Rainy Days

Since we've returned from TX it seems like everyday we've gotten rain . . . A LOT of it! Earlier this week it flooded really badly. It was so bad that Keith and I had to go dig some trenches to help so it wouldn't flood the house. Anyway, we got another storm today. It wouldn't be so bad, but our rainstorms here are crazy. We get like 1 - 2" of rain in less than 30 minutes. I believe they said today we got about 1 1/2" in like 20 minutes today. So, I hurried up and grabbed the camera for everyone to see. C-R-A-Z-Y, huh? Other than the skies opening not much else has been happening. We've just been taking it easy and relaxing. Here are a couple of my favorite pics from this week. Enjoy! Oh . . . and in case you want to see it raining - here's the video!

Today the kids had a great morning. Joey went to his playgroup and there is always circle/sing time in the beginning and end. I decided to just carry Clarissa into the group with us rather than her in her carrier. She's too dang heavy and I'm thinking too long to have in the carrier, now. Anyway, they loved it! Joey and Clarissa played together before circle time and all of the kids sang to CJ during circle time. She loved it and Joey thought it was hilarious! Usually, CJ and I just kind of sit back and watch Joey. Today was CJ's first day to really interact with all of the other kids. It was so great!


We had a great lunch with Keith this afternoon. It's such a great treat for us to know we always get to each with Keith on Thursday's. Joey was extra anxious to have lunch with his daddy today. As soon as we started the goodbye song in the playgroup he jumped up and told everyone that he was going to go eat with his daddy! He wouldn't quit telling his teachers about his daddy! Afterwards, we got in the car and were headed over to the restaraunt. Joey started yelling, "eat with Daddy!" That made Clarissa get excited and she started yelling, "Dada!" I think she's starting to turn into a daddy's girl. I know Keith is excited about that fact especially since she wasn't too fond of him for a couple of months.

Gettin' back in the groove

It's been almost a week since we returned from TX and schedules seem to be pretty good. Both kids are still napping well and going to bed pretty much on time. The only thing is CJ has started waking through the night, again. I remember the times after we went on vacations with Joey at CJ's age he took a while to sleep through the night, again. Ugh!

Clarissa has started to scoot like an inch worm. It's so adorable! I had a small panic attack this morning. I set CJ down so I could do something (don't remember what) but it took me like 30 seconds or so. I know she rolls to get where she wants, but I'm not used to her scooting and realized quickly that I need to baby-proof the house, again. SCARY!

Joey is being his cute self. The picture above makes me laugh. While in TX he played with all of his cousins. Lacy and Mona showed Joey how to do a back-bend only he can't do a back bend, but the opposite. So, when I brought out the camera this morning he told me to take a picture of him and after I did he told me Lacy taught him that. Such a cutie!

Back Home

We had a great trip to Texas. It was really great seeing family and friends. The kids and I stayed two whole weeks while Keith only stayed a week. We enjoyed every minute and the time sure flew by too quickly. It's amazing that no matter how much time you think you have you can never squeeze in enough time to see certain people or do certain things.

We were able to celebrate with Brandon that first week. He won first place in his division of baseball and I attended his banquet. Also, later that week, we were able to celebrate Bree and Shane's graduations. Bree graduated from high school and Shane from TTU Law School. Clarissa was able to meet her great-great grandpa Papa. We weren't able to get a five generation picture this time because the kiddos were asleep, but we did get individual pictures.

A couple of friends we were able to connect with were Ty and Lori. Ty is one of Keith's best friends and ex-roommate from college. Lori is one of our friends from our Lubbock days. She and her kids were in town from Paris (TX). We missed Matt (Lori's husband). Of course we were able to hang out with Terra - but that too went by way too fast.

The next week we celebrated Mona's party with style! It was a cake-decorating birthday party. It was complete with a three-foot hamburger. Isn't everything always bigger in Texas? It was so much fun and one of the funnest parties I've been to yet. Joey really enjoyed it and so did Clarissa. Yes, that's right - Clarissa decided she was also going to taste some frosting.

Joey was also able to go to Chuck E. Cheese later that week with both families. It just turned out that both families wanted to take him and so he got to go twice in one day. He loved both times and Clarissa loved the lights.
The kids took to everyone pretty well. I think Joey remembered everyone. This morning while I was uploading the pictures onto the computer he was telling me who everyone was and where they were. It was so sad to say bye to everyone. We miss family and our friends back in Texas. I am thrilled to know that Joey now remembers everyone and it makes living here a little easier.

I took a million pictures - so you can go to our picture site to see some or just email me and I'll send you a link to our Walgreen's page to see all of them. Here are some of my favorites and some of the short videos I took. Hope you enjoy!