Kinsey, through the years

Kinsey turned five years old today. Sniff, sniff. For the last few weeks anyone who would listen heard that her birthday was March 31st, she would be five, and that her mom was 'not ready'. It is so hard to believe that it's already been five years!!! When she was three, I used to ask her if she'd stay little for me and she said that she would so that I could always hold her. She still loves to cuddle up with me.

Here we are the day she was born. I can't remember why Trace is crying, but I'm sure it had something to do with sitting still for a picture.

One day old, before her hair started to stick up.

Here she is at three months. Trace is three years old.

July 2005, four months old...rooster hair still going strong! And check out those monster cheeks!

October 2005, seven months

First Halloween! Seven months old, dressed as Pebbles Flintstone. Since her hair stood up on it's own, we decided to go with it! Hunee made her costume and Dad carved the bone hairclip out of styrofoam.

March 2006, almost one year old. I loved those 4 little teeth poking out of that smile. Precious!

First birthday party! April 2006

October 2006, 19 months. I loved her pigtails!!!

December 2006, first attempt at getting her on Bug. Clearly, she did not love it. At the time of this picture, I'd never have guessed that she would want a cowgirl party for her 5th birthday!

March, 2007, almost two years old. Ready for school!
March 2007, at her second birthday party. Always accessorizing and on the go!

July 2007, cheesing it up for the camera at Randy and Jane's

March 2008, third birthday party at McDonald's in Sugar Land

June 2008, enjoying a bubble bath at age three.

October 2008, three and a half years old. Look at that long hair!

February 2009, three years old at Austin's dirt party

May 2009, four years old...her first year playing t-ball, center fielder for the Hudson Power Puffs.

March 31, 2009...four years old

Happy Birthday, Kinsey Lou!

Spring in East Texas

The lovely yellow dust on my fingers...pine pollen. It has been giving me fits for about a week. At this point last year, my first East Texas spring, I was ready to get allergy shots. I couldn't wear my contacts for about a month and my nose stayed red from all the blowing.
I talked to a pharmacist today and she recommended Zyrtec to help with the sneezing. I could kiss her. I emptied the garage this afternoon and cleaned it out. And only sneezed twice! But I think the damage was already done. This evening I started feeling bad and ran a low grade fever. The kids were fantastic. They let me take a little nap before supper and Trace even said, "Don't you dare think about tucking us in. I'll do it." Such a sweetheart. Kinsey was a little concerned that I would be sick on her birthday, and wanted needed a little extra comfort. She wanted to sleep with Trace, but as you can imagine, they don't sleep much...lots of laughing...when they sleep in the same room. He was such a good sport about helping me tonight that he got in her bed to read a book to her.

There are times that they make me want to bang my head against a wall with their tattling and arguing and just being brother and sister. Then there are times like tonight that they can be so sweet that I just want to squeeze them and hold on forever. They are growing up way too fast. And they just get better and better with each passing day!

Hudson Rangers

Trace's 7-8 yr old team played their first game last night. They have only practiced 4 or 5 times and the majority of those meetings were to get the kids used to hitting balls from a pitching machine. They did not win, but it's a pre-season tournament, so maybe the next game will have a better outcome...for us, anyway! It was freezing!!! 50ish degrees and windy. All in the stands were bundled under blankets (or wishing they'd brought one) drinking hot chocolate. And, true to form, Kinsey had her shoes off.
Trace is playing 2nd base and Jacob is short stop. In this picture the coach is talking to them about who covers second and who plays cut-off or backs up the other in different situations.
And he noticed me with the camera...
His first at bat.
A little too late, but good form!



Playing 2nd base

Kid-isms

When the kids say something funny, I know I need to write them down. Well, I'm finally doing that. This is the best place I can think to do it so that you all can enjoy the darndest things that my kids say.


Kinsey and I were in the car the other day and she asked, "Mom, who is that boy that wears glasses, has a scar on his head, and lives at Wal-Mart?" Wal-Mart, Hogwarts, what's the difference?

Chad and I celebrated our 10th wedding anniversary a few weeks ago. The kids and I were talking about it and Trace said, "Mom, you need to take us to the jewelry store so we can get you a present. And I'm buying." Kinsey said to Trace, "You don't have any money." To which, Trace replied, indignantly, "Uh-huh! I have $57."


After an exasperating afternoon of running errands with both kids, I took them to their new favorite restaurant, IHOP, or as Kinsey calls it, Popeye's. At one point Trace said, "Ewww, there's gum under the table." Me, "Don't touch it." Trace, "I'm going to need some sanitizer."
I'm sure there will be many more of these posts to come!

Family Friday

Trace had strep throat during spring break, so we spent all but Friday at home. After baseball practice Tuesday afternoon he told me that his throat hurt. To Urgent Doc we went. He got a shot of penicillin and we were off. Wednesday he felt great. I sounded like a broken record...get off the trampoline, no you can't ride your bike, settle down. Then on Thursday morning, sore throat was back. So back to Urgent Doc we went. Turns out the strep was resistant to penicillin, but this time no shot. After more antibiotics, he felt much better Friday.

To wrap up spring break, Chad took the day off on Friday. After a lazy morning, we spent the day outside enjoying the beautiful weather and some much deserved time together.

Chad laid down below the swings and took this picture of Trace jumping out.

What a happy face! Playing at the park after some chocolate ice cream...see it on her face?

Trace is almost 8 and he is very into playing it cool...

The kids 'took shifts' sitting atop the slides. Not sure what the shifts were for...Trace decided very quickly that this was 'lame', one of his new favorite words.

Kinsey was so proud that she made it to the top without any help!

Missing a Tooth

Trace pulled his own tooth this weekend. That tooth has been loose for SOOOO long! We were driving along and he said, "I just pulled my own tooth!" He was so excited...and so was I. He knows how losing teeth grosses me out. He kept asking me if I wanted to see the hole in his mouth. ICK!

Spring Break

Trace is taking Flat Stanley everywhere he goes over Spring Break. We are to take pictures of Stanley doing whatever Trace does. Poor Stanley will probably never leave the house this week...Kinsey has announced she wants to play soccer. Ugh. Add another sport to the list. At least it's in the fall.

You may notice what I thought was a gigantic tube of red lipstick in Stanley's hand. In fact, it's a light saber. Should've guessed. Trace also made a girlfriend for Stanley. For some reason, he doesn't want her in any of the pictures.

The kids spent about two hours on the trampoline this afternoon. This picture shows a pirate and a cowgirl playing tea party. Originally, Kinsey was going to be a princess, but she couldn't find her high heels, so she settled for a cowgirl. Initially, Trace was a Jedi Warrior, but he changed to his pirate get-up. I don't know what made him change. The robe that wouldn't stay closed in front probably had a lot to do with it. No self-respecting Jedi Warrior can have his underwear showing. Is there anything better than a tent made using bar stools and kitchen chairs? As I type, the kids have been in there for a FULL HOUR! Without fighting! They are listening to Mrs. Piggle Wiggle on CD and are happy as they can be. And so am I!!!!

The Bathtub for Your Feet

Last week Kinsey asked if we could go to the place with the bathtub for your feet. What kind of mom would I be if I said no to something with such a great description?!?! The funny thing about it is that she doesn't want the water or the foot rub or the massage chair. So, really, I paid $14 for her to have her toenails and fingernails painted. When I could have done it at home for nothing!