Five Little Cousins...

Remember that cute rhyme about five little monkeys jumping on the bed?  Well, here's a version of the five little monkeys who are cousins who had a fun time Saturday jumping on the trampoline...and there was no falling off and bumping heads.

Happy Weekending

Friday:  Ben Folds with Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra with my guy.  Greatness.



Saturday:  Our nephew, Keaton's 10th Birthday Party.  Love this sweet boy.  Then, a Mama-and-Liam date to see Chimpanzee.

Happy girls playing outside.

Sunday:  Church, naps, and then a trip to the mall.  The kids love the play area at the Galleria.

And that was the weekend.  Five more weeks until summer.  Can't wait!

This Week In Our Back Yard

A Week Spent Outdoors

It's been a beautiful week in North Texas, so we've spent quite a bit of it outside!

The girls can still share a swing at the park.

Ellery Kate

Marin Jane

On Tuesday afternoon, we found out that Liam could join a Blastball team, so he had a game on Tuesday night and one tonight.  Their team name is the Sneeky Kleets (hee,hee).  He's having so much fun, and like his Daddy, is wild about baseball.

Liam and his buddy Jacob.  His other good friend, Wyatt, is on the same team, too.

The base honks or blasts when the kids step on it.

Ding, Ding

Look who moved up to a booster seat this week...40 pounds and 4 years, the magic numbers.  Now, let the real fights in the car begin!

An Afternoon Under the Big Top

When I was a kid, I remember going to the Shrine Circus in Minneapolis every year.  I always loved it, so when I heard that a smaller version was performing this weekend in the DFW area, I decided to get tickets.  Liam brought his friend, Owen, and off we went on Saturday afternoon.

Ellery loved the animals, Marin was not feeling the big creature love.  This picture kind of sums up where both girls were emotionally when the elephants came around.

Here are lots of pictures of the boys riding the elephant.  I'm not sure if I'll ever get Jon on the back of one of these again, so I had to capture the moment...

Watching all the fun circus performances!

A circus isn't a circus with out snow cones and peanuts.

One thing I always loved about the circus was getting the clowns to autograph the coloring book my Dad would buy me.  So, at the end of the show, we bought the boys coloring books for the clowns to sign.  There was really only one clown that we could find, but the boys didn't seem to mind.

It's so wonderful (and a little surreal, too) for me to see my kids enjoying some of the same things I loved when I was there age!

And While Liam's on the Field...

...The girls find ways of entertaining themselves.

Soccer Season Finale

Liam's last game for the season was on Saturday...and all in all, I'd say it's been a success.  There were no tears on Saturday, so that's a victory!  He talks about baseball constantly, so I think that he'll be playing that next.  He loves his trophy, and put it on the shelf in his bedroom.  So cute.

Birthday Weekending

We had such a great time with family this weekend, and that's the best birthday present anyone could ask for.  Jon, my Dad, Liam, and my brother, Patrick, met Jon's parents at the Ranger game almost as soon as my parents arrived.

The boys before they left for the baseball game.

I took the day off of work on Friday, so I could spend my birthday with my parents, Patrick, and the kids.  Per Liam's request, we had a little early birthday luncheon for him at Chuck E. Cheese on Friday.  He wore his birthday crown all day.

The first birthday crown picture of the day.

Marin was FREAKED out whenever Chuck E. Cheese came around, so she clung pretty tight to Uncle Patrick for protection.  Look at how stressed out the child looks.  :(

Since Friday was actually my birthday, Liam let me wear the crown for a minute or two.

In the afternoon, Liam and I went over to Sloan and had a birthday celebration with his class.  Here's Liam and Ms. Amy while the class sang to him.

Memaw and Poppie took us all out to dinner on Friday night, and soon afterwards Debby, Jeff, and Avonlea arrived from Houston.  On Saturday morning (Liam's B-Day!) we all went to his soccer game.  He had a pretty big cheering section and only one minor meltdown...that's progress, people.

Liam's cheer team

Getting a high-five from Grandpa





And after soccer, it was time to get ready for Liam's birthday party. 

We all went to church together on Sunday, and the Houston gang had to leave after lunch.  Dad left a few hours later, and I just dropped Mom and Patrick off at the airport this afternoon.  I miss everyone already, but I'm looking forward to seeing them in June to celebrate the birthdays of the three little girls.