Happy St. Patrick's Day

Here is a picture of my Gram, my aunt Judie and my cousins Ryan and Amy this past weekend!

Today is such a special day for our family. Ever since I was little I can remember getting dressed all in green, eating green food and fun parties. My mom's side of the family have passed this tradition down - and no one better than Gram! She has a big St. Patrick's Day week, she has been the marshal in the Kansas City Brookside parade, she sends out hundreds of St. Patrick's Day cards, she even has a room at her house call "The Irish Room" - green carpet and all. It is such a fun day! It is hard living in Corpus Christi on a day like today when people look at your weird for being all decked out in green. My mom ended up having to mail me some stuff for the kids because there isn't much in Corpus for this holiday. This day holds so many wonderful memories and I can't wait to pass this tradition down to our kids!

Growing up in Tulsa my parents would get us out of school early and we would host a big St. Patrick's Day parade at our house - the fire trucks would lead it and all the families would follow behind with signs, bikes and banners. Jennie and Matt have a huge St. Patrick's day party every year, Megan and Chris do and well - we have had one and then tried another one that included a parade and it was a BUST. So today I thinking of all my family and friends having a blast while we eat green pancakes and deck out in green here in Corpus Christi!

Little Miss Kickball

Lucy just started her first year of kickball. She is on the Starfish team. It is a group of 9, 3-5 yr old little girls. It has already become such a highlight in our week. Adam is assisting the coach and I am not sure who loves it more, Adam or Lucy. They have had 2 practices, one in which Adam and Lucy just went and the last practice our entire family went. Lola is convinced she is on the team too. They let her kick and run the bases and then she was ready to play on the slide. We went to Academy this weekend and let the girls pick out "workout" outfits as they call them. There is not a huge selection for kids this small - but we got cleats, shorts, tanks and of course headbands to keep their hair out of their face. The first game is on my dad's birthday March 24 with opening ceremonies and all. It is an 8 game season. We will keep you posted on how the season goes!

In line to practice kicking

Slide time!

Priceless - hands on hip waiting to figure out what to do

Lucy's turn to kick!

Running the bases

Lola running the bases

Adam practicing with Lucy

Hey baby let's go to Vegas!

Adam and I just got back from a quick get away to Vegas with our best buddies the Milams. Milam is a leap day baby and so the calendar only lands on his birthday once every 4 years. 4 years ago when he had his 7th birthday we told each other that on his 8th birthday we would "go big". That we did - we shuffled our kids to grandparents and jetted to Vegas Tuesday -Thursday. It was an awesome trip, fun bonding and memories I will pull out of my pocket when the Milams are in Houston and we are missing them.

We were so excited to stay at the Billagio - Oceans Eleven anyone?

Dinner done right! HB Milam!

Here we are the first night out - an amazing dinner, fun friends and a little gambling (ok a lot!)

My girl! Brooke is so fun and makes me laugh so much. She is the most thoughtful person on the planet, she cracks me up and it the best shopper ever - her taste is unreal! We had so much fun being away and having girl talk - without interruption which is rare!

My cute husband in front of our hotel!

The challenge was snapping a good picture of both boys at the same time

see - I couldn't get it!

I snapped this right before Adam hit it big!!!

I thought this would be my lucky hat - but one thing I learned I am a terrible gambler. It is too hard to see money leaving my hand without getting a cute shirt in exchange.

Serendipity!

It tasted as good as it looks!

Birthday dinner! Amazing food but better company!

Have I mentioned how much I love my husband?!?!

After dinner we went to see "O" the famous show in Vegas. It was unreal what they did, the art work creativity and the magic...unfortunately, we had full stomachs, were in a warm dark theatre and had been up for hours before the show began, with that said...Milam, Brooke and I all snagged a cat nap (or 2) while the show was going on. Adam was close but hung in there for us to give us the recap.

Potty Trained!!

We can officially say Lola is potty trained! She is 2 years and 2 months. It is almost the exact time Lucy was potty trained. We are so proud of her because really it has been all her! She was the one that said she was ready and really every morning says "panties please". She has been wearing panties for about 2 weeks and the accidents are few and far between. We have been able to get out and about, shop, go out to eat and this week she has gone to school with panties! 2 down 1 to go!

Sneaky Ice Cream

So apparently we have the craziest ice cream ever. I went to put Hank to sleep and the girls were finishing their dinner. I hear squeals down stairs "Mom come quick". Then I hear Lucy say to Lola "This is going to be funny". Well here is the story in the girls words: "Mom this ice cream just jumped out of the fridge and onto the counter and asked us to eat it, can you believe it?"

Hard to believe but if that ice cream did all that work we might as well try some. The more creative you are the more you get away with I guess!

The girls visit the dentist!

The girls had a visit to the dentist today and did fantastic! I was excited for them because our dentist is so awesome I thought they would have fun! The hygentist they clearned thier teeth with cookie dough paste was so good to them and when they were finished neither of them wanted out of the chair. They were so brave and as Lucy said opened" as wide as an alligator". Dr. E is amazing!! It was a great experience all the way around!

Papa Newt has arrived and we are busy!

My dad came this past week and we had such a big visit with him. I am so bummed out though because we spent an entire day in San Antonio at the children's museum which is the greatest place to take kids and my disk in my card broke so I only have pictures from my phone of his visit - boo.

Anyway - we did so much. He arrived on Thursday and the girls and I picked him up on the way home from Mother's Day out - we played with him the rest of the night until all 3 kids and my dad fell asleep. Friday my dad and I drove with the kids to San Antonio and played at the kids museum the entire day. The best part - the grocery store which I think the girls played in for about 3 hours total. They loved it. Hank's favorite part was the mirrored room. He loved seeing himself and practiced getting up on all 4's to crawl - it was the perfect space for this. He was total worn out!! We visited the H&G show on Saturday and went to church, Adam & my dad golfed on Sunday, Monday I had a dr app and my dad made the kids their own shopping store with all of our recycled things - they LOVE IT!!! I do too - it is easy clean up and they shop the entire time I prepare dinner!!! WE have it in little cabinets, they make lists and go after it! While I was gone my dad also painted the girls nails - what a treat for a grandpa to do that. HE stayed home with all 3 kids and did great!!! Tuesday was Sesame Street Live - which was the highlight!

He is the best guest - so easy and go with the flow - helpful and awesome with the kids. I love you Dad I am so lucky to have you in my life and for our kids to have you as a Papa Newt (toot). Thank you for taking time to come spoil all of us! There is no one like you - a true one of a kind!

Sesame Street Live! - Lola was yelling and really loving singing out loud!

Lucy studied the entire show - just like last year. She would pick out specific parts and ask questions. She was great at following the story line. She had a blast!

Mr. Hank - was so chill the entire show and then conked out! He was easy and great at his first live show!

Lola and her "coo glasses"

Lola shopping in SA - "just one more thing" - we heard that several times.

Lucy (pregnant Lucy if you look close) shopping at the store Papa Newt made

Papa Newt and Hank Snuggling!

A little paint project!! Always turns into this - but that is what most of the fun is about!