Our Fantasy

As the football season looms before us (can I hear an 'amen!'), Scott and I are once again playing fantasy football. This year I am not the only girl! August, Derek's wife, is playing with us. We had our live draft at our house the other evening, and I must say that I am very proud of the team that I drafted.

I had the number one pick of the entire draft, and of course, I went with LaDainian Tomlinson. I just hope he doesn't get hurt in the first week of the season!

Incidentally, Scott had the second pick of the draft. Now, it may seem to you conspiracy theorists out there that this draft was rigged; but you are wrong, my friends. The draft order was selected by an independent consulting firm to guarantee fairness. Actually, one of Scott's co-workers picked names out of a coffee mug. Does it matter that Scott paid him $5 to pick our names first?

Just Jack

I have to post this pic of Jack... he's just so cute!

Putting the Son-in-Law to Work

My parents quite a bit of land: around 22 acres. Some of that land they mow on a regular basis (most of the land they have cut and baled). Mowing their property can take over 5 hours, so it's a major undertaking. For some reason, Scott has expressed interest in jumping on the tractor and helping out with the mowing. So he got his wish on Sunday, before we headed into Houston.





After Scott had been on the tractor for a while, Cade wanted to help. Cade helped steer the tractor before coming in and proclaiming that he was "hot, sweaty, and gross."

Caedmon's Call

On Sunday, Scott and I went into town after lunch to visit Scott's brother Steve and his fiancee Maria at their new, beautiful house in Pearland. We got to hang out with them for a while and gawk in awe at their two huge Great Danes (We're pretty sure Jack could walk under Sampson, who may not be full grown yet).

And then it was time to go hear some great music. We have been huge fans of the Christian band Caedmon's Call for many years now. In fact, Cade's full name is Caedmon (he's partially named after the band, partially named for the Saint from whom the band got their name). Caedmon's Call is releasing their newest CD, Overdressed, and they held a CD release concert in their hometown of Houston. It was an open seating event, with around 400 people there. AND WE WERE IN THE FRONT ROW!!! Saying that this concert was awesome and amazing is an understatement. Scott and I didn't want to leave after the show. We just stood there, watching the band and roadies pack up the gear. Amazing.

This was the first time that Scott & I have seen Caedmon's Call in concert. And, I guess I'm just cynical and jaded; I expect to be a little disappointed when I hear people play in person. I assume that there has been a lot of doctoring in the studio. But not with this band. They sounded like they do on their CDs. The vocals, drums, percussion, guitars, everything. Just superb. I am an even bigger fan now.

A Road Trip to Port Arthur

Saturday morning, we did our best to get up and get out the door to head down to Port Arthur, which is where my Dad's family lives. The original goal was to leave around 8 AM, but we didn't actually leave until around 10 AM. Claire had had a pretty bad night, and so everyone was merciful and let me sleep in til around 9.

We loaded up the minivan with all seven of us and headed East on I-10. Once we were well East of Houston, Cade made a pit-stop request; he had to go pee. OK! So we pull over at the next exit, and Scott took Cade in to do his business. They came back out and reported that their mission had been accomplished. We loaded Jack back into the van as well (we needed to let our ball of energy out and exercise his legs) and took off again.

Not 2 minutes had gone by when we heard another peep from the peanut gallery: "Um, I need to go poo poo." WHAT?!??!?? We just stopped so you could go pee!!! Why didn't you say something then?

We were already way behind schedule (remember, we had left 2 hours later than we originally intended), but when you have to go, you gotta go. So we pulled over at the next exit and Scott took Cade into a less than clean bathroom. Cade noted that someone had 'painted' the bathroom; Scott was just relieved that Cade couldn't read what some people had 'painted' on the bathroom walls.

After about 10 minutes of sitting, Scott told Cade to put back his pants on, it was time to go. They were walking back out of the convenience store when Cade said, "Daddy, I have to go poo poo!" So back they went to the cess pool. 10 minutes later, they emerged from the establishment, mission accomplished. We got back on the road.

We finally made it to Port Arthur, somewhere around 2 PM. Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa had no idea that we were coming, so it was a fantastic surprise! We got to introduce Claire to her great grandparents...





and the boys got to show off their silly faces, drawing skills, and general charm.






Before we left, we got a picture of the four generations (Great Grandpa is 98 years old!).

Down on the Farm

We went down to my parents place this past Friday for some family time and some great music...

Surprise!

Tonight, we (along with some friends of ours from our Bible study group) surprised our great friends Andrew & Nikki with a not-very-old washer & dryer to replace their old, dead ones. Nikki had been going to the laundromat to do the laundry for their five person household. And since she just started a new job teaching a math class at her kid's new school, Nikki does not have time to do that. So we got some money together and was able to purchase a friend's very nice washer & dryer set at a ridiculous price and surprise Andrew & Nikki!






Unfortunately, Nikki was not home when we all came over to surprise them with the new appliances; she was at the laundromat!

He's Definitely Two

Our sweet little Jack Jack. He is such a character these days. And he's learning so much too. He knows his numbers, points out all kinds of things to us, and loves to run and play like a big boy. But boy is he two years old.

Jack can go from happy to tantrum and back to happy in under a minute. It's really pretty amazing (and exhausting) to watch. I took the following pictures during one of Jack's numerous meltdowns today. Can't remember what this one was particularly about, but trust me, it wasn't a big deal.




This is usually how one of Jack's meltdowns occur:

• the fun starts with his arms raised out like he's wanting to be picked up.
• he then calls for Maw Maw
• then he curls the sides of tongue up
• then he runs from the room saying 'no, no, no' over and over again.
• he then reappears back in the room, again saying "no, no, no"
• at this point he may collapse on the floor and suck his thumb; he also may throw himself on the couch (he's very dramatic)
• by this time, you can sometimes distract him with something great like lemonade, Blue's Clue's, or pinching your nose and saying "honk, honk" (for some reason, that last one really gets him laughing)
  

Unfortunately I was not able to get a picture of Jack curling his tongue. It is pretty weird to see him doing that at the same time his big brown eyes are filling with tears.

Picassos

Cade & Jack love to draw, color, and paint. So today we got out the crayons for Jack...




and the watercolors for Cade.






Jack mainly puts a few simple marks on the page and says, "done." Cade, on the other hand, was trying to draw Bambi, also the title of his new favorite movie du jour.


on a completely unrelated sidenote, if I were Dan Quayle, would I have spelled Picassos with an "e" after the "o"?

Frantlings?!?

It has come to my attention that I should explain what "frantlings" are. Let me tell you what "frantlings" isn't:

• It's not my maiden name.
  
• It's not what Jack just did his diaper.
  
• It's not Hillary's idea for pulling out of Iraq.
  

It's actually a word that Scott & I stumbled upon while playing the great board game Beyond Balderdash with our friends Matt & Shannon Blackwell. For the life of us, we can't remember what the exact definition of frantlings is, but we sure remember how much we laughed about the word itself. That evening produced such classics as, "Ouch, I think I just pulled my frantlings!" and, "Were you just looking at my frantlings?"

Don't bother googling "frantlings," because you'll just come across this blog and Scott's old blog. Have fun using the word "franlings" and amazing your friends with your stellar vocabulary!

This Blog is No Longer G-Rated

APB: we have a streaker among us. i was lucky enough to get a picture of him. if you see this incredibly cute, chunky toddler around, please contact the authorities. he is dangerously cute.

last seen: Running circles in our home, waiting for his bath water to fill the tub. Was carrying apple juice in his sippy cup. Was muttering something about "to infinity and beyond" as he ran. His belly jiggled like a bowl full of jelly.



By the way, be glad that I didn't post a picture of Scott doing the same thing before his bath.

Sprinkler Fun

It's been so hot here that your skin melts when you walk outside. And since we have been under watering restrictions for over a year, we could never set the spinkler up outside so that the kids could play in it. Well finally, we are free to water as we please!!!

We went outside in the front yard and got things set up, and then let the kids play!












Actually, just Cade played. Jack was a little frightened of the sprinkler, so he was more of a spectator.




And then there's Cade striking a pose. Kind of a strange Saturday Night Fever sort of thing. He gets all of his moves from his daddy.

School's Still Out For Summer

Cade really can't wait until school starts. So once again, he wanted to get his new shoes and backpack on, don his hat and sunglasses, and go to school. Jack & Scott joined him in the fun, and they all attended school. Under our dining table.

Claire Bear -- All Smiles!

When you're the third kid, and you're an infant that doesn't move, speak, or draw much attention to yourself, then you tend to get a little left out on the family blog. Sorry Claire! Here are some really cute pics of our little petunia smiling her pretty smile. She's got a dimple!

You can Still Hear God

Something comical happened the other night when Scott was disciplining Cade. We were at the dinner table, and Cade did something that wasn't acceptable (I can't remember what he did). Scott grabbed Cade's ear to get his attention. It did the trick, as Cade stopped whatever it was that he was doing and was still. And, boy, Cade did not like the ear-grabbing one bit. After he calmed down, Cade voiced his concern that Daddy was going to tear his ear off and that, if that happened, he wouldn't be able to hear God anymore.

Scott and I just looked at each other in bewilderment. It's so hard not to laugh!

Busy Little Guys

The boys were coloring today, and they looked so cute sitting next to each other and working diligently on their art. Jack is in a big boy booster seat now when he sits at the table. No more highchair for him!




As our kids are hams, Cade posed for this goofy, cheesy pic!

The Countdown to School Has Begun

Cade, and thus by default Jack, is anxiously awaiting the beginning of school (mother's day out) to start. I sheepishly admit that I am anxiously awaiting its arrival as well.

Going back to school always means back-to-school shopping. Both boys needed new tennis shoes, and Jack needed a backpack. So we bought the boys tennis shoes (against their will, I must add -- "I don't like those. I don't want to wear them!") and we decided to give Jack Cade's Thomas backpack because it's small and won't make Jack fall over when he wears it. That meant Cade got a new backpack. Once he saw the Lightening McQueen pack, it was all over. He had to have it! So Maw Maw bought it for him.

Later that night, Jack saw his new tennis shoes and asked me to put them on him. He was already in his PJs for the night, but what the heck, I wasn't going to miss an opportunity to introduce him to the shoes he had protested earlier. So we put them on, and he proudly strutted around the house. Once Cade saw Jack with his shoes on, Cade had to put his new shoes on too! And then Cade also wanted his new backpack on. And of course, Jack then had to have his "new" backpack on as well. The boys pranced and paraded around the house with their new big boy things. They were so proud and excited! Cade even wanted to sleep with his backpack and new shoes on...

And today, jack wanted help putting his backpack on again. And then he wanted his hat and sunglasses too. He looks like such a big boy!

Mamma's Happy!

It's been nine years. Nine very long years. No, I'm not talking about how long Scott and I have been married (although we have been married for 9 years!!). No, I'm referring to a design tragedy. A decorating faux pax. I'm talking about nine years of suffering with not having a headboard/footboard on our bed.

It's always been a very simple affair: mattress (with more valleys and peaks than Dolly Parton), boxsprings, and bed frame. It almost looks like a bachelor's bedroom. Almost. At least we have a bed frame (Scott spent his college years on a mattress & box springs on the floor).

But thanks to the oh-so-wonderful Craig's List, we now have a real bed! A real bed, by golly! Mamma is so happy!

this is the headboard (the footboard is just like it)

an up close look at the finish

To Infinity & Beyond!

Children are such creatures of habit, aren't they? My kids definitely are. Especially when it comes to movies. Cade will get stuck on a single movie, and thus we watch this particular movie each day, day after day, for a month (maybe even longer). Currently, the movie du jour is the original Toy Story. Fortunately, it's a great movie, so I don't mind being subjected to it repeatedly. Since Jack usually takes a nap while Cade watches a show or movie, he doesn't get to see much TV. But occasionally, Jack-Jack has been able to watch Toy Story with Cade. And for whatever reason, Jack is fascinated with Buzz Lightyear. So he now walks around the house saying "to infinity... and beyond!", but it sounds more like "in finny an be yawn!" He also likes Scott to pick him like he is flying while he says the catchphrase; it produces a more realistic impersonation of Buzz, of course.

If you can't stand the heat...

... then get a pretend kitchen! Maw Maw bought the boys some dishes, skillets, and plastic food to play with since they wouldn't stop carrying around real cups and silverware! After a couple of hours of playing, we decided to make a stove/oven and a sink out of some boxes. Cade then cooked us dinner (a very healthy dish of donuts, french fries, and peas) in the oven and then served it to us.






jack jack got a little distracted and decided to head for the train tracks.

All Smiles

Claire has learned her first new trick! She can now smile. She is so cute!

Maw Maw is in town!

Maw Maw came in town today (there was much rejoicing by the 3' and under crowd).

our little claire bear




Maw Maw getting some Claire love.

The Kids Playing

We pulled out the butterfly gym today for Claire. She just loved looking up at all the toys hanging down. And of course the boys loved playing with 'their' new toy!

Claire playing.


Cade & Jack watching over their little sister.