Chuck E Cheese

Since Chris's surgery Sam had been his little helper. As soon as he sits down, she brings his pillows and a drink and does anything he asks. It is a good thing she helps him, or he just might starve if he had to count on me. Since Sam has been so much help, he told her he would take her to Chuck E Cheese. We asked her if she wanted to go with just him, but she really wanted her sisters to come with her. What a great sister she is and soooo sweet. Morgan had some friends sleep over and then they decided to go swimming. We needed something to distract Sam and Alex so we decided now was the time to go to Chuck E Cheese. They had a great time. Michael even had fun watching and going on his first rides!! He is growing so fast. We look at him and wonder where this little blond boy came from. So much for being a little Chris look-a-like. Michael had so much fun that he was exhausted and fell a sleep despite all the noise.
Alex's favorite ride, the carousel.
Michael with Bob the Builder. I have a feeling we might be getting to know this character a little more in a few years.

Sam and Alex. You better remember this picture. They are actually sitting together and enjoying it. This does not happen very often.


What a chunk. He is getting so big. Love those great cheeks.

Happy Mothers Day

We had great intentions for Mother's day. We actually made cards a week before and each girl signed them (even Alex). Well, they are still sitting in the kitchen waiting to be mailed out. Maybe one day I will actually get things done on time. We wanted to wish everyone a great Mother' s day. We took pictures of our cards so you can see what will be coming your way soon. Maybe we will just combine Father's day too; that one might just make it on time. Here are pictures of our cards (each flower is made with the girl's finger prints and Michael's finger or toe print, whichever one was more accessible at the moment. He had a nice blue toe for awhile).

New Addiction: Digital Scrapbooking

During general conference I was playing around on the computer with a few things I had seen and had discovered something that I think I am going to love....Digital Scrapbooking. I have dabbled in it a little, but didn't have time to do much, but then I discover this way. I already love photoshop, and this is just one more thing to use it for. It was so nice to be able to do a page and when the kids came around, all I had to do was just shut my computer, and not clean up a bunch of paper, ribbon etc. So much easier and cheaper!! I would love any tips for all you pros out there.

I love my kids!!!

One of the things I love about living in Texas is the wildflowers. It makes me smile as I am driving down the freeway or feeder roads and see such beautiful wild flowers. For the last few years we have started taking family photos in the beautiful state flower, the Blue Bonnets. (Sam informed me of this along with the state bird: the mocking bird, the state 'pet': the armadillo and the state tree: the pecan tree. Wow she is learning so much in pre-school!). We always go with the Torbits so that we can take each other's photos and enjoy the great company. We found a wonderful place this year in Bellville to take some great photos. They have never really turned out very good due to such small kids who do not want their photos taken, but this years are worth printing. I love them. We found a little park a few years ago with a merry-go-round, slides, teeter-totters etc and a nice rock wall/bench perfect for photos. I took advantage of the kids already being dressed for pictures and snapped a few extra at the park. I finally got the pictures that I have been wanting for years. Thanks kids, and Chris, for being so patient with me. I was joking with Chris and Maria that the girls are never going to wear another white dress after they leave this house (other than their wedding dress). I LOVE simple white dresses for photos and probably over do it a little, as most of the photos I have of them are in white dresses. You need a white dress, any size, I am sure I have a few. Enjoy the photos.

Take 3 and 4

I spoke too soon. Last week I posted that Morgan had her glasses now for 3 weeks, which is a week longer than the 1st pair. That only lasted until Tuesday afternoon. I got a call from her teacher saying that Morgan broke her glasses and was shedding a few tears. Morgan then explained that her friend picked them up off the ground and they were bent and she tried to fix them and that's when they broke. Who knows how they got on the ground, but too late to worry about that. How far do you go to teach them responsibility, have them feel guilty, but not totally crushed and like they are just a disappointment to you? I couldn't make her wait a few more months because now I've realized just how bad she really does need her glasses, so we headed back to get another pair. Thank goodness for Eye Masters. 2 pair of kid's glasses (frames and lenses) for $99.00!!!!! I was nice and let her pick out cuter frames which were a little more, but she is the one wearing them. She picked something totally different than she got last month and they are darling on her (that isn't hard). So now let's see how long 2 pairs get us. At this rate I have until July until my insurance kicks in again and will pay for a new pair!!

Alex strikes again

Alex decided that Michael needed a friend to sleep with. She is such a great helper. I am sure Michael enjoyed having a buddy to take a nap with .

I don't know of any other dog that gets tormented more than poor Katy. She is soooo loved by Alex and gets more attention than she would like. Alex found some sunglasses and decided that they would be perfect for Katy. I guess Katy thought so too because she didn't move at all, even after the glasses were on her she just sat there. She probably knows by now to just go with the flow with Alex and that she is probably much safer just sitting there than being chased. As far as the stickers, I was feeding Michael and turned around and Katy had been held captive and was nicely decorated by Alex. I just laughed, what else can you do when you have an Alex.

Michael was having a great nap on the chair in the living room. I guess being the 4th child, with 3 older sisters, it takes a lot to wake him up. Alex was trying her hardest to wake him by yelling "wake up Michael" right in his ear, but Michael did not flinch. What a great kid. We are so lucky to have such a patient child that is the best sleeper and can sleep through anything, even Alex.
This is Alex with her mischievous smile after she realized that he is not waking up and that she better stop before someone gets sent to their room.

Morgan's new additions

Last year Morgan got a letter home from school saying that she needed her eyes check so we did and she definitely needed glasses. She had them for a whole 2 weeks and lost them while 4-wheeling. After hours of searching we realized it was a lost cause. I thought we would just wait until insurance kicked in again, but she really needed them for school. We finally got them again, so she can see now!!! She looks so cute and they have outlasted the last pair. Hopefully we can go at least another year before we have to get a new pair.



We were getting a cantaloupe ready to eat the other day and Morgan saw the seeds and thought she could grow something with them. I didn't' think much of it until a few days later she brought the camera in with this photo and was very proud of herself. I didn't even realize that she actually planted them with great expectations of them growing. What faith children have. She has been faithfully watering it, along with Alex. Now if we can only get Alex to leave it alone and not drown it with water and love, it might actually survive. That is rare for a plant at our house.