Last weekend

On the 3rd we went out to Scott's parents: Granny and Papa. The kids love riding in the Mule.

Being patriotic

Relaxing in Papa's new favorite chair

Then on the 4th we headed to Jacksonville to spend the day with my parents: Nana and Pop.

Pop smoked the most delicious ribs I've ever tasted! They were seriously GOOD!

Around sunset we headed out on the lake.

Ella and Eric

Me and Scott

Happy Birthday America!

Midweek Randoms

All the good pictures from our weekend are on Scott's phone. I'll work on getting those posted later tonight.
We made a quick trip to my parent's house on the 4th and enjoyed a fun afternoon/evening at Lake Jacksonville. The kids couldn't wait for the big firework show the city puts on at the lake. But by the time it started (9:15 pm) they were so exhausted. Eric kept asking if it was almost over and Worry Wart Ella was concerned about the lightening off in the very very very very far distance.

Today Ella (6 yrs old) worked on making her own book. Here is the first page:

"There was a girl who was in the yard."

I love how the East Texas Twang totally makes it into her invented spelling. lol

The kids played really well together and I got 2 Spell It With Style orders finished:

The picture quality is not so great b/c I use my iphone. I've got to do some research and buy a camera!

8"x10" Land of Nod "Lots of Dots" letters for Jaxen in California

and a stacked black and white name plaque for Sophia in California.

Our appliances rebelled

Our appliances started rebelling this week.

Our month old refrigerator almost flooded the house. I came home to find a steady stream of water shooting out the ice dispenser of the refrigerator door. It was a big mess, but could have been much worse. It took 2 trips to Lowe's and my teacher voice, but Lowe's is giving us a new frig! Yeah!

Then early Saturday morning, I woke up around 2 am stuck to the bed sheets. I went to see what the thermostat said: 83!!! We keep our house between 74-76 so 83 meant something was broken.

I was nice and waited until 8 am to call our landlord. She kept telling me she was sorry but nothing was going to be open this holiday weekend and we just might have to wait until Tuesday July 5?????

No mam! I called my parents to double check, but I was pretty sure that was not acceptable and unreasonable. They agreed.

So I practiced my teacher voice again and told our landlord that the AC must be fixed today or she would need to pay for a hotel room. Luckily she got on the ball and our AC was working 5 hours later. Thank goodness!

Ella was sick Wednesday-Friday and was finally feeling better when we took these pictures.

pretending to be asleep

Eric loves his black cowboy boots and black cowboy hat.

He says when he grows up he is going to have 2 horses: A nice horse and a bucking horse.

The other day Willie Nelson's famous song came on, "Mammas, don't let you babies grow up to be Cowboys" and Eric kept yelling, "Oh yes I will!"...funny thing is that he has never been on a horse.

Scott's parents were keeping Cousin Will this weekend.

The kids had a great time playing with him.

Eric may or may not be getting sick. He is running a low grade fever and says his throat hurts....we shall see!

Summer Fun

We have enjoyed a couple of fun trips to Lake Jacksonville with my parents, Nana and pop. Ella is usually very timid, but for some reason, she was a dare devil this last Sunday.

She is standing up in the tube!

The kids did some fishing with "special hooks", which means no hooks, just weights. They are WAY too dangerous together with hooks. Everyone pretty much has to clear the pier area if they are really fishing.

We love days at the lake!

I've mentioned it before, but in the summer Ella gets to dress herself and do her own hair.

Black bike shorts underneath her denim shorts.

Clips and more clips in her hair.

And lots of jewelry.

And then Eric gets involved, too

Scott: Notice he is wearing a BOY costume!

Jack played with us today!

So I can remember all the things Ella says:

and by the way Ella is reading this as I type...

Ella said," The boys (talking about Jack and Eric) played really well together today and they did a great job listening to me and following my rules.".

Who is the boss, sweet Ella?

First Trip to the Dentist

Both kids had their teeth cleaned yesterday for the first time and it was a success! (Yes I know I was supposed to start taking them when they were one, but that never happened.)

It was a little shaky at first because the hygienist wanted Ella to go first and Ella started her silent, cover her face cry. Little brother, Eric stepped in and said he was brave and would go first! He did great!

When it was time for Ella to get in the chair she did awesome, too. The hygienist went on and on about how little tarter both kids had and how well they must be brushing their teeth. Hahaha! We do try to brush twice a day but let me assure you that both kids were just lucky to inherit a healthy mouth from me. I've never had a cavity-thank you very much.

Ella was also thrilled when the dentist used her "tooth counter" a.k.a. sharp hook looking instrument to wiggle her bottom tooth. It's loose! She read in one of her books that eating apples will help her tooth get looser so she is all about eating apples now.

I don't have any pictures of the kids getting their teeth cleaned, but here is one of them getting a prize from the toy chest.

And what is a great way to celebrate not having cavities?

sugary ice-cream, of course!

Last summer Eric wore a batman cape everywhere, but this summer he is loving his cowboy boots! It maybe 105 degrees outside, but he will not wear flip flops.

Video:

I'm Back...for real this time

So...it's been a LONG time since I've blogged. Life is much calmer now. We've had a lot of changes in the last few months that left no time for blogging. More on all that later.

For the most part, this is my first "normal" summer as a stay at home Mom and I'm LOVING it! This is the first summer in 5 years that I have not had a house FULL of extra children. I've been able to take Ella and Eric to swim lessons, art lessons, zoo camp, library story time, swimming, and more swimming.

And I can go to the grocery store any day of the week....it's the small things that make me happy! I'm able to enjoy my own 2 kids and give them lots of attention and loving. 

More random updates:

I got a summer "bob":

I surprised Scott Fathers's Day weekend with a child-free night away to Houston. It was fabulous!

And Spell It With Style is going great! I'm working on getting a shopping cart on http://www.spellitwithstyle.com/ so customers can purchase there and at my etsy shop.

Give away at Screweduptexan! Win 4 tickets to Six Flags over Texas

http://screweduptexan.com/2011/06/not-summer-bummer-give-away-four-tickets-to-six-flags-over-texas.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FreshConfessionsOfAScrewedUpTexan+%28Fresh+Confessions+of+a+Screwed+Up+Texan%29