big d

we have been trying to do a better job of enjoying our fine city this year!  one thing we have discovered are the spraygrounds!  they are so fabulous!  i love that avery can run and play and have so much fun and NOT drown!  i know that is dramatic, but as a former lifegaurd i just always stay a little nervous at the lake and pools. 

here are some pictures from one of the first of many trips to the spraygrounds!

avery is the little casper if you are having trouble finding him!

i am also glad to report we have made it through week #2 of working and are all better off for it.  sorry, if i was a downer last post, but i try to be honest.  no one's life is roses all the time....
i am glad to say i am feeling better and getting back in to the routine, and hopefully hank will be, too.  i am so glad he is eating better again, but i think he is not feeling like himself.  we went to the dr today and he has a cold, but is otherwise fine.  hopefully he will start to sleep again soon, too!  don't worry i don't expect anyone to feel sorry for me, i know we deserve some late night parties.  :)

wow what a week....

Well, this last week was quite an adventure to say the least....
In honor of this month's book club book Lit, I will phrase my comments as things I am thankful for.  I found myself reminding myself to be thankful in my prayers all the time several times this week....
So here goes!
I am thankful that I didn't have to go back to work until Hanky was 16 weeks old, I realize I am soooo spoiled!
I am thankful that Avery and Hank have been so much fun that I really didn't even think about going to work and how that would feel until Tuesday night, because we were just too busy having fun. 
I am thankful that I have an iphone with my favorite app The Weather Channel to tell me that the grass pollen count is Very High to explain why we are all coughing and snorting and sneezing.

I am thankful that Hank has slept through the night so many times, because otherwise I might be tempted to LOSE my mind that he has suddenly stopped now that I am back to work and have to get up at the crack of dawn.
I am thankful that even in the midst of his acting like some other crazy baby Hanky will stop and give me this precious look so that I know he's still the one I love and it will all work itself out!

I am thankful that I can always truthfully answer that Avery loves Hank.  See, here's proof.  Hank may not be so sure about things, but Avery is smitten. 

I am thankful that my mamma was here this week.  I know that both of our mom's take fabulous care of our boys, but I needed my mamma when Hanky decided he wasn't going to eat when I got home from work each night.  Thank goodness she has to love me when I get stressed and not so sweet. 

I am thankful that this little (wait, I think he turned big this week) prince had no trouble with the back to work transition.  It was so fun to be greeted by him when I got home, see his sweet pictures through the day, and talk to him on the phone on breaks.

I am thankful that I get to work part-time, not full time and for all that my job provides for us.

I am thankful that last week is OVER, and hopeful that this week will be better!

Hanging Out

Well, I was taken down a notch or two at VBS last night. 

I am a little partial to the little prince.  I mean how can you not think this is the cutest member of the tribe of Benjamin (aka the 2's and 3's)????

So, imagine my very slight disappointment when he chose to stomp during the clap part and then proceed to sit and lay down on the stage during his class' song they sang to the church. 

When I asked him why he didn't sing and sat down he said, "I hang out Mamma."  I was sure I heard wrong and he said "I hanging out Mamma" in his best tween voice....nice!

We sure have been having fun hanging out though.  VBS was awesome! 

and SO is our new pool!

Avery is doing his best to keep the belly flop alive and well.  You would think that when the flop is onto the ground it wouldn't be fun.

But he assures me it fun mamma!

this is the best $10 i've spent in a LONG time.

i am also SO thankful for the air pump honey bought last summer.   it blew it up our fab pool in no time flat, i feel quite certain even as filled with hot air as i am that it would remain in the box forever without it!

embrace the camera thursday!

I saw on my friend Annalee's best friend's Kristin's blog about embrace the camera Thursdays.  I thought it was a great idea.  To remember to post pictures of yourself with your kids even if you are crusty.  You can read more here.

 

Thanks for the idea Kristin!  I love that I can claim her as a best friend even if it is through another friend. 

I am definitely super crusty in these pictures, both were after swimming!

I love my precious boys!

bed bath and BEYOND helpful!!!

I want to take a moment to say I love BB&B! 

I have always been a fan of their 20% off coupons, I think it is so great that they will take them even if they are expired.  I also LOVE that they never fail to allow me to be a more generous gift giver. 

My sister says they were great to register with, and that sometimes you could even get cold hard cash for your returns. 

The new store Buy Buy Baby seems to be like Babies R Us only much better, the layout makes much more sense and their inventory is amazing.  I could actually test drive several double strollers in the store! 

But last Wednesday they made a customer for life out of me. 

As I have said before we tend to lounge and play in the mornings and really get going about lunch time.  As we were playing I noticed it was a little cloudy and my phone said there was a chance of rain after lunch. So, I decided I should take off my pj's before noon and get going, crazy I know.  I knew I needed to go get a shower gift.  We loaded up, made it to the store, and used our handy dandy 20% off coupon to get a great gift.  Then as we were waiting for the free gift wrap (another great perk) it started POURING.  I mean POURING!  As Michael would say a turd floater, isn't that charming???  As I am standing there wondering how I am going to get my oversized gift, 2 year old and 3 month old to the car they came to the rescue!!!  The woman who was wrapping my gift took the gift sac back apart, put the tissue paper, gift bag and gift in seperate sealed bags to keep it all dry.  Then another worker agreed to watch Avery just inside the door where I could see him the whole time.  Then a third worker said ma'am you can't get your baby wet, Hank was in the moby, and held an umbrella over us all the way to the car and while I took Hank out of the Moby and put him in the carseat.  He even tried to follow me around to my side before I told him to save himself and go back.  Then when I drove up to the front door there sat Avery happily chatting the poor woman's ear off about thunder, rain and umbrellOs.  The poor guy ran out with us again, helped me buckle Avery in and unload the gift in my very cluttered back area.  What AMAZING customer service!!!  You should download a 20% off coupon and go buy yourself something nice!

3 months YOUNG!

This littler GQ prince turned 3 months young last week.  I am in denial.  There is no way we have already known and loved him 3 whole months, we were just wondering if he was a Hank or a Sadie....

Hank's 3rd month has been so fun! 

He continues to charm the great grandmothers in his life with style.  Memorial Day weekend he gave JD and Steven some fierce competition as the apple of Meme's eye...

This weekend he also charmed the socks off of Gramm-E at the family reunion, but of course my camera never made it out of the bag. 

We are loving the variety of smiles we get from the Hankster these days, too!

He cracks me up with the eyebrows, they always go up first and then he decides if you get a full smile.

I mean I can't get enough....

Hank also got to do lots of fun things like meet his future BFF Graham, go swimming with friends from church, spend a whole afternoon with Honey and Pop, Grandma and Grandad and Jennifer and Brandon withOUT his big brother to share the attention and had all kinds of summer fun.

I also love that Hank is super chatty, he will oooh and ahh with the best of them.  It is sometimes to the point where I get annoyed because he would rather chit chat than eat...good grief! 

Hank thinks Avery is the most fun and will always give him a smile.  It is also so fun to see Avery loving him more and more as a pal, rather than just some random baby.  I am a little nervous Hank will have brain damage from the head butting and man he is in trouble when Avery starts landing the ball where he intends to throw it, but I guess that's life with a big brother.

  I am so thankful for my happy healthy littler prince even if he is getting up more often at 6 and less often at 8, but who can complain when he goes right back to sleep until 10!

The only sad thing about having a 3 month old is that is signals the end of maternity leave.  In just a few short weeks it is back to the real world.  If only I had an annonymous donor to give me a paycheck to live the lap of luxury lifestyle I lead.....any takers????

#3

All Good Cafe in Deep Ellum
I forgot to get pictures for our third outing, but we had a very fun night with Aunt Susan Jo, Linde and Jeff. 
I thought the atmosphere was great there were ALL kinds of people, very fun!

TWO FOR TUESDAYS!!!  This was well worth the trip, every Tuesday night you get two entrees for the price of the more expensive one.  What a deal!!!

Here are the ratings-

Michael 4 1/4 (he was at 3 1/2 until he had the apple pie)
He tried to be healthy with a veggie plate, would have been happier with a chicken fried steak!

Linde 4 1/2
Loves the farm fresh food at fast food prices (on Tuesdays).  Best bacon in town!

Jeff easy 4 1/2
Likes that it is a constant!

Aunt Susan Jo 4 1/2 stars
LOVES that they have Blue Bell, apparently you can't get that in North Carolina, HOW SAD!
"wonderful grilled chicken club, obviously fresh ingredients, great sour dough bread."

Abbe 4 stars
I thought the service was good and my cobb was good, I wish I had tried the BLT or club. 

Avery
Ate all his black beans and all the bacon he could get his hands on!

Go try it, you won't be disappointed!

Last Time

Last time has been a key phrase at our house lately.  It is the way we tell Avery it is time to move on, usually outside trying to get him to come inside.  We say okay Avery, last time and he very sweetly, rudely, sadly answers "wast time" and almost always honors it. 

This week we had a very monumental last time.  We went to Wichita Falls for the last time.

Monday we loaded up and went to Wichita Falls for one last visit.  Wichita Falls was home to my favorite person, my Papa, and his wife my Grandma Faye.  Unfortunately, we no longer have a reason to go to the great west Texas city where I learned about the finer things in life like grasshopper snow cones, don't worry I never got one but my sister did.  My family has logged countless hours in the car going to WF to visit Papa and Grandma Faye in Wichita Falls and at the beautiful Lake Arrowhead (not really beautiful, but has all my BEST childhood memories.)

Tuesday was a hard day.  We went to honor Grandma Faye and attend her memorial service.  She lost her battle with cancer last Thursday. 

Here are my top 10 favorite things about Grandma Faye

#1 She loved my Papa

#2 She shared Papa with us so selflessly.  Papa and Grandma Faye got married when I was in second grade after dating for 10+ years.  Grandma Faye totally understood that family was incredibly important to Papa.  He never missed a birthday, dance recital, school play, or holiday.  Grandma Faye came with him when she didn't go to see her children and grandchildren, but never kept him from us.  That is the best gift she could ever have given my family and me. 

#3  She always smiled sweetly and laughed when Papa had us totally convinced she was an alien.  Grandma Faye was from Canda....get it???

#4  She was brave enough to chop up tiny pieces of zucchini and put it in my Papa's chocolate cake.  I have NEVER seen Papa so mad.  She just grinned and said "well, you don't have to eat it I was just trying to help you be healthy."  

#5  She had a great sense of humor.  Grandma could always deliver a one liner with an impish grin when you least expected it. 

#6  She helped people learn about Christ.  Grandma worked for years at the Western Christian Foundation which printed mission materials and such.  Even more importantly she walked the walk, I heard more than one person at her memorial say she brought them to church and to the Lord...WOW!

#7  She rocked the swim belt.  We thought she was the coolest that she would get in and swim with us a the lake every time we asked, and then put on her swim lift belt-thing and swim laps. 

#8  She was a great Grandma.  Grandma was great to us and I know her daughters' kids have ten times the stories we do.  

#9  She would say "I am going to go have a shower" I don't know why but I thought that was a cool Canadian way to say things.

#10  She loved my Papa.

I am glad for her that she is not hurting anymore, and I have no doubt she is in a better place.  But, I am so sad for her family and mine, we will miss her.  I won't dwell on the sad for too long, but I do want to say I am so thankful for a God who can handle my sad and hurt.  Our church just finished a series that spent some time talking about lament and sorrow.  Last Sunday they played the Amy Grant song Better Than a Hallelujah.  I will admit I am old school and love me some Amy G, but I also really liked this song.  I love that we as Christians have promise of something so much better than this life, but I also understand the honesty of sorrow and pain.  I love that God can handle that we miss Faye.  I am thankful that I can tell him the reality of how I feel and not have to paint on a smile if I don't feel that way.  I know that He will comfort me and others who are hurting, and that He can help me the most when I am truly honest.  I love that He loves our honesty and helps us through these times.  And I love knowing that He promises not to give me more than I can handle.  I am also thankful that I have the great life that I do, and that I have no idea the true hardships so many face.  Sorry for the sermonette...you get a gold star if you are still reading.  Here is a sweet faces that God used to give smiles to lots of family just when they needed it over the last few days...

Can you believe how much they look alike?????