This time eight years ago I was getting ready to say “I do.”  Obviously it was an amazing day – and incredibly hot.  I’ll never forget our so called “friends” dumping the entire bucket of birdseed on our heads so that it stuck to our bodies on the long drive from Tyler to Dallas.  They also dumped another bucket of birdseed into our luggage.  Love those friends.  To this day we still find little pieces of birdseed in the crevices of that luggage. 

Anyone who knows Clay knows that he is amazing as a husband, father and friend.  And if you don’t know him – you’re missing out on the most genuine, smartest, funniest, and talented man.  Babe – I love you.  Happy 8th anniversary!

This time last year – not a curl in sight at 6 months for Ray-Ray

Ethan’s mission today was to build a time machine so we could travel to outer space and find Phineas and Ferb (Ethan’s favorite tv show) on their rocket.  Here’s what you need to make it:

baby monitor
several plastic tools
dad’s ipod headphones
2 small baskets
Sonic ruler
restrained sister
huge imagination

Throw in a fake smile for good measure and this is what you get:

…on the run…halfway out the door with a long list in my pocket.
 
 

This week has included 5 days of night VBS, taking sweet friends with us to VBS, making cookies, practicing skits, preparing lessons (I had 23 1st-2nd graders!), working up at school to get things ready for next month, grocery shopping, gymnastics, Clay has been to Baltimore and back, spent a morning at the zoo for Allison’s birthday, getting birthday presents bought and wrapped, and watching hours upon hours of wonderful Olympics.  Ethan and I had a lunch date Wednesday and we went to his all-time favorite restaurant – Luby’s.  Olympic swimming was on the tv by the checkout and Ethan said, “Oh mommy, your favorite show is on!”  I might need to join a support group. 

E, Lauryn & Jack before VBS

Looking down the education hall

Clay’s wonderful contribution to my 1st-2nd grade room

Rachel loving bubbles in her classroom

At the zoo with A & L

A small glimpse into how happy Rachel was when Clay surprised us at VBS after an early flight back home (I’m pretty sure I’ve never received a reception like this)

Ethan on the stage for the final program (we’ve declared mohawks “in” for summer)
 

Rachel loves going incognito.  She actually cracks me up multiple times a day.  A lot of times I’m cracking up because she’s cracking herself up.  Does that make sense?  Here’s a sampling…

In honor of Miss Incognito’s 18 month milestone, here are 18 random things about her:

1.  She would eat Yo Baby yogurt for every meal if we’d let her
2.  She does not like to be rocked, cuddled, hugged, etc. before bed – just put her down and leave her alone
3.  She talks my ear off (this is very new and funny to us – I saw a post from when Ethan was 18 months old and I recorded that he said 8 words)
4.  She asks for Clay a zillion times a day – she’ll go around the house pointing at pictures of him and whining for him
5.  She’s very into babies and strollers
6.  She LOVES to dance
7.  Her favorite word is “mine”
8.  Her favorite animal is the hippo…or “poepoe”
9.  She calls her pacifier a “bie-bosh”…no clue
10.  She eats immediately after waking up – no diaper change, no good morning kiss – just food
11.  She’ll eat anything for breakfast, but prefers oatmeal and Life cereal
12.  Her hair gets curlier every day
13.  She loves sitting on the toilet, but hasn’t had any success
14.  We read about 100 books a day
15.  Besides books, her favorite pasttime is riding her rocking horse
16.  She pulls cereal out of the cabinet, takes it to her room, closes the door, and pours it all out on the floor for her snacking pleasure
17.  She gets very upset when things don’t go exactly her way
18.  She hates having her teeth brushed

I took her for her 18 month checkup yesterday and everything went well.  She weighs 23 pounds (30th percentile) and is 32 inches tall (55th percentile) and that big old head is still in the 90th percentile.  We’re so thankful to have a happy and healthy child who keeps things interesting around here.

Check out the toothless wonder (aka my niece) HERE!

We definitely believe in chores for the kids.  They may be a bit unconventional, but we like to cover all our bases.

Sweeping the grass

Keeping watch for any backyard pests

Milking the cows

Fighting fires

Mowing the sidewalk