WatkinsAdventures: April 2009

TAKS Test

Jamie has been so busy and so tired. She begged to stay home from square dancing and sleep. She had TAKS tests this week - she had Reading and correction - Math yesterday and today. (Writing was last time.) We are glad that is over now. No more homework!

Note

Last Thursday I took off work to have some time to visit the Moms Together group to have brunch and pray for the last time with them. I have missed my Thursday morning "me" time. Tomorrow I have to work all day 8:30-4:30; we are going through a transition with 4 new babies so several kids had to move up to make room. It's been interesting and busy. I told them I could help out some days but not full time every day. I need time with my girls too!

Night of Praise

We went to Hyde Park Baptist's Night of Praise on the main speedway campus. It was an awesome 2 hr production. We came in a few minutes late and left a few minutes early. Jamie was getting tired. I didn't get to see Anne much on Sunday - she was in church nurseries for the morning and night services and with Aunt Teresa during the ballet workshop. I've enjoyed playing and singing with her in the afternoons this week.

Ballet Austin - Cinderella Glass Slipper Extravaganza

The older girls -aged 9 through 12 - had the boy dancers. Jamie was last in line and got to try on the glass slipper! They jumped up and down and clapped when it fit! One guy is off the ground!

Jamie was partners with the Fairy Godmother ballerina during the ballet workshop on Sunday.
Jamie learned to use facial expressions and sign language to convey a story.

Kathryn's 10th birthday party

Kathryn - from girl scouts - invited us to celebrate her 10th birthday party at the Crenshaw's Athletic Club at the cottage on Saturday. Jamie had a good time - obstacle course and trampoline fun.

Full Moon Kayaking - last Friday

Jamie went kayaking with her grandma last Friday. I was supposed to go with her but I was too sick to drive or do anything. This girl scout activity was right up Grandma's alley and she agreed to take her to the rowing dock at Zilker Park. Jamie brought home a badge and soaking wet pants and shoes. Another adventure!

Zilker Park - Barton Springs Pool and the Rock

Jamie and the philosophers in front of Barton Springs pool after a quick cool dip in the pool.

Jamie, Anne, Michelle and Me

James wouldn't let me take the camera into the pool area. Too many bad experiences with cameras getting wet.

Limited camera use

Jamie spent the night at church last Friday and I didn't stay or take pictures. There were over 20 kids at the party but only 2 girls at the sleepover. Jamie has been staying up late a lot and there are more adventures to come.

Pictures, pictures, pictures

Random pictures - taken over the last two weeks - life has been busy!

Anne kept kicking off her bunny slippers (4 times in a minute or so).

Michelle and Mel by the rose bush in the bright sun before church!

Jamie posing by the rose bush in her "new" square dancing outfit - she wanted to wear it to church for the God and Family award ceremony.

Anne with her bunny bib! Wide eyed!

Jamie trying to hold Anne by the rose bush.

Anne with her ballet slippers which stayed on for 1/2 second - took about 4 tries for these shoes too. They are so pretty but a little big still.

Anne smiling in her "new" high chair we borrowed. She is growing up so fast - still working on sitting up.

Anne in the bouncy seat at church on Easter Sunday - where I had baby duty. She enjoyed it.

Square Dancing outfits

Grandma Jacky made us some new square dancing skirts. Then a lady named Janet from the Bluebonnets brought us a bag of outfits/goodies - turned out they were our outfits from many years ago. Jacky had made the green one for a special dance she attended, then she passed it onto me and I loved all the ruffles. Found a photo of me and Jamie from like 8 years ago. The other blue outfit I had bought at a state convention. We had passed it on for others to use and now we were blessed when it was passed back to us. WOW!

Other photos

Anne and Grandma, Me with Jamie's full basket, Teresa holding/hoarding the baskets - my favorite, Lucas and Teresa eyeing the baskets.

Lucas and Jamie - on a hunt

The kids hid eggs for an adult surprise egg hunt. Then we hid over 100 eggs - plastic and hard boiled for them to find. They loved running around the yard and their baskets were overflowing. We tried to send them to opposite ends so they could have fun with it.

Hanging out

Timmy wanted to hang out in the tree and play with the lights instead of doing the egg hunt with his brother and cousin.

My girls and the bluebonnets

Watkins family photos

There are a few bluebonnets in the background. No one wanted to take photos but we did it anyway. The boys did not want to change out of their play clothes but Jamie begged them for us. Someday they will all thank me - after all, tomorrow is not promised. And besides it's Anne's first Easter!

Easter set up

We saw a Tinkerbell basket we could not pass by. It is for age 3 but we are ready! Jamie asked for a playground ball. I found a spring one and surprised her. I have not bought Easter baskets before that I can remember. There was plenty of candy.

I made a scrapbook page for work and finally printed out photos for the "Who Loves the Baby" book for Anne. I feel like I've accomplished something special! Jamie used to love her photo books when she was little.