The September Psillos Gathering

It is amazing how many times a year we get to see my parents and siblings. I am so happy that we do and my kids get to know all of them so well and feel so comfortable around them. They really love each of them. Thank you so much mom and dad for getting us all together again and again.

Hannah surprised the girls with American Girl dolls this trip which they absolutely love. Then she decided to stuff Ellie in one of the boxed that they came it!

It seems vaguely familiar to me? Mom tells me that when I was born I didn't have a crib but a dresser drawer that I slept in for a while. That is where Seinfeld got the idea.

Rachel and her doll "Chloe." I think she may have had a name change by now but that was her first name.

Rachel and her buddy Uncle Richie. She was by his side a lot this trip. He has a bum shoulder so he didn't get to board at all but had fun just hanging out. Thanks for loving my girls so much. They sure do adore you.

Ellie's first boat ride, 3 1/2 months.

Hannah was the tubing queen this trip. She was on it every chance she got and she did awesome.

Charlie and Michelle didn't get to make it this time and they were missed. There wasn't much fishing going on without them.

Poppy always had someone on his lap. He's got the well behaved one here!

Grammy was busy spending time with 5 grand kids and a young one of her own and entertaining them too. Crafts, painting, toys, books. You're the best Grammy, you never stop going!

The water level this year. The water last year was a little below the retaining wall, where the trees on the right side of the picture come down too. Crazy how far it has gone and how much walk way they have had to add just to be able to get to the boat dock. It is a workout getting back up to the house!

Livy loved the boat and the water. Still a little scared to go on the tube while the boat was pulling it but she swam a ton in the lake. She did great driving too. Rachel was a little scared to get in the lake but once she did she did awesome.

More to come.............

Zoo Days

Tisha and I took all of the kids to the zoo the other day. I used to take them quiet often because we have a pass and it worked out great, at the zoo and the drive. But I wanted to see what it would be like with all four of them and felt better going with someone just in case. I haven't seen Tisha in months so it was good to finally hang out.

The kids enjoyed it. It was "warmer" than I anticipated. The girls didn't want to walk so I had all three girls in/on the jogging stroller and Colt walking. Not my ideal but it worked. Ellie didn't want to be in the stroller some of the time, that was a hard time holding her watching Colt and pushing the double jogger. Anyway we made it. We left by 3 pm because it was a Friday and we knew there would be extra traffic. Nice try but we still got stuck in traffic. And Ellie cried the whole ride home, Colt screamed a lot and made Ellie cry more, and Rachel cried because she wanted them to stop crying. Livy consoled her by saying when we got home she would teach Colt a lesson. Lesson learned. I won't be purchasing a zoo pass this year. Someone remind me of this trips car ride if I some how forget and decide to go to the zoo again. It could have been worse but there is just no need to deal with it. But Colt might trick me into going, he just gets so excited every animal he sees and I can't resist it. It is so cute! 

Sea World with Grandma and Grandpa

Last weekend we headed out to San Antonio to have a quick visit to Sea World on our way up to Austin. Grandma and Grandpa came along and it was great to have them with us. It is fun doing stuff with Grandma and Grandpa! Colt, Ellie, and Grandpa loved the shark area. They were all intrigued.

It almost looks like Grandpa can feel that shark behind him. Watch out!

Ellie was good as gold. Sat in the stroller and watched and snuggled with Grandma during the shows.

Grandma, Livy, and Rachel loved the dolphins. Grandma really loves dolphins. It was fun to see her enjoying it so much.

Eric and I ate a hotel pizza for dinner at 10 pm sitting in the hallway of the hotel. And Pebbles was sitting with us. The guy next door walked up and asked if something was wrong with our room. Yeah, there are kids everywhere! So we had dinner in the hall, it's a memory.

We stayed in a hotel the night before. Luckily the room had the living room area where the doors closed so the girls slept there and Colt and Ellie were with us. They both did good until 3 am. I don't know who woke up who but they were both up until 5. Colt kept talking too loud and waking Ellie every time she would doze off. Finally we shoved his bed in the bathroom and let him cry for a minute.

He really was so excited to go on the "warsees" horseys, but wouldn't smile for me. Eric, Rachel, Brenda, and Olivia rode the tiny roller coaster and the girls loved it. But Grandma didn't get to ride any big ones this time, sorry Grandma!

I know you think I am torturing him by making him stand there and take a picture. But you are wrong! He ran right up to Grover and wanted to hug him. He just has this look of uncertainty for all of my pictures. I promise I didn't make him do it.

Enjoying the dolphin show. We watched the new Shamu show and it was great. After Sea World we headed to Austin to meet up with the Psillos' for a little vacation. Brenda and Alan came to Austin with us but only stayed one night. Thanks for all of your help, you made Sea World and Austin more fun for all of us. And of course the kids got stuffed animals at Sea World, thanks guys! You could tell Grandpa was buying because the kids came out with big old stuffed animals. When daddy bought last time the things were tiny! Well, to another fun weekend!

Some More of Everyday

Just some of our everyday. Colt still enjoys doing whatever the girls do, even if it is dressing up or dancing. He sure loves cars and football though. When we turned on the game the other day he yelled, "Yeah," I don't think I have seen a bigger smile on Eric's face in a long time!

Sometimes they include him and most of the time not. Poor guy is stuck in between these two best friends and the baby. Too young for them, to big and rough for Ellie. He manages fine though and entertains himself by following me around.

Colt had a great summer in the pool. Now with wings he jumps in by himself and will swim back to the steps and keep doing it over and over. So fun to see because the girls would barely go in at this age.

Hanging out with the little sister now. Luckily he still enjoys the baby stuff so he can hang with us without getting too bored.

Stealing candy one Sunday while Eric had the girls at church. Colt was sick so I stayed home with him. He found his stool and got up to the counter to make the heist!

Girls and dad baking cookies. They had so much fun cooking with him and I got a lot of good comments on film. They are quite entertaining to listen too. I am glad they have school to stimulate their minds because I don't get to do much "older kid" stuff with them like I would like to. But I am enjoying the time playing with Colt. When they are all home no one gets much one on one time. It is more of a group time all day long!

I think this was at 3 months. We are almost 4 months now and sleeping through the night I think is catching up with her. I think she is getting a little thinner in her torso.

I love these pictures of Rachel and Colt. He sure loves these girls and any time he gets to play with them. He still calls them both Rachel and cries everyday we have to leave them at school.

Looks like he is really loving it, right?

That's what I like to see!

Dad reading Ellie the blog book from 2010. Showing her what she missed.

Indoor football. Trying to teach these kiddos some of dads favorite game. They have so much fun when he plays on the floor with them. Usually it is wrestling but now football has started.

Ellie snoozing during football. What an angel.

Spending time with Grandma and Grandpa. We love living so close to them and getting to see them often. Thanks for always letting us drop by your quiet house with all these kids!

Monkey see monkey do. Anything they do he does. We are working on that idea that they need to set a good example because Colt copies them. If only I could train these two really well the rest would be easy!

Ellie on the floor breaking her neck to see the tv. It begins.

Colt's Favorite Place

We can't drive by a park without Colt crying for the slide. He just loves the park so much and now that it has been a little bit cooler we have been going more often after we drop the girls off at school. It is our Colt and mommy time, and Ellie in her stroller!

I don't know if the slide or feeding the ducks is his favorite. He gets so excited to see the ducks and starts waddling and quacking like them. The other day they were starving so they came right up to us and took bread out of his hand. He kept trying to pet them and would say "hi duck" each time while bending down to talk to them. He is in heaven there at the park!

Another one of his favorite animals is a squirrel. In fact, I don't think there is an animal that he is not totally crazy for right now, he loves them all! The squirrel was laying upside down eating his bread. I have not seen one do that yet.

Spent a while looking for the squirrel when he ran up the tree finally.

And of course he loves the swings. Who doesn't. I love his enthusiasm for animal right now and how excited he gets for everything. Good thing you are so fun and cute mister, because you are a bucket load of trouble right now but some how you make me forget that so easily sometimes. I love you but you wear me out kid!