Texas Rain Storm

I have never seen rain like I have here in Texas. It's still really warm outside when it rains, so the kids love playing outside in the rain.
4.19.11

Dave joined in on the fun and showed Joshua how to stomp in mud puddles.

Joshua caught on quickly.

After the rain stopped, Joshua got the hose out to make the puddles even bigger.
Audrey changed out of her bathing suit and into her pajamas and then decided she wanted to play in the mud.
Or she thought she did.

And then the sun came out.  The storms here stop as quickly as they start.  The kids loved being lifted into the air and landing in the mud puddles.  Audrey got used to the mud and got all muddy.  She can get her stinkin Hannah Montana pajamas dirty any day.

My Big Boy

Joshua wanted to make his own peanut butter and honey sandwich. And so he did. He forgot the honey, and used the heel of the bread, which was fine by me. Then he smeared peanut butter all over his hand while I was nursing Austin. That wasn't very fine by me.
4.19.11

Easter

We have been traveling lately trying to figure out where we want to settle after Dave finishes.  We spent Easter weekend on the road, and the kids LOVED staying in a hotel, and swimming in the pool.

Easter Sunday.  Too bad I forgot to pack a brush, hence Audrey's french braid.

Luckily the Easter bunny knew where to find us, and the kids loved the egg hunt in the hotel room.

Easter dinner at Rudy's. No dishes, no mess, good food...perfect.

Kindergarten Graduate

 

She did it! WE did it! Audrey graduated kindergarten. We all survived the first year of school for our little family. She earned a purple ribbon, which was the "big heart" award. I couldn't have chosen a more appropriate award for her. Her heart is so big, and so tender. She is my sweet little girl, who is growing up way too quickly.

 

She wanted a picture throwing her hat.

 

That morning we went to the school to watch the graduation ceremony. Dave was able to come, and stood on the other side to video tape her coming in.
I'm not gonna lie.  Hearing the graduation song, and seeing her walk in all big kid like...it made me cry, a few times.
Looking at her Dad.

My stinkin battery was dying so I missed the picture of her actually getting her diploma, but here she is right after.

She was very serious. That night I told her I was so proud of her, and that I got a little teary watching her graduate.  She said, "I kinda cried too.  I can't believe I am done with kindergarten!"

Looking at Joshua.

Her whole class.

Coming back in to sing some songs.

The four kindergarten classes.

Moving their tassels to the right side.  They take this graduation stuff pretty seriously.

Throwing the hats.  Audrey didn't.

Back in her class room for cake and a slide show.

Every time her picture was shown on the slide show she turned around to make sure Dave was watching. He was.

She got to hold Austin and was such a proud big sister.

She was so happy Dave was able to come see her classroom.

Austin was the hit of the party.

Audrey really does have a big heart.  I let her come home from school early that day, and I found her reading books to Joshua.  Such a sweet girl. Happy summer!

Memorial Day Memories

Home of the free, because of the brave. Happy Memorial Day.

One year ago today I found out I was pregnant. It was a very memorable Memorial Day. What a difference a year makes.
Pictures of my growing belly...

Memorial Day 2010. Bike ride, swimming, positive pregnancy test, bbq at Chris & Megans...great day!

August 27th. Mexico with my family. 17 weeks

Sept 25th. Date night. 21 weeks

Sept 28th. Ultrasound day. So proud of us for not finding out the gender!

Oct 23. Photographer Audrey took my picture. 23 weeks

Oct 25. Cabin in OK with friends. 25 weeks

Nov 28. Taking Christmas card picture. 30 weeks

Dec 5. Trip to UT for Arianne's wedding (still need to blog about that!) Here with Jayme, former room mate, also pregnant! 31 weeks

Dec 13. Celebrating Mandy's birthday. 32 weeks

Jan 14. Joshua snuggling his baby brother to be. 37 weeks

Feb 3. Being induced, on my due date! 40 weeks

Memorial Day this year was really fun. It was a fun weekend. Saturday we went to the gym, and then to see Kung Foo Panda 2 with the kids and some friends. Saturday night was date night, wahoooo! Sunday we relaxed and Dave bbqed some salmon for dinner. Monday Dave studied (boards this week), and then we went to the pool with some friends and ordered pizza. Monday night I went to see "Something Borrowed" with some friends while Dave studied. Fun weekend. Too bad I didn't take one picture!
Austin is now almost 4 months old. It's crazy to think that just a year ago we learned he was coming to join our family. Here is a little video of him giggling today.
click here to watch it
(Audrey has been asking when Austin's hair was going to be long enough to "make it all spikey". This was my first attempt at making it spikey. It's hard to tell, not quite long enough yet.)

Tornado Warning

On Tuesday night, we experienced our first, and hopefully last, tornado warning. I'm a California girl, and I'm not gonna lie... tornados never really scared me, until now. I was never really worried for my little family, but my heart goes out to all those who have been effected by all these crazy tornadoes happening lately. We were put under warning, and told to get to our "safe place". Our safe place was the kids bathroom. The kids were already asleep, so we just carried them to the tub and let them continue sleeping. We had our first aid kits, water, food, flashlights, candles, matches, blankets, crib mattress (to cover ourselves with...it's what the website said), Dave brought a hammer (he was really proud of that idea), I wore a watch (I don't like not knowing what time it is in case the power went out), and I put lots of toilet paper in the bathroom.
Luckily, our kids slept through the whole thing. Nothing happened to us here, but better safe than sorry.
In the morning Audrey said, "Hey, did I really sleep in the bathtub last night?" I guess she remembered a little bit of it after all.

 

The sky was incredible. So much lighting. Excuse my annoying voice. I was on the phone with Mandy, who was husbandless, and her TV went out. She also thought Dave's hammer idea was a good one and included it to her emergency stash. It was a mix of rain and hail, but nothing too serious. Our street looked like a river at one point, but we didn't get the baseball sized hail like some parts around here did. The eerie sound is the tornado warning sirens going off. They go off every month just to practice, but it's during the day and there aren't any tornados near. I will never listen to it the same way again.

Click here to watch the video.

Just kidding.  Click here instead. Same video, just now it is working.

Found

Joshua hiding behind the table. Wearing Dave's glasses. Sucking on Austin's binki. Sigh.