Archive for July, 2011
Tim turned 21 on Friday. He has told us many many times that his favorite food is meatballs. So, for every special occasion [and sometimes just because], we’ve made him meatballs – after he and Kelsey got engaged, during parents’ weekend when we had Kelsey’s parents over, etc. etc., and now for his birthday dinner.
This is the beginning shot of the video Kevin took, which I don’t know how to upload to the blog. The kids are singing Happy Birthday – Carlee practiced singing to Tim all day. The kids also made him birthday cards and in the midst of folding them up like cards, they taped the papers together so the cards ripped a little in the process. Sad face.
The meatballs were yummy and Tim really liked the brownies we made him. Usually I make brownies from a box but I found this recipe for Cream Cheese Swirl Brownies. I had all the ingredients on hand, and I don’t know if I’ve ever made brownies before. My not-pregnant self would absolutely love them but this pregnancy I’m not a fan of sweets OR chocolate – I know, gasp!
Happy Birthday, Tim!
July 10th, 2011
Pics taken April 2011.
I don’t think I’ve mentioned that Colby has given up taking a nap, but I’ll bet you could guess, since he’s 6+ years old. I can’t remember exactly when he stopped, because he has always been able to sit and play by himself. Always. So, he still has “rest time”, when his sisters nap. Sometimes we’ll unload the dishwasher together or he’ll draw pictures for me or we’ll read books or he’ll play on the computer. His favorite phrase to get my attention – “Mom, get a picture of me doing _________.” I’ll hang on to that for as long as I can.
He’s done the tower of dishes before. But this time it’s with muscles.
July 8th, 2011
Carlee moved to a toddler bed in April of this year. 3 months ago she looked so big and so comfy with all her stuffed animals and her dinky…
Last night was her first night in a Real big girl bed.. she slept in Kennedy’s full-sized bed. without her dinky! This month she is 2 years and 8 months old. I can’t believe how big and grown-up she is getting. And, once I figure out how to upload videos from my phone, I’ll let you hear how she can talk our ears off. It’s so precious.
July 7th, 2011
While backing out of my driveway, I saw this on my roof.
A little imposing, yes? I haven’t seen him [her?] since.
July 6th, 2011
My favorite holiday is July 4th. I might have mentioned that before. This July 4th there’s a burn ban, so no fireworks for us this year, except on tv. But I have been enjoying one of the tastiest crops of watermelon this year. Each one I’ve picked has been sweeter than the last. (My favorite place to get them is at Sam’s – they’re big, seedless, and less than $5.) So, this weekend, we’re planning for said watermelon, a few times to go swim, barbeque eating, and homemade ice cream. I think that should about do it. Anyone else have plans for the 4th?
July 3rd, 2011
About a month ago, I bought this and then I sent the following email to my mom, my sisters, and my friend Leah, who owns a Petunia Picklebottom diaper bag. If you don’t know that I love bags and purses, you should know i love bags and purses.
Had to share my latest find… I wanted a new diaper bag for this
baby so I got on amazon to check them out. Well the ones I liked were
running 70-80$, so I decided to wait a little while. Plus, I like to
put my hands on a bag before I buy, to see if it’s big enough, etc.
Today I went to TJ Maxx and found this petunia pickle bottom bag
(google them if you want). It’s red silk and has a zillion pockets, &
comes with changing pad and wipes case. Plus the handle unclips to
hook it around your stroller.
The “original” price onthe tag was $145. TJ Maxx marked to $59,
but they red-line clearanced it at $29!!!
I know Kevin is thrilled (yeah, right) abt this, but I thought the
rest of us girls would be pleased. 
Oh, and even if it’s a boy, I’ll drop the dipes and wipes off if I
leave him at church or whatever – this bag stays with me!! ;)
July 2nd, 2011
I mentioned that I was training for a triathlon, remember? (see “March”) Well, Baby Cuatro put a damper on the tri, for 2011 anyway. Him or her and the brutal Texas heat we’ve been having this summer. However I’ve been riding bikes once a week with some die-hard [race] bikers. So far we’ve been doing between 14-20 miles each week. Today we did 20.8 miles and I increased my speed by 2.2 miles this week over the last time I rode, which was about a month ago, actually, because of VBS and going out of town.
These ladies I’ve been riding with have been so kind as to let me borrow a racing bike and all the equipment I need for having a super great ride. Like the gloves I never knew I’d need but am so grateful to use. I am so glad to ride with them and that they give me all the techniques and terms and expertise that I need to “race” properly. I’ve even talked one of the ladies into doing a triathlon with me next year, since I already registered and paid for my tri that would have been at the end of July. The ladies I ride with do the MS150 race each year, which benefits Multiple Sclerosis and covers the distance between Houston and Austin. They think that I’ll be able to do that race in April of next year. (I don’t think so.)
This morning we started riding at 8:15 and finished at 10:15. At 10:40 I went to the grocery store and when we were done at the grocery store at 11:40, my car thermometer read 106. ONE HUNDRED SIX DEGREES. FAHRENHEIT. Next week we’re starting even earlier in the day – at 7:30, I’m thinking.
I might have ventured into a new hobby. I might be asking for padded bike shorts for my birthday. I might also be buying a very expensive racing bike to support said hobby. But I don’t think Kevin can complain too much about a hobby that burns almost 500 calories an hour.
July 1st, 2011
