First Ups

It seems I'm developing the habit of doing mass posts on the weekends. I'll try to remedy that for the future, but make sure you catch all five of the posts I wrote for this weekend! Pictures galore...

We also managed to catch a first on video this weekend!

Anna actually got some air!

First Sleepover

Some friends in our lifegroup had the chance to attend a marriage conference right here in the area, so we agreed to help them by keeping their youngest son, who is Caleb's age, for two nights. They get along pretty well. These pictures were taken yesterday afternoon as they played at my parents' house, had a picnic, and rode on a tractor. It was also before they got tired of each other last night. :) Overall, it was an exhausting (for me) and good weekend. I was glad to help... but now I need sleep.

B is for Brownies, Birthdays, and Blowing out pretend candles?

Caleb gets to have a day off from school for his birthday! Well, sort of. Caleb was born on Memorial Day, and his birthday falls during that holiday again! He got to have his school celebration on Friday, and though he didn't act crazy or prideful, you could tell he loved his moment in the spotlight. We love Mrs. James. She's done a great job of meeting the varied needs of the students in her class this year!

Birthday Party (sort of)

We had a planned Saturday night dinner for some of the other staff at our house. That keeps us from all wanting to go out to eat after the Saturday night service ($$) and since we rotate houses each week, it's less pressure and we still get to fellowship. What we didn't expect was that it would turn into an impromptu birthday party for Anna. I did get her a cake, but everyone else was instructed NOT to bring gifts. Oh well, we have generous friends!

Cute mini cake, but every attempt to blow out the candle just blew her bangs! :)

Gingerly sampling the icing, then begging for "keen hands"

Gifts! Stacey said that was the only bag she had, but we still teased her. Anna loved the clothes from the Windovers, the tea set from the Lewters...

...and the cool chalk and chalk-holders from the Haiglers.

Slick hair and rolled shirt sleeves

Caleb's class and the Kindergarten classes at his school let the good times roll with a "fifties" musical montage last week. We practiced ahead of time the whole concept of actually singing and doing the motions while on stage. Caleb is much more content just watching everyone instead. Here are some photos captured from way-back in the sanctuary. Sorry if they're blurry!

Looking for Mama and Daddy at the beginning

Just after yelling, "Hey, Mama! Take a picture of me!"
All smiles after the first song

Actually singing AND doing motions... Both were firsts!

The last song involved a few in front doing example-motions for the crowd to follow. Caleb was blocked from seeing us, and this was what he did right after the song ended: Tada!

Multimedia message

Heard at the McDonaldspot...Mobile Edition

We were in the car headed home from Mom and Dad's, when Anna started saying "Mama!" (She only knows how to do this in a demanding way; we've practiced a nice way, but it won't stick)
We explained that we were picking up pizza for supper. For the remaining 15 minutes of the drive, it was "Cheetah, Cheetah, Cheetah!" followed by a pause, then "Mama! Mama!! Eat." More explanation followed, then more "Cheetah".

When Scott went in to get it, we worked on pronunciation:

Anna: Where Cheetah?

Mama: Daddy's getting the pizza.

Anna: Cheetah! Cheetah!

Mama: Yes! Puh-puh-PEE-tza

Anna: Chuh-chuh-CHEE-tah (repeat exchange twice)

Mama:(laughing) Anna, you're funny!

Anna: Anna punny!

Mama: punny! puh-puh-punny.

Anna: puh-puh-punny

Mama: puh-puh-Pizza

Anna: puh-puh-CHEETAH!!!

Birthday Girl

Sharks, Puffers, and Rays... Oh my!

(This is the 4th in a marathon of posts...don't miss the three previous ones!)

We had a fun and relaxing trip for the first weekend of May to the Texas State Aquarium.

Easter Antics

Easter Sunday afternoon meant egg hunts at Mimi and Pawpaw's, dinner with them, the Lewters, and the Harts, and cascarones! If you haven't had the fun of cracking a confetti egg on a lucky person's head, you don't know fun. ;)

Caleb liked cracking them on the sidewalk...

...thus the strange follow-through pose.

Anna had to figure out more about the mess...

We only sprinkled it in her hair...
maybe she'll be tough-headed enough next year.

Cheese-ball pose. :)

Fourth Time's a Charm...I guess

Hope your Easter was a great one!

Spring Break at Snoopy's with the Family

We're really not that violent...

I found some awesome swords made of swimming-pool-noodle foam and gave them to Caleb for Christmas. They were a big hit, (pun intended) , with Caleb and Scott, as we witness regular fencing matches in our house now. Caleb is actually really good with his sword. Anna was content to watch for a while.

Then, one day when Caleb and I were out and about, Anna snuck up on Scott as he was using his laptop and stabbed him in the shoulder with a loud "Tee Yah!" We can only assume that she was mimicking the "hi-yahs" we usually hear from Caleb.

I hope you enjoy these clips! The first is an attempt to recreate what happens with the swords. The second was unplanned!

Friday Caleb Funnies

One afternoon recently, Caleb and Scott were shooting baskets in the driveway. We have the goal set at 8 ft. for Caleb, and he prefers to use his mini Aggie basketball for now. Scott got the ball and attempted to shoot it instead of the NCAA size one we have. As it left his hands on a mistaken trajectory toward the side of the backboard, Scott said, "Oh, that's bad." Here's the dialogue that immediately followed:

Caleb: Yeah, Dad, you were bad at that.

Me: Caleb! You should be encouraging to others even when they say something negative about themselves.

Caleb: (Immediately) Well, Daddy, you were only a little good at that.