My "perfect" kids

Look at my darling little angels. I am about to gush on my kids. (And that doesn't mean that everything is perfect). I have a life just like all of you. Things that I struggle with and have a hard time with and feel like I'm failing at. But at the moment, my kids are all in these awesome stages.

 Hendrix is SO GOOD. He is sweet and happy and laughs all the time. He always wants to play with me or snuggle. He seems to have left his dreaded year 3 in the dust. And thank heavens.

And Quinn? Well- she's still kinda hard :) But really- she is always good when it really matters. She is awesome at school and tries really hard. She is reverent at church and has even grown the guts to participate more.

 Veda certainly has the spunk of a 2 year old. But she is so cute. She is funny and sweet. She has all these new words (most of which sound the same as her old words but now mean new things too). She is almost totally poop potty trained. And did I mention cute??!

I'm loving and cherishing these days with my kids at these ages. They are so fun and cute. I love being their mom.

park, lunch, pantry, Veda, and biting

Most of these pictures have nothing in common...

Hendrix playing with animals

 playing at the park

 lunch for the babies

 I organized my pantry this week. I was going to show the 'before' picture- but I'm too embarrassed.

 me and Dave on a hot date to Costco

Veda seriously cracks me up lately.

 She also loves to hold my hand in the car. Kinda sweet.

 But she also is still sometimes a biter. Poor Hendrix gets bit the most. :(

texas one-year anniversary

Where has the time gone? I know, I know... I'm actually two weeks late on this post. We moved on the 2nd of April last year. But WOW!!! It's been a year. So I thought I'd do a recap of the awesome things we've discovered about Texas since we've been here.

It's no secret that we love it here. And if you live here, or have come to visit, I kinda bet that this place has won you over too. 

1. The weather. Are you thinking "But what about July?! What about August?!!" Well- last summer, we survived! We went to the pool a LOT, and went to the park early in the morning. We spent time indoors otherwise, in our lovely air conditioned home. And the rest of the year- AWESOME. Spring here?!! Heaven. Fall?? Heaven. Winter?? Still heaven- but you need a hoodie on and can't wear flip flops every day- just once or twice a week. And yes- a couple of times in January I wished that I owned a coat and had to wear a hat and gloves on my run. (this picture was taken in December. At the park with t-shirts on). 

2. The parks. There are parks EVERYWHERE. And they are awesome and close and fun. 

3. My running group. I love love love that I have such an awesome group of friends to run with. It has changed my life. I have talked about it before, so I'll spare you. But it makes a big difference in my life, so it deserves to be on my list. I'll just leave you with an awesome picture from one of my races. Ha-- the crazy thing about this picture is that EVERY time I see a photographer on the course during a race I make this pose. Yet this is the only picture I've seen of me doing this. So maybe the photographers are seeing me make this pose and choosing not to snap a picture? Who knows... but at least I have this one :)

4. There is so much to do. I leave the house WAY too much- because I fall behind on stuff around the house. I thought I was out and about a lot in Idaho- but I am way more here. (In a good way). And now I don't need to make that 15 minute drive down Meridian Road to get anywhere worth going to :)

5. Veda likes it.

6. We love our house. We are renting, but we have been so happy here. We are in a great neighborhood and have a GREAT little house. Especially for it being a rental.

7. We have lots of lovely new friends. We are lucky enough to have these cute friends on our street- plus another family that is not only in our ward as well, but has kids our kid's age. I have lots and lots of girls here that I love and do things with (girls night, book club. etc). Dave has friends to go to concerts with and play racquetball with. There are just a lot of people around who have accepted us and welcomed us with open arms. And that has maybe made the most difference.

I can't tell you how often this happens, but it happens a lot. Where I'm driving somewhere, (or running) and it hits me.... a "WOW THIS PLACE IS AWESOME" sort of feeling. I know that Texas isn't for everyone, but it is definitely the right place for our family right now. I feel so lucky and grateful for a husband who has led us here.
So it's awesome here!! Come visit!! We'll show you some beautiful places and feed you amazing food-all while we enjoy some awesome weather :)

what we've been up to

Just some stuff we've been up to:

Veda looking cute

 A blanket I made for Julie for her baby shower. (She's having a baby girl in May!)

 After driving by the pool and seeing people there, I came home and said to the kids: "Hey! I think the pool's open!" Next thing I know, Veda has walked out of her room with an armful of swimsuits. She's ready!

 Quinn got this purple watch from my parents for her birthday. Veda wears it a LOT. And it's cute.

 Veda also carries a baby all over the place. To the park, to the store, to church.

 Vedy in glasses

 Sometimes lately Veda asks to take a nap in Quinn's bed.

 Hendrix has been loving to draw and color lately. And he has taught himself to write his name. That "E" is my favorite.

 Kids hanging out on the porch eating a popsicle

 Laundry baskets are the best

Sickies

Wowee... we have had an eventful couple of weeks!!! 

My kids have been SICK! And me. AND Dave. 

And then repeat that all over again... 3 times. 

I got sick 2 days before my parents got here and felt crumby the whole time. 

Veda was on antibiotics the whole time they were here. 

Quinn missed 2 days of school after they left. 

Everday I woke up wondering if I should bring one or all of us to the doctor. But we've been so much lately (and I have a family full of medical people who I call all the time for advice anyway). 

And I kept putting it off since Veda had JUST finished antibiotics, plus Hendrix had a well check coming up. 

So... we went to the well check. And we were all on the mend (or so I thought). And poor little Hendrix failed his hearing test. So when the doctor talked to me about it, she checked him out and we found out that he has 2 bad ear infections. So I'm sitting there with Veda who was coughing her head off and I mentioned how she just finished medicine for an ear infection, so the doctor peeked again... and sure enough- STILL has the infection. Meanwhile- I am actually feeling almost back to normal, but Dave is still fighting the cough. So I think we are all getting better? I sure hope so. I am sick of this!!!!

 I can't tell you how many times lately I wished I had 2 more laps. Or just two more of me.

 We had lot of impromptu baths with popsicles to get fevers down.

 Ha... Hendrix wouldn't wear the patient gown at the doctor. Robes are for sissies.

My parent's visit to Texas

My parents were here last week. We had SO MUCH FUN!!! COME BACK!! :)

 Here are me and my dad before our "Electric Run" race that we did. It was the first race we've done together for at least 10 years. It was fun. Dad- next time let me win :)

 My mom could often be found sandwiched between two kids

 Me and my gorgeous mother and kids on Easter morning

 My mom and I went shopping one night. I bought WAY too many stripes

 We let Quinn play hooky one day from school to come with us to ride a train downtown and have a picnic at a park. It was a good day

We also showed them Barton Springs

 We finally made it to the Austin Children's Museum. I've heard how awesome it is, but have never dared go by myself with the kids. Hendrix and Veda LOVED it. Hendrix is still talking about it.

 My cute mom taking some pictures of the kiddos

 Grandma and Veda playing noodles

 We got a sitter one night and went out for dinner.

 My parents are awesome. It was so fun to have them here. :)