A little catchin up.

Easter Sunday or shall I say Saturday.





















Oh these kids!















Easter Sunday, the bunny came to church!



















Easter after lunch goodness at Chili's














Nina's first ride to the vet in Pop's car.
Afterwards she asked if we were rich because she liked Pop's little blue car.
I told her No, we're poor. She said she didn't care...She felt Fancy...then she barfed in Pop's car.



















Maggie's and Nina's first playdate.














Being a lady.



















Piper's Birthday party.














Football camp..this is not something I personally like for my kids. This camp was bit too competitive, but little E liked it...A lot!














4 legged Playdate (number 2).















2 legged playdate, making Pudding with crushed oreos on top.
"Mud"














Boy's gardening with mom.



















Loving on Nina with his garden gloves still on.














Practicing football goodness with dad.

More football goodness with dad Note: he's STILL wearing his gardening gloves.

And that's all folks!

Baby steps and one big accomplishment!

We've been working hard giving Nina love, exercise and the teaching of manners.
We've had her for 3 days and she took her first command from Ethan at breakfast.

He asked her to sit verbally and holding up two fingers. She sat, he gave her a toy and told her she was a good girl.

















I asked Little E to stand while giving her commands. She sat for him again.

















Giving her love after being a good girl.

















Nina has a long way to go. She's a puppy that loves to do puppy things, bite, chew, DIG and cry.
She's a herder at heart and has shown this by herding the boys up the jungle gym, though her size makes it a bit scary for them, but she's slowly learning her rough play gets her no play AND all puppies love play.
She'll learn she's one smart cookie!
Can't believe it's only been 3 days and we all love her so much already.

Fara wha????

I was coming home from Garland the other day and for some reason on a wild hair cut across two lanes and headed to the animal shelter.
Now what possessed me to do that?

I guess the tootsie below did.

I walked her, sat with her and studied her behaviour like a crazy woman.
Next I had to allow the boys to meet her.
They did just that for almost 2 hours outside the shelter.
We loved her demeanor and alas she had a new home.
Her name?
We asked the boys what we should name her, we liked Aspyn again, they liked......
Faranina.
Faranina it is, but we'll call her Nina for short.


Sitting pretty in the back yard.





















Standing with E and Nick, they were watching jets leave smoke lines in the air. Nick told E and Nina that was how clouds were made...real Nice Pop's, Real Nice!

I thought I'd end this post with her sweet profile.

She already has so many four legged relatives who are anxious to meet her...we can't wait!

Hope it was a great one.

Nick didn't want a big ol' birthday party for his 30th, he just wanted his family over for dinner.
Weeeelllll the family isn't small so a party it was regardless!

I tried to keep it simple, shredded chicken, refried beans and rice, tortillas and tostadas. Guests made themselves either tacos or chalupas and it all came out pretty good.
The favorite was the yummy cakes.
I made both of Nick's favorites!
Chocolate mousse cake and Strawberry Jello cake...way yummy!
I had myself WAY too much cake.





















Being silly with the birthday boy!

Clock wise: Kimberly, Nate, Stacey, Karen and Z.

















This was MAYBE half the gang...okay not even half!
Aiden, Ryley, Stacey, Nate, Kimberly, Karen, Z, E and Aunt Judy.


















Birthday wishes! Boy I wish we had some more cake!























Something only a gamer could appreciate. A gift card holder from where else but Nick's favorite store...Gamestop.
Hello, My name is Liza and I am a video game widow.
(I don't mind it relaxes him and it gives me reading time.)



















A family gathering isn't a gathering with out some Rockband!
Dave belted out some tunes and can sing one mean Blondie song....your good Dave...your real good.

Our dinner was perfect and at the end of the day when our family was gone and our munchkins knocked out we sat at the dinner table for another slice of cake.

We talked, we laughed and we were grateful for our family, our boys, our faith and each other.

Odd men out??

Nick and I were watching a show last night, one we think is pretty funny. But Nick noticed they drink and talk a lot about wine.
He said it seemed unrealistic with all the wine jazz.
Nope, I told him I know a lot of mom's who love wine, talk about it and have a glass every night.
Nick and I aren't big on wine, give us Kahlua and Cream any night.
Then we started cracking up on how out of place we are.
I kid you not, I think a majority of our neighbors are college educated, wine drinking, family folk (we're sandwiched between neighbors who are microbiologist, research scientists and an engineer).
Nick and I are college drop out, Kahlua and Cream drinking, Family folk.
Then I was like Oh man we're "Those" neighbors!
At this revelation we sat in our chairs and cracked up...why did we think this revelation was so funny???

Ohhh maybe it was all the Kahlua and cream.

Finally we run in the same circle....the 30's circle.

Yesterday was a very special day, it was Pops' birthday.
Not just any birthday yesterday he turned 30. FINALLY!! I've been in this 30 crowd for 3 1/2 years now he has finally joined me.
The boys and I tried to make the day as special as we could.
What better way to do so than by making homemade cards and some yummy cake.
I make our cakes every year but since Pop's requested both his favorites for this Saturday (his family birthday dinner) he asked for a small bought cake for yesterday.

You can't see it well in the picture but the boys picked the cake. It was a kiddie cake from that new movie How to train a Dragon..or something like that.....if only I had known that they were going to fight for the toy afterwards...ugh I SHOULD of known they were.

Little E anxiously waiting for daddy to arrive to his gift, cards and cake.

Special birthday hugs.

Leading Pops through the house toward his surprise.

The evening was great, Nick wanted B.B.Q where the boys ate free...yay!

Then home to cake.

Happy Birthday Nick, God has blessed you with another year may he bless us with many more.

Weekday fun!

Yesterday Nick called me when I was on my way home from picking up the boys.
He told me No 30 minutes today!(Boys usually get 30 minutes of snack and relax time before homework). He wanted the boys to finish up their school work...he had a surprise.
We took them bowling for the first time.


Check out the score board...I remember when I went bowling it actually used to say "Nick and Liza", now it's "Dad and Mom".







































A very nice employee directed us to this contraption to help the boys...it did help!

Someone was VERY proud of himself.

We had a great time! To many more bowling trips.