Baby's First Cereal

We started cereal with the baby Saturday night. As you can see, she was not thrilled about it! More of an,"Ugh! Mama what is this you're shoving into my mouth?!?" I think she spit out most of it so far. I'm going to try warming it tonight to see if that makes a difference. With time change this Sunday (Yes, it's this Sunday!!) I thought maybe she'd do a bit better with something a little heavier in her tummy the night before. We'll see - it may just crash and burn on me totally...

First game

Our Wild and Wacky weekend!

I was looking through old posts the other day (can you believe we've had this site for a year now?) and came upon one where I complained that Fall was always more busier than the Spring. Um, not sure what planet I was on that day - we're plenty busy now!!

Saturday we woke up and headed straight out for Az3's first soccer game of this season. We had to stop at a sports store to get him some new shorts, and ran into Cousin Sc there. He decided to follow us to the game, which was great, as Daddy had to work. I always appreciate an extra pair of hands with the 3 kiddos!! The game was good - a bit cool and windy, but great weather for the beginning of the season. The team did okay - as Sc observed, we seem to have a first and second string. (Since there's 6 on the team right now, everybody gets to play a full half.)
Az3 was on the second string, and they clearly struggled more. Struggled more to keep up with the ball, on defense, on scoring, everything. (Keep in mind the "first" string has coach's son and our tallest players on it.) For a first game, we did pretty well honestly. I told Az3 we'd get out his soccer goal here at home and work on some things with him, mainly I think not stopping during the game and his kicking - improving, but he still feels like he has to stop the ball and kick it perfectly to do anything.

Sunday, I was the only one who went to church - everyone else just stayed home to rest. It was much needed, as we had all been short on sleep since getting back home from our trip. Daddy played Frisbee, and then when he got home, we started work on my garden! Hurray! I'm so excited!!! Pretty much all we did was put up some stakes and fencing to keep the dogs/kids out. Now I need to hit it with the tiller, but I'm probably going to wait til after Easter to start planting. We always have a late freeze around here.

Gran and the munchkins

Meanwhile, back at the ranch...

Once we got back in town, we hit the floor running. Tuesday was library and homework day at Az3's school. Az5 had her 4-month checkup, if you can believe that! Everything came out fine, and here are her stats:

Weight: 16.0 lbs (85%)
Height: 28 in long (99%)

She is HUGE! In that cute, chunky, roly-poly baby way. I think the height might be off just a bit (maybe half an inch) due to her squirming, but still! Anyways, she's as healthy as a horse, and was a brave trooper for her four shots.

Then we had an errand to run after picking up Az3 from school, and then his soccer practice started that afternoon. Yep, we're back in soccer session - first game is this weekend. Same team, same coach, and practices are on Tues/Thurs again. Should be fun!

Then on Weds, G & C were in town, so they came over that afternoon. The kids were glad to see them, and they were glad to see the kids! Cousin S came over with his girlfriend for pizza that night, and it was a blast! We all had a great time, great food, and to top it off - it snowed! For the first time this winter...

Our visit to H-town cont'd...

Saturday, Daddy went to A-tin to play frisbee, so we decided to hit the Museum of Natural Science and the butterfly arboretum. We started with the butterflies, and the kids loved it! Az3 tried to pretend he was scared of them, but kinda forgot about it halfway through. ;) I was wearing a black dress with a white leaf pattern on it, and as we were walking through the bottom level, a matching buttefly landed on my knee. It was so neat - I could feel his legs and antennae/mouth moving around on my knee. After a couple of minutes, I started showing him off to people walking by, particularly little kids, as it was apparent he was very comfortable there and not moving for a while. Then I started walking, and he just stayed on for the ride. All told, I think he exlored my right knee cap for a full ten minutes, before deciding the cantaloupe nearby would taste better. Then we hit the dinosaurs exhibit, and Az3 was in Heaven! After running an errand with Auntie K, and getting Az5's first birthday present, we grabbed supper and hit the hay.

The next morning we went to Auntie D and Auntie K's monster mega church. Seriously, it has as many members as most of the local towns here combined. I've never been a part of something that big. We ended up getting there in time for SS, missing the service, which I would have liked to have seen. No matter. I will say I wasn't impressed with their system of helping visitors - we went to a large desk and were given directions to the children's wing of things. Once there, a teenager asked for our information and gave us more directions to everyone's classrooms. Do you happen to know where Suite 14 is? I sure didn't. Now I completely understand that a monster church like that probably can't personally escort every single visitor to their rooms, but as a mommy, if I'm going to drop my children off in your care, it's not too much to expect someone to give me some guidance as to where they will be on the entire church campus.

Off my soapbox now...I went with Auntie K to the singles class she goes to and really enjoyed it. The lesson was on making decisions, and how even letting God direct the little ones can greatly benefit your life. The people were wonderful - very welcoming and friendly. I'm so glad my little sister has such a good group of friends in them. We even went out to eat with them afterwards, and I haven't seen a group of singles goo-goo over any kids, much less mine, like they did - it was very heartwarming.

Side tangent....we saw God's protection over us and our decisions on this trip! We went Friday night (instead of Saturday) to Chuck-E-Cheese's, and saw on the news that on Saturday night a couple of parents had an "incident". It ended with pepper spray and the entire restaurant being cleared. Plus, we decided to take a detour around another major metro area, and as a result, saved some time. We found out later that area ended up having its airports closed due to major thunderstorms we would have been stuck in.

Anyways, that afternoon we saw our friends K & R and their gorgeous house, and then drove back to the beach. It was beautiful - the water was waaaay too cold, but it was still 70-something degrees out and starting to get foggy. Just wonderful enough to enjoy walking along the edge of the water, smelling the spray, feeling the wind in my hair, listening to the waves, collecting shells. Then we went home, ate soup, and crashed. We got up the next day and drove home - after all having a wonderful time!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Even the baby's got on a St. Patty's day onesie - it says "good luck charm"...too cute! Oh, and the girls behind us are the only brave ones out in the deeper water, with their best "I came to the beach for Spring Break, and darn it I'm going to get in the water!" looks.

Our visit to H-town

was a blast! Fast and furious, but it was a blast! Thursday, we tried to get up and leave early, and managed a 9:00am leave time. We stopped in A-town to visit my friend Tiff and her son G-man, along with her mother, and have lunch, and spent over an hour there. Then it was onto Daddy's aunt and uncle's house (L & M) to say hi to them. It was beeee-you-tiful down there, and the funny thing was, Az4 kept saying they lived in the forest. It was cute, considering there are no trees where we live.

We finally made it to Auntie D's house around oh, 9pm. Yep, a 12-hour day in the car. Friday, we had a lazy start, and ended up at Moody Gardens. We only went to the aquarium, but it was wonderful! The kids loved the sea lions, especially when we went down below and could see them underwater. They would come up to the glass, swimming in the water, and slide up against it on their bellies as they turned to go up for air. We also loved the fish, the sharks, the eels, the giant sea turtles, and the penguins! Then it was off to the beach. What fun! Az4 couldn't understand why we didn't bring her suit - she just walked right up and into the water. Heh-looooooow! We are at the beach!! she seemed to say! Az3 had more fun trying to jump over the waves and splash the rest of us, and also enjoyed picking up shells. The baby wasn't too sure what to think - like she kinda recognized water, as she LOVES taking her baths, but didn't recognize this bathtub!

A Gazillion Bubbles

So we got one of those "gazillion bubble" makers today...and it really makes a gazillion bubbles! It was lots of fun - the kids had played with one with their cousins up in Wyoming last summer at B & B's house and loved it. I thought it would be a good Spring Break surprise. The best part, that by far got the most laughs, was the goofy dog (our lab) that kept trying to eat all the bubbles - even jumping to get them, and then not understanding why there wasn't anything in her mouth afterwards. Az3 loved to smash them between his hands - typical boy - while Az4 loved to just barely touch them with her pointer finger. Az5 sat in my lap with a wide-opened mouth the whole time, with her eyebrows up as far as they could go - she was mesmerized!

We went to Lowe's tonight and I'm really excited to start my garden again this year. They had just received one of their first shipments of herbs and veggies to start planting - hurray! I've pretty much figured out how I'm going to do a fence around mine in the backyard to keep out little munchkins and big dogs, so we checked out that option too while we were there, and it's affordable. Yay! All we need to do now is to borrow the tiller from our friends and get going.

Ash on my window sill

I woke up this morning to ash on my kitchen window sill...inside. No, the house didn't burn down, nothing in my house has even been on fire. It's from all the wildfires around town and in New Mexico. Normally when the wind and dirt blow, we get a little inside the window and around the caulking near the kitchen sink. This morning, there was the usual little brown dirt pile, but this time with ash mixed in. Lovely!

We haven't had any significant rain (meaning more than a quarter-inch) since October. The beginning of October. Now where I live is a drier climate, but this is ridiculous, even for us. I hate it. I have exceptionally dry skin, and this sure doesn't help. Plus, everything is so brown and dry, it's like living in a matchbox - the slightest little thing can set off a wildfire that will burn thousands of acres. Like it did this weekend, resulting in ash on my window sill.

On to more pleasant topics, this was the first day of Spring Break, and we took it really easy. The kids watched a few movies, and we all just basically goofed off here at home. It was so nice to not have to go anywhere, even if Az3 did protest at the end of the day: "I'm ready to go to school tomorrow." It's so cute to watch him at this age - still excited about school and learning and seeing his friends.

Oh, and let me just tell you - don't ever turn your back on Az4 in the bathtub. She'll have standing water on the bathroom floor before you can blink, and you'll have to mop it up with a towel....twice!

A busy weekend!

Whew! We blew around this weekend about as much as the wind - which, for your information, has been blowing between 50-60 mph today. Joy. Especially with the dirt blowing with it. It makes the sun look orange and the sky turns brown. What's really fun is when you go inside, shake your hair, and then your carpet turns brown...or you smile at someone and feel the grit in your teeth. Yippee.

So, Friday, the kids and I jumped in our car with my parents and drove to Wichita Falls to meet my brother from Oklahoma. He didn't know we were coming, so it was a nice surprise for him and his friend Ryan. We had dinner, then my dad left with them back to Oklahoma, while my mom, the kids, and I drove back home. My dad and the guys are currently in Arizona, on their way to Los Angeles, moving my bro and Ryan out there to seek their fortunes. Hopefully they will get there safely tomorrow - obviously any prayers are appreciated!

Then yesterday, I went scrapbooking - hurray! Adult time! Daddy stayed home with the kids, and they all went to see the new VeggieTales movie (Sheerluck Holmes) on the big movie screen at the $2 theatre. It was pretty cute - the local Christian station had several things organized, and Az3 even saw one of his friends there from Kindergarten.

Today was equally busy - we went to church, which was lovely as usual - just a positive wonderful way to start the week. Then we met my friends Jess and Jason and their baby Anna at lunch today - such a HUGE joy for me! Jess is one of my best friends from high school, we went to college together too, and they share our wedding anniversary, although they are a year ahead of us. Anna is their first and is 6 mos old, and looks just like her daddy! I can't tell you how wonderful it was to get to see them today - we keep in touch but to see them in person, after several years, with their baby - man it just made my month!

After crashing at home for a desperately needed nap for a few hours, we were back at it again. My friends C & P had a party for their daughter Elaina - she turned 3! We went over to their house and had a blast as well! The kids had plenty to do - playing with eachother, watching Toy Story 2, eating hamburgers/hot dogs/chips, etc, opening presents, playing some more...It was great for us grownups too - a chance to sit and catch up! Plus, we came home with 2 balloons, cups, and bubbles - what more do you want?

Well I need to get to bed...fortunately it's Spring Break for us, so we don't have to get up and go tomorrow. We are going to H-town to see Auntie K and Grand Auntie D on Thursday, but I'll let you know our plans before we leave. Good night!

A Handsome Lil Cowpoke

Isn't he cute? Everybody in his class was dressed to the 't' today...the little boys in hats, jeans (and let me tell you how funny a 5/6 yr old behind looks in skin-tight Wranglers!!!), and for those who had them, boots. The girls were in skirts or jeans, with that cute red paisley pattern or pink frilly lace on said denim, with most of them sporting pigtails or braids with matching bows on the ends...It was precious! He had a blast, and I was so glad! Interesting thought here...I really hesitated sending him with his gun holster, with the gun in it. Yes it's totally fake, even having a plastic orange cap on the end to prove it, but it was just the way I know schools today have gone way over the deep end with this "no tolerance" for weapons, etc. Email me if you want and I'll send you the link about the kid being kicked out for (I kid you not) tweezers that had a nail file on them. Point to be made: his teacher made no comment, no look, nothing today, whereas he would have been kicked out of our public school without question for that little item. Sigh.................

Then things got really fun, as his friend C came over for the afternoon. They had eaten a hot dog lunch at school, so since the girls were down for a nap already when we got home, they watched Thomas cartoons. Then they proceeded to get all the Thomas engines and tracks out on the living room floor and played only with those...until Az4 woke up. Then I got a computer game going for her, to keep her out of their hair, but they decided that was more fun than Thomas, and wouldn't get out of her hair! We all had a blast this afternoon, but we are all worn out! The kids went to bed at 7pm tonight...no joke, and no protest either! I'm heading to bed asadad, meaning as soon as the dishes are done...good night!

What's the baby doing?

She's in the fun stage right now...just discovering and learning how much she can do. She found her hands a couple of weeks ago, but just this last weekend, figured out she can use them to bat at toys hanging on a bar over her chair. She's also becoming very adept at seeing something and purposefully reaching out and grabbing it - her favorite target so far is my hair.

She can also roll over from her tummy to her back - usually over her left shoulder. And drumroll please...........

She can sit up for about 2 minutes by herself!!! (She turns 4 mos on the 18th.) I know, I know, you don't believe me, but I have a picture to prove it. I was putting oil on her head last night after her bath, and she was sitting in between my legs. I reached back to grab her hat, and realized I wasn't supporting her, but she didn't fall over. Daddy had enough time to grab the camera and get a few shots, so I'll post one as soon as I get it off the camera. It's that cute, really leaning over but trying so hard to keep her head up type of baby sitting.

And have I mentioned that she hates being alone? I'm sure it's a 3rd-baby thing, but even for just a second - if I dash around the corner into the pantry for instance, she'll howl, even if it's not a full fuss, to let me know I need to come back. Both the kids love her to pieces, but I think she prefers Az3 right now - he doesn't try to lay on her. LOL!

Election Day

Today was primary day where we live - both parties holding primaries for everything from county clerk to governor. I took all 3 kids with me this morning to vote, just so they could see how it works. It was pretty amusing, especially through their eyes. Az5 screamed almost the whole time - she was sleepy and almost asleep until we got her out of the car. Az4 was interested in everything. My polling place is at our local elementary, so she had to investigate the cafeteria, the little courtyard, and she stopped cold to watch a class (of I think 2nd graders)walk by. She also entertained the election officials, most of whom were elderly, with her sweet smile and shy "bye". She's never had a shy moment in her life before!

Az3 was really interested in what I was doing. I had talked to him earlier about what a big responsibility voting is, and how not everyone in the world gets to pick who runs their country, etc. He was pretty fascinated by the computer screen and the curtain-thing around it for privacy. He was frustrated at me, that I wouldn't slow down to let him read every single name, but we did have to get him to school. He was so excited about the whole voting thing that he completely forgot his homework and library book. Mom to the rescue!

After Daddy got home, we decided to walk back to the school so he could vote. It was a nice little walk, and we all enjoyed it. Az3 rode his bike, Az4 was supposed to ride in the wagon, but wanted to "walk", and I pushed Az5 in the stroller. When the kids got back to the polls, they informed Daddy about how to vote - be quiet, don't ask people who they voted for, only use one machine! Quite a parade, but it's these little family moments that I love and will cherish forever!

Should be an interesting rest of the week - tomorrow is house clean day, Thursday is "western" day at Az3's school, so he gets to dress up, as well as having his friend C over for the afternoon, and Friday at noon kicks off Spring Break for us. Hurray!

Caught up...

on pictures anyways...I think that about gets you where you need to be now.

It was a gorgeous day today - just a bit of wind, too much to be a breeze, but 84 degrees! Woo-hoo! The kids and I played in the front yard for a while this afternoon, with even the baby hanging out in the swing the whole time. Too much fun, especially when I got the bubbles out.

Don't know if I've mentioned it or not, but our thing to work on better this year (not a resolution because those by their very name are meant to be broken) is to have more friends/family over to our house. It can be very tempting to just be a homebody with a baby, especially a 3rd one, so we're trying this, and so far it's working. In February, we had some friends over to watch the opening ceremony of the Olympics, and it was wonderful! The kids had an absolute blast, and so did us "adults"!

We went up to G & P's house the last weekend in February for some much-needed R & R and escape from our real life. We had a blast! Plus, they live near the CO border, so we were able to escape even their house up into the mountains for an afternoon of sledding! The kids had a blast, especially Az3! I'd never been before, but loved it...when I didn't fall on my elbow/shoulder/behind...

2/18/05 - Three months old

1/18/05 - Two months old, exact length as Brother, but 2 pounds heavier!

12/18/05 - One month old, all ready for her first Christmas!

Hey! I'm back!

We're here I promise! Just know that 3 kids is a WHOLE lot crazier than 2. But I do think the transition to 2 was harder than 3... Anyways, I'm going to try and get some pictures up to catch you up, and then just go from there - enjoy!