Boys and Girls Weekend

So the boys headed to Chicago this weekend. Both Doug's Mom and Dad are originally from Chicago and most of Doug's extended family is there. Doug's tall and beautiful cousin Holly got married at Lake Geneva so the boys went to party while the girls stayed home (don't worry we partied too....you'll see those pics shortly).

I got a call on Thursday from Doug saying that their flight was 2 hours delayed here in Houston. Then Matt jumps on the phone to tell me that they are at Fox Sports Bar and asked if I could buy him eye-black for his baseball game. I wasn't sure if I was talking to a 3 year old or a thirteen year old but I could tell that my boys were already having fun.

They had a great time in Lake Geneva and enjoyed visiting all the family. Here are a few pics of Matt with his cousins and oh look....they stumbled across a place where they could ride horses. Could life get any better? Yes you will notice Matt in the same cowboy outfit from my last posting. You can't get these clothes off him!

Marlie and I spent the weekend in Houston. My Tia and Granny came up from Laredo along with my Uncle Johnny to watch Romancing Mary run in her big race. She came in 4th and I think she did great. She is a beautiful horse. And little Marlie had the time of her life at the races. She was almost as excited as Matt usually is and pointed at the horses all night and said "horse". Uncle Jay was in town again this weekend with his girlfriend Lynette so we got to spend time with them too.

I couldn't wait to pick up my boys from the airport Sunday night. Matt was excited to give me my prize that he bought for me.....a pink Cubs hat... and he had a giraffe for Marlie too. I kept Matt home with me on Monday because he had gotten in so late the night before. Oh heck...I just really missed him and wanted to spend some time with him. We had so many errands to run and he helped me the entire time. I am amazed at how helpful he can be.

Well I should wrap this up. There is just always so much to say. I will say quickly that Marlie is talking up a storm. The cutest thing now is she says "thank you" every time you give her something. It's so wonderful! We're preparing for Ike so please keep everyone in the line of the storm in your prayers!

But It's My Birthday Week

Those were Matt's words when we told him it wasn't his birthday anymore. Seems that the celebration went on for weeks! Sunday August 31st was his actual birthday and we had a really great day. Gustav scared my brother out of Lafayette, Louisiana which meant that he spent the weekend in Houston. Matt was SO excited and talked baseball nonstop. We went to church in the morning and then to Le Peep....our favorite place to have blueberry pancakes. By the way....Marlie loves blueberries and actually says "booberry" pretty good. It's so cute. Then we went to see the butterflies at the museum.

Now Matt has several sets of Grandparents so he has quite a bit for a child his age. So when it came time to figure out what to get him for his birthday I was stumped. The only thing he wishes for when we throw coins in fountains is a horse and well....that's not ever going to happen. But he's also fascinated with "cowboys" so I thought we should buy him some wranglers and a cowboy shirt to match his great uncles. So we took a quick trip to Cavendars, which honestly I hadn't been to in years. Brought back memories from my "cowgirl" days in high school. So we got our first pair of Wranglers and a pearl snap shirt. He couldn't wait to put it on. We were outside in 100 degree heat in this outfit

My little cowboy is growing up fast. He seems older than 3. I LOVE the stage we're in right now. Please don't let it end! This is what life is all about.

Matt is 3!

Well although August 31st is not officially here yet, we have already celebrated Matt's birthday twice!!

We had a surfer party at the pool with all our friends from the neighborhood and all our family from San Antonio came up too. I just want to thank everyone for coming! Matt had such a great time because of all of you who were there. He loved having all his cousins and friends there. It was so much fun I can't wait to get together with everyone again! I'll let the pictures speak for me. The slideshow is on the blog. Just a note....you can click on it so you can see the larger pictures and of course my funny comments. Thank you all for spending your day with us and thank you to all the Grandparents who helped with the party!!!!

Matt really liked his new black cowboy hat and sandbox that he got for his birthday. He got to wear his new hat on Saturday night at the horse races. He wore the black cowboy hat, a football t-shirt, khaki shorts, tennis shoes and a bandana around his neck. I wish I had a picture of that. It was hilarious but he didn't care. He had the time of his life at the races with his Nene, Great Tia, Great Granny, and Great Uncle Johnny. Romancing Mary qualified for the big race so she'll be racing again in 2 weeks!

We also had a little party at Matt's new school. Sister Mary made Matt a birthday crown and we all had cupcakes! The best part was that Doug and I got to see a little of what goes on in class. They sang a few songs and acted some of them out. It was really great. Matt's teachers have been so complimentary of him so far. Mrs. Linda was so thankful that he always helps her clean up and she thought it was hilarious that when they talked about the Olympics Matt went on and on about how he liked Michael Phelps. Who doesn't? Since Matt has watched MP in the pool he's been a little more aggressive in the water which is great.

So we'll take a break this weekend and just have some fun over Labor Day. No traveling or big plans. Just the 4 of us spending some good family time together.

A Little Catch Up

Okay I need to catch up a bit here....so my Dad brought Matt back home from San Antonio so we could get ready for school. They stopped at Katy Mills mall on the way for a break and apparently Matt and Grandpa both had a blast. They rode the carousel and Grandpa said Matt said they had to run. So they ran the length of the entire mall! For those of you who have been to Katy Mills you know it's huge! So Grandpa got a good work out in.

Then Papa and Nona Lisa (Doug's Dad and his wife) came up for a concert here in town. Matt had fun hanging out with them. They bought him some baseball cleats for the Fall and Matt has been wearing them ever since! He is SO excited about them. We can't wait for him to start T-ball.

On Saturday we went to Baby Ashdin's 1st birthday party. His Mom and I used to work together at Continental and have been mistaken for twins although we look nothing alike. They live in our neighborhood and Ashdin is in Marlie's class at Primrose. The best part of the party is when Marlie leaned over to give him a kiss. It was so cute and even more hilarious when afterwards Ashdin put his head down on the floor and cried. Apparently she kisses him at school too and he's just tired of it! HA! She was also showing her belly to everyone. So between kissing boys and lifting up her shirt.....well maybe we have some work to do. This picture of the "kiss" doesn't do the moment justice but it's the best we got!

Matt's First Day of School

Matt started PreK-3 on Thursday. He is now going to St. Mary Magdalene in Humble. We are really excited about the new school and he seems to like it so far.

On Wednesday night we went to "Meet the Teacher". Thanks to my friend Nicole (whose blog is linked on this page) Matt had a nice gift for his teachers with a few little things they would need for the classroom. He was excited to give it to her. Mrs. Mary and Sister Mary will have the wonderful opportunity to teach Matt over the next year. It will be interesting to see if their hair grays as much as mine has in the last year.

Matt walked in to his new classroom that night like he had been there already and when his friend Nate (from the duo Nate & Edi - see talk about Edi in earlier blog) walked in his face just lit up! We are all very excited that Nate is in Matt's class. Nate went to school with Matt at Primrose so it's nice to have a friend join him in his new school (just so you know Nate is also the man that Marlie just might have to marry. He is SO handsome and has a sensitive side too. He's a Momma's boy for sure!). Matt didn't want to go home that night but we promised him he'd be back first thing in the morning.

Well after "meet the teacher" I had tons of homework!!! First on my list was to make lunch for the next 2 days because the hot lunches weren't going to be ready until next week. We had already bought Matt a Lightening McQueen lunch box for Marlie to give him for his birthday. So we had to do that a little earlier than planned. When we told him Marlie bought that for him he asked "Did Marlie drive to get it?" Okay so maybe he's not that smart after all. But he loved it and gave her a big hug and kiss.

So off he went on his first day. I have to admit this picture is not from the first day. I was so excited I forgot the camera. But this is his second day so hopefully that counts. Please note that he picks out his own clothes every day so there's only so much I can do!! He loves school so far and we are excited. I was so emotional that day both droping him off and picking him up. Why I don't know. But I guess this "school" is a real school with a bell in the morning that scared him and drop off and pick up times. A whole new ball game. Today is Saturday and he was sad that he couldn't go to school. So we're off to a great start!

Comma Chameleon

For those of you who read the title and think I'm going to blog about Boy George's hit song from the past are officially old.

Uncle Jay got done coaching summer baseball in North Carolina and came to visit for a few days. Matt had a blast showing off his baseball moves. He also liked my brothers "pets" I guess is what you'd call them.....Mardy and Tiny the chameleons. I didn't want to touch them but tried to be brave for Matt and managed to let one climb up on my head. That still didn't convince Matt to hold one but oh well I took one for the team. Matt did pet them and Marlie tried too but she has no idea what "gentle" means so she just wacked them.

They were cute and colorful but I'll stick with my lap dogs no matter how much they bark! Call me old fashioned. Or better yet, cut the old and let's just say fashioned!!!

Party Girl

Only 1 more day until Matt comes home!!! I can't wait to squeeze him when I see him. I wonder if he even wants to come home? Every day he's out and about doing something fun with his cousins. I've already asked Doug's parents if next summer they can take care of me for 2 weeks. He is living it up let me tell you. I can't wait to hear all the stories from him. Counting down the hours.........

Little Miss Marlie has been living it up too with her brother out of sight. We still can't believe some of the things she says. The most exciting was yesterday morning I said "I love you Marlie"....as I do about 50 times each day.... and she said it back!!! It was so wonderful!! She's spent the weekend saying all sorts of things including "let's go" and "yahoo". She is also starting to sign well and spends most of the day signing "please" because she's always up to something and needs help. How can you say no? She is a hoot!

We went to our friend Payton's birthday party at Gymboree this weekend. It was great to see all of my old work friends and the little ones. They are all so cute and growing up so fast. I wish Matt would have been there, he would have had a blast with Payton and Kate. Marlie had tons of fun but of course loved the balls and playing basketball. We really need to start hanging out with more girls so she learns "girl" type things. At home she cries if Doug or I are not in sight. But at Gymboree she could have cared less if we were there!