Ears pierced and our trip to Houston

Since about May 15th (see post) I have been trying to talk Ashlyn into getting her ears pierced and finally Tuesday a week ago, she agreed. I was hoping we could have 2 employees simultaneously pierce both ears, but Ashlyn assured me that she could handle having one done at a time. I explained step by step what she could expect- this approach of full disclosure works well with her, and she did great! No tears, she just wanted to sit in my lap and she was very quiet. Her account of the experience was that she was told it would feel like a little pinch, but it felt like a big pinch.

One of Paul's younger sisters and her family recently moved to League City near Galveston. Last weekend was our niece Hannah's birthday party and was a perfect opportunity to go see their new house and make a trip to the beach. We also visited the Boardwalk which the kids loved. As for our day at the beach- even though it wasn't sunny we did miss most of the rain and had so much fun!!

picture post

I have LOTS of pictures from July that I haven't shared yet.

I am always taking pictures of the kids in their p.j.s- I think they look so cuddly in them.

mmmm blueberry pancakes! Gotta love IHOP.

Popsicles are now his favorite food, we have them nearly every night when we're home!

Some from the 4th of July...

Cousin Ethan (who I think Benjamin resembles) playing in the pouring rain... afterwards it would be bright and sunny again (happened twice)

the girl who did not want her picture taken

Ben reminds me a lot of Paul here-

pictures from a random hot SeaWorld day...

And then some from later that same day...

Ashlyn has taken it upon herself to help Paul with yardwork for the last several weeks. She is dedicated- she stays out there and helps him the ENTIRE time!

from one of our Austin visits... Ashlyn likes to tell people "sometimes we live in a hotel."

They both think it is hysterical to hide in the closet.

In the NEW carseat! He puts his sunglasses on himself...

...and then gets very upset after he throws them down

I still just love that Ashlyn can buckle herself into her carseat!!

Separate occassion- Nothing sweeter than a sleeping baby.

why do kids want to be outdoors ALL day? even when it is over 100 degrees out!?

Aunt Kari found a kitten in Grandma's attic

Ashlyn was in heaven... until we had to go home.

But...

when Kari found two more, we had to go back over to Grandma's again. Ashlyn named the light gray one Skittles, Payton named the striped one Nemo, and Ethan named the orange one Garfield.

If anyone want a cute little kitten, let us know!

My vacation at The Phoenician

Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday I was here at The Phoenician in Scottsdale, AZ with Paul.

He was there for business and I was there for a vacation. The kids stayed in San Antonio with the in-laws so I got to have a lot of time all to myself.

Monday night we gad a leisurely swim after having a fancy dinner.

Tuesday I slept in late. Fortunately my internal clock was still on TX time- Arizona is 2 hours behind so I woke up with the clock reading 7:30am.

I had a quick breakfast with Paul before he headed out to work, afterwards I hit the gym

The fitness center:

It was awesome! I forgot how much fun it was to workout without any time constraints. In the early afternoon I headed to the spa and got the BEST massage I have ever had! If I ever make it back there, I will be sure to have another massage and ask specifically for Dawn.

The Spa:

the rest of the afternoon was spent at the pool. I thought I might be able to nap, but it was too hot even in the shade!

One of the many pools:

This is what we could see as we left our "Casita."

Wednesday was a bittersweet day because we had to leave, but we were ready to see the kids again. We had our breakfast at the 19th hole of the golf course- lovely. We also managed to make it to the gym and the pool before we had to checkout.

The hotel was just GORGEOUS and I hope to make it back there someday! I feel like new person after all that R&R.

Patriotic?

We had a fun 4th of July, we packed a lot of fun into one day. Then this evening at bathtime we were singing USA songs, and "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" was the only America-themed song that Ashlyn knew well enough to sing along. I know that is sad- we will work on it. Anyway, she has misunderstood a word and it was so funny to me - I like it enough that I may not correct her:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jryGajzTYLc

Working Hard in Austin

Paul isn't the only one working hard in Austin now... I have not been forthcoming enough to write in my blog that we are NOW going to move to Austin. We have been spending our weekends helping my grandmother by renovating my late great-grandmother's home and in exchange we will be able to live there while our current home is on the market and until we find our new home. My goal is to be there and be settled in before Preschool starts up for Ashlyn.

My sweet little brothers have seriously shocked me with how helpful they can be! The youngest one has some experience with this sort of work and has essentially been the contractor, with my Dad as the consultant. The other brother has enlisted the help of his girlfriend and they have really been work-horses. Nobody is even making me beg (yet)- the past 2 weekends they have voluntarily sacrificed their entire Saturdays to help us! Both Paul's and my parents have been keeping the kids while we work, which may be the hardest of the jobs. We are so thankful to them all!

On Fridays, prep work included boxing up Mama's belongings so that the family can go through them together at the next gathering. For the actual work on the house, the plan was to start at the top and work our way down: ceilings, then walls, then floors, then the bathrooms and kitchen. Thankfully we have so many helping hands that the phases are overlapping. Labor began with scraping ceilings- MESSY work that Ryan started and he "apprenticed" Paul well enough that he has taken that job over. There is only one room left to scrape, Paul is a pro now! Eric and Ali have been priming all the scraped ceilings and even got so far ahead that they started painting walls. My mom painted an entire room too. Ryan has been doing all sorts of other jobs that I never would have known to do on my own. I think I have been working too although I have not had a project all to myself... I dabble. Well, I do the shopping and some decision-making (bossing) which are some of my favorite things.

I have not been doing tremendously well at taking pictures of our progress, not that this is interesting to anyone other than family... Here is what I do have, they are all from our first work weekend so the rooms look even more different now, and sorry but they are only from one room & the entry. These are for you Sharon:


from the next week after the dust had settled: Notice Benjamin showing off in this picture by putting his foot in his mouth. No, he does not weigh 20lbs yet (so close though!) and that is why he is in the carrier still although I am sure he exceeded the length recommendation long ago. We traditionally use it only as a carseat and don't usually carry him around in it, but in this case we didn't want him getting into anything. It is like a weighted straight jacket of sorts, keeps him out of trouble.

Anyway, the work has been fun to do so far. Paul and I have been enjoying spending time working together and with family. Much has been accomplished, but there is still SO much more work to be done!! We hope it won't take too TOO much longer; we may lose our volunteers if we stretch this out too long or make them work too hard!