Update

James was promoted to a Level 2 position but training has been postponed. They changed the phone rule of logging out 5 minutes prior to getting off work. We have been waiting until 7 pm every night for him to finish a call so we can go home. And no overtime anymore. I am fighting migraines all week. No energy to look through our 100s of pictures to blog. James took 300 at Disney on Ice Fantasy of Worlds on Sunday. It was a lot of fun - except for Anne screaming and wanting to get down from our laps.

TAKS test

Jamie is now done with TAKS test. Today was the last one - Science. She received her scores last Friday - commended on both Math and Reading. She is moving on to 6th grade.

Friends

James had an old high school friend contact him recently. We were able to get together last Sunday with Jim and his lovely wife and 2 daughters. We spent some time at Gattiland. Not all the pictures turned out well but here is a sample.

Potty time!

Anne started walking so we brought in the potty seat and book. She is curious about everything. Today she sat on it and pooped one time and peed one time. We are so proud of her. Hope we can encourage her even more this summer.

Longhorn pictures

Saturday morning we went to the Wells Branch Homestead and there was a longhorn there to take pictures with.

Day off

Anne had an eye infection. When I took her in yesterday afternoon, she also has an ear infection and a slight fever. I took the day off and she was much better after the medicine kicked in. I spent the day playing and watching her play. I also did a ton of laundry, dishes and spent quite awhile putting things away. After Jamie got home from school, she wanted to play on computer and Anne took a 2 hour nap on my shoulder - congestion makes it hard for her to lay flat. I decided to just rest.

The girl scouts from Davis are performing Snow White and we got to see them rehearse. They did a great job. When we got home, Jamie asked if she could make a late dinner for her dad who took the bus home tonight. So we were up late cooking a variety of things. Then I wanted to blog our field trip pictures from last week. It's getting really late so the other pictures will have to wait.

Sculpture

Outside the science museum is a Umlauf sculpture.

Mission to Mars

The kids all had jobs for the mission to mars simulation. Jamie was on the Geolab team and they measured and weighed all kinds of rocks - some in the glovebox lab and then reported back to mission control via computer.

Butterfly collection

There were trays and trays of colorful butterfly collections inside.

Butterfly feasts

There were lots of colorful trays of fruit everywhere and the butterflies flocked to it and stayed for pictures.

Butterfly exhibit

It's hard to describe this awesome 3 story butterfly exhibit complete with a rainforest waterfall paradise and hundreds of butterflies feasting on fruit placed everywhere. I was in awe. It was the most beautiful place and so exciting to see all the different butterflies. I took a ton of pictures and sent them to my sisters while I was there. Not all of them came out well but I tried.

Seashell scientists

Just as we came downstairs, a lady opened up this fossil exhibit that the girls could search through and separate snail and clam shells with tweezers and magnifying lenses.

Seashells at the museum

I was fascinated by all the seashells classified here since Jamie did her science fair project on seashells this year.

Houston Science Museum field trip

Here are the group shots of the 4 girls I chaperoned last Friday for the 12 hour field trip.

Anne is really walking now!

Anne has been practicing her walking every day to pick up Daddy from work. Now she is walking all over the house on her own tonight! We are very proud and excited! They got a short video tape of it.

Anne is walking - taking baby steps!

Anne took a few baby steps at Aunt Teresa's house yesterday. She is walking more and more!

Working full-time

I was offered the opportunity to work full-time for the next 8 weeks and get paid during the summer. I am exhausted after one week. James is working days now too. We picked him up after work tonight and went kite flying. The kids were up late and Anne was really tired but it was fun.

Easter balloons

Special thank you to Aunt Teresa for the girls' Easter balloons.

Family Easter photo

All but Grandpa and Christine made it for the family dinner and photo. It's hard to get everyone together.

Puzzle hunt

Grandma decided to hide puzzle pieces in the eggs and then the older kids put the puzzle together.

Anne's egg hunt

We tried to help Anne hunt for eggs but she picked the balls next to it every time. We'll have to pick up some beach balls for the pool.

Happy Birthday Uncle Doug!

The cousins ate lots of yummy strawberries they picked at family dinner. Uncle Doug celebrated his 33rd birthday with brisket and chocolate cake.

Cousin Michelle

Cousin Michelle came over and had dinner with us - anything with mashed potatoes and she is happy. We made orange pineapple smoothies too. I needed something to soothe my throat. Then they played games until bedtime. Jamie did extra chores and bought little Easter treats for everyone. She has a giving heart. She has made the holidays special for all of us. She insisted on going to a service with her Grandmother at the Catholic church even though it meant staying up very late Saturday night. I slept on the couch and let her in and then put her to bed. Prelude to teenager years.

Bunny cake

Our neighbors brought us a bunny cake last night. They said we are always baking for them and they wanted to do something nice for us. That made me feel good.

Bunny ears

We invited friends to church and then we went to Luby's cafe for lunch. Usually I have to beg for pictures these days but not Easter morning, Jamie was up with bunny ears on and she was ready.

We wear bunny ears in honor of my sister April. She loved ears of any kind for every holiday. My mom sent us pink ones when Jamie was a baby so now Anne can wear them. I keep everything.

Egg Hunt

Jamie begged for an egg hunt before church but I had no energy to do anything after coughing all night. Her dad hid them for her and I took a picture. Anne wasn't sure what to think of it. Jamie tried to help her. Anne liked shaking them. She did open one the day before and tried the animal crackers in it.

Horses at the farm

The kids loved the horses at the farm too.

Ladybug love

The kids all stuck their heads in a ladybug wing for a quick photo.