Kate and Mommy Time

I wonder if the thought has ever crossed Kate's 11 month old mind, "I wonder what it would be like to have Mommy all to myself?" Well, this weekend Kate got the opportunity to be an only child. Rachel and Luke spent Friday and Saturday night with Grandnanna and Grandpa in Snyder, so they could watch the fly in at the Snyder airport. Chris worked Saturday and got home around noon on Sunday. Kate and I spent a quiet weekend at home. We went shopping for something for her to wear for her birthday, but we came up empty handed. We also went to visit a friend who had a new baby. We went shopping for some new toys for Kate in our storage building. We found a rocking horse and an Elmo fun table that sings all kinds of neat songs. She just loves her recycled toys.

Kate also got to watch something on TV that did not star Scooby Doo. I don't know if she even knew our TV showed other things besides Scooby Doo and Shaggy. She was very interested in her Baby Einstein show.

We met Grandnanna and Grandpa in Big Springs to pick up the big kids on Sunday. We had not driven a block before Kate with her lightning fast reflexes grabbed Luke's toy. It took Luke and Rachel to pry it from her clinched fists with her screaming in protest at her highest octave. It has taken her almost a year to join in the bickering in the back seat of our car. All I can say is she learned it from the best!

SURPRISE Party and Water Slides!!!

Rachel had a SURPRISE party given to her by Memaw Linda for her seventh birthday! Rachel had asked to go to the water slides in Dallas for her birthday. We agreed to her request. We planned our trip for the weekend after her birthday, so she was not expecting an actual birthday party. Memaw called her the night before her birthday to see if she would come to her house on her birthday. Rachel accepted the invitation. On her birthday, she moped around asking if she was going to get cake or more important presents, on her birthday. We told her she would get her presents in Dallas before we went to the water slides. Our answer bothered her, so she asked if she could just go to Toys-R-Us and pick out her own gifts. She received several calls on her birthday wishing her birthday wishes. Everybody she talked to she asked if they were going to be at Memaw's house. Everybody told her no. She did not act too disappointed or ask questions. We left for Snyder after she got out of her summer school. We arrived to a room full of excited party goers! She was very excited and surprised to see everybody! We actually surprised her! To those of you that don't know, last year her Grandnanna threw her a surprise party too, so she has been surprised two years in a row. I don't think we will be able to pull it off again next year! Rachel had a wonderful party! We had pizza and ice cream cake. She received so many wonderful gifts. Her big gift was a water slide. We set it up in the back yard and all the kids enjoyed sliding on it. Her little cousin Tenley jumped on without any hesitation. She loved the water slide! She has no fear!

On the Friday after her birthday we headed to Fort Worth to see Aunt Cara, Uncle Beaubie, and baby cousin Ian. Grandpa and Grandnanna joined us on our trip. We had a great time visiting with everybody and eating at our favorite restaurants. I also got to meet my brand new baby cousin Julia Grace Sims. She is such a beautiful baby! You forget how little a newborn actually is. On Saturday we went to the water park. Cara and Beau joined us. Grandpa and Grandnanna graciously agreed to watch Kate and Ian while we had some fun in the sun. The kids big and small had a great time at the water park. We even snuk Luke on a slide he was a little too small for. It was an uphill water slide that is basically a roller coaster on water. He said it was a little scary but lots of fun! We stayed at the water park until it closed for the day. As always, we had a great time in Dallas and we thank Cara, Beau, and Ian for all their hospitality!

Happy Seventh Birthday Rachel!!!

It hardly seems possible that seven years ago today we were anxiously waiting for our baby girl to arrive. I can remeber almost every detail about that day, but all the days since seem like a blur. Rachel has turned into such a little lady. She is a wonderful big sister and student. She loves cheerleeding, dresses, and the color pink. I thought it would be neat to share some pictures of Rachel from all her past birthdays (thank you Aunt Cara for scanning the pictures for us).



Rachel brand new and mad!

Two days old and on our way home. We had no clue what to expect. We sure are glad she took it easy on us! Rachel was such a sweet baby!

On her first birthday she did not want to eat her cake, so she decided to put her feet in it. She was covered in icing from head to toe when she was done, but none of it made it in her mouth!

Our pretty little girl at two....

Here she is three years old and has a new title of big sister!

Dreaming of her waterslide at four....

Here she is with her friend Chuck E Cheese at five years old...

We made her a cake for her sixth birthday. She wanted a pink cake with pink icing. She did not realize in order to have a pink cake with pink icing it would mean it would be strawberry flavored, and since she does not like strawberries she would not eat the cake! Lesson learned not everything pink is great!

Happy Seventh Birthday Rachel!!!

Summer Fun

Today we had some backyard fun in the hot West Texas sun. We got out the big waterslide and filled up the swimming pool for the kids.

Rachel and Luke were having so much fun Kate and I decided to join them!!

Rachel and Luke thought it was so funny that Momma went down the big slide!! That slide is as fun as it looks!!