They're Baaaaaack!

We rarely have time for t.v. anymore around here (which is fine by me) but when we do, Riley prefers the old Batman sitcom, Pink Panther, or Spiderman. As far as kids shows go, I prefer The Backyardigans. I've been missing them lately. Let's keep that between you and me, okay?

Riley requested an oldie and we went back in time to The Backyardigans this morning. Kace didn't stop shakin' it for the entire theme song! He wasn't interested in the rest of the show at all. Maybe there's a little Saturday morning Soul Train in our future...

Rebecca's War Dog of the Week: Eli, brother and protector, goes home - Tom Ricks | The Best Defense

I was blessed to know this young man. A ray of sunshine with a smile that could light up the entire town of Orange Grove. He paid the ultimate sacrifice fighting for our freedom in Afghanistan. He is survived by his parents, younger brother, older brother, and Eli. His mother posted this article and I felt compelled to share. This is just a tiny shapshot of him and his family. They've been through so much...anguish to jubiliation in the honors he's received.

His company, Darkhorse 3/5 returned from Afghanistan last week. Colton's family and friends went to meet them for their return. The soldiers brought home Colton's camera to give his mother...they wanted to give it to her in person.

Rebecca's War Dog of the Week: Eli, brother and protector, goes home - Tom Ricks | The Best Defense

Playing

A couple of good moments I captured at the ranch this weekend. I played around editing them and here are a few.







Not sure which one I like best...all of them, I think!

Austintatious!

OPI came out with a new line for the summer...a Texas collection! There was an Austin one....a sparkly turquoise...that I had to have. I'm pretty much a coral/pinkish/red kinda girl. Burnt orange in the fall and a dark brown here and there. I'm not really a blue/green/purple polish person, but I am now!!



Riley was first to notice:

Riley: "Mommy, I LIKE your pretty blue toes!"
Me: "Thanks, Buddy!"
Riley: "Daddy, do you like Mommy's pretty blue toes?"
Daddy: "Ummmmmmm....probably not if they're blue!"

Ha! Makes me giggle every time I look at my Austintatious Turquoise toes!

Sweet Dreams Little Men

Dragon Tales and the water is wide.
Pirates sail and lost boys fly.
Fish bite moonbeams every night
and I love you.

Godspeed, little man.
Sweet dreams, little man.
Oh my love will fly to you
each night on angels wings.

Godspeed, sweet dreams.
The rocket racer's all tuckered out.
Superman's in pajamas on the couch.
Goodnight Moon will find the mouse
and I love you.

Godspeed, little man.
Sweet dreams, little man.
Oh my love will fly to you
each night on angels wings.

Godspeed, sweet dreams.
God bless Mommy and Matchbox cars.
God bless Dad and thanks for the stars.
God hears Amen wherever we are
and I love you.

Godspeed, little man.
Sweet dreams, little man.
My love will fly to you
each night on angels wings.
Godspeed, Godspeed, Godspeed,
Sweet dreams.
I wanted to take a picture of the boys together tonight. It's been a while. It was bedtime, so I decided pajamas it was. I love them in pajamas, so why not? With Dog and Kace's blanket. Kace was impatient, anxiously awaiting his bottle of milk (and I'm not quite ready to let go of that bottle at night, but I'm cutting myself off this week). As I was taking the picture, Russ was trying to make them smile. Kace is going back and forth from laughing to tears. He is laughing in the above photos, but does have tears from the second before when he was crying for that bottle! As I was taking these photos, this Dixie Chicks song popped into my head, for obvious reasons. As I typed the lyrics, my eyes filled with tears. They're so precious at bedtime...definitely one of the highlights of my day. The bath--the way they smell like Johnson and Johnson's original soap...and sometimes the pink lotion on top of it (and I'm not letting go of that one for a while...maybe until they move out!). Add that to the Dreft & Downy of their clean pajamas. The pajamas that turn those rough and tumble little boys into my babies again. The routine--calm (most of the time), quiet conversations reviewing the day...our "favorite parts." The books--Kace gets 1--and I usually read it at least twice. Riley gets 3. I get to hold them, we snuggle up close. Yup, I'm certain this IS the highlight of my every day. Sweet Dreams Little Men.

I'm Just a Squirrel Tryin' to Get a Nut

Kace and I were outside enjoying the weather recently when we saw our neighborhood squirrel teasing our XL cat, Corky. We watched them for at least 15 minutes. Of course, I ran in to grab my camera.

We loved watching him dart around and twitch his tail at Corky. Corky would hunker down to play, then, very cat-like, become uninterested. So fun!!

Cheery-O

Kace loves Cheerios, as do most children his age. It's the independence of feeding yourself at your own pace, and a little bit of trying to stuff as many in your mouth as possible!

My Valentines

Valetine's Day started the weekend before, with Riley making his first Valentine box for his party at school. We started with a shoebox, he drew his idea on paper, and Daddy helped him bring it to life. It was perfect!

He chose Scooby Doo Valentines with pencils this year, so we filled them out--he wrote his name AND his friend's names on every single one!

Started the morning with our tradition, heart shaped muffins...and my tradition, coffee!

I was able to attend Riley's Valentine party because my class party was the Friday before and Riley's party just happened to be during my lunch time and conference period. What an unusual treat. I was so happy to be able to attend.

Before Russ and Riley ran off to baseball practice, my boys happily agreed to an impromptu photo shoot (yeah, right). Riley didn't get Valentines for family this year, so we emailed them pictures. Can you see the love in our eyes? Or the frustrationand irritation?

While they were out, there was this amazing sunset! After baseball practice, I surprised the boys with a Valentine dessert. Cupcakes from Cupprimo. They were beautiful and delicious! One for each of us. Cherry. Chocolate covered strawberry. Hot fudge sundae.

And coincidentally, my Valentine's surprised me with a cupcake charm for my charm bracelet and a beautiful wooden jewelry box! Thank you!

Kace loved his cupcake! He stuffed it into his mouth and then there was this little episode as we tried to clean him up...

And when we finally got the tray away, this...

Goodnight, my littlest Valentine.

Love

Love me some baby toes.

Love me some baby toes in jeans.

Love me some curled up, round, soft, squishy, fat, perfect little baby toes.

Love love love!

Exactly!

The morning after...the snow day. There are remnants on the roofs and in the flowerbeds in the backyard and it's still really cold. Kace is happily eating banana pieces in his high chair, Riley is coloring Toy Story pictures at the table, and I'm cleaning up the kitchen (for the first time today).

Riley says, "Mommy, when Kace is 4, I'll be 8. And when Kace is 8, I'll be 10?"
"No, you'll be," and we count it out on my fingers "12!"
"And when Kace is 12, I"ll be.....16!"
"And when Kace is 16, I'll be....20! Just like you, Mommy."
"YES! Just like me."
"How old are you, Mommy?"
"I'm 20, Riley!"

I did confess the truth a few moments later. Think he'll remember?