Siblings!

I think these pictures might give you the wrong impression of how well me kids get along. They appear to be very loving and truly enjoy each other's company. Ha! I'm here to tell you there is defiantly a bit of sibling rivalry between these two. I feel like I am putting out fires all day long. I look at these pictures I think about what every mother out there has gone through raising kids. The constant arguing and fighting over toys. One screaming, "he touched me", "she kicked me" and my favorite, "he looked at me". Have you heard this before?

I look at my relationships with my siblings and we are very close. I know my mom thought at times they will never like each other. Stephen is also very close to his brother and sister. He's business partners with his brother and they truly are best friends. I love that! So I will wait with great anticipation for that day! I will continually pray for a strong bond between the two of them. Until that day, could you pray for my sanity?

I just love this picture. Stephen took this at the Austin zoo. It cracks me up!

Halloween

I really can't seem to find time anymore to blog. What is happening?! I'm feeling so busy with life and kids that I can't seem to get a single post completed. UGH!!! So here I am on December 5th posting Halloween pictures. Ha! What, What's wrong with that?!

Andie LOVEs to dress up all the time. She loves to dress up as Princess. (I guess that's the truth with most little girls.) Oh may she always know that she is a true Princess, a daughter of the KING!! Just gives me chills knowing that the Lord above adores t

his little Princess as much as I do and then some.

This year she was persistent about being Pocahontas. We have had her costume since August. She has watched this movie more times than I can count. She now, not only watches the movie but acts it out! There's a scene in the movie where Pocahontas dives off this cliff well, I have caught her diving off the couch. This girl does not sit to watch this movie, she is acting the whole thing out. It's hilarious!!! So here she is as Pocahontas.

It's a bird, It's a plane, It's super man!!! Gray really had no what the in world halloween was all about. I took the liberty to choose his costume for him. I thought he would make a very cute Superman. Don't ya think he makes a cute super hero??? I really choose this because the cape. What boy does not like to have a cape to flap in the wind as he runs. Ha!

We had so much fun trick or treating! We did a little hay ride through my friends neighborhood. The kids had a blast! Andie was all about getting the most candy. Gray was just along for the ride until he started realizing, hey these people are giving me lollipops and then he was on board with it.

Thanks Bates family for another fun year of trick or treating.

1st Days of School

Ahhh...it's finally here, SCHOOL. Here are a few photos of Gray meeting his teacher and class mates and also his first day of Mother's Day Out.

"CHEESE."

Gray is super excited about painting. He loves to paint.

Andie's first day of school. I woke her up at 6:40 and she acted like she was soooo tired and then asked me, "do have to go to school today" as she had a big smile on her face. She was so cute in her uniform. LOVE the uniform! No arguing about what she's going to wear.

Andie and her very dear friend, Margaret.

Lord, Thank you for my wonderful children. I pray that you keep our children well. I ask for a hedge of protection around them and their schools. I pray that you bless each of their days. I pray that You would be glorified by their lives. May they live their lives boldly for You and proclaim Your word to those that don't know you.

Just in time for summer...

Gray breaks his leg. What a pain! At least this is a temporary thing. He will be in a cast for about four weeks so swimming is out and so is bathing. We are back to good ole' sponge baths for this little guy. And let me tell you he D-O-S-E N-O-T like them at all! I'm so sad about not swimming. That was my saving grace. I would take the kids to the pool from around 4-6pm and it got us (or should I say me) through that witching hour.

He is actually doing great! He finally has figured out that he can walk with his cast. But he likes to pull the sympathy card quit a bit. It seems to work for him most of the time. ( I need to be stronger but he gives me those sad eyes and I just swoop him up.) I sure hope this is the last one but with this crazy boy I'm guessing this won't be the last time. Would you believe he is still trying to stand on toys that roll. Seriously??!! I do not need him breaking his arm too.

Graduation Night

The other night Andie had her B-I-G graduation from Pre-K. She will be leaving the only the school that she has really every known. It is so bittersweet. She L-O-V-E-S that school but she will be moving on to another wonderful school. Andie has heard God's word daily at this school and been with so many loving teachers. She has made so many sweet friends there. Many of them have been together since they were 18 months old. I am sad to see her leave but excited to see what God has in store for her at her new school.

Andie and her knew Bible from her school. The graduation ran a little long for Andie so while they were calling all the other graduating Pre-K students she decided she would take time to look at her new Bible. While they were to be standing there Andie thought she would study God's word. Ha!

She got a little cash.

Why is this man so happy? He will be going to this school next year. I cannot wait for Gray to have the same introduction to school that Andie has had. Oh boy, this kid is very different from Andie so this should be interesting.

Momma is also smiling because gray will be going to school. Ha!

Cookies for my Little man.

Okay so, I L-O-V-E decorated cookies. I actually have a "secret" desire to be able to decorate cookies like this lady. Aren't they just beautiful? It's a piece of eatable art what more could someone want. For Gray's birthday I wanted to make some cookies for his little class mates so I whipped a little something together.

Naaa, just kidding I couldn't do that. Mine look more like this. Just a simple name, a number and few dots. That is the extent of my cookie decorating talents. HA!

These will be okay for a few 2 year olds don't ya think?

Happy 2nd Birthday Gray!

I cannot believe my little man is turning 2 today!!! Am I really two years older. Ahhhh... stop this aging madness!

Gray just a few minutes old. Such a tiny little guy when you were born. 6 pounds 10 ounces.

Such a happy baby. You L-O-V-E taking baths. When ever we say bath time you run to bath room, pull back the shower curtain and stand there waiting for Daddy to fill the tub. You especially love splashing and your most favorite thing to do is dump buckets of water outside the tube. This does not make mommy very happy.

Your first time at the pumpkin patch. You weren't quit sure what to do so you just tired to eat the hay. Love those cubby cheeks.

This was your first Christmas.

Here you are playing your little piano. Gray you love music. Anytime you hear some music playing you stop what you are doing and start dancing. You have the cutest little dance. You put your hands on your hips and sway from left to right. I love to see you dancing. It just makes me smile.

How cute is little face?!

You have a tiny obsession with brushing your teeth. You will brush your teeth anytime of the day. Sometimes I will find you wandering around the house with toothbrush in your mouth and your toothpaste in hand. You must have the cleanest teeth for a two year old.

This picture cracks me up. You love to stand in front of the pantry.

This was your second trip to Colorado but your first time to see snow.

You weren't sure what to think.

Some of the things you like to do

throwing a ball or anything for that matter.

You love to follow daddy around and do what ever he is doing.

You love to hum.

You love to swing and play in the backyard.

You love sticks. You just like to walk around with them.

You love to snack. Your favorite things are goldfish,

raisins and fruit snacks (your most favorite snack).

Gray you are such a blessing to Mommy and Daddy. We love you so much. You bring so much joy and life to our family. Andie adores you and loves being your second mom.

You are such a smiley little boy. I thank God for you each day.

I cannot wait to see how God is going to use you.

Sons are a heritage from the Lord,

children a reward from him.

Psalm 127:3

Cousins

It is so fun to grow up around cousins. I didn't get to be near my cousins as I grew up but I am L-O-V-I-N-G seeing my kiddos grow up around theirs. Andie and Gray love being with them.

I love in this picture Andie is trying to get Gray to turn his head to look at the camera. She is so motherly to Gray. She's always trying to tell him what to do or telling me what he is doing that he shouldn't be doing. Which is generally writing on my walls, couch, oven, doors what ever you can think of with markers or crayons.

Being near family is just such a blessing!

Summer is almost here.

I love summer time. I love that our schedule is free from all

activities like gymnastics, reading classes, school

(well, I'm sort of sad about that because that is the only

time I have to my self) but, i just love that we

have no place to really be at a specific time.

I love staying outside late and playing in the

back yard watching the kids ride bikes, take late

night walks, and playing in the water. I have to

say though I hate the HOT weather that is on it's

way in. That is the one thing I dread

about the summer here in Texas.

I got in my car yesterday and the

temperature said 100 yes, folks it is here.

With the weather so hot during the day

what do you do with your kids?

I need ideas for the summer.

Yummy Muffin recipe.

I don't know about you all but getting my kids to eat breakfast is not an easy task. All they want to do is play. No time for eating in the am for them. I know that they both love muffins but not all muffin mixes are that good for you. SO, I came across this recipe on one of my favorite recipe websites. www.allrecipes.com It is so fun! You can search for recipes and then add them to recipe box. I find so many wonderful recipes on line and can never remember were I had come across them. Here you can file them away on your very own on line recipe box. LOVE IT! But any who... I came across these little muffins. Very tasty and a bonus they are healthy too!

Morning Glory Muffins.

Ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (I used 1 cup of all-purpose flour)
• 1/2 cup whole wheat flour (I used 1 cup of whole wheat flour)
• 1 1/4 cups white sugar
• 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 2 cups grated carrots
• 1 apple - peeled, cored, and chopped
• 1 cup raisins
• 1 egg
• 2 egg whites
• 1/2 cup apple butter (substituted with 1 cup of applesauce)
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons chopped walnuts (omitted these because my kids won't eat nuts)
• 2 tablespoons toasted wheat germ (omitted this just because)

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly oil 18 muffin cups, or coat with nonstick cooking spray. In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, egg whites, apple butter, oil and vanilla.In a large bowl, stir together flours, sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Stir in carrots, apples and raisins. Stir in apple butter mixture until just moistened. Spoon the batter into the prepared muffin cups, filling them about 3/4 full.In a small bowl, combine walnuts and wheat germ; sprinkle over the muffin tops.
2. Bake at 375 degrees F (190 degrees C) for 15

We shall see if my two little monkeys will eat them in the morning. Ha! I'll let you know.

I leave you with two pictures of my little cuties.

Now this is a horse I'll ride.

We all know my track record with horses. Well, it's not good. But I have finally found a horse that I might ride again. These little darlings are about 3 ft tall from the ground to the top of their heads. Now were talking. I mean if I was riding one of this little cuties and he begin to buck I could just stand up and their you have it no one gets hurt. Anywhoooo my mom told me about this place just outside Brenham. It's a miniature horse farm run by nuns.

I love this picture of Andie.

Andie loved petting the horses and looking at them.

Gray took a few looks and then he found some

sticks which seemed to be of more interest to him.

He tried to poke the horses in the eyes a few times. Boys are just so

different from girls I am learning very fast.

If you are looking for something to do near Brenham check this place out.

You could get some Blue Bell Ice Cream while you are there.

http://www.monasteryminiaturehorses.com/index.html

Toys, who needs them?

My kids would prefer to play with an old beat up box. It cracks me up. They had so much fun with this box and their daddy.

Who's in the box?

Gray's in the box.

Who doesn't want to share the box?

Who's in the box?

Andie's in the box.

So there you have it folks, I am not buying my kids toys anymore I think I'll just scavenge around in other's trash and get them so good clean junk.