Magical man

Arden is in her second season of basketball.  Her coach is a coach from Halle's middle school, so he is serious and competitive with sports.  Naturally he's got these first and second grade girls doing a lot of things that are new to them.  

During the second game Arden became really frustrated and confused about what she was supposed to be doing.  Her coach had her playing different offensive positions and she just didn't understand. She was in tears and at a point where she didn't want to play anymore, so I had her talk with the coach.  He talked with her and encouraged her to keep trying and it would all get easier after a few games.  

So here we are tonight, after her third game and driving to her weekday practice.  In the car she says, "The second game I was so confused and didn't know what to do, but after the third game it was a whole lot easier and I did much better.  My coach was right.  He is like magical man or something because he knew exactly what would happen!"  She made sure to add,  "But not like God, because God is better than anyone.  But still kind of magical."

So now she loves basketball again.  

Questions about mommy.

WITHOUT ANY prompting, ask your child these questions and write down EXACTLY what they say. It is a great way to find out what they really think. When you re-post put your Child's age.

Arden age 6

1. What is something mom always says to you? 

Obey

2. What makes mom happy? 

When I obey 

3. What makes mom sad?

When I don't do the right things 

4. How does your mom make you feel? 

Good

5. What was your mom like as a child?

I don't know I wasn't even born so I couldn't even see you.

6. How old is your mom?

34

7. How tall is your mom? 

Maybe....14 feet

8. What is her favorite thing to do? 

Probably exercise or take a nap

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? 

Take care of Jack 

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? 

Taking care of kids

11. What is your mom really good at? 

Good at a lot of things I can't choose one.  You're good at doing right exercise and a good mom 

12. What is your mom not very good at?

I would be embarrassed to tell you........ You're not good at..... Um.......you're not good at...... I can't say because I don't want to hurt your feelings.  I can't think of anything anyway 

13. What does your mom do for a job? 

Take care of kids

14.What is your mom's favorite food? 

You eat everything, but probably those bars (Lara bars)

15.What makes you proud of your mom? 

[laughs] when you do your push ups right or teaching me right or when you  take care of me and make sure I'm safe 

16. If your mom were a character, who would she be?

Talking Dolphin like Bobby

17. What do you and your mom do together? 

Help me with my homework 

18. How are you and your mom the same?

We're both nice to people 

19. How are you and your mom different? 

You have tan skin and green eyes.  I have blue eyes and peach skin

20. How do you know your mom loves you? 

Because you're my family and you take care of me 

21. What does your mom like most about daddy? 

when he helps you 

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

Work and do your ultrasound.  Oh no , ex that out, stay home with your family and spend time with them 

23. How old was your Mom when you were born?

Ummmm, 28.  

Jack age 3

1.  What is something mom always says to you? 

Talk

2. What makes mom happy? 

Toys

3. What makes mom sad?

Flowers

4. How does your mom make you feel? 

Happy

5. What was your mom like as a child?

I don't know

6. How old is your mom?

34

7. How tall is your mom? 

A Little big

8. What is her favorite thing to do? 

Have flowers 

9. What does your mom do when you're not around? 

Put socks on 

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for? 

Kisses

11. What is your mom really good at? 

Drinking coffee

12. What is your mom not very good at?

Drinking orange juice

13. What does your mom do for a job? 

Go to work to make money like Daddy

14.What is your mom's favorite food? 

Everything. Real food like sweet potatoes 

15.What makes you proud of your mom? 

Farting (what???)

16. If your mom were a character, who would she be? 

An astronaut

17. What do you and your mom do together? 

Play 

18. How are you and your mom the same?

You big-small and I'm small

19. How are you and your mom different? 

You big-little  and I'm little 

20. How do you know your mom loves you? 

Gives kisses at me

21. What does your mom like most about daddy? 

Daddy's big

22. Where is your mom's favorite place to go?

Work

23. How old was your Mom when you were born?

25

Conversation on our car ride home this evening

We are discussing having Arden and Jack's upcoming birthday parties and trying to see what the kids want to do.  Jack, "I want a train!"

Halle said,  "you should have a pony again, and moonwalk, and turn our cul-de-sac into a kids' wonderland."  I said, "ok Halle well since you're planning all of that then I guess you can pay for it."  Brian, "no need to worry, we're going to win the Powerball tomorrow night."  Arden, "we'll just charge everyone who comes to the party and make them pay for the pony ride."  

My family summed up.  

Random January

I showed Arden how to fold a piece of paper into an envelope, the way that we used to while passing notes in junior high. She was amazed, not by my mad folding skills, but by the fact that I was once an 11-year-old.  "Wow, you mean YOU were 11 once?!"

Brian and Jack play fight a lot.  Jack loves it.  I no idea where he picked this up from, and we have since corrected him, but still it's kind of funny.  Jack calls Brian "Big Stupid" while they are wrestling or boxing.  

Arden was totally mismatched one day for school.  I asked her why she chose lime green socks for her pink and gray outfit.  She retorted, "It doesn't matter what I wear.  I go to school to learn and to make good grades, not to look good."  Bahahahahahaha!

Woodlands Childrens Festival

The kids and I went to the Woodlands Childrens Festival a few weeks ago.  It was a beautiful day and the littles had a blast.   We were there for about 5 hours and there were so many things for the kids to do.  We didn't come close to doing everything.

they played little games to win prizes.  Fishing was Jack's favorite

we rode a barrel train.  

they made crafts

played instruments

fed and pet the animals in the petting zoo

this goat really liked Halle

saw the Ninja Turtles

ran down a hill with a parachute attached

made and flew kites

played in the sandbox

got a painted face

This was their favorite part.  They wanted so badly to do this that we waited in line for an hour and a half.  I was very surprised that BOTH were dead set on doing this and waiting for so long.  They got into these inflatable balls, and then the worker blew it up with air with a leaf blower.  They then went into this inflatable pool and played and jumped and flipped around in these balls.  They had a blast.  They had about five minutes of playtime, which is a decent amount of time, considering how many kids were waiting.

They had so much fun that day that this is them conked out on the way home.  Any event that is able to wear my kids out like this (they are very hard to wear out) is one that I consider a major success.

We got puppies!

Brian and I decided that it was time for a new puppy.  Well, more like Brian decided, but I jumped on board.  Then he decided that we needed two, so they could each have a playmate.  I agreed with him, because I know doggies really get lonely when no one is around.  With Halle being at school now, she wouldn't be able to hang out with the pet like she did with Rudi when she was homeschooled.

So Brian searched for two labs from the same litter.  He found a yellow and a black lab online that were 8 weeks old.  They had been found in Edna, TX.  Brian fell in love with their little faces.  They were sick at the time, and were not available for adoption just yet.  We waited until they were all clear and Brian drove to Edna to get them.  

This is Anna

And this is Bella

They are much bigger now since it's been a month since I took these pictures.  They are really playful and fit right in with our family.  Even Parker, our cat, has adjusted to them being around.  That doesn't really surprise me though, because he and Rudi were friends.  

These girls fight like sisters, but they also can't be without each other.  I'm really glad that we decided to get two, because they really do keep each other occupied.  I think it has helped to keep them from chewing up everything around the house.  Don't get me wrong, they get into everything, but they spend a lot of their play time wrestling and keeping each other distracted.  

They are smart little things.  We don't let them roam the house yet, but in the parts of the house they are allowed in, they seem to be house broken.  They also have learned some basic commands such as sit, down, stay, and eat.  They also know to go to their bed when you tell them to go to their kennel.  

But oh my, are they mischievous!  We have a wrought iron gate in our backyard that they can fit through.  We know it won't be a problem for long, because they are growing fast and soon will no longer be able to squeeze through the openings.  Brian has tried blocking the gate with chairs, wood scraps, the table, etc (it looks ghetto fabulous for now).  Then we'll watch them through the window and you can see them plotting on how to get out!  They help each get through!  As soon as they get out they run to the front door like "Look what I did!"  They are a mess, for sure.  

Little Man

Poor Jack suffers from third child syndrome.  He dressed himself.  He insisted he didn't need to put a shirt on underneath his sweater vest because, duh, he had a shirt on.  And he was too lazy to find matches to either of his shoes, and I just really didn't care that much.  He walked around like this for a couple of days.  Oh, also, with third child syndrome, you tend to wear the same thing for a few days because mom doesn't want to add to her laundry pile.

This is at Paw Paw's house.  He is adamant about putting the foot rest out even though his feet don't reach it. 

Bed head

He only has one sleeveless shirt (oh wait, unless you count his sweater vest) and he calls it his gym shirt.  Here he is lifting a ten pound weight and showing off his muscles.

third child syndrome showing again.  He was allowed to dress himself for Halle's swim meet.  Brian brought him later that morning, and this is how he showed up: rooster hair, mustaches shirt, camo shorts, no socks.  The sadder part is that I had to point out to Brian how bad Jack looked.  Brian hadn't even noticed.

Jack just being Jack.  Here he is just hanging out watching TV, but he has dressed himself in a train conductor hat, toy tool belt, and Daddy's dirty work socks on his hands as gloves.  This is how we roll at Casa del Hargrave.