For the cutest picture in the history of the fun house?
Playing at the park.
Archive - November, 2008
Thank You Chris & Becky!!!!
Thanks to the Kisers, Ella has a new “Giant Ariel” and nightgown to match. She LOOOOOOOVES them. Chris & Becky arrived Friday night, bearing gifts, and it’s been pulling teeth to get her out of the nightgown. “Giant Ariel” sits with her during meals, on the couch and even on the vanity in the bathroom while Ella takes a bath! Thanks a hundred times over to Chris & Becky for the gifts, but more importantly, for loving our kids like your own. WE LOVE YOU!!!
Never Say Never
So….when I was a DINK (double income no kids), I swore I would NEVER
buy clothes for MY kids that had Disney characters or cartoons or
anything like that on them! And I’d most certainly never shop Wal-
Mart for kids clothes when there are so many BETTER options like
GapKids, Gymboree, Macy’s…..you get my drift…..NEVER SAY NEVER!
Ella girl will be 3 on November 28th…..and I’m being reminded
several times a day by the party girl! Ella LOVES Ariel and all
things Disney princess and I know nothing would make her heart soar
more than if she were to open up long-sleeved Ariel pjs or a new t-
shirt for her bday. Our current Ariel nightgown is literally hanging
by a few threads, but no matter the time of day, she peels off her
clothes and puts it on the minute it pops out of the dryer. So today,
I found myself holding my breath while I quickly, yet carefully,
looked through every rack of pajamas and t-shirts at Wal-Mart to try
to find either an Ariel t-shirt or nightgown or pj’s for my precious
little three year old. I think I even started praying aloud…..”God
please have her size, please Lord! She NEEDS these!” Well, today
wasn’t my day- I found Ariel pj’s in size 18 months and a t-shirt in
5T, but nothing in 3T…..grandmothers, be on alert!!!
My how things change. I’m thankful for Wal-Mart and cheap cartoon
clothes….because there’s nothing my preschooler likes better and
that just makes momma smile!
A Day at the Farm
The kids and I went to Old MacDonald’s Farm today with Nana and had a blast! We stayed out
there for 3 and a half hours and the time flew because we were
constantly busy! Summary of activities:
there for 3 and a half hours and the time flew because we were
constantly busy! Summary of activities:
-As soon as we arrived, Ella saw “pie-corn” (popcorn) and had to have a snack. We sat down at the picnic tables and had juice and pie-corn.
-Ella grabbed the feed sack and went tearing off to the pond to feed ducks/peacocks/emu. Got almost too close to the Emu and that dude was scary, but she didn’t bat an eye.
-Buses (and then more) of kids arrived from HISD.
-Fed sheep and goats; said hi to the llama from a distance.
-Ella ran after the deer to feed them and a big deer snatched the feed sack
out of her hands, knocked her over and went to town on it- we tried to
tear it away while Ella’s eyes were as big as saucers……I got all of
it on video.
-Trip to the hand washing station.
out of her hands, knocked her over and went to town on it- we tried to
tear it away while Ella’s eyes were as big as saucers……I got all of
it on video.
-Trip to the hand washing station.
-Ella skipped over the horses first time around.
-She petted the cow, pigs, more sheep and got in the pen with rabbits to
chase them around. Then picked up a small pellet- “Mommy, what
is dis?” Put it down Ella- that’s poo poo.
chase them around. Then picked up a small pellet- “Mommy, what
is dis?” Put it down Ella- that’s poo poo.
-School kids came around Ella and the rabbits- “These are MY rabbits!!!!” and turned over their food bowl.
-Another trip to the hand washing station. (see comment about pellets)
-Another trip to the hand washing station. (see comment about pellets)
-Back down the line of animals again and Ella petted the horses this time, but would not ride them.
-Waved to kids on the train- Ella do you want to ride the train? “Mmmm- maybe next time!”
-Hand washing.
-Hand washing.
-Picnic lunch where BEES circled our food; wind picked up the table cloth and
blew it around. Ella exclaimed, “Our picnic is ruined!”
blew it around. Ella exclaimed, “Our picnic is ruined!”
-Running and sliding and swinging and playing in the sand pile.
-Shook sand out of every piece of clothing on Ella.
-Shook sand out of every piece of clothing on Ella.
-Ella, Nana and 2 little kids played tether ball. Yes, it was fun to watch.
-Swarms of kids lined up to ride the horses and train, of which Ella will ride neither.
-Another round of animal browsing and we played in the big pile of hay in the barn.
-Hand washing.
-Hand washing.
-Mom promises candy to Ella if she pets the horse who is wearing “a necklace
and a seat.” Ella is hesitant. Pappy is a cowboy and he rides
horses…..Mom sneakily places Ella on top of “Cocoa” the horse and she
instantly smiles. “I’m a big girl because I’m riding the horse!”
and a seat.” Ella is hesitant. Pappy is a cowboy and he rides
horses…..Mom sneakily places Ella on top of “Cocoa” the horse and she
instantly smiles. “I’m a big girl because I’m riding the horse!”
-Ella won’t get off the horse.
-Let’s go get Nana to take a picture of Ella on the horse! “I don’t want to!”
-Ella runs away from mom…..consequences are threatened.
-Ella runs away from mom…..consequences are threatened.
-Everyone is back at the horse corral and Nana is taking pics of Ella on the horse- this time it’s Snickers.
-Ella rides through the corral over and over. “Mommy I need to T-T!”
-Trip to the bathroom.
-Hand washing.
-Hand washing.
-More playground equipment, chasing a ferret around the picnic tables, hand washing and another round of pie-corn and
cold coke.
cold coke.
-Promises of treats and candy if she rode the train. Little kids swarm around us
as we get on the train and as we ride around we are all talking about
the things we did at the farm. I point out the sand pile and the kid
in front said, “I played on that and the kids wouldn’t share the
trucks.” Ella retorted, “Sometimes kids don’t want to share….then
they get consequences.”
as we get on the train and as we ride around we are all talking about
the things we did at the farm. I point out the sand pile and the kid
in front said, “I played on that and the kids wouldn’t share the
trucks.” Ella retorted, “Sometimes kids don’t want to share….then
they get consequences.”
-Look kids- say bye-bye to the horses
and Ella turns around to tell the kids behind us, “I’m a big girl
because I ride the horse-nees!”
and Ella turns around to tell the kids behind us, “I’m a big girl
because I ride the horse-nees!”
-Load them up and go home as Ella polishes off her second bag of pie-corn on the ride home.
-Head-to-toe washing.
-Head-to-toe washing.
FUN FUN FUN! Lots of pics and video……just wished our Pappy and Daddy could have come too!
Facebook Activity
If you've been at our house at bedtime any night within the last 10 years, you would know that Seth HATES going to bed. And trust me- in 10 years, we have tried it all. We have made lists, visual schedules, sticker charts, rewards, phone calls from special people, videos from special people, role playing, modeling and force. I mean it. We have done it.
To say that bedtime is usually stressful at our house is an understatement, and the fact that Seth is 12.5 years old and hasn't yet thrown in the towel and decided to go with the flow is proof at how stubborn- I mean determined- that extra chromosome really is! (Just kidding...kind of...)
Last night was no exception. He fussed and barked at me, and I barked back. He threw toys at me and said unkind things and I started taking away privileges. It finally ended in him losing his most prized possessions- his pink and green "punkeys" (monkeys) and also losing the opportunity for dad to come lay in bed with him and read him to sleep (this is the ULTIMATE loss). It was brush teeth, lights out, good night for him and a big deep breath in silence for me downstairs.
This morning, I expected him to remember and be grumpy about things. Sure enough, he started off that way. However, he got in the groove as we talked about going back to school and seeing his friends and oh how they have missed him, won't it be fun to sit together at lunch?
As he finished his morning routine of getting ready, and I was busy cleaning up the kitchen from hours of serving breakfasts and making lunches, he walked over to me, grabbed my hand, and said, "Mom, I need to talk to you special. Sit down. I want to talk to you."
<INSERT CHRISTMAS MIRACLE>
"Mom," he said, "I am really really sorry I have bad attitude at bed. I am so sorry mom. Hurts my heart. Ok mom?"
<CUE THE TEARS IN MOM'S EYES>
I told him I forgave him and it hurt my heart too. I told him how proud I was of him and how much I know he can do it, just like all the other big boys his age.
His sweet little hand brushed my cheek and he said, "Mom, you deserve a chocolate. You are....a SHINING STAR!" and proceeded to hug and squeeze and kiss my cheek over and over. He then asked if he could have his punkeys back, and of course, I obliged. His world was right again, and my heart was EXTREMELY encouraged!
Seth took responsibility for his attitude and actions without being prompted by me or his dad or siblings. He wanted to make things right again, and his whole demeanor shifted once that was off his chest. For Joel and I, this is a HUGE step in the right directions...something we have been praying about for, well, 10 years. I don't expect him to be perfect again tonight, and I don't expect things to be fixed every night from here on...but we are making baby steps. Well, maybe this was more like an almost-teenager-step today. Either way, I am spending time today reflecting on the power of forgiveness and thanking God for this precious gift!
"Be kind to one another, tender hearted and forgiving each other, just as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you."
Ephesians 4:32
1 month ago
Huge! What an encouragement. James is 10, and I pray for these things in him. He will show contrition, but mostly because he doesn’t like to make mom mad, not because he knows he did the wrong thing (I think...hard to know sometimes with limited speech). I pray for his heart always.
Thank you so much for sharing your heart. What a sweet blessing. 😀
What a wonderful boy with such a kind heart. ❤️
Ella’s freshman team highlights. A lot of fun especially for the year 2020.
2 months ago
Seth is rocking out his braces and we have had a very successful first three months! I would have never thought he could wear braces considering it took YEARS to get him comfy just sitting in a dental chair, but as I’ve always been told, “keep the bar high and he will exceed it!”
So proud of you, Seth! You are one handsome dude! 😁
5 months ago
Awesome... Just look at that smile!!!
Emerson can not wait to see his sweet face next week!!!
Can’t imagine that smile even getting better!!!
Whoa, looking good handsome!
Great Seth!!
Love you Seth!! You are amazing!!😘
Way to go Seth. You are handsome!! Joyce
Awesome! ❤️❤️❤️❤️
Way to go!!!
way to go yo got this
Way to go Seth!!!!