Blizzy's

OK, it's really going to happen! We had the idea last summer to put in a sno cone stand on the lot of this local country store right by our neighborhood because there is NOTHING like that near us. However, I was going to have to run it and I was grumpy and pregnant and complaining of the heat. Oh yeah - and we didn't have a stand. BUT - this year we are putting action behind our ideas. I found a cute little shaved ice stand for sale with the ice shaving machine, too! Then, drove to check it out and got schooled in the business by the friendly previous owners. We are buying it, you guys! We got permission to put it where we envisioned and this morning I'm sending out applications to teenagers who have responded and want a part time job! Just a few more super important things to do - like get the stand delivered, contact the health dept. for a permit, order supplies, etc. We are looking to open June 1 and naming all of our special flavors of the day after our friends and family. Let me know if you want added to the list. This will require you working the stand for free whenever we need you to, though. Oh yeah - Tyler came up with the name, Blizzy's. It's from an SNL skit:)

Easter Part 2

We left for Dallas Thursday after the kids got out of school. I was a little nervous about the drive with the baby because last time he pretty much hated being in his car seat all that time and let us know. However, he was awesome. Barely made a peep!!! We stopped halfway in Waco for dinner at Rudy's and made it to Dallas all in tact. BUT...Payson was terrified of everyone once we got there and only wanted his mama. The sick part of me was so thrilled about that! Usually, he's happy go lucky and could care less who holds him, but I guess he's getting old enough to recognize people he doesn't know that are getting all up in his face. He puckers out his bottom lip and lets out THE saddest cry. Let me remind you, this baby RARELY cries, so when he does, it makes us so sad:( After the first day, though, he was fine and got passed around from person to person and let them give him some love.

We pretty much took it easy on this trip. Kristine and I got a mani/pedi. We went to eat, did a little shopping, played outside, colored eggs, hunted them, went to church, and drove back home. We missed being with The Austin Stone that met in the Erwin Center this year. I heard it was amazing. But, all in all, we had a good Easter.

I pray for my kids they don't have to wait until they are adults to realize the importance of this season we celebrate...Good Friday and Easter. We read the stories out of the Jesus Storybook Bible and for some reason this year what really got me was the crown of thorns. I was holding back tears while explaining it to the kids. And Easter...without Easter, our faith is void. Without Easter, Jesus was a crazy man. Without Easter, we are condemned. BUT because HE not only died taking on our sin, HE arose 3 days later conquering death so we can too! We can now go from life to life everlasting. He is Risen!

Easter Lunch with Papa and Gigi

Talking to the Easter Bunny - doesn't Piper look skeptical?

With Aunt Teen - Piper's buddy (they have the same chin!)

On a scavenger hunt Aunt Teen set up - team work!

I LOVE this picture - my 3 favorite smiley boys!

Church with the Prices

Easter loot

Dyeing eggs - Papa created a wind proof cup holder. Duct Tape!

So cute!

Easter Part 1

My mom is a super grandma. My kids adore her and she does the cutest things for/with them...yes, more than she did with me as a child, but I promise I'm not bitter. She's just gotten wiser and more creative with age. She was crazy young when I was born! Anyway, since we will be in Dallas over Easter, she had us over for Easter brunch this past Saturday. First of all, her apartment looks like it is the model they show people. She even painted walls! It's straight out of Pottery Barn. She had a huge brunch spread...ham, quiche, zucchini bread, fruit, coffee, rolls. After brunch, she had a painting table with all kinds of fun stuff for the kids to decorate eggs...paper mache eggs, of course. After the eggs were painted and hunted, she had a quiz for all of us to take over the TRUE Easter story. Answer correctly and you get a prize:) Porter had ALL the answers - mind blowing, really. I'm always surprised at the information their little brains hold on to. Payson just hung out for the day - maybe napped for 30 minutes, but was happy the whole time. Our chill baby. Easter Part 2 will be in Dallas with the Prices!

Letting Go...a little

I remember once during my Freshman year in college, I walked into my dorm room where my roommate and some friends were hanging out and as I walked through, I adjusted things on my way that were out of order or slightly turned the wrong way and the room erupted with laughter. They had conducted an experiment and their hypothesis was proven true. They had turned things around just lightly to see if I'd notice and change things back and of course, I did. As a child I was not like this at all. I hated cleaning, making my bed, or picking my clothes up off the floor. BUT...my dad couldn't stand if a glass was left on the coffee table or the floor was not mopped every single day! My mom used to get so mad at him for putting her drinks away after she had just poured them:) So, I always say when my dad died, he passed on his OCD cleaning spirit to me. Or maybe it was just my way of not letting go of him completely. My roommates over the years...accept my apologies. I thought you were abnormal, but it was really me. My sweet husband who put up with my extreme order and made our bed every day our first few years of marriage, thank you for not making me feel too crazy even though I was/am. To my God who has taught me to relax through 11 weeks of bed rest, twins, crazy dogs, messy friends (I mean this in a truly loving way), and a third child - GLORY! Oh, how life is less stressful when you let go of things that don't matter and that are ultimately out of your control. Nobody in this family ever makes a bed unless we know company is coming over. Toys line our paths. Collections of paper drawings and paintings are posted in almost every room. Do I freak out over spills and stains? Usually, no:) Do I still like order and clean spaces and love my swiffer? Of course, but it doesn't rule me and I can relax in the absence of it in my own home. Now, you will never get me to sit on hotel furniture or a public toilet, BUT - maybe nobody should do that? Ew.

Porter's Room...

Piper's Closet...

The stairs where collecting takes place...

And - my clean kitchen:)...

Why Blog?

I started this blog close to 4 years ago because we were leaving our life long home of Texas to live in Kansas for what we thought could be the rest of our lives. I wanted to keep our friends and family updated on our new adventures. I've continued it despite our move back to Texas mainly because I now print out the blog into books for my kids to remember events in our lives. I'm pretty sure no one in my family - including my sweet hubs - even reads it anymore! Stinkers! I also like having a creative writing outlet even when it's not so creative. Our life, our journey, and our recipes are not that exciting, but for you few readers in "Dallas", "Austin", "New York", "Houston", and the ever vague "United States", I hope you are slightly entertained with our comings and goings. I will never do a "give away" or take pictures of myself in cute outfits (ok, maybe one day I will do that if it's extra cute), but I will continue to blab and hopefully it may get more meaningful.

This picture is irrelevant, but funny:)

Portland - Last Time!

Payson and I just got back from Portland - his first time and maybe my last since our besties are moving to TX!!!! It was harder than I thought to be there without Tyler, Porter and Piper, but we still managed to have a great time as always. I was nervous, but Payson was an angel on the plane there and back - shew! We laughed, ate, maybe drank, and played with kids. And because I had just one of those kids, I actually got to relax a little bit. One thing we didn't do much of is take pictures, though. Here's what we got in no particular order...

Allison's candy stash - have I mentioned she's crazy and that's why I love her so?

Aly and Eden at Isabel's for breakfast - coconut granola

Me and Eden fixing our hair together:)

Eden "holding" Payson

Baby's first flight!

Didn't get a pic of one of favorite boys, Isaac:(

We can't believe we just have to wait 2 months to see them all again and this time on TX soil!