Couple cute pics

Every Thursday, weather permitting, we play outside of our school with our best bud Eliza. Here are a couple cute pics. I love moments like these... they were all laying on top of each other and since I am now the lucky owner of an iphone I was able to catch the cuteness.




We went to the dentist the other day. Claire & Meg have already been a couple times, but it was Emm's first trip. She did so good - I have to say I was really worried about her because she does not like her mouth being intruded. It took years for me to be able to brush her teeth without her screaming. She thought Mr. Thirsty (suction) was so super cool. Oh and the best part of the whole trip - no cavities for any of the girls!


Here the girls are with a couple of our neighbors hanging out in our new spa. They are ready for the pool to be complete and I'm still trying to figure out what materials to use! Super hard decisions... Dan and I decided we would never want to build a house together. It would take us 10 years just to decide on materials.

First sleepover and the beginning of our very own paradise!

Wow, what a weekend this has been. We started with mexican food and margaritas on friday (Cuz I do believe that is the very best way to start any weekend)... We went to our new favorite place called Juanitas. It is our favorite for several reasons:

1.) The food is a tad more authentic than your typical mexican
2.) It is a total Dive
3.) They have a 2 person band and an area for the kids to dance
4.) Lastly, it is so loud in there no one cares if your child/s are throwing temper tantrums because they can't hear a thing!

Our friends Janet and Jack and their 2 kids (Sofia & Evan) came with us and Janet & I decided that it was time for our girls to have their 1st sleepover. I'm not counting all the cousin sleep-overs we have because well, that's family. This was a big deal but luckily Sofia was staying at my house so it wasn't as big of a deal for me as it was Janet. Look at these sweeties.


Dan made his famous popcorn (gotta have it topped off with Parmesan Cheese) and as soon as I made their pallet on the floor Sofia passed out! I slept on the couch right next to them in case Sofia woke up in a panic. Here's Claire giving Sofia a goodnight kiss after she fell asleep.

Sofia did awesome! She didn't cry once and the next morning she was happy to be at our home. I can only imagine all the sleep-overs that will take place in our house. I am so happy to have 3 girls. I do wonder at times how I got to be the luckiest mommy ever... Of course, I know every mom feels this same way but isn't it a great feeling anyway?

Saturday bright and early they started digging our pool. At the same time, we had our new buyers come and get our beloved swing set. It was a bittersweet goodbye.

I bought the old rainbow playset for 350 4 years ago and I sold it to someone off Craigslist for 300. Boy, that 50 bucks was well worth it! The girls have gotten so much use out of it.

Rascal Flatts

Claire & I went to the Rodeo on Wednesday. We had the best time EVER! It was so good to spend some one on one time with her. We got there super early and walked around and looked at the animals and watched a little chicklet hatch out of the egg. Amazing. She sees the eggs our chicken lays but has never seen the egg turn into something other than an egg she eats. She loved it! We had chicken strips, a huge corn dog and she ate a whole deal of cotton candy by herself. Pappa would have been so proud! She has just turned into this little independent being and when she is by herself she is so easy and content. I must brag because I think when I was a child I would have asked for every little gadget/flashy toy they sell there. She asked for a sprite! Hello - of course you can have a sprite! When you read this one day Claire, just know that you are so loved and that I am so very proud. You are mature beyond your year and I am in awe of you.... love you more than you will ever know!

Happy 3rd Birthday Emma

So, I haven't blogged in a while because I really just don't have a lot to say... can you believe that?!? Well, it's true. And, my camera is not taking the best pics as of late. I think the lens may be dirty... this would require me to actually clean it which I hope to get around to doing this week! Dan and I have been so super busy. We've been doing date night once a week (which has been great), trying to finalize design plans for our backyard (yipee) and dealing with our wretched homeowners association. And really just trying to keep up with everything the girls have going on. I've been working fewer hours here recently so as of today I'm unfreezing my gym membership! I'm headed back and am looking forward to it.

The girls had dress up at school last week.


Our evenings are spent listening to the girls run around screaming and watching them dance and do gymnastics. It's constant "watch me!" and "no, watch me!" and Megan squeals like nothing I've ever heard before. It's so loud and disturbing. I wonder why they don't hear what we hear?

Emma had her 3rd birthday on Saturday and we celebrated it with friends and family at Pump it Up. Goodness I love that place. Happy birthday Emmie - we love you so much! Right now she is obsessed with dolls and changing their poopy diapers and using up all of my wipes. She likes to leave the container of wipes open so they can dry out and drive mommy crazy! J/K - but really she loves her dolls and taking care of them. She loves purple and when I asked her what she wanted for her birthday she said a purple dolly and a deer.... hmmmm.... not sure where the deer came from...?...

I tell my kids constantly how much I love them and they tell me they love me more and I tell them that is IMPOSSIBLE and that they'll never know how much I love them until they have their own bambinos. Claire wants 1. Meggie wants 5 and Emmie would like 3. Go figure. This suites their personalites to a T.

Is it really January 09 already?

My where does the time go? I really still feel like I should be 28 years old and Claire should still be 1. And, the older I get the faster it's flying by. Here are just a few cute pictures of the girls in their cute little leotards Mamo bought them for Christmas. I want to FREEZE this stage. The girls are so precious. Emma is getting to be just as bossy as the others. I guess her and Megan were supposed to be playing Mommy & Baby the other day and Emm screamed at Megan and said "I not a Baby -I ARIEL!" I can't really describe how cute it was. I wish I had recorded it because she has the strongest, cutest Texas drawl. She ARIEL! She says Claire like this:
"ClA-Yer." That is a strong A and a strong Y. It's hilarious.

Claire and Meg had their 4 and 5 year check up the other day and all looks good. Claire is 50% height/50% weight - just like she's always been so that's good. Doc thinks she'll be 5 foot 5 inches when she grows up. We'll have to wait and see. Meg is 25-50% height and 50% weight. She too has been consistent. She is my petite one. Emm is wearing the same size as Meg now and is catching up with her on height. It's cute. I'm sure they will love having to share clothes when they get older. :)

Our most treasured events this holiday season....

Baking cookies with Mamo & Crew


Callaway Christmas Party (Nana, I wish Pappa would have been in this photo)


Emm totally loving up on Uncle Maxie this year


Spending time with our cousins we love oh so much



Playing with our 2 favorite pets and Meg (being out of school) getting to wear her pink cowboy boots EVERY DAY (someone should teach her how to properly put on a pair of panties).



Running around naked outside (I'd like to blame it on the cold weather but this is not just a winter activity)


Wrecking our new Dune Buggy from Santa the first time we get on... Ok, so it's supposed to be for 6 years and older. We start early!

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas!

It's Christmas Eve and I just finished playing Santa. I always struggle with trying to find a balance between not giving my kids too much but wanting them to be excited on Christmas morning. I think I scaled back this year, but when I look at all they have I still think how lucky my kids are and I feel very grateful for everything we have. I've already started talking to my kids about getting jobs when they turn 16. Ok, so I know it's a bit early, but I think it is so important. This ain't no free ride (as Dan would say). And, I want them to learn early to take pride in the things we work hard for.

So, this month has been all about check-ups for me. I had my yearly and mammogram, had a colonoscopy 2 days ago (yuck - although this one turned out better than the one 2 years ago - they took out 0 polyps which is great), dermatologist appt, physical with a new doctor by the name of Shapiro who is fabulous and finally I had a root canal less than a week ago! Whew. Hopefully, the root canal saved my tooth that Emm knocked loose. I've been busy, but I am totally taking my health into my own hands. Every time I've seen a doctor this month they tell me my blood pressure is super low. The last doc asked me if I was an athlete!?! Yeah right - do I look like one? Ha! If you call making a few laps around the kitchen table picking up all the loose crumbs and spills then I guess I just might be! The low blood pressure might explain though why I'm always cold. Or does it? Anyway - my cholestorol is great and so I think I'm pretty good overall. I made Dan an appointment to see a dermatologist too and what do you know - she burned something off of him. He wasn't wanting to go but I'm so glad he did.

We went to Disney the first week in December and it was pretty much miserable for my mom and I. No, not that bad, but it was a lot of work. We won't be going back until the kids get a little older. It is a very magical place. We went to Epcot for 1/2 a day and then Magic Kingdom for 2 whole days. If you are a first timer, I definitely say just spend your time at Magic Kingdom. There is so much to see and do. We didn't even get through the whole park in 2 days. The girls went on everything they could possibly get on (height wise). I guess my girls have that adventurous bug I have. They loved all the big roller coasters and Emm and Meg bawled when they couldn't get on one. I will be taking each one of them skydiving when they turn 18 - in my dad's honor of course. Here's a slideshow from Disney:

Disney World 12-08

I flew in from Disney and went directly to Dan's work Christmas party. We had a blast (can't beat it when you start off with a warm, oozy, chocolate chip cookie from the Doubletree). Hmmmm.....




Here is Meg being silly at Danielle's birthday dinner - she cracks me up. Someone (not sure who) taught her to cross her eyes. What's even funnier is that Gustie (my mom n law) sent out Christmas cards to everyone with Meg making a face like this. I laughed so hard when I got the card - I think there are 2 pics of Meg on there and she is making that face in both pictures. Classic Meg.

This picture was taken right before the girls went in to see Santa. Aren't they so sweet?

Ok, so one little story before I say good night. The other day we were in the car going somewhere and I looked in my mirror at Claire & Meg in the backseat (they sit right next to each other in their car seats). Claire was crying and she looked at Meg and said "Meg, I just have to tell you that you upset me because I was trying to tell you something and you didn't listen to me. You really hurt my feelings." There were real tears streaming down her face. I was anxiously awaiting Megan to tell her to leave her alone or to put her hands in her face or something to that effect. Oh no, my sweet Meg looked at her and said "I am so sorry Claire. I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I love you." As she was patting her hand. Ok - so then I started crying! Maybe this means all of my work will pay off one day?