote inside....
Very, very sweet letter from Stefan.....yep...it made me cry.
Flower that Emma made at Sunday school.
The poet extraordinaire. Poor baby burnt his chin on piping hot pizza sauce the night before.

Flowers from Mom. Fresh from our garden flowers.
Sarah's card that she made at Sunday school.
The card from the kids. The girls signed this all by themselves.

Guess who's in town for a visit?

We just love this little guy. My nephew always has a smile on his face and the kids just adore him. It's hard to believe that in just a few short months he will be a big brother. Jinling and Richard are in for three weeks to visit. We picked up one of those little pools for him to play in while he is here. He gets so excited when he plays....it's just fun to watch them when they are this age. Here are a few from the other day.

Weekend without the kids!

Greg and I decided to go back over to Dallas the first weekend in May for a weekend alone. We had a really good time. It is amazing how quite it is without the kids.

This is from the grinding mill at the Log Cabin Village in Fort Worth. Greg loves going to places like this....and I guess I do to since I like history so much.

The Herb Drying Shed..bet you couldn't figure that out :)

Just an old wagon wheel....liked the rustic look.

The old schoolhouse bell.
Greg...posing in the schoolhouse...kind of being silly.
Horseshoes at the blacksmith shop.
Greg's photo skills....just me.
This is a silver sculpture at the Forth Worth Modern Art museum. Greg's special trip just for me. I just love this building.

It has a beautiful reflecting pool all the way around the back end of the building.

These are just a few shots, but we definitely did have a good weekend.

Until we came home and Stefan went out with his friends. Nothing like getting a phone call at 10:30pm telling you that your son's back windshield was blown out by someone throwing glass up on it as they peeled out of the parking lot. Fun, fun...

Starting out May

Greg opened up the pool at the beginning of the month. The girls have been real troopers...wanting to get in and everything. Of course, their swims never last very long because it is still very COLD.
Another year, another Cubbie awards night. It is so hard to believe that Emma will be a Sparky next year. They grow up so fast!

Finishing out the month

Let's just finish out April with the following statement.....We are sick of sinus issues.
Between sore throats, ear aches, and other issues....I went to the doctor's office more than I ever do. I am so ready to feel better....not to mention the kids.

They had a health fair at Stefan's school at the end of the month. He was sent home with the message that he needed to see the doctor because his sitting pulse is too low and he had an irregular heart beat. Oh yeah! Let's just say that heart issues run in Greg's side of the family...in a serious way.

I took Stefan to the doctor to get checked out. His pulse was fine that day, but the doctor said that Stefan has what seems to be something called sinus arrhythmia. He described it as something like an accordion. Stefan's heart beats slowly then tries to catch up and will sometimes skip a heartbeat. He said that this is not uncommon in kids and teenagers and that they usually outgrow it. In other words...no big deal . The doctor wasn't even overly concerned. So I'm thinking ok...no problem. Then the doctor says that we need to go ahead and schedule Stef to see a cardiologist to get a baseline on the health of his heart. WHAT? Let me just say that no sane parent is going to hear that and think...OK no worries.

So, after school is out, Stefan will get to visit a cardiologist. I can't wait.

Getting away for the weekend

We all went to Dallas for a family weekend near the beginning of April. This was the first time that all 5 of us went anywhere other than the country together. We had a blast. Here are a few pics in no particular order.

Emma...once again saying "Take a picture of me Mommy!"

Just a few turtles at the gardens.
Me and the girls...Stefan's skills at work.

Daddy and the baby.
Daddy and his mini-me.
Sarah being Sarah.
What can I say...my favorite teenager :)

Me & Greg - Stefan strikes again!

Stefan playing around...I hate pictures of myself.
Glow-boy....
A little less shine
Stefan shooting again.....I don't look much better in black and white.

What can I say...we like to eat natural foods:)

Who says you can't have fun taking pictures?
My handsome man...
Yes...we are a little strange...no ears were removed during this filming.

Stefan's acrobatic skills.

Sarah...the inquisitor.
Can you hear me?
Emma in the tunnel.
Emma in the magnolia bush.

Scarborough Faire...the girls had a blast!

Fairy wings anyone?
Sarah watching Emma do the bungee.

Sarah in the air!
Sarah..strapped up and ready to go.
Emma...waiting her turn

Sarah wanted to ride the camel.

And Emma wanted to ride the elephant.
Daddy and his girls...they were pooped.
Emma on the bungee (I know...its out of order)