Boys will be boys...

Texas Style

2009-01-09T14:52:00.001-06:00

This is what happens when you live in Texas...80 degrees one day and 30 degrees the next!! :) Chase came out of his room today dressed like this...

The New Boats

2009-01-05T11:57:00.002-06:00

Gabe starts basketball tonight...his first practice. He is SO excited. He left for school this morning and said, "Bye Dad, see you at practice tonight." Dad is coach and all the kids on his team are in Kindergarten with him at his school. Does it get any better? O I forgot to mention that Chase and I are default cheerleaders for games AND practices. We went to get him some new basketball shoes, since the ones he got in Sept no longer fit! Check out his new boats, I mean shoes! That tall boy is in a size 4! Did I fail to mention he turned 6 in Sept!! Gonna go buy some stock in Nike.

Our New Year's Eve Party

2009-01-03T18:04:00.005-06:00

A New Year's Eve tradition was started after Gabe was born. My dad and step mom came up for New Year's Eve, which was almost 4 mths after Gabe was born. Shane and I had not been out together since Gabe was born, so they came up to let us go! It has since become a tradition that they come up every New Year's Eve and babysit for us!! What a WONDERFUL tradition, because everyone knows how hard it is to find a babysitter for NYE. Well this year they had an opportunity to go to Colorado for the week, so of course they went! We decided we would have a little party since we couldn't go out ourselves and I couldn't imagine not going to or having a party for NYE! We invited our friends and their kids over for a NYE Party at our house. Gabe is always mad when we have "adult" parties and he has to go to bed or stay with a babysitter, so we decided to have a party for the kids! They dressed up in khakis and put Shane's ties on with tshirts! I dressed up and Chase helped me put the shiniest makeup, brightest red lips and shiniest jewelry, which he did! I had on 2 bracelets (one as an arm cuff) and 2 flashy rings! Our friends came over and the kids made their own pizzas, ate cookies and played Wii. We turned all of our clocks forward from the actual time 5:30pm to 9:30pm and let the NYE countdown begin...so when it was 11:57 (really 7:57) the kids were in their pjs, we all ran outside blowing horns, and shot poppers! Then of course the kids had to go to bed because it was MIDNIGHT! (or 8pm). The kids had a GREAT time and were so pleased to attend an "adult" party!!

Gabe, Lauren, Chase and Gavin ready to party!

My "fancy" boys ready for the party!

Chase and Gavin in matching Speed Racer PJ's that Gav brought over for the sleepover!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Christmas at Our House

2008-12-28T15:20:00.003-06:00

Shane's brother Steve and his family came from Florida for Christmas this year. The kids had a BLAST...did I say the kids had fun? I mean a BLAST!! Stevie is 4 just like Chase and Aidan is 8, just old enough to tolerate and enjoy Gabe!! ;) Stevie and Chase immediately took off and were joined at the hip the entire time! The first few days were yucky cold and wet, so we were confined to the house until the kids went to a bounce house place while Landis (my SIL) and I made Chex Mix! (which was supposed to be given to friends and neighbors, but we ate it all!) We all went to Christmas Eve candlelight service and then to Pappasito's for dinner. (a restaurant that every major event has been celebrated at in most of our lives) We heated the hot tub on Christmas day, cranked the Christmas music on the patio and let the kids swim! (We adults hit the hot tub later that night!) The weather cleared up and we LIVED outside. Kids played street hockey with their new gear, rode bikes, drove remote control trucks and rode scooters. It was a great time and sad when we had to say goodbye. Kids are bored now!! :)

Aidan's 8th Birthday

2008-12-22T12:11:00.000-06:00

My niece was in town for Christmas and her bday is Dec 22nd, so I took her to get a mani/pedi! She kept saying "this is the life!" They learn fast! ;)

Gabe's Christmas Party

2008-12-18T11:55:00.001-06:00

Gabe had his "Winter Party" aka Christmas party at school with 5 fun stations, making reindeer food, decorating a cookie, christmas bingo, making christmas cards and making an ornament!

Gabe making a Christmas Card.

Gabe eating his decorated cookie

Gabe with me at the ornament station.

Gabe making reindeer food

Pajama Day at School

2008-12-17T11:49:00.000-06:00

Gabe got to wear his LEGO Star Wars pajamas with his robe as a jacket to school! He didn't want to fix his hair either because "you know you dont fix your hair when you are in your pajamas!" What was I thinking?

Chase's Christmas Program

2008-12-17T11:43:00.000-06:00

Chase had a part in his Christmas program that we all know so well due to his excessive practicing, "Look in the sky, there's a star!" that he said BEAUTIFULLY! ;)

Santa's Village

2008-12-14T11:33:00.001-06:00

Santa's Village is a group of about 12 mini-houses (sheds turned into mini homes) that are turned into a village, there was Santa's house where the kids sat on Santa's lap, Mrs. Claus' bakery where she handed them a cookie, The North Pole Fire Station, where they could dress up like a fireman, and lots of others. It is really a neat place. Santa also is brought in on a firetruck with sirens blaring!! Pretty cool! We went with some good friends Jaime and Jared, and their kids Jenna and Jonah.

Gabe, Jonah and Chase climbing on the nutcracker that almost tipped over...hey! they were quiet!! ;)

The kids waiting impatiently in line to see Santa.

Jenna and Chase looking through the window of Santa's house. Seriously, these two were seperated at birth!

Breakfast with Santa

2008-12-08T11:21:00.001-06:00

Gabe's school had a breakfast with Santa where all the dads show up and make pancakes and Santa comes. Grandma Wanda and Nana came too! Gabe got to eat with all his friends and Chase even saw some of his buddies! In the gym there was also a store set up for the kids to shop for their family. Elf Land had tons of gifts for the kids to buy. Gabe was SOO excited to shop. We gave him some money and he shopped away. He came out with a gift for everyone wrapped with a gift tag. He then went over it step by step adding at the end that he "felt cheer shopping." Now he understands why I like to shop!! The funniest thing too! Chase went and sat on Santa's lap and Santa asked him what he wanted for Christmas, he looked at him and said "I told you last week in Atlanta!!!" Santa recovered well asking Chase to remind him again!! :)

Thanksgiving in ATL

2008-11-26T11:27:00.000-06:00

Here is a pic from Thankgiving in ATL. That is Estee reading a book with the boys. Surely I can find some more pics from that trip...I will post more if I can get some!!

Christmas Elves

2008-11-20T11:16:00.000-06:00

These christmas elves came a little early this year! We were headed to Atlanta to see my other 2 children (my gorgeous twin neices) for Thanksgiving, so I decided I HAD to decorate for Christmas so when we got back it would be done! Chase found the hat and aprons and had to wear them. Oh and don't let the picture of the boys decorating the tree fool you...I nicely took them off and decorated it later, everyone knows, no one touches mom's tree! ;) They did have a blast decorating thier upside down tree in the toy room though!!

Gabe Time

2008-11-16T11:06:00.001-06:00

We had a great day out with Gabe by himself! We went to the Heard Museum Dinosaur exhibit. They have dinosaurs throught the nature walk that make noise and move and one even spits water on you! He had a blast! Its been awhile since we have been able to take Gabe by himself to do something!!

Luckiest Girl

2008-11-09T10:59:00.000-06:00

My handsome boys!

The Great Pumpkin

2008-10-28T20:57:00.004-05:00

So you know once you have a big pumpkin one year, the small ones just won't do! Here is last year's pumpkin and this year's! And a candle is so last year...this year we have the strobe light in it!! Super cool! ;)

Halloween 2006

2008

Gabe's first letter..

2008-10-27T19:23:00.000-05:00

Shane's brother Steve plays the guitar and Gabe knows this and thinks he is so cool! We were at a restaurant on Sunday on the patio and he found this guitar pick on the ground. First thing he says is, "My Uncle Steve plays the guitar and he has hundreds of guitar toothpicks!" LOL LOL..he then said he wanted to mail it to him "so he could have a hundred and one toothpick." Here is his first letter he wrote all by himself!! SO proud of him!

Halloween Festival

2008-10-27T10:48:00.004-05:00

We went to a festival at Chase's preschool last night! The boys had a blast!!

Mini Muddy Buddy

2008-10-26T19:47:00.010-05:00

So Shane and Brandon (college buddy) decided to do the Muddy Buddy...it is a race where you run/bike and do obstacle courses then at the very end, you army crawl through a huge mud pit...just look at pics...They got 4th place! Not bad for their first one!!

Well we signed the boys up for the Mini Muddy Buddy...they were in HEAVEN. They ran a little obstacle course, crawled through the mud pit, ran across the finish line (where they put a medal around their neck), then got to wash off in the lake!! BOY HEAVEN!! I posted tons of pics/videos, but this was so cool!!

Really random, but Paul Mitchell was the main sponsor, so they were doing $10 haircuts. The boys always need a haircut, they are chia pets, so we take them over there and Chase tells the guy he wants a mohawk! The guy says you dont have enough hair, so he gave him a fauxhawk!! That kid is a trip!

Here are the pics, but scroll down for the videos!!!

Chase's "Field Trip"

2008-10-26T19:42:00.002-05:00

So Chase was a little upset that he didn't get to go on a field trip "like Gabe." So, we had a little field trip to the pumpkin patch of our own. We met some of his friends there, then went to McDonald's! Does it get any better?

Gabe's 1st Field Trip

2008-10-21T19:38:00.000-05:00

So Gabe had his first field trip the the Pumpkin Patch. He was sooo excited to get to ride a REAL school bus! It was the hit of the trip!

Crazy Hair Day

2008-10-16T19:37:00.000-05:00

I am playing catchup...This was Crazy Hair Day at Gabe's school...

Doesn't God know what Fall is?

2008-09-30T18:49:00.003-05:00

So we are at dinner tonight and Gabe does his usual prayer, thanks for the food and family...so Chase says he wants to pray and starts one of the little songs he learned at school and Shane tells him, don't just repeat that same old song, just talk to God and thank him. So he prays...

"God, when I was at the store getting the hay (for our front yard scarecrow), I got out of the car and it was hot. It is Fall and it is supposed to be cool. Thanks for our food. Amen."

And all of Texas says... AMEN!!

My Chase

2008-09-24T12:03:00.000-05:00

This is Chase's newly learned trick he was doing at lunch today!

Grandparent's Day/Birthday/Twins

2008-09-09T18:02:00.009-05:00

Ok so I am gonna play a little catchup...my new addiction, facebook is keeping me from blogging lately!

GRANDPARENT'S DAY AT SCHOOL

Mamah and Peapa

Nana

GABE'S never-ending 6TH BIRTHDAY!

Gabe's birthday started out with a special birthday breakfast!

Then we had a family party with Lauren and Gav to celebrate!!

Then the BIG "all boys" Transformer party! It was a drop off party, and it turned out to be a BLAST! The boys swam, ate, threw water balloons at Megatron, ate cake and ice cream and opened presents!!

MY GIRLS

My twin 6 mth old nieces were here for 3 weeks and here are a "few" pics of the MOST precious babies on earth...what can I say, we have good genes! :)

MY PRECIOUS BOYS

Here are a few random pics from the last few weeks...

Cute Crocs?!

2008-08-27T21:59:00.002-05:00

Ok, so a friend of a friend bought these crocs, not the rubber, only looks cute on a kid crocs, like real ADULT cute crocs! YOU gotta check them out! She also is giving a free pair away on her blog...

http://www.classychaos.com/

The First Day of Kindergarten

2008-08-25T17:48:00.002-05:00

It was a a good, but sad day. Gabe woke up and was fully dressed at 7:02am. He then came downstairs and told me he had a "list." I asked what his list was and he said, "First, I get dressed, done, then I eat a big breakfast, put my tennis shoes on, get my lunch and backpack and then go to school." And that he did...He also asked me that if his shoes came untied would his teacher help him...Everything was fine, until I got BACK home and watched this video, then it hit home...

Kindergarten Kickoff Party

2008-08-17T21:57:00.003-05:00

So I decided that it would be fun for some kids in the neighborhood who don't know each other to meet, hang out so that they will know some familiar faces at school! We had such a great time, met new friends, hung out with old ones and just elevated the level of excitement about the big first day of Kindergarten!!

Dog days of Summer

2008-08-05T12:23:00.001-05:00

You know it is hot, when it is even too hot to swim!! The boys would jump in the pool to get wet, then sit in the shade until they dried, then do it again!!

Little Monster

2008-08-01T20:02:00.000-05:00

Jack and Jill Boutique

2008-07-31T13:36:00.003-05:00

Ok, these are THE best nap mats. My good friend Narci makes these and they are absolutely the best! Poor Gabe had to be my guinea pig when it came to nap mats...that poor baby, his legs were ALWAYS hanging out of the blanket and the padding was so thin, it was like a towel...I ordered one from her and just got it yesterday and Chase is in HEAVEN!! He carries it around, unrolls it, rolls it back up and watches TV on it...she has some really cute fabric too! Chase picked the pirate monkeys!! You have to go see her other fabrics too!!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=6045432

Her store is Jack and Jill Boutique, you gotta check it out!!

Cabo Wabo

2008-07-25T16:31:00.005-05:00

Mom and I took a mom/daughter trip to Cabo this past week! What a nice relaxing trip...We got there on Sunday and there was a hurricane in the Pacific, so the waves were 18-20 ft! It was an amazing thing to see. We did go see the Arch, Lover's Beach, and the few "must see" places like Cabo Wabo, The Office and Hemingways. Most of you know how much I HATE to fly...well on my flight back the pilot tells everyone, "Sorry about all the turbulence, but if you look out the right side of the plane, you'll see we are flying over the remnants of Hurricane Dolly." Obviously, made it home safe and was SO glad I didnt hear about that plane that exploded and had a hole in it while in flight....

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,391024,00.html

Here are a few pics from the trip...we relaxed, tanned and I actually read an ENTIRE book! NO INTERRUPTIONS! ;) Nothing like being home in your own bed though...

More Garner Pics....

2008-07-15T22:00:00.002-05:00

Click on this link and it is some more pictures that my dad took...

http://picasaweb.google.com/guidrypeas/GuidryPeasGoToGarner2008

My day so far...

2008-07-15T09:25:00.002-05:00

So my little Gabe has an inner and outer ear infection...really bad one. He basically is only ok when his pain medicine is working...anyway, he woke up this morning crying, so I gave him another dose of his pain medicine...crying, he looked at me and said, "thank you for taking care of me." sniff, sniff...it makes getting up in the middle of the night all worth it!

The morning proceeds...Gabe loves that show "How its Made" where they show you how they make milk, gum, etc all kinds of fun stuff. So this episode is how they make fireworks. They are watching it and my poor Chase, full of fears, comes RUNNING and CRYING, scared of the fireworks...really?? I tried to explain that they are ON TV and not near us...

Now it is 9:15am, and my Gabe, who is brilliant and is constantly trying to figure out the world, looks at me and tells me he has figured out why he is sick...why I ask? Because of the 5 second rule. He says we drop food and you have 5 seconds to eat it or it is bad and it gets germs on it and that is how he got sick...What kid sits and ponders how he got sick!?

Here's to the rest of the day...

Garner State Park

2008-07-10T21:19:00.006-05:00

I have been going to Garner State Park since I was 7 years old. My family has been going for over 50 years! We almost always go over the 4th of July. It is basically a camping version of Dirty Dancing. We stay in cabins and hike, bike, swim in the river, tube, rope swing, play putt putt and hang out in the river all day. Every night there is a dance at the Pavilion which is a haven for teens! (Those were the good ol' days! ;) The kids absolutely love going there. We got back last night and Chase said today that McKinney wasn't as fun and he wanted to go back to Garner.

I did deal with my first "letting go" moment as a mom. I have younger cousins that are all around 11-15 yrs old. (mostly boys) and they were all going bike riding and Gabe came up to me and asked if he could go with them. My first thought was HELL NO! I cant see you at all times...I just said, go ask your dad and he assured me that this was a little independence for Gabe to let him go with the older kids on a bike ride. I admit I was a little apprehensive and eyes a little watery, but I knew he would be fine...he's growing up and that scares me to death! Now I just have to prepare myself for August 25th...first day of Kindergarten!

Nice pic of Shane WORKING on vacation! You can run...but you can't hide!

Galveston/Kemah

2008-07-10T20:57:00.003-05:00

We went for a last minute, quick trip to Houston 2 weeks ago to celebrate our 9th anniversary. While there we took the kids to Galveston and Kemah!

We spent the day at Galveston collecting shells, swimming and building sandcastles.

Then we went to Kemah, rode rides, played games and Gabe and I rode "The Beast." (a thrill ride that the whole purpose is to go fast and get you wet!) Gabe won a red scooby doo and Chase actually made a basket on the basketball game where the basketball barely fits!!

He's only 4....

2008-06-23T19:30:00.003-05:00

Ok, so my excuse is he is the baby...THAT is why he tends to be a little spoiled and rowdy, ok REALLY spoiled, but come on, look at this pic, could you say no?

Happy 4th Bday Mr. Personality

2008-06-23T17:47:00.004-05:00

Just precious from the start...with the most contagious smile.

HAPPY 4th Birthday Chase!

2008-06-23T17:19:00.003-05:00

My baby boy celebrated his 4th birthday this weekend. Enjoy the pics from his Monster Truck Swimming Pool Party! ;)

I am BACK...

2008-06-23T17:19:00.000-05:00

I DID IT! I am done with my lifestyle fast and although it was a struggle, it was a much needed break to re prioritize things in my life!! Anyway, this was a pic of me on Sunday, an hour after church let out! A MUCH needed fix!

Lifestyle Fast

2008-06-15T22:31:00.004-05:00

Ok, I am gonna need some serious accountability on this one...Our church challenged us this week to do a lifestyle fast for a week. This is to give up something for a week that consumes your time and keeps you from spending time with God...so I am giving up the internet for the week...yes you heard it right. I will not be blogging from Mon to Sun. I WILL be checking my email, but no surfing the web. Help by praying for the strength to follow through! Who knows what God will show me while I am spending time with Him instead of TMZ.com! ;)

Here are the details:
http://www.fellowshipchurch.com/oneprayer_w2

Happy Father's Day!

2008-06-15T22:21:00.002-05:00

"What did you guys do for Father's Day weekend?" you ask...

Let's see we started off the weekend by celebrating Chase's birthday a week early. My dad and Vicki were in town and gave him a new cowboy hat!!! As you can tell he LOVES it...

Then we celebrated Flag Day on Saturday with my naked cowboy sporting the flag swim shorts and new hat!!

Next, our home was invaded by "The Hulk." Mamah and Peapa came bearing Hulk pajamas...

Then,Shane got to 'chillax' in the pool with our new pool floats that Uncle Grant gave us...shout out to Uncle Grant, they are a hit!!

Lastly, the shot that makes every dad proud, Chase watering the lawn...thus the title of my blog...

Hope everyone had a Happy Father's Day!!

I'm in trouble now...

2008-06-13T10:54:00.002-05:00

Ok so yesterday we were playing dodge ball in the house (and it was actually my idea)...So we are running around upstairs/downstairs and whoever was it has to hit the other two with the ball. Gabe had just tagged me with the ball from over the stairway down in the living room ( a great shot by the way), and I told them I needed a break. I come and check me email (like I do 100 times a day) and Chase runs in and says, "Mom, hurry, Gabe needs your help!" I get up and am walking out of my office and barely get through the doorway when I am bombarded with the ball!!! Gabe was standing at the top of the staircase waiting for me to come through!! They totally tricked me! I was so impressed with their teamwork!! We high-fived for a little bit and I just couldn't believe how they had tricked me...so smooth!! I am constantly flinching now everytime I come out the doorway!!!

Gabriel Tyler!!

2008-06-12T14:40:00.001-05:00

My dad altered this cartoon...o so appropriate....I do believe that Family Circus cartoons are based off of my family!

Surfing

2008-06-09T12:18:00.002-05:00

This was Gabe's favorite thing to do, surf. The water was really choppy and they loved to surf the waves!

The Lake

2008-06-08T20:20:00.001-05:00

Who is this kid?

2008-06-05T18:13:00.002-05:00

Ok, I know you guys are sick of all the swimming videos, but let me just explain why I am so proud of Chase. Gabe has always been a great swimmer, but my little Chase, poor guy, he inherited all my "fears." Over the last few weeks he has become a different child. Last year we went to the lake and he screamed the entire time we were on the boat, so we had to take him off the boat, this year after an hour and a half of crying, he FINALLY got over his fear and now LOVES the boat. He also used to be afraid of the water...like a week ago, now he is swimming like a champ....With the boat and water fears taken care of, our next battle is his fear of the wind. Ya, kinda hard to do anything...he freaks seeing flags, trees blowing, etc...one step at a time. Thus, the reason for all the swimming pics!

Chase swimming

2008-06-04T08:43:00.000-05:00

Look who is swimming...

Board breaking

2008-06-04T08:36:00.000-05:00

Gabe breaking a board using the 'axe kick'

2008-06-04T08:31:00.001-05:00

Ladybug Soldier

2008-06-04T08:31:00.000-05:00

Gabe after his army party w/ a ladybug

2008-06-04T08:28:00.000-05:00

Gabe getting his green belt

2008-06-04T08:27:00.001-05:00

2008-05-18T10:18:00.000-05:00

Celebrating Mother's Day at Gabe's Preschool