Toy Takeover

This afternoon, after piano and homework, I find the girls giving their dolls a snack at the dining room table! It was a full house--every seat was taken!


Apparently, each doll brought a bag with her for snack time.


A few weeks ago I found the fireplace screen covered with little pet shops. My kids love these! We have a gazillion (at least it feels like we do).


Later this evening, the girls are reading together. A rare moment when they are actually all getting along. What you can't see in this picture is that they are reading with all the lights off and have a flashlight--they seem to be enjoying themselves!

Friday Flashback

My family LOVES Pensacola Beach! My mom and dad first took us there back in 1983, then they went back every year for 20+ years! (sometimes more than once a year) My dad says that he has to see his "psychiatrist" there, which is the beautiful blue green clear water, white powdery sand beaches, sea oats, breezes and the many fun things there are to do there. I took the girls with my mom and dad last August before school started, and my girls are still talking about it! We are planning to go again this summer!


Me with my sisters Lori, and Deanna in summer 1989 I think.


Mama Leslie and Grandpappy with the girls summer 2007.


Natalie enjoying playing in the sand.


We took the girls to a butterfly museum and didn't realize there was a spray park right next door so didn't bring the girls suits. I told the girls to just go have fun and get wet, and they said "with our clothes on??" Yep, with your clothes on, and they had a great time!


There is a Naval Air Museum that is fabulous to visit there! This is Susanna sitting in a cockpit. It is a great museum with an IMAX theater. We also got to see the Blue Angels practicing in the mornings--amazing!

Earth day and flowers

Samantha came home from school yesterday and wanted to do something to help our earth. She came up with the idea to pick up trash around the creek in our neighborhood. They grabbed trash bags and collected quite a bit of trash! Greg and I gushed about how we appreciate her thinking about how she can help to keep our earth clean and healthy!


Natalie with her teacher after their school program "How does your garden grow". It really was darling and the songs were so cute! I especially thought two flowers were extra beautiful and special!


Samantha in her classroom after the performance. One of the songs went like this: "we are the loveliest flowers...look at our petals so fair...after a shower, we flower for hours, waving our blooms in the air." I thought my flowers did an excellent job!

Friday Flashback

Natalie


Samantha


Susanna

4 years ago my sister Lori and I took my girls for a drive on the Bluebonnet Trail. It is down near Ennis, and this was near Lake Bardwell. The Texas Bluebonnets are beautiful when in bloom! We had a picnic and enjoyed the scenery! I love seeing these pictures of my girls when they still had chubby cheeks! I don't think I will be able to make it to the Bluebonnet Trail this year--we'll have to try for next!

The rainbows in my life

About 6:30 this evening the girls came running in from outside yelling "Mom, Mom, there's a rainbow, there's a rainbow!" There was indeed a rainbow. They each wanted me to take a picture of them with the rainbow. My first inclination was to say no, not right now, because I was in the middle of making dinner and tidying up a few things. Greg went out with some friends to see a comedian and I was missing him being around at this time of the evening. (Now, lest you think, poor Angie--Greg left her home with the kids while he went out--that is not the case. Just Monday night, I left him home with the kids while I went out with friends to see Bon Jovi in concert!) The words of Elder Ballard this last conference were ringing in my ears as I was thinking this. Not that I am a YOUNG mother, but I am a mother of young children. I loved how he quoted author Anna Quindlen who said she wished she "had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less."
So I put my "get it done" inclination aside, and enjoyed looking at the beautiful rainbow with my girls, and let them enjoy posing for the camera with it in the background. Even as I write this, my sweethearts (who are supposed to be in bed) have been in to see me at least three times. They are very scared of thunderstorms and hail, which it will more than likely do tonight. They wanted to be reassured that they could come and get in bed with me and Greg (when he gets home) if they got too scared (which they always do). I never mind when they do, but I will try to enjoy them being close, and wanting to be with us when they are scared a little more. They are the rainbows in my life and I am going to make every effort to enjoy the doing more than than the getting it done!

Ann Taylor/Ann Taylor Loft Friends and Family

These are two of my favorite stores and they are having 25% off this Thurs.-Sun. Let me know if you want me to email you the coupon! You can use it at the Ann Taylor factory store and online too!

Masquerade Ball

I got invited to a masquerade ball hosted by a builder that I like and have sold a couple of homes for. Greg had a scout campout/training tonight and could not go with me, so it was a girls night out for me and my friend Jeanette! The party was not exactly what I thought it would be, but it was great to visit with Jeanette and very interesting to people watch! This builder gave away TONS of cash prizes--but we didn't win any! Maybe we will have better luck at their next function later in the year!