Feeling the beat!

***Sorry about the space between post!

 Enjoying our summer at the pool quite a bit and the camera just doesn't get taken out much***

First of all, I took this video with my phone so it is not the best quality and it was taken in horrible lighting. It was spur of the moment because I couldn't resist catching this little rocker in the act. Ever since Gracie has started playing drums, there is no stopping what she will bang on..table, chairs, couch, etc.  On this video I love how she shows Eric the beat she wants to play, how her head and hair bounce to the beat, and how she realizes when Eric messed up the beat! We REALLY need to get this girl a drum set pronto! She is making new beats all the time and it is amazing how she remembers them. She has tried teaching Ethan but frustration takes over and she just goes on without him.

Since summer has started and we will be moving soon, we decided to end Gracie's drumming lessons. I told Gracie's teacher and the first thing he said was, " Please don't stop once you get to D.C. She has potential and by what she is doing at 4, she will be shock you at 12". I thought that was really sweet of him!

Last day of school!

Yesterday was the last day of school for Ethan and Gracie!

I don't know who was more excited, me or the kids?! 

I enjoyed turning my alarm clock off that day knowing it would be

 awhile before I would have to use it again.

The kids made little treats for their classmates. Owl Miss You! 

Ethan and Miss. Gomez! 

I am VERY happy with how wonderful this school year has turned out and I owe it all to his teacher! 

She made it a fantastic first year for him!

This was waiting for them when they got home from school! 

After pictures they ran right through it!







This video is of Ethan's class singing a song to us for their award ceremony.
Ethan is all the way in the back.

Sorry, but the video is shaky!
Lexie would not stop trying to climb on me so I was busy trying to contain her.

Kindergarten Ditch Day

Since Eric was off today and Ethan only has 3 days left of school, we enjoyed our Friday at Sea World. The kids loved it and Lexie did amazingly well being stuck in the stroller while the older ones went on rides. Lexie enjoyed the water section, but did not appreciate the holes that shot up water unexpectedly.

Dolphin Encounter

The kids were fascinated by the scuba diver. 

She was giving the kids high fives and fist bumps the entire time!

Carousel ride

Watching Shamu

Sesame Street Bay of Play Area

Ethan and Eric went off to ride the big boy rides 

so it was just us girls that got to enjoy the water area. 

Redneck Round Up!

First of all, I want to make it clear that we are not making fun of a certain type of people. We are merely celebrating the free spirited personalities and bold clothing choices of the great American Redneck. My favorite group of Rednecks happen to be from the show Duck Dynasty! It is hilarious, family oriented, and full of unforgettable one liners! I want to eat Mrs. Kay's cooking and go hunting with Phil & Si.

I have wanted to throw a redneck party for some time now, but things just always seem to pop up around here. Since we will be moving soon and leaving some of the craziest people we know, we decided now or never!

Enjoy our craziness! 

Redneck Decor 
A huge thanks to Dollar Tree and Goodwill- cheapest party ever!!! 

 The frames on the table are decorated with beer caps and hold pictures of Nascar legend- Dale Earnhardt. Our party favors were Redneck fire alarms. Hang one in your kitchen and when it starts popping, that's when you know you need to run! 

Eric standing under our clothes line! I was a little hesitant our neighbors were going to throw a fit.
Doesn't his old truck just tie it all in?!

 Smile!


Redneck cake, banana pudding, and some of the fixings for Beer Margaritas!


Gracie and Gabrielle enjoying the redneck cake!


Ethan accidentally stepped right through the lid of a Styrofoam cooler.
He is laughing because we cheered him on for making the cooler more appropriate for our party!


Gracie trying to get one picture with the infamous Lexie.
You could not pay that girl a million dollars to sit still for one minute! Always on the go!



Bounce House fun!



Eric set up his deer blind for the kids to play in! They loved it!



Some of the Redneck gals!


Our Redneck Family!
I made the redneck champagne glass that I am holding in this picture.
All you need is a mason jar, candle stick holder and E-6000 glue!


I am sure my friends may bug me about this, but everyone did such an AMAZING job getting ready for this party. I just have to post their pictures! Seriously, I love my friends!!

His shirt says-If you're 2 busy to hunt and fish, than you are just 2 busy!
Her shirt says- Your trailer or mine?
LOVE IT!!!  

See what I mean?!
They knocked it out of the trailer park!

Date Night!

Here are some pictures of us from date night!

  We went out with a great group of friends for a night full of food and fun!

Coach Pitch

Ethan is playing coach pitch this year and I have not had a chance to post any pics. 

 He is such a cute little guy!

Baby 4 coming soon!

Unexpected blessing!

Rockin' Gracie

 

      When I was pregnant with Gracie, I couldn't help but imagine all of the wonderful things little girls love to do. Tea parties with dolls, dressing up and playing damsel in distress, or even the occasional pedicures. Gracie loves everything girly and she holds true to what I had imagined. Since Ethan had started another season in baseball, I thought it was about time to introduce Gracie to an extra-circular activity. I was thinking ballet where she could add to her tutu collection, soccer where she can show off her feisty attitude, or even baseball which her brother loves.
     You can imagine my surprise when I asked Gracie and she replied with, "I want to play drums!"  First I was a little confused on how she could just jump to that activity without ever being exposed to any drummers but she was so ecstatic about it, I just went with it. Plus, I know Gracie is one unique little girl so when she has her mind set she is quite determined.  She has been doing really well with the lessons and her teacher mentioned he is showing her things that are above her level but she is grasping on quite well. After the first lesson, she looked up to the teacher and said,"So when can I start playing Queen?" I was so proud of my girl! The teacher even stated, "That is awesome,everyone always ask for Jonas brothers or Hannah Montana."  The funny thing is her reaction to failure is quite different from Ethan's. If Ethan misses a ball or just doesn't make it to base in time, he just shrugs it off and moves on to the next thing. However Gracie takes it a little hard. If she is having a hard time getting a beat just right, you can see the frustration in her face and she starts waving the drum sticks around in defiance. Crazy to see two people who were made by us act so different.

 

Taken with my phone

Gracie in all her Glory

I was buttering some toast for Gracie and she says, "That looks so yummy, but not as yummy as you, because you are delicious!"  I couldn't stop laughing for at least 5 minutes and then said "WHAT?"

As I was driving one day, Gracie from the backseat says, "Mom, I know you said no more babies, but I really wish we could have another one that way Ethan and I won't have to fight over Lexie." She had the saddest face! 

Gracie is always talking about what she is going to do when she is a Mommy. She goes through the whole list of changing, feeding, bathing...etc. Eric told her that since she is always talking about babies, she should change her sisters diaper. Gracie replied with "Uh no, I change my own baby's diapers and you change your own baby's diapers. No switching!"

Anytime Gracie wants to get on her brother's good side she calls him 'my precious'. It is really funny when he is walking out of the school and Gracie runs up to him yelling " Hello my precious!" in her giggly voice.

Whenever Gracie ask for permission I sometimes give her a short nod and say "mmmmhhhmmm" under my breath. She always says, "Can you please say it correctly? Yes or No."

One night we told the kids that they were having a babysitter so we could go out.
Gracie: Why?
Eric: Because I am taking your Mom out on date.
Gracie: Oh, are you guys in love?
Eric: Yeah, we are.
Gracie: No kissing because that is yucky!

I was telling Lexie that she needed to hurry up and walk because she was getting too heavy and this CRAZY conversation took place:

Gracie: Why don't we steal another girl that knows how to walk that way you won't have to carry Lexie around all the time.
Mom: Because that is against the law Gracie, what if the police catch us?
Gracie: We will just tell him it was accident. They will believe us! (shrugging her shoulder)
Mom: First off kidnapping and lying are really bad, but what if that little girl misses her mommy?
Gracie: Duh, it will only be for two days. I think she will be fine! 

Needless to say, we had a long talk on stealing, lying and having compassion for other peoples feelings. Wow!

Leaps and Bounds

For the past 2 months Lexie has been showing great progress on walking by herself. Typically, we or her therapist have to make her do it, but once we back off she reverts to crawling. However, this past week she has been doing it on her own, and it really seems like she is getting the hang of it. We tried to capture it on video, but she can be a little moody one when she doesn't get her way.

Nature Day

We went to the park for a nature play date and I was able to catch some pics of the girls. Lexie LOVES the slide so we pretty much stayed by one the whole time.

Gracie showing little sister how it is done.

She was determined to go up this way!

Nature craft