This one's for you Sis!

Seriously - It cannot have been almost a month ago that I updated the blog....

but in case it has, I took a few pictures recently to get back on track.

Really  - Life has slowed down a bit (other than the usual day to day 15 loads of laundry, cleaning, cooking etc.)

Last weekend - We celebrated 9 weeks of hard work from Shawn.

He was one of about 100 students who CHOSE to participate in Saturday band,

(okay - really - we just signed him up!)

The concert was great and Shawn played a lot of different percussion instruments.



Playing "bells"



We are also preppin for another birthday.

This Thing will soon be 3 and boy oh boy is he ornery!

Good thing the kid is cute.

and last but not least...

We are living in a world of a full on teen.

Mood swings, girl drama, homework, spring fever, too cool at times, stupid parents

who know nothing by the way) ...

Teen drama!

and yes... that is his new limb. 
It's called a cellphone I guess!

Chad and I  (mostly Chad) have spent time working on plants, tree roots, and a playground in the backyard. 

This used to be a giant tree root - cut it out and put a lilac bush in.

When we need a break however, we (the parents) like to school the boys in basketball.

Chad whoops up on them in 1:1 and I beat them in a game of HORSE. 

Most of our time is outside.

We eat outside, play outside, do work outside, just be outside. 

This little boy LOVES his big brother

Tomorrow is an Easter Egg hunt for Isaac.  I will try to get a few more pics there too and be better about updating our blog.  Just living in every moment and trying to absorb my baby before he completely grows up.

Happy Easter!

** On a side note - I have been having chronic stomach pains.... please pray that it all resolves quickly.  Seeing the Doc again on Tuesday afternoon to see what they think.  Thank you in advance.  

We do still exist!

Whew!  Life is busy with kids and a military man husband!

Plus the weather has been beautiful so we have spent lots of time outside (thus leaving the blog neglected!)





Finished a puzzle as big as he is... all by himself!
This was a Christmas Present from G'ma and G'pa



Celebrated Dr. Seuss' Birthday

Went to the science fair to watch Shawn

He got to present to the Principal

Went to the Jazz Festival -

Chris had a solo, in 2 of the 3 songs they played

"Mom, Can you take a picture of us,  pweeze?"

Took Pictures of his shadow - Love me some eyelashes!

Love his little lips - smiling!

Exhaustion.... and this was after a 2 hour nap in his bed....
He woke up long enough to walk out to the kitchen, cry for about 10 minutes and then
lay down at the sliding door to sleep some more.

I am tired too!

So Proud!!!

So -

Last weekend, I began a new adventure....

Solo Parenting

Chad began working the weekend shift (Friday - Monday) last weekend so I in turn became a solo parent.  Not single parent b/c we are still very much married it's just that he is not AS available as he used to be on the weekends.

Lo & Behold...

Shawn comes home with a HUGE project to do ... by March 5th... last weekend!

We got off to a GREAT Rough start (he and I didn't have the same "experiment" in mind)

We worked all last Sunday on the project by completing the experiment and taking data. 

Then today.... We put the project together!

Shawn did a great, no... super... no.... FABULOUS job! 

Here is the final product -  

Now we are off to enter it into the Science Fair at school on Tuesday!

So Proud of You SHAWN...

(Lesson in Parenting.... Weekends.... yeah - they no longer belong to you when you have kids!  Especially ones that are in school!)

Reptile Man

Tonight, Isaac and I went to meet the Reptile Man.

David M Neives

Lives in Bellevue

Travels to exotic places and photographs exotic animals

so kids can learn and love them just as he does.

I have seen his presentation at our school

and I taught summer school with his wife last summer

He is really entertaining and very passionate about educating kids, adults and anyone in between about animals....

He has written 2 books (see below) with great pictures. 

Isaac liked this creature's tongue....

He was hooked!



Huge Albino Snake - should be a green color if I remember right.




The picture behind him is a close up of the snake in his hand.... he puts these close up pictures in his books.




Again - the picture behind him - the eye of the snake in his hand.



Such a neat guy with really cool animals to share with kids (of all ages). 

Big Boy

This lil' guy is officially a big boy.

No more babies 'round this house... sniff sniff

Big boy undies and

a big boy bed!

He's been sleeping in his big boy bed for a week now.... successfully....

and by that I mean .... no SuperNanny techniques happening around here.

Didn't mention/post earlier b/c I was afraid I would jinx it....

But I am happy to say that 1 full week into big boy world and he is sleeping really well. 

(I will share a really helpful item (one of my top purchases and well worth the money as far as I am concerned) in another post). 

Christmas.... In February

Last weekend, we travelled to Clear Lake for Christmas (finally!)

We always have so much fun.... I almost forget to take any pictures at all, but here are a few from my camera from this visit.

Opening gifts

Wearing undies on our heads....
That's part of everyone's Christmas celebration right?

Strutting around in Aprons

Mom had an idea.

She wouldn't share.

It was a blast ... from the past.....

and the big kids (Chris and Shawn) whined about not being able to do it.

They were worried about not being "good" at it

because they usually use blades.

We went Skating...

ALL OF US!



LOVE LOVE LOVE

Family time!!!

So glad we got to meet Noah (Woody's Son)

So thankful for perfectly timed winter weather

Thankful for my family and our time we spend together!

Wrestling

Whew!  Winter has been busy....

Chris has been wrestling, wrestling and more wrestling.

Wrestling at School

Logan Fontinelle MS

Wrestling for a Local Club

B.J.S.A. 



Wrestling at Home...

Maybe not the most technical, but certainly entertaining!