Fruits of our Garden

We have loved having a garden. I have some very fond memories of walking the rows of my parents huge garden. I remember hours of smapping green beans and shucking corn. We are hoping Bailey will have some of the same memories. She has become really good at spotting and picking the red tomatoes. We have also discovered some new, yummy vegetable recipes. Although it does still has some life left, I am already thinking about improvements for next year. Here are some of the pictures we took so far.

The first sunflower

Luke is in the process of baking and seasoning all the seeds.

Bouquet of wildflowers

We had alot of Tomoatos and Okra

Corn was a dud. We couldn't keep the squirrels and worms away. This was the only one we got to eat.

Yummy broccoli!!!

A Quick 4 Month, Almost 5 Month Update on Blake

Month 4 has been a fun one for Blake. He is ROLLING over, GRABBING at everything, full belly LAUGHING, and has even more fun TOYS to spend time in- the exersaucer and the door bouncer. We celebrated Uncle Robby's birthday and the 4th of July. Gigi, Grandpa Mark, and Tori came for visits!

At his 4 month appt his stats were:

Height: 26 1/2 inches, 90th percentile

Weight: 15lbs, 13 ozs, 70th percentile

Head Circumference: 41 cm, 25th percentile

My "No" Day

Wednesdays didn't start off this way, but have evolved into me staying at home with the kids and saying "no" to most outside of the house activities- my "no" day. Anyone with kids can probably agree that getting the kids out of the house is good for so many reasons, but this summer I found myself just tired. Dog tired and I think it was because I was running around and never stopping to rest until I just fell into bed at night. I felt like I could sing my own version of this song:

Everything A Mom Says in A 24 Hour Period

And as much as I wish I could be as social as some of my friends- I just can't keep up. I also wondered what kind of example that was setting for our kids to always be running around all the time, every day. Deep down I am kind of a home body and in some ways I would like our kids to be also. I want them to know how to rest at home, but also how to be self entertained. So back in June I waved the white flag of surrender and dedicate Wednesays as my at home Bailey activity day. All I wanted to accomplish was one activity with her. Something like playdough, or painting, or play pretend kitchen with her for an hour. Silly I know because these are easy activities, but I crave routines and if I didn't set aside a day for this, then the distractions of the world seem to overtake all my time. Well, it didn't take long for me to some results I liked- Bailey doesn't expect to get out of the house everyday and has alot longer attention span with activites at home. I found that staying at home for one day out of the week is relaxing and that's when we started staying home for the day. Am I still tired? Yes, but is gives me a small break in the middle of the week. Does our house get really messy? Yes, but having set chores like cleaning up toys at the end of the day is my next project for the Fall. And, I have to be really disciplined with my other days to be able to do this. Anyways, I just wanted to share this because I am probably not the only person trying to do too much. Staying at home one day out of the week might not work for your family, but hopefully you can find something that does give you a break.

Trip to Aggieland

Yesterday we took the kids and Tori on a tour of the Texas A&M campus. Tori will be choosing a college next year and we wanted to show her around the best one. Of course I am a little biased and want her to pick A&M. However, I am also realistic and tomorrow we will be showing her around the UT campus. It was so fun taking Tor around our old stomping grounds, and since it was the kids first trip to Aggieland I took a bunch of pictures. Bailey already wants to go back and can give you a pretty good whoop. Here are some of the pictures.

My freshman dorm

A huge Aggie ring statue by the Association of Former Students building. We took a walking break and enjoyed the shade for awhile.

Lots of room to run around!!!

Heading under Wellborn to the Rec Center.

Possible Fightin' Texas Aggie Class of 2015

The Climbing Wall where Luke and I met 8 1/2 years ago. I took the picture facing the route Tara and I were climbing when this guy (Luke) kept staring our way.

Love It or Hate It

Blake is already at the age where he is starting to express his likes and dislikes. I thought I would share some of the new ones.

Love It List

1. His Thumb- He goes through phases with his thumb. He never took to a pacifier, and I can't figure out if he is going to be a thumb sucker or not, but right now he loves it.


2. The Activity Mat- Thanks Elijah (and Emily) for letting us borrow it. It has been a huge hit at out house!

Blake vs. The Duck

3. Laughing and Smiling- For the most part he is such a happy, smiley baby. He loves when you make silly noise that make him laugh or tickle him under the chin.

Hate It List

1. Rice Cereal- I wouldn't say he hates it, just is still unsure about it. He is such a big, hungry boy that we went ahead and gave it a try.


2. When you tease him by picking him up and then have to set him right back down. He really will let you know about it.

Baby Blake and Baby Everett

Our good friends the Readings just had their 3rd munchkin. Well they actually had him about 2 months ago, but we were so excited to get to hang out with him on the 4th of July. Check out- the difference in size of these two (let's just say that Blake is a BIG boy) and the coordinating outfits (happened by coincidence). Blake is so lucky to already have a friend- : )!

Blake and Everett

Happy Fourth of July

The other day I was flipping through the channels and ended up watching The Jay Leno Show during the part of the show called "Jaywalking", where he asks people walking in the streets questions. This particular questioning session was on American History and it was pretty funny/shocking to hear some of the answers. So the teacher in me is wanting to share some of the questions Jay asked and Americans got wrong.


1. In what harbor was there a tea party?

2. Who did America gain their independence from?

3. What was the name given to the British army during the Revolutionary war?

Here's the hint he gave- It was based on the color of their coat.

4. In what city was the Declaration of Independence signed?

5. In what year was the United States of America established?

6. Who was our first president?

7. What was his wife's name (referring to question #6)?

8. Who sewed the first American flag?

9. How many stars were on the first flag?

10. What is the name of our National Anthem?

11. Who was president during the Civil War?

12. Who won the Civil war- the North or the South?


So how did you do?


Answers:

1. Boston

2. Great Britain

3. the Redcoats

4. Philadelphia

5. 1776

6. George Washington

7. Martha Washington

8. Besty Ross

9. The Star Spangled Banner

10. 13

11. Abraham Lincoln

12. The North


Now that I have your brain thinking, I am going to through in a trivia questions of my own-


Who are the only two non-presidents that appear on current US currency?

HAPPY FOURTH FROM THE MEZGERS!

Can You Say Grabbing Phase

And my hair is too easy a target