MarriNott

The kids love staying at hotels or Jude calls it bedrooms, we are building up some Marriott Rewards and have had great experiences so far. We have definitely outgrown the 1 hotel room and 2 double beds doesn't fit a family of 6, but we snuggle up and make it work, because we are not paying for 2 rooms. I think we will take a couple sleeping bags in the future. Jude only fell out of bed 1x and it didn't seem to phase him, we had a gorgeous lake view in Dallas. It is so funny everytime we joke guess its only been 4x but we are at the VERY VERY END of the hall every time, (must have something to do with requesting a crib). The kids don't seem to mind, more room to do cartwheels and somersaults down the hall.

Legoland Dallas

With having 3 boys that are lego obsessed, I knew legoland would be a must. Also, riding in the car for 2 days for a gymnastics meet, I wanted the boys to have something special to do as well.

My pictures here pretty much stink, cause I only had a zoom lens, but they had a huge city built out of legos that was interactive, pretty amazing.

They had 2 rides that were a hit with my kiddos, reminded me of a toned down version of disneys buzz light year, shooting at various targets for points.


Kingston ironically decided to poop out a lego while we were at legoland, unbelievable timing! Also didn't know he swallowed it, a little concerning.

Oklahoma City National Memorial

We took a road trip to Dallas this last weekend and decided to stay Friday night in Oklahoma City. A few of my girlfriends have ran races here and recommended visiting the memorial, I am glad we did.

The fence was full of items/tokens of love and hope from loved ones for those lost in the bombing. Almost 17 years later, the little booties and pacifiers just tugged at my heart.
chairs represent the lives lost, little chairs for the little ones, so powerful

Reflecting pool is calming and beautiful, only 1 in deep! Kingston was on a mission to dive in.

The hard parenting questions the kids brought up like "why would someone do this". Across from the memorial is a statue of Jesus weeping with the verse "Jesus wept", Xander was quick to point out the shortest verse in the bible, maybe he is learning something at church :)



They have a children's area with oversized chalkboards where kiddos can express their feelings with a little art therapy

and some song therapy to go with :)

School Spirit gone Wild

Marlatt Elementary had some visitors you can watch here Marlatt Pep Rally, I was a little pumped after watching the video myself, bring on the testing!! Cole may be ready to transfer after viewing?

Besties

these two have play dates everyday in the backyard, they have so much in common

love

1.) outdoors

2.)balls

1st Annual Daddy Daughter Dance

Monroe was sooooo excited about this 1st annual event at the country club.I told her her that her dad and I danced there as well at our wedding reception 13 years ago, with the same dj Dave Lewis, time flies!

Land of Oz 3,4, 5

We packed the fam up at 6am Friday and headed to Wichita for one of the fun meets, Land of Oz. After falling on her first event bars, Monroe came back and did super on beam, vault and floor. One of the biggest groups she has had to compete in with 16 7 & 8 year olds.
With a fall, thinks she was pretty happy with 5th all around, loving the ruby red slipper trophy.

9.025 on floor = 4th place blonde in the background of video is a coach now Amber McCracken, pretty sure you competed against her Tia?

8.85 on vault = 3rd place, don't you love the crying baby in the background, Kingston was done by this time, he had been such a sport up until now.


What do you do with 3 other kids at a 4 hour gymnastics meet? Hang out in the halls and play with the water fountain and practice moves, AWESOME!

Thriller

I LOVE THIS! My sister and some fellow teachers performed the Thriller dance at Eisenhower Middle School assembly to get their kids ready for state assessments, its a little dark in parts but as you can hear the kiddos are going nuts. With all the redistricting hype, not sure who wouldn't want to send their kids to a school with teachers who put hours in to learning a dance to get their kids pumped up, great spirit, love love.

Preschool Portraits

We had conferences for the kiddos this week and finished with Jude's today. Mrs.Hinkle, Jude's preschool teacher who is AMAZING (and I try to recruit to teach Kindergarten every year) also taught the other two as well. As she went over Jude's profile and when she gave us his self portrait mentioned "this is not his expertise or his interest", yes he is definitely my child, no drawing talent whatsoever. I had to pull out Xander and Monroe's same self portrait drawn at the same time because we are supposed to compare our children right :)

Happy Birthday Mama!

Happy Birthday to my mom who I wish

lived closer

could talk to longer

hang out with more

makes me laugh

cleans, shops, cooks & sells better than anyone I know!

My funny valentine

The littles and I tried to make a snowman that collapsed so we made it into a heart. Lets just say the red faded to yellow and Roe wanted to know who peed on the snowman?

While I washed, cut and pierced fruit for Monroe's class (heart shaped strawberry kabobs from pinspiration) Jude entertained Kingston by wrapping him up in ribbon.


Had to get a quick pic, while I abandon our amazing room moms to lead the party, and took my unshowered self and distracting younger babes home.
Xander had to create his valentine box for a class contest and we actually copied another idea off the internet from a couple years ago, we made a few changes and had to go on a 2nd licorice run because Strudel ate the earpieces off.

1st place= a homework pass, 10 Field bucks & a big Hershey bar

Valentines 2012 in 1 hour...

thanks to announcements to ponder of course, makes my heart happy :)

Jude looks pretty ghostly in this, but they actually turned out super cute, best of all, no candy, a glowstick bracelet from Dollar tree.
Tried to talk this one into using airheads candy, but no had to go with a heart balloon, we filled with candy, this really works! I know the teacher is going to love the balloon popping going on.

(I originally saw this balloon candy idea that said "Valentine, you burst my bubble" or something like that)
printed on a 4x6 picture, 2 for 1.

I heart cinnamon rolls

One of my first recipes from pinterest that was a little bit successful, (have to use your imagination a bit to get the heart shape)

Baby its cold outside

= I can't go running
= I am cranky

Kung Fu Fighting/ Dancing

Krewe of Allegawaho Mardi Gras 1920's Style

The mask was a requirement which makes it difficult to figure out who people are. Ours were borrowed from previous years, and yes Tierra I still have your mask I will return from 2 years ago :)

We bought tickets to Mardi Gras after Travs parents agreed to babysit AGAIN and some dear old friends encouraged us to go with and wow it turned out to be super! The theme, venue, hairstyles, dresses, creativity, did I mention gorgeous dresses, what an awesome time, did I mention the dresses?! Unfortunately, didn't get to take pictures but Ms.Julie Krewe member got some good ones you can see here.

Strudelicious

had to post this of Strudel looking so innocent and sweet, pictures can be so deceiving.

God gave me you

for the ups and downs. Happy 37th to my hubby that I love & is pretty easy to kiss for 6 seconds!

Say Cheese!

A girlfriend at work told me about the new velveeta, yep this will definitely be in attendance for Superbowl Sunday.