Happy 4th!

 Independence day was a busy but fun day. We went to the Friendswood parade.  It was okay.  Nothing much to write about.  The kids seemed to enjoy it alright, even if it was a little hot.  I dressed Elisa in the same awesome dress she wore last year.  It was a little snug on her this year so I doubt she can wear it again.  Ian wore a little romper a friend gave me, and Gabe didn't have anything patriotic, but a blue shirt and red pants are good enough.
We then headed over to the train/turtle park, and stopped at Sonic on the way because I was dying of thirst.  The park had lots of free stuff, including free hot dogs (we didn't partake) and free soda (so much for stopping at Sonic), and also free popcorn and free cotton candy.  The kids had fun jumping in the bouncy house.  The only other thing I remember about this event was waiting in line forrrreevverrr for a little smidgen of cotton candy.  Ugh.  We had a birthday party to go to right after and I was worried we would be way way too late but we got there just in time for the fun to start.  It was Gabe's friend, Angelica's party.  She was in Gabe's kindergarten class last year, and this year they are in the same class again.  They are good buddies.  Her mom is very kind--she is the one who gave me all of those clothes for Ian!  She also gives Gabe a ride to school in the mornings.  The party was very fun and the food was perfect.  We all had a good time.  While at the party, I noticed something sharp in Ian's mouth.  It was a tooth!  Ian got his very first tooth on the 4th of July!  The second one came in about three days later.
After the party, we came home and did a couple of tame fireworks in the front yard.  Okay, fireworks isn't what I'd call them.  More like poppers and snakes (which didn't work hardly at all).  The kids loved doing the poppers.  Ian loved just hangin around outside and watching and listening to big bro & big sis pull the poppers.  

Happy Father's Day!

This past Father's day was great!  Too bad I can't remember it too well, on account of me being more than 3 months behind.  But judging from the pictures, it was a nice day.  The kids sang in church (no Gabe goofing off this time, I made sure of that).  I can't remember if the kids gave their gifts before or after church.  Elisa and Ian made a little note with Elisa's hand prints and Ian's foot prints.  I don't know why I didn't take a picture of it, but it basically looks like this one, just a little sloppier:

 

I think Gabe made something for Erik, too, but I can't really remember what it was. 

I'm sure I made a dinner but again I don't remember what it was.  But I did make this awesome doughnut cake, since Erik likes doughnuts but I didn't have any!

Happy (late) Father's day to the best daddy/husband!  XOXOXOXO

Random Summer Happenings

 What went on the last summer, aside from trips?  Lots of things! Fun things!  Watching Ian grow is was one of them, but there were plenty of other fun things that happened:

SWIMMING.  We spent a lot of time at the community pool.  Even Ian liked the pool.  Gabe and Elisa are getting bigger, so it is fun to watch their confidence around the water grow.

And, along with swimming, the splash pad.  I think we only made it once this year.  It's kind of a far drive, but the kids always have fun:

While were on the subject of water, the kids really enjoy playing in the hose.  And I'm happy they're actually wearing swimsuits and not out there butt-naked like they have been in the past, way more times that I'd like to admit:

My sweet Ian has grown so much over the summer!  We love him so much!  He's my happiest, silliest baby yet!  He is so beautiful with his big blue eyes and cute button nose.  He's been called a she more than once.  

Who you callin' handsome?!

My Elisa.

Sometimes she's nice...

 ...and sometimes she's naughty

But I always love her!!

Gabe has been OBSESSED with Mario over the summer.  Can you tell?  Mario has been the subject of all of his creative endeavors.  

Gabe took this picture.  His Mario figurine on some bricks he set up.  What a silly boy1

Gabe made this out of beads.  He made other Mario characters too.  I had him re-make them on a piece of parchment paper so that I could iron the beads in hopes to melt them together.  It worked, but almost all of these creations broke fairly quickly and I couldn't fix them. 

Role-playing.  Guess what he's going to be for Halloween?

A Mario-head pillow I made for him.  He was so very excited about it!

A Mario "pillow" Gabe made using paper and duct tape.  Cute, but not savable 

 Gabe is such a creative little guy.  This here Mario is made out of sewing pins.  Who thought sewing pins could be used in this way?! So clever!  

 These kids are the best of friends, especially Gabe and Elisa.

 

 Butts.  What else can I say?
 

 Ian very very *very* first taste of solid food.  He wasn't sure what to think.

The kids found this baby bunny in the backyard.  I told them not to touch it.  The white spot on its head means it is still nursing it's mommy so it was too little to take in (not that I would have any idea how to take care of a bunny anyway).  I told the kids to leave it alone, and they did.  It went back to its mommy (it hope!).

 I have two of the most cutest boys in the world!

   

 Child slave labor.  They actually really enjoyed scrubbing the floor with a toothbrush.  I will enlist their help again next time I clean the tile grout, right after I make Ian pick up all the food he threw on the floor from his high chair.

 

I found literally a hundred of these pictures on my iPod.  Gee, I wonder who took them all??

Thrift Store Find

Anyone who knows me just a little bit knows I love finding a good deal!  And that I'm border-lined obsessed with GoodWill/thrift shopping.
I found these Disney Princess toddler dolls on one of our many trips to Goodwill.  They were only $3 each, regularly $10 or more new.  These girls came with their clothes, and they were all just a little bit dirty.  Elisa helped me clean them with a wipe.  I gently hand-washed all their clothes.  Their hair was icky, so I used a solution of 1-part water and 1-part fabric softener.  I sprayed it on their hair and combed/brushed it out until the hair was good as new! Well, almost.  Rapunzel turned out well, but Airel's red hair didn't seem to take.  And since Cinderella had curly hair up in a bun, the solution didn't make too much of a difference.  But I cut, combed, and styled all their hair so that they looked (almost) as good as new!  Elisa loves her dollies.  I just wish she would play with Ian less and play with these dollies more!

Bible Camp

A friend from Elisa's dance class helps put together a bible camp (aka Vacation Bible Study or VBS) for her church (Lord of Life Lutheran).  We are not Lutheran, but since this was free and the kids were out of school, I thought "why not?".  Besides, this is our last year living in the bible belt so we might as well live it up. VBS consisted of mostly crafts, bible stories, and singing for the kids.
They seemed to enjoy the camp; lots of friends were there.  It went for the 3rd week of June from 8:45 till noon. It was nice for me to have a little break and just hang out with my Ian.
The Sunday after camp let out, the kids were all invited to sing the songs they learned during the week of VBS for Sunday service.  I thought it would be a good learning opportunity for me to attend a different church for once in my life.  Unfortunately, Gabe was a compete DUFUS during the kid's singing performance--running around, acting goofy, and basically doing anything but singing.  I was so, so embarrassed.  And MAD.  I wanted to spank his butt right then, but instead I had him sit by me until the songs were over. The service was interesting.  We had a lesson on Cain and Able, which was basically the Pastor telling his elaborated version of the story with some references to real life thrown in here and there. There was a lot of song-singing and sitting and standing.  For the sacrament, everyone lined up in the middle of the rows, and waited for their turn to kneel on a long alter to receive the bread and wine, given to them by the Pastor.  I was in the mother's room chastising Gabe and making sure Ian wasn't screaming, so we did not partake.  I wish Erik would have come, but he was post-call so he was sleeping. We enjoyed cookies and punch after.
I'm hoping we get one more time in VBS before we leave Texas forever, the kids learned a lot and had a good time.  And all free!

Not a pretty face, Gabe.

Elisa on her first day with all of her little friends

They have an awesome mother's room.  Beats ours by a million miles.  Ian really liked the excersaucers in the room.

Fairy House

 I'm back-tracking here, but better late than never.  Elisa and I made this fairy house together back in end of May/early June.
I picked up some popsicle sticks at Walmart, with this specific project in mind.  I wanted to do something with Elisa that would keep her attention, get her involved, and wouldn't be just thrown away.
Elisa didn't have much to do (besides watching) with the actual construction of the fairy house since I used hot glue (and let's be honest--she has no idea how to construct a fairy house).  There were no solid plans I was following while making this house; it was done practically on a whim but I think it turned out just fine.  If popsicle sticks had square ends instead of round ones, this house would have been a lot easier!  And having a nice, sharp tool in which to cut the sticks would have been quite helpful, as opposed to the crappy scissors which I broke trying to cut the sticks. 
Elisa really enjoyed helping me paint.  I think the house would have looked more professional had I painted the popsicle sticks before gluing them together, but oh well.
Elisa loves this little house.  We put it outside so "fairies" can use it, but I forgot about it and it got rained on.  It was practically destroyed, but I re-glued it.  It has never been quite the same, but Elisa doesn't notice.  It now sits atop her dresser :)