Have Trailer, We'll Travel!

The seven of us fit just fine in our mini van for day trips. The only problem with our big family is when the trip isn't so little. The seven of us might fit but our luggage doesn't. Therefore, anytime we are gone for longer than a weekend, a white trailer follows behind us wherever we go!

Squirettes Investiture

This afternoon, St. Ignatius had the investiture for the Charter Class of the Squirettes Circle. This is a youth group for young girls in the Catholic Church. It is the very first circle west of the Mississippi River and we have very proud to have Brittany be a member. She will hopefully learn a lot as she works with other young ladies to serve others and the Catholic Church.

Here is the whole charter class.

Brittany smiling pretty

Isabel, Abby, Brittany and Erin

Family Bonding

This is what I am greeted with on a cold Saturday morning. Me thinks we need a bigger bed!

Weapon of Mass Destruction

Would someone please explain to Brandon that the vacuum cleaner is NOT a weapon of mass destruction! He is so afraid of the vacuum cleaner. He just screams the second I turn it on and tries to climb up my leg. It is taking me at least triple the time to get the house vacuumed because I have to keep stopping and pick him up. He, of course, is just too big for me to carry the whole time so I put him down after awhile which leads to more screaming. I can vacuum the downstairs with him asleep but it wakes him up if I vacuum the upstairs during his nap.

What is a mom to do? I guess I can just use this as the reason that my floor is dirty, right. I mean I wouldn't want to permanently scar him for life.

Garrett, on the other hand, thinks the vacuum cleaner is great and keeps wanting "his turn". My question is why does this "helping" end right about the time they can actually be helpful. I never see Brittany or Allison wanting to vacuum.

Here's hoping I can vacuum my house in peace soon. Please no one tell President Bush about my stockpile of weapons!!

Where Was I?

Okay, I caught the bug from Katie. Here it goes

1 minute ago: Reading Katie's blog

1 Day ago: Took the boys to playgroup and was secretly excited that it was raining and we wouldn't have soccer practice

1 week ago: Brandon was running a fever so I was mostly holding an unhappy baby.

1 month ago: Trying to get ready for a month of 3 birthday parties for my children

1 year ago: We had a newborn baby, Brandon, in the house.

3 years ago: Garrett was 2 months old. Allison had just started kindergarten and Brittany was in 2nd grade.

5 years ago: Brittany had just started kindergarten and Caitlyn had just turned 1!

7 years ago: Andy had just received a job offer at Lucia in Houston and we were getting our house ready to put on the market in Temple. Andy was finishing off his 2 weeks notice. Brittany was 3 and Allison was 2!

10 years ago: Brittany was 9 months old and we went for a weeks vacation in Port Aransas in November. Gosh, one child - I really can't remember.

Anyone else want to play??

Mommy PLEASE!!

Anyone who knows me, knows that I am not an animal person. I just didn't grow up with pets and I really am not fond of a cat or dog licking or crawling over me. (I get that enough with 5 children!) Andy and several of my children feel differently, however. So, I am starting slowly on the pet stage and we have tried fish and now have hermit crabs. The dog will have to wait a few more years.

My children are not satisfied, though. My neighbor's dog had puppies a month ago and it is now all my children talk about. Mommy, can we please have a puppy!!! Well, the answer for now is going to have to be NO! My agreement with Andy is that we cannot have a baby in the house when we get a dog. I must say though, if I wasn't a strong woman, I might have caved. They are awfully cute. Maybe I could be an animal lover!!

You Can Have Cake and Eat It Too!

We had a family birthday party for Brandon on Sunday. The highlight of any 1st birthday is, of course, the cake. After Garrett cried and refused to eat his cake when he turned 1, I was hoping Brandon wouldn't let us down. He didn't. I wished I had video taped it because the pictures don't do the event justice. He just laughed and smile the whole time!

Happy Halloween

It has been a busy few days so I haven't had time to post the pictures yet from this weekend. Here are the kids for Halloween. Brandon wasn't overly impressed but I'm sure by next year he will be saying "trick or treat". Mackenzie and Reagan joined us along with some friends in the neighborhood. Minus the mosquitoes it was a good time!!

Mommas don't let your babies grow up to be cowboys!!

Brittany and her friend, Abby, as Egyptian princesses.My little Indian girl!Have you ever met a child more suited for the role of Tinkerbell?