weekend pics/wildflowers

We had another busy weekend in Hallettsville.  We took some wildflower pictures, went to a rodeo (where we watched Jordan place first in barrels), flew our new kite, and had Granny Judy and Jeanette over for dinner.  Oh, yeah, and made cookies with Granny Greer, and watched the Air Buddies movie with Nana.

Getting the elephant kite off the ground

Many of you know that I like to play photographer in my "spare" time, and I really love good pictures.  This weekend we attempted wildflower pictures.  I love pictures that tell a story.  Here are a few of my favorites.

basic bluebonnet pic

eyelashes

Lila loves, loves, loves this dress.  Every time she puts it on, she says, "Mommy, I want to dance".  This picture was taken while she was twirling around in her pretty dress

this may be my favorite...it just makes me smile

this is a pic of an Indian blanket/red bonnet taken from the very top looking down.  My neighbor likes to paint and I look for things that I think would make neat paintings for her.

For all my blog readers familiar with the Hallettsville area, the field with the yellow flowers is across from the cemetary by the Foreverlast buildings

Easter re-cap

We had a wonderful Easter, filled with the things that matter most...family and food!

We dyed Easter eggs.  I love dyeing Easter eggs...they are so pretty and colorful.  We dye a ton of them and decorate the house with them.

The whole gang was in town, and the kids had a great time playing outside, and we had a great time visiting with everyone.

Lila and Aiden played so well together all weekend.

On Sunday morning, we woke up and found that the Easter Bunny had been to visit.  It was a little questionable if he would be making it to our house because someone decided not to go to bed until about 11:30 pm on Saturday night.  But, we must have just made the deadline.  He brought a basket full of goodies...the favorite being a notepad and 2 pens.  

The Easter Bunny came to Pappasito's.  Lila is usually afraid of Santa and the Easter Bunny, but when she saw the big bunny, she got so excited and wanted her Daddy to take her to see him.  She was a little shy, but couldn't wait to get her egg.  It is magical to see the kids get so excited.

After lunch, it was on to Gran's house where the big egg hunt took place.  Aunt Ginger brought enough candy to keep a small town energized for a week.  Lila was into the hunting this year.  She was a woman on a mission.

Her basket got so heavy that she couldn't carry it anymore.  She put it down in the middle of the yard, and continued to go find eggs.  Here she is taking a much needed break.

The BIG Reveal

This is what Daddy started with.  He worked really, really hard...for four days

and I waited (very patiently)

even learned how to play a little tee ball

...and this is what I got!  My very own park in the backyard!

Here I am on the maiden voyage down my yellow slide

I love my Daddy.  He should be very proud of himself.  He did a great job

Semi-Big Girl Bed

Last night was Lila's first night in her semi-big girl bed; she still has a half rail.  Shawn converted it yesterday afternoon, and she played in her bed all afternoon.  She thinks it is really cool that she can get in bed by herself.  I was a little worried, but she did great.  She laid in bed "reading" for about 45 minutes before she fell asleep.  I quietly peeked in on her a couple times, and she never got out of bed, and most importantly, she didn't fall out! (I had a pad on the floor just in case).  I was a little sad because it just seems like, all of a sudden, she is not a baby anymore, and there are more and more reminders of that everyday.  Tonight, she talked and sang a while, and then she called for me, and said "I want to rocka wif Mommy" (I want to rock with Mommy), and of course Mommy was more than happy to rock her baby for a while.  

Chatter Box

I know this is cliche', but these kids grow up so fast...just two months ago, my little bug really didn't say a whole lot.  It just seems like we woke up one day, and she realized how to talk, and she really hasn't stopped (day or night).  Her little thoughts are so cute; I just want to freeze her at this age.  Everyday is something new.  Last night, she literally laid in her bed and talked herself to sleep...we heard her reciting "llama, llama" (which is one of our favorite books) to all her little animals that she sleeps with, and then she was singing and clapping...and then it all started again at about 5:30 am!!!  Yesterday, I wrote things that she says these days

"I want waffle, bacon"  (she says this every morning)

"In a couple weeks...in a couple weeks, I go Nana's house"

"This be eighteen dollars"  (for some reason, everything is $18)

"Mommy, you go buy some apple juice"

her: "ooohh, Michelle buyed me this toy"
me: "who is Michelle?"
her: "Cha Cha's Mom"
***Michelle seems to be her new favorite because she let her stay and play at her house last weekend**
later on: "I want go play with Michelle"

"Mommy, I am pooping"  (calling to me from the other room)

"I want to go to Wal-Mart at Nana's house"

"how 'bout, um...how 'bout some hot coffee"

"No, Daddy, that's not cool"

her "I have the hiccups"
me: No, you don't
her: "Uh-huh...I want hiccups"

"look at my petty dress; I need makeup on my lips" (getting ready for church)

"No, it's not hot; it's warm"

"Rowdy's eating my pants!!"

"I want to go to the Cedar Park"  (she thinks that the park is called Cedar Park)

"Bye.  See you morrow...I'm going to Gran's"  (putting her purse on her shoulder).  "Where are my car keys?"

"I want go church, and get a pink donut"  (she got to go pick out a donut after Church, and now she wants to go to church all the time)

Valentine's Day

Valentine's Day brought quite a few projects around here...and we love projects!!!  My little bug is turning into one little crafty helper.  My Granny bought her some colored paper for her birthday, and they make paper chains.  The last time she was in Hallettsville, she walked into my Granny's house, and said "Granny, do project"...music to my ears, and not to her Dad's.  When I make something, I will always say, "Shawn, don't you think this is cute?" and he will say "I'll tell you when you clean up your mess"...Look out Dad, I have a partner now!!!

Lila went over to her Gran's house for a little baking.  Gran had visited the bake shop and had all kinds of cute sprinkles for cupcakes.

The finished product

At home, we made tissue paper flowers.  I had not made these since I was in the 3rd grade, but quickly found the instructions online.  It was a really easy/cheap project, and age appropriate for my apprentice

Our flowers turned out to be pretty cute, and colorful...we will definitely make these again

This is just a picture of the treat bags I made for my volunteers at work, because I thought they were cute.  I found the little vintage valentines on Google, and they printed out great.

Country Girl

I love going to the country and spending time with my family.  I always look forward to seeing my friend, Papa G.  He is a funny guy, and he always has the pantry stocked for me with special things I don't usually get like Cheetos, and Hawaiian Punch (he always gets a couple treats for Mom, too!).

Today, we went out to feed the chickens and ducks.  We fed them some corn.  You throw it out there, and they come running

Papa, I think we are all out...I don't see any more in there

Bye-bye!  See ya next trip

Come on Papa...I think there is and ice cream cone with my name on it!