Signs of Spring!

So even with all this CRAZY weather, the bluebonnets have bloomed beautifully. I have been waiting patiently to get some pics and when this adorable set from Beverly arrived I knew it was time. So the diva and I headed out to snap some pics on this 80 degree day (another sign of spring)

We went to a new spot that was just PACKED with ladybugs. I just adore ladybugs and snatched up everyone I could find to let them stroll along my hands, arms.. etc. The diva.. she wanted NO part in this. She is not into bugs or dirt I might add and informed me that the "baby-bugs" could go away. But I could not help snap a few pics of them on the bluebonnets.

And one of the diva when she was younger... when she in fact DID like "baby-bugs"...



Then we shot some pics. Beverly actually sent us 2 sets, the other I will post some pics of later after I edit. The weather was gorgeous, the flowers were gorgeous, so here are a few of my favs :)

Sigh, then LOOK at this.. I found these today as I was editing the new ones... these were taken not last season but the season before.. diva was going on 1 (whereas now she is going on 3).. :(

diva then...

diva now...

oh and whatcha think of diva's new "do"... I am sure you had noticed in a few pics already but these were her first real "shots" since the big "cut". I myself miss the bows and now just have to look at the HUGE assortment scattered about the house (yes, I am a BIG BOW ADDICT.. or BBA) and wish .. wait for when I can use them again... if she lets me..

Yee-Haw!

So Friday we started our day off bright and early just like the "real" cowboys do. We loaded up the buckarros and headed over to the school for "rodeo day". The kids had been working ALL week studying about Texas, cowboys, and all things western. We (the parents) were asked to supply goldfish, pretzels, and some other edible items for "trail mix", old socks for horses (I had no idea horses needed socks.. but ok..), the dude (my new name for B) had to research all the facts about Texas, and he had to dress the part of a cowboy (which was fine with the diva since she loves all things cowboy and horse...someone forgot to tell the diva she was NOT invited to the rodeo though)

So here are the horses in their corrals... (the diva was a tad dissappointed there were no REAL horses in the corral)

I thought they were cute (in a Rudoloph the rednosed reindeer sort of way).

Now Rodeo Day consisted of a modge-podge of games.. the first requirement of the day was to cheer vigorously for your team... check ;)


The first game was one where the object was to dip your soup ladel into the bucket (which contained water).. and run DOWN a hill

trying NOT to spill water... (oops)

and deposit what is left of your water into another bucket...

I would love to show you a pic of the water that was IN the bucket at the end but it would not have shown up... good thing we have been in some need of rain here, the ground was ever so thankful ;)

Now.. every GOOD cowboy should be able to quicky dress in pants 3 sizes to big and run out to the corral.. to fend off those "Ky-otes" quicky

The dude watching his team....

OHHH we were SOOO close....

Another requirement of the cowboy is to be able to hula.. I mean lasso a steer
Mrs. B shows the kiddos how...

The dude takes his turn...

My favorite buckaroo ;)

The diva finding her own enjoyment since she could find no horsies....

This is the diva's main man.. Mr. K.. he is the coolest kid on the block (he is cooler then me) and of course the cutest!

Miss G, a friend of the dude's ....

When I saw this next picture, it immediately brought a song to my head by Toby Keith, I don't know all the words but the chorus goes... (me in my best shower voice)

"Your gonna miss this,

your gonna want this back."

"Your gonna wish these days,

hadn't gone by so fast...these are some good times...

so take a good luck around-

you may not know this now,

but your gonna miss this"

They spent a lot of time fighting.. the dude way to cool for the diva, the diva not wanting to be

bothered by the dude.. but.. when all the fighting is done, all the coolness is gone, they are the best of friends.

I look back some days and wonder where the day went.. what did I do, and sometimes.. I wish I could have that day back.. to spend more time playing.. more time with them..I feel like I blink and they change , go from the cute, cherub faced baby who keeps you up half the night- to an almost 3 year old with opinions on everything under the sun... to an always on the go boy who spends his days playing with friends or playing ball.

I think the most truthful statement I have heard is "children are a gift from God". I could not agree more as they are the best gift I have ever received :)

Power of Prayers...

This little angel is in need of our prayers.. can you pray for him today?
You can check out his site by clicking here

March MATH Madness

This last weekend we headed down to Austin to compete in the MATH Pentathalon. The dude and a group of friends signed up and have been practicing after school each week since October (yes this along with soccer,karate, baseball... sigh....)Basically the whole "idea" (in case you have no clue) is the kids (aka: pentathletes) compete in a series of 5 games against other pentathletes. The games range in difficulty and are age appropriate.. the Level 1 games are for K and 1st grade while level 2 are for
2nd and 3rd and so on.

The dude and his best bud B with their Math Coach Mrs. Linscomb...


Now let me just get these out of the way.. the diva of course had to have HER picture taken (and then immediately viewed for her approval.. UGHHH...

This handsome young man is my younger brother and the kids Uncle Rick. He met up with us for the weekend since he lives in Austin. The diva just adores him :)

Some of the games....

The actual competition... (which was interesting as they were like the "Math Police".. gesh NO hanging on the rails.. no STANDING on the rails.. "mam, yes you with the camera.. hanging on the rail.. you need to BACK off!" Sooo... I did the best I could with my zoom and no flash..

And I just liked the colors with this one :)

The Pentathletes!!! :)

My Favorite Things....

Ok so I am normally not a "plugger" but when I was preordering Twilight on Amazon I saw this book titled Twilight: Director's Notebook: The Story of How We Made the Movie Based on the Novel by Stephenie Meyer . I figured it was a good buy. Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE to read, watch movies, then compare the two..lol.. Which I did with Twilight. After seeing the movie hmmm.. maybe 4 times.. I went back and re-read the book again.. found quite a few differences.. then watched the movie again. Anyway.. I had many questions.. as most fellow Twilighters do, about why certain things were added, deleted.. and of course, I just wanted to know everything I could about the movie!

Ths book satisfied my "thirst" for more information. Harwick provides pictures, funny notes, drawings, and real movie quotes about everything from why they picked certain clothing items to why scenes went the way they did, how they chose the actors and more. It is a WAY easy read, it reads more like a diary or comic then a book. And it is packed with trivia and candid info that any twilighter is going to devour!

So if you have a few extra bucks.. I HIGHLY recommend you pick it up! It is tops on my favorite things list!!

Spring Break and Baseball

We spent the majority of last week at baseball camp. The dude got a dose of Randy's and mine "alma-matter" at the DeSoto High School Baseball Camp. A couple of the boys on dude's team decided to join in the action so away we went.


Coach K....

Some hitting... (which this was kind of funny cause all our boys just "graduated"
from Tball and think themselves "way to cool" for this- funny how even the big guys go back to the basics...)
The dude....

K...

M...

T...


sorry, no diva pics today.. but check back soon.. she has a new hair do and will be showing if off soon ;)

Jumpin' for the Heart

Longbranch had their annual Jump Rope for Heart last Friday. This holds a special place for us as the dude's Paw-Paw had heart surgery and his Uncle Brian has had 2 open heart surgeries due to a torn aeorta. The faculty and students a Longbranch also take this very seriously raising over 25,000 last year (I think they were 4th in the state!!) and at last count, were well on their way to that again this year. So Holley and I packed up the littles and went in for a fun day of Jumping. Here are a few pics of the event...





Cause there is NO way 5 and 6 year olds could jump ALL day.. they also play games and jump in other ways.. they did some hula hooping- here are the 2 hula masters Cagen and Brock :)






Then of course the littles had to get into the action...