San Antonio Children's Museum

Over the last two weeks we had a break in scheduled activities (swim lessons), so we were able to get out and explore some of the nearby attractions.  Daddy had to travel to Corpus for work which left Mama to wrangle three kiddos to the San Antonio Children's Museum.  It was a little loud, which scared Penny at first, but after a little while everyone had fun!  This is just the first of many fun spots to visit!

Cooper and Penny sell goods in the general store.

This little lady just relaxed.

Piano!

Cooper books me a ticket at the airport.

Penny plays house.

The Wilds of Home

As we settle into our new habitat, we are having fun learning about some of the creatures we share it with.  One particular morning all we had to do was go out on the front porch for a quick entomology lesson.  Cooper is happy to identify walking sticks, praying mantises (manti?), daddy-long-legs, scorpions (shudder), ladybugs, a "big horned beetle,"  ants, and spiders. While some of the creatures I could do without (uh, black widow spider, scorpion) I appreciate the easy opportunity to teach the kids about nature!  As Pa-Pa said on his visit, "You can wear out a lot of boots living in a place like this."

An armadillo under the propane tank!

Our front porch is a popular hang out for all kinds of creepy-crawlies.  Here is the first Rhinoceros Beetle I have ever seen in person.  

BIG walking stick.  

The previous owners of our home left a deer feeder.  All we had to do was provide the corn and the deer show up in the early morning and evening.

We have seen tons of lizards, big and small.  For awhile a big alligator lizard lived by the front porch.  Cooper named her Lily.

A sleeping bear.  Its exhausting trying to skip your nap and sneak back from your brother's room...

Six Months Old!

For the summer solstice this year our little Ellie turned six months old!  She has continued to be a sweet and easy-going little baby, even through all the moving upheaval we have put her through in the last month.  We enjoy watching her play both with Cooper and Penny and by herself.  We also appreciate what a good sport she has been through moving, getting settled, and taking Cooper and Penny to their activities.  Everyone that meets her exclaims how sweet and beautiful she is!  We agree!

At six months Ellie:

• Weighs 13 lbs, 14 oz and is 24.5 inches long. 

• Still eats every 3 to 4 hours during the day and sometimes once in the middle of the night.  

• Naps well, though not always on a schedule.  Poor third baby is a victim of her older siblings' schedule.  If we are out, she'll take a short nap in her carseat.  If we are home, she'll nap up to two hours.
• Sleeps in her carseat!  Big girl learned how to sit up in her bouncy seat and needed something with shoulder straps!  (With all the craziness of settling in to our new home, we aren't risking bringing reflux into the picture just yet.)
• Can't decide which tooth to get first!  She drools and teethes CONSTANTLY though nothing has poked through.  
• Loves when other people talk or play with her...as long as Mama is the one holding her.
• Is trying to scoot!  She is an expert at rolling over and pushing up on her arms.  Sometimes she can get herself over to a toy she wants, sometimes she can't.
• Will hang out for longer periods of time in the exersaucer.  She is getting pretty good at grabbing for things and putting them directly in her mouth.

• Has gotten in the pool!  She likes the water, though won't have much to do with the baby float.  

• Has tried rice cereal...and acts like a little baby bird when I am feeding her. She waits for the spoon with her mouth open, and if I am too slow, she lets out a little grunt.  Her brother and sister think this is hilarious. 
• Has gotten to meet several people and already seems adjusted to her new surroundings.  Girl has no idea we just made an epic move.  
• We haven't traveled really in the last month, but she did get to go furniture shopping with just Mom and Dad two days in a row while Nonnie kept her siblings.

Ready for her first swim!

Around the Town

Over the weekend our friends Jana and Ed came for a visit and we all headed into Boerne to check out the annual Berges Fest.  We all enjoyed the parade, German music and food, and shopping opportunities.  The kids really liked the throwing of candy at the parade, and the adults enjoyed one float handing out free beer. We also marveled at how pleasant the weather was for a mid-June afternoon.  We can't wait for the next town event!

Cooper watches and waits intently for the parade.  Both kids were nervous when the muskets were fired, but cheered up as each float threw candy for them.

This little one was a trooper, barely causing a fuss all day!

Eek!!!  Cooper and Penny got to "pet the animals" and we were amused to learn that Penny liked the snake the best! (Cooper wouldn't go near it.)

Settling In...We Heart Boerne!

Hello!  With just over a week under our belt as Hill Country citizens, we finally have a chance to stop and breathe in a deep, cedar-scented breath!  As anyone can imagine, relocating a family of two adults, two boisterous kids, one teething baby, and two dogs is no small feat.  Yet here we are!  On May 31st, Daddy, Cooper, and Ralph the dog left EARLY in the morning in order to meet the moving truck at our new home.  Mama, Penny, Ellie, and Brewster followed, arriving just two hours after the guys.  That first day was busy and has only slightly become less so since.  We have been consumed with unpacking and all the other steps it takes to move.  Setting up services, overseeing work being done and shopping for things we need, to name a few.  

We have also already had visitors!  Our friend Sara came that first Sunday and helped us with our kitchen unpacking.  Then Uncle Clint came over a few days later for dinner and swimming.  Nonnie arrived last Wednesday and helped A LOT with unpacking and kid entertainment.  Then on Thursday we got a surprise visit from Ma-Mas and Aunt Ida on their way to San Angelo! We spend the days working, working, working, but our evenings consist of enjoying our new surroundings, namely the pool and the view.  We still have lots to do before we are completely "moved in" but we are oh so happy to be here!  What a fabulous place to spend the summer and start the next chapter of our lives!

(Disclaimer:  Picture-taking has NOT been on the docket over the last week...these are what I have managed.)

Ralph is really enjoying the beach entry to the pool, or as we have dubbed it just for him, "the old guy entry."

We needed some refreshment after a half-day shopping trip into San Antonio.

Not one single room in the house is completely put together.  Its probably not surprising that Miss Penny's room is the closest. Or that the two little girls in the house are the only ones with real beds.  No matter, we crash just as easily onto a mattress on the floor, with all that we are doing during the day!

We took time out to venture into Boerne, take a walk in the park, and visit the ducks.

After a day's work, we have to keep pinching ourselves that this is how we get to unwind.

Five Months Old!

Ellie is five months old today and what a little cutie! We just love having this easy-going girl around and we think she likes us too!  Cooper and Penny are really good at making her laugh and entertaining her when Mama is busy.

At five months Ellie:

• Weighs 14 lbs and is 24 1/4 inches long. 
• Eats every 3 to 4 hours during the day and sometimes once in the middle of the night.  
• Takes three naps a day.  One in the morning, one in the middle of the day, and one in the late afternoon.
• Still sleeps swaddled up in her bouncy seat.  Mama doesn't see any reason to mess around with that reflux business.
• Drools all the time and teethes on everything in her reach.  There are no signs of any teeth yet.
• Gets nervous when people other than Mama want to hold her, though she is starting to go to Daddy and Ma-Mas more easily.
• Reaches for Mama's or Daddy's face when we hold her.
• Has discovered that her feet make great teething toys.
• Likes to sit with her ankles crossed.
• Mostly says "mmmmmmm" when she wants to talk but occasionally will let out an "ah!" or "ga!"
• Experienced her first Mother's Day and Easter.
• Traveled to the ranch, the lake house, Boerne, and to Houston to visit Nonnie and the cousins.  

Cooper takes time out from swimming to keep Ellie company.

Penny just had to have her picture taken with Ellie!

Getting Ready to Roll (Outta Here!)

Over the weekend we spent a day pouring over our new house; checking things out, moving stuff in, and making plans.  Well, the parents did those things.  The kids mostly ran wild through an empty house and drove the parents crazy.  Their excitement couldn't be subdued and I spent a few moments thinking about what a big move must be like for them.  They are young and so this is just one big fun adventure for them.  They have none of the stress or strain for which I am grateful.  This is also a unique experience, as they will never be these tender ages and moving in to this house ever again.  

Our first day in our new house!

Look at my "house" Cooper!

They fell right at home in the new playroom...once we opened a few boxes for them.

This little one was a good sport all day long, letting Mama and Daddy work!

First lunch in the new house.

Penny tries out the porch swing.

We took a break to swim in the pool for the first time!

A New View

Evening view we have enjoyed for 4+ years. 

Soon our family history will be marked by a major event.  An event not quite as large as the birth of each child, but prominent just the same.  In a few weeks, we will be moving away from the coast to live in the Texas Hill Country.  The Hill Country has been calling to us for some time now, and we are finally at a place where we can act!  We have many fond memories of our time here...I grew up here, David and I married here, and each of our sweet kids were born here.   All of these events were coupled with great friends and family whom we are sad to move away from.  After over 10 years and three different houses later we are excited to embark on a new adventure and fulfill part of a dream!  It feels for David and I as if we are hitting the "reboot" button on our life and we are excited to continue raising our kids in such a beautiful place! 

Our new view!  How could we resist?

Scenes From a Perfect Mother's Day...2014

Cooper and Penny were thrilled when we decided to spend the day with Ma-mas, Pa-Pa, and Uncle Clint at the ranch.  After opening my gifts from Daddy and the kids, I got the added gift of being with our family and watching happy kids have fun.

Cooper spends some rare contemplative time on the porch.  No sooner did I get this shot, however, that he was off and running again.

Someone please tell me what we are to do with this pink mess! I do really love that she lets me take her picture!

And then this sweet baby!  This was my first Mother's Day as a mother of three and I really enjoyed it.  After a day of family at the ranch my body was tired but my heart was full.  I am pretty darn lucky to be the Mama of this crew!

This is the Way We Start Our May

The school year is rapidly coming to an end.  Cooper's class got to go on a field trip on May 1st and had "Crazy Sock Day" the next day.  He is going through a "not cooperate for Mom and her camera" phase.

After "crazy sock day" we headed up to Houston to visit Nonnie and go to cousins' Brayden and Brycen's birthday parties.  Cooper LOVED the blow-up water slide, though in this picture he is still a little uncertain.

Penny chose not to go down the big slide, but had fun in the baby pool and the flooded yard that was created from the water slide at Aunt Amanda's house.

After a big day of watching Brayden play soccer, two birthday parties, and no naps, we were glad to get the kids back to Nonnie's for a quiet evening.  Ellie is teething!  She did not sleep well on Friday night or during the day on Saturday.  Luckily she did on Saturday night!

We are in the count down now!  22 days until summer!