I'm tired...

All the time! Boxes, organize, boxes, organize, rinse, repeat...

A little more catching up, these photos are from my parents visit to Austin. The first is of our group at Sea World. We had a great day. El insisted we sit in the splash zone, but we only had a few misty drops hit us. Then we went to the last show. The people to the left were wet, the people to the right were wet, looks like our luck is holding out. Then, out of nowhere a tunnel of water came straight at us! It was as if a fire hose was being sprayed in our faces. So, I did what any good mother would do... I used Eva a a shield! Well, the water kept coming and I began to get concerned that she might not be able to breathe. Just as I pull her down from in front of my face the water relents. She starts howling! With laughter that is. She thought that was about the best thing in the world... as did El.

The second picture is from Pa's birthday shopping trip to Cabela's. Pa arrived in Austin on his 70th birthday! We were so happy to have him. We went out for a steak dinner and then on to Sea World and Cabela's.

Catching Up

We are in the new house! We are getting settled. I am exhausted. I decided to catch up on some past events... I have loads of pictures to upload but no time to do so.

This picture is from our dear friends last visit. We all went out to brunch. Pictured left to right are Eva, El, Charles, Rex, Jim, and Todd. We had a great weekend and a delicious Sunday brunch.

I need to go clean floors, unpack, organize, re-organize, keep kids happy, check homework, feed kids, etc...

Moving Tomorrow!

The girls are excited about moving tomorrow... almost as excited as their parents!

The big day has arrived, at long last. Eva is concerned that all of her things will be at the new house. El is just excited to be done with this whole mess. I am just plain old exhausted. I have one more box to fill. Unfortunately I have more stuff than will fit in one box... eeek! Que Sera.

Barbie and the ...

Eva has been watching a lot of Barbie movies lately. She recently has enjoyed Barbie Diaries. Today Todd brought home the Barbie toy from a happy meal. It was a notebook shaped like a purse with stickers and a pen. She was talking about the movie and her new acquisition. She told us about her best friend, Raquel, and that they were from Barbie and the Diarrheas! She later brought the notebook up and said, "I put all the stickers in my diarrhea". We are having quite a few laughs but will need to correct this problem soon.

Disney Dazzler

Eva is in a dance class called "Disney Dazzlers". It is a ballet class that dances to Disney songs. She seems to enjoy it. The teacher told me today that she enjoys hearing who Eva is each week. Yes, we are still full swing in our identity crisis. This video is from her first day waiting for dance class. Posts will be few and far between for the next month or so as we are in the final stages of building and moving into the new home. Wish me luck!

More house pictures to come soon...

Here are a couple pictures of the new homestead. I will be taking more at weeks end as changes are happening quickly now! This is a picture of the front of the house and of the kitchen. The appliances will be arriving today so this will change as well.

Gramma Pat and Pa are here!!!

Sorry I have not been updating lately! I have truly been Busy Busy Busy. School has started and so have extra-curriculars, I am in the last stages of building a house and preparing for a move at the end of the month. I am so happy my kiddos now have a distraction. Time to start packing!

Models

This is a page from Waterways Magazine. The day of our luau made it to print. The caricature I posted earlier was from this party.

These things just never occurred to El

Well Gramma Pat, you asked for it... you got it! Yesterday Eva wanted to cut with the scissors. She can only use the scissors with El or Mom close by to help and must ask if something is ok to cut (these are the rules). Well........ yesterday she quietly left with the scissors and cut a picture of El's. So, boohoo, scissors were taken and no more cutting for the day.

Today she asks if she can cut. We discussed the rules and she cut up some ribbon and some paper scraps. I then look over and Ballerina Barbie is getting a new style! BOOHOOHOO!!! And all I said was, "What are the rules?" When the drama simmered down we discussed why it is not a good idea to cut Barbie's hair. I decide to find two (already on their last leg) Barbies to become willing victims. So the blonde gets a new style. Eva is a bit upset that she can't get her hair longer. So we talk about the perils of cutting Barbies hair again with a bit more understanding this time. As of this post she hasn't cut the other Barbie's hair.

She is going to kill me for this later...

Eva has had a difficult day today. Lack of sleep does not mesh well with her personality. In addition there have been injuries. She suffered a paper cut (her first) and fell out of a chair on to her face (thankfully no damage or blood). We are now home after picking up El and relaxed on the sofa watching "The Wizard of Oz". She suddenly starts to cry. When I ask what the problem is she refers to her paper cut (she has taken the band-aid off) and says, "There is blood on my finger, and I can't put it in my nose, and I need to!"

The First Day of School... The Last First Day in Elementary School

Today is El's first day of 5th grade. She was so excited she was up well past midnight! Unfortunately that means I was up as well. She finally fell asleep in Eva's bed with Eva and me. Meanwhile, I was putting Eva to bed and I explained we would have to get up in the morning to take Issy to school. She was crying and said, "I don't want Issy to go to school. I want to keep her and now school wants to take her and that is not fair!!!" From sometime after midnight until about 2am we all slept peacefully. After two in the morning Eva woke twice to use the potty and three times to have a drink. Finally fell fast asleep around 5am. I had to wake her at 7:15 to take El to school... she was less than thrilled. Long story, short... Mama is tired! I think we will all sleep more easily tonight.

Art-a-licious

I just photographed some of the girls artwork. Some of the pieces may not make it through the next move so I thought I would make a photographic journal of the pieces. The trees were done by El in 4th grade art class. I love it (it will make it through the move). The heart and paint was done by Eva just before her 3rd birthday at Gymboree art class (this one will also make it).

The Bookstore Rip Off

Gramma Pat has suggested that I blog about something that is not so sweet. These moments are few. But here is a video from the other day. The girls had set up a bookstore and were taking turns being the shopkeeper. This is Eva as the shopkeeper, she has some interesting pricing, and El as the customer. I believe my girls my grow up to be swindlers!

Sweet Stuff

Eva fell asleep in her car seat. She looked so cute that El could not resist touching her hand. When she did, Eva tightened her hand around El's finger. El melted. So did I at this adorable sight.

Play, play, play - play all day

This is El with her "American Girl doll, Felicity". Eva decided to be El's doll after watching El do her American Girls hair. So El dressed "Felicity" up and did her hair just as she does for the dolls. (This included covering the face to protect it from water.) I love the moments when I can sneak up and watch them play together... so sweet! When it is quiet I know all is well with these two. I asked El what it is like to have a real, live doll and she replied with a big smile, "It's pretty darn great!".

I'm just saying...

Just a little Mommy brag time.

Isn't she lovely?

Where is my little girl?

I have been going through and organizing some pictures and memorabilia from El's early years. Where has the time gone. I blinked and she grew up. If the next ten years go as fast as the last ten...

Oh, I don't even want to think about it!

When we first moved to our little corner of the Hill country there were only about two restaurants. This was quite an adjustment from Houston! I am happy to report that many new establishments have opened in the past two years. This video is from last weekend. We visited the latest new opening... Pei Wei. Eva has found her own way to handle the chopsticks.

Twilight

This is what I found after El was playing on Eva's whiteboard. We are both a little Twilight obsessed.

Vintage

Eva (who at the time of the picture on the right was named Blue) is wearing some of her wonderful "vintage" dresses. Our wonderful neighbors from Stanmore Drive , Leila and Henri, gave Eva these and many other adorable dresses. She catches so many eyes and comments in these beautiful frocks.

Harry Potter

Yesterday as the girls were playing I heard them discussing Harry Potter. Later, Eva comes over all dressed up with a cape and a wand. She tells me that HP wants to marry her in her best english accent! It was sooo cute. I am going to try to get her to say some things on video. If I am successful, I will post it with this blog entry.

It was so nice of the big girls to include her in their play date so well. After all El and Catie are only 10 and Elena (Ginny while playing HP) is 18! I still enjoy the faces of all the moms and gramdmas who interact with her and ask her how old she is. The last age they expect to hear is 18:)

Cute things they say...

Just wanted to chronicle some of the cute things they say:

Eva will often capted us. (capture or captured)

El used to scream tannenbaum (sp?) before jumping into the water. (cannon ball)

Right now Eva is working the ice cream parlor. This is a wall cutout between two rooms. She is serving up ice cream to El and her friend Catie. It is entirely make believe except for the window where you place the order. There is no toy food or cups or anything! However, El just ordered pistachio and was told "No, we do not have that flavor." She was then told she could order chocolate, vanilla, strawberry or grass flavored ice cream:)

Spa Day

El and Eva decided to have a spa day (actually, a spa evening). I found some masks at the grocery store and picked them up for the girls. I was not able to help at the time so El took charge and the two had a great time. When done Eva asked, "So, are we beautifuller?"

Painting Pottery

We have a new pottery painting place in Bee Cave! The girls and I went and met some friends for an afternoon of fun. These pictures are of their finished products. The right is Eva's vase. The left is El's Tuscan vessel. What you don't see is that the back side of Eva's had another piece of pottery attached to it. The other piece fell onto it during firing. They detached it and sanded it down so that she could still have the vase. She will be able to go back and paint again at no cost. As the lady was explaining this to us, Eva was adamantly insisting that she did NOT want to paint again. I think she thought if she painted again she would not be able to take her vase home.

Puppy Love

Eva is giving Lelly some lovin'. Sometimes she nearly loves Lelly "to death". We are off to the pool today with some friends. We never left the house yesterday... a nice lazy day for the 102+ weather. Summer is flying by too quickly. I seem to want to put off El being a 5th grader as long as possible! How can my baby be in 5th grade? Oy!

Now I know what was different about the sleepover...

Todd, Eva, and I went out to dinner last night. When we came home it was time for bed. So Eva and I got on our jammies, brushed our teeth, read stories, tickled each other, listened to music, and went to sleep. Then at about 3:15 am she wakes and says she is hungry and that her belly is rumbling. Usually I give her a drink and back to sleep. However, her belly really was rumbling, loudly! So we went down stairs and grabbed some crackers and milk. By the time we were back up we were pretty awake. So I grabbed her DVD player and she watched "Ice Princess" while munching her crackers. So then I decided to get El's DVD player (with headphones) and watch Twilight again. There we were, middle of the night, snacking and watching movies. This really was a sleepover! With full belly and entertained mind she drifted off to sleep, as did I.

She really missed El and asked several times when she would be back and exactly why did she go.

Sleepover

El has left the building. She has gone to a Christmas in July event at Cafe' Monet (pottery painting) with her friend Catie and then they are sleeping over and going to church in the morning. Eva and I are having a sleepover tonight. Eva (aka Marissa) is very excited about this. I am not sure how this is different than any other night... oh well, whatever keeps her happy. Not much to report today. Ciao.

Choo-Choo

Eva and I set up the train track today. She has really enjoyed setting up the towns and trees around the track. She spends most of her time rearranging the set up than sending the train around the track.

The house

Here are some of the latest advances. The floor is being sealed today. The interior doors are still not here and are holding up the process! The stone walls are in the foyer. This view is from the living room. The garage doors are up but have not been stained yet. Spending lots of time on details!!!

Too Too Sweet Elyse

We just came home about a half an hour ago. El and Eva are playing school, Eva is the teacher right now. Pretty cute! El's assignment is to write a poem. She wrote it to me. Here it is.

Makes kindness and love engulf the air

Only she can comfort me in my greatest despair

Makes ominous thoughts be repelled in her presence

Mine she will always be, even in different places and meeting different faces

Young or old, in life or death, her love is eternal even in the deepest depth

I am blessed.

Spa Day

I was not feeling well last Friday. I had a really bad headache. My kind girls decided that they would treat me to a back massage at the Runkle House Spa and Resort. They created a blissful atmosphere in my bedroom with low lighting, flowers, music, etc... The girls dressed as spa staff in white shirts and dark bottoms. They then gave me a back and foot massage for about an hour. (El did the majority of this) This having kids thing is really paying off!

clicker, clicker, where?

Eva asked to have "her" show on the TV this morning. I turned the three units on that are needed to watch TV and then looked for the clicker. And continued to look for the clicker. Darn it Todd, where did you leave the clicker? Eva became increasingly frustrated that her show was not on yet. I explained that I needed the clicker to change the channel. She said, "Oh". She walked over to a cabinet in the kitchen, opened the drawer, pulled out a wine gift bag, opened it and pulled out the clicker. I nearly burst with laughter. All I could think of was the words Todd must have used last night when he wanted to change the channel!

click, click, nothing

That is what I heard yesterday when I turned the key my ignition. Time for a new battery. This will be the second battery in CherryBomb's ten years. Not too bad. We were on our way to meet some friends at the Lazy River. We called and they happened to be close by; so we rode to the river with them. We had a great time!

So today, first on the list of things to do is buy a new battery. Then stuff for the house...

Tomorrow is another day at the pool with more friends. We are about 102 degrees every day so the cool off feels good!

Home Sweet Home

This was shot from the back door.
Front of house (left side).
Living dining kitchen flooring
Driveway and garage.

Well, the house is coming along.  I have been dealing with one issue after another.  I will be heading out there shortly to deal with a stone and a driveway issue.  One day, hopefully in mid-September it will all be worth it!  

Anti-climatic reunion and honkers

Well... Eva did arrive for fireworks on the Fourth of July.  Only it was not quite as I had envisioned it to be.  I thought my sweet three year old daughter would be Eva and I would be able to grab her and hold her and say, "Eva, I love you!".  As I said, she did attend, but as an invisible friend of Sleeping Beauty!  So I still wait for my sweet Eva to return to me.  I do get to hug and play with Fairy Elena for today.  

Todd and I went out to dinner and had our babysitter Casey and her boyfriend Walter watch the girls.  They took the girls out to dinner and a movie.  They next day El informed me that while at dinner Eva was telling her knock-knock jokes for Casey, Walter, and the waiter.  There was a lull in the conversation so Eva decided to add, "I think my mom has big honkers!".  That statement certainly received more laughter than the jokes!  So glad I was not at that table.  Disclaimer:  I never refer to any of my body parts as honkers.  This type of reference could only come from one source.  I will be strongly suggesting that my husband watch his language around Eva!  

Eva is coming!!!

This is the evening we have all been waiting for... we are told by Fairy Elena/Thumbelina/Sleeping Beauty that EVA is going to visit us tonight during the fireworks!  We are excited to see her and call her by her name:)  I will let you know how it all turns out.  Keep your fingers crossed.

Twilight

We are full into the Twilight obsession in our household.  I have read all of the books and El is about half way through the third book (which will be her last).  The fourth book is not at all appropriate for her age.  I am going to tell her the story instead.  Today we will ichat with Katie and Lolo to discuss our special powers.  We have each made a list of what we feel each others special power would be if we were vampires.  We are going to share these with each other and maybe decide on one.  El and I have to be careful when we talk about the books.  Eva has been picking up on discussions.  We try not to use words like vampire, blood, kill, etc...  El has been dressing some of the barbies and styling them to be the characters of the book.  She then makes scenes from the story.  They turn out really cool.  I will blog about them when we download the pictures.  Here is a picture of Katie, Lolo, El and Eva from their last visit to Austin (too long ago!).

Expressions

It is interesting as children grow to hear what they have to say.  What you soon realize is that you often hear an awful lot of what you sound like!  I use the word actually, a lot.  I came to this discovery as El grew.  Eva and I were playing the other day.  We were chasing  and hiding and that sort of stuff.  I was able to evade her and then double back to surprise her.  As I rounded the corner she jumped, screeched and giggled, "Mom!  You scared me out of the daylights!"  So apparently, I use the phrase, you scared the daylights out of me, quite a bit.   

This picture is of Eva waiting for a butterfly to land on her at the Butterfly Museum.