One of the BOYS

That's right -- this post is about Eliana. Our little princess has discovered the car box. We used to buy each boy a car when we went grocery shopping. As a result, we have close to 500 hot wheels cars. And the boys love to play with them! Sadly, so does Ellie. She loves to pick up handfuls of cars and throw them back into the box. She spends more time at the car box than Nicholas. I even caught her mimicking Nicholas by making a car noise "vroom". What is a mother to do? I had visions of tea parties and dress up and painted fingernails and my little pony land . . . Now I'm wondering if I should just buy Danica Patrick posters for her room.

Best Friends

Last summer, Nicholas developed a fascination with the lawn mower. He loved to watch Josh mow the lawn. And if he couldn't be outside while the mowing was happening, he would run from window to window watching.

This year, we bought Nicholas his own lawn mower. He loves with it! He'll spend hours outside with Josh mowing the lawn. When Nicholas hears the word "mower" he'll jump up and say, "Just a second, Dad. I hafta get my mower."

Beauty is in The Eye of The Beholder

When Josh saw these pictures, he said "I bet these are going to be your next blog post." Well Mr. Smarty Pants, I wasn't planning on it. But how can anyone resist that cute face! So here is Eliana discovering her reflection.





In other news -- Eliana is 9 months old today. I tried to take pictures, but since she is mobile now, she was more interested in crawling towards the camera. I did notice, though, that she began smiling as soon as she saw the camera. I guess she's had some kind of experience in posing for pictures. I'm not sure how that happened. . .

We interrupt this blog for a word from our Sponsors.

Here are a few things that are worth sharing:
Cracked Black Pepper Triscuts -- they are made to love! I could eat a whole box in one sitting, and almost have on several occasions.
Gerber Yogurt Melts -- Now technically these are for toddlers. But they are yummy. So Nicholas, Eliana and I share.

Michael Miller -- I've mentioned him before, his Pink Chocolate collection. Here are a few others that are so much fun.

Ginger Blossom

Ruffle Rac

Carnival Bloom (my most favorite of all time)

Amy Butler -- I have a crush on all Amy Butler fabric and patterns. Here are some that are so deliciously fun to look at!


p.s. -- if any of you that sew want to make me this bag or pillows, let me know. I can have the pattern and fabric overnighted to you. . . :)

And last, but not least -- The Great Wolf Lodge.

It is FANTASTIC! If you can find a moment to sneak away with your family, you need to. Just look at their website, you will be hooked. We had the best time. My boys want to live there. (And if anyone from the Great Wolf corporate headquarters happens upon my blog, I'll gladly promote your hotel for a free pass. Call me.)

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blog.

Update on Dr. Love

Here is the conversation I had with Benjamin yesterday after school:

B: Mom, E. said she loves me.
M: That was nice of her.
B: Not really. Everybody laughed at me.
M: Why did they laugh?
B: Because E. kept following me around and telling me she loved me and singing a love song to me.
M: Oh. So what did you do?
B: I told her that she could be my girlfriend as long as she doesn't touch me or talk to me or tell anyone. And she can't sing that song any more.
M: That's quite a deal. What did she say?
B: She said yes, of course!

(On a side note, Benjamin told me recently that he plays tickle monster with E. at recess. She chases him and if she catches him, she gets to tickle him. I guess if he didn't let himself get caught all the time, she wouldn't have been able to fall in love with him!)

A personal moment of gratitude

While blog hopping, I came across this blog. And it caused me to really stop and think about my "trials", which are nothing in the grand scheme of things.

So today, I am grateful for:
a son that doesn't like to listen
a son who is so tenderhearted it makes me crazy
a son who is trying to prove that it isn't only cats who have nine lives
a daughter who, for the past few days, is trying to beat her record for overall fussiness

And I promise myself to hug them a little longer each day.

A Conversation with Benjamin

This kid is so funny. He comes up with the most bizzare/amazing ideas. It's hard not to laugh when Benjamin is around.

This conversation was prompted by something that I found in his backpack. On the back of a homework paper was written "I know your full name. It's Christy Watley. I know your other full name. It's Christy R*****." (I can't remember it)

Mom: So, Benjamin, why did you write that?
Benjamin: Cause I wanted to tell Mrs. Watley I knew what her name was.
M: You really like Mrs. Watley don't you?
B: Yeah.
M: What do you like so much about her?
B: (Shrugs his shoulders and blushes)
M: Do you think she's nice? I think she's really nice.
B: Yeah, she's probably the best kindergarten teacher ever.
M: Do you think she's pretty? I think she's beautiful.
B: Yeah, she's pretty.
M: I'm glad you like her so much. You are lucky to have a special kindergarten teacher.
B: I'm lucky alright!
M: So what about the other girls in your class? Do you think any of them are pretty?
B: Well, we need to keep this between the two of us, because if any of the girls heard what I was going to say, they would try to attract me.
M: I promise I'm not going to tell any of the girls in your class.
B: Well, I think M is pretty of course. And I think C is pretty, and K and E and one more, T.
M: T has really pretty hair.
B: I guess, but I like her cause she's got the bling.
M: The bling? What is that?
B: It means she dresses with the bling. You know, she dresses appropriately.
M: Dresses appropriately - I don't get it.
B: It MEANS she dresses to attract! Do you get it now?

I already knew he was an early bloomer where girls were concerned. But after this conversation, it's clear that I'm going to have to really keep an eye on him!

Annual Bluebonnet Extravaganza

Here are some shots from our annual trip to the bluebonnets. Some are better than others, and some showcase the kids' personalities perfectly. Take special note of Benjamin's Egyptian arms and Nicholas pushing Benjamin's nose -- classic White House behavior!

8 Months Old

Eliana turned eight months old yesterday. What a sweet girl she is. And even though she still cries more than any baby I've ever known, and some days nurses more than she breathes, and only naps for 15 minutes at a time, I can't imagine not having her. She is a gift.

Happy Birthday Sam!

Yesterday Sam turned 8. I can't believe that eight years has gone by since I held my first baby for the first time. So in honor of Sam's birthday, here are some things about Sam:

1. When Sam was younger, he was incredibly patient. He never cried or was the least bit fussy. He was the perfect first baby.

2. Sam's first word was bear, because he loved to see "Bear in the Big Blue House." His next word was outside, because he loved to look out the window and be outside. Then came Daddy, and about 5 words later came Mommy. When he was a year old, he could say over 75 words clearly. (we should have sensed trouble at that point!)

3. Sam has been a daddy's boy from day one. We used to joke that he only loved me for my food. Even as a baby, he preferred his dad -- he would even reach for his dad immediately after nursing. And to this day, he's still a daddy's boy.

4. Sam was "Sammy" from the minute he was born. He's still called Sammy by most of our extended family. After his first day of Pre-k, he came home and told me that he wanted to be called Sam. It was a little sad for me.

5. Sam has the most incredible imagination I have ever seen. He can come up with the most elaborate games and "pretend worlds" for him and Benjamin to play. He can build the most amazing things out of paper and tape. He never ceases to amaze me with the things he comes up with.

6. Sam likes to be funny. It all started when he was about 2 and I would ask him a question. He would get this silly look on his face and say, "Do-de-da!" For example -- "Sam what is your favorite color?" "Do-de da!" " Sam, what do you want for lunch?" "Do-de-da!"
He still likes to be funny. And sometimes I get frustrated when it's time to be serious, but I do appreciate the fact that he likes to laugh and have a good time.

7. Sam can be a lot of talk, but little action. Like his run in with snakes.
He LOVES everything snakes, but freaked out a little when he saw one. He's the same way with spiders. He laughs at me when I get grossed out about a spider, but he won't go even put on his shoe if it has a cobweb on it for fear that there's a spider around.

8. Sam loves to learn new things. He went through a dinosaur phase when he was 4 or 5, and completely immersed himself in finding out everything there is to know about dinosaurs. He's loved anything science/technology for as long as I can remember. He loves to read anything science related. He loves to share his information too. I admire his passion for learning -- he jumps in with both feet and doesn't stop until he considers himself an expert.

So, happy birthday Sam. May your year as an eight year old be a good one with laughs and learning and many happy memories. We love you!

Another Photo Attempt

They turned out ok . . . I do really love the picture of Sam.

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Does anyone want to make this with me? I bought the punch and paper, but I have yet to sit down and do it. I love the idea!

Brown Day, Blue Day

Brown Day was a little slower -- a lot slower. Today the boys got to make brownies for the first time. I know, they are a little old to be making brownies for the first time. But I'm knid of a control freak when it comes to cooking in my kitchen. They were both really excited to finally get the chance to cook something. They loved it, and it wasn't so bad having to sit back and watch.

Blue Day was the last day of color week. To find out what we were going to do, I had the boys play Blue's clues. Sam and Benjamin rolled their eyes when I told them to look for paw prints, but Nicholas thought it was great. The clues told them that we were going to go out for dinner. To figure out where we were going, I made a little sentence like the game Mad Gab -- that's where you have to figure out the real phrase from a bunch of miss-matched words. So the boys' words were "ON COLD HANDS," which was "Uncle Dan's". And after dinner we were going to "GOATS WIN MING HAT TEE WHY" or "go swimming at the Y." Sam and Benjamin thought it was fun to figure out those clues. And of course they loved going to the pool.

Color week was a success! Way to go internet! Another great idea!

Red Day, Green Day

Ok, here's the quick color update.

RED DAY:
For red day, we went to Books A Million and each of the kids got to pick a new book. Then we came home and READ the books. (Insert punny laugh). Then we had pasta with red sauce for dinner . . . well, all except Sam who has a strange aversion to cooked tomatoes of any kind (except pizza sauce. But even then it has to be the RIGHT pizza sauce.) I digress.

GREEN DAY:
For green day, we went to the zoo -- outside with the green plants and green trees and green lizards and green snakes. The kids loved it! Nicholas even sat in the stroller without complaint, which is quite a feat. Afterwards, we went to the zoo gift shop and the kids each got to pick out something small, and green. I hadn't planned on buying a treat, but I was in need of air conditioning after carrying Eliana and pushing the stroller around the zoo.
Green Day dinner was turkey and guacamole paninis with green salad and limeade, followed by lime sherbet.

Tomorrow is Brown Day. I have to say, I'm really having as much fun as the kids are. I feel like a fun mom again. And I'm beginning to see that occupied kids are happy kids (you would think that I'd have figured that out after having kids for 8 years, but some how that lesson has escaped me). For now there is peace at the White house. What more can a mom ask for?

A Week Of Color

I decided to do something different for spring break. Borrowing an idea I saw online (of course), we are having Color Week. Each day will be represented by a color -- We will do an activity that has to do with the color, for dinner we will have something of that color, and if the kids want, they can wear the color of the day.

To start it off, Monday was "Black and White" day. And in honor of those colors, we visited Shamu at Sea World. For our family Christmas present, we bought season passes to Sea World. And I think it may become a tradition! Yesterday was a very wet, rainy day in San Antonio, but we opened our umbrellas and had a great time. There were probably 100 people or less in the park. We had the best seats at every show! We didn't have to wait in line or fight the crowds for anything. The boys would have preferred sun, but Josh and I loved it! The only bad thing was that the roller coasters weren't running. Sam has been waiting 2 years to be tall enough to ride the ELECTRIC EEL . . . maybe next time.







Today's color is Red, but you'll have to check back tomorrow for the details.

The thing I hate most about Texas

Allow me a moment of sentiment:

We live in a pretty transitional area. A lot of people move here to attend School. And when three years is up, they all move away. Then there are people who make a temporary job stop in Waco, and move on to bigger and better things.

We came to Baylor, not with the intention of staying, but with the idea that we would move on as well. But we stayed and we love it, except for the fact that we seem to be saying goodbye quite frequently. Today we said goodbye again to a sweet family as they begin the next chapter in their lives. It was a first for Nicholas -- he's never had a friend leave.

I just wanted to say thanks to all of you that have been a part of our lives. Thank you for enriching our lives in a way that only you could. Thank you for the small moments and the large lessons. Thank you for being a part of our journey. And good luck on yours.

Why can't we get all the people together in the world that we really like and then just stay together? I guess that wouldn't work. Someone would leave. Someone always leaves. Then we would have to say good-bye. I hate good-byes. I know what I need. I need more hellos.
~Charles M. Schulz