Little Ladies

Yesterday evening the boys and I spent it in our backyard.
I was cleaning around the gardens, tending to my flowers and willing my seeds to sprout.
They boys kept whining and Little E looked like he was about to squish something.
I told him to stop until I could take a looksie...if a spider..by all means please continue.
But it was a ladybug.
I LOVE ladybugs and actually gathered some up at the lake house and brought them home.
They didn't take but this year they bred and came to my little garden or actually they got confused and came to the boys jungle gym.

I gathered one up and tried to explain ladybugs (the little I know).
They were a bit scared and wouldn't let me put one in their hands.
But they loved watching me take ladybugs one by one and place them in the garden.
I hope these little ladies take to my garden and eat those nasty little aphids.
Especially off of my tomato plants.






Oh and how do you stop your kid from wanting to squish everything???

Yay, UGH, Yay.

Our weekend was lovely and the weather was almost perfect.
Yesterday after church we headed to the farmer's market to see what yummy deals we could find and to try some fresh samples.
Of course I would forget my camera!
On the way home we decided it was too great a day to work (like we had planned).
So we went home packed a lunch and headed to the park.
Food was yummy, kids had a blast playing soccer and softball.
All was perfect!



Nick and I even took a picture together...its been forever!
(Too bad you can't see my "yo yo" necklace Little E made me, I have to wear it daily or it hurts his feelings. I wear it with pride. It's really just a yoyo that he knotted into a necklace.)

On the way home we heard a horrible thud under the van.

We both looked in the rear view mirrors and saw nothing.

To be safe we pulled over.

UGH, we punctured something and were quickly leaking fluid...but to what!?

We both looked again toward the road and saw a metal disc in the road.

Our tire must of hit it just so and it jammed up toward our van.

So home we came to see what the damage was.

Pops was not happy.

He went to the auto store to read some books on our van and see if he could cut cost by fixing it himself.

The boys and I worked in the gardens.

He comes home telling me his favorite line...."I have good news and bad news".

Like always I want the bad first!

Bad news, it was too late in the day for him to fix it.

Good news, he figured it out (without having to buy the book) and it only cost us about 35 bucks.

YAY! So nice not to have to take it to a shop.

Day was saved by Mr. Fix-it.

The day ended with fed and bathed kids, and a movie for mom and dad.

Perfect.

Back to Basics

As you've read our family has had some economic woes after Nick lost his job.
And were happy to say we think things will finally start to look up soon.
Things tend to when you just give it all to God, don't know why it took my brain so long to realize that.
Through this economic time and having little ones we had to find ways to entertain ourselves but most importantly, entertain the boys.
So we've seriously without realizing have gone back to basics.
We can't even remember the last time we went to the movies, bought something, or had dinner in a nice restaurant.
And you know?
It's not so bad and were quite enjoying ourselves.

This week alone we've enjoyed.....

Freshly squeezed Limeade, using my fun Vintage juicer.
The boys had a sample of limeade at Central Market last week.
Needless to say we had to make some at home too.



Watching our gardens come together.
Tomatoes waiting to be placed into the earth.

And our butterfly garden that is already attracting many ladybugs and other little critters.
But where are the butterfly's??

Enjoying outdoors.

A bit of sidewalk art and lots of horsing around.

Pretend play.

E set up the table for me yesterday with basic food groups.

He told me I had to eat Donald....Donald was my chicken.

Poor Donald.

Little E even set out a fork and knife for me.

Nick not only has taken the kids to the park a handful of times but this past sunday got in the kitchen and they had "Guy time" they baked cookies and he let them eat cookie dough.

Something I personally would of never done, but let me tell you the boys are STILL talking about their "Guy time" with dad.

There are so many wonderful things to be done.

Picnics in the park, play dates with family and friends, crafts, visits to the lake, not to mention there are lots of half price days at zoo's, museums and so much more.

What back to basics have you enjoyed?

Birthday Boy

My sweet Nick celebrated his birthday yesterday.
It rained which meant he didn't have to work....he told Zenon it was God's gift to him, now he could relax on his birthday.

I didn't relax, I cooked!
I made him a birthday dinner filled with carbs...lots of carbs.

We all sat around the dinner table, gave thanks and dug in.



For desert I made Nick's favorite, chocolate mousse cake.
This year I topped them with chocolate covered strawberries.
E really dug those strawberries.




At the end we were all stuffed!
The boys enjoyed dad's birthday and were all smiles.
As you can see E wore most of his cake on his shirt!



To many more happy birthdays!

Goals

Though its almost April I have me some goals I would love to achieve before the end of this month down to the end of this year.

* End of this month beginning of April I would love to be running 6 miles 5X a week, 30 miles a week.

* That takes me to my other goal to run a 10K.

* Be a more patient, craftier all round better mom.

* Read more books, not just the daily paper.

* Bake a bit more from scratch...I've gotten lazy.

* Eat healthier, one feels crummy when you eat crud and have to run...you feel so worn down.

* Start a eating healthy meals blog, So Tonya and I can read off of each others for meal ideas.

* For Tonya and I to get together and REALLY walk into a healthier us...We can do it girl!!

*Not stress so much, we have to accept all Christ brings our way.

* Last and surely not least, walk a better path with God. Devote more time to my spiritual side, with that I know for sure my list can be accomplished.

Play dates

This has been a fun and busy Spring Break.
The boys have had a play date almost every day.

Play date 1:

Hernandez boys.

They watched movies, had lunch, ran around outside, looked for bugs and at the end sat in a row and sang songs.



My good friend Misty.
Her little one trying to get her to hold his new friend the pill bug.
She was telling him she could see his buddy just fine from where she was, nope.....he insisted she hold him.......poor Misty.



Each of them trying to show off their "Writing Skills".



Play date 2:

Carroll girls.

Here we did many arts, bubbles outside, chased by Miss Maggie Bell (best puppy ever, I'm so jealous), sprinkler fun, and yummy lunch.


Z and Miss Presley.



After their water fun they sat in the shade a cool treat.
Miss Piper is dry as a bone. She looked like a little diva just sitting in the shade and watching.
Some pictures I wish I could of gotten just right were of Miss Maggie.
While the bubbles the kids blew floated up she would jump up to catch them with her mouth!
She was on to us and I swear she waited until our cameras were out of focus or off to do this cute deed.



Play date 3:

Ochoa's x 3.

We had a blast at this cute little park my friend Letty introduced me too.
We didn't do lunch we did an after lunch snack of water, juice and some SUPER yummy fresh fruit with "La Lechera" (sweet condensed milk). This combo is super new to me and I fell in love instantly.
I had to run to the store to buy me some I know what I'm having for lunch...fruit and La Lechera.

E and Miss Mila are super smitten with one another.
He insisted on pushing her on the swing and while the rest played softball and games, they just strolled side by side on their scooters.....pretty cute.




Z watching Letty toss some pitches to Victoria.
He did pretty good when it was his turn to bat.



The little ones are now with mamaw and papaw for the rest of the week until Sunday.
Which means a garden day for me.
Time to pull the weeds and help the butterfly garden thrive.
Now my only dilemma is what will I plant in my veg garden this year??

Hello Sunshine.

The rain has finally stopped...for now at least.
So we were able to enjoy some sunshine and get out of this house!
Talk about major cabin fever.

Though I was weary about letting them run outside, it was still pretty wet.
So I opened up some windows, threw a table cloth on their table and popped out some paint and paper.



Zenon told me he was drawing summer.
Ahhhh... we're all waiting for it.



They were sitting by the kitchen window when Nael our neighbor heard the boys talking and ran up to the house to say hello.
The kids went out to join him in doing some sidewalk art.
Nael is so cute.




After being in the hot Texas heat we asked Nael to join us for some more art and a snack.
They had a blast.




After Nael retreated home the boys continued with their art.

I had to take several pics.

Why?

Look at them!

No fighting, no shoving, just peace and quiet....so nice.

Wonderfulness!

First off I try not to blog on weekends, that's my families time, but I had to post some pictures and exciting news.

Here's the skirt I made for my friends daughter, Rachel.
She looked way too cute in it.
I think it came out pretty good myself.



Next, Zenon made student of the month!!!
We're so proud of him, he's doing so awesome.
In celebration we came home and made cupcakes.
The boys wanted to help of course.

Looks like Little E was pretty proud of his big brother too.

Lastly, Z was in a 50's style school program.

Hence the reason I made that poodle skirt for my friends little girl.

As you can see below Z looked super cute!

He even styled a leather jacket courtesy of Andrew...thanks Andrew!!

At the program we were floored to see him shake, strut and even had to play the guitar...a cardboard guitar mind you,but he looked adorable doing it.

All the kids did a great job, very enjoyable to watch.

Now Little E wants to dance in a program...in due time little one, your time too will come.

Have a great weekend.

If your in Texas....try and keep dry!!

Parks and Applesauce.

The boys and I finally made our Applesauce.
Both took turns cranking the apple peeler but kids sure do get bored easily.
Needless to say I ended up peeling by hand (much easier), chopping, and boiling...alone.
They found way too much interest in the board game, Memory.

Though little E found it fascinating that the apples really did become applesauce in a jar.
I was short of having canned two whole jars, almost, but not quite.

We've also have taken tons of advantage of the nearby parks our area has to offer.

E and I had a picnic for two.

Though I think he enjoyed that he was allowed to eat, play, eat and play.

We usually have dinner around the dinner table and they can't get up until they are done.

So this eating and wondering around was a special treat I take it.

We also went to the park the following day as a family and Nick took the boys on Sunday again.

They went to a park in our neighborhood and played "Frisbee".

Their version which consists of Nick tossing the Frisbee at them as they run from him.

His goal?

Hit them in the butt...they run around screaming like little crazy kids, and loving every minute of it.

I on the other hand had to head back home for my sewing project.

I'm sewing a 50's style poodle skirt for my friends daughter.

Our kids are in a program this week.
This is my first "Barter" type job.

She wanted to pay but I wouldn't take money.

Buuuuuut I am taking an exchange.

Her husband owns his own landscaping company.
So we get our yard done AND he's going to help us with our weeds.

Oh yeah, we all get what we want and it didn't cost us nothing but time.

Settling In

So much has happened to our family these last few months.
And through all the kicking, screaming and moaning I finally realized that all this will pass.
We've had so many people praying for us, telling us it things will be fine.
Yet, why did it take so long for it to soak in?

Our life has done a 180 but we'll be okay.
Its been rough getting used to and we're not used to it yet, but I think we're settling in.

So for now I will tighten my seat belt and finish off this crazy roller coaster ride, oh because it will end, maybe not today or tomorrow, but it will come to an end (soon I hope).

Til that crazy ride comes to a halt I will just enjoy all the sweetness I have been given.

Like this little helper who insisted on helping me out one way or another for lunch.







How can one be so gloom when they have such sweeties at home?
I must be crazy.