Lovely weather for finding a gun...

What nice weather we have had lately! I was so tired of the wet and cold. We have taken advantage of the weather and been outdoors quite a bit. On Saturday, we all walked down to the park to play. I suggested we go find a motocross trail that leads to a bunch of jumps - something that my brother and I explored often as kids. We didn't think about all of the mud but the dirty adventure was great!

I lost a $20 somewhere along the way. Ryan absolutely hates to lose money. Well, don't we all? I just see it as even... I know I have found a $20 once before.

I also got a hole in my bike tire. Stupid GIANT ENOURMOUS HUGE thorn! I guess this calls for a trip to the dreaded Wal-Mart. I absolutely despise that wretched store and will do almost anything to avoid it.

The climax for me was the part when we thought we saw a GUN in the creek. After discussing it in depth and almost falling in the creek to get a look at it, Ryan concluded that it was just a kids pellet gun. I decided that I was going to believe him on this one. I would much rather go with his story than have let my imagination go wild with what events that gun has partaken in. I had my phone ready to call 9-1-1.

Props to Christian and his balance/coordination. Ryan was slip sliding all over the place in the gooey mud. I even lost my footing once or twice. Solid Christian held his ground, literally. Rock star.

(For some reason Blogger doesn't hold my iphone pics in the position I have them saved.  So these are all sideways)

 See the "gun" there in the middle?

Christian climbing up the little motocross hills

Cutey Pies

Christian's version of the ABC's...

And Taylor just being cute...

Crazy Kid Christian

Christian learned a new trick and just HAD to pinch his face while he was doing it...
Tongue Roll

(I just noticed that he is in his pajamas in almost every single picture I have!)

And then he decided to give Kelli and Eric a "call" on our fake kitchen phone. We keep it in there just to entertain Christian. He loves to "call" all his peeps. If he has met you once, he has probably "talked" to you on the phone...

Spring Break Podunk Style

Not too podunk with my dad's fancy schmancy trailor, but we roughed it a bit.  We went to our farm for Spring Break this year... as we usually do.  This was Taylor's first real venture out.  Christian had tons of fun playing with his cousins and Taylor enjoyed chillin' out by the fire.  Though, she got a heat rash on her sensitive baby skin.  I didn't even think about all the elements her delicate skin was being exposed to at the time.  Her little face was beat red for 2 days (not to mention, she already has a mild case of baby acne). 

As Christian and I rode the 4-wheeler around (four-four-we, as he calls it), we saw many deer blinds.  I explained the purpose of them as mildly as I could... but how do you explain that we shoot and kill deer to eat without sounding barbaric?  He wanted to know if the deer were mean.  I told him that deer are nice.  Then he wanted to know why we shoot them.  I just stopped trying and changed the subject.  I could never be a hunter!  Though, I know those deer have a much better life and are much better for us than any meat I can buy at the grocery store, including free-range.

A buzzard (gross!) made a nest in one of the blinds.  I call it a nest, but there was no bedding or anything.  Just lots and lots and lots and lots of poop and one single egg just laying on the hard wood floor.  My dad wanted us to move the egg, so we took it out.  But we felt bad, so we put it back.  Plus, the momma bird was watching us GLARING down at us waiting to pick our eyes out.  Christian loved the egg and kept trying to kiss "the baby bird" (I didn't let his little mouth get anywhere near that egg).

Happy birthday to me!

My birthday this year was pretty low-key, seeing as how I just had a baby and all.  First, we went to Texas de Brazil on Friday.  We love any excuse to go to that place, and what is better than a buy one get one free coupon?!  Christian ate all the weird stuff, like me... heart of palm, roasted tomatoes, asparagus, lamb ribs, and other things that kids don't normally eat. 
The next day (my actual birthday) I went out to lunch with Cheri, Candice, Christine, Leigh Ann, and Julie.  It wasn't really for my birthday, but it was still good ol' high calorie fun. 
Then when I got home, the boys had my gifts sitting out.  Christian got me a racecar Barbie!  Wow!  I definitely didn't already have one of those! 
Ryan surprised me and went out on a limb.  He figured it was time for me to get new sunglasses and he picked me out a pair himself.  I think he did a great job!  He also got me clothes, but I picked all of those out... except for one shirt that he picked.  He did a good job on that, too. 
Is Ryan turning into a fashionista?!  Prob not... but its still fun to dream.

First two weeks for the boys...

Things have been pretty hectic. I know everyone says that when they bring a new baby home, but it isn't Taylor that is causing the chaos. Its those 7 foster puppies and the foster momma dog.  We have to clean their bed out every day, feed them, clean each puppy up, and then deal with the bigger dogs (2 of them are ours, but they are easy and used to the way we do things).  The day before I had Taylor the puppies started dry food. We have to mix it up with water to soften it up for them. This is a chore and Ryan takes it pretty seriously.  At first, he insisted that each puppy be fed individually because each had different needs.  For example, one of the girls liked for him to hold the bowl for her and one of the boys liked for him to hold his paw as he ate.  ?!?!?!  Whatever, man.  Its your thing, not mine. 

Ryan is wearing an apron I made in Home Ec in jr high!  Work it, boy!

 Rosie is checking things out to make sure she is okay with all this.

The boy (we named him Bruce b/c he is ordinary) holding Ryan's hand as he eats. 

 Ryan gives each of them a bath after they eat, understandably.

(though, I wouldn't go this far)

Fat and happy. 

Ryan watching t.v. with one of the pups, who seems equally as interested.

Aside from the all the puppy commotion, the boys still have had time to have fun and enjoy their regular activities. Like...

Hunting monsters

Exercising

Sword fighting in underwear

eating ice cream in underwear

and definitely Kung Fu fighting

First two weeks for the girls...

Taylor and I have just been trying to relax. I have had mastitis twice since bringing her home. Blah! Luckily, she is such an easy baby! She only makes a fuss when she is hungry... and that is only if I haven't gotten to her quick enough. Usually she fishes around for her milk before crying.  And even when she does cry, its just one single holler. She is also very alert and enjoys watching t.v. and listening to Christian read books. I actually thought something might be wrong since she is so calm, but she is just a very content little girl.  She does have acid reflux and projectile vomits, like Christian did.  So, she grunts when its bothering her. 

Reading Dr. Seuss

Watching t.v.

A few members of her fan club...

Tired Ryan

 Kelli

 Mark

Pops

Granddad

Christian

And a few pics that are just cute...

 cross-eyed!

 This pic is not posed.  I cut it out of another pic b/c I thought it was too sweet.

Sweet baby dreams