Sunday Photo Shoot

The Lowebot, more than meets the eye!

Shani signed Bo and I up for a workshop at Lowe's to build a LOWEBOT!! We had to match up the cutout wood and nail it together and then place the stickers on it. Bodin also got a manly Lowe's apron from the workshop. As you can see from the pictures, Bodin was going to town and yes my fingers were hit!! It was fun and Bodin seem to enjoy it, thanks Shani!

Happy Texan Day!

Ya'll get your cowboy/cowgirl boots on!!

Reading

This is my favorite 30 minutes of the day.

Library

I took McKade to toddler storytime today. He started off really good.

Then they gave them marraccas and let them play music to a song. After instrument time all the toddlers nicely gave their marraccas back. Then McKade decided he would rather have his and yelled and chased the lady while all the other children were nicely singing their next song. He never quite got back on track, but he still got his hands stamped at the end. We will try again next time.

2 Months

Journey has made it to two months. She is 5 lbs. 10 oz. and 17 inches long. I can't believe she looks big to us. McKinna was born 5lbs. 9 oz. and looked so tiny. She has started cooing and smiling at us.

Bed for McKade

I finally got the mattress and some new Wolverine bedding for McKade's new bed. He will be bunking with Bodin.

Bodin, of course, was not happy when he saw this because he wants to trade McKade. McKade can have the Spiderman bedding and I will take the Wolverine bedding. OK, WHATEVER! I decided to try a nap out in the new bed. I put him in, shut the door and peeked in...

We will keep trying.

Neighbors

I don't know why, but I woke up this morning thinking about this person. This is a person who went so out of her way to help my family when we were neighbors. I remember when she would go running at night, and stop by to check my car door to make sure it was locked, and lock it for me when it wasn't. She came and cleaned my house, and packed it up for me. She even made the wonderful blessing outfit that my daughter wore. But, beyond that she is a true friend. If you know me well, you know that I will always say that I am fine and that I don't need any help. I am a hard person to crack, but she did not ask or take no for an answer. She would just show up at my door with cookies that she made, or invite my kids outside to play. We would then sit outside and talk when that is what I needed. Thanks for all the great memories Natalie, when we come and visit in June we will have to make more memories together. You and yor family are always welcome here too.

Funnies

Bodin came home from church the other day with this wonderfully cute drawing...

I asked him about it and he proceeded to tell me it was his family. I then pointed to each person and asked who they were. They were Ben, Bodin, McKinna, and I. My next question, of course, was "Where are McKade and Journey?"
"Oh no! I forgot them again!" I thought that was pretty funny. How many other times has he forgot them?

On Valentines McKinna came home from school telling me all about her V-Day party. She continued telling me that Jake gave her a special valentine. It said You're my top secret valentine. I explained to her that all valentines pretty much say something like that. She responded by letting me know that he meant this one, he saved it especially for her, and her and all of her friends had compared theirs and none of theirs said anything like this. Holy Cow!!! You are only in 2nd grade. I was not concerned about boys in second grade. What am I going to do??? Ben get your gun ready!!

What has McKade been up to?

Yes, he is standing on my table. He is obsessed with climbing and always moves my chairs around. This is his favorite spot. He is constantly sneaking up there. I sure hope he does not fall.

Mardi Gras!

We headed out to a kid's Mardi Gras parade on Sunday afternoon. We headed town to Galveston and made sure we got there early to stake out our spot. After about an hour and a half it was time for the parade to start. It started off with people and their dogs, more people and their dogs, and more people and their dogs. And then it was over. What the heck!

Luckily the people next to us told us that was the dog parade and the children's parade was next so we wait about another hour and the parade started. Bodin was ticked off at first when they threw necklaces and not candy. I explained to him that the game for Mardi Gras is to see how many beads you can get. You wave at them and yell BEADS... BEADS. Now that it is a competition, he is loving it! He even got a Batman necklace. Landon, next time you need to come down for this parade, it is your kind of parade. I must say that the kid's did get their fair share of beads. Happy Mardi Gras!


We then went home and had our Valentine dessert that McKinna, Bodin, and I had worked on that morning. (If you know me well, you know I hate Jell-O so this was out of love for my children:)).

McKinna is a blogger!!

Check out McKinna's blog. It is linked on our side bar. She takes tons of pictures with her little camera so I asked her is she would like to blog them. McKinna is really excited to share her journey through life. There will be pictures, videos, and voice recordings of her and the kids so tune in for the McKinna show!!

Mckinna OUT! (a must watch)

McKinna got a vtech camera/video camera for Christmas a couple of years ago and I just barely downloaded her pictures and videos from it. I highly recommend one for your kids cuz you never know what you’re gonna get!

Since I am home now my house looks a bit like this everyday after school...

Our house happens to be at the bus stop so in they all come. It is nice to have friends in the neighborhood for the kids. The sad part is that sometimes I can't go outside with them while they wrestle in the front yard and I see this...

Poor McKade!!

Holy Batmans!!

Brownies

Apparently I have not done a very good job cooking with McKinna. Actually, I know this because she hates to cook. I took her to play at a frinds house the other day and while she was gone Bodin and I listened to his favorite c.d. and made caramel brownies. When McKinna came home she asked if she could have a brownie. "Sure, go cut one." This is what I saw later when I went to cut one.

We have since done a lesson on how to properly cut yourself a brownie.

McKade, the infant

What happened to McKade? He wanted to big boy until Journey came along and now he does more infant things than he did as an infant. I think that pictures will speak louder than words...

If McKade finds a pacifier...In it goes. He never used this as a baby. Get it out!


He begs to get into the swing. He will even fall asleep in it. It reminds me of Kyson when he was little.

He gets his snacks and heads directly for the baby papasan. I have to wash it every couple of days.

First Day at Mossman

The kids were kind-of excited to start at their new school. Anyone that knows Bodin knows he gets anxiety though so the night before I could tell he was starting to worry. He was really reserved. That morning he did not want to get in the car, going about everything as slow as humanely possible. We get to the parking lot and I ask him what is wrong. He says that he can't stop thinking about his old teacher, Mrs. Adolph and that he misses her. She is a great teacher, but your new teacher seems really nice too. Okay, he decided to get out of the car. McKade at this point, however, decides he does not want to walk, he would rather be carried. What?! McKade never wants me to carry him. Okay two babies in tow and a Bodin that does not want to enter the school...Off we go.
As we enter the office, the ladies are extremely nice, "Wow, you have your arms full!" The librarian then offers to hold Journey. She is at work and not leaving so okay. Now down to drop Bodin off at his class. We enter and I notice that the teacher is not there. "Where is Mrs. Ducket?" "She is out this morning, I am the sub." GREAT! Bodin is now holding on tight and crying, as some strange looking little boy comes up and asks if I am the sub. and then tells Bodin he is weird. Okay little boy, "I am not your sub. but you need to go find your seat. NOW!" The sub. is not sure what to do at this point as I am trying to pry Bodin off of my leg. I let her know she is going to have to hold on to him so I can leave or this may take all day. She finally does it and I run out of the room as fast as possible.
Now to drop off McKinna. We get to her room and she says, "Bye, Mom". She does not need me at all. She can't wait to get into her class. I then go pick up Journey from the nice librarian.
I must say that I love this school. It is called an Education Village and is one of only a few in the nation. The school emcompasses preschool through highschool and each section is separated by gates. They learn by doing center games and do not use textbooks. The kids are loving it, as am I.

Rainy Days

We get a lot of rain here and the kids have been loving it. They get so excited to get out their rain boots and umbrellas to play in the rain. Don't feel sorry for McKade, he does have rain boots and an umbrella, but he would rather not use it. He does not mind getting wet.

Park

Jim and Danielle helped us out and took the kids to the neighborhood park while we went to find an entertainment center. The kids had a great time.

Moving Day

It was hard to say good-bye to everyone. Although we knew it was coming, the saddness was and will always be that we cannot spend the time we would like to with our loved ones.





We stopped at this little place to go the bathroom and get something to drink. Who know that getting a smoothie could take so long? I think they grew the fruit for the drinks while we stood there waiting.




When we were on the "open road", I would hold Journey. She hates the car. I think Cody put it best when he said that it is pretty ironic we named her Journey with how much she hates the car. The other picture is the view Danielle and I had for two straight days. Isn't it beautiful!


Gas Again!!


It was literally FREEZING!


Eating some more. Another place that was not so good. I just wanted a place where the kids could get out of the car for a minute , but this place was not a place I would go again.


McKinna playing in the snow while we waited for Bodin at a rest stop. Seriously, why are we moving when it is this cold? I am not putting my hiney on a toilet seat at a rest stop. It may just freeze to the seat. (Not that my hiney would ever come into contact with a public toilet).





We stopped and slept for a couple of hours. We should of just kept going. Stopping and trying to sleep in a hotel room with a 15 month old and a 3 week old along with a 5 and 7 year old is funny. No sleep going on here. McKade thought that it was party time. He fell off the bed twice and apparently was not in a sleeping kind of mood. The next trip we will drive straight through.


Only in TX!

Bodin loved riding in the truck with Ben, Jim, and Taylor. Each car had a walkie talkie and he called constantly. It was cute. McKinna was a big helper in the car with McKade, Journey, Grandma, and I.

We made it! Our new home. You will never know the relief we felt as we rounded the corner to our house and we could see the missionaries waiting to help unpack us. We have received so much service lately and we are so grateful. Now it is time to pay back and find ways to serve others.