Country living

Okay so it has been a crazy busy summer. I have been so wrapped up in packing/unpacking, traveling, schooling, working, potty-training and everything else that seems to eat up my time, that I forget about the important things of life.

Like why we decided to move out to the country.

Fortunately, I have three wonderful little people in my life to help me remember.

This is how they started their day this morning.

It started with Maddie's peach at breakfast. We had a major discussion about the seed inside which reminded them of one of their favorite books James and the Giant Peach.

They decided to plant the seed out in the yard. They spent all morning digging in our Central Texas clay and dreaming about their future peach orchard. As you can see they enjoyed every minute of it.

They were so filthy that I had them strip down in the yard and spray them down with the water hose, followed up with a little skinny dipping in our pool. (them, not me)

What a way to spend your day.

I consider it the best part of an education to have been born and brought up in the country. ~Amos Brunson Alcott~

A Whole Lot Of Pottying Goin’ On

Cade has been begging me to potty train him for about a month. With Maddie we started at about 19 months, I was eager and ready for her to be out of diapers. But I soon realized that it was a lot of work and very messy. I hate going to public restrooms with small children!

So with Kinley , we waited a little later. Both girls did great and were trained within a month or so with a few minor mishaps.

The "experts" say boys are harder so I kept putting Caden off. Finally, I gave in and let him wear "panties". (We are working on calling them undies, it is hard with the influence of two older girls he adores!)

So we pulled out the potty and a pad full of stickers. And ....

He did fabulous! On his first day, he had no accidents and pooed in the potty three times! He even tells me he needs to go potty! He even woke up dry and went potty the next day before breakfast. Wow, that is it?

What will I do with the extra money I have been spending on diapers for the past almost seven years? One thing is for sure, I will not be buying a book on parenting.

I've learned to never listen to the experts!

First day of First grade

I can't believe Maddie is in first grade already! It freaks be out a bit because I remember a lot about my first grade year. It just seems so old!

Maddie was most excited about:

* Being in the big building at Sterling

* Seeing all of her friends

* Having Mrs.McDaniel as her teacher. (She is wonderful!)

* Taking Reader's Theater- she is my drama queen!

Here is Maddie with Melody, her best friend.

Mrs.Pam, one of our favorite people at Sterling, smiling with Maddie.

When I picked Maddie up, she told me that Mrs.McDaniel is the best teacher ever and she just makes history"come alive". She also shared that the kindergartners on the playground were "just precious Mom, you should see how little they are." What a difference a year makes.

So, you might wonder what happened with the other two while Maddie was at school? Well.....

Let's just say we've decided Maddie deserves a raise.

Visit at Pappy and Gigi's house

We had a great time at Gigi and Pap's house during Easter. Maddie had fun making up "scary stories" at the campfire. Caden and Kinley had fun playing in the tent.
I think Cade had the most fun of all. He absolutely loves playing outside. He ran everywhere that he went. Rob and Gigi both chased him up and down the hill several times.

He was excited to eat chocolate ice cream!
He rode the four wheeler, tractor, the paddle boat, and Pappy's back all over the place.

What more could a little boy ask for?

Adelyn Grace Goudeau

Miss Adelyn Grace Goudeau was born yesterday- May 2nd at 4:03 PM. She weighed 7lbs and was 20 inches long. She has a head full of red hair. She is a cutie! We are all so excited! April is the cutest little mom and did a great job today! I know that she and Jared will be great parents! I can't believe my baby sister is a mommy.

We brought the kiddos to the hospital the next day to meet Adelyn. The girls each picked her out a book. Kinley also brought her one of her pacifiers. Caden was not sure what to think. They are all so happy to have a new cousin.

Can't wait to have Miss Adelyn come to my house so we can spoil her good!

Eggciting Easter

This year we went to my parents' house for Easter. We usually have everyone over to our house but we just got over having the stomach bug. I was "pooped out" - no pun intended!
We got up very early to hunt Easter eggs. It was a good thing that we did because as soon as we finished, it started pouring down rain. Cade really loved hunting the eggs, he figured it out quick. His basket was overflowing with colored plastic eggs.
Kinley was thrilled because she found the prize egg which did not make her sister to happy.

I had technical difficulties with my camera so I do not have many more shots.

I did catch Kinley in her dress holding her shoes.

And Caden posing on the porch with Lovie.

I finally got my camera working to snap a picture of Maddie reading Frog and Toad the whole way to church. She was so proud that she read 88 pages of two different books on our two day trip. I can't believe how well she is reading now.

Date with Granna to Georgetown

Kinley could not wait for her date with Granna this year. The girls look forward to this all year! She brainstormed for a month what she would like to do together.Granna came and picked her up at our house early that morning.

They had a special lunch together.

Along with Kinley's favorite dessert- Mint Chocolate Chip Ice Cream

They went to a day spa that had marked parking for the princess.


Kinley got a pedicure and manicure. They painted her nails light pink.
They spent the night in a hotel that had an indoor pool.Kinley is a little fish and loves the water!

They went to the park to play.

Kinley made friends with a little squirrel.

They also visited a rose garden.

When I asked Kinley her favorite part, she said " Having Granna all to myself!"

What a special day of memories.

Kinley's Pony Party

We had Kinley's birthday at the Open My World riding center this year. She only invited a few people to her party. She prefers a smaller more intimate setting than the rest of us!

She was not feeling very good during the party and spent a majority of the time on my lap.

She was still quite the trooper. She enjoyed riding "Jasper" and "Smokey". She also enjoyed the petting zoo.

But I think Kinley' s favorite part was riding the big swing under the oak tree. If there is a swing to be found, Kinley is one happy girl.

Maddie loved being near the horses. She has decided to sign-up for Horse Camp this summer. Caden loved being out in the open space. He had a ball running around and playing. Rob had us all laughing in his snug horse riding gear!
Cousin Abbie showing off her riding skills!
The leader did a great job teaching about the care of horses.

Time for the birthday cake! We had a hard time lighting the candles in all of the wind! But it made it easy for the birthday girl to blow out the candles.

Mrs. Tiffany made her a delicious chocolate cake with Rice Krispie Treats. It was so good and it was beautiful!

Cade sure enjoyed the cake and the chocolate ice cream! Aunt April couldn't keep it coming fast enough.

After the cake, we had a pinata for the kiddos. Just what they needed, more sugar!

After the party,a group of us went to eat and then the birthday girl went right to bed. She was all tuckered out.