Heather's New Hobby

After years of  walking the scrapbook aisles in wonderment I decided to take a class to get me started in the right direction.   I will say that it's been a rewarding three classes thus far and I feel like I have a good grasp on what to do.  I'm taking the course through Michael's and happened to have gotten an AMAZING teacher.  She has years of experience and brings one of her personal scrapbooks every week to use as an example of the topics covered in the curriculum.  Not only do I feel like I've learned how to scrapbook but I've seen a snapshot into her life through the pages of her books...  I've laughed and cried during class and learned that scrap booking is a fabulous tool for passing on personal histories, emotions and traditions to generations to come.  Introducing my first scrapbook page...

Summer Harvest

Although it's just now officially summer we've been "enjoying" extreme summer weather for a few weeks now.  Along with this we've been enjoying our summer garden harvests.  We have had TONS of tomatoes, jalapenos and a few cucumbers.   I've canned some of the goodness in the form of pickled peppers, green tomato salsa and homemade marinara sauce so that we can enjoy summer even when it finally cools off.

Big Girl Beds

 Tonight was the first night that Quinn and Wesley slept in their "big girl" beds.  Quinn has been sleeping in a toddler bed which used to be her crib. Wesley has been sleeping in her crib.  We bought them matching white, twin beds.  We haven't bought their bedding yet but they were very eager to sleep in the new beds tonight.  Hopefully it's a smooth night for everyone.

Quinn put some of her favorite "babies" on her bed including Sparkles, the rabbit.

Quinn and her babies

Wesley testing it out

Quinn gives it a try

 Wesley, her ducky, and her new bed.

Happy Birthday to Mike!

Happy birthday to Mike!  For his birthday he got golf cupcakes and a new golf bag.  Quinn and Wesley also picked out a Spider Man toothbrush for him.  Then, we went to The Highball for dinner, drinks and bowling.

The Beach!

This past weekend we took the girls and met up with some friends in Port Aransas. We rented the same condo that we were introduced to by the Johnson family last summer. Wish they could have joined in the fun this year!

The girls running to the water as soon as we went to the beach after getting

in on Thursday afternoon.

Mike at the beach

Wesley was absolutely adorable running to and fro with the tide.

Mike and the girls in the water

Wet Wesley

Quinn is excited!

Silly Quinn

The girls in the car headed to the beach. This is the last time over

the weekend the car will not be filled with sand.

Quinn attempts to surf on a kick board and surprisingly did pretty well.

Mommy and Wesley in the shade

Wesley feeding the gulls

Girls building a sandcastle

Quinn swimming

Again and again

Wesley takes a rest

Sand time!

Quinn refused to look at the camera...

Emily getting more tan by the second

Wesley naps on Laura while they sit in the tide.

The gang has dinner at Beaches on Saturday night -

before the full effects of the sunburns set in.

Mother's Day 2011

For Mother's Day this year most of the family converged on Corazon at Castle Hill for brunch. The food was delicious and we had a good time. Little Frank happened to be in town for a wedding so we were just missing Luke and Sarah - five out of seven kids isn't too bad!

Julian, Ezra and Quinn

Mark finally arrives!

Quinn and the "Frankies"

My momma and me...

Frank, Sam and Mark

Mom-oh and the girls

Dancing Quinn

Quinn has been taking ballet and tap class since August 2010. Her first recital was on May 7, 2011. Last summer she took a week long dance camp which culminated in a "mini-recital" at the studio where the girls performed one song. During this performance she was shy and didn't dance - just stood in place despite the fact that her teachers described her performance all week as "in it to win it". This time she blew it out of the water with a fabulous performance in two different dances. Even after the recital she still does her dances and watches the video over and over. I think she'll be dancing for a long time!

Getting ready - Wesley needed her hair done too.

Not yet, Dad! I'm not ready yet!

Ready to go!

Although, she was supposed to be in her tap costume first.

I was "backstage mom" so I was able to switch her costume

before showtime.

Tap Routine

"The Farmer and The Cowman" from Oklahoma!

The recital itself was called "Back to Broadway"

and all the numbers were set to songs from Broadway musicals.

Ballet Routine

"So Long, Farewell" from The Sound of Music

Quinn and Sophie after the show.

Quinn and Caroline
All of the girls were tired, hungry, and cranky

despite their beautiful flowers and shiny new trophies.

Quinn was very adamant before her recital that she didn't want anyone to come watch her. She didn't want Mike or Mom-o there to see her perform. Because we had to be at the auditorium before the audience we fibbed to Quinn and told her that Mike was just dropping us off and that he'd be back later to pick us up. Weeks after the recital when we were watching it on DVD she asked how Mike knew about the performances already and I told her that he had watched them. She disappointedly whined, "I didn't want Daddy to come." Ha!

Happy Birthday to Quinn!

For her 4th birthday Quinn had a "Fancy Nancy" themed party. She loves the books and we thought it would make for a great party. The weather that day was absolutely gorgeous and the kids enjoyed running around, through the yard, over the playscape and upstairs through the playroom in their "fancy" clothes. Each guest went home with glittery body spray for the girls and fancy hair gel and combs for the boys.

Quinn's Invitation

Everyone singing to the Birthday Girl.
She held her eyes down and relished every second of the attention.

Just after the candles were blown out.

The "fancy" kids eat their cupcakes and parfaits outside.

The Birthday Girl and her cupcake

Miles!

Zailey and Zander Falk

Happy Birthday to Wesley!

Wesley's birthday falls just two days before Valentine's Day. This year we had a heart themed bash to celebrate her 2nd birthday. The weather was surprisingly pleasant for mid-February. In Texas, you never know what you'll get as far as the weather goes. The kids enjoyed decorating their own sugar cookies, which we packaged up and sent home as their favors.

The cake and gift table.

Pink fondant hearts detail


The birthday girl decorating her cookie.

Big sister Quinn

Singing - just before she blew out the candles

The whole family!