Brownies

Brownie troop 1621 had their end of year ceremony/picnic tonight and these are the awards Sadie earned. There's the "let's pretend", there are 3 patches that have to do with cookies, the two black explore ones and the triangular one on the bottom middle then next to that a safety patch and a fire department tour patch, a caring and sharing patch, a girls sports patch, a gold girl scout pin and a brownie patch. I am so proud of her not only for sticking with brownies this whole year but for participating happily and wanting to return next year. Woohoo!

The "must have" for the "in" babies this season

I know this pic is kinda blurry but it was too cute to pass up.
If you only knew how long it took to get a picture of this child with these sunglasses on...This was one of the last pictures we took and we had to basically hold her down to make her keep them on.
This was an early pic in the session and also too cute to pass up.
This was when I first put on the glasses. They have elastic with velcro insead of hard earpieces. "Genius", thought I when I saw them at the store. My baby will not burn her corneas this summer, how wonderful. It's doubtful she will get much use out of them if tonight is any indication.

Girls night part deux

Tonight we invited Kelsey from across the street to join us for munchies and movies. We also curled hair. We watched "Wallace and Grommet, Curse of the Wererabbit". It was cute. This is all of them (Kelsey is on the couch - nothing but the best for our honored guests!) watching SpongeBob before hopefully drifting off to dreamland. Hey, it's my world...I can believe they'll go to sleep if I want to.

And before you feel too sorry for me...I had the most amazing foot pampering today. Kelsey's mom is a massage therapist and has added foot reflexology to her repetoire (sp?). I had a foot soak, softened my feet as in got all those calluses off and then the most wonderful foot massage/reflexology I've had. Then the parrafin wax was the icing on the cake. You should try it sometime. You won't regret it.

Girls weekend

"Girls night" make-overs, jammies, brownies, pizza and staying up (too) late.
Madeline didn't think I put nearly enough make-up on her so her sister helped out by increasing the color on her face. Please note how she enhances her natural beauty.

Why 7 year olds are never nominated for Oscars or Emmys for make-up. Actually, Sadie did one side and Madeline did the other. Interesting because they had to agree on colors...kinda.

Conrad went to Louisiana to help my sister out. Since we (girls) would only be in the way we stayed home and are having girls weekend. Fun for all involved and exhausting for the older of us girls but what the heck...memories are being made.

Excuse that first picture up there, I chose the wrong one and don't know how to take it off of the blog. I sure have alot to learn, don't I?

gardening

I tried something different tonight. You 'll see what at the bottom of the page. It didn't work. Oh well.

Does anyone know what this particular plant may be? I'm thinking it's a weed but only because it was growing so well and I was weeding in my little garden and my husband thought he would help and pulled up this amazingly large plant and I shrieked! So, he stuck it back in the dirt and lo and behold it started growing again. I don't think it would do that if it was some exotic plant that was going to produce some beautiful flowers. So if you happen to recognize this as a lovely plant or a crappy weed, please e-mail me or use the comments and let me know so I can let my husband rip it out for good or I can tenderly care for it whichever the case may be.
This is a view of the "southside" of the garden. Yes, I know it really needs to be weeded. My rose is right beside the white hanging plant nearest the ground. You can barely see the little bud to the right and a little up from the basket. My easter lillies are planted in the "northside" which would be to the right of this picture. They didn't bloom this year or if they did I don't remember it, which is unfortunately entirely possible.
This is Anna in the backyard today. Her sister thought she should be at the table. I thought it was cute.
The description for this picture is following it. (It's what I tried new.)

I'm going to try something different tonight. I'm going to write what I want for a picture then try and post said picture (one at a time, instead of all of them at once) and see if that works. Here goes....!

I have bud #2 on my rose bush. I am so happy and amazed that it's growing! Here it is...ready?


Ok, it didn't work.

miscellany

Someone has made themselves at home. The people in the house have adapted to her but the big brother cats...not so much.
Madeline's new do. Hair-chewing proof, and cute to boot.
Sadie's new obsession, doing a handstand. Keeps her busy, and heaven only knows how that skill will come in handy someday.

Reading is...

Yesterday, I put Anna down for her nap. She, of course, voiced her displeasure in this by excersizing her lungs/vocal chords at an appreciable decible level. All of a sudden, silence...I go to check on her and this is the scene I encountered.

Biggest baby in Texas

Remember the pictures of the boys and I told you that Mark was the biggest baby born in Texas? I spoke to his mother and he was 16 lbs. 12 oz. NATURAL mind you. I have one word...OUCH!

priceless

I am sure there will be alot more times when Anna's sister dress her in something awful and take her picture. I had no idea this picture had been taken and when I went to download the "real" picture for the day I saw this and it won. You'll see my picture tomorrow (unless something cuter happens).
Bless her little heart.

There are other children in the world!

This is Matthew from down the street. He liked the kitten. He and his two brothers were at the house yesterday, seems only fair. Madeline and Sadie are at their house ALL THE TIME jumping on the trampoline. I love their mom, Katie. We always laugh when we're together. She's a hoot.
from "can I go to Mark's house"? Words that come out of Madeline's mouth at least once a day. He's Matthew's brother and he kinda liked the cat, too, but I really think he just wanted his picture taken. By the way, Mark was (probably still is) the biggest baby born in Texas. (all natural, by the way) His mom is a real hero in my book. I'll ask her how big he was again (I never remember) and let you know.

spoken words

Acutal words spoken in my house today:

"Madeline, don't throw the cat".

Easter pictures

As I have stated before, I have no control over what order my pics are posted on here. I actually did this once already and instead of pressing "ctrl i" for italic, I pressed "ctrl n" because I wanted the word "not" italicised. Well, when I made that bonehead move my entire blog went "POOF". Gone. Vanished. See ya later, alligator, gone. And, coincidentally, the pictures were in the correct order on that particular posting. Go figure. So here goes.

I set up a photo studio in my hallway. I used pale yellow sheets as backdrops and floor drops and a white sheet to cover the chair I had the girls sit in. It works well, but it sure gets hot.
This is one of my favorite pics of Anna.
I got a bajillion plastic eggs and after the serious pics we took some fun ones with all the eggs strewn about. That's how I got the pic (see "meet Banda") of Banda.
Just what you've all been waiting for. A picture of the whole family. We're at church Easter morning. Thank you, Ann, for taking the picture. Not only do you play the piano beautifully, you click a mean camera.
This is one of my favorites taken in the hallway studio. I love the look Anna is giving Madeline.
This picture will go down in Easter picture history. There were only 2 pics taken of all 3 girls in front of the flowers at church. This is the only one that came out. Anna looks so happy, NOT!

bloomin'

This is the very first rose that has bloomed on the rose bush we planted back in Feb. or March. I am SO excited to see it bloom. The other bush we planted is not doing as well. It doesn't have any new leaves, much less blooms. We'll call this a 50% success level. Isn't it pretty?

I promise Easter pictures later tonight. Last night when I tried to blog, it was so slow I couldn't even get to the blogging part. It's much better today.

Little Momma

This is Rachel. She's the one we're praying for during her pregnancy. She is in for the Easter Holiday. I think she looks amazing. I only wish I looked so good pregnant. I asked her how the baby is doing and she says she thinks the c-cam is getting bigger but the dr.s don't. But, she is seen by a different one every time she goes so she's a bit (maybe I understate?) frustrated. Let's keep praying for her and the baby and let God take care of it.

I'll have CUTE easter pictures tomorrow. I already have them but thought Rachel was more important tonight.

Meet Banda

Meet "Banda" (formerly known as "Snowball", or "Sassy"). She's the newest member of the Wangler household. Conrad officially acquiesced tonight with the provision that her name be "Banda". Madeline came up with the name out of the blue.

This is the great kitten race of 2006. Jermaine, Andrea and Madeline were seeing whose kitten would go down the drive way fastest. The last picture on this blog was taken first then this one. I still have yet to figure out how to determine picture order on this thing so bear with me. Madeline won, or I guess I should say "snowball" won.
I think this caption should read "Mom, what'd you drink last night?".
"Huh?"
This was the beginning of the race, you can barely see snowball. She's the fluff of white fur in between the sun spot and Jermaine's feet.

prairie dog

This is Sadie's interpretation of a Prairie Dog. The had to pick an animal from the habitats they are studying and create one. I asked her why she picked the Prairie Dog "because I love dogs and my uncle lives in Grand Prairie" was her answer.

I couldn't resist

I couldn't resist more kitten pictures. Sorry all you non-kitten loving people out there. This one was taken tonight after Madeline "snuggled them in" for the night.

This one was taken this morning when we went to go check up on them. "Blue" (the gray one) is on the side of the couch out of camera range. The cream colored one is called "snowball" or "sassy" or "spitfire" (because the first time I picked her up she pfffttt'd at me and it went right up my nose. One of the striped ones is called tigger and one is ringtone. Don't ask. I'm sure ringtone won't stick, surely not.

Daddy, can we keep it?

Nonnie was here this weekend, can you tell? She matches from stem to stern.
We found Whiskers' (the neighborhood cat) kittens today. There are four of them. 3 stripes and one cream with gray markings. One boy and 3 girls. The are too cute. Conrad is immune to their powers of cuteness. He says we cannot keep one. I say Anna needs a kitten.

This is the one I want to keep for Anna. (OK, it's for me)
This is the first one I held, way too cute.
This is all of them.

magical quilts

Anna,
This is a magical quilt that was made just for you.
When you feel unhappy or sad, just wrap this quilt around you and it will make you glad.
Love,
Aunt Nancy


Anna got this in the mail today. Isn't she loved? Thank you, Aunt Nancy, I know it will be used and loved.