Creative Writing

I love to write and guess I have for most of my life. When I was in elementary school I enjoyed being in writing competitions every year (U.I.L. for those of you who know what that is). So now that Coleman can write, I really get a kick out of reading his stories! Here is his latest that he did for the 100th day of school. His assignment was to write about what he would be like at 100 years old. I'm going to go ahead and correct some of his spelling so you don't have to think too hard! Oh, and Zita is his best friend in his class.


When I am 100 years old I will be rich and never hafe to work agine. I will play bingo with Zita. I will take vidamins. I will hit my wife's dog with my cane when he sneaks food from the pantry. I will wear glasis. I will have a wide screen t.v. that is 80 feet long! I will live in a skyscrapr and I will own it and all my frends will live in it!

My Baseball Boys

This weekend Coleman's coach asked if Spence would like to be the team's bat boy. Brian and I weren't really sure. Spence has never shown much interest in the game and likes to bring toys and play with the other kids. But Spence said he'd like to do it. He was pretty excited and even made sure to tell Allie all about his duties! So Coach gave him a team shirt and hat, I let him wear Coleman's old baseball pants, and he was set for tonight's game! Our team was in the outfield first, so I was a little concerned that Spence would get bored and wish he was out of the dugout and could play with his friends. But he hung in there, and when our team got up to bat, he proved to be the best (and most cutest) bat boy First Colony Little League has ever seen!

Here's the proof of cuteness!

Running fast to get that bat!

Look at that hustle!

Way to go bat boy!

Is everyone now convinced that he is the most awesome and adorable bat boy in the entire world? There was one photo that I'm still kicking myself for not getting: Coleman was running home and Spence was there picking up a bat. Unfortunately I was busy telling another parent that yes, the concession stand did in fact have blue Powerade. I'll try to focus better next time.

OK, enough about the bat boy for now. Coleman had a great game! He got two hits and two runs.

Run run run!

Heading for 2nd

And this cracks me up! I was hoping to get a picture of him sliding into home, but you can see that he hasn't even reached home plate yet and he's trying to pick up the bat. He's stepping into his little brother's territory there.

We're so glad Daddy can get to the games in time to help out as third base coach or in the dugout.

Couldn't be prouder of our A's!

Being Thankful

This morning I noticed that Spence, Allie, and I were all wearing stripes. I started to get all crazy and make Coleman go change and tell Brian what to wear, but I chilled and went to find the camera. Yay for pretty Spring days!

Trying extra hard to look super sweet!

OK, this looks more natural!

Family Picture

So this past week I got the helpful kick in the butt I've been needing to get back on track with my healthy eating and consistent exercise: Are you expecting? Seriously I thought everyone got the memo that you no longer ask that unless a girl is wearing a shirt with an arrow pointing to her belly and the word "baby" across it. But really, I'm so thankful I got asked this. I needed that push to get back in gear! I thanked God that this person asked me that. (And I prayed that she didn't feel too bad about it.) And lately I've been practicing thanking God for everything. At first it feels strange, but after you get into it, it feels great! During Spring break week I had a little medical thing goin' on that had me laid out on the couch. Brian had to take off work and my Mom ended up coming to take care of us for about 3 days. I truly had a decision to make: wallow in pity (and that can be such fun, right?) or praise God. I have not always chosen option #2, but this time I did and it made so much difference. He is amazing! I hope I can always remember that. So if you hear me complaining, please remind me!

A True Picture

So often I don't take pictures because the house is a wreck, the kids' hair is messy, or they aren't even fully dressed. So after dinner tonight when we were eating popsicles outside I thought, "If only their faces were wiped off and Allie was wearing pants, I could take some pictures and post them." Then I realized that those pictures with clean faces, matching outfits, and combed hair are nice, but don't really show a true picture of what life looks like around here. So I went and got the camera and snapped away! These aren't pictures that will end up framed and hanging on our walls, but they capture our everyday life: messy and fun! So enjoy these "true to life" pictures. Oh, and ignore the garbage can in the background, pizza sauce on faces, and lack of clothing. Hey, pants are optional!

The best way to welcome Spring: popsicles in the driveway





"Hey kids, stand by that tree and smile" seemed simple enough, but proved to be quite a challenge.

Happy Spring everyone!

Belated Birthday Goes Underground

Since Coleman had basketball games all through January and February, we had to wait on celebrating his birthday. We knew an entire Saturday was needed for this year's celebration: caving! We chose to go to Natural Bridge Caverns north of San Antonio. It was definitely worth the wait!

Coleman, Spence, and their friend Matt ready for the 3 1/2 hour car ride!

No trip to San Antonio is complete without a stop at Buc-ee's in Luling, TX!

After a few stops and a few more hours, we arrived at the cave, ready to explore!

After celebrating Spence's birthday with two friends at Space Center Houston and now Coleman's birthday with one friend at the cave, I'm really liking these special outing birthdays. You get to go somewhere really fun and don't have to plan a birthday party! Win, win! But don't get me wrong, I'm already making plans for Allie's Dora the Explorer party which will be in 3 months. I've done the big theme parties for both the boys, next is my baby girl's turn!

Field Trip Day

This past Tuesday Spence's class went to one of our favorite field trip destinations: Bayou Wildlife Park. We had a great day!

Spence's sweet class

I think I'll put this picture by my bedside so when I wake up at 6:00 and don't want to exercise, I'll be inspired to get up and do it anyway!

I bent down to take a picture of the lovely pig and felt something pulling on my back pack. Mr. Goat was trying to eat it!

Can't wait to go back with Allie in a year or two!

Don't You Like to Laugh?

Does anyone not like to hear funny things kids say? I can't imagine that would be so. Here's what my munchkins were sayin' today! (Some names have been changed to protect the disgusting.)

Coleman: Wally likes to burp in my face at lunch.
Mommy: Yuck. Did you tell him that's gross and to stop?
Coleman: Nah, I didn't want to ruin his day.

Spence: When you fart, do you have to change your pants?

Another quote from Spence, who just got some interesting toys called S.L.U.G. Zombies. Who comes up with this stuff? They actually have some funny names: A Pharoah zombie named King Guts, an astronaut called Neil Armgone, and our beloved 15th President - Grave Lincoln. Anyway, we were playing Police guys vs. Zombies today and Spence said, "These zombies think they're the best zombies in town."

We were walking to pick up Coleman from school.
Allie: There's an orange school bus!
Spence: I like the white ones.
Mommy: Yeah, we don't see many of those around here.
Spence: They're sometimes bad guy buses. They might start shooting from the windows.
Mommy: (a little puzzled) Well, they wouldn't have guns. You know they're bad guys that are in prison, right?
Spence: Oh!
He thought they were bad guys driving around town, I guess looking for people to terrorize! I can always count on my Spencey for good material!

And be sure to keep going to see pictures of Coleman's baseball game!

Go A's!!!

The first Spring baseball game was tonight! Coleman had fun, but was a little disappointed that he didn't get a hit. His first at bat, he made contact almost every swing though. I think he's going to do great! Now that he's in a younger league that plays on a field with no lights, his games start earlier - like 5:00! It was awesome to have Brian home at 4:30 to come with us! Brian even got to step in as 3rd base coach.

Our little A

Lookin' good batter! (And 3rd base coach!)

Not impressed with outfield (yes, this was during the game)

So Coleman has to find ways to entertain himself while playing center field, but he tore it up as short stop! I forgot how much Spence and Allie love being at the ball field! Last season there were lots of little boys, but this season it's all about the girls! Allie made lots of friends.

New friends with baby dolls,barbies, and goldfish, and playing under the bleachers. What more could a girl ask for?

Spence reaching new heights

Practicing My Positives

Instead of complaining about the high humidity we've been having here in lovely Southeast Texas, I'm going to practice thinking positively:

• My skin is not dry in the least!
• My Chi flat iron was a wise investment.
• I'm getting a jump start on "manning-up" for summer.
• My precious baby girl's curls look amazing!!!

OK, so really I just wanted to show you this picture. I love that curl on the right side. We even had another Shirley Temple comment today!