Happy Birthday!

I'm so proud of Sadie. She made it the whole campout. No one had to call me to come get her (not that I would have...I don't think). She had a great time and got dirty. These are her socks, the dirtiest thing on her. She was very proud of them.


After she got home she, Madeline and Anna sat out front at their little table. Anna held court while they did whatever it is they did.Happy Birthday, Jon!!!! This is Jon and Tylar. Jon turned 20 today. When I called him to wish him a "happy birthday" he said "I'm 20 and you're old". Thanks, Jon. I only gave you life. You could have been a tad nicer. Oh well. We went to see "Employee of the Month". It was a funny movie. And then we went to Jason's Deli and then went and relaxed by the fountain in Lincoln Square.
This is Madeline totally immersed in her "Birthday Dance for Jon which you can see in action here. Madeline also reprised her "Hallelujah Chorus" while we were out there, much to the delight of the other fountain patrons. You can hear it (although you can also hear the fountain - just so you're prepared) here.
And this was too sweet to pass up.

Happy Birthday, Jon. I love you!

Spaced out birthday party

Sadie was invited to the most spaced out birthday party. It was tonight at the UTA Planetarium. We got to see a show about how the stars were viewed in ancient Egyptian times and what the different constellations were called back then and what they meant. Then they showed us the present day Texas night sky - both in the city and out in the country. The lovely man in charge showed us how to "star hop". It's finding things in the night sky using easy to spot constellations or stars. I did manage to stump the star guy by asking what a little conglomeration of stars were that I see all the time. He didn't know, but I bet he's gonna find out.

This picture if of the cake. It looked like the moon and you see earth over there in the corner and there are stars all around on the cake platter.

They also had these cookies for treats. Man, they were delicious as well as thematical.
Anna enjoying one of the aforementioned cookies.

Sadie and the birthday girl, Madeline. Happy Birthday, Madeline!!! Thanks for the educational yet fun birthday party! It takes a really creative kid or Mom (or Dad) to come up with something like this. My hat is off to whichever one of them came up with this. We had a blast (pun intended).

fashionista

Here Anna is modeling the latest in baby bohemian fashion. All black. Her sister Sadie dressed her. It doesn't matter that it is 400 degrees outside, she's all decked out in black jeans with a black turtleneck. All the "in" babies will be sporting this this fall. Anna's such a trendsetter.

You can see Anna walking a long way in this video here.

Chastised

I was gently chastised for yesterday's blog. I was told in no uncertain terms that no one wants to see a lone tooth with a Marks-a-lot. Y'all wanted to see the head from whence the tooth came. Well, here it is. Chocolate face and all.

Conrad took the girls out tonight so that I could take my mid-term test (I made an 88, thank you for asking). Thank you, Conrad. Anyway, he took them to Panchos, and of course they had ice cream for dessert. Sadie obviously had chocolate.
This is Sadie practicing her piano lesson. She really does practice! Until I saw this picture, I had no idea how dusty the piano was. What a disgrace. I know what I'll be doing tomorrow - dusting.
And I can't very well leave Madeline out. This is her explaining something very complex to my very simple mind. I've already forgotten what it was.

By the way, before you even ask, I'm taking a course on how to become a Medical Transcriptionist. I'm having a great time learning all this medical terminology.

By the way, a very big milestone was made by Sadie tonight. She actually decided to go on a Girl Scout campout WITHOUT any of her parents. I can't go, I have obligations here and Daddy's aren't allowed to go. I figured she would just opt out (she couldn't even spend the night across the street without getting homesick) but when she got home she told me she had decided to go. I asked her what changed her mind. She said "I get to get dirty and I'll be with all my friends". I'm so proud of her. I hope she doesn't change her mind. I'll keep you posted (you knew I would).

yet another tooth

See that white thing under the "Marks-A-Lot"? That's yet another tooth out of Sadie's head. That child...she will not pull stickers out of her feet, but she'll pull teeth out of her head. I remember actually sitting on her to get a sticker out of her foot. When it came time for her first tooth to come out, she stuck her face in my neighbor's direction and my neighbor pulled that tooth out. Not so much as a grunt from Sadie. Hmmm, maybe if we started leaving money for stickers.....

S is for Saturday and Soccer

I just loved this picture of Madeline. She's such a ham.
I hear "take a picture of me, Mommy"! And I turn around and there's my little Hamm (as in Mia Hamm - great female soccer player for you who might not know) posing. How could I resist?
Dealing with the papparazzi already at such an early age. It was picture day at Soccer. When we get the real pics in I'll try to get it on here but I'm not sure I'll be able to (copyright laws and all).

Garage Sale Baby

We had a garage sale today (my neighbor and I) and we tried to sell this whole set for $10 but we had no takers. Someone bought the bear but left the playpen and the baby. Hmmm.
I think Anna liked the bear. Click here and you'll see her playing with a kitten.

young master

Anna's first official masterpiece. Colored at Most Blessed Sacrament's office (thank you, Karen). MBS is also where she took her first steps. Hmmmm, lots of first over there at MBS. We must spend alot of time there. There are worse places to spend time, I assure you.

"It's hard to take the first step"

Keeping with the "Happy Fall" theme...Here is Anna about to try her first piece of Candy Corn.

Here she is eating it, no word on whether or not she liked it.

Last night, we couldn't find Sadie. Conrad found her and took the picture of where she was "hiding".

Today, when I went to church, I took Anna and Madeline with me. Anna used to go all the time with me and she's kind of a "choir baby". As far as I can tell, everyone likes her and they've all watched her grow up. So, today she was standing there and lo and behold, it happened. She took two steps! I have witnesses! I didn't catch it on the camera but the choir saw it. And, rightfully, they made a big deal of it. I started tearing up. This is THE LAST BABY and now she's a toddler. The coolest thing though was that our anthem was "Lead Me, Lord" and the first words to that song (which we practiced right after this monumental occasion)are "It's hard to take the first step...". How cool was that. Divine providence, Michele. I don't think we'll ever sing that song again that I don't think of that moment.

I might not have caught the first couple of steps on video but I caught a couple of subsequent ones. You can view them here.

1st day of Autumn

Happy Fall everyone!

Just another Thursday

I decided to treat myself to a Sonic oreo blast. Anna thought it was a good idea. She also wanted some but I failed to offer it to her so she just took it upon herself to sneak a bite.
This is her messy face after her first encounter with oreo blast.
And after school, everyone is studying hard. Yeah right.

Soccer rocks

Wow, what a day. First, how about these shirts? Thank you, Mom, for getting them for the girls. Aren't they cute? And, yes, we do rock.

Madeline had her first soccer game today. This is her in the dressing room before the game. I have forgotten alot of things in my time...my purse, my brush, a nightgown, Christmas gifts at Christmas but I can honestly say I have NEVER forgotten to put on my underwear. This child, pictured below, forgets her underwear more often than she remembers them and yes, she "forgot" them today. AAARRRRGGGGHHHH!


This is her playing goalie for the second quarter. She allowed the only goal the other team scored.But wait....it gets better.

This is her right after scoring her SECOND goal of the game. I have the first one on video which you can watch here. What an exciting game. Conrad said "Just think how well she'll play when she remembers her underwear".

And for your moment of Anna...here she is standing all by herself. Walking is only a step away.

Chillaxing outside

Yesterday we did what we've done all week, we chillaxed outside. It's been so nice and mild we couldn't help but to go out and do our homework outside and sit and gab.
This is the famed "Daisy" from Anna's first "talkie" video.
I don't know if you can see in this picture how dirty Anna is but she is always dirty after chillin' outside. She gets to crawl around and I try not to cringe every time I look at how dirty she is. But then...

That's what God made soap and water for. Here she is all cleaned up.

And for those who are video friendly. Here are a couple of clips. If you don't have audio with your video, this one won't be as funny. And here Anna is loving on Daisy.

my tribute

To remember what happened five years ago, destruction beyond belief.



We were all just Americans, no race, no creed, just grief.


Children now orphans, spouses widowed, friends left behind, new angels all around.

Five years later and the hole is still there in our hearts and in the ground.

We mourn the loss of 2 towers tall and the all the souls within them. May we never forget that day.

May God bless our country and may we always defend our freedom and Old Glory, and long may she wave.

*******************************************************************
Peggy Noonan wrote a very moving observation about 9/11 click here if you would like to read it. (tissue alert)

Poem by: Lisa Wangler
Photos: various sources
Image from space by Space Imagery

A day with Daddy

Conrad and I have finally been immortalized in bronze. The girls came to see us today. We're so proud.

OK, really, Conrad and the girls went to the zoo and it would seem that at some point both Madeline (above) and Sadie (below) were turned into Otters by some Zoo fairy.
Anna likes to swim with the fishies. (They also went to the Aquarium.)


And, back at the home menagerie front, it would seem that Banda and Puss in Boots are finally getting along. Awwwww.

Now, for those of you with video. Here are some clips of the kids in the park. Click Sadie's name for hers and click Madeline's name for hers and, of course, Anna has this one and that one.

Homecoming 2006

Wow, Monday was the last post. Sorry everyone, life's been a bit hectic this week. I sure wish the world would slow down for a bit and let me take a breather. But...forward we go, onward into the night!
And this is one of the reasons. I mean really, how cute is this fountain? Oh, I mean the dandy behind the fountain.

Tonight is Lamar High School Homecoming 2006. Go Vikings! In the above picture, Spidey is being eaten by a bison. Just one of the things we did to occupy our time whilst waiting for Kelsey's date for homecoming, Max...like Kelsey is in the picture below. Kelsey's first homecoming. Our little girl is growing up, dang it. Sorry, Kelsey, I couldn't resist. If it makes you feel any better, I don't think any of your friends read my blog.



Max and Kelsey with their Homecoming mums on. Aren't they cute? He even held the car door open for her when they left. Awwwww.
Full on view of Kelsey's mum. It has candy on it! Hmmmm, none of my Homecoming mums (and might I add I went to plenty of homecomings in my day) had food. These kids these days, they just don't know how good they have it.

I would just like to say thank you to everyone who has had such kind words for me about my blog. It certainly validates my blogging. I so enjoy doing it, thank you for enjoying reading it. And to those who can't get my videos (thank you for letting me know) I will always post stills on the blog unless some unforseen event keeps me from it. I hope someday you'll be able to see the videos. Thanks everyone for your input!

fall flowers

For some reason, I have one lone flower blooming in my garden. It started yesterday, before we got rain so I don't think it's the rain that brought it out. Maybe it's the tender lovin' kitty care it's getting. Can you see Rosie hiding in the garden?

I liked this picture of my one lone flower with Mary of Guadelupe watching over it.

For those of you who need a video of Anna. Click here and you'll get one.

Singing

This one is for the choir, or anyone who has ever been in a choir.

I guess my children have heard the "Hallelujah Chorus" more than I thought. Madeline sings it alot and you'll see why it makes me smile when she does if you click here.