I've been tagged!

Kim tagged me. So, here goes!
8 shows I watch:
Jon & Kate Plus 8 (I have to DVR this)
Deadliest Catch
Dirty Jobs
How It's Made
Backyardigans
Go Giego Go
Curious George
Clifford the Big Red Dog
(Can you tell that I live w/3 boys?)

8 Favorite Restaurants
El Rio (Boerne)
Yen Ching (Kingsville)
Pappadeaux
Freebird's
King's Inn (Riviera)
Zio's
Chick-fil-a
Mamacita's (San Antonio)

8 things that happened today:
I balanced the checkbook.
I did laundry.
I took a nap.
We went to closing for construction. Hurray!
Talked to my honey on the telephone.
Drank hot cider.
Played with my kiddos.
Read to my kiddos.

8 things I look forward too:
Smiles and excitement on Christmas morning.
Brownies and ice cream on my birthday.
A relaxed week with my family.
Smelling that sweet baby smell.
Decorating a new house.
Planning more birthday parties for my babies.
Eating my one per year Monte Cristo sandwich from Bennigan's.
Sitting on my new back porch and watching the boys play on the playscape.

8 things I wish for:
A long and happy marriage.
A deeper faith in the Lord.
A greater knowledge of his Word.
To raise three Godly Christian men.
Healthy children who outlive me.
To know my true purpose.
To be a better gardener.
Flat abs.

8 people I tag:
Mindi
Christy
Dionne
Heidi
Alexandra
Erin
Jodi
Katy

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday R!

I can't believe that you are three years old!




















Here are some things about you that we don't want to forget:

You are very outgoing (most of the time) You talk to people everywhere we go and you even invited the garbage collectors to your birthday party.

You are smart. When you are quiet it is usually b/c you are figuring something out for yourself.

You like to play baseball w/your Daddy.

When you corner someone to tell them a story one story runs into the next and you never slow down.

You love to read Bambi and the Going to the Zoo book.

You would eat pancakes for every meal if allowed.

You love to sing and remember the words to lots of songs.

You love your brother and want to do everything just like him (or even better.)

You say, "I am free years old!"

You can say banana, but you usually call it anabana, just 'cause.

You love to pray and you put thought into what you pray for.



We love you so much son and we pray that you will grow up to be a strong Christian man who walks with Jesus each and every day.

Go Spurs Go!

Last Tuesday night we had plans to go as a family to the Spurs game! However, during the afternoon B began to run a fever and developed a mysterious rash ( more on that later.) Since at the time we thought he possibly had scarlet fever, (yes, the nurse told me that's what his symptoms indicated and then proceeded to tell me he couldn't be seen by the doctor until the next day) he and I stayed home and watched the game on t.v. while Victor and R went to the game with Kyle and Seth.

To say they has a good time is a gross understatement. I will let the videos tell the story.




I think it is safe to say that R thoroughly enjoyed his first Spurs game and Seth didn't exactly look bored!!

Baby #3

Last Tuesday we went for a sonogram and we received baby # 3's first gift.

"nuff said?!!!! :)

Fire Station Visit

Last Monday Nov. 10th, we got to take a tour of the local fire station. They had fun and the firefighters were very kind and patient as they explained things and let each boy get on and off of EVERYTHING!

Here are the Fikes boys and the Cummings boys.

First Aggie Football Game

Some friends offered us four tickets to the last home football game of the season so the boys made their first visit to Kyle field. The game was depressing, but the Spirit of Aggieland was alive and well!! There's nothing quite like it. The boys had a great time! They enjoyed the flyover in honor of the upcoming observation of Veteran's day and they just thought they were so grown up.

R could not wait for the drums to come on the field and you gotta love a two year old's interpretation of football. Before halftime he asked me this question. " When those guys are done running around crashing into each other on the grass and playing dead will the drum guys come out and march?" :)


Camille, this video is for you and anyone else who hasn't had the opportunity to hear the Noble Men of Kyle live in a while! :)


P.S. I don't know why everything is suddenly underlined.

More from Halloween weekend

Pappaw and Jan were in town Halloween weekend. We decided to go bowling on Saturday. It is so much nicer to bowl now that the bowling alley is smoke free.

R in his first pair of bowling shoes.















B had bowled before, but this was R's first experience. He had so much fun and we wish we could have captured his reactions. He has a flair for the dramatic.

After bowling, we went to eat at Benihana's. Our chef just lit the grill in this picture. R seems concerned and B's face just cracks me up. They spent most of the cooking time asking for more fire and hiding in case there should be more fire. :)















Also, this weekend they played a little golf in the back yard w/Pappaw and Jan and they were given their very own (real) golf balls and tees. On Monday they were playing outside and the golf balls kept ending up in the neighbors yard. So, I told them they had to come inside. They then invented some new game (bolfing.....gowling??) In this game you line in tees on the floor upside down and roll a golf ball trying to knock down as many of the tees as possible!

Thanks Pappaw and Jan for a fun weekend!

Halloween

Howdy all. Hopefully, you all had a fun and safe Halloween! We had a good time. We started the evening by joining a Halloween party at one of the local nursing homes. Lot's of the residents came out wearing a festive hat or mask and they all had candy and the kids went from person to person saying trick or treat and talking about their costumes. We did this last yearand it is definitely worth it.
















Next, we went trick or treating with lots of folks from church and loaded up on candy! The boys were very proud of their costumes, especially the capes! However, they had very limited knowledge of either superhero's abilities. When asked if he could catch a speeding bullet, B said "No I am just a boy, but look at my cape."
















Finally, we ended the night by visiting the home of some very dear friends affectionately known as Uncle John and Aunt Val! This is our Halloween tradition. B has been to see them every Halloween night since his very first time in costume. Here he is listening to the ocean via Aunt Val's shell collection.

Fall Fun

In the middle of mountains of laundry, monotonous discipline, and trying to decide what's for dinner (again).......we get these moments and we know that we are so blessed!!!!































































































Happy fall y'all!!!:)

Future Aggie Buddies

Do you recognize these funny men?















They bear striking resemblance to three older, more distinguished (but no less funny) men!

Back to School......way back

These are some pictures I took before the boy's first day of school this year. I know that was months ago, but I wasn't feeling well then and I can't resist posting them now.

Things kids say......

This morning we are driving to the boy's preschool. From the back seat R says, " Mommy you always pick me up right." (He had a rough start to his school year and has not always been excited about going. We have made lots of progress...no tears, but reassurance that I will return for him in the afternoon is appreciated.) So, as usual I respond, "That's right I always pick you up!"

Next, he turns to his older brother and says, "You always pick me up too, right Bubba?" To which B replies, "No, I can hardly get you off the ground!"

Look and see what's cumming!

Well, if there is anyone out there here still follows this blog, please let me attempt to explain my loooong hiatus.
















Yes, this is what you think it is! Our first photo of baby number 3! The baby is due the first week in April (although they first said the first week in May then measured via sonogram and said the kid measures one month bigger, but hey we have big babies! So, we will wait and see.)

Now before you start sending me angry comments, let me say that I have not been feeling so hot. This pregnancy is different from the others in that I have felt lots worse a lot more often. Plus, in the middle of it all we evacuated my parents from the threat of hurricane Ike, Victor boarded up homes for countless families, my Dad had his hip replaced, my uncle had emergency surgery, and B & R come w/ me to South Texas for a week to help my Dad out while my Mom went to be with my uncle in the hospital in Temple.

Did I mention that I have been tired!

Anyway, all in all we feel extremely blessed and excited! Now if Victor will just get my house built..... :)

The Amazing Cat!

A few months ago, this adorable creature wandered up to my parents house. She is super friendly and has a front leg that was once injured and has mended incorrectly (but it doesn't slow her down one bit.) My parents named her Sunshine, but didn't want another cat. She bonded with my kids immediately and got along well w/ our dog. So she came to live with us.















When we moved ( oh yeah that's why I haven't posted for so long we moved :) w/n the city limits we worried that she might not stay w/ us but she did and thus began B's beloved new "responsibility." He began feeding the animals each morning with great pride and words cannot express fully his love for Sunshine.

He says she is amaaaazing b/c she will stand up like this! ;)




















Fast forward to this past Saturday when B goes to give her breakfast and she is no where to be found. He is very worried and of course dramatic (as in, "I will never see her again!" and I will never have a cat again!") I thought no big deal she is an outside cat. So, she went exploring she will come back.

She didn't come back...not on Saturday....not on Sunday morning.....not on Monday morning. By this point we have walked the neighborhood calling, driven the neighborhood, talked to our immediate neighbors, and made a trip to the animal shelter....w/o any luck. Just before I began making fliers, our next door neighbor informed us that a neighbor two houses down saw a cat matching Sunshine's description and took her to a house one street over where another family had been missing their cat for 3 weeks.

We go over there and explain the situation and we are told that yes they do have the cat we are talking about!

Wait it gets weird.... so we go inside and Sunshine is no where to be seen, but they tell us that the cat we described is the litter mate to their cat "Eucalyptus" and then show us a cat that is identical to ours! I am stunned. I say wow and explain that we rescued Sunshine from south of Corpus Christi so I don't really know her background. They asked me lots of questions about how she looks, acts, times, dates, and vet reports. All the while we still have not seen the cat in question and it is becoming clear to me that they think that we either adopted or kidnapped their cat ("Sparkle") 3 weeks ago and that during that time her leg was broken and allowed to mend w/o proper care. Apparently, I said all the right things to put their minds at least somewhat at ease and they brought Sunshine in and she indeed was our Sunshine she immediately began playing with the boys and B was thrilled!

So, they let us bring her home and I felt sad for them and relieved. The cat however, is now sojourning w/ my parents until we move out of the city. She truly does not like being cooped up inside. It seems that, even when they are amaaaazing, you can take a cat out of the country but you can't take the country out of the cat. :)

NOW it's summer!

'Cause it just isn't summer 'til you've had that yummy juice dripping off your chin!

Also I wanted to share this funny conversation. Our sweet B (I always call him our hall monitor) he just can't help himself.

The boys have just had baths and gotten into their p.j.s.

Me : R we need to brush your teeth.

R: I am not R I am Sporticus! (He says w/ his chest all puffed out doing his best superhero pose and speaking in his deep voice.)

B: Well fine then. Sporticus, it's time to go brush your teeth.

Oh how we laughed!! I mean he really can't help it! I am so sorry Mom.....I now know that I drove/drive you nuts!! :)
CC

The fourth of July...very belated...

I am super behind on posting. We have been quite busy lately...potty training, packing, moving, swimming lessons, and VBS. I did want to let you see how we spent our fourth of July.















We were living the a American dream (preparing the home site!) Great trees!!





















My, my what big muscles you have!

















Siesta!

........and so it begins!

7/3/08 12:30pm The ink is dry and we now own the new property where we will build our 2nd house from scratch.















This is what our new building site looks like. Right now you are thinking, "All I see are trees!!?"
You are exactly right.....lots of trees!!















7/3/08 @ 5:30pm Victor begins the clearing.















Two hours later....he is making some progress!
















Look at this pile! Stay tuned!!!!

A friend remarked to me yesterday that God has been blessing my family alot lately. My first reaction was to wander if that meant .......I was due for something bad to happen (what can I say I have some Irish in me...not named Colleen for nothin'.) Then I stopped and thought about it some more I had worried so much about getting our house ready to sell, selling it, finding new property, find a place to live in the interim, and on and on and on.....just ask my husband. God took care of everything and for once he even did on my timeline. A close friend came and gave me staging advice the day I asked. Our house sold after being on the market for only four days. Victor got a new job, that he loves, which pays well and has decent insurance. The rent house we lived in before is becoming available, just in time. We found a terrific piece of property in the neighborhood we wanted, and the school district we wanted at the best price we had seen in a long time!! And all this time my family has been healthy and provided for!!

I ashamed to say that all of this was going on all around me and I haven't been nearly excited or thankful enough!

Dear Lord,
Thank you so much for the myriad of ways that you continue to bless us. Thank you for sticking with me when I move from worrying about one thing to the next w/o looking up. Forgive me
Amen

This Week

Another busy week......I decided to try several different new recipes. Homemade wheat bread..good but not great. Homemade gold stars (goldfish recipe, but I don't have a fish cutter)......very good. Victor says they taste more like Cheese Nips. It isn't pictured but I also made homemade (not Hidden Valley) ranch dressing...I really liked this alot!!














Papaw and Jan sent these squishy, bouncy, light-up orbs. Lots of fun, especially in the dark! Thanks!

Rylan had swimming lessons this week. He loves the water and is not afraid at all. He ended the lesson yesterday by jumping in totally unassisted ( I did not catch him) in the shallow end where he knew his feet could touch the bottom. The instructor told him we weren't going to catch him before he jumped but he was excited and I wasn't sure he got it. Then he jumped and when he came up he looked surprised, but we cheered and he said "jump again"! What a guy! Sorry I don't have any pics. It is a Mommy and me class so I am in the water with him. Hopefully Victor will be able to come to at least one class so we can capture his fearless excitement!

So far this summer

We swam , fished,skied, tubed, and had water balloon fights with Papaw and Jan in Crosby.




We celebrated "Daddy's Day" the weekend before Father's Day b/c we were out of town on June 15th. As you can see, the boys were very proud that they "surprised" Daddy!





Daddy and and Mommy did some relaxing in Arkansas while Gran and Papa watched two little boys feed their dogs, cats, cows, horses, chickens, donkey, fish and anything else that would open its mouth. (Braden wakes everyday & tells me that he needs to go to Riviera, b/c Papa really needs his help.) Thanks again Mama and Daddy!




We have been enjoying outdoor devotionals held every Sunday evening all summer long!
Our new TV came with
bonus talking heads!


We hung out with Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Mindi, Uncle Fire Captain (aka Jeff), and of course Aggie Aubrey!

We're bloggers!

Well several folks have been encouraging me to start a blog. So, here we go!!