a rocky road

For years I've sworn I'd never get a pet. But then I had a daughter who lived and breathed all things canine. Never have I seen such an infatuation. Since she was 3 1/2 years old. She was so obsessed that she like to pretend she was a puppy, and not so secretly wanted to BE a dog, for real. So, almost two years ago, right after Brandon started Grad school, we promised Bailey that we would get a dog. A small, non-shedding, hypoallergenic dog.

For about 2 years, she told everyone and their DOG, "My Dad is in school, and when he finishes, I'm gonna get a puppy."

It seemed like a good idea at the time. But regardless, a promise is a promise.

As soon as Brandon had his last class, Bailey started asking about the puppy payout. We were trying to put it off until she was out of school for the summer, too. But the type of dog we wanted is not so easy (or cheap) to come by. So when I found one that fit all our criteria, we jumped. Three days after Brandon's last class. (he hadn't even had the Graduation ceremony yet!)

To keep excitement to a controllable level and so Bailey would be able to focus on anything, we didn't tell the kids ahead of time. We woke up on a Saturday and went to baseball like normal, and then told the kids we were going to go on a little road trip. We drove for about an hour, and finally got to our destination. A trailer. In the middle of nowhere. "We are going HERE?!," Bailey said when we drove up. Then I pulled a pet carrier out of the back and she looked confused. I asked her what she thought it was for and she looked at me for a minute and then nearly wet herself when she realized what exactly we were doing. Then she got to pick out her dog. Just like she'd been dreaming about for years.

A black and white Yorkie-Poo, that we named "ROCKY."

She loves him SO much. And it has seriously helped the canine infatuation.

She is REALLY great and responsible with him. She does most of the care for him. Even cleaning up his messes.

The picture is a little blurry, but it gives a little reference for just how TINY he was when we first got him. He weighed less than 1lb!

The kids all love him, and he's becoming quite civilized. I like him because he keeps my kitchen floor squeaky clean!

the best of the bluebonnets (the good, the bad, the funny, and the fat)

This is the third year we've gone to the bluebonnets. This by far was the most beautiful year...the cool spring and lots of rain made for one magnificent wildflower season in Texas! On our drive to and through Brenham we passed fields and fields of every type of wildflower in every color. It was by far the best year as far as children's cooperation, too! Some are more cooperative than others {ahem, Benson}. So here are the good, the bad, the funny, and the fat. Most don't need captions.

Here's what it's like trying to get all of them in the picture:

The girls sit patiently...

Then the boy tries to strangle the girl. Not exactly what I meant when I said, "Give her a hug."

{I'm mad because you told me to stop giving a hug, so I'm marching right out of this picture.}

{I'll come back, when bribed, and then I'll make a funny face, and Brynnie will be out of patience.}

{What?? What do you want me to do?}

{okay, no one look at the camera!}

THE CREAM OF THE CROP!

It was a blast!

the potty project

This is my latest project. He has to be fully potty trained by October, so he can (and WILL) go to preschool. Benson has very little interest in the potty...only when he's in the right mood, and the bribe is good enough. Which changes hourly. He'll be really good about "going" for several hours, and then wants nothing more to do with it. It's very off and on. I don't want to push too hard, because he'll just shut down the project completely. ugh.

I HATE potty training.

The bribes usually include Sprite and chips/crackers/cookies/etc. just to get him to sit on the potty.
At least he shares them, though.

Easter

It's been almost a month, but at least I'm finally getting to it...

So here's our Easter 2010 in few words and many pictures:

I found out that dying Easter Eggs isn't for the fainthearted.

While Brandon was at the Priesthood Session of General Conference, I dyed eggs with the kids. I'd been putting it off as long as possible, but finally gave in, as not to disappoint. I'm pretty sure it elevated my blood pressure by several points. We really missed going to Becky and Jamie's to dye eggs!

I made Benson strip down to his diaper. Would have done the same with Bay, but figured she's probably a little too old for that.

I realized while dying eggs that Benson's chubby little paws will probably be full fledged hands by next year. And I will miss them. I love soft little baby hands. I wanted to make sure I got a picture of Goon's to remember them. Bailey's disappeared overnight, it seemed. Being my first baby, I didn't know that would happen. I was sad to realize one day, when she was about 3.5, that her "paws" were gone, and she had real hands.

Speaking of "paws," I wasn't quite ready for these "paws" to be dipped in dye, just yet. So she kept happy and occupied with her Fruity Pebbles. She loves to eat these one-by-one, so it keeps her busy and happy for a L-O-N-G time.

Sunday Morning, the kids found their baskets, and then we watched General Conference. Then they donned their festive wear. I went a little carrot crazy and made the girls matching "pillowcase" dresses (from some 10+ yr old fabric from Guh L's stash!), and appliqued a shirt for Benson (and the Stewart Boys) to match. Then went to the Stewart's house for a big family dinner...



...desserts (that I made)...

...and a HUGE egg hunt with about 300 eggs!

I forgot to get a picture of it, but there were even eggs with binkies in them for the babies!!

It was a wonderful Easter!

la piggy primavera

How cute is that little spring piggy?!

The little piggy tail, and piggy cheeks, and the teeth that you could drive a truck through... drive me wild! I just want to eat her up.

Brynley's hair is getting so long (comparatively) so fast that it's now all in her face unless I do something with it. Thursday I put it in a real, true piggy for the first time. Lots of water and a little banana crust leftover from breakfast helped it stay in really well.

It's so cute, but it makes me a little sad that it makes her look so old.

*sniff*

first field day

Friday was Bailey's first Field Day.

The students take the afternoon off from books and learn team building skills by competing against other classes in their grade. After being sick for most of the week, I was glad to see Bailey feeling well enough to run around. (and we were lucky they rescheduled Field Day from earlier in the week due to rain!) Like everything else in Texas, Field Day is a BIG DEAL. All the parents/grandparents/monkey's uncles come to watch. We brought Bailey lunch and ate our McD's in the cafeteria with her. The we headed out to the field. It was a L-O-N-G three hours for these spectators...

...Brynley was a little restless and wanted to get down and crawl around. She LOVES grass!

Benson also wanted to get down and run around...in the races with "Bubs." We also spent much of the time trying to keep warm. I was fooled by the sunshine and temperature, and didn't take into account the COLD wind and humidity. Poor kids were FREEZING.

We cheered on Bub as she competed in race...

...after race.

Followed by some relays...

...and just plain ol' fun...

like splashing your teacher (and self) by sitting on a water balloon.

Guggy got there just in time to see Bailey race, warm up the kiddles, and replenish the bribes (snacks).

And a snow cone to top it off! Bailey said, "It was the best Field Day EVER!"