Pickles

Chuck and the boys tried making homemade pickles. They turned out delicious (so they tell me – I am not a fan of any pickle), and we’ll definitely be doing this more often.

Chandler’s Birthday Weekend

 

It’s hard to separate out Chandler’s birthday party from our amazing weekend.

It started out with some really odd clouds…see the streaks from the sunlight?

The weather was beautiful one Saturday morning, so we drove out to Bandera to meet Aunt Mimi and walk through downtown.

Aunt Mimi got the boys ice cream.

And then we sat in on an Old West demonstation.

And straight from Bandera, we headed out to Austin and got there just in time to enjoy the dusk on the lake.

The next day we were going to see the Kite Fest at Zilker Park, but because it was crazy busy, we did something even better – visited Aunt Vickie at the hospital!

And we got back to the lake just in time to celebrate Chandler!

Melanie did a great job painting the kids’ faces.

Chuck and his dad had spent the day before at the new Circuit of the Americas race track. It was fun to see them playing around.

Maddie, my sister Anna’s girl.

Chandler with his snake kite.

Singing time.

Happy Shookie.

Chance’s kite

Then our crew of kids headed out to fly some kites. It was a terrific day for kite flying!

Valentines

 

Valentine’s Day was full of celebrating, since all three boys were in school. I do love celebrating our love for our kids!

Mrs. Campbell’s monkeys

Ms. Bleser’s 3rd graders.

Mrs. Easley’s first graders.

And I have to share a little from their party – Mrs. Easley gave them these great disguises. This is Chance and his buddy Bryce.

Along with most of the class.

and because it was time, Chandler got his first build-a-bear. Usually the boys get them on their 5th birthdays, but Chandler was 2 weeks away from that, and had been so sad that his brothers were in school on Valentine’s and he couldn’t be with them. So I think this cheered him up.

Charlie’s birthday

When we returned from our Colorado vacation in February, I had a short amount of time to come up with a party for Charlie. I still have some nagging guilt about it, because it was kinda thrown together, and many people couldn’t make it.

But his best bud in our neighborhood, Ben, did! Along with his sweet mama!

Beyblades, anyone?

And Big Daddy, just a few weeks out from his big surgery, drove down from Austin. My sister Desi and her girl Zoey came, too!

Chuck showing off his favorite of Charlie’s gifts.

Desi and Zoey.

A glimpse at most of the party. Chuck’s parents, his sister Melanie, our friend Kira, etc were there, as well. I am so very grateful for the fact that our family will drive down (even on short notice) to celebrate with us!!

And since Mel had come to stay for a day (love that!), here’s a peek at the after party.

Randoms

 

Sometimes I send Charlie to my room to do his independent work, so he’ll be uninterrupted. And sometimes this is what I see:

In the past few years, we’ve seen a great increase in the number of bucks around our neighborhood. This guy was bucking heads with an opponent before I got this shot. Like children caught in the act, they always stop as soon as they see me.

Our sweet neighbor Kristy gave the boys lots of sidewalk chalk for Christmas, so that their spelling and math work could continue.

Charlie, enjoying his new bb gun with a scope.

Chuck enjoying his old bb gun.

We have a cardinal couple who have become like pets to us. This is Mr. Card. His wife is “Cardina”. Yes, we’re quite original in our naming.

The weather was gorgeous this past winter, so there’s been a lot of bike riding happening.  All this makes me wish I’d paved our road sooner!

And finally, after 2 years, I finally got an orchid to bloom in a jar!