Summer 2009, no wait 2010

Things are changing fast, my kids are growing up and I can't slow it down, I can't slow life down although I would love to. It is nearing the end of the summer and I just can't seem to understand that it is even 2010. I have problems getting the year right almost weekly, and I feel like a dog chasing my tail! Grant has lost his gummy grin, he has three bottom teeth and is sitting up on his own. He is just about to crawl, gets up and wants to go just can't find the rhythm to get going. Havely just keeps growing taller and daily comes up with sayings that crack me up. We recently took our annual (and probably last) family trip to Wyoming. This trip excites me so much every year, it is a chance to escape the heat and hustle of San Antonio and we get to see family and catch up. We began this trip in Alpine as usual and this year we had a lunch party and played some family survivor. Our family is extremely competitive so any games and sporting always proves to be entertaining. That evening we just spent time with my grandparents and relaxed and enjoyed the mountain air. I love just taking it all in and allowing my roots to soak up what they need. The next day we headed into SLC to have a relaxing lunch party with the Walkenhorst clan. I miss being able to see everyone more and this time always goes by too quickly. We spent the remainder of the week in Green River and took time laying on the grass under a cloudless blue sky. Havely got to go riding a couple of times and has become quite the little cowgirl. This size of the horses doesn't threaten her at all and she takes the reins with forces and lets Clyde know who is the boss, all 34 pounds of her! Overall it was a great vacation and went by quickly, but was just about perfect. We headed home after 8 days and I don't think I have ever been so happy to get home. I love our life and our home here. Even Havely was excited to go to bed in her polka pot room. It is good to get a break from everyday life, but it is even better to have an everyday life that you love so much you are happy to come home. Life in Texas is good. 08.30.10

Children seldom misquote. In fact, they usually repeat word for word what you shouldn't have said.

What a day for the Thomas Troop!!! We started off the day with Havely and I enjoying our cheerios together while Grant was still sleeping. We watched phineas and ferb on the disney channel and discussed the things in life that are important to a four year old. She wanted to know why for her fifth birthday party we couldn't build a roller coaster in the backyard like they do on TV, my explanation clearly wasn't good enough because the, "but why's" kept coming. Jaaron got home from work and Grant woke up and Havely and I kicked into high gear to get ready for the birthday party we were attending the morning at a local farm. I kissed my boys goodbye and we headed out the door, ready for some play with some petting zoo type animals. The farm was only 15 minutes from the house and by time we arrived the thermometer on my navigation system reported that it was a lovely 94 degrees already, awesome. We got out of the car and approached the party (we were late so of course things were already in full swing), and we had a glass of lemonade from some mason jars before the announcement came that it was time to embark upon the animals. As we got closer to the managerie of smelly mammals, Havely clung tighter to my side. She had made up her mind all of a sudden that she was scared and spent most of the "animal time" playing with the farm yard yellow lab with a stick, because of course it isn't like we do this at home all the time with a different lab and a tennis ball. Finally I get her to approach a Llama and pet it, mind you there is only an inch of this sucker that isn't covered in burs, so we pick that spot and scratch. She decides hey maybe they aren't all that bad and lets down her guard and takes turns petting various animals. After all the excitement we eat, open presents, and then the grand finale is the giant bull that all the kids get to take their picture on. This thing is HUGE. Everyone is waiting in line and we are all sweating like crazy. One of the horses we parked right by the picnic table that some of the kids were waiting at and decided that he was going to relieve himself. So the waterfall comes down and is splashing all over the kids and I quickly grab my child and the little man closest to her and rush them out of the way, whew crisis averted. Just when I think we are in the clear, Havely's new pooch pal saunders over behind the horse and the horse gives him a quick gut check with his hind hoof. The dog yelps and Havely looks at me and I can tell she is upset by all this. Then I see the I am going to make a statement look on her face and she says to me very loudly, "Mom, that horse is an asshole, isn't he?!" I just said yes he is Have, and we don't say that word...
We came home and immediately hit the showers, crazy dirty from the farm and very sleepy from being out in the sun for two plus hours, we decided that a nap was in order. The boys apparently had the same idea, so Jaaron put Grant down, I climbed into my bed with Havely and Jaaron crashed on the couch, these are the best Saturday afternoons! 08.07.10

Despicable Me, Good day

Havely has been dying to see the movie Despicable Me. They began playing the previews for this movie back in January and the movie was just released in July so we have been hearing about it for months. We enlisted Wa Wa as the babysitter for Grant and took Havely on a date. We went to lunch first and then filled mom's purse with some candy to sneak into the theater. As we sat in the theater and waited for the movie to begin I listened to Havely tell me these elaborate stories about how bad she has wanted to see this movie and how much her life will be better after seeing it. Oh the drama, cracks me up. Jaaron sweeps in right as the previews are beginning with a bucket of popcorn and a vat of soda, enough to feed a family of 8 basically. Finally after about 6 previews the movie begins. From the beginning this movie was great. I enjoyed every minute of it, but the movie was not the only thing I enjoyed for those two hours. The theater was filled with people of all ages. There were several families and there was even a couple there in their late 70's. The movie had so many great moments, and I loved listening to Havely's reaction as well as all the people around me. In a world where so many things are turning sour and kids are in such a hurry to grow up; it was refreshing to sit in a crowd of people and be entertained and enjoy some good clean family fun. 07.31.10

Melt my heart moment

This weekend Jaaron was on shift and I was hanging with the two cutest kids in the world. We were having a lazy day and all three of us were in our pajamas, Grant was on the blanket on the floor and Havely was playing with him, while I enjoyed my coffee on the couch. Havely would get down on the ground and play with his legs and arms and tickle him and he would let out his laughs and baby squeals that I love so much. I listened with my heart full of smiles as the two of them interacted and giggled together. She would jump up and run around him and he would watch her every move, and then she would plop down beside him again and they would laugh together. It has been so exciting watching them develop their relationship and seeing it grow daily. He is in love with his sister and smiles whenever he sees her. She loves to play with him and gets as much joy from his reaction as I do. Anyway, after about 20 minutes of playing and interacting, Havely is back on the floor beside him again and gets above him and her face is right by his and she looks him in the eyes and says, "I love you so much." It was the best feeling I have ever had and one of the sweetest things I have heard. I am so excited to watch my kids grow together and develop a bond as siblings. These are the moments that make it all worth it, I love being a mom. 07.30.10