update

We have started school. In years past, it was YAHOOOOO time. Now, since I work at the school it's survival mode for me. Here are the girls on their way to school!












One of the cool things at the school this year is Mrs. Alvarado's hedgehog. She got her for a classroom pet and boy is she cute! I call her Persephone, her class voted and it was split between Spike and Angel so they call her AngelSpike. I know what her real name is. Here she is...






In the middle of June, two days before we came back from our vacation, we had a power surge in the house. The oven got fried as well as the vent-a-hood and multiple other electrical items (including the computer). We finally got our settlement from said power surge (it was caused by a tree-trimmer, not the electric company otherwise, we'd just be up a creek without a paddle) and got an oven and instead of a vent-a-hood we decided on a microwave/vent combo.

We decided on an oven/cook top combo instead of our range and wall oven set up we had before. That oven is huge! This is a picture of the oven/microwave today, cooking my beef for my first big meal made in the lovely new appliance. I made lasagna....look below! The oven cooked it just right!

And then do you know what it did? It cooked the cheesy garlic toast perfectly! Now, what do you think about that? Sounds to me like I'm going to be expected to cook alot in the days and weeks to come. What was I thinking?


Today, we celebrated Mrs. Alvarado's birthday and one of the mothers made cupcakes for her class and look how cute they are! They're HEDGEHOGS!!!!

4 pictures of a 4 year old

Since Anna turns four today, I thought I would post 4 pictures of her, taken today.

This morning she woke up to the sound of her momma singing "Happy Birthday" and was wished a happy birthday by everyone in the family. And opening her present that she told her Nonnie "this is what you are going to get me for my birthday" and sure enough, Nonnie did. Then to Mrs. Jennifer's where she was greeted by "Happy Birthday" by all of her kids.

They then decorated birthday cupcakes and in general had a very pleasant day, by all accounts that I heard.

Then back home and more birthday presents from sisters and some money from them and Mr. Phil - she's got more cash than I do! Then to Chic-fil-a and ice cream from Marble Slab and sitting by the fountain in Lincoln Square. Now we are home and trying deperately to get these darn children to bed.

Now, I think I will tell you four favorite things about Anna.

1. Anna has this look she gives you when she's done something wrong that she thinks is conveying her innocence. It cracks me up so much that I can't keep a straight face so she thinks she's getting away with whatever it is she's done. But, Momma knows!

2. The way she says vanilla. It's more like va-willa.

3. How she still has her blankie that my step-sister, Nancy, made for her. While this is also a non-favorite - as in "how long is she going to carry this thing around?", I'm impressed that it has held up so well and that she is so true to it. Since she got it, right out of the box, it has been "her blankie". And, heaven forbid we leave it somewhere, there is heck to pay if that happens.

4. Her verbage. She uses "actually" correctly and other words I would consider too old for her.

I remember 4 years ago, this time of the day (10:55 as I am typing, now) we were holding our little girl and oohing and aahing over her sweetness and marveling, once again, at how we had been blessed.

From the beginning, she has been Aaron's baby and still is. She gets excited when he comes home. He argues that her dates will have to answer to him, her big brother. He would always pick her up at her slightest whimper and he was the first to weigh her.

Sometimes I feel like she's not getting a childhood or getting to be a "baby" because she wants to do everything her big sisters do. It's hard to watch her try and fail, but I guess she's gaining character and strength from such failings. And it's very exciting to see her try and succeed at things she probably shouldn't be able to do yet. Momma is proud.

She likes feeding the animals, especially the fish and considers it a special treat when she does. She and Paco have a love-hate relationship. She loves to run from him and hates it when he chases and (generally) catches her and nips at her. If Paco lives through Anna's childhood, he'll be a tough dog, indeed. She's usually picking him up by the legs or pulling too hard on the collar or something equally painful (I'm sure) for him.

She will start a new school this year. She's going to be a few places down from us at school so she'll be close and go to the same place everyday. She's excited about this and is ready for her new adventure. One last year before she starts "real" school. Momma is ready (she thinks).

I thank God for the gift that is Anna. Wrapped everyday in a sweet hug and a smile reserved just for me.

Some days one of my children will do something very kind for me and I tell them "you're my favorite". She always asks me who my favorite is that day and she says "children" "child-wen" and it always makes me smile. Today, Anna, you are my favorite.

Happy Birthday, sweet girl.

Lots of catchin' up to do

Week before last, we were all sitting outside when all of a sudden a bird essentially flew all upside my head. I thought it was a humming bird but it ended up being a parakeet. After several screams by some of us it finally landed on the side of the van and Conrad caught it.

Here's the pretty birdie. We gave it to some people who had a bird cage on their front porch (after we tried in vain to find the owner) with parakeets in it.

Then, last weekend a family invited us all out to a place called Lifetime Fitness to enjoy the facilities and they have a really cool pool, all sorts of exercise stuff and a big indoor soccer field. Here's a picture of all the girls together. We really had a great time and enjoyed spending time with the Augons.

Today, we (Catholics) celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Ft. Worth diocese. There was a huge mass at the Tarrant County Convention Center. The picture at right is the dais (I'm guessing that's the correct term -if not, blame Conrad). Those beautiful banners were made by the Carmelite nuns. Awesome.

I took part in the celebration as a member of the diocesan choir. Below or to the right depending on how this loads (- he's in a black jacket) is the director of the large choir, Russell (I never got his last name) and next to Michele (choir director at my church) he's my favorite choir director. He seemed to enjoy what he does and was a joy to sing for, and very expressive.

I also got to meet the man who wrote the Misa Luna which is the new music for the mass that we've been using all summer. He gave me permission to sing the new verse of the Gospel Acclamation (for you non-Catholics that's the Alleluias we sing before the Gospel is read) at our church. OK, Sallie was there, too, and I asked him to tell her I get to sing it first but he didn't go that far. It was a blood bath between us fighting about who would sing it first. I think she Cantors before I do so she'll probably win.


That's him in the white shirt and tie

I think every priest in the diocese was there at this mass. I know there was at least one Bishop, and maybe two Archbishops many (maybe all the deacons and these Knights of the Holy Sepulcher who had on really cool capes and even cooler hats. I'm sure that's sacrilegious on some level but they did.

Speaking of hats...at the Tarrant County Convention Center, there's a star made out of hats. Here's the picture. Really cool.

All in all, I was enthused after I left and infused with excitement for our faith and ready for choir to start again (we take vacation during the summer). I hope all faiths have an event such as this to help get their "flock" enthusiastic.


The video is for my Mumsey, it's of the organist playing as the procession takes place. The organist was not only good (of course, not as good as Mumsey) but a Methodist as well.

Why I use a shop vac as my vaccuum cleaner

I had alot of titles for this particular post:

1. Why I am ready for school to begin again.

2. Why it's a good thing I already got 4 kids past the age of 4 (because 4 out of 5 ain't bad).

3. Why flour might be the bain of my exsistance.

4. Why was the flour in the living room in the first place?

5. Flour must feel good between the toes.

6. Why staying in bed after the kids get up isn't always the best idea.

However, you see what I chose.

When I got up this morning, I could smell flour. You know, the baking kind. The kind of flour that makes yummy cookies, cakes and other treats? Yeah, that kind of flour.

Now, last night, I saw the cannister of flour in the living room, but, it was late and I put the top back on and just left it sitting there, knowing I would put it up in the morning when cleaning the rest of the room. BIG MISTAKE...

Sadie and Madeline were still asleep so they catch a break on this one. However, Anna and Cherokee were very awake (Cherokee is a girl from down the street I watch during the week) and apparently finding that flour feels good between the toes. When I went in there, I saw the small mess and thought to myself that surely when I tell them to clean this up they will. Yeah, I wasn't quite awake and still in my dreamworld. And, yes, I did see Cherokee put a hand load of that flour back into the cannister and put the top back on it. YUCK!

So, having told them to clean it, I returned to my room before my head started spinning around "Exorsist" style. When I got back up to face the mess, not only was it not cleaned up, but the top was back off the cannister and now ALL the flour is all over the living room floor and a certain guests' feet were barefoot, toes dallying in the flour.

Now, I have to say Anna, at this point was nowhere near the mess so I don't know if she's learned at the tender age of 3 that being next to the mess isn't a good idea because you can always blame it on your sisters or if she really wasn't a part of the mess. It doesn't matter. I hold it against her. And, she is lucky indeed that she has her 4 siblings to thank for making me one of those moms who says "that flour was probably old anyway" and "my shop vac will get that up in no time" instead of beating her black and blue and making her suck it up in a straw and spit it out in the trash can. Lucky, indeed.

And introducing...

Last week, Aaron came home and requested to go to a Ranger game. Here's the whole family all enjoying the Rangers WIN!!!!

On July 4th we had a battle royale, and our

weapon of choice was, you guessed it, water balloons

And, this is the newest member of the Wangler household. Because our life isn't chaotic enough, meet Paco. A guy at Conrad's work had him one night and beause he whined all night, they didn't want him. So we took him in and he didn't whine once. Finally, a little one that doesn't whine. Anyway, he's kinda cute and he still has puppy breath and I'm getting used to puppy kisses. So far, the cats haven't really given him the time of day but also haven't killed him, either. So, I guess that's a good thing.

Yeah, he's kinda cute.

Pirates and wenches

We decided to go out to eat on the first evening at SPI. We stopped a local out for a walk and asked her where she would suggest and one of the places she suggested was Pier 19.

So, off we went to Pier 19, delicious food. Great locale. Then we went onto the actual pier and while out there a pirate-y looking mate asked if we would like to be a part of a pirate show and really? Do you think we would say no?

So we successfully scared away the pirate ship

and I'm sure those scurvy pirates don't want

anything to do with us pier rats!

AARRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!!!

Vacation post #3

After San Antonio, we went to South Padre Island. My first visit to the island and, hopefully, not my last. I loved it there. A nice cool breeze was always blowing. Although, I do have to say, even though the sand is a part of the island and it wouldn't be SPI without it, I really got tired of it. You cannot walk from the surf to the car without tons of it getting into your shoes, very tiresome. However, we persevered. Here is the bridge going over to the island.

Various shots of the family at the beach.
Anna found the first seashells. I'd be surprised if there were any left from the amount that we brought back with us.

I'm not sure why Mads was so upset except it had something to do with those goggles but I love this picture of her.

This is actually a combination of our two days at SPI. I'll download the pictures from the camera and our pirate adventure for my next post.

Here's the next day (day three, I think?) This day, we went to Fiesta Texas. Here's Sadie and Mads with Sylvester and Bugs.

Anna loved the fact that Fiesta Texas has "Wiggles World". We sat through the show and I have such sympathy for those charachters in the costumes and the ones not in the big costumes. Sweat pouring out of them like a water fall.

We went on the Roaring Rapids equivilent down there and right before we went on, they inspected all the tubes shutting the ride down for probably 1/2 an hour. This totally deflated Sadie and Madeline as you can tell from the picture.

After Fiesta Texas, we went down to the Riverwalk and ducked into a place that looked like it might have good food. Turns out it was a bar also and they had karaoke, to boot. Sadie's drinking root beer out of a bottle. (I promise, it's root beer.)

Madeline got up the nerve to karaoke Taylor Swift's "Teardrops On My Guitar" and got the biggest round of applause. We have now taken our girls to their first bar and watched, with pride, Madeline's first karaoke. If that ain't redneck, I don't know what is.

Then we took the riverboat cruise along the river. Here they are actually looking like they're getting along.




Anna, not long for this world in this picture, was quite content to sit on the non-river side of the boat, thank you very much. She didn't last the whole tour...

...as you can see.

Ok, the differences between SeaWorld and Six Flags (be it over Texas or Fiesta). One, SeaWorld is so spread out, we didn't even see everything. Six Flags is more compact. We did everything we wanted at Six Flags, including the water park. We didn't even see the water park at SeaWorld.

Two, SeaWorld is less expensive on alot of things. you can rent a locker to put your stuff in for 50 cents, at Six Flags, it's two dollars, I think and that's just to put your stuff in for the duration of a ride. All day lockers are $15. We have a season pass for SeaWorld for the price of a one day ticket. The season pass for Six Flags will pay for itself in about 2 1/2 visits, nice when you live next door or go to places with other Six Flags as we do/have.

Three, Six Flags has misters at every turn, at all the lines for rides, at the games, everywhere. If you get over heated, it's really your fault. SeaWorld is HOT. HOT. HOT. There was NO relief. Although a bottle of water is only $2.50 or so, still, put up some misters already!

Four, Anna couldn't ride ANYTHING (except the kiddie rides) at SeaWorld. We slipped her onto Journey to Atlantis (shhh, don't tell) and she loved it. She couldn't even ride the Shamu roller coaster which is built for little 'uns. Come on! She is fearless. She loves coasters and rides everything she can at Six Flags and loves every minute of it.

OK, there's my comparison of SeaWorld and Six Flags. I'm not sure who wins. Well, yeah I do...Six Flags. Not to say we won't go back to SW, but this time we know what to expect.

Tune in tomorrow for more tales of the WanglerWorld vacation!

not a vacaation post

So we got home tonight at 10:45 and we have no air conditioning. Our neighbor Lisa (who fed our cats while we were gone) told us that a tree trimmer did something to a line a few houses down and electricity went out again and several things were "burned" out in our neighbor's house. Our air conditioning, main computer, the main bathroom, the living room fan are all non-functioning now. And all except the air were off at the time.

Oh, we'll be getting to the bottom of this!

In the meantime, it's too late to find/post pictures so I'm going to do it tomorrow in the light of day and after a full night's sleep in my own bed, albeit a hot night. What I would'nt give for that loud air conditioner in that first hotel, huh?

Vacation post # 2

Our first full day in San Antonio, we went down to the Alamo. Actually, this was a request made by Madeline. She really wanted to see it. She's a big history buff and I couldn't be prouder.

So here's the Alamo. And, oddly enough, we could tell something was about to go on or had just gone on and lo and behold, who did we see?













Our esteemed Governor Perry. He was signing in a bill that, coincidentally, may come into play in our lives sooner rather than later. It was an imminent domain bill that we're not sure what they ended up making the bill say but, since "we" (a real estate firm) are marketing our neighborhood to, hopefully, take advantage of the locale it could play a part. We're hoping that it doesn't come to that (no matter what the bill says). We want someone (or company) to come in with buckets of money and throw them at us. But, I digress...on to the rest of the second day...





Here are some pictures from SeaWorld. A place that was hot and spread out so far and wide it was hard to do it all. Conrad and I were also not feeling very well so the heat did nothing for us. We got the season passes (same price as the one day pass, don't understand that but we took advantage of it) so we can go anytime we want, should we desire. Or if anyone is going down there and wants to take our kids, feel free!

Dinner anyone? Biggest lobster I've ever seen.

Mads and Sadie got to feed the dolphins and Mads actually got to touch one.

Our girls, actually getting along!

Madeline and Anna riding something at SeaWorld.

And, below, Mads with one of the pirates after the pirate show. (No, not the one we got to participate in - more on that in a later post.)

Then onto Shamu!!!! Yep, we sat in the splash zone and got wet. I don't know if you can see the whale jumping out of the water in the pic on the right but it is. Amazing!

And below is a whale showing off for us.

A great time was had by all at SeaWorld. More fun for some than others, due to various "not feeling goods" but we persevered. Tomorrow, I'll tell you the differences between SeaWorld and Fiesta Texas (aside from the obvious differences in themes).