Some Summer Fun

Just some random pictures to show you how the kids are starting out their summers.   I had to do some cropping to get rid of  (ahem) panty shots, but there newest mode of transportation is a clothes basket.  And apparently I was not quick enough to catch Carter as the transportEE only the transportER!

 

Let’s just say he had her flying across the tile, thank God for some carpet or who knows which kid I might have had at emergency …….

P manages to make her own fun if the other 2 aren’t up for it.  I think you call this ’shaking what your momma gave you’

Okay, I’m done now.

Shealyn’s Battle of the Books

Shealyn had her competition yesterday.  Since I had been through one a couple of days before she had the butterflies for both of us.  My co coach and I had to take a whole different approach with the older girls.  Yes, we were an all girl team!!!  Number one, their books are much more involved and you’re just kind of hoping that you managed to touch on any possible detail that might be asked.  We also made it a point to really talk about the concepts, settings, and characters with the girls so they would be better able to decipher a question by reasoning if they were confused by a question.  Again, we (my co coach Michele and I) had no clue what to expect.  We were new to this as were our girls.  There were only 4 teams at this age level and many of them with experience since they had been in Kindergarten.  At the half the girls had missed 3 and if Shealyn had had the confidence to challenge a question she would have been right.  It was cute, she came up to me at intermission and told me about the question.  It was too late to challenge it then, but I told her to go tell Mrs. Warren (the question reader) and SHE WOULD  HAVE CHALLENGED CORRECTLY!!!!  Chalk it up to a learning experience!  Shealyn and another little girl were pretty frustrated that they had already missed 3.  We encouraged them, pepped them up and told them to keep working together as a team and to HAVE FUN!!!

I believe they missed another 3 during the 2nd half (I was judging again).  Needless to say they didn’t win, but at least 3 of the girls had fun and the coaches daughters…..ahem….I won’t mention names are still a little frosty with each other.  Michele and I spent the afternoon together yesterday, have burned the phone lines and talked at their softball practice again last night and have decided these are growing pains and with encouragement from mom’s will have to work through this.

Each girl thought the other was shooting dirty looks at them trying to get the team captain to pick their answer.  Both of our girls are bright and paid more attention to detail and were right more than the captain was in instances when the team was divided on an answer.  In my mind I believe they were both truly more frustrated at the captain and just are uncertain of how to voice that to each other.  And, I’ve been trying to tell Shealyn that we all perceive things differently i.e. facial expressions.  I keep reminding Shealyn this is not a big deal and nothing to lose a friend over…..they’ll work through it and I’m sure all things will be fine when they play their game tomorrow.

Side note:  I’m so glad I have found a friend down here that we can talk candidly about our daughters and their imperfections and still maintain a friendship.

Regardless, all the drama aside,  I think they had fun and have definitely learned a lot and know how to better prepare themselves if they choose to do this again.   I know Michele and I learned how to better prepare them!  We had a great group of girls and until competition day all got along…..sigh!

Good Job Gert…I love you and am proud of you!!!!

Kids say the darndest things

Okay, I’m back and ready to share my funnies again.  This week’s version is courtesy of Shealyn.  I got an email from her teacher yesterday that they were working on to, too and two.  The kids were giving examples in sentences.  Shealyn was called on to use “two” in a sentence.  Here it is for all the world to hear

“My dad takes two hours to go poop!”

Hmmm…how many giggles do you suppose were heard through that 3rd grade classroom?

February

I’m 2 days shy of it being the end of February, but I might as well wrap it up and get ready for March.

February highlights:

My dad and Virginia came for a week.

We had a really laid back week, but it was fun.  I showed them around our might metropolis (insert sarcasm) and we went to P’s favorite store, Hobby Lobby.  My dad spent some time with my father in law.  I took them to the botanic gardens in Fort Worth.  Even though they weren’t in bloom is was still gorgeous and overwhelming to think what it would be like with a sea of color.

Payton took our picture outside the Botanic Gardens of my dad, Virginia and I.

 

My dad and I courtesy of Miss P.

They got to see Carter play a basketball game.  Clark, his dad and my dad went to an aviation museum and Virginia and I took the kids and did some shopping.  We also got to do some shopping alone and enjoy a Mexican lunch………..yum!  Payton hung out with grandpa and they had a chocolate party………yum.

Overall, we ate lots, made 2 batches of my dad’s fudge (haven’t found any I like better)!  As a matter of fact, fudge is one form of chocolate I can say no to unless it is my dad’s.  Payton reprimanded grandpa daily—-telling him he needed to chew with his mouth closed and not talk with his mouth full.  Hmmm….apparently what I say is getting through to her:o)

Maizie went in for her heart worm treatment and had to spend 3 nights away from us.  Would you believe I missed that darn dog and was happy to have her home?  We had to keep her quiet (no forced exercise) for a week and then have to go for a recheck next week.

Shealyn went from this:

 

 to this……………………………

  I’m so proud of my girl.  Apparently she bleeds a little maize and blue  as well!!

Both Shealyn and Carter signed up for Battle of the Books and I’m coaching both teams.  So far, it’s fun!

We’re slowly adding curtains to the house.  A little at a time I have to keep reminding myself.

We finished up Carter’s basketball season.  The coach did a very impromptu ceremony at the end of the last game where he gave the kids a trophy and had something special to say about each child.  He said Carter was the fastest one on the team and he had to prove it more than once )

Shealyn was nominated by her teacher for a National Young Scholars camp.  Unfortunately, I’m pretty sure she won’t be attending.  It’s pricy, but my biggest concern is my 9 year old being 4 hours away for 5 nights with kids she may not know.  That seems pretty big to me for a 9 year old….or maybe her momma.

P and I have been doing the same ole same ole.  We go to story hour each week, volunteer at the elementary library, play games and hang out.   And recently we’ve started walking in the morning.  More like she hangs out, eats breakfast, colors and cheers us on from the bleachers why I try and grab 40 minutes of me time in the morning.  It struck me this month that my baby will be in kindergarten in 7 months.  Let’s just say she’s beside herself with excitement!

That’s pretty much all for February.  March will be filled with excitement in this house.  Stay tuned…………….

Happy Birthday Bayleigh J.

Bayleigh J., we hope you had a great day even though Uncle Clark’s singing scared you.  We miss you and love you and will see you in “Tekas” very soon :O)  Hopefully it will be a year of Teriffic Threes for you and mommy.

Computer gliches

Yes, I know I haven’t posted in a while, but I thought I’d just get on and let you know I’m having some computer issues that make it painstakingly slow to do anything.  I’ll be back when I get them resolved!

A Christmas wrap up

We had a great Christmas even without the snow.  We had 18 people (including the 5 of us) over for Christmas dinner and the rest of the day.  I think it would be fair to say fun was had by all.  We ate, we visited, we ate, we played games and we may have even managed to munch some more.  The big hit of the day were the 2 nerf guns that were under the tree Christmas morning.  Clark and Carter both got one and they have had a ball not to mention every other adult that was at our house.  I am sure that at some point throughout the day almost all of the  18 people that were here had their turn at launching velcro darts through the house:o)  The house was full of laughter and Christmas cheer.

I know having a house full helped me through the first Christmas (ever) of not seeing any member of my family.  I missed my family and not seeing their reactions to gifts given, but this really proves to me home is where the 5 of us are. 

I have some pictures of my kids from Christmas morning that I thought I’d share with you all.

Christmas morning waiting to open presents.

Carter hasn’t wasted any time becoming a Cowboy fan!

All three with their newest webkinz and new names.

Logan the Chicken

Silver, the silver-back gorilla

and

Manny the elephant

Shealyn giving daddy a new version of a long lost CD

trying out the new bike

trying out the new princess scooter

take note of the lovely pink eyeshadow

future plumber?

Payton took this one

T – 5 hours

Yep, that’s about how long it will be before I’m hugging 2 of my nieces and brother and sister in law.  Just a bit of cleaning left to do before their arrival.  So, if you don’t hear from me for a few days you know why!

Happy Birthday Holly

Happy Birthday to my sister in law, Holly.  Here’s to the other lady in my life that puts up with those McNulty boys ;0)!  We hope you have a great day!  You’ve now joined the ranks of the 36 year olds!

A very proud 6 year old

I’ll just let the pictures tell this one …………………………….and then I’m sure I’ll clue you in at the end )

 

 

 

 

 

 

My little man finally did it!  The whole bike thing has been so frustrating for him.  The last time he even tried he had me helping him and kept blaming me for leaning and then just QUIT!  He would get so mad so easily.  I remember being just as frustrated as him after that bike session.  However, yesterday he just took his bike out on his own and was kind of working at it at his own pace.  Well, Clark was cleaning the garage and nonchalantly asked Carter if he wanted any help.  He took daddy’s help and the pictures explain the rest.  Daddy even took him on a long bike ride yesterday to learn how to stop and turn corners.  He’s learning and every time he hops on his bike he’s building more confidence.  He was even braving the 30 degree temps today to do more training wheel FREE bike riding.

Good Job Buddy!