it's been a while

What a mess. First, a storm came through and fried our computer. Dead. Not that I was too upset - we got to bury an 8-year-old computer and buy a new one. :) Then a few busy days went by and about a week into new computer ownership I tried to blog. Couldn't upload pictures, couldn't save drafts, couldn't publish posts...AARRGGHHH!!!! Then Andy and I went out of town and today is our first day back. Computer guy Matt just left, after expertly correcting all that was wrong with our settings and such, and I can blog again. Yippee!!! So, here is a hodge-podge of thoughts and pictures:

First, a few pictures from Father's Day...
Tell me we aren't in for it with Abby. This is her "No photographs, please." look:
A few days later we took Jake and Abby to the Ranger game where Andy had awesome seats seven rows up from home plate.

Abby in her new hat:
Little story about getting that hat:
Andy takes Jake and Abby to get hats while I stayed in our seats. Abby picks out her hat and Andy turns his attention to Jake to find out which hat he wanted. Turns back to Abby...NO ABBY! Gone. Police were searching, Jake was upset, other fans were searching. And little miss Abigail was back with me at our seats. I thought Andy had watched her walk back down to me and then gone with Jake somewhere. I had no idea she had found her way back all alone until Andy frantically comes running down to tell me our only daughter was missing and saw her sitting in my lap. Not a happy daddy, let me tell you. But so thankful she was safe!

I have a few more outings to post, but I'll do that in a little while. Off to cook dinner...

my girls

Friday Erin rolled into town with her 2 kids and 2 dogs. We threw the dogs in the backyard, sent the kids outside to play, whipped up some ritas and had so much fun talking and laughing with Betsy, the Nalley fam and the Vincents. Jake told me that when Davis left he told Jake he was "my best friend in all the states." So cute.

Here are the boys rollin' in the pink Escalade.

And the Swedish beauty with Lil Bit.

I'm still amazed their birthdays are 5 days apart.

On Saturday E and I got pedicures and gossiped. Kathryn got into town around 4ish and we caught up for a while at home, then went to dinner at Gloria's. We had SO MUCH FUN...I was reminded of things that had long been lost in the fog of my mama brain. So now I am missing my girls again. (PS- Shannon, we wished you were there!)

E and Kathryn...love you! Can't wait to do it again.

top 10 reasons...

Andy is an awesome dad. You didn't think I'd leave out the father of my children, did you? :)

1. He is patient and kind. I'm not saying that he doesn't have his moments (don't we all?). But he is very patient with our kids and any others that invade our house, yard, soccer team...etc.

2. He throws kids really high in the pool - which they love. He should charge a fee.

3. He coaches Jake's soccer team, and has for the past four seasons. He is a great coach, very encouraging, and he sets a wonderful example for the boys.

4. He loves to dry Abby's hair every night. It is so cute to see them in the bathroom, Abby sitting on the counter and Andy gently brushing her hair.

5. He sings silly songs and has silly nicknames for the kids that make them laugh.

6. His faith and how important it is to him to share it with the kids.

7. He loves being a dad...he truly enjoys every minute.

8. He changes diapers. Even poopy ones away from home. How great is that?

9. He is a great go-to guy in the middle of the night when puke is involved.

10. Everything he does, he does with his family in mind.

Happy Father's Day Andy! I love you!

top 10 reasons i love my dad

In honor of the big day on Sunday, I thought I would share a few of the million reasons why my dad rocks - in no particular order...
1. He was the best softball, volleyball, track, you-name-it coach anyone could ask for. He would spend hours working on pitching or hitting, he was always willing to ride bikes, sat through thousands of practices and games, and often drove me to my many activities growing up.
2. He loves to take Jake to the movies - and Jake loves to go with his grandaddy.
3. He has always been willing to take care of Hudson, from day one. Diapers and all. Maybe I should have named them all after my dad. :)
4. He is always willing to help me out with whatever I need - no questions asked.
5. He is at every game or event my kids have, no matter when they are or that they an hour away.
6. He can talk to anyone. I wish I got that from him.
7. He is a mean grilling machine. And he whips up some awesome mashed potatoes.
8. He quit smoking after 45 years.
9. He can answer just about any question or give advice on any issue - and if he doesn't know what he's talking about you would never know it.
10. He has always worked so hard to give me, my mom and my sister everything we need and just about everything we want. Bad thing or not, I was spoiled. At least I recognize it, right?

Happy Father's Day Dad! I love you!

hair, interrupted

Andy convinced Jake to buzz his hair for the summer. I was hanging pictures in Andy's office and I turned around to this:

Hilarious. Here's the end result:

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And is there anything more fun than a slip and slide?

I didn't think so.

and so it begins...

The kids have been out of school for a little over 24 hours. My last required work day ended at around 2:30 today. The kids were at my parents and Andy was bringing them back home after work, so I jumped at the chance to go get a pedicure without feeling guilty. After an hour of total relaxation (I dozed off in the chair a couple of times.) I was ready to start my summer of hanging out with my punks. Or so I thought.

After a melt-down argument about whether or not Abby left her shoes in the car that Daddy just left to go pick up dinner in, we discover said shoes on the front porch. So I asked Abby why she didn't just go out and get them (she knew she put them there all along). I don't even remember her 4-year-old perfectly logical explanation, but I responded with "Abby, you are driving me crazy." As I walk away I hear "Well, you're driving ME crazy."

Perfect.