Ethan

Ethan has always been a very sweet boy. He loves to cuddle. He loves to make you laugh. And he always smiles - well when he doesn't have the master pout going! But he has always been a very happy boy. If something does make him sad, usually just a hug from mommy is all he needs to cheer up and resume what he was doing with hardly missing a beat. He is pretty good at sharing with others and as I said likes to make people smile. I hope he will always be this way... happy, mellow and quick to cheer up! I love you Ethan!

If apples were pears

And peaches were plums

And the rose had a different name,

If tigers were bears

And fingers were thumbs

I'd love you just the same!

-unknown

Sisters!

There is no bond like that of Sisters! (One I wish I had.) I had to include these great pics of Kailee and Jessica. They were so fun! Always love one another girls!

Round Rock Express

The kids usually love to go see the Express baseball games. They are a pretty good minor league team that is owned by Nolan Ryan. However, this last Dell day at the game was chosen on an incredibly busy, incredibly hot and humid day. The kids did not enjoy it as much as other times as we were so uncomfortable, but they still had a lot of fun.

Ethan's Day Without Brianna

Ethan and Brianna play well together and entertain each other. Of Course, Brianna is the lead and they usually play princesses, Barbies, Mom&Dad, or Polly's, etc.

So what does Ethan do when Brianna is away? Computer, TV, Computer, TV, computer, in that order!

I have a fight to get him to play without Bri. He is totally plugged in. Of course, he is VERY bright which is the upside to it. And it is not that he doesn't have an imagination. He does not walk anywhere, he flies like a plane, or races a race car or fights the bad guys. He is often on his own in his own world on some adventure known only to him. And he has a wonderful memory. But since at 3 he is already a computer nerd, this fall when Brianna goes to Kindergarten, I am going to have my work cut out for me keeping him entertained!

Brianna's Dance Recital

I have been a little busy lately, but wanted to get a couple of Brianna's pictures up from her dance recital. I did an escrapbook page to see if I might start doing them online instead of by hand. It turned out pretty cute!

Brianna's Build-A-Bear Garden Swim Party

Brianna could not make up her mind what she wanted for her birthday party this year. It started out as an angel cake but she wanted to take her friends to Build-A- Bear. When she finally got it that we were not going to BABear, we started thinking of alternatives. We settled on a Build-A-Bear Tea Party. Once that was finally settled, we had only 3 days before the party. We went to get the invitations out and she changed her mind that she wanted a swim party at Aunt Kim's. I finally gave in (especially due to lack of time and because I had already worked on planning the tea party) and combined it into a Garden Swim Party. All of her friends came with their favorite bear. I had gotten a hold of some outfits so they were able to pick an outfit to dress their bear in and to keep. Then we had our Garden Party with sandwiches, strawberries, grapes and punch. We used Brianna's tea set and added a new one for her birthday. She had a lot of fun setting up the tables. She put on all the tablecloths and dishes with just a little help from Max and Ethan and Ivy. One table she reserved for just her and Max because, of course, she was going to marry him when she is older! They were very cute playing house with the dishes while they waited for everyone to show up. Then we sang Happy Birthday with the Flower Cupcakes I had made that morning. Everyone was now anxious to open presents so they could go swim. Brianna had told her friends that she had lots of toys so if they wanted to get her something else they could get her gift cards to go to Jumping Bean or somewhere fun or crafts or pool toys. She got a die cutting machine from Mommy & Daddy, a sticker book, and Ethan gave her a Barbie Island Princess game. Max gave her lots of Barbie stuff and hair stuff and $10 gift card to BABear. Audrey gave her a $10 gift card to McDonalds, a princess art book and a handmade necklace. Erin gave her $5. Ivy gave her a Backpack and Hannah Montana Lipstick. Nicole gave her a necklace she made and fingernail polish and a princess necklace . Braedon gave her a pocket radio. Ethan gave her a Jumping Bean pass and skittles. Jaeden gave her a finger paint set. Brook gave her a sidwalk chalk set. She was very happy. Then everyone went swimming and had a great time. It was fun to see how everyone was at different stages of learning to swim, but no one was afraid of the water, even Ethan!

Fogo De Chao

Kim & James treated us for a night out at Fogo De Chao tonight for Brian's Birthday. It was a great night. We haven't gone out with them like that for a long time. At least not just the 4 of us. It was nice spending time with them away from the kids.

As far as the actual dining experience.... well... Brian was in hog heaven! For those of you that don't know, Fogo De Chao is basically an all you can eat Brazilian BBQ. Of course, it was nice to start out with pulling up at valet parking, walk in the door and to be seated immediately (friday night, down town austin.... does not happen often!). They had an exquisite salad bar with too die for smoked salmon and all kinds of cheeses and artichokes and mushrooms and other things that you probably don't try very often. (I tried the spicy basil dressing on my salad, the bamboo shoots, sun dried tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, artichokes and more. It was really good.)

Then you have a cirlce card that is green on one side and red on the other. As soon as you flip it to green, these guys start coming with all kinds of BBQ'd meat. We had filet mignon, lamb chop, ribs, sirloin, chicken, parmesan pork, sausage, ribeye, and something they called the special which we believe was a prime rib and sooo much more. They offer it and slice off small pieces right there. You can try as much as you like. The special we all agreed was the best by far. Especially the fat which I never eat! It just melted in your mouth! Everything was so tender. They would just keep coming till you flipped the card back over to red. Then when you were ready for more you flipped it back to green and here they come again.

Then of course you had to have desert. And the deserts were so pretty and decorated with orchids. We all ate so much! Wow! When Brian first told me about it a year ago, I did not think I would ever like it not being a huge meat eater... but oh it was so good! And as I said, Brian enjoyed himself in heaven immensely! Unfortunately, due to the price we probably won't be back again any time soon, but I am sure someday....

Jazzy and KBug

Two of my favorite girls. It is no wonder they hit it off so well last summer. I am so glad they did. We had so much fun together at Sea World last summer! I am looking forward to having Kailee down again this summer that I can take them to do some more fun girl stuff. Hopefully I will have some air fresheners for my car by then!!! LOL. Love you girls!

Happy 5th Birthday Brianna!

Today was Brianna's 5th birthday. She was so excited to be 5 because... now she can go to school! I will have to remind her of that when she is older. This morning we gave her a new sundress and a new pair of shoes and the High School 3 soundtrack (or highsical musical as Ethan calls it!). She helped me decorate cupcakes and took them with her to Preschool where they sang her Happy Birthday. Then we came home and worked on cupcakes and got things ready for her party tomorrow. Then we headed over to Kim's for dinner and cake and family presents. She got a polly boat from us and a purse and notebook from Donna and a pink shirt and shorts, $10 and a necklace from Kim & James, Jazzy & Taylor. She was a very happy girl and is looking very forward to her birthday party tomorrow.

Twin Rhymes with Twin

Brianna has been obsessed or at least preoccupied with words that rhyme. We have been trying to explain that words that begin the same do not actually rhyme, but alliterate. She is starting to actually get it and surprised someone the other day by saying - That's alliteration!! the other morning Brianna told Daddy... "Twin and Twin... that rhymes!!!" Daddy explained that no, they were the same word, they didn't rhyme. She insisted that it rhymed and explained to Daddy, " there is one twin and then the other twin, so it's not the same, it rhymes. Daddy finally had to give in and agree that with her logic, yes it rhymes. Oh the evergrowing knowledge and crazy logic of a 5 year old!

Brandon's Senior Pics

Check out this good lookin' guy. though, as usual, he would not show off his big geniune smile that lights up his whole face. These were taken by a friend of ours... Tyson Chambers in case anyone is looking for a great photographer!

Prom Night 2009

Friday night was Brandon's Senior Prom. Brandon and Melissa looked very stunning together.

He gathered with 8 of his buddies and their dates to attend the prom together. They met @ Carlos' for pre-pictures before traveling to a nearby place for more formal photos and then proceeded to prom in a very long white Lincoln Navigator Stretch Limo. These are the photo's from Carlos'. Brandon was up for one of the Class Favorites.... Class Clown of course! This was not surprising when we remember how much he entertained us when he was younger.

Don't call me that!!!

Ethan has this thing about names. Most kids think it is funny to be called names like goofy and silly and like to be called "my sweet boy" or "big boy". But not Ethan!!! Oh that makes him put on a sour face quicker than anything and to whine....

"Don't do that! Don't call me funny names! I am just a boy!"

In a way it is rather funny, but sometimes frustrating - like those rare moments that they want to cuddle and out of affection I slip and say "oh my sweet little boy". Cuddling time is OVER! Of course the same goes if mommy tries to do anything else silly like make faces or do funny dances. "Don't do that!" I guess I should be happy that my little boy likes a boring straightforward mom! Ha!

Easter pictures

I attempted again this year to make Brianna and I matching outfits. Zoe and Kailee were also getting outfits to match ours from Granny. They turned out really cute though I thought I would never get Brianna's made. I did it while I had the flu and as strep throat was coming on. I was so frustrated and felt so bad that I kept making dumb mistakes and I think I had to rip out every seam twice. In the end I finished with the zipper and just left the mistake. Mom will have to rescue me again!