Do-mess-tication

Wow! What is up with me??

Here's a photo of my GARDEN!

Oh, yes, I did!

(Thanks Poppie for the grow box idea!)

Cucumbers, summer squash, jalapenos, carrots, and green onions.

Tomatoes are in pots.

I know, I amaze even myself.

And that's not all...

Take a look at my AWESOME

pressure canned chicky!

(Thanks GIGI and Shannon!)

I feel ever so domesticated

and self-reliant.

FOR REALS!

Whatever could be next....????

Gifted

I have SUCH talented kids!

Tyler inherited his dad's gift of

being full of hot air.

(In case you can't tell...he's using his nostril)

Rydge...I'm afraid he gets his

gift with numbers from me.

Sweet Revenge

Rydge crept into my room Sunday morning and whispered,

"Mom, can we draw pink on Ty today?"

(Pink because Ty h-a-t-e-s pink)

I told him no, because we had church-

and frankly

I was really comfortable in bed.

Maybe tomorrow.

Well, the little dude took matters into his own hands.

Pink Zits for Ty

He enlisted Kyle's help.

Kyle was more than willing. He took pictures, too.

You can imagine how pleased Ty was to wake up to this

on a Sunday morning.

Revenge is Sweet.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

Apparently in the wee hours of the

night my baby changes into a

mustached, sinister fellow.

I have two very naughty big boys...

that obviously enjoy art.

My poor baby...I can't believe he slept

while they drew on him.

( I think revenge may be in order...photos to come.)

Mom told me there'd be days like this...

Kyle's job this week is to unload the dishwasher.

He woke up and got right to it. He's a good boy.

Unfortunately, we hadn't run the washer yet

and he put away the DIRTY dishes.

For.the.love.

Of course now I must wash EVERY dish

in every cupboard and drawer.

Happy Monday.

He Is Risen!

I'm so grateful for my Savior. I'm grateful He lived a perfect life full of perfect examples of how I should live mine.

I'm grateful he suffered for my sins, sorrows, and imperfections.

I'm grateful he died for me.

I'm so, so, so grateful that he rose from the dead and has made it possible for me to live again with my family for all eternity.

Happy Easter

I'm also grateful for Rydge's little Jesus preschool that helps him make pretty pictures like this one!

Mini (?) Me

Anyone who knows me, knows that I

L*O*A*T*H*E

school projects...especially pointless ones.

Prime example. Kyle had to make an 'image' of himself.

WHY, I ask???

Truthfully, I think it may look a little creepy

with a bunch of these things hanging up around the school.

I really don't know if it's just my lack of creativity, or some deeper

jealously that I possess of those parents who really knock

out a cool project...but for whatever reason - glad we could

check this doosy off of our list!

Kyle's actually quite proud of it

(until tomorrow morning when he sees how much cooler everyone

else's project is).

Okay, yeah, maybe it is the jealousy thing.

It's here...

My blog book came today.

I'm ever so excited.

I even feel kind of obedient.

Like I followed the prophet and kept a journal.

One that I can hold in my hands.

The quality is great...I highly recommend.

I was cheap and went the paperback route.

Next year hard back FOR SURE!

So easy. www.blurb.com is where I went (thanks, Autumn!) It just uploads your blog, you pick colors, themes, and fonts. So user friendly. And very fairly priced.

I have happiness.

Seriously??

I know all of you mama's

out there are feeling

my PAIN...

This is probably the third time this month

that I've had to view this sight.

Seriously, is it that complicated???

Time Off

Spencer's parents visited this weekend. It was so great to take some time off from the hum-drum of the daily grind and play =). We took a trip up to Brenham with both sets of grandparents (the kiddos were in HEAVEN!!)to check out the bluebonnets and the Blue Bell Ice cream factory.

There were acres of these lovely flowers!

Baby Rydge

The kids riding the milk cow at Blue Bell.
(Tyler, Rydge, Hayley, Maddie, Kyle)

Good times with Grandma and Poppie

Getting ready for the yumminess!!
Thanks for a great long weekend Grandma and Poppie!
Love ya!

MMMM.....Yummy....

I'm thoroughly basking in an

amazing thunder and lightening show,

with gargantuan drops of rain.

I'm tingly ALL over!

Love those TEXAS storms!!

Six down, three to go....

Kyle took 4th in the Pinewood!

It's our last one 'til Rydger is 8...

We have a four year break.

Hooray, hoorah!

Kyle cut this car HIMSELF!

He is a ROCKSTAR!

Tyler has moved BEYOND the whole
pinewood thing.
He's thinking this VIPER is more up his alley.
(Belongs to our cub master...
dream, on Ty.)

RO*DE*O

There ain't nothin' like the Houston Rodeo!

And if you don't like food deep fried...

You're going to go hungry.

Look at this... !!!

Oreos, Snickers, Pickles, Cheesecake, Sundaes,

...for the LOVE of all things fried!

Tyler bonding with the llama.

"Tina, eat your food!"

There were THE CUTEST little piggies.

Kyle chased this little guy all over.

We shuttled to the rodeo on a bus. Nice as far as traffic goes...

a little rough on the pocket book - someone is making a killing.

Kids snuggin' with the Borden cow. There were SO many cute animals at this rodeo. The 'newborn' area was our favorite. Day old chicks (even some in the process of hatching), day old calf, day old pigs...SO fun!
We'll be back next year!!

Rani Moment

My sis-in-law has a great saying. Whenever she does anything 'air-headed' she'll say she just had a "Leah moment".

I'm going to share one of my plethora of "Rani moments".

After nearly two hours of 'sewing' [not sure it can be called that] I had Tyler's shirt presentable for his Board of Review. (Thanks to Gigi for her help!)

I was actually quite proud, despite the fact that his rank badge was totally lopsided. However, pride comes before the fall.

Ty came home from school, saw the shirt, and in his sweet way said, "Thanks mom. Did you notice the rank patch is UPSIDE DOWN??"

Are you kidding me?

I guess if I'd paid more attention to the WORDS on the patch I might have noticed that little detail.

He tried to pass it off anyway- but his leaders sent him home to correct it by Sunday.

Kudos to me.

Rani moment.

She's Here....It's Par-tay time!

Erika's here!!

Spencer's sister, Jenn, sent her darling daughter out here to play with us for spring break! She's been here a day and I think it's unanimous...

we're going to KEEP HER!!

Erika playing the matching game with Rydge, while simultaneously playing Phase 10 with Kyle. Now THAT'S talent!

We went to ITZ.
Essentially Chucky Cheeses on steroids.

Kyle hit the JACKPOT.

Over 2000 tickets at ONE time!

If any of you know Kyle,

this will be what the Celestial Kingdom is like for him.

(That and all you can eat ICEE'S)

'Da crew. We had a great day!

Thanks for coming to play Erika!

We're looking forward to the next three days!!

(Maybe longer if we get our way! =)