The Busy B's

First Day of School...

2008-08-26T12:14:00.002-05:00

Not sure about the separation here...but here they are ready to go on the first day. Everyone looks happy but Branson, who just got told to quit putting bunny ears on his brothers... oh well! Oh I love these kiddos!!!

Beau's In School!

2008-08-26T12:11:00.002-05:00

This is Beau with Miss Deckard...the Richardson ISD Teacher of the Year! Yay! Boston and Branson both had her, and now Beau gets a chance to have this wonderful young lady for kindergarten. The boys are riding the bus to school and home every day, so that is exciting. We are so blessed with the teachers we got this year...and Sissy starts pre-school on Sept 2nd. So it won't be too long until all are in school for at least a couple of days a week.

Reading All Summer...

2008-07-23T08:37:00.003-05:00

My boys are reading like crazy this summer! Dallas has a summer reading program through our local library...and Boston got a shirt for reading 75 hours so far. He also got a free Six Flags ticket at 50 hours, and there's more good stuff to come at 100 hours! Yea! Branson has read 10 hours and is coming along too. He got this cool certificate that matches Boston's shirt... Go, boys, go!

She's 2!!

2008-05-15T18:03:00.002-05:00

Today, Sissy turned 2...we couldn't decide what name to put on her cake...Brooklyn? Sissy? Bubba?(what Beau calls her) or Pi-ow? (what Branson calls her)...so we went with the cupcake-grouped cake with no words! Yummy! Sissy took her cake to school and shared it with her friends, then we brought the remainder home (actually we ate a lot of it in the car on the WAY home)! She is a big singer now..."I may never march in the infantry..." or "Happy Birthday to Sissy" or "Sing a song of sixpence..." She has started screaming "NO Ma'm!" (don't know where she got that one!) and "Mamma Poo Poo? Beau Poo Poo?"...etc...you get the picture...those crazy 2's! Love this little surprise from above!

Baseball Season is Here!

2008-05-14T11:39:00.002-05:00

Branson is playing coach-pitch on the Torpedoes! His first game he hit a triple, a double, and a single. He gets moved to different positions each week until the coach solidifies something. He is having a blast! Beau is on the Cowboys (as in Oklahoma State Cowboys, I guess), and our neighbor, Brian Fagan, is on his team. He chose to be number 3 because he's the third brother! He and Brian are playing T-ball, and Beau looks like a man among boys! He hit the ball to our picnic table out in right field last night, but his fielding has something to be desired...he's told me ALL about the flowers in the field and where the ant beds are! That's my boy!

Pool Time!

2008-04-26T18:13:00.002-05:00

We have the best neighbor in the world! Mr. Hammer, a recent widower, lives right behind us. He told me a couple of months ago that I had to make him a promise... a promise that we would use his pool! Um...let me think about that...OKAY! Today was our "debut swim"...it was 66 degrees outside, but that didn't stop the brothers! Sissy was left behind with Dad so that Mom wouldn't have to enter the cool pool...Fun times! (PS...check out that 9 yr old's giraffe tongue! wow!)

City Gone Country

2008-04-21T19:00:00.003-05:00

In lieu of country livin', my boys decided that even in the city they could have a dirt clump fight! We had a lot of rain last week, and the area under the swing has dried up and given them a new playland! They were throwing, dodging, screaming, and running...all fun until someone threw one at Sis...TIME OUT GENTLEMEN!! Time to get in the house and take a bath! It's a school night! Love love love these kids!

Boston's 9th Birthday

2008-04-21T18:56:00.003-05:00

I love these "getting older" birthdays as they involve less kids and more fun for the adults! We met 4 boys (plus our 3--Sissy at home with Grammy) at Dave & Buster's...a video playland for adults and kids! They collected tickets for prizes (aka party favors!) and we ate yummy cake and had a blast! Can't believe my oldest is 9! Yikes! This picture is somewhat blurry as this party was all ACTION!! Happy Birthday, my eldest...yo' mama is proud of ya!

Gotta have Faith!

2008-04-03T18:52:00.002-05:00

Going to the hairdresser can sometimes be stressful...even if you've been using the same one for about 5 years! Shelley, my hair girl, suggested I go with a different shade of blonde (that's not natural...if you didn't know :)) and go with a shorter "sassier" do for the spring/summer. Well, here it is...taken by me on my camera phone while driving in heavy traffic...maybe I shouldn't have put that! :)

Easter Sunday

2008-03-23T21:48:00.003-05:00

Not the best pic ever (all these are taken with my phone!) but in the cold looking directly into the sun after eating out and having a few desserts each...my kids are still and look somewhat happy! Yea! This is an accomplishment! Khaki pants and pastel polos for the boys...and my little girl got a pink chiffon dress with white sandals (can't see em, but take my word for it...they're adorable!) and that headband...my my...having a girl is fun! We had one chocolate Easter bunny each (they could eat the ears and head after lunch, but to eat the whole thing later, they had to do 50 push ups!) and enjoyed our day together! What a super group of kiddos!! Signed, Proud Mom

Boston at LTC

2008-03-23T21:46:00.003-05:00

Here is Boston showing off his name badge...at LTC at the Anatole yesterday. This was a large Church of Christ "competition" of sorts, with kids showing off their skills in many areas. Boston participated in the elementary large choir and puppets. There have been many practices so we're glad LTC is over! But it was very fun to see him perform. So proud of you, Big Un!

The Car

2008-03-17T08:08:00.002-05:00

On our way out the door at Vanessa's, Sissy spotted "the car"... one of those little kid coupes with the opening door and steering wheel. She couldn't take her eyes off of it...and in less than one second, Vanessa said, "You can take that with you if you want!" hint hint...yeah, I get it, Ness...you want it off your property! Well, I said, "Only if it fits in the back!" And yes, it fit. Every second outside since then, Sissy has HAD to ride in the car, be pushed in the car, or push the car herself. She has screamed at all of us for not doing what she wants... that's a new one... haha. Well, the princess has her coach...and I guess that makes us the servants...:)

Our Trip to West

2008-03-16T11:12:00.002-05:00

Saturday morning, in a fit of boredom and Spring Break blahs, I called Vanessa and said, "Get in your car and come see me!" She said, "Get in YOUR car and come see us...it's Kids Night Out tonight!" This means that you dump off your kids at Van's church from 5:30-9:30 pm and go have some good ol' adult fun! How could I turn that down?? We loaded up (without toothbrushes and extra clothes...so unnecessary!) and headed south. We got there just in time and the kids had a great time, while the adults went to Buzzard Billy's in Waco to eat some Cajun faire. Pops joined us! Yea! This pic is Vanessa, me, and Pops outside the Starbucks where the party ended up. We woke up this morning to cinnamon rolls and Sissy saying "puppy" for the 1000th time...that girl has a one track mind! Thanks, Ness, we loved it!

5 Things You Don't Know...Hmmm...

2008-03-11T12:30:00.003-05:00

Vanessa has "tagged" me with the "5 Things You Don't Know About Me" column. Let's see how I do...

1. I am addicted to 3 "food" items...Sonic Iced Tea (Route 44 size...drink 4-6 per week!); protein smoothies (so conveniently located inside 24 Hour Fitness where I am 6 days/week!); and protein bars (can you see the trend here for caffeine, protein, and energy!).

2. I don't cook anymore. With my night job, my lack of sleep, my finicky eaters, and so many yummy fast food places around, I cook--I mean really COOK--maybe 3 times/month! This is so hideous, but true. Mac 'n cheese with hot dogs is not really cooking...neither is German sausage with rice (pre-packaged rice that you zap for 90 seconds!).

3. I go to a tanning bed. This is peace and solace for me. 20 minutes of nonstop adult music, coupled with extra skin pigmentation...and all this for only 20 bucks a month? Bargain...

4. I am a texting fool! When D and I started texting, then gradually adding friends that texted, we got our phone bill up to $750 in one month before T-Mobile let me know that for only 10 bucks I could have unlimited texting! Last month, I had 1300 texts--just me--not including Darrin's...could this be another addiction??

5. My second and third toes on my right foot are separating! Don't know why...neither did the expert foot doctor at Baylor Hospital who called my condition "funny-lookin'"...wow...I paid $175 for that?? He said, "Have you tried taping them together?" Ummm...no...not until summer gets here...and sandals... oooo..

I would like to see Shelley, Cara, and whoever else wants to join in this fun to complete this task!

Sissy the Ham!

2008-03-10T13:06:00.002-05:00

I got my little angel out of bed this morning, changed her diaper, and told her to head to the table for breakfast...this is how she arrived! Wearing her brother's new glasses that go with his new Dart Tag game, that girl is stylin'! I said to smile for the camera, and she just placed that little hand under her chin and posed...what is happening here!!?? She brings us so much joy!

Beau's Birthday in January

2008-03-09T11:28:00.002-05:00

Well, with all the info about Branson's party...my little guy, Beau, wanted me to tell everyone about HIS party in January when he turned the big "5"! He had a Transformer party (of course, as he has about 25 of them) and we had a good time at McDonald's (this one was SUPPOSED to be at McD's). This picture is of Beau on the left and his best friend, Colby Stone, son of Corey and Lisa Stone from ACU. He is excited that he will go to kindergarten next year...his mamma, on the other hand, is not so excited...:(

Good Ol' Texas Weather!

2008-03-07T12:26:00.002-06:00

This picture was taken on Feb 10th...the boys were out enjoying the 80 degree weather at the grandparents' house on Lake Tawakoni. They wanted to go swimming...that is until they got in ankle-deep! Freezing cold water! But as you can tell, they had a great time wading. They have so much fun together...I hope they keep these friendships strong for a lifetime!

Finally Got a Picture!!

2008-03-07T11:42:00.001-06:00

Here's my sweet little 7 yr old! Ain't he adorable!!!

Branson's 7th BDay Party

2008-03-07T11:11:00.003-06:00

Well, we had such a good plan! A Football party complete with balls for everyone, cones for running routes, and Daddy to pass/punt/kick to boys all afternoon....until the weather came! It started sprinkling the second we got the cake out of the car on Sunday afternoon, and along with the raindrops came Branson's tears. Poor guy! I felt bad for him! But we headed over to the local McDonald's (really we had about 5 to choose from that were nearby) and had a heck of a time running around with about 30 other kids in the stuffy greasy playland! The highlight of the party was the string of curse words found in the tunnel slide--written in Sharpie, no less-- and trying to explain exactly what they were without really explaining...fun times in Dallas, TX!!! He got tons of gifts and had fun...can't believe that boy is 7! Boo hoo...

Fun at the Park...

2008-02-11T08:21:00.000-06:00

Took the kids to the "blue park" on Saturday afternoon...we have color codes for all parks...as there are probably 20 that we have visited, each with its own identity! Anyhoo...the blue park has a "running log" with handles and a bike trail and "river" nearby, so it's always fun. We get there and play on the zip line for a while and the equipment, but then, we venture off to the river. The boys get fixated on the "mountain" of dirt and begin having races up it. Boston and Branson decide it should be "hands free" climbing, and my Beau has a hard time because he is shorter (not short, mind you, as his 60 year old doctor said at his recent check-up that he was the biggest 5 yr old he'd ever seen!) and his legs can't propel him up the same as the big boys. At the end, Boston decided Beau should get an award for "5 Year Old Persistence"... and he and Branson tied...gotta keep everyone's self-esteem up, huh?!!! Sissy and I played "find the ants" and look at the puppies. Love those kiddos! Pictures coming soon and sorry that this blog is filled with "quotes""""""!!! :)

Believe it or not...

2008-02-10T09:32:00.001-06:00

Yes...it's me...Cathe...typing about my family! Many thanks to cousin Shelley for setting this up for me! Now yall can all see my little ones so I can "bragg" about them!!

We've just finished basketball season at the YMCA. Branson's team went 8-0 for the season...wow! He scored about half of the points each game...so exciting! Boston's team was a little different story, but still very awesome. They almost won their first game yesterday, with a whopping 10-12 loss in a real barn burner! Boston scored (they use the regular 10 foot goal) and had many many rebounds! Great job, boys! Next sport...baseball...and let's add Beau to the mix and see how crazy our schedules are gonna get! Sissy (Brooklyn, but she only knows herself as Sissy) is already a great spectator and can sit in the stands without too many complaints...provided there are snacks and at least one little baby to look at in the bleachers! We're off to the grandparents' house...more later!!

A day in the life...

2008-02-07T10:00:00.001-06:00

Here we go...
Ready to keep you posted...
On the days of the Busy B's...