Bluebonnets 2009

Texas finally got our bluebonnets!! We got some rain about 3 weeks ago, enough to help sprout the bluebonnets. Last year's drought meant no annual bluebonnet pics so we were happy to see them pop up this year. We trekked out today to find a good patch and the kids dutifully sat in them as we shot about a thousand pictures. It was Finn's first time and he was so curious. The girls' did great too!!!! Maisie said, "Momma, maybe I can pick you a pretty bluebonnet." Aww, how thoughtful. Unfortunately it's illegal to pick them so Craig told her we couldn't or the cops would come get her. Of course he said it in jest, but she was really worried. Poor kid! We absolutely LOVE our bluebonnet pictures and hope you do too!

Love, Us

Rockin' the house at Sea World

Last Saturday we had our nieces over to the house to watch the girls and my men (Craig and Finn) took me to a Third Day concert at Sea World. We have season passes and so the admission was FREE!!! It's Sea World's Annual Praise Wave Family Christian Day. Third Day is one of our fave Christian rock bands.....and they did not disappoint!! It was like being at a rock concert and a church service at the same time. It was amazing to be surrounded by so many Christ followers, all praising God and rocking out. Finn loved it too. We stood in the back of the outdoor theatre so as to protect his ears as best we could. The lead singer, Mac Powell, even waved at Finn who was perched on top of Daddy's shoulders. About halfway through the concert, I looked over at Craig and Finn and Finn was sleeping (yes sleeping) on his shoulders. He dozed off for about 15 minutes and then woke up and enjoyed the rest of the concert. Only a baby could fall asleep with that kind of noise!! We had an amazing time and it was a nice break for us. We arrived home later that evening and when the girls found out where we had gone they said, "WHAT?? YOU WENT TO SEA WORLD WITHOUT US??" How dare we!! Check out our photos. Sea World rocked the house!!

Brain Matter

Hello all. Just wanted to send out an update to let you all know that on Friday I had my 6 month follow up for my aneurysm. It was an outpatient procedure and the preliminary results are that everything looks just as it did after my surgery in August-which is exactly what we were hoping for!!!! I have to tell you; going in for the follow up was so much more relaxing than going in for the diagnosis and surgeries, obviously. I was able to actually marvel at the science of it all and since I was consciously sedated I could watch the huge monitors next to my head as they threaded the camera up through my body into my brain. I could see EVERYTHING and it was really cool. And best of all, all is normal.....no comments from the peanut gallery. One more follow up in a year and then that's it.....~Deb

Last group of Florida pics

More Florida pictures

Our Week In Paradise, AKA: Spring Break :)

We spent Craig's Spring Break visiting Patrick and Carla's beach house in Port St. Joe, Florida. We packed up our van within minutes of Craig's last day on Friday and headed out towards Florida. Along the way we picked up Grandma Judy who had flown into Pensacola from Illinois. The kids did really great for such a long ride, it helped that the girls had DVD's to watch. Finn was fantastic, he loved watching all the cars and especially trucks go by. We arrived late Saturday and introduced little Finn and Ainslie to their Aunt Carla. We slept great that night and woke up to a most beautiful view of the ocean-right out our bedroom door. The kids were VERY excited about the sand and water and they played in both; once and sometimes twice a day for hours. Maisie could NOT get enough of the ocean, she swam and swam. Ainslie loved the water also, but her preference was building sand castles. Finn loved both. Our visit with Patrick and Carla went by too fast, but after they left we still had 3 days at their beautiful house. Oh, forgot to mention that before P&C left, they cooked out on their outdoor kitchen area. Patrick grilled up the most amazing oysters. We were all a bit nervous to try them, but they were gourmet and delicious!

There were lots of walks on the beach, fun outdoor showers for the kids, riding their scooters in the driveway, building (Maisie/Ainslie) and destroying (Finn) sandcastles, fun Grandma time, cooking out, lounging and chasing kids. Did I mention chasing kids?? Their favorite pastime the whole week was definitely collecting seashells!!!! We left Florida loaded down and were on the look out for a green group who might chastise us for collecting so many!! One of the sweet things that we discovered is that our Ainslie is a little conservationalist. As much as she liked collecting seashells, she threw tons and tons of them back in the ocean. She was 'saving' them we guess!! Anyway, it was really cute.

We had a really wonderful, relaxing time. We have some really great shots of the week, but they really don't do it justice to how beautiful the home and beach are. Anyway, we arrived home refreshed and rejuvenated, a wonderful result of a great vacation!!

Love and thanks to P&C (and their kitties)
~Us

Daddy/Daughter Dance-Valentines 2009

Tonight is the annual Daddy/Daughter Dance at our church. It's a chance for all the daddies and their princesses to spend some one on one time together, and of course, it's a chance for the princesses to get dressed up. Our girls have been looking forward to their date night with Daddy and they began the night by picking out their dresses, shoes, tights, hair bows and accessories (princess wands, necklaces, rings, etc). And don't forget the sparkles, there are sparkles all over their faces and necks. Daddy got all decked out in a shirt and tie and he looked dashing! He transformed himself into the royal carriage's coachman and our van into the royal carriage. He whisked the princesses away to the ball and they should be dancing as I type. Finn and I had some mother/son bonding and he is now drifting away to sleep, so I get a few precious moments alone to write you all!! Happy Valentines Day!!