Acorns and More Acorns

Fall is here and so are the acorns.  We first spotted them at a park near our house.  The kids were stuffing them into their little pockets since we didn't come prepared with buckets.  I found them in the washing machine a few days later!

Today we were at City Hall to hear some music Live from the Plaza with our good friends Elizabeth, Ella, and Charley, along with Rowen.  We just happened to be sitting under acorn trees.  Here are all the kids collecting the acorns.

The last time we collected them, we placed them on our back porch, and sure enough the next day they had been eaten.  Hopefully it was by a squirrel! 

I just love how easily the kids entertained themselves with the acorns.  No toys needed.

Just Joshua

This feature is related to Joshua.  He had an interesting weekend.  It began with a pair of moccasins from Grandpa and Auntie Jayne.  Here he is doing a dance for us.

On Saturday he went to the Horns game versus UTEP.  Josue and I went the weekend before, and I wondered at one point during the game when our children would be able to go.  Each person regardless of age must have a ticket.  When face value is $95, you find a babysitter.  Well, free tickets again came our way, so Joshua got his chance while I stayed home with Tabitha.  Josue did a great job of taking pictures.  Here are father and son together.

Before you look at the following pictures, I have to tell you that the experience I was eagerly awaiting for my child, wasn't so grand for him.  It turned out to be very hot sitting in the sun during the heat of the day in the upper deck.  Oh, and don't forget the walk to the stadium from somewhere in East Austin.  Joshua was hot!  If you look closely at the following picture, you will see the sweat coming through the hat.  Poor baby!

You might think someone just poured water on him in the next picture.  Nope.  That's nothing but sweat.  Reminds me of being at Ella's B-day and Zach asking if Joshua had been in the pool since his hair was so wet.  Nope.  My baby just sweats a lot.

When he got home, he needed some good loving from his mama.  I gave him a bath, dressed his wounds from tripping up the stairs at the stadium, and gave him the red flip flops I had just got from Old Navy.  He was so happy to be home.  He hugged me like crazy and would say, "I Love You."  I really can't count how many times he said it.  And of course, I would say it right back.  I do wonder if we have scarred him from Longhorn Football. :) Only time will tell.

Around the House

On the weekends, especially Saturday, we try to take it easy at our house.  This past weekend I did a lot of baking (pepperoni rolls, kolaches, and rolls).  The kids enjoyed helping out.  Kneading seemed to be something Joshua was really good at.  Tabitha liked spreading the flour everywhere.

The kids are preparing the pepperoni rolls.  I was inspired to try them out because of DoubleDave's.  I used the pizza dough from Better Homes and Gardens and then roll out half the dough, cutting it into 8 slices.  Then we sprinkle cheese at the top then place the pepperonis and roll.  One pizza dough recipes yields 16 rolls. 

We enjoyed time in our backyard.

Joshua can now swing himself on this type of swing.

Then the kids had some sticker fun. 

Joshua also found the stickers adhere very well to Daddy.

Joshua also decided to wear a Bible times hat.  He and his daddy get very creative when together.

This last photo is of our church building taken just today.  In a matter of weeks we will be there.  Yea!

Have a great weekend!

Daddy's Little Helpers

Projects are so much fun. Especially for our kids. Also a new box arriving is super exciting. It's fun to open it and see what's inside. Well, the kids got both on Tuesday. We had a box with two new chairs that needed to be assembled. Daddy's tool box came out and the kids went to work.

The chairs did turn out nicely!

We're Back!

Woo-hoo! All my computer problems have been fixed. I am now sitting at my office computer happily updating my blog. I hope you enjoy! Warning: There are lots of pictures.

In July we went to Port O'Connor for a wedding and fishing trip. The kids at the beach.

Sophia and Tabitha found the bag of Fritos. They've been caught!

Just a cute picture of Tabitha reading.

We also did a paper mache project. They both worked very hard and enjoyed it.

August begins with my birthday. Joshua had to get me red roses, and Tabby found me a big black purse.

Tabitha received this baby from Grandma for her birthday when she turned 1. (She's now two.) She has recently become very fond of her. Here she is feeding her.

The cousins came into town when Tia Marissa left for The World Race. Tio Quique is reading to everyone.

The kids went to lunch with Buela.

These next two crack me up! Gigi and Joshua enjoying sopapillas.

And now Papa and Tabby.

Joshua has become brave! He is about to go down the slide he broke his leg on a little over a year ago.  My heart was pounding in my chest.  Then I saw his little legs and smiling face at the bottom of the slide.

Tabitha is just lounging at a hole in the playhouse.

Again, Tabby and her baby. This time we're at the library and she's reading to her.

Our church is constructing a new building. Joshua is posing in front of it.

And finally, the kids enjoy cotton candy at a Round Rock Express game.  Yummy cotton candy!

Whew! That was a lot of catching up. Hopefully the next blog will be much shorter.

Catching Up

I know I am two months behind. All I can say is computer problems. It still isn't fixed, but I have found a way to give you an update.

Tabitha is now 2 years old. I will blog about her party soon. There are too many cute pictures to upload.

On Friday, we had some friends of mine over with their kiddos to enjoy an evening of dinner together. It was my good old girlfriends from high school, Elizabeth and Kim. Here is a picture of all the kids together. (Joshua, Ella, Colin, and Tabitha)

On the 4th, we had some friends over to celebrate. Here's Ava, Adam, Joshua, and Tabitha all dressed up in their red, white, and blue. Buela got their outfits (Joshua and Tabitha's) for them. She sewed Tabitha the skirt. It was so cute!

Joshua just wanted to take a picture with his sister.

Today the kids and I went to a sprinkler park. Joshua enjoyed eating the water. Tabitha just ran around following him.

I hope it won't be another two months until I write!

Our Activities

This past week went so quickly. I guess because we were busy. This blog is from Thursday through present day.

Thursday the kids awoke to nature journals. I had read about this idea and decided it was time to try it. I just stapled white paper inside a piece of construction paper. The kids added stickers the cover. We put it inside a plastic bag and added crayons. Then we put the plastic bag inside a backpack that also contained sunglasses and hats. Here are the kids as we are going outside for a walk. So cute!

I really didn't know what I was doing. I just had them color pictures of nature or collect pieces of nature. Joshua has a flower and a leaf taped inside as well as a drawing of an ant mound and grass. I thought he did a wonderful job. Tabitha was right there beside him the entire time coloring pictures. She even taped a weed inside her journal. We will be doing this activity again very soon.

Ava was outside while we were out on our walk. Here she is with her friend Joshua.

Joshua finally got a bike helmet that fits (he has a large head) so it was time to learn to ride his bike. Here he is with Daddy.

It is going to take some time to get him going. He doesn't continuously pedal.

Here the kids are driving away.

We love Fridays because Daddy is home for a few days. Here he is pushing the kids around.

Yesterday, Ava invited us to a picnic at the neighborhood playground. They're in the tower.

Also yesterday the kids began swim lessons. Josue and I both are present. Joshua goes by himself with 4 other kids and a teacher. We can be as close as we want watching. He cracks us up. He is timid when it comes to new activities. He took a while to do the basic activities the teacher taught. For example, she taught them how to blow bubbles just trying to get their faces in the water. That was the second little lesson out of 8. Joshua finally had it down when the teacher was working on lesson 7. He called attention to himself, and the teacher told him good job. He was so proud of himself. And I gave him a big high-five at the end. Here's the only picture I've taken so far, and it's his back.

Tabitha goes to class with me. She is the opposite of her brother. She basically jumped right in. She has very little hesitation. The only thing she won't do is put her mouth in the water to blow bubbles. She tells me it's my turn. "Your turn, Mommy." Then she wants a fish kiss from me. I have enjoyed this time with her.

Those are activities so far. More to come I'm sure.