Cars

In the past month we have been car selling and buying fools....this truck Dukes is the only one that we previously had and still own....the lion in the back is not a permanent fixture we loanded it to our kids daycare since they are doing an African Safari Summer theme...so what better than and African Lion to hunt.

The new .....well new to me Tahoe...07 z71...very pretty and smooth and even has a remote starter so I can cool it down or warm it up and never actually go outside...niceIt has a brushed aluminum or somthing in place of the wood grain...YIPPIE...wood grain has never been a favorite of mine.... I think looks out of place...but totally personal and its been in past cars but not in this one!

Also this one had the seats I think are soo cool.... quad seating but the two toned colors...Duke says it is wierd but I think it is sharp. And look at all those airducts ...my kiddos are gonna be cold....when it is 100+ I wanna here I am cold....not hot. ( the H2 did not have any rear above your head air ducts = HOT on occasion)So that is my new mommy mobile and I think I am gonna love it....plenty of room to seperate any kids that want or need their space, plenty to entertain them and keep um' cool. And the BEST part is it is paid off today...no payments !!!!!

Finally here is the new toy for Duke that he swapped the other jeep for plus some cash that went to my new truck. So everyone is happy and paid for.

u-p-d....a-t-e

update update we want updates....u-p-d...a-t-e!

Yes I have slacked and one possible reason could be my theory that my home mysteriously moved to the surface of the sun and I am doing all I can to conserve energy and not spontaneously catch fire. WOW is it hot here. Another is I have just been crazy busy.

In the past 14 days, Duke and I had a college reunion weekend in Fredricksburg. Which was wonderful, relaxing and good times, but the packing of the kids for my parents house was nonsense. The were there 4 days and they took 3 fishing poles, blow up water slide with blower and water re-circulator, 3 bikes, 3 sleeping bags, and tent. So that was TONS of fun to pack , unpack then re-pack and unpack.
On Tuesday I returned my H2 smart buy, and am looking for a new car. One of those ahhh moments to feel that huge payment go away, and have a good grasp of what I want but now the problem of finding said vehicle.
On Wednesday I celebrated my 34th birthday, my kids made me a cake and wrote their names in it ...actually it was very yummy. I think I stretched it out long enough to get several waves of gifts, cash, artwork, pandora bracelet, furniture, lotions, and awesome cake from Nadlers THANK YOU ELENA AND KURT !( it was so good I did not want to share it....but I did).....I'll take it even if I do have to admit to another year.
Thursday was the hattie mae day to make the house presentable for company coming later.
Friday I worked an extra day at work for the fathers day lunch, and then packed all the kids in the car to go buy furniture and Purchased 2 chairs, play table and chairs, vases, and toys....at one of Dukes model home sales.
Saturday began with my cheer clinic for my daughters pee wee cheerleaders at the local high school with their cheerleaders. Actually very cute and lots of fun for the girls. Then ran home changed clothes and went to the end of season picnic and party for the pee wee league. Then ran home again showered and changed and had dinner on the riverwalk. It was wonderful and there was a breeze. Saturday night I had 6 house guests spend the night, one for multiple days, my cousin Jess...hope the kids didn't scare you too much;)
We did a fathers day lunch on Sunday for all the dads at my house...3... then Monday floated the river.
Tuesday we sold the 4 door jeep, and bought a 2 door jeep, and continued to look for a new car for me!

Hopefully the remainder of June will be less of a blur of activity and more time at the pool.

season pics

The Cyclones, Reids soccer team

Reid being goofy...Daddy did not take an individual shot...so I will have to this weekend

The whole Jr. Rattler Organization Macy, Savannah, Amari, and Aleighya

The Jr. Rattler Cheerleaders

My little hard hitter

Dales Rookie Team, front row center

Macy and Savannah

Macy and Dale

Macy

Football is done, and Soccer ends this weekend.....AAAAAAaaaaaahhhhhh

Dallas Fun

We headed to Dallas to visit Troy and Carolyn and their super cute new house in White Rock lake. The purchased a home built in the 20's and reno'd it and WOW it is great. Mama Sam also flew in for the fun and we played catch, and had lots of quality family time. Carolyn's parents were out of town and were very sweet and allowed us to borrow their beds so we all slept very comfortably, and even better they have a pond out back that is stocked with fish. So the boys were spoiled with instant gratification fishing...NICE. Macy was in HEAVEN since Carolyn's mom, Nana, has 2 doll houses there to play with, so her dolls got to go on vacation too.

Dale and one of the bass
Reid not taking his eyes off the bobber for even a second

boys, pond, fishing, and felix the swan

We also took Troy and Carolyn to Ham n Eggs this breakfast place in Lewisville,
Ham N Eggs
297 West Round Grove Road, Lewisville, 75067(north side of Round Grove, across from Raytheon, just west of 121) check it out.......it should be called BIG FOOD.... it is comic to see what arrives at the table.

This is 1 pancake...they come in stacks of 2 or 3....Dale, Reid and I shared a short stack of 3This is 1 biscuit with gravy....yikes

We took in the Disney Planet Earth Movie, played catch, explored, played at the park, painted on the deck, had ice cream and cake...what more could you ask for....a great weekend. Thanks again Troy and Carolyn.

The Hightones at Kens5 TV GREAT DAY SA

here is my dad on last friday on Great Day SA here in San Antonio...way to go dad

Seariously...

My existence has been a whirl-wind lately....work, work work....now if you do not know I am spoiled by my current work environment...good folks, great schedule, so clearly this screams (insert monkey wrench HERE) The cook at the school walked out, over silly reasons, and probably for the best in all honesty. However, this has left myself and Jennifer my other B Team co-hort, to pick up the slack and not to toot our own horn but we are doing a damn good job at it, and it is cooking not rocket science right. So this in and of itself is not bad, but what is killing me is working 5 days a week up from my normal full week of 3. Before you stone me for calling this a work week...my other 2 days are spent cleaning, shopping for food, and getting the kids whatever it is they might need, and pick up dog mess and do the lawn....so bon bons and TV time is not really happening. My house is on the verge of being declared a disaster zone....which if it comes with some sort of funding for a cleaning crew the bring it on. And cooking all morning really does not lend itself to wanting to cook at night at my own home...so we are surviving on what numerous folks would consider junk but hey its food. So if you want a job as a cook drop me a line...I'll hook you up.

We had rain last weekend which we really needed but it tossed another money wrench into plans...soccer ones...we arrive at the fields to dark skys and once parked in a front row spot which you can NEVER get....the games are called and MASS EXIT OS occurs and about 1000 cars must file out of one lane....we are talking 10-12 soccer fields, and 6 Baseball fields worth of kids and parents....it took 1 hour & 15 mins to get out...his game is only 50 mins...yea for the DVD player and snacks...but no juice b/c it was a down pour outside the entire time, and I was not about to add to my problems. Look out the rear window...thats alot of cars

However my mom and dad came b/c my dad had a band gig at a mall and so we went and saw that and enjoyed Great American Cookie Company Cookies...soooo good, and dad wasn't half bad either!! Go Bepaw!So we arrive home and the boys ....Duke included, built a track Lego display on the pool table....complete with grandstands, concession stand, and entrance booth ticketer, and a ton of cars and trucks and have since added houses pools, gardens, hot tubs, garages. I am just glad it is no longer on the kitchen table. look close this is a star studded event...sponge bob, yoda, jedi, spiderman, mr. crabs...this was the place to bethats a big burger dude... Duke insisted ALL people had to have hair or hats b/c he despises the Lego point on their heads
And our butterflies hatched and we released them into the world....this was really cool to watch and the kids LOVED it. Top it off with football and soccer and I am seriously ready for summer and a break.Macy with Coach Gary doing calls with the players at the end of practice....seriously so cute and I think she has a crush on him...just a little. She manages to get dirty at practice from Dukes pig pen gene I assume, and I told her she needed to stay clean, b/c Gary doesn't want to pick up a dirty little girl, and she agreed...so last night she was desperately whipping her face and hands clean on her shirt so he would pick her up to do the calls. I really want to get a video of it ...maybe Thursday.

Reid had his poetry picnic today at school and he performed Lazy Jane by Shel Silverstein...one of my favorites

Madagascar tribute

It cracks me up when Dale quotes this part of the movie....there is a whole song too




the song



here is a couple clips from the Penguins of Madagascar...our families fav cartoon

go-daddy-o

Not to brag but my dad is a pretty stellar trumpet player. Maybe I am so proud since I have zero musical talent and he has tons...but none the less he is a busy man involved in several music groups one is Harry and the Hightones, The Sentimental Journey Orchestra, The Symphony of the Hills and the Church Choir, as well as gives trumpet lessons to a few lucky hill country students...and is an awesome Bepaw too! Here are a couple links to a couple groups.

Harry and the Hightones...they play at Sam's Burger joint in SA frequently.



The Sentimental Journey Orchestra....plays all over for events, and weddings and such.

I had another picture of him playing his trumpet at one of the playoff Spurs games with the Church Choir singing but it will not load....oh well... it's enough I get to brag on my daddy right! So keep playing and GO- DADDY -O!

watch this

http://gizmodo.com/5231112/best-video-ive-seen-today-will-make-you-smile

A super cool video check it out

photo catchup

Just about each weekend we are occupied with fields for soccer and football....as mother nature allows so here are the kids in action

Reid after the ball

Dale ready to put a hurt on someone..... his motto is borrowed from Yoda "Judge me by my size do you?"
He looks a little bobble head-ish but hes tough

Macy and the other cheerleaders

Macy and a cheer buddy.

When we are not at the fields the boys are usually begging to go to the land and shoot the BB gun they got for Easter....yea yea I know Christ's resurection and weapons do not really mesh but we also got some painted lady catipillars that are turning into butterflies in our kitchen and that is more Easterish...so a little ying and a little yang.

the cocoons

We are also wrapping up Fiesta here in San Antonio, and although you will not catch me at any of the major events....we did decorate some shoes for "show your shoes" day at Macys preschool. She loved the shoes ....but sadly the bells did not last long after being tugged.

We also were able to enjoy lunch with Uncle Troy and Aunt Carolyn last weekend and it was really great to see them...here we are at Rudys

And Dale with Uncle Troy, he was so bummed the game was cancelled, he wanted Troy to see him play so badly, but there will be other games I am sure.

Dale met Earl Campbell at the UT Coop in San Antonio a few weeks ago and got a ball signed. A freind today said they saw Dale on TV in the news blip about Earl.... so I went searching and found it.

http://www.woai.com/mediacenter/local.aspx?videoid=675587@video.woai.com&navCatId=16

It is at the end the only kid taking the signed ball from Earl.

HUGE DIFFERANCE

Its gone....well not all of it but a whole bunch of it. I chopped off my hair today... I took off 6-7 inches which is not enough to donate sadly but I love the cut. My hair and I have a TON of it on a good day with lots of work I liked it, on a bad day is was bad 80's rocker hair....frizzy, wavy, out of control. It got to the point that all I did was put it up pretty much daily...which yes is easy but also boring and containing zero style...I do not consider a giant clipie on the top of my head a style. So I made the appointment and did it. Poor Cindy got her arm work out for the day too with all the hair on my head. But after all was said and done she whipped my hair into shape and submission. Now I love it today, and hope I can repeat the style she did...I think I can and if nothing else I will be cooler this summer, and save a boat load on conditioner, and shampoo. It looked like she slayed a medium sized animal with all the hair on the floor at my chair....yikes. It is lighter and currently bouncin and behavin...so heres to a few good hair days.

Crazy Catch-up

Our youngest Macy turned 4 ...and had 4 celebrations. One in Maui, One at school, One at a friends house, and One with our family that played out over the weekend. She wanted to see Monsters V Aliens....so we did on Saturday after football practice and Reids soccer game. Then on Sunday we met up with Uncle Scott, Aunt Tanya, and Sammy, Grandma, and Bepaw for lunch at Chuck E Cheese...Macys pick, and then home for cake, ice cream and gifts. Truly hard to accept that she is 4. Really seems like it was just not that long ago. However so nice to have kids that are getting to the age of some Independence. The boys make their own breakfasts, pack their bags, put away their laundry, clean up after themselves...but at the same time will still let me love on them, and are still 100% honest with me....those years are numbered.

Duke is hanging on and hanging in with work. We are very aware that changes may be headed our way but we will roll with the waves, and will come out on top. He also had a colonoscopy this week. Not something he wants but I am so proud that he is being proactive against whatever may lurk in the dark corners of his innards. Since his father lost his battle 11 years ago on the 15th of April, he has made it a point to not carry on his dads stoic nature about doctors. So the procedure was a success and instead of follow up in 3 years it is now 5...that is great news.

I on the other hand will be the individual who may cut out my own kidneys to sell on the black market and put myself in a tub of ice....and then the black market would find out how crappy they are and give them back. I have more stone and am a little frustrated at how the system works. Last week I called to schedule a xray, done then an appt for reading said xray...it was inconclusive and an IVP ordered, done, now appt to read IVP xray films...this Friday...that is 2 weeks of discomfort... and they cannot squeeze me in at all before Friday???? What, but are willing to dole out pain meds ....I want answers not meds....maybe if I did not have 3 kids to watch I could vombi-fi myself or maybe if I could actually SLEEP when on them rather than having my mind race for 4 hours...but then again kids , so no day use clearly....this is not a solution in my book. Thankfully, I am just now getting to the pain point rather than the discomfort and really annoying pinching backache. Ahhh whatever....maybe I can just have pvc pipe put in place of my ureter....

The kids are great, Macy is cheering for the Jr. Rattlers and is so cute when she does it....pics soon, Dale is a mean green corner back for the Jr. Rattlers, his motto is nobody catches the ball on my side of the field...not even me.....and Reid is playing soccer for the Cyclones at the YMCA and oddly enough with a child of a fellow Tivy Grad....Doug Copeland....small world. Their team is not a huge force to be contended with but the kids have fun and Reid plays his heart out and plays very well. This last game he wanted to be goalie..he said "MOM I do not want them to score, and the other kids don't stop the ball...I won't score but neither will they" I love that kid...but very similar to dales motto, Duke has ingrained in their minds you'll never loose it the other team never scores....nothing like stiff competition at age 4-6-and 8.... Grades came out and Dale again got all A's...yea for daddys brains, and Reid is doing wonderful as well with all +'s and only needs to work on slowing down....so all is pretty well in the world of Danielville....with a few exceptions....but that is life, and all in all life is pretty good. Pics will come soon

Aloha

So we went to Maui for the kids spring break, and had a wonderful time. We planned only a few excursions we went whale watching, snorkling in Molokini Crater, and a Luau, we also went exploring on volcanic rocks over the ocean, and found a cool rock beach, and made the drive up haleakala. Beyond that our time was at the pool and beach which is where the kids had the most fun ...so next time we can go to quality inn in Corpus.

The whales were amazing Grey Whales travel from Alaska to Hawaii to in Nov birth their calves, they want the warm water for the babies and return in April ...hard to put into words .... mammals the size of busses jumping out of the water. The calves gaining 5 lbs per hour, and consuming 150 gallons of milk a day....and the moms do not eat the entire trip...yikes but so poetic to see. I think I could be happy as a whale in my next life....hefty size is a good thing, you travel, swim, all who see you stop and stare and have very few predators...pretty good.

While we were there Maui was having very non hawaiian weather.... it was a little cloudy, rainy and windy, which made 74 feel chilly, and the ocean VERY choppy and rough, so when we went out to Molikini to snorkle and it was calm it was very appreciated....but the ocean was a chilly 71 and with the wind added to wet it was COLD. Dale and Reid both tried it, hind sight we should have practiced in the pool but they both did ok....Reid got the hang of it quickly but did not last long in the cold water even with the wet suit on ....Macy got in and directly got out, and Dale did great when he had his mission to get back to the boat and get out of the cold water...but strangly this was his favorite part of the trip...but I would have sworn we were torturing him.

Whale watching was very cool and you can see them from shore, but to be on the water with them is very neat. The Drive up haleakala was long and a little rough....only 40 miles but it takes 2+ hours and it is VERY curvy with a switchbacks and no end in sight. Dale got a little car sick, probally the back seat with a DS is not a good idea on curvy roads. So the top was a sight for sore eyes but it was very misty and erie and cold at 12,000 feet up. The excursions on the rocks were fun and we all had a good time making wishes... you stack up rocks like a snowman kinda and they have a name but I could not recall it but we called them wishes and for every one you made you could make a wish, the views were amazing but made me a little nervous with the kids so close to the edge of a 400 foot cliff into crashing waves and jagged rocks.

We also celebrated macys birthday there as we were with Mamma Sam who will not be able to come to her birthday here. The kids really enjoyed seeing her and spending time with her. You might think that with the wind and such the pool was not a daily event...you would be wrong....one day I was in pants and a sweatshirt watching the kids swim...nuts but they loved it. I am glad that some great memories were made. Duke and I talked about how his grandparents saved their whole life and took a trip to Hawaii....and my kids have been twice , Macy 3 times and all under the age of 9 which is not a bad thing I just hope they appreciate it.

There are soo many pictures so below is a slideshow of them all

Buggy

Dale had his 2nd grade play right before spring break. He was one of the handful of assigned parts, an army ant, the other children were able to choose their insect .... he did a great job, said his lines clearly and was quite proud of himself. He wanted the camo..for Army, but black b/c ants are black...he liked his extra arms.

PE Showcase

Reid

Every 2 years the schools do an expo of skills they learn in PE so the boys participated and here was what they did. Reid was pretty shy and reserved but we were impressed he knew what to do since he had no idea even right before he did it. Dale loved the juggling and wants his own scarves.



Dale

Interviews

Interview with the Kids

1. What is something Mommy always says to you? "
Don't Color on stuff" Macy
"Who's the best 6 yr old in the whole wide world and I say ME...and you say you got it!" Reid
"Dale yes you can go outside" Dale

2. What makes Mommy happy?
" coloring only on paper" M
"seeing your friend's" R
" when you had us" D

3. What makes Mommy sad?
"coloring on walls, making faces" M
"if like a dog dies" R
"when you ask us to clean the playroom and we don't clean it" D

4. What does your Mommy do that makes you laugh?
"tickle me" M
"say a funny word I don't know and its super funny" R
"nothing" D

5. What was your Mommy like as a child?
"like a little girl named Macy" M
"I don't know" R
"weren't you like Macy b/c Grandma always calls Macy Susan" D

6. How old is your Mommy?
" 7" M
"33" R
"I don't want to get this wrong, D

7. How tall is your Mommy?
" 6 inches"
"i have no idea like 25...don't you know" R
"64" D

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
"work” M
"make dinner" R
have fun with friend's" D

9. What does your Mommy do when you're not around?
"work" M
"go get groceries" R
" you do chores" D

10. If your Mommy becomes famous, what will it be for?
"riding motorcycles and 4 wheelers" M
"by eating the most apples 100 of them" R
"Being nice" D

11. What is your Mommy really good at?
" sewing" M
"cooking R
"Cooking D

12. What is your Mommy not very good at?
"sewing" M
"riding a dirt bike" R
"downloading good songs for my ipod" D

13. What does your Mommy do for a job?
"work, help miss Lisa " M
teacher" R
Teach" D

14.What is your Mommy’s favorite food?
"peas" M
"peas" R
"Crablegs" D

15.What makes you proud of your Mommy?
"fixing my baby blanket" M
"letting me play outside" R
"Letting me go outside" D

16. If your Mommy were a cartoon character, who would she be?
" spongbob" M
"pluto" R
"Hannah Montanna" D

17. What do you and your Mommy do together?
"ride stuff, shop" M
"ride bikes" R
" do chores" D

18. How are you and your Mommy the same?
"bc we love each other" M
"were not" R
"were nice" D

19. How are you and your Mommy different?
"your big and I'm small” M
"hair, voice" R
"boy and girl" D

20. How do you know your Mommy loves you?
"because you love me"M
"b/c you've said it almost 100 times" R
"Bc you say it all the time" D

21. Where is your Mommy’s favorite store?
“Walgreens” M
" HEB" R
"walmart" D

Daddy Interviews:

1. What is something Daddy always says to you?
" hi monkey" M
"I love you" R
"Hookem Horns" D

2. What makes Daddy happy?
" that I keep my pant dry" M
"going jeeping with me and dale" R
"Texas winning a football game" D

3. What makes Daddy sad?
"when I don't listen" M
"when annie our dog dies" R
"Texas loosing a football game" D

4. What does your Daddy do that makes you laugh?
"when he tickles me, when I jump on him" M
"be funny" R
" tickles me" D

5. What was your Daddy like as a child?
"played with animals" M
"a lawn mower" R
" a dallas cowboy fan" D

6. How old is your Daddy?
" 7" M
"77...are me right?" R
"38" D

7. How tall is your Daddy?
" 6 inches" M
"72 inches" R
"72" D

8. What is his favorite thing to do?
"make houses and rock climbing” M
"go jeeping" R
"go to a Texas football game" D

9. What does your Daddy do when you're not around?
"work" M
"go ride his bike" R
"work" D

10. If your Daddy becomes famous, what will it be for?
"i dunno " M
"for eating 100 peas" R
"Going to the most UT football games" D


11. What is your Daddy really good at?
"fixing stuff ” M
"jeeping" R
"Jeeping"D

12. What is your Daddy not very good at?
"cooking" M
"riding the 50cc dirt bike on ramps" R
"cooking" D

13. What does your Daddy do for a job?
"fix houses" M
"builds" R
"Build Houses" D

14.What is your Daddy’s favorite food?
" peas" M
"peas" R
"Hamburgers" D

15.What makes you proud of your Daddy?
"that you play with me" M
"I'm not sure" R
"he plays video games with me" D

16. If your Daddy were a cartoon character, who would he be?
"patrick" M
"goofy" R
"johnny test" D

17. What do you and your Daddy do together?
"play stuff" M
"go jeeping, ride 4 wheelers" R
"watch football" D

18. How are you and your Daddy the same?
"we both have eyes, arms, head, legs, clothes, tummys,& bottoms " M
"both go jeeping" R
"We watch and love football...not OU" D

19. How are you and your Daddy different?
"because hes older than me” M
"hair and voice" R
" I like cheese" D

20. How do you know your Daddy loves you?
"he shows me" M
"he says it alot" R
"He just shows me"

21. Where is your Daddy’s favorite store?
“Bevo store” M
"Barnes and noble the magazine store" R
"the Coop, it has a picture on the door from a game we lost" D

and another funny...they are playing cops and robbers and macy just said she is allergic to policemen but she is a police man and just hand copped Dale and Reid