Sonshine School

Reese and Caleigh started their new school last week. It is called Sonshine School. It was hard to leave Wee School after 3 years, but it has actually been our best week yet on the potty training and behavior. I am really happy with the school and I think he loves it and is really learning a lot already. Its an adjustment to get them their earlier and pick them up earlier since it chops my work day up into 3 pieces now, but its going well.

Reese just came up to me and told me the trash can was all full and he needed to take it out. I wondered where he got this from (definitely not from my wonderful and loving husband whose strong suit is not the trash). He said- I learned at Sonshine School that boys take out the trash and I am a boy! That's what I call training them right and money well spent on school! He insisted on taking the kitchen trash out to the garage garbage can.

Yesterday they had Grandparents Day tea. I went as the "grandparent"

Caleighs 12 month pictures

These are the pictures from Caleighs 12 month professional pictures. She did her first photo session and once I told the photographer how she tore into her cake at her party, we decided to meet again for a cake session. It made for great pictures- cant say the same for my newly cleaned grout and tile. We threw her in the tub to clean off after the cake and that turned into another photo session. I had collages made from each session to hang on the wall of her room- those are at the end of the show. Rusty cant complain anymore about the lack of Caleigh pictures in the house with 5 collages:)

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Caleigh had her 15 month checkup on Fri. She is now 39 inches and 22 lbs. She continues to be like her brother at 90% height.

Dentist Visit

Where has the time gone! Summer is over and school is back in session. Its a busy time at our house as Rusty returns to his last year of teaching and our kids leave their beloved school of 3 years to start a new one.

Caleigh got her first hair cut last week- cried the entire time. Post to come on that.

Yesterday, both children had their first dental visit. Reese was nervous about going (he kept saying the dentist was going to drill into his teeth) but did a fantastic job. We were told Reese will need extensive orthodontic work when he is older (takes after his mother) since he has an over bite and a small mouth. Thank goodness my mother in law came with me because 2 kids at the dentist was a crazy sight

Pictures from Chicago

We had a great time in Chicago. The trip got off to a bumpy start due to our plane being delayed 4 hrs and us getting to town alot later than planned. We were able to do almost everything we had planned to do in Chicago. We were walking from sun up to sun down every day. I think I wore my family out. My mom and I took Nathan and Micah on the trip. We stayed in a condo we rented on the 41st floor of a high rise. It was a lot of fun to stay in the heart of downtown. We visited alot of museums, attended a Cubs game, took a walking tour and went out to the suburbs to Frank Lloyd Wrights house- all in a few short days. I had a great time there. If it wasn't for the cold weather, I would move there!

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Finally- the Disney World pictures

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We had another great trip to Disney World in June. This was Reese's 4th time to go, so my pictures are pretty sparse. We did actually go all day to all 4 parks and then had 2 days of down time at the resort. Caleigh stayed home with g&g and it was a lot of fun to have one on one time with Reese. He never really got into the characters in prior years (they usually scare him) but this year he was tracking the characters down and wanting to see them. There were the 4 boys and 5 adults on the trip- never a dull moment. We are taking next year off and heading to Colorado and then he and Caleigh will be back to DW the next year.

Sorry it took so long to get these out- after all we went over a month ago. I was waiting on the pictures from other family members to compile my pictures.

Transformers 3 filming in Chicago

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We were fascinated by watching the filming- when we werent being yelled at to move by the production staff. The last night we were there, strobe lights came in our window for several hours as they were filming something on top of the trump tower. We heard they were filming, but werent expecting to walk into the set while trying to get to Macys one day and a museum the other. Not what you expect to see early on a Sunday morning. The most amazing thing is that you would go by later the day or the next and it was business as usual and it didnt look like anything had ever been there.I have never seen transformers but think we will go and see it next summer!

Breakfast fun

I am waiting on the pictures off my moms camera and then will post all about Chicago. We had a great time

My kids never cease to amaze me. This morning Caleigh took her shoes off in the car and was pointing to things she wanted. She also tries to mimic taking herself out of the car seat (pushing the buckle and removing the straps) and actually knows whats coming next when you dress her. She even puts her arms, legs and feet out and pushes them throw. I cant remember when Reese did this but its more of a reminder she is less of a baby everyday. She has a huge personality and is hysterical!

I wanted to document a conversation I had this morning (this is an ode to Charissa because she always does this and I think its great to document!)

Reese likes to set out his breakfast and get it all ready for me to poor the cereal and milk. This morning he yelled out from the kitchen (I was in the bedroom)
Reese: "Mommy- I cant eat. There is stuff all over the table "
Me: "Rusty- can you go pick up your computer so Reese can eat"
Reese: " Don't worry daddy. I can just use your computer for my place mat!"

The computer is never in the kitchen so he was thrown off. The thought of using a computer with a place mat was genius! Thank goodness we got there before he could

I took him to see Toy Story 3. This was the first movie I ever took him to. He and Austin had a blast. They were quiet and sat still the entire time.

Jackson Hole

I am beyond behind on my blog. Still plagued with Internet issues and wondering where the time has gone. I am headed off to chic ago and still never blogged about Jackson Hole or Disney. I am falling down on the job! I am really trying to read more and go to bed at a decent time and therefore less computer time and blogging. We will see if that stays when our iphones come in. I was hoping to have it in time for Chicago but it is still back ordered

We took an impromptu 6 mile hike- didn't even have a camera or water. Good thing we didn't see bears! I also went on a shopping spree there and I am prepared with snow boots and a heavy jacket for the few days a year we may need them:) I didn't think I would be as impressed with Yellowstone as I was. We are already talking about a follow up trip- it was fantatstic

We had a wonderful trip to Jackson Hole in May. It snowed every day except the last, but we went hiking the snow and never thought a second about not. It was our 10th anniversary trip and we had a blast.
We had a great suite at the Four Seasons. We were treated like royalty. I wish we were there about a week later when the trams to the top of the mountain were running, but otherwise we were able to do everything we wanted, without the summer crowds.

We took a long day trip up to Yellowstone (13 hr day of sightseeing) and a day trip to Teton National Park. We took a 6 1/2 mile hike in the snow up a mountain, but our camera battery died so there is no proof of the views we saw! It was impromptu so we didn't even have water. Good thing we didn't see any bears (even though others on the hike did!

We also spent a day shopping around downtown Jackson. I am prepared with snow boots and a heavy jacket for the few days a year we may need them:)

We had a great time and cant wait to go back.

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short update

It has been busy times around here and my blog has suffered. Reese and I just got back from another great trip to Disney World with my family (Reese's 4th trip there). Rusty just got back from 2 1/2 weeks in the field with the army, and Caleigh just got back from a trip to her grandparents.

The biggest news around here is that Caleigh is 100% off bottles. I know this doesn't sound like much but both my kids fought cups and I have invested more money in every sippy cup ever invented. I have a huge collection and I am thrilled she has chosen one and I can get rid off all the bottles for the rest of my life. No more scrubbing bottle parts and having to use special dishwasher baskets and drying racks

Reese is doing really well with swim lessons. He screams the entire time but does everything they ask him to do- its the craziest thing!

Since I am up workint at 2 am I will keep it short and leave it at that tonight. I promise to post about Jackson Hole and Disney World soon

Birthday Party Fun

We had a busy Sat. We attended a family reunion and then had Caleighs bday party. She had a blast. The hit of the party was she and Reese sharing her new pink car, and watching her eat her cake. Reese never had a messy 1st bday cake (we were just learning of his allergies so he had Apple cake) so this was a first for us. She had so much fun making a mess

Birthday song

Cake Smash

Caleigh started taking a few steps during her party- it wont be long. She is very social and easy going. She loves to talk (and scream) and loves to play with Reese. She is happy wherever she goes. I cant wait to see what the next year holds for her!

Stats
Length: 30 1/2 inches
Weight:21.2 lbs

Birth

Now

Birthday party for 6 girls!

Our bible study group had 6 girls born last June (out of 8 women in the group) . We had a bday party to celebrate all of the girls turning 1. We had the party early due to scheduling, but celebrated all the same. We had a great time. We had a cookout, fishing, smores and fun for all of the kids.
I apologize for my singing in the video.

10 years ago

Look how young Miles and Brad were

all the ADPi's

We have a crop!

I have been begging Rusty to build a garden for years. This year we finally did it- and I am proud to say that it is doing extremly well. My herbs are looking wonderful. I have loved being able to cook dinner by grabbing ingrediants last minute out of the yard instead of having to run to the store.

Today, Reese and I went out and saw RED in the garden. We have our first batch of tomatoes. They have taken over the garden. I moved the mellons and the herbs out of the garden because tomatoes are EVERYWHERE! I am excited that we are going to have a great crop of home grown food this summer. This is a great family tradition to get started. I remember gardening as a child and how much fun it was. Now if only I can get Reese to eat tomatoes! I am going to making a lot of tomato sauce and freezing!

Here is a picture on the day we built it (somehow the only one I took- we dont have one of it completed)

and a picture of our first crop

Can't get a break

Poor Caleigh cant get a break. I took her to the dr on Tues and she has the stomach bug (after several days of not keeping anything down we wanted to make sure it wasn't a complication from surgery). She got over that and then had a spot of poison ivy that we went back to the dr for. Obviously she didn't get in the plant but touched something or someone that did. Its a small spot on her leg, but still another addition to her sick week!

It wont be long before we are off to Jackson Hole.I am slowly getting it together and reading my travel book. I am usually very prepared for a trip! I have a feeling we will show up at the concierge and tell them to plan the week for us!

Rusty and I took a cooking class together on Tues. I thought it was fun. He said he cant work with me in a kitchen because I am a disaster with tools:) I have really really improved my skills over the past few years and actually think I am getting pretty good, thanks to the classes. Well, partially the classes and partially having a kid with a milk allergy and not being able to cook casseroles.

On that note- I put a little bit of cows milk in with Caleighs milk today and no issues! I know she passed her allergy test, but the fact that she had no reaction to a small amount of straight milk is fantastic! Rusty and I were commenting out at dinner the other night (when we ordered fish tacos not thinking they would have cream sauce on them) how great it is to be able to just feed your kid off the table at a restaurant without having to call a chef over or read up on the menu before you go! We tend to stick to the same restaurants over and over where we know he wont get sick, as a result. Now we just pray that Reese listens to me when I tell him that if he drinks Caleighs cups he will be in the hospital and unable to breathe. I really wanted to put her on soy milk but the dr really advised me to put her on cows milk since soy is like being on diet milk (hence why Reese is only 8 lbs more than she is)

Pictures galore

Caleighs 9 month pictures and our bluebonnet pictures are in. If you want to flip through them you can view them at
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Ear Tube Surgery

Everything went well this am with her surgery. We had to be there at 6 and of course the dr didn't come until 7:30. I had to walk her in the stroller for an hr to keep her happy while we waited because she was so tired and hungry. She was hysterical after surgery but fell asleep on the way home and took a 3 hr nap. Everything went well, she was just so tired. They said in the or she was shaking her head no, making them laugh and trying to lick the inside of the gas mask. Rusty stayed home today to take care of her and to take Reese to school this am. Its been funny to listen to them play. Its not often Caleigh and Rusty get to play by themselves.

She already seems happier and does seem a bit louder- now that she can hear better:)

Good news and bad

The bad news is that we are meeting next week with a dr to put tubes in Caleighs ears. 6 ear infections have been enough!

The great news is that her allergy test came back clean. Praise God! I am so excited about this. Its been so much easier to feed a child when you don't have to read the labels and ingredient lists of everything you have! Its so funny how feeding cheese and yogurt didnt even occur to me until a friend mentioned it. I have no knowledge in the land of baby food and dairy! I was hoping if she did have them, that they would atleast be the same ones, so to have none is a double blessing!

Shock of the day

I was getting Caleigh's snack ready when I looked over to see this I guess since Reese wasnt here she had to find someone to mess with

Laugh for the day

http://butterflychaserphotography.blogspot.com/2010/04/babies-and-texture-issues.html

Caleigh does not like the outdoors and especially being set in the grass. I don't think she is going to be fishing with Daddy anytime soon.

And we took her inside and she was happy

Baseball game

I know I promised to be better about blogging, and still haven't. Still plagued by interent issues and expect to be on the phone complaining tomorrow AGAIN!

The children and I have taken 2 major shopping trips to the big city for the past 2 weekends. I will take a selfish moment and say I am having a blast shopping back in my regular size. I have lost or close to (as I don't own a scale) my pre baby weight and can actually buy decent clothes. Yeah! I reached this with Reese within 3 months but not this time. I think its a mixture of Jillian Michael's and my gall bladder. I am no longer swollen and was actually even able to wear my wedding band today. It hasn't seen the light of day in a year! Even though it was painful, I am really glad i had the gallbladder surgery and feel SO much better.

Caleigh is now 10 months. 10 months going on 4 years. She thinks she can do everything Reese can do. She pulls up on ever thing and I predict she will be walking before long. She was tearing up his train track today and into all of his toys. She is not super excited about her baby toys, but give her a train or a car and she is happy. She is still a happy and content baby. She is the lap baby I never had in Reese. She is so much fun and constantly has me laughing.

This week we made it to a college baseball game. I had never been to one and had a lot of fun. My cousins boyfriend is a pitcher on the team and gave Reese a ball from the game. He is so excited to have his autographed ball from a player. It was a late night getting to bed for him, but he had a blast. He was delirious by the end and told us he was going to sleep in his car seat and not to wake him up. Of course then we got home and he demanded we read books- as if it was 7 pm!

Thanks Shea and Clayton for the tickets!

Getting a game ball from Clayton

Wilcrest news

Thrilled for him, but so sad for our family. He has married all 3 of us and dedicated all of children. He followed us through the ups and downs of Miles's entire life. Mom put it best when she said its like losing a family member.

On Sunday March 30th Pastor Woo announced his resignation as Senior Pastor of Wilcrest. As many of you know, Pastor Woo has been with Wilcrest for 18 years; over which time God has used him to lead the church in reaching the nations. Pastor Woo is following the call of God to become the Senior Pastor of International Baptist Church in Singapore; a country where the people are about 43% Buddhists, 15% Muslim, 27% other or no religion, and 15% Christian. This is a tremendous call to proclaim the Gospel to this nation and to the surrounding countries. As Pastor Woo preached before making the announcement, "I would be a pitiful Pastor if I am asking others to go and spread the Gospel if I myself am not willing to go." Pastor Woo's last Sunday will be May 9th and May 15th will be his last day in at the church. Although the entire church body will deeply miss Pastor Woo, as committed followers of Christ we rejoice by faith for what God will accomplish through Pastor Woo in Singapore and for what God will accomplish through us in Houston.

Update

It has been drama right and left with the internet around here. Verizon came out today and assure me its fixed for good- so now I will blog more regularly again.

Its girls weekend around here. Rusty and Reese went to the lake and Caleigh and I have a packed weekend here.

Reese never ceases to amaze me. Reese sees me working out all the time (I do a video in the afternoon when she is napping and he is playing) and now wants to work out with me. After much discussion around not lifting my weights, he is now using his blocks. He tells me they are too heavy, but loves to lift 3 lbs weights:) Well yesterday he told me that he had to quit exercising because he needed to go and cook dinner. The things your child repeats from you!

Caleigh and I took a trip to the ER last night. The off hours nurse thought she may have a staff infection, which she doesnt. The antibiotics for her ear infection (thats infection #5) are just tearing her stomach up and its been a never ending challenge getting her to eat and keep it down. Thank goodness the antibiotics are almost over

9 months old

As soon as my Internet is fixed I promise to blog more. I have to reset the router all the time. I sit down to do something on the Internet only to be disconnected in the middle. The thing is, when you work from home, this is a HUGE issue. I finally got time to spend an hr on the phone with Verizon. After spending 2 days on the phone assuring them I was not my neighbor Courtney (who moved 2 years ago mind you!) they determined my Internet (which I was paying for) was actually coming from her house and that I didn't have Internet. HOW DOES THIS HAPPEN???? They assured me it would be fixed the next day but that was a week ago and I am still waiting on that call back. So guess what I get to do tomorrow!! Apparently this is very rare and it was a very confusing phone call!!

I wanted to say a quick word on Caleigh. She had her 9 month appt this week. I cant believe how big she already is. She has decided this week that she wants to self feed and has limited time with me feeding her. I was a little worried at first that she couldn't eat on her own (she has no teeth still) but it seems to be going well. She drops a ton of it on her lap but has been eating her meat, veggies and fruits on her own and doing well. I do spoon feed her at least 1 thing at each feeding, but overall we are all happy about this. She can eat dinner with the rest of the family and I now have time to cook dinner (currently I do it during her nap or pull her highchair in the kitchen and cook at the same time- not to worry, she is not near the stove). She is crawling everywhere and standing up all the time. She pulls herself up on the tub, on chairs, on tables- you name it.

Stats
18 lb 2 oz (50%)
28 1/2 inches (80%)

She and Reese still continue to non stop love each other. He comes in every morning to tell her good morning and give her a kiss. She is more interested in him most times than drinking her milk- makes for an interesting time.

Poor little thing had 3 viles of blood taken to have her allergy tests. They called to give me the results on Fri afternoon but didn't leave a message- so I have to wait until tomorrow. Its been torture waiting all weekend!! I am pretty sure she doesn't have a milk allergy because so far she has had 3 cartons of yogurt and a variety of baby food with dairy ingredients. I just pray if she does have them, that she has the same ones. I think I will break down in tears if she has wheat, oat etc. We are already pretty limited in what we can eat around here.

Close call

Rusty is out in the field this weekend so the kids and I came to see grandma and grandpa. I had a day of shopping planned in Austin, while they watched the kids. I took their car so that they could keep the car seats in mine. I approached a toll booth in Austin to find that the brakes wouldn't press down. The car shuddered off and on and it took all of my body weight on the pedal to get the car to stop. I immediately called my father in law, and he took the 1 hr trek over to Austin to help me. It turns out an engine hose on the intake manifold broke and caused a loss of vacuum to the break booster. All of these to stay that the system that helps you press on the break wasn't working, and therefore bad news. I am so glad he was able to come and fix it and we all got home safely.

My father in law is the best! He put me in a new radiator yesterday. I had a leak and was tired of dealing with it. Instead of having to pay $1k like most people, he got it done for under $300. Yeah! It pays to have a father in law who is an amazing mechanic and can do anything I need on my car. I will drive this car into the ground and keep it as long as I can for that very reason.

Reese was doing great on potty training and has had major regression while on this visit. I thought we were making some progress!

Caleigh woke up screaming in the middle of the night.

All around good times! I keep telling the kids to be on their best behavior so that the grandparents will be happy to watch them when we go on our 10 year anniv trip to Jackson Hole this May:)

Sunday stand

Caleigh is changing before our very eyes. Today I took her out of the high chair from eating spaghetti (hence the no clothes) and looked over and find her doing this... And this is just a cute set of pictures I took of her this morning in her church clothes.

Splish splash I was taking a bath

It was time to put up Caleighs little bath tub. She was splashing all over the kitchen. We decided to get out the duck tub we used with Reese. Like anything new, Reese insists that he needs in it. He has recently become obsessed with wanting in the pack n play- imagine a kid wanting to be confined! She went crazy splashing around in it.

8 months and counting

Caleigh is 8 months old today. I can hardly beleive it! She is crawling all over the place and pulling up on things. She can go from crawling to sitting upright and then pull herself up onto Reese's toys. Things are about to get very interesting around here! Here are some recent pictures of her

Goodbye

Today I attended the funeral of my great uncle Woody. He was the last surviving sibling of my grandfather. He wrote poetry and they read a beautiful Valentines poem he had written his wife. Rusty should take note!

Birthday

Today would have been Miles 18th birthday. There is not a day that goes by that I dont think about him. We miss him dearly