Spummer

We're teetering between Spring and Summer right now. The cool breezes are still around, but we know that the heat is on the horizon. We're just enjoying every minute outside that we can. Except I have to take it easy; allergy eyes/nose/throat are out of control!

We went to the kids' favorite park after school yesterday. Since I'm such an awesome mom, I even packed along their trudging boots so they could go hiking in the woods. They would have stayed all day!

Whoa.

My brother, Elliott, has picked up where I left off a few years ago in our family history research. He's been finding all sorts of interesting things about both sides of our family, and has been getting everything better organized on FamilySearch. I'm so glad. He posted this picture of our mother's ancestor, John Napoleon Vasseur, and it totally freaked me out. Because it looks just like Elliott!

Don't you guys think? I mean, those of you who know Elliott.

Grateful Sunday

Us at the Rangers game last night. It was fun to go with my mom and dad, too!

Today, I'm grateful for:

• my parents and that they realize how important it is that we see them often. I wish we could go to their house more, because it's way more exciting than staying home, but we'll take them wherever we can get them.
• Stephanie's healthy pregnancy (I'm just so glad you've made it to the end, Steph! I know that's not a concern of hers, but it always is/was one of mine.), Ginger's growing baby and Mimi's little yawning David. The cuteness and anticipation is almost too much to take!
• the green, green, green of our yard, street and town. It's so pretty here right now!

365 more days

Parker will surely begin the countdown to his next birthday soon. But this one was great!

Parker was just bouncing up and down with happiness all day and capped it off with a great double during his baseball game.

Parker wanted to sit at the sushi bar, so Pa joined him there.

Parker has a big day!

newborn

one year old

sometime later

This sweet little squishy dude turns seven today. As I mourn the squish which is no longer (Parker now sports a six-pack), I find so much joy in the fact that Parker James has grown into a loving, compassionate, tender, funny, and happy little boy.

We're celebrating with a trip to the airport to pick up my parents, sushi and cake, a little league game, and the best part: presents. He can't wait. Photos to follow!

Happy Birthday, Parker!

you look like a marshmallow

swim shirts + hot tub jets = lots and lots of giggles

fun down south

We had a great time in Sugar Land, hanging out with friends, both the grown up and kid variety.

Check out the boat of sushi. It was so good!

Audrey and Callie. These girls are the best of friends, I'm so glad they have each other!

Grateful Sunday

We spent our weekend with our friends in Houston. Audrey was reunited with her girlfriends, Raegan and Callie. The top picture was the scene when we told them it was time for us to go after a chuch meeting this morning. They didn't want the weekend to end, poor things. Thanks for the pictures, Melanie!

Today, I'm grateful that:

• we had a safe trip to and from the Houston area. Neal had a dental conference to attend, so we tagged along and had a lot of fun.
• it rained while we were gone. I think Neal was worried that nobody would be here to water the garden. But apparently someone got the memo.
• my hair didn't fall out after my (now) ex-hairdresser left my color on too long last week, and actually left the salon for the day with me still sitting there in foils. So not cool.
• Parker has his birthday on Wednesday. He has seriously been counting down the days since at least day 47. I hope it lives up to his expectations!
• I have a testimony of the Plan of Salvation. After a loss in my friend Natalie's family this past week, the only reassurance and peace that I (and surely they) can find is in our Heavenly Father's eternal love and compassion for us as his children. What an indescribable blessing that our babies can be ours forever.

Rangers Game

They had KISD (our school district) night at Rangers' Ballpark. We got a couple of free tickets and a few discounted ones, so we took advantage. Going to baseball games always brings back such fond childhood memories for me, and Parker gets so pumped every time our team makes an out or gets a hit. It was so fun! We can't wait to go back.

Grateful Sunday

The kids at the Rangers' game on Friday night. It was so much fun and the weather was ideal for baseball!

This was a fun week. We had lots of things going on, but not a whole lot of relaxing like Conference Weekend. Oh well! There's always next time. Today, I'm grateful that:

• Neal didn't get seriously injured when he back flipped off our friends' trampoline last night. He broke the trampoline and tumbled onto the ground, but wasn't hurt. Phew.
• the plumber was able to fix our kitchen sink for a reasonable price. Looks like we have some pipe flushing and septic system maintenance in our future, however.
• I was able to attend our Stake's RS Conference yesterday. It was a nice break.
• Julianne is getting settled in Berlin. It makes me happy to know she's happy!
• Audrey's learning needlecrafts (needlepoint and counted cross-stitch). It's a fun little hobby to keep her busy when she's not reading. Plus, it's teaching her patience and accuracy, something she'll need when she learns to sew with the machine sometime soon.
• my house doesn't have stairs. I am much better at keeping my house clean and the beds made when I see them every day and when they are in such close proximity to the main part of our house. I just do better with a one-storey house!

back in the saddle

I just love to see my Audrey girl on a horse. She is never happier.

family concert

We headed into Westlake tonight to hear a Beatles' tribute band, Me & My Monkey. It was so much fun, they were really good!

Our kids are having their first "ear ringing" experience. Everybody is talking really loud.

Inaugural Swim

In they went!

They swim. Neal skims.

cute dude

Parker's other tooth came out. About an hour after it got caught on the trampoline net while he was jumping. Um, ouch.

Love this face!

Grateful Sunday

The kids after they found their eggs this afternoon.

Today was beautiful, I love it when Easter is perfect! We had a very relaxing weekend and got some planting done outside yesterday, so we're feeling good. Today, I'm grateful for:

• the inspiring messages from General Conference this weekend. I especially loved Elder Cook's talk today. My take home message from our church leaders: do better at teaching my kids the gospel.
• Skype: we had fun chatting with a few cousins today. Steph, are you guys free tomorrow night?
• the safety of our fam in California. Earthquakes are so scary to me, I'm glad they all seemed "unrattled" so to speak. I'd be freaking out.
• our pool and its fence. We took the cover off of the pool this weekend (whoa, a big job. You can see the cover {covered in snow} here), and the kids are having fun skimming the dirt out now. So I'm grateful that we have two pool nets. They'll be swimming once the water warms up (and we get the chlorine levels down). It will be a very chill summer around here.
• our new porch swing. You would cringe if you saw the one that we inherited. Ick. Now we have a nice new pretty one from Lowe's. Thanks for letting me get it, Neal!

new glasses

outside

We have other things going on outside, apart from our crazy neighbors (who, upon further reflection, research and tips from commenters, might just be avid paintballers who were utilizing this "gillie suit" for hide-n-seek purposes). Neal finished planting the garden this week, just in time for an overnight rain storm. I wanted to take a picture of it "before", so to speak. I can't wait until it's producing food!

He planted (this is from my memory, so I am likely missing something or have it completely wrong):

tomatoes

shallots

scallions

carrots

strawberries

red bell peppers

french cantaloupe

garlic

cilantro

basil

zucchini

*grapes

*blueberries

*blackberries

*peaches

*cherries

*these are trees/shrubs outside of the square foot garden box

Surely we'll be eating like kings in a few months!

Also outside: Miles, near the tennis courts at the retro country club during Parker's now weekly tennis lesson.