Deep in the Heart of Texas

Berry picking with our homeschool group at the farm...

Driving down the dirt road to paradise


Mary Clare was insistent that I photograph the windmill


Longhorn cattle


Texas Flag


Blackberry picking! He liked to pick and throw!


She liked to pick and eat!


And she wanted nothing to do with picking berries at all!


Baking the blackberry pies




Stevie enjoying the great outdoors



Plasma cars are cool!



What a fun Friday! Thanks again to the O family for hosting our group out there once again!

Once upon a time

I was a ballerina. (Yep, that's me at about age 12)

From the time I was 2 years old, I would supposedly wake up from my nap each day and stand in my crib asking "Bal-gay, Mommy?" (wondering if that day was ballet class) Dance seems to be in my blood and during my entire childhood I can't remember a time when it wasn't a major part of my life. From the time I was in about 2nd grade through high school, I was dancing virtually every day. Tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, drill team...you name it, I loved it! Tap was probably my favorite of all. I seemed to shine the most in tap and was blessed with some good rhythm! I was never the best dancer of all, but I loved dancing and enjoyed performing and competing.

I loved being on stage. I would get told over and over again how much people loved my smile :) I was always happy dancing. It was a creative outlet as well as a physical fitness opportunity. So although I lived my childhood eating fast food almost every day, you wouldn't have known it! My family was always very supportive of my dancing. My mom tells of how just a few days after my younger brother was adopted, he was at his first dance recital surprising all our friends who didn't know of my parents' plans to adopt a newborn! My dad and brother patiently sat through many a recital or dance competition. My mom always helped behind the scenes and also worked very hard when I was in middle school to petition the state to allow dancers (and other sports followed) the opportunity to forego public school PE and leave school early to dance. I know that benefited me as well as many other athletes after me.

During my senior year in high school I faced an illness that kept me from dancing for awhile and I never really got back into it after that. I taught a little and took some classes in college, but I had other things on my mind and a new life to live as an independent young lady! I spent most of my time at the Catholic center, learning about my faith and meeting God in prayer. Then I met the man who swept me off my feet, and aside from some country dancing here and there, I've never really danced again.

Today the dancing bug has really come back! I've been taking "Zumba" classes at the YMCA fairly often. These are Latin dance classes, kind of like a combination of aerobics and a Latin dance club! The classes are just what I need as a little getaway in the midst of my crazy life raising little children. The other day our washing machine flooded the laundry room three times, and without even asking Steven (which I usually do) I dressed up and told him I was going to Zumba before I lost my mind!

This morning as I danced to the music with a smile on my face (I can't help but smile with the fun dances and energetic teachers), and looked out the window of the Y to watch the cars driving by, I felt like I was "in my element". My body and spirit were moving, and my mind was there. I feel like many days my mind is just not with me...it's stressed about life and panicked about the baby about to choke on a crayon, the preschooler who could drown if she lets go of the kickboard, the kindergartener who needs to get to physical therapy in 5 minutes, the dirty dishes in the sink, the room full of clean clothes that need to be put away, or the bills that need to be paid.

When I'm in Zumba, I'm just me. I can be me without worrying what is going on at home, and I can enjoy the gift that God has given me in my ability to dance, to move my body, to enjoy the fun music, to smile, and to cha cha cha!!!

Nature Day!

Today we went to a local State Forest to visit the gardens and take a nature walk. Want to join us through pictures?

Let's start with the cutest bug in the bunch!


The big girl with her sketchbook standing by some of the native plants


This picture makes me laugh out loud every time! His big sister fixed his hat like this...and the face, oh my!


He had the time of his life exploring without Mommy constantly chasing him around like I usually do at parks with large playstructures or ponds.


The girls checking out some of the bugs they caught for observation


Here's what they spent most of their time catching. I assume it's some kind of grasshopper, anyone know what kind? I've searched a little and can't seem to find a black grasshopper with orange cross striping.


Ellie and her little friend J looking for birds. Someone make sure Bop-Bop (my father-in-law) sees this! They string up plastic bottles so the animals can't get to the bird feeders. Bop-Bop is always trying to keep the squirrels off of his...he should try this!


Climbing a dead tree on the nature walk


Here's what the trail looked like. We saw a deer and some woodpeckers. They have a special habitat for endangered woodpeckers!


Ellie checking it all out. We were pretty hot and exhausted at this point and still were only halfway around the path!


Mary Clare hardly complained the whole hike! She enjoyed picking and eating berries.


We got to the end and the girls took off their shoes to play in the sand. Here's MC having a blast making a sand angel.


We got home to 2 special packages, one with some sweet swimsuit coverup dresses from Grampatti (thank you, they've already worn them!) and one we had been anxiously waiting for (thanks to the K family's birthday gift for Ellie)...


Our caterpillars have arrived! We'll get to watch them turn into Painted Lady butterflies! Thankfully they made it through the trip and the Texas heat, at least most of the 10 of them. We'll be keeping you updated on their development.

So that was our nature day, thanks for joining us! I'll also take a second to encourage myself and others to try not to miss out on these kinds of opportunities. I'd scheduled this trip a few weeks back but then never followed up because we have another outdoor outing later in the week. But after the guide left a message last night, I decided on a whim to go ahead and try to make it and sent a last-minute email to the homeschool group. We were so happy that 2 other families joined us! The Charlotte Mason method of home education really encourages nature study as a vital part of education and I need to remember to do it more! The kids love it, and even in the scorching heat we always have a wonderful time being outside and exploring God's great gift of nature!

Edited to add that I just happened to read a fabulous post on the Faith & Family Blog about a mom who shares my issue of having to "fake" a love of nature for the kids. I'm so much less stressed with a posh hotel, an attractive restaurant, or an exotic pool. But I want the kids to love God-made things instead of man-made things...so I'll keep faking it and enjoying their smiling dirty faces!

The evening was filled with swim team, a trip to 2 YMCAs (the first was closed) for an evening swim, a drive home that put all the kids to sleep, and my favorite show online...Dancing With the Stars! I think I vote for Gilles, how about you?

Ballerina Girls

sisters ready for a rehearsal at ballet today


Ellie's class is lambs. She's front and center.
She spent about 20 minutes throwing a crying fit because her costume is too scratchy. Oy.


And my beautiful big girl, back in ballet! She's a Hebrew child. The show is the story of Moses, "Deliver Us"


And for good measure, my baby boy after Mass yesterday.


I teared up when I realized that the Mother's Day picture of me with the kids on this bench didn't take :( I need new camera batteries; I can't believe I kept the camera on long enough to get those shots of the girls today! Thanks to everyone who sent kind Mother's Day greetings, and to my sweet family who makes me feel so blessed to be a mom (and for the cards, gifts, and cleaned up living room)!

And to my mom, my mom-in-law, and my grandmom...I hope I can be as kind, generous, and loving a mother as each of you! Happy Mother's Day!

Swim Team Fun!

Team photo Friday night


My swimming girl!


The Practice Meet-
waiting on the bench, she's the 2nd one, without a swim cap


freestyle...she made it across, yay!


Way to go, Mary Clare!

7 Quick Takes Friday

Starting with some video clips...

~~1~~
Especially for the family, here's a video of our visit with Nana at the nursing home last weekend, complete with an Ellie singing and dancing performance :)


~~2~~
To prove that my toddler doesn't make mischief all day long...
The other day I went to check on him and he was quietly reading to himself in the living room. I had to get the camera for documentation!

~~3~~
Mary Clare is doing really well on the swim team. She made it across the pool without help yesterday and jumped off the diving platform and the diving board! We are so proud of her and she is so brave as she tries new things each day! Tonight is team pictures and a pizza party and tomorrow she will swim in the practice meet. 6:45am...*yawn*...Saturday mornings are going to be rough for awhile! Here's her hesitant first jump ever off the diving board:


~~4~~
My mom might kill me for this, but this is why my kids love their NeNe! She'll even dress up in my old bridesmaid dress to play wedding with them :)


~~5~~
This is what I dig out of his mouth ALL.DAY.LONG.
I think that crayons are really his favorite snack.


~~6~~
Yesterday we survived a well-check for all 3 kids! Everyone is a-okay, aside from SJ's heart problem and his newest development--eczema :(

I have horrible eczema on my hands, so I'm not happy about my baby having it all over his legs, as well as on his belly and arms. It doesn't seem to bother him too much, but I hope we can keep it under control this summer and see if it's not allergy-related. The girls had hearing and vision screenings, and everyone looks to be growing well. A few lollipops later, we were none worse for the wear!

~~7~~
I just read a "what my kids are doing right now report" (cute, Jill!)
and since I can't think of a #7, I'll try that.

...Well, this could've been a post of its own.
I'll try to make the 7th quick take as quick as possible!

10:30am on a Friday at the B home....

Ellie was playing with all manner of things (calculator, pens, brass baptism frame) that she has stashed in the nursery. Love her stripe/floral combo, that's one of her favorites!

Stevie was busy getting into things in the girls' room. He was eating a toy clip-on earring and was playing with the doll house pictured here. He actually sits and plays quietly with this doll house a lot!

Mary Clare was busy planting sunflowers in the middle of the backyard. See? She even made a sign and covered her seeds with pebbles!


Then I realized I've never posted a picture of the fabulous home behind us, LOL! I'm not sure if the grass has ever been mowed, but now we have the bigger problem of the damaged roof from a tree that fell during Hurricane Ike. Apparently they have been having disputes with their insurance company, and now the house has so much water damage that is going to need to be torn down. Until then, we get to look at the lovely blue tarp ;-/


While I was climbing on the playstructure to take that picture, I first broke the wooden ramp that leads up to the fort, and then I heard screaming from over by the house. Poor baby had tried to get to us and slipped in a puddle on the patio. And the mean mommy took his picture before rescuing him and taking him to the shower.


Now we've eaten, the baby is asleep, the girls are making items with beads, and I need to finally finish this post and clean this house!!!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

this boy

loves standing on the kitchen table and trying to reach the light fixture

as we were finishing dinner he kept climbing back on the table to eat off our plates


then he was quiet for a few too many seconds and I found him doing this