Carrollton Fun Run

Instead of doing the 5k, we decided to do the fun run instead.  The path was on the trails near our house, so they were very familiar.  G kept up with me and we did a 12 minute mile, while Elia and Chris did a 16 minute mile!  Elia held Chris' hand the whole time.  Gianna and I met them at the finish line.  Afterwards, we reversed all that calorie burning and went to McDs.  A great Saturday morning, and we plan to do it next year!

Cheesing for the camera before

G was intent on starting first!

The big finish!

Happy New Year!

Among the usual- trim the budget, diet, exercise more etc, my official resolution is to leave work earlier each day so I can spend more time with my family!

Happy New Year to all!

Back Home- Santa Presents!

We were very wary when we rolled up to our little house here in Texas at 7:45pm.  The last hour is always the worst- you are so close to home and completely run out of things to entertain ourselves.  The 11 hour trip was immediately forgotten when the girls saw the beautiful presents under the tree.  All the gifts were unwrapped by 8:15- I feel like that should be a record!

Barbie Camper

Barbie convertible

On top of G's list- a magna color!  Which unfortunately was not built correctly by Santa's elves, so we have to send it back to Amazon to get a new one.

There were of course many other presents (legos, hello kitty towels, books, and dressups) but they were all opened so fast I couldnt get pictures!  What a fabulous and Blessed Christmas we have had!

St. Louis: A visit with the McBrides

I'm so glad we were able to meet up with Rebecca this visit!  She texted me a few days before to tell me that little X had croup so it was up in the air whether or not we would be able to see them.  But he turned a corner pretty quickly, so we were able to playdate the day before we left.  It was so great to catch up with her!

Watching a show before lunch.

Playing dress up, a Sophia- Gianna favorite!

Rebecca is just a week and a half away from baby #4.  Her new house in St. Louis is perfect for them.  We will be back to visit soon!

St. Louis: Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

After a lovely brunch at Aunt Shanny's house, a nap and church, we were all ready for the presents to begin!  First up, matching jammies for all the cousins.

Sunday Best

Doesnt everyone just look so happy here? 

The cousins also opened presents from their aunts and uncles. 

Hello Kitty Toe socks- good for the feet or your hands!

Probably the most favorite game- Angry Birds.  Both Gianna and Colin have their game faces on.

I love love love this picture.  Aunt Colleen and Uncle Bobby found Gabby Douglas Corn Flakes.  She was so excited.

After they were finally in bed, the siblings opened presents.  Then we put out the Santa presesnts.  This year instead of hauling EVERYTHING back and forth, we only brought stocking stuffers and a joint present for the girls from Santa.  Matt and Sarah were dog-sitting back in Dallas, so they made sure to put out the larger santa presents for us to come home to.

Annual fireplace and milk and cookies picture. 



Past 3 years!

Chirstmas day was spent opening presesnts, playing with presents, eating yummy food, and Santa even stopped by for a quick visit.

He gave out little presents to the oldest 4.

 

 

G was toooooo excited here

Merry Christmas!

Hair

I think the worst thing about having girls is dealing with their hair.  its always tangled, there is always screeching, and coaxing them to sit still so I can put it in a braid or a bow in it is exhausting.  I often threaten them that I'm just going to cut it all of so they have hair like daddy.  That usually results in more screeching.



Elia's Picture Day.  Yes, I straightened it.

This is G's hair, not straightened.

This is her new hairdo.  Dare I use the word sophisticated to describe the way it looks?

Homework face.

We cut a few off Elia's hair too.

Even with the short hair, there are still tangles and bows and braids to whine about.  Less, but still there!

My Last Day as a SAHM

Today is the day before we leave for a week long camping trip to Colorado.  We are meeting the Rowles and Albas out there to party all week.  11 adults, 4 young kids, and 5 dogs.  Highs right now are looking to be below 70 almost everyday!  Our highs in Dallas this week go all the way up to 107!  Grandma and Grandpa are taking the girls back to CA with them for a week and then when they get back I will be working everyday until school starts!  So today was the last day to do something extra special.
We all got dressed up and in the car, and I told them we were going somewhere special but I didn't say where.  When we pulled up to GiGis Cupcakes, Gianna was so excited!  She wanted to go there for her birthday, but poor Elia got sick so we wanted to get home asap.

It is a cute little cupcake place, and the cupcakes look AMAZING!  I couldn't finish mine because it was so sweet, but Gianna almost finished hers!  Elia ate all the frosting and was done.

Afterwards we went to their cooking class a little early so we could play at the Rec Center first.  They love the air hockey.

G wore her apron and Elia wore the matching chef's hat.

This was the last cooking class too, so Ms. Jill, their teacher had a party with ice cream and games instead of actually cooking.

Their favorite thing to do afterward- play on the rocks.

Love my sweet girls!

Chick Fil A Appreciation Day

After our last playgroup this morning, (out of town next week, then trainings until school starts!) we headed over to Chick Fil A to appreciate them.  Now granted, we were going at the lunch hour which is always busy, but I could not believe how crazy busy it was!  The drive-thru was backed up outside the parking lot, they had someone directing traffic, AND the line was out the door!

It was hard to get a good pic of the girls.  We ended up eating outside becasue it was so packed inside.  There were so many people there and orders were getting mixed up and missing items etc. but I didn't see one person get frustrated or angry.  Everyone who worked there (including the poor guy directing traffic in this awful heat) had a smile and were so polite!  This is what Chick Fil A should be known for and talked about!

A quick Visit from Grandma

Why am I so bad at taking pictures when it is important?  Grandma Rowles came in town for the HomeSchool Conference so we were able to spend some QT on Sunday.  Saturday night we met her out at Bass Pro Shop in Grapevine so we could stock up for the big camping trip next week.

This was as good as the zoo for them!



 Then we headed over to Rain Forest Cafe.  The line was long, so we sat at the bar and got seated right away.  Pretty cool chairs, eh?

We are so lucky this summer!  We have seen Grandma twice in a month and will see her again while we camp, plus the girls will be out in CA for a week while I train and prepare my classroom the week after we camp.

Bunk Beds are bunked!

While we were in St. Louis, Chris officially bunked the beds.  There is so much space in their room now!  Thinking a little rearrange might eb in order.  The girls want to sleep in each others bed.  I like that they aren't too tall so an injury is less likely.

St. Louis Trip Photo Dump

My mom stayed in AtL for a few days and then we drove back to StL on Wednesday.  We stopped at Patty's, a restaurant in Kentucky that we always stopped in growing up after family reunions.  I felt like it was a right of passage for my girls to be there and eat!  It is very old time, they serve drinks in mason jars, have the most wonderful fried pickles and strawberry butter, and their bread is baked in flower pots!

We were only in StL for 72 hours, but we packed it in with a visit to the zoo, play time with Baby B, and lots of quality family time!

G said the bread grew out of the flower pot!

The girls helping Grandma make hamburgers.

Tummy time for baby Brendan

Photo-op at the zoo!

New Sea Lion exhibit that Uncle Tom's firm helped build!

This orangutan (sp?) got so close to Elia!  Their faces are so weird looking!

Bobby, the ever patient and fun loving Uncle, teaching G to pump gas. 
She held her nose the while time!