Sippy cups to Flat Stanley

I've been pretty lazy about updating this blog. I really just can't seem to take the time to sit down and do it. We've had several "blog worthy" events in our house this week. I'm going to see what I can manage to scrape together for a worthwhile blog.

Well, in Blake's world things seem to change pretty much every day. She has learned to eat in the last month. She is not real crazy about baby food. That's fine with us (and our pediatrician). She does like pasta of any kind, yogurt, pudding, and all kinds of desserts. She's also learned to use a sippy cup...sort of. She likes the idea of the cup, but is too lazy (young?) to hold it. Just this weekend she has learned to sit up on her own. She can sit alone for several minutes as long and neither of the sisters come along and talk to her. It seems that where her eyes go, her body is sure to follow!

This picture actually captures two of my favorite Blake Things...her eyes and her feet!



This time of year is always lots of fun for the older girls. They both love to dress up and be drama queens. Lucky for me, this time of year I get to pretend that they are only doing it for the festivities!

This week, we had a date with two of our favorite little girls. Sadie and Sophie came over and we carved pumpkins (thank you Aunt Nancy!). Back up just a moment. The four girls drew on their pumpkins with permanent markers. Let me take a moment here to ask, "what is the fascination with permanent markers?" My girls ask me at least two times a day if they can use a permanent marker on something ridiculous like writing their names on their homework papers or crossing off the day on the cafeteria menu. They just love the markers.

Anyway, on with the fun. Sadie, Sophie, Kennedy, and Taylor each had a pumpkin and an array of permanent markers. They drew EXACTLY what they wanted on their pumpkins. Then, we cut the pumpkins open. I personally don't care for the smell of a pumpkin. But, let me just say that Sadie Grace L-O-V-E-D the smell of the pumpkin. After much digging, seed slinging, and fun we had four gutless pumpkins. The girls dispersed and Amanda and I began the task of carving pumpkins. Yes, I know the girls are supposed to carve, but if you know our four girls, you would not recommend that we give them knives! I want you to get the full effect. Imagine this...

Me: So, Amanda, what's new in your world.

Amanda: Well, we are getting ready to...

Taylor: Mom! Mom! Look at this cartwheel.

Me: Yes, Taylor, that was awesome. You and Soph go play.

Amanda: Well, we are getting ready to...

Sophie: Mom! Tucker just came outside!

Amanda: Yes, Sophie. Ya'll can play with Tucker too.

Me: So, what's new?

Amanda: Well, we've been getting things together for...

Kennedy: M-o-o-o-m-m, those eyes were supposed to have eyelashes! See where I drew eyelashes?

Me: Look, I'm working on those. Go play!

Amanda: Well, we're thinking about...

Sadie: M-O-M, I drew dollar signs for eyes! Why doesn't the pumpkin have dollar signs for eyes?

And, it went on and on like that for about an hour. Eventually, Amanda and I had four perfectly carved pumpkins. Kennedy and Sadie had a blast. Taylor and Sophie played together and talked about everything in the world, and Amanda and I almost completed one thought in one conversation. As the Watson's drove out of the driveway I was thinking, "I still wonder what's new in Amanda's world!"

Here's the picture!

Another day last week, we had pictures taken. I haven't seen them yet, so don't ask. However, I will tell you that we drove up, took pictures, and left in about 10 minutes. It was by far the fastest picture session E.V.E.R. And, no I'm not complaining. But, when we got home the girls wanted us to have our own picture session because Mrs.Melody didn't take long enough! :) So, since our grass is dry and crunchy, we used the neighbors' luscious, green grass for our pictures. Blake wasn't so cooperative. Rather than fight her, I told the girls to just lie her down and I'd take their pictures. She was kind of smiling, so I went ahead and took some with her in them too. When I looked at this particular one, it really made me laugh. Blake looks like Flat Stanley! I think I'll just put her in a suitcase and send her around the world!

A picture is worth how many words?

This is just a funny picture that I wanted to share. While getting ready for a garage sale, I decided to go through and organize the boxes of clothing in the attic. Blake was "helping" me. Can you find her?



This picture is Blake at the family reunion last week. Can anyone guess what is going on here?


And this picture will qualify me as "Worst Mom of the Year" but I couldn't help myself and had to post it. Sisters do EVERYTHING together! I always wanted a sister, but I had no idea what all we could've done with each other!

A magic fairy?

Monday evening was a disaster turned circus at our house. We were busy rushing around trying to get all of the usual things checked off the list---eat dinner, brush teeth, baths, PJs, prayers, bed.

I was preparing some kind of gourmet meal (a.k.a. turkey sandwiches) and the oldest two children were fussing, fighting, and irritating me in general. Blake was in the Bumbo perched on the stove "talking" to me. None of the noise was particularly bad, but there was A LOT of it. The day had been long and stressful, and I was out of patience. Taylor came into the kitchen with an attitude and said, "Where is the cheese thing?" (as she reached to where she left it the day before). The "cheese thing" is the cheese slicer that she uses to mutilate the block of cheese while trying to fix herself a sandwich. Very sarcastically, I said, "It is in the dishwasher. The magic fairy came yesterday and cleaned the kitchen again." She opened the dishwasher and found the cheese slicer. Within a few minutes, Kennedy came into the kitchen. She approached the dishwasher to ask if the dishes were clean. I was quite irritated because I'm the only one who ever knows if the dishes are clean because I am the only one loading the dishwasher. So, I was all fired up and ready to act like a fool when Taylor suddenly jumped up out of her chair and shouted with huge arm motions, "Kennedy--a magic fairy came to OUR house and cleaned up last night!"

Needless to say, my poor attitude was immediately replaced with a laugh and a smile. That Tater Tot has a way of driving me to the edge. But, she always manages to rescue my sanity at just the right moment! Until next time...this magic fairy has work to do! And for the record, Chad does clean the kitchen occasionally.

Just a Bit of Water

A few weeks ago, Mom went to Austin with me to keep Blake while I attended a workshop. Every trip has a "you'll never forget this" moment. Well, Mom and I checked into the hotel at approximately 9:30 PM on Wednesday night. Now, if you've ever traveled with a small child, you can appreciate the amount of things that must travel with you. We had the stroller, car seat, portable swing, diaper bag, suitcase, and floor gym. We were all wedged into the elevator with a nice guy in slacks and a button up shirt. He appeared to be there on business. As we rode up to the fourth floor, I felt him push back against the luggage cart and feared that I had allowed it to roll into him. As the elevator door opened, he passed out! Yes, he passed out and fell onto the floor and my mom's feet. I stepped over him and contemplated if I should grab him by the ankles to pull him out of the elevator so that Mom and Blake could get out. I kind of shook him and asked, "Are you okay?". He opened his eyes and looked very confused. He said, "No, I'm not okay". I asked about his health issues such as diabetes or epilepsy. He suddenly got up and said, "I passed out again. I'm okay. I just need a drink of water" as he ran into his room directly across from the elevator. Completely shaken, mom and I hurried into our room and notified the front desk. Within a few minutes, the lady from the front desk called back and in a friendly voice with a British accent said, "The gentleman in Room 421 is okay. He said he just needed a bit of water."

Oh.My.Goodness! I needed a bit more than water after that ordeal!

Last week, I had to travel to Dallas for Dyslexia training. This time, my mother-in-law came along to take care of Blake. This trip was not nearly as exciting as the trip to Austin, but I did have another moment to remember. The morning we left, I had pumpkins to deliver to LCHS, two kids to deliver to LC Elementary, Blake and all her "stuff", and myself. Notice anything missing on that list? Think about it. Did you figure it out? I did not have my own stuff! I had my purse and one shirt that happened to be hanging. Other than that, I only had the clothes that I was wearing. Now, I noticed this mishap when I got to Tyler, but I did not have time to drive back to Henderson and get to the training on time. So after the training and a tour of the ghettos of Dallas, I found a Wal-mart where I purchased the necessities of life. This was one time in my life that I am really glad to be a low maintenance kind of gal!

Here are a couple of random pictures of my girls and the things they've been doing. Before you try to make the logical connection--There is NONE! I just like to post pictures of my girls!

This is the girls dressed for church at the Cowboy Church (before I made Taylor change shoes).





And this is Kennedy giving Taylor a massage at Spa Dickerson.



And this is Taylor in the morning before she's brushed her hair for school. Her face says it all...