San Antonio Day One

We were such poor planners with Spring Break this year.  We talked about going skiing, then, possibly Disney, but with Babe's job change, we weren't sure where to go.  We started Financial Peace by Dave Ramsey in January and they said, "Don't plan anything big while you are in this class."  I secretly wished we planned before we started :)  But we were convicted.  

So, it was Thursday before Spring Break began and we had no plans.  I got online and almost pressed "Confirm" to drive to the beach in Gulf Shores when it occurred to me to check the weather.  Thumbs down.  Sixty degrees and chance of rain.  So, we decided to stick close, no beach and go to San Antonio.  The last time we went JLS was little and WHS wasn't even around.  So, I booked a hotel that night, bought Sea World tickets and tickets to the Caverns online.  As soon as the boys were out of school the next day, we hit the road.  There's something to say for last minute trips.  No pining for the time to come...it's already time!

We arrived at our hotel and were gratefully upgraded to a suite.  We have discovered this little perk is MUCH better than having 2 rooms if the hotel offers them.  Our room was spacious, everyone got a bed, the boys thought they were in the lapse of luxury on a fold out couch.  Too funny.

Our first day, we hit the Alamo after a wonderful Mexican breakfast.  It was so much more meaningful to my kids this time as they are both studying Texas history now and they knew so much about the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto.  I was actually quite impressed with their knowledge.

It doesn't matter how many times I have been to the Alamo, but I am always moved by the sign on the front door.

We thought we were done with strollers, but the one remaining stroller in our house served its purpose well this trip!

A pic on the cannon...

  In front of the giant cacti.  I am becoming a huge fan of succulents here in Texas.  I LOVE cacti!

The boys in front of The Alamo...

It was SO much fun because the Living History club was in front of The Alamo all day for a reenactment of the battle.  Unfortunately, the battle was delayed for weather and we missed it, but we did get to chat with some of our favorite famous Texas leaders!

Davy Crockett let us hold his gun.  According to this one David Crockett, he is the great great grandson of THE Davy Crockett.  So, he told us, we were looking at the real deal...

This woman was spinning her own yarn...

 A bagpiper playing his pipes beautifully on the square...

A Texican soldier, unconfirmed.  My guess is William Travis...

And we move to the enemy camp...

The General Santa Anna...

 Interestingly enough, as I talked to Santa Anna about the war, he described the war as "We won" at The Alamo and "We lost" at San Jacinto.  Of course, I had the opposite opinion and it made me wonder about today's Mexican Americans.  Do they consider themselves Mexicans that WON at the Alamo and LOST at San Jacinto or do they consider themselves Texans and Americans?

 More in the enemy camp...

These guys played the drums and flute so beautifully...

Having the Living History members there REALLY made the Alamo so much more interesting for all of us!

Spring Break Hoopla

We took a wonderful long weekend to San Antonio for Spring Break.  When we returned, the boys and I were considering a trip to Bartlesville.  As it turned out, Grammy got sick and didn't want me to get sick since my body is no longer a fighter on my meds.  As it turned out, WHS woke up sick in the night...a total surprise, but he was a sickie.  He had a terrible croupey, seal cough and he moaned all night.  I stayed up working until 1am, as not much gets accomplished during the day with kids home all week.  WHS woke up about 1:30am.  He ultimately came to our bed and whimpered until about 5am.  ZERO sleep for mom and dad.  It made me very aware of how much I appreciate my sleep now.  I so do not miss the sleepless nights.

Needless to say, we have had a staycation and are loving every minute.  I love being home with the kids home and nothing to do.  Sleep in, big breakfast, projects, organizing, playing and now swimming!  We christened the pool this weekend.  I think the kids would have been fine, but Babe heated it up just a tad to take the edge off.  After a long day of my planting flowers and working in the yard, and Babe making his ah-mazing ribs, we all hopped in the hot tub.  It was perfect!

JBS and JLS made this fabulous tent.  It made me beyond happy to see them outside being creative.  I get so tired of the video games, phone games, etc.  So much so, I have prohibited games and TV Monday thru Friday when school is on.  Since we haven't been in school, I have been letting them play and I hate it.  I would much rather see them outside on a beautiful day building tents across the backyard.  The mess doesn't bother me one bit.  I have the best memories of making tents on my front porch growing up.  I still remember the quilt my mom let us use.

So...spring has sprung here in Texas!  Bluebonnets, beautiful weather, an open pool, flowers, fresh air. Ahhhh!  Good to be alive!

Angels

Seeing as how I am the princess {ha!} of this house, I try to work it out as much as possible to steal a foot rub, head rub, massage of any kind from my boys.  They have always loved doing this for me and I love that they love it.  They even get to stay up late sometimes if they want to give mommy a rub:)  When they were little, as WHS is now, they love to wash my hair and dry it.  And I NEVER say, "No" to anyone who wants to come close to playing with my hair.  It's really great quality time with each of the boys, as we get to sit and talk uninterrupted just hanging out.  Future wives...I think this is a service to you.  I think its very important, in the house of all boys, for my boys to learn how to treat a girl...and treat her like a princess.  There's no one else here to volunteer for the job, so I will!

When I got out the bath last night, I opened the bathroom door to JLS sitting next to this chair with a mysterious little smile.

Let me translate:  

All Massages 

1. Hair Rub  

2. Arm Rub  

3. Foot Rub  

4.  Leg Rub 

5. OR Massage

Be still my heart.  He was so excited to spoil me rotten.  While I was receiving my massages from JLS, JBS walked in with another Menu of goods.

 Translation:  

Foot Rub Menu

"Totally Good"

1.  Famous Foot Rub

2.  The Smooth Foot Rub

3.  The Massage Foot Rub

4.  Super Famous Foot Rub

5.  Super Super Foot Rub

Do you think I went to bed relaxed?  Yes!  And the boys were SO excited to do something for me that I loved.  Sweet Angels.

Cowboy Noodle

Rodeo Days fit right into this cowboy house.  My favorite stage for any of the boys is 3 years-old.  They have all worn the same cowboy boots that were handed down to us from their cousin, G2.  They have each LOVED to wear their cowboy boots day in and day out, short and jeans, summer and winter.  You name it, the boots are on. I love nothing more than to see WHS walking around in his boots with shorts.  He is always running just  step behind and hustles his hiney to get caught up.  It always reminds me of one of Gigi's poems that she wrote about my Dad when he was little.  It brings a tear to my eye to know that my boys are living thru the same cowboys and Indians battles that BD did.  Having three cowboys running thru this house may get wild at times, but man its fun to witness.

With a cowboy hat and high heeled boots,

With a bead on his gun which he continually shoots,

And with a smile in his heart that all this world must see,

My little boy makes a prisoner of me.

To him I'm an Indian---a fierce young brave,

He is my captor who is destined to save

The Fate of his people from the terrible West,

This battle of sorts being the test.

And after it's over--his battle won

He takes off his hat and drops his gun,

Just a sleepy little boy with a heart so free,

But he will always make a prisoner of me.
-Gigi

Rodeo Day Take Two

We have had Go Texan Day (city celebration), Rodeo Day for WHS and now Rodeo Day for JLS.  The kindergarten only sets up on the playground and has wagon racing, roping, any event they can turn into a Rodeo Event.  They had popsicles for the kids and a jumping house.  JLS was SO excited that I had volunteered to help.  So excited that the day of, he was just too busy to hang with mom :)  I caught up with him with his bestie in line for the bounce house.  It really was a fun day for the kids and parents.

JLS was very conflicted on this Friday morning.  He loves wearing his school shirt for spirit days on Fridays.  However, he really wanted to wear his boots and hat.  So, he compromised.  Mostly because his "cowboy" shirt wasn't ironed.  And I don't iron :)

Pizza Partaking

Babe just texted me this picture.

For any other 6 year-old, this picture would not mean much.  In fact, many moms might roll their eyes that their child is eating more junk food.

For JLS this is earth-shattering, mind-blowing, celebration-worthy.  He ate 1/4 of a piece of pizza!  That means he ate bread, tomato sauce, cheese and pepperonis...all at once!

Most who know us know that JLS had some major eating issues from the start.  It was his first birthday that I threatened him and told him he HAD to start eating baby food, that I would no longer get up in the night to give him a bottle of milk.  I was done with formula, as well.  It was at 2 1/2 that I threatened him again and told him, "No more baby food!"  He ate apple sauce, sweet potatoes and bananas...only.  I was tired of spoon-feeding him everything.

We very slowly added a few more items to his menu, but NOT many.  By three we were in speech therapy and by four, eating therapy.  As it turned out, because he had severe reflux as an infant, he had texture issues.  We finally found a fabulous speech therapist that worked with eating issues.  We made wonderful strides for about six months and then we plateaued.  Again, by the time JLS was heading into Kindergarten, I told him, yet again, to get with it!  I was not going to shuttle him to eating therapy anymore once school started.  For a "healthy" baby, he turned out to be very expensive after three years of speech therapy.

The sweet boy wanted to eat like everyone else, but he couldn't help it.  I was painfully picky as a child and while I was blamed for being too picky, my mom also told me I screamed and didn't sleep thru the night for a very long time.  I am certain I had reflux, too.  I had major aversions to certain foods....still do to beans and peas....ick!

JLS is an excellent little athlete.  Recently, we have noticed issues with his energy in baseball games.  He probably eats how we should...eight little meals all day long that consist of raw veggies and fruit with peanut butter.  However, that is not always convenient, nor lasting.  We have talked about needing to eat better.  He is going to camp this summer and won't have me to cut an apple for him.  He needs more energy to play baseball, he needs more food to build strong muscles.  The funny part is that because he eats so little in the way of carbs, he is solid muscle.  He has a six pack for a stomach because all his muscles show...and he is strong...very strong.

He has been praying for himself to want to try new foods.  He is very focused on becoming stronger for sports and is highly motivated to build his muscles.  In the last week, he started, albeit slowly, eating the entire apple...instead of having me cut the skin off and without peanut butter {shocker!} The last two weeks he has asked Babe after practice if he could try pizza.  The first time was a stepping off point and tonight he ate 1/4 of a piece!  This is HUGE!  Text-worthy...PICTURE-worthy!

Right after I received the text, I got a phone call from Babe's cell.  It was JLS' sweet little voice.  "Mom.  Will you put money in my lunch account at school?"  Sure.  "Mom.  I can eat lunch at school now!  I like pizza!"

Bless his sweet little heart.  He has arrived.

A Direct Line

As we were making our weekly trek to the allergist's office for allergy shots, the boys were doing their weekly thing...singing and dancing with a touch of arguing in the back of the car.  I had just hung up with Babe on my cell phone when I hear WHS' sweet little voice.

"Mom.  You got Jesus' number on dat phone?"  I thought I heard him correctly, but it was so funny I had to confirm.  "What did you say, baby?"  "You have Jesus' number on dat phone?"  At that point the big boys started to laugh and WHS got self-conscious and retreated.  I always worry that I don't "seize the moment" enough with my kids so I stopped the laughter and preached on.  It was one of several precious conversations about Jesus with my kids this week in the car.  I love how the influence trickles down to WHS.  JLS has been very inquisitive about Heaven and Hell, God and Satan, so we have had some good discussion as we have driven all over town.  WHS is so impressionable by his big brothers.  It shows he's thinking, too!

It was, of course, after a long discussion about no movies unless we are on long trips.  So grateful for those rules.  If all we had were movies, we would have missed out on some great and meaningful conversation!

BD is in da House!

Last weekend, I was sitting at WHS's soccer game watching WHS play 3 yo soccer, {always entertaining} wishing  I could be watching JBS play Flag Football at the same time, but his field was too far away.  It hit me that the next weekend would be opening day for JLS' baseball.  We would need to be three places at one time and there are only two of us!  It just so happened that it seemed to be grandparent day at WHS' soccer game and I started to wish myself closer to home.  WHY can't I be close enough to home that my kids' grandparents can just "pop by" for the game?  Or help us be three places at one time?  So I did what any baby in the family would do.  I called my dad and asked him to come see us the next weekend :)

He hemmed and hawed, as I expected, and he called me three hours later to tell me he had booked his flight.  I knew he wanted to come.  It is usually my mom that will zip down for a weekend, but this was a sports-packed weekend and I knew Big Daddy would want to see the boys play their sports.  Not to mention, we are talking about a retired pilot.  All he has to do is flash his badge at the Tulsa airport and they bow to him and carry him on the plane.  Not really.  But, they do love him and he does fly free, so why not "pop over" for a game?

"Pop" he did and we were all so excited to have him!  He got to see JLS play baseball, JBS play Flag Football and WHS "play" soccer.  It was, however, very cold for Houston.  I was wrapped in a blanket for all of those games.  We brought blankets, coats, mittens and hats.  Unfortunately, Big Daddy forgot his hat, but found comfort in his puppy blanket turban.  A site for sore eyes.

BD is also a big fan of fried chicken, so we took him to our recent discovery in Houston of excellent southern fried chicken.  Then, we came home to crash and watch a movie.  I am pretty sure a good time was had by all!  Come back soon, Big Daddy!

Rodeo Day

Here in Houston, the last week of February generally kicks off the 3 week long Houston Rodeo.  It is a BIG deal.  The first day would be GO TEXAN Day and everyone under the Houston sun wears their best duds, boots, hats....all of it.  To work, to school, to play.  And, as you might guess, it's no working ranch attire, it is full-on Texas duds.  The most expensive skinned boots for the men, embroidered for the women, the fabulous turquoise jewelry.  It is like getting ready for a western ball.

Go Texan Day was last Friday and I failed to get a pic of the big boys...bummer!  However, today, WHS' school is celebrating Rodeo Day.  They turn their "Great Room" into a rodeo scene with calf roping, hay bailing, games, trail mix making...loads of fun.  WHS was ecstatic.  For WHS wearing his boots is an every day event.  He is a boot man.  But today, he got to wear his cowboy hat, too.  And did he ever look handsome.

Last night we were up late with JLS' first baseball game of the season.  As WHS asks every night, "Do I go to school T'morning? or is it a Mommy-Willie Day?"  Let's dissect that entire question.  T'Morning ranks up there with starbabies {strawberries} and clo {a single clothing item} from Go-Go and Enchila-la from JBS.  Our entire house now refers to "Tomorrow Morning" as T'Morning and you would be amazed at how many times we use it!  It's a fantastic contraction!

The Mommy-Willie Day.  OH, how I LOVE the Mommy-Willie Days and so does he!  In fact, I love them so much, it is under consideration to keep him out an extra day next year just so we can have more time together.

Just as his big bro, JLS, always says as he is squeezing the life out of WHS.  "Mom!  I just love him so much.  I can't stop hugging him!"  He is definitely one that you can't let go of.  Please, please, Lord, keep him at three.  Three is so good!

Jake is NINE!

How do these birthday's keep slipping by?  Today, I put JBS' cowboy boots on.  I was sitting down looking at them thinking, "Those look like they could fit me!'  I slipped them on my feet and they were TOO BIG!  If I were trying them on in a store I would ask for a half size smaller.  My baby wears bigger shoes than me....and he is NINE years old!!

JBS was determined to have a Dodgeball and Kickball party.  So that we did!  While my camera didn't get such great pics (not ME, of course...the camera.), it was an indoor play pin for 15 2nd grade boys.   The most precious part is that every single one of his friends so sweetly included JLS like he was one of the boys and EVER so sweetly, allowed WHS to play every game without hurting him.  They let him think he was a rock star.  He is, of course!

The only pictures in the gym that remotely turned out...

Jake asked me to make a homemade cookie cake...of which I have never done.  However, I do believe it was one of the best cookie cakes I have had.  Truly!  

The 2nd grade boys are a really great group of boys.  Blessed to have these boys as JBS' friends.  Great kids with great families.

 And the Happy Birthday song!  It was a wonderful day for my sweet 9 year-old!

Happy Birthday Baby JBS!