My dad

Well, my dad is one step closer to being cancer free. He just had the (hopefully) last surgery to eradicate this horrible thing that he has been dealing with for over a year now. His surgery went well - my mom said he is doing very good considering they took over 75% of his liver this morning. She said he is a bit groggy, but in good spirits. Hopefully this will be the end of the story for this chapter of his life and he will start soon being able to say "I am cancer free". Thank you to everyone for your thoughts, calls, and prayers today - my whole family appreciates it more than you can imagine.



This past weekend we spent time with my dad out at his new favorite place - the Ranch. He and my mom have done so much to their little bunkhouse and it is ready for them to stay overnight as soon as he is feeling better. They love to wake up down there to see the sun come up. I think that will speed up his recovery, that wanting to get down there as soon as possible.




The kids had an absolute blast looking at the fish in the lake and seeing cows close up for the first time! They were a bit scared at first, but their Daddy started mooing at the cows and the kids began to join in. Before they knew it Avery had stepped in her first cow pattie . . . I guess that just goes to being a country girl! We rode the four wheeler and went to GG and Gramps for a scrumtious lunch. All, in all, a great way to spend a few days together as a family before my dad's surgery.

Pete's Grandpa

On Thursday we got the sad news that Big Pete's grandpa had passed away. He lived a very eventful 94 years and had a life full of family and friends. He is truly missed by us all.

One of my fondest memories of him when I met him 11 years ago was his joke telling and story telling ability. He would always have everyone cracking up. Pete remembers fondly when he was in elementary school and he would play hooky with his Grandpa. His grandpa would take him to McDonalds and then let Pete be his ball boy for a round of golf. Pete said that it is one of his best memories ever.

These are pictures of the kiddos with their great grandpa about a year ago.

Family Vacation

Every summer, Pete's parents treat his entire family to some fun in the sun. This year we went to Port Aransas, and the kids loved playing with all their cousins and family. At one point there were 19 people there . . . it was loud and crazy to say the least. So here goes: Scott (Pete's bro) & Jamie with their two kids: Avalynn,3, Kylynn,15 months. Dave(Pete's bro) & Brandi with their three kids: Dave,11, Jon,9, Justin,9. Brent (Pete's best friend and honorary brother) & Stephanie with their newborn: Luke, 2 months. Pete & Christy with their 3 kids: Avery,18 months, Pete, 18 months, and Hailey, 3 months. Last but not least, Pete and Joan (Pete's parents).



Avery and Pete were a little afraid of the water at first, but soon Lil Pete began to love it! Avery never really did "love" it, until the last day when she started sticking her feet in!


Hailey chilled out under the tent. Going to the beach with a baby is tough . . . she always had sand on her paci!!!

Avery is nervously eyeing the waves beneath her and cousin Dave.


Avalynn holding "her" baby Hailey. Wherever Hailey was, Avalynn was not too far behind!

Pete's parents getting in a snuggle with our little ones.

Daddy's 33!

Happy Birthday Pete! Wow, we are getting old!

Avery and Pete are 18 months!

My little babies are a year a half now! It makes it so much easier to say that than by "month-age". When I say that they are in to everything . . .they are in to EVERYTHING!!


Avery is our little clown with the sweetest little smile and heart. She loves on her little sister like a little momma. She brings Hailey her blankie and paci, tries to comfort her when she is fussy. She is fully into blowing kisses and giving hugs, which makes this MOMMA so happy! She likes to carry around purses and buckets and wear bows (for a moment) in her hair. She is so attached to all blankies and wants one with her at all times. She has a special bear blankie that we call "pink bear" that she especially likes to love on. She points, shakes her fingers, and calls out bear, bear . . . until it is brought to her. She really loves to find it in the dryer after pink bear has been "washing". Avery is always going to be my picky eater, I think. I can't seem to stuff veggies into her unless I am really tricky about hiding it. Even then, she has figured out that she doesn't like anything green! Since going to MDO she has learned to love to color and asks to do it daily whenever she sees the crayons.


Pete is our little teddy bear who really loves on his momma. He went to Grandma and Grandpa's a week ago with his daddy, and Pete was telling me that he kept asking for me. He is such a sweetie but has such a mischievous side too! He knows when he is doing something wrong because he will stop, look at me, and bat those gorgoeus baby blues. He still loves to eat, eat, eat . . .but is becoming a little more picky like his sister. I will often catch him quietly playing with his blocks or reading a book which always warms my heart. He also recently gave up his "paci" because he had to! He pulled a cabinet down on top of him and it knocked his tooth loose. In order not to get that tooth to jiggle, he had to loose the paci. He is not as into giving hugs and kisses, but I always get a great hug when he wakes up from a nap. I can hear him calling through the monitor "Momma, Momma!" and you know I come running!

Hailey's 3 months!

My littlest baby girl just turned 3 months today! Whew, again with that cliche - time sure flies. In some ways it seems like 3 months and in some ways it doesn't! Hailey is all smiles, cooing and "talking" up a storm lately. She's been hanging out in the bumbo chair, which she really seems to love! The best thing is . . .she is sleeping through the night. She would love to sleep in during the morning, but I am one of those momma's that believes in schedules, so she gets up around the same time her brother and sister do.

Hailey is still sleeping in our closet because I'm nervous about moving her to Avery's room (why mess up a good thing, right?) She also gets to kind of do whatever she wants schedule-wise. With A & P, I was so regimented, but Hailey gets to pick when she eats, sleeps and just about everything else!

She has the cutest little lip quiver she does right before she starts crying. She pokes that little lip out . . .and you just want to eat it up! She so doesn't want the pacifier, but I keep trying. She spits it out continuously and then cries because she wants it!

Mommy's 30

Wow - I have been thinking the past few days . . . when did this happen? I mean, I'm not freaked out by the fact that I'm 30, just freaked out with how fast the time has seemed to fly by. I know, I know, it's such a cliche - time flies, but seriously??


I remember being in high school and thinking about what my life would be like at thirty. I didn't in my wildest dreams imagine it would be like it is now - which is a good thing. I think the greatest lesson I have learned in my 20's is that I am in no control over anything that happens in my life. Yes, I can steer this car in the direction I want to go, but at some point my foot is no longer on the gas pedal.


The kids were eerily good today - I think that was their birthday present to their old momma. My parents came in and we invited the neighbors over for cake and visiting. All in all, it was a nice day. So, on to a new decade . . .

It's getting closer . . .

As my 30th birthday is quickly approaching, it seems very fitting that I ended up spending the weeekend with some "old" friends. I'm sure that they will love that I am calling them "old" but these are people who I have know for years. My friend Tracy is 7 days older than me and June is 12 day younger than me - when we were in high school we always had fun with our June birthdays! It was great getting to see some longtime friends, since I don't see them very often. I'm hoping that we will all be able to get together more now that we live back in H-town! I went to Tracy's birthday celebration on Saturday and had a blast!
Happy Birthday Tracy! Her mom made her this beautiful cake!


I also got to see one of my favorite friends. . . Shawnie and her brood! All of her kiddos are getting so big and it has been absolutely too long since we have seen each other. We are making plans to spend more time together at the end of the summer - I can't wait!

Momma vs. More

Why at 18 months does the word "momma" sound so similar to "more"?
Why is 5 o'clock the "bad" time according to kids?
Why do my kiddos know the word "no" and just don't want to follow it?

Why are my kids so darn cute that I can barely stand it?????

Hmm, just some thoughts that I'm pondering this morning.


I went out for the first time the other day BY MYSELF with all the kiddos. We went to the pet store! I'm trying to find things to do with them to keep them interested! Well . . .the pet store was better than the zoo! They loved it. All the animals were at their level so they could really see them moving around.