bad afternoon

Abby was having a bad afternoon. She has a swollen foot from an allergic reaction to some mosquito bites, a potty training accident, and Carter was constantly bugging her as she was trying to watch tv. She had enough, and broke down into one of those classic "I'm tired" tantrums.

I yelled at her, and she cried harder. So I picked her up and sat on the couch with her. I held her tight in my arms like a baby and she stopped crying, closed her eyes and cozied into my lap. I rubbed my finger down the bride of her nose like I used to do to calm her down and gave her kisses on her cheeks. There's nothing like having a sweet little girl to rock all over again. I guess all she needed was a little mommy time.

But I think I needed it more than she did.

partners in crime

This picture isn't that great, but I like it because of the memory attached. We went to the park today and Abby and Carter found a squirrel and chased after it. It was so cute to watch, so I had to get a picture of it. I love it that they love to play and discover together.

my current desktop picture

waiting for the ding

budding tattoo artist

She was in her room by herself. I peeked around the corner to check on her and saw her on her bed reading. "Aww, how sweet," I thought.

Little did I know she had actually lifted a pen from my bag and was practicing her artistic skills. After she masters the 20 legged octopus she told me she was going to practice drawing a skull and bones, and a fire breathing dragon. Well, not really.

it's over

Lots of people came. They all had a good time. There were a few little kinks, but overall it was successful.

Now, time to get back to what's most important...

drowning in the muddy creek

I am up to my ears in Muddy Creek Run preparations. The big day is tomorrow, and although I am excited and I know it will be a really fun day, I am su-hooooo ready for it to be over. We started planning in January, a month ago we put it in high gear, and the last two weeks I feel like I have been consumed with it. I feel like I've neglected my family and the house this week and I stay up late at night with my mind full of the next day's to do list.

Last October I told our HOA president that I was ready to resign, but when I brought it to my social committee, no one wanted to take over. Because this race is my baby, I didn't want it to not happen, so I decided to hang on and do it another year. I get great satisfaction out of being social chair and race director, but its an emotional and time consuming burden and it would be nice to be free of it. I'm torn.

delete

I was about to hit the delete button on this picture and stopped myself when I saw his hair. And look at his poor cheeks! He gets so flushed when he gets hot. This picture isn't pretty, but it's definitely a keeper!

where it's at

The place where we took bluebonnet pictures is in Richardson off of George Bush (190) and Renner. Exit Bush and go East on Renner. You'll take your first right (south) on Shiloh, go three blocks and you'll see the field on your left on the corner of Breckinridge and Shiloh. It's huge, so you can't miss it.

do you ever have days

when you feel like you've washed and folded every single piece of clothing in your entire house?

bluebonnets

Abby and Carter had SO much fun playing in the bluebonnets! You should have seen Carter trapsing around knee deep in bluebonnets. So cute. They were way too busy to look at the camera so I didn't get any posy shots, so I decided to do more of a serene, nostalgic take on bluebonnets. The bluebonnet field was amazing, so we're definitely going back. Maybe Abby and Carter will smile for me next time.

This is the best shot I got of Carter. The boy wouldn't look at me or stay still for anything.





Cousin Tava, little firecracker.

say cheese!

Abby has been practing her "say cheese" smile, and its starting to look really genuine.



Carter, um, needs more practice.

do not be deceived

He's really not hurt.

He's just being dramatic.

You know that phase where your toddler overreacts at every tiny bump and scratch and puts on the water works and wants you to kiss it better and love on him and then later reminds you about his boo boo over and over again?

Its kind of annoying.

But I will be so sad when he doesn't need me to kiss it better anymore.

easter at grandma fowkes'

We're a party family. We get together at my mom's house on every major holiday, and for those that live near her, almost every sunday for dinner. We always have 30-40 people at my family's get togethers, and we come from all walks of life.

This picture came out blurry, which really upset me, so I just played with it a little to make it look like it did it on purpose.... ?

The highlight of the day was when we were all about to leave and I asked Abby and Ben to sit on the swing for a picture. Carter wanted to join them and he thought it was so cool.

He got really tickled by it and just started cracking up, which caused a chain reaction, first with Ben and then Abby joined in.

And of course, Abby went a little overboard with the dramatics. Big ham.

Carter was calming down a little and then Anna decided to sit down too, which started them all back up again.

Thanks, Carter, for giving us a laugh.

photo shoot

those eyes

schooled

Carter didn't want me to take his picture.

He expressed his disapproval.

Then he gave me a second warning.

Then I got my punishment.

Sor-rrrryyyy.

Geez.

one of a kind

Aside from the tantrums that are characteristic of every three year old, Abby is pretty much like this all the time. Gregarious, animated, full of wonder and over. the. top.

I've honestly never met anyone like her, and I'm SO glad she's mine.