first smile

i had to come blog this rather quickly. just a while ago i fed Kiersten and was doing the whole mommy thing--talking to her and being all googly-eyed to her. all of a sudden she cracked the sweetest smile and a bit of a giggle/coo. it was the sweetest face and sound. i wish i could capture that sound and face and keep it forever. i feel so blessed to get to hear those soft, joyful little coo's one more time. she has been cooing for quite a while and somewhat smiling, but this was a true reaction to me. YAY! if i can get it rigged up, i'll try to get a video of it for the grandmas out there.

Ozark has come to an end

We came back from Galveston on a Sunday. That evening a couple looked at our home. On Tuesday we received their very nice offer for our home. By Thursday a deal had been agreed upon. And Friday the option period began meaning it will be a done deal in one week. Now, the inspection is complete and we wait for this Friday to come. Once the option period is over, I don't think they can back out. Well, I don't see them doing so. She came by to measure for rugs and window treatments...already getting fabrics. WOW. We will close Aug. 18, my second day back to work.

I can't help but reminisce for a moment about our home. Chris and I were so lucky and blessed to have built this home together while planning our wedding. Just after our wedding, we were able to move in. It is the home that he carried me over the threshold and we looked forward to many good years here. Good years here is exactly what we have had. We had lots of parties with our close family and friends. Lots of memories can be made in 6 short years. I will never forget getting our home ready to welcome our first born. We were so excited to welcome our son. Shortly after, we were so blessed to welcome home our daughter. The 4 of us have had lots of laughs, giggles, tears, scrapes, bumps, hugs and kisses shared in this home. Finally we completed our family here by welcoming our second daughter to the family. She will not know of this home nor the good times we've had here. I do know she will hear lots of stories and see lots of pictures (on the computer) of the times we've had.

As one chapter closes, we new one must begin. Chris and I are thankful for this home and all of our family and friends that have shared a moment here with us. Now, we must build a new home for us to raise our 3 sweet children and welcome even more friends and family. We are looking forward to our new home and community to raise our children. I tear up as I think of leaving, but can't help but smile knowing what is yet to come.

Summer Vacations (109 photos), by Jenny Lytle

First came the pictures, now the actually words since all 3 kids are napping. for the 4th this year we decided to head up north to OK to see Mike and Christy's baby bump! yep, if I haven't told you yet they are expecting Baby Allen coming this January 14th (or some time around there). Mike and Chris were in desperate need for therapy. Their therapy is golf with beer. They were able to squeeze in 2 games while we were there! Christy, the kids and I just hung out at the house. There isn't much a girl can do with 2 crazy kids and a 4 week old. The kids loved playing with Lexi, hope she did too. We were able to meet some of their new found friends in OK as well. If you see the pictures, you can see that B and A were also in need of an Aunt Christy and Uncle Mike fix as well. And yes, B did get to show off his new golf clubs and his skills to Uncle Mike. Our last stop was an awesome Italian restaurant. It was the best Italian food I've ever had. I think I will need to go there every time I visit. While we were there, we received an offer on our house. It was our first decent offer too! We began the back and forth game only to have them withdraw a week later. It was a good deal, but not a great deal. I knew something better would come along.

Shortly after the OK trip, I decided I could pull it together and take K to Galveston. She is a wonderful baby! She sleeps anywhere, any place and rarely cries. I knew she would be good for us so why not go. I am so glad we did. The kids just love the beach. B would jump waves all day long and A would play in the sand all day if we let them. K slept all day long on the beach or in the back of the Acadia. There's pictures in the album (click the link). We went to the beach everyday for some low-key fun. One night we got dressed and went for the annual Rainforest Cafe trip. It is a fun place. We did our usual--River Adventure Ride. This was the first year that B was a scaredy-cat! He was in my lap burying his head most of the ride. The previous 2 years he wasn't scared at all. A was a little skittish, but not like her brother. And K well, she slept through the ride.

The kids had their first crab hunting night. They all had little flashlights and tried to hunt for the little transparent baby crabs. They had fun for maybe 10 minutes. It stopped when we spotted our first jellyfish. Several had washed up on shore that evening. We scooped them up and put them in the trash, but the kids we still worried about them. Then, they wanted to fight over the flashlights, someone looked at someone wrong, etc. etc. The typical fights of a 5 yr. old, 2-4 yr. old and a 2 yr old...there's always next year and more crab hunting!



I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
http://www2.snapfish.com/fbshareredirect/p=54191248026138320/l=2845026008/g=24888537/redirectURL=share/otsi=SALBBL/AlbumID=1436718008/a=24888537_24888537/usercomments=I_xqd%20like%20to%20share%20my%20Snapfish%20photos%20with%20you.%20Once%20you%20have%20checked%20out%20my%20photos%20you%20can%20order%20prints%20and%20upload%20your%20own%20photos%20to%20share./counttext=109%20photos/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish

National Lampoon's NKOTB concert

Why the title? Here's why...
-everyone was running late, traffic was horrible
-shan, rachel and natalie had to get the car seats out of the Jeep (my rental) because I forgot and had to get dressed
-go to back out Jeep and CRREEEEEEEEEEAAAAAK! WTH? for some reason the garage door decided to not go up all the way and it hit the luggage rack thingy on top of the Jeep. no harm done.
-traffic, but it wasn't bad
-dinner at restaurant was excellent, our server not so much. how many times did he have to re-ring our tickets? i think it took longer to get our bills corrected than it did to actually eat. i know there were 8 smokin' hot ladies at the table, but geeesh!
-find our way nicely to the venue, found our seats in front of the NKOTB crazy chicks--they had a flask!
-wonderful, awesome concert. donnie got really close to me. i'm pretty sure he tried to sweep me up with him, but i told him i couldn't go. it was great to have my long time NKOTB lovin fool, my cousin Jamie there to rock out with. it was even more fun to share all the songs with the 7 other girls that we were all with!!
-easily made it out of packed parking lot, score!
-dead locked interstates in Big D, so i try a short cut. we have a GPS...oh wait, the battery just died and no charger! DOH!
-couple of right turns and we made it to where we needed to be. no long drastic detours, thank GOD.
-girls need to potty on the way home. stop at the fabulous whataburger.
-back in the car, Jeep ready to go and WHAM! WTH, again? Oops. While backing up then trying to put it in Drive, it went to PARK. and the Coke (or pop, for you Christy) splashed on Christy's Coach! OMG!! and the Jeep, but who cares. How it went into Park, no clue.
-finally made it home safely and the garage door went all the way up this time. WHEW!


I'd like to share my Snapfish photos with you. Once you have checked out my photos you can order prints and upload your own photos to share.
http://www2.snapfish.com/fbshareredirect/p=510191248022052528/l=2843991008/g=24888537/redirectURL=share/otsi=SALBBL/AlbumID=1455999008/a=24888537_24888537/usercomments=I_xqd%20like%20to%20share%20my%20Snapfish%20photos%20with%20you.%20Once%20you%20have%20checked%20out%20my%20photos%20you%20can%20order%20prints%20and%20upload%20your%20own%20photos%20to%20share./counttext=54%20photos/COBRAND_NAME=snapfish

our baby boy is 4!

This year B wanted to have a Lightning McQueen cake and ride horses for his party. He was very specific as he was last year about the Backyardigan's. Luckily this year my mom came up and stayed a whole week with us. We were able to have a much needed garage sale to get rid of the baby boy clothes! I was able to get the Lightning McQueen cake made Saturday morning. It turned out great! Brady loved it and was so proud to show it to all of his friends at the party. Every year I say this is the last year I will make their cakes, but to see them beaming with pride and joy makes my heart melt.

His wish came true. His friends showed up and his favorite cousins. Everyone was able to ride horses, even Antone got on one. I wish I had a picture of all the kids on the horses, but I think Kiersten kept calling my name during that time...she was hungry. After the horseback riding, the kids piled into the back of the truck and the men (yes, I said the men) took all the kids (all 11 of them) to the tanks to feed the fish. They were gone for a while and evidently had a big time. They came back telling us stories of the fish, turtles and the animal tracks they found around the tanks. It was a great party and we all had lots of fun. Thanks to everyone that made it out.

I have to explain this picture. His gift from us was his first set of golf clubs. He was not expecting it at all and was very excited. If you know B at all, you know how he loves to dress up for whatever the occasion. If he is going to watch something cowboyish--he puts on the cowboy git up. If he wants to watch or play super heroes--he now puts on his new Superman pj's. If he's in a backyardigan's mood--he has this one outfit he always puts on. I don't know why he does it, he just does. So, while he and I were doing his party invitations I put a note for the kids to bring their cowboy and cowgirl gear to ride horses. He did not want to leave our house until he was all cowboy'd up. Then, he opened his presents, got the clubs and took them straight outside to hit the ball. It didn't seem to bother him (for once) that he wasn't in his golf outfit. I thought it was too cute to see this little golfing cowboy! As soon as the newness of the clubs wore off and all the kids practiced their golf swing, then he took off for the horses.

And then there was Anna...these are a pair of brady's old boots that she has adopted. she loves them. she can pull these on herself and they are a must at the farm. earlier that day she had on cute white sandals with a flower to match her dress and her hair was in pigtails. as the day wore on, she ended up in boots and one bow on the side. i snapped a quick picture of her before she changed again. i thought it was too cute!

and yes...here is Kiersten enjoying all of the festivities at the party. no, i didn't leave her in the car seat for the party. please don't call CPS. she was asleep when we got there and i didn't want to disturb her. she stayed asleep in her seat for a good while. this is the only picture i have of her at the party.