12 Weeks

Here is baby #4 again at 12 weeks. What a cutie! He/she was sitting Indian style for part of the ultrasound. We could see little knees and feet. Too bad we weren't looking for gender this time!

Last weekend

We went to Pawpaw and Manah's house. They treated us Friday night to THE Cajun restaurant in town with a whole buffet of Cajun delicacies...crabs, crawfish, shrimp, frog legs. Here are some photos...



Mmmmmm, Alligator legs (yes, really). All the girls liked them, but Gloria won the prize. I think she ate four!







Unfortunately I did not get to enjoy the Cajun Cuisine thanks to a little stomach bug we have been passing around. But it was fun to watch everyone else enjoy! Honestly, I would have steered clear of the frog and alligator legs, but I would have loved to sample all of the other yummy stuff! What a treat! THANK YOU Pawpaw and Manah!

Other fun times from our visit...
The tree swing Pawpaw and Daddy built









And the touch-lamp, always a hit with little people!



Finally, cousin Jake's graduation party. He graduates from high school this Saturday!



Jake, in his cleverness, used the kitty to lure Gloria and finally convinced her to let him hold her! She loves kitty cats...and Jake, too!

Popsicles

I finally broke down and bought some of these Pop Ice popsicles and it is such a blast from the past for Austin and I. Who didn't grow up enjoying these in the hot Texas summer (don't answer that if you didn't!!!) It is cute to see the girls enjoy them so much, and boy I have been getting lots of chores done so that they can earn a treat!

*Notice the despairing look on Allia's face...she is complaining that she already finished hers and does not have one to eat with her sisters. I think she was hoping I would have mercy and give her another!

Zip Line time again

Austin put the zip line up again and everyone is enjoying it! See for yourself...

Gardening

Well, everyone seems to be sharing photos of their gardens. We finally got ours partially weeded this weekend thanks to a good rain loosening up the soil. Here they are...

This one has red cabbage, tomatoes (that sprouted randomly from last year!), cucumber, squash, green beans, one watermelon plant, and a nectarine tree in the middle.



This one has a grape vine, yet to produce grapes but started from a Red Globe Grape seed about 6 years ago, peppers, herbs, chives, and a very dead blueberry plant. Apparently fruit plants generally do not like vegetable fertilizer. We think that is what is wrong with our nectarine tree in the middle of the other garden. It just doesn't seem to be doing well. Oops!
Anyway, there they are!

Sister time

Gloria backed herself into Allia's lap with this book and waited for Allia to read it to her. We both laughed. It was so cute! She loves this book because of the turtle. She still has an obsession for turtles.




And here is a video (more for the grandparents...it's a little long) of Gloria playing Ring Around the Rosy with her sisters. She has this new thing where she goes up and grabs their hands, saying "Let's go" in her little baby talk way. Then she either guides them into this game or takes them somewhere to play or walk with her. So sweet!

Ready for the pool?

*Edited
Gloria was so tickled with herself. She kept saying, "Ayyya, gassee!" (Allia, glasses)so that Allia would look at her and laugh.

We have actually been twice already but without Gloria. Manah and Pawpaw stayed with her last week when they were visiting so us "big girls" could go together.

It turns out she was NOT ready for the pool! I put her in her little floaty suit much to her chagrin, and she cried as soon as I started to put her in the water! She refused to get back in for about an hour. Just when I gave the girls their 5 minute warning, she decided to come dip her toes in and continued to play on the first step the rest of the time! Hopefully she will "warm up" to it in the next few trips!

Little Irish Girl

Mariana looked so cute in this green dress with her orange hair, bright blue eyes and fair complexion...just like a little Irish girl. Poor thing, though. She is hot natured like her mommy. Halfway through the day she insisted on changing into a leotard because she was "way too hot in this dress." I have a feeling we will be spending lots of time at the pool this summer!

My Mother's Day...

It started a little early with a surprise massage on Thursday evening! It was SO relaxing (once I got over the surprise factor)! Then I had a surprise lunch with my hubby on Friday. Today he and the big girls worked really hard to make a nice lunch for Manah and me. Here are the little chefs...










And some cute Manah pictures...

Happy Mother's Day

to all Mommies out there! May God bless you!

Last day of soccer!

The big girls had their last day of soccer on Friday. They both did great! We are all so glad they were able to participate in this great program! We may sign up again for fall.










They had the blessing of Pawpaw and Manah being there to watch too! And then I missed most of Allia's class because I was whisked away by prince romance to a surprise Mother's Day lunch. But thankfully, Pawpaw took some good photos for me!

A baby bird

This poor little bird with closed eyes and no feathers must have fallen out of his nest. Austin found him in the backyard under our tree with a gash in his head. Unfortunately the nest was WAY high in the tree. We looked online, and it said if you can't put them back in the nest, get them as close as possible in a bush or hanging basket so the parents can hear and take care of them. So that is what we did. The girls were in awe, especially Gloria! She loves birds and is always chasing them trying to "touch it."

Truth be told

After a few very nauseous days last week....

Allia: Mommy, just think if you did still have two babies. You would feel even MORE bad!!!

She's probably right. I guess there is always a silver lining right?