AHouse Full and A Week of Fun!

We recently had Gabe's Grandparents and Mom visit for a week, and one of the things we did while they were here was go to the Dallas Arboretum. It was a special week called March Blooms and all the flowers were out and it was gorgeous. It is full of different gardens and they also had houses they built to celebrate some famous nursery rhymes.

Carmen and Joe

Carmen and Theresa

Reyse in front of a field of Tulips,

but she wasn't in the mood for pictures

Taytum in Tulips, all the girls wanted to have an individual pretty picture

How do they smell Payge?

One of the houses they built but I don't know the nursery rhyme!

Papa Joe trying to get Reyse to pet the animals

Grandma finally had to make her touch oneIt was kids day when we were there so they had a petting zoo, and face painting

Another exhibit, this one had water dripping from the top

Papa Joe and Reyse, Best Friends!

This one was Dr. Seuss!

They had to climb a small hill to get to this one, they were very proud!

Tulips are my absolute favorite, and there were millions!

The Arboretum is set in along a huge lake and they have big open fields to for the kids to play and roll down the hills, we brought a big picnic lunch and took a nice break!

This is the Women's gardens and one of my favorites, The kids got a giggle out of the statues!

They have all these little pioneer home replicas to show the kids how people use to live

I don't want to even think how dirty those beds are

Reyse had to get in on the action, and do everything her sisters do.

We had so much fun and I am really grateful that they came to visit. I know we live really far away and it's alot of trouble and expense for every one to come and visit us but we love when they do and we can't wait to see you again!

Thanks to Theresa and Carmen and Joe for all there help and the little mini vacations that I got while they took over the kids, I love when you visit and am truly thankful to have you guys here. The kids love it too and come back anytime!

The Girls New Changes!

Finally, the long awaited pictures of Taytum's hair straightened. It takes about half an hour, but it lasts all week. She just loves that it's different. I prefer the curls!

I can't believe how old and mature my little Tayt looks. It's amazing how fast time goes by.

Baylee and her most anticipated glasses. She has been telling us that she has had a hard time seeing for a while now, but I didn't really believe her because I have always had really good vision and Gabe didn't get glasses til he was quite a bit older as well. Sure enough the docter said she is a little near sighted so she was so excited to get her glasses. She really likes my glasses and tried to find a pair that looks pretty close. I think they look cute, and like a little brainiac.

I had to throw this cute picture of Reyse in there. She is getting so big (and honory) but she is so much fun to have around!

Payge felt it was only fair that she should get her picture taken if everyone else was getting theirs. I cut her hair again recently and I usually blow dry it so it looks alot better just down like she likes it.

On a side note we are gearing up for our Spring season of soccer. All three girls are playing and Baylee for two teams. We were really nervous about four games every Saturday and the complications that would arise, and whose game one of us would have to miss. Well the schedule came out on Sunday and there are no complications! It's like a miracle that we will both get to watch all the girls games and especially Gabe since he coaches or helps coach all three girls. So look for lots of soccer pictures coming up!

Aunt Bonnie visits!

Gabe's Aunt Bonnie came and visit a couple of weeks ago, and the day she left I got the flu from my kids and was couch ridden for the rest of the week. So I wasn't able to post the fun pictures while she was here. I can't say how nice it was to have an extra pair of hands for a few days Bonnie is a lot of help and doesn't mind being dragged around to all the little activities.

First was Baylee and Taytum's Valentines party at school. Baylee's classes are in portables outside the school, so we had to go back and forth a few times to visit all their parties. Reyse loves the parties all you can eat and "MOM" doesn't pay to close of attention and little Reyse gets to eat whatever she wants.

I went a little out of order. This was Baylee's soccer game and boy was it cold. Bonnie walked with Reyse back up the hill to watch the game from the car. I followed not to long later when I felt the first drop of rain!

Reyse was definitely nice and warm!

Taytum's Party!

Baylee's Party!

Reyse more than enjoys her cookies, when we were getting ready to head to Taytums classroom Bonnie went to pick up Reyse in which she had a cookie in her hand. Reyse thought Bonnie was going for the cookie and told her "NOOOOOWAH"! She gave Bonnie an evil glare and we couldn't help but laugh it was really funny.

We really enjoyed having Bonnie visit we had a lot of fun and I really enjoy the extra help. Thanks for coming to visit and we can't wait till next time!

A little bit of this...A little bit of that...

I found these stray pictures that I just had to post even though they aren't about all the same thing!

My mom got this really BIG, comfy robe from my sister and my dad kinda hijacked it. My whole life my Dad has had to have a blanket whenever he sits on the couch, since I only have one blanket for the living room if he didn't get to it first he was out of luck. He soon discovered my mom's robe, it soon became his favorite. Especially when it was nap time!

My mom teaching Baylee and I how to make homemade noodles for our Turkey soup.

Now that I am older I am starting to truly appreciate all that my mom knows. She is the kind of person that seems to know everything about everything. She amazes me with it. I try hard to learn all I can but I don't think I'll ever compare. I am so glad I have all these girls. If we can each retain small portions of all that she knows and can do we might be okay.

Family night and smores in the fireplace!

I love that Reyse is getting old enough so that Payge and her can have fun together. After I spent what seemed like a very long time pushing Payge on the carpet in this thing, she figured out that she can push Reyse on the tile alot easier! Reyse loved it, and it gave my poor back a rest!

Taytum On Two Wheels!

When my mom was here she gave us a little talking to that Taytum should be riding without her training wheels. She was right of course, but being the lazy parents that we are we like to wait till their beyond ready so that it doesn't take very long to teach them (I apply the same reasoning to potty training). So after a little while Tayte got the hang of it and off she went!

GO TAYTE! She only fell a couple of times before she was a professional at it!

Christmas Time!

I apologize for taking so long to post pictures, we had an incredible Christmas this year. I was preparing the kids for a light Christmas this year telling them that they probably won't get everything they want because of Gabe's job. Boy was I wrong! Thanks to incredible family the kids had an amazing Christmas, I tried to take a picture of most things to say thank you, but I couldn't catch everything.

I will start on Christmas Eve, they got to open a gift each and I thought they would be a little disappointed because it was pajamas that my mom had made. They were so excited for their homemade Christmas inspired pj's. They weren't even whining for a toy. They went to bed around 8:00 after reading a couple of Christmas stories and making fun of me for crying. We got everything done relatively early even though my dad and Gabe put together a three story doll house and my mom helped me make a huge cork board soccer ball for Baylee.

We also had a wonderful surprise that night. For the month of December we had some anonymous friends doing the 12 days of Christmas on us. We would open the door every night and find nice little treats or toys for the kids, it was alot of fun. On Christmas night we opened the door to bags of wonderful surprises. Their was a stocking for everyone, including Reyse chalked full of goodies, and then another bag with an adorable outfit for each child. I don't know who sent this amazing gifts but in case they visit my blog I want to say THANK YOU! You truly made Christmas special.

We(adults) got to bed around 1:00, around 2 I started to hear footsteps upstairs. Kids were wide awake and had seen everything downstairs including stockings. I coral them back in bed, at least I think I did, they crawled in bed with my mom a little while later, and around 4:00 Payge was sent downstairs to ask me what time was the earliest they could start opening presents. I very annoyed answered 6:00 and told them to GO TO BED! I didn't get up until 7:00 and kids were still asleep. My poor mom said they didn't fall back asleep until around 5:00.

And the madness began!

Grandma got Reyse this little poppin machine and some cute clothes!

Grandma got the girls Robes and piggy banks, along with cd, wii games and Hannah Montana dolls. I want to take pictures of this because Theresa sends money and lets me pick out what the kids want, I don't know until I see it. I am a Robe nazi. I have a very soft comfy robe I wear every morning. I isn't flattering at all but very comfortable and warm, everyone including Gabe likes to cuddle next to me when I have it on. So the kids have been asking for their own. They got to paint their own piggy banks and then you put them in the oven like a kiln.

Thanks, Grandma!
Nana also made pajamas for the girls, they loves them, they are flannel and super warm. They call them their princess pajamas because of the ruffles. I am grateful for the talented people that make such amazing priceless gifts for the girls.
Payge posing!


Aren't they cute

My mom also made pajamas for them, she also made them flannel pants with long sleeve t-shirts. These kids are definitely set with pj's.

CHRISTMAS MORNING!
I was very impressed with the girls this year. Baylee wanted to buy a present for everyone this year with her own money, than the other girls decided they wanted to also. We had them draw names and Gabe took them to Ross. They were so excited to get something for someone else, and couldn't wait on Christmas morning to see each other open the present they bought for them. It was really sweet.

Gabe has been working for a friend outside and it can get pretty cold, it also gets cold sitting their watching soccer games so I found this Raiders beanie for $10. He didn't think he would like it very much. He loves it and keeps telling me so. I think this is his favorite present ever.

My parents got them this HUGE dollhouse. My parents motto, go BIG or go home!

Reyse got a wooden train set from Santa!

Whoever is wearing the Santa hat is the one who passes out the gifts. It was Tayte's turn

Baylee has been asking for a big soccer ball for a while. So I got this crazy idea to make a cork board one to pin all her pictures on, she loved it.

When we were done opening gifts I went over to the front door to open the blinds and I saw this bike sitting outside, I asked Baylee if she got anything from Santa yet and she couldn't remember, so I said, "I think he left something outside for you." This was her reaction!

The aftermath!!

The pictures I didn't get a chance to take,

Papa Simon and Grandma Judy got Baylee a wii soccer game and Gabe and her have been wearing it out, Taytum got a computer fashion design game that is awesome she spends hours scanning in outfits and putting on runway shows, Payge also got a pet shop wii game, she insists we watch how good she is all the time.

Aunt Barbara gave us movie tickets that we are itching to use, Thank you!

Aunt Bonnie got all the girls Claire's gift cards so they had so much fun picking out whatever they wanted. Baylee got slippers, makeup, headbands. Taytum got a purse with matching wallet, and makeup. Payge got sunglasses make up, and other misc. items. Payge got her ears pierced, for her birthday from my mom and she didn't even scream. Didn't make a sound we were so impressed. Baylee wanted to get hers pierced for her birthday but couldn't because of soccer, so my mom got her heeley's instead. They are the tennis shoes with the wheel in the heel. She loves them and never takes them off. Since Baylee's shoes were more than my mom had to go get tayt something to make up the difference. Taytum picked out a pair of gold high heels.

So as you see we all had a great Christmas thanks to everyone.