Bluebonnets and Bikes!

This past weekend we ventured out for our annual bluebonnet pictures.  Well, I shouldn't really say 'annual' because we've only done it once before, two years ago.  Nevertheless it should be an annual event because my children (and the flowers) are just so gorgeous!  The bluebonnet field we chose wasn't quite as prolifically flowerful as before, but we still got some great shots, as you will see.  My favorite is the one of Adrian with his hands on his hips.  It's as if he's saying, "First you shave me bald and then you want pictures?"  (FYI if you don't know the story, Daniel cut off a big chunk of Adrian's hair last week and the only way we could fix it was to buzz it all off.)  Anyway, on to the pictures:

After the pictures, it was time for bike riding!  (Used as a bribe to get them to cooperate during pictures.)

St. Patrick's Day Shenanigans

How do the 500 Babies celebrate St. Patrick's Day?  Well, for starters we made a leprechaun trap complete with instructions for the naughty little guy to disobey (Do NOT climb the ladder!) and money for him to grab and then presumably fall through the tissue-paper top right into the trap.

Presumably.  In the morning we discovered that not only did the leprechaun escape (he pulled the ladder inside the trap and built stairs out of green legos) but we found evidence of much mischief, including a puddle of green glue.

The little leprechaun also turned the dogs' water green and left little green footprints all over the kitchen floor.  At least he was considerate enough to wipe his feet before he walked on the carpet.

The creepiest thing our visitor did was trim his beard in the bathroom.  Mikea was especially disturbed by the bits of beard left behind.  She told me she wanted the pieces of hair "OUT OF THIS HOUSE!"

That evening we dined on a fruit rainbow...

...Pot of Gold soup, all-green salad, and "blackened" sausage.  (Oops.)

Oh yeah - check out Joe's forehead.  I forgot to mention that that crafty leprechaun painted the kids' heads while they were sleeping!

As a footnote to the St. Patrick's Day mischieviosity, this morning I discovered a new pile of hair in the bathroom.  Oh dear.  Oh dear.

 Then, this:
                                  

At first I thought Adrian took the clippers to his own head, but upon cross-examination of all children who are of speaking abilities in the household, it appears that Daniel was the perpetrator while Mikea watched.  Both are guilty in my book.  (But so are the adults for leaving the clippers out - duh!)

Let's just hope that's the end of the mischief, at least for today!

500 Babies Return (to the Rodeo)

Hi.  (Clearing cobwebs and blowing dust off of blog).

So........... there are quite a few reasons I haven't blogged in a few months: some complicated and others really quite simple, like a 17-month-old munchkin who has an affinity for shutting down the computer whenever I'm in the middle of working on it. 

However, I think I'm back.  I want to be back.  I hope I'm back!  Yet, I make no promises... 

Anyway, it was four years ago that Billy and I brought the kiddos to the rodeo for the first time.  They were 4 months-, 6 months-, and 18 months-old at the time and here's a fun fact for you: it was actually the first time I recall uttering the phrase "500 babies", as in, "We're NEVER going to make it to the rodeo on time because we have 500 babies to get ready."  It literally took us HOURS to gather and pack all the gear and get the babies ready.  And as I recall once we finally got to the rodeo Mikea had an epic meltdown in the parking lot and Billy and I looked at each other and questioned whether we were just plain foolish for thinking it was possible to take that many babies out somewhere.  But after all the time and effort we'd already invested up to that point, we decided to just plow forward and hope for the best.  And you know what? I'm glad we did and we haven't looked back since. 

All right, off we go to Rodeo 2012!

The traditional pre-rodeo group shot: 
                                   

Our trio enjoying the sights, sounds, and smells of the "radio", according to them.

                           

And our little dynamic duo doing the same.

Posse up!

Waiting for a picnic lunch with deep stares...

charming smiles....

and brotherly love.

This year the kids learned how to get honey off of a bee rack.  (I don't remember what it's called, but "bee rack" sounds pretty good to me so I'm going to go with that.) 

The highlight of our day at the rodeo was when the kids received scarves (capes to them) and fun blinking lights. 

                            

Suddenly, everyone was in super hero mode.  Or was it silly mode??

Let the posing begin!

And one more for good measure...

Pure awesomeness!

See you next year!  (I mean the rodeo, NOT the blog.  I hope.)

Happy Campers

Earlier this month Billy and the big kids spent a weekend at a Father-Child Retreat hosted by Camp Lone Star.  Last year he just took Joe, but this year we decided the Wonder Twins were ready to go as well. (All seven of us actually spent a weekend there this summer for Family Camp - quite an adventure, let me tell you and one I really should share sometime!)

Anyway, the weekend was all about dads and kids spending time together enjoying God's creation and learning how God is "Mighty to Save".

After a two-hour drive, the happy campers were ready to stretch their legs and seek out their lodgings.

Once everyone was settled in, it was time for games and snacks with the other dads and kids.

The next day was filled with tons of activities, including the one you see below.  But I don't know what it is because I wasn't there.  Ok, so I just asked Daniel and Mikea what it was and they told me they were catching people in the net.  Hmmm....

During one of the Bible study sessions, the kids acted out the story of Joseph and the coat of many colors.  Who better to play Joseph than Joseph, complete with a coat that is about as non-multi-colored as you can get!  Oh well, we get the point.

Time to color!

I don't know what frightens me more:  the fact that my daughter is wielding a hatchet or the expression on her face!

Whew, that's better.  I much prefer a ping-pong paddle in her hands and a smile on her face!

Speaking of smiles...here is Dan the Man reveling in apple cobbler and ice cream bliss. 

                      

A highlight for Joe was posing with the camp's fire truck.  It was purchased due to this year's wildfire danger. 

The weekend also included hiking, S'mores, and a worship service on Sunday morning.

And this is what the weekend was all about: quality time with Dad!  (And a break for Mom, too!)

500 Babies Go To The Pumpkin Patch