Molding the Middlebrooks

Is it really November 2011?

2011-11-22T23:03:00.000-08:00

I can't believe it has been so long since I last blogged! I guess to say life has been a whirlwind is an understatement. We moved back into our LOVELY house at the end of Feb. It took a while to unpack and I still haven't really gotten the house decorated totally.

I am in my last semester of college... WHOOP! I just finished interning in a Kindergarten classroom. It was a wonderful experience and I had a FABULOUS mentor. What a blessing! I graduate on December 17 and am filled with JOY! I can't believe that this journey is ending. I've made so many wonderful friends and learned much. Being back in Aggieland and hanging with 20 somethings has been keeping me young............... BUT, I am looking forward to being that mom I used to be or maybe a better version. I long for not being exhausted every evening and searching for quiet. I can't wait to spend my weekends with the rest of the family NOT in front of the computer. SO WHAT IS MY PLAN after graduation? Well, that is still up in the air. I am toying with the idea of homeschooling the boys. We are also working hard for my hubby to get an overseas assignment.... SOON! So really, I am not sure what I am going to be doing besides finally going through the piles of fire LOSS items in my garage. I started a box the other day it took me 4 hrs. to get through ;-) I am fast!

My honey, Dax, is doing great. He is loving his job which makes us ALL happy! He has been my pillar the last 2 1/2 years. I don't think I could have made it through school without him. He has listened to me cry, panic, and had to talk about numerous education topics that would bore most. He is my everything and I can't thank him enough for being the BEST husband and daddy any family has ever had!!!! His encouragement is what made my finishing possible.

Oh, and I have to also give HUGE props to my sister..... who has equally had to listen to me whine and cry and talk me off the ledge of giving up WAY too many times! She has also been our sick ward and taken care of my babies when I couldn't. I could always leave knowing they were happy and safe..... I sure love my BFF, my sister!!!!!!

My kids are champions! They have had way to many choose your own adventure dinners these last few years. I really have enjoyed being the person they run to excited to see at daycare or at home when I come in real late. I always remembered being jealous of Dax.... so now I have experienced that joy. Still, I am thinking I miss those cuddles and hugs on a more regular basis. The kids are all so proud to be coming to watch me graduate. They are equal in the experience. Without their love and strength nothing would have been possible.

Santa Paws has sent his pup! (our version of elf on a shelf)

2011-11-22T21:37:00.000-08:00

Source: Uploaded by user via Beth on Pinterest

OK... so I have been wanting to jump on the Elf on a Shelf band wagon, BUT I am cheap and didn't want to spend a ton of money! Today at Walmart I found this cute sock puppy. My kids are animal LOVERS and really like the idea of Santa Paws.... so Santa Paws is going to be sending us a PUP ;-)

Well I have a good (really bad) excuse...

2011-01-27T06:52:00.000-08:00

for not blogging in a while.... we had a house fire! Uhhhggg, but we are all safe Thank God! It happened in October and we are still out of our house....double uhhhhhggg. A poptart (or EVIL poptart as the kids call it) was left in the toaster. It was forgotten about and we left to go grab the boys from school. It was only a matter of 10 mins after my alarm company called the fire department. It was sooooo quick and scary and well just sad. During all of this I had an overwhelming sense of peace. It was obvious that this was all just STUFF. My family was safe and that was all that mattered. That peace has come and gone... most of the time it stays. Hotels, now a small apartment, CONTRACTORS, having to buy so much replacement stuff, and the kids emotions get trying at times. Still, we are very BLESSED! I just started back this semester and have 4hrs of field placement (yipppeeee) so I'm pretty busy. Still, I hope to get caught up on all my blogging. We have been doing soooooo much :-)
My new refrigerator had a hole burnt in it. The food inside was cooked! (naturally I had just grocery shopped...it was FULL) The freezer was still cold and had frozen food days later.... amazing!

Two days before the fire Dax and I celebrated our 15 year of marriage! These are my flowers with fire damage in the background.

Our family motto!

Oh, Nuts!

2010-09-09T12:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, we got some SHOCKING news. Ollie has a peanut allergy (& tree nut). I say shocking because the kid has eaten TONS of peanuts & peanut butter. We went in for allergy testing yesterday because this summer Ollie had Anaphylaxis which left us very scared. I must say that I had a fire lit under me after watching a commercial on TV about the dangers Anaphylaxis. (I wish I could find this video on the web... it really helped to make me aware of the need to be proactive about this situation)
Anyway, we are very overwhelmed because of all the changes that need to take place. The doctor prescribed him an EpiPen to keep around at all times and one for school. I am freaked out that it was another food allergy that caused the Anaphylaxis just because it never happen all the other times he ate peanuts...like last week for lunch. I am actually hearing that this is common though.

Below is a picture of what we thought was an allergy to pine dust on the fort several months ago. I dosed him with benadryl and took him to the eye doctor who gave him anti-histamine drops. This was a few hours after the initial swelling went down.

Below is a picture on the night that we went to the ER and he had the severe reaction. Believe it or not he looks 100% better than when we ran in with him barely breathing.

My favorite Ollie and Jax interaction over the whole thing:

Jax: "Ollie, you won't be able to eat PEANUT BUTTER!"

Ollie: "JAX, BUT I WILL BE ABLE TO BREATHE!"

This whole thing is very scary but I am very glad that we now have a way to help him if there is another emergency.

Jax turned 8 this Summer!

2010-09-07T05:18:00.000-07:00

My Sweet Baby James turned 8 this summer! I love this kid so much and can't believe how he is growing. Jax is such a good brother. He loves to play games of ANY kind! This summer he beat us all many times at 10,000 (a dice game-a big family tradition in Dax's family) & MarioKart! He is become quite the little reader & loves surfing the net! He still throws off his shoes & shirt as soon as he is inside the front door....many times he is down to his briefs ;-) He melts my heart with his big brown eyes. He looks up to his Daddy. I love listening to my three men sit and talk about stats & scores and other guy things. I am so excited to watch and participate in all the exciting adventures this cool kids has to look forward to in the future!

All Jax wanted to do for his birthday was go to the movies and see the new Karate Kid! We let him bring 2 friends and his brother...no girls per his request! It really was a blast & a great movie. Check out the dirt cake I made and put in a bait bucket! He was sooooo excited about this cake- Score for Mommy :-)

Because I'm awake!

2010-09-06T02:40:00.000-07:00

I thought I would give a quick update because I am awake here in the early morning hours! Why am I awake you wonder.... well it just occurred to me that it is incredible DUMB for a person who often struggles with insomnia to take a pain reliever that includes caffeine just before bed. Caffeine hasn't ever bothered me this much before.... REALLY!!!!! As little as two weeks ago, I was downing close to a 12 pack of diet coke a day. Well, for some reason I decided to give up diet coke. The first couple of days the headache was terrible; but, then I felt pretty good. HA... now I am up all night feeling incredibly jittery... Good news, NO PAIN ;-)

My first week back went really great! I love all my teachers & the subject matter. The work load as always seems very overwhelming; but, I know that it is totally possible. It seems like there is a real light at the end of the tunnel just three full semester till I start student teaching. WOW, this really excites me! This year I have also taken over the position of president for Aggie Storytelling Association. I am really looking forward to what the year hold for me with this position.

Well, isn't it a RULE that children are supposed to get sick at the worst time possible!?! Monday morning 3 of the 4 "little"brooks were ill! Yikes, what to do? Luckily, Dax worked from home and was able to keep them comfortable. Thankfully, the rest of the week my sister & neighbor helped out. Poor Emma was out sick ALL week! Her asthma was giving us a run for our money... all is better now and she is back on all her preventatives early this Fall.

Here are some pictures to catching up on some of our summer fun! We spent TONS of time trying to beat the heat in the pool. August was so hot... we hardly left the house during daylight hours!

Tomorrow is my 1st day of classes

2010-08-29T19:47:00.000-07:00

I’m getting ready for my first day back to school. I just made some picture collages (the pics on this blog) for my binder. I just couldn't keep from posting my cute babies pictures :-) Most of the pictures were taken this weekend when we took the kids to see Lady Aggie Volleyball play LSU. We had a GREAT time and the kids feel really big doing stuff at Mommy's school!

I’ve got sickly kids right now at 9 PM ….uhggg. Jax & Dede running fever & hurting tummys. Emma’s asthma is acting up & she is feeling poorly. Looks like Dax may have to take the day off work. I am feeling weepy about not being with them. It just makes me rethink this whole school thing….. but I press on….because I love it….but I AM STILL sad about not always being there when they need me.

I know it will be alright but say an extra prayer for us!!!

Summer Sum Up: 5th Grade Graduation

2010-08-25T07:45:00.000-07:00

Ok, so this wasn't summer... but it was the Major event that kicked it off!!!! The next couple of weeks I am going to catch up on pictures from the summer.

How did it go by so FAST?

Dax got the girls flowers & they were so proud!!!

Me & My Baby Girls!!!

Daddy's Girls!!!

Dax & I are so excited about all the wonderful adventures the girls are about to take on in Middle School! (...we are also shaking in our boot, scared out of our minds, and thinking of taking an extended vacation from their impending hormones!!!!)

“All your dreams can come true

if you have the courage to pursue them”

~Walt Disney

First Day of 6th, 3rd, & 1st Grade!!!

2010-08-23T05:31:00.001-07:00

Girls Walking to the bus stop & Boys to Before School Care!

Getting on "ODERANT" as Dadddy like to call it!
Not to big to HOLD his DAD's HAND!!!!

"Don't worry Mom, I'll take care of my brother!"

Me & my kiddos!!!

Good looking Kids!!!

3rd Grader!

6th Grader

6th Grader!

1st Grader!

Bowling

2010-08-22T07:14:00.000-07:00

My sweet cousin Matthew took us bowling this summer! We had a great time & enjoyed a little competition :-) Now he is off at college and we will miss him!!!!

Ready or Not: It's almost time for School

2010-08-21T06:52:00.000-07:00

We are gearing up for school. The girls went to get their schedules and lockers this past week... MIDDLE SCHOOL here they come!!!! The boys met their teachers yesterday. They were both very excited. Ollie is having some separation anxiety (from me... I must admit I like being missed). He is worried about school starting. I know he will be fine... probably will be in love with a new girl (or his LOVE from Kinder... which he talked about all summer). The kids start back Monday. Dax has taken the day off to spend with me... SO SWEET! I start back the following Monday... I am ready to have a better schedule but a little worried about how we are going to handle it all....but I know we can and will!

Believe it or not I didn't take any picture of the boys but here are some of the girls!

Happy Hump Day!

2010-08-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

These sweet boys are making me HAPPY today....well really every day!!! Here are some of the brotherly things that make me smile:

Light sabor battles

Super Mario Brother PROS

They have each other's back.... I have seen them take a kid DOWN for each other ;-)

Each others BIGGEST Fans... I love how they encourage each other. How they point out to others that my brother is smart, fast, an artist, cool, the best at....

Always ready to wrestle

game LOVING fools..... any kind: board, card, dominos, Wii, DS, playstation, or even a made up one as long as it has rule and a WINNER!

Still willing to cuddle.... one on each side most mornings (this is a stall to waking up but I LOVE IT)

They think that GUY time with Dad is the COOLEST thing ever!

Wow, has it really been so long?

2010-08-01T07:33:00.000-07:00

Man, I don't even know where to start :-)

It has been a wonderful summer.....busy but great! I took a three week mini-mester that ended the 1st week in June which ended on the kids last day of school.

June:

It feels like we spent most of June CLEANING this house... it was WAY out of control. Really, we played a lot too. I have been loving sleeping in late, swimming, getting HUGS all day long, and playing games.

Jax had baseball camp which was absolutely wonderful.

For Jax's birthday all he wanted to do was see Karate Kids. So we took him, his brother and 2 friends. The 4 of them were so cute! Dax & I had a blast watching their excitement.

My dear friend Shelley visited with her 4 kids.

We took several trips to the farm and "helped" pick the garden. I cooked so much in June... I don't know how my Meme does it :-)

Golf camp in Galveston. This is something the kids have done for 6 years... This was the 1st year that all 7 kids (mine & Leah's) were golfing. Will is to old for camp but he just hung around and played all golf & visited with his friends. Dax, Leah, & I got in a couple of GREAT beach runs.... 6 to 8 miles each....fun! We look so funny in our barefoot shoes and camelback water packs!

My sister & her girls stop by often to swim & play. We love the playtime... even Leah & I!

For the girls & Leah's birthday we saw the midnight showing of Eclipse! It was a great night.

July:

On the 4th we went to the Showboat drive-in. We watched 2 movies under the stars and saw fireworks in the distance.

The kids spent a couple of days with their Doc, Nanny, Harold, Yaya & cousins. Dax & I enjoyed some alone time :-)

We went to Sea World. Emma spent the whole day with Will and 2 of his friends riding roller coasters. I can't believe she is so grown. Delaney stayed with us because she HATES roller coasters ;-)

Dax just got back from Singapore (for work). We missed him but that gave us a chance to hit the road, visit New Braunfels, spend time with the grandmas and even get to see Sherry & the kids.

I taking a 2nd summer session class online...Spanish! It is going good but a little hard with all 4 kids home.

I am sure I have missed so much but hopefully that is the highlights of the summer so far. I have tons of pictures & will try to post more later but here are some from golf camp in Galveston.

A Chicken Littlebrook & the Firefighter....plus so much more!

2010-04-26T20:20:00.000-07:00

DID I GET YOUR ATTENTION?!?!

I am sitting here sipping my CHOCOVINE trying to"RELAX".... I should be fine tuning the 2 papers due shortly or studying for the plethora of finals closing in.... but I found myself compelled to document the humor and joys in my life lately..... WHERE DO I START?!?!?! I am sure I'll leave TONS out:

*A couple of weeks ago driving down the road in Dax's suburban w/ almost 200k mile on it:
"I love this car! It's the BEST one we have ever owned. It rides so nice... my King Ranch Expedition doesn't hold a candle to this truck!"

NOT EVEN AN HOUR LATER: the Suburban broke down on Dax!
~All is well it's fixed now and running great (virtual fingers crossed) & we were thankful Dax wasn't hurt when it abruptly STOPPED!

*"I've got a lot of JUNK in MY TRUNK MOM!" Ollie exclaimed on the ride home from the doctor (our 100th that week...slight exaggeration ;-)

"Oh, really what does that mean Ollie?"

"DUH, I have been putting lots of food in my body!!!"

*Thank GOD for sweet little ones who make even the shortest conversations special!!!

~~~I know so much more has happened but it's a fog: soccer games, volleyball games, baseball games, a MESSY house, work, school, sick kids (x's4), sick mom.......

*Fast forward to Sunday night:

Pillow Fight GONE WRONG- after a wonderful day spent hanging out in Yaya's wonderful forest and ponds...the cousins & friends gathered for a fun pillow fight 14yrs to 6yrs all joining in the fun!

I lean over to my sister: "I should probably stop this.... someone is going to get hurt!"

NEXT second....two of my children are screaming! One with hurt feelings the other really HURT! Jax had been landed on by a 187 lbs friend.... all 55 lbs of Jax were squished impacting the jaw/ chin area.... LONG story short I took Jax to the ER & everything check out just soft tissue bruises and swelling.

SO Jax looks STRANGE and we all keep describing it: upside down teardrop, Jay Leno, light weight champ, tall head egg head...... and my favorite:

We are heading out the door and Jax starts bawlking like a CHICKEN and I say "WHAT ARE YOU DOING?" His answer was "Well I look like a CHICKEN so I thought I would act like it!" He went on to tell me (you KNOW JAX IS a CHICKEN EXPERT!) they have the same thing under their necks JUST LIKE ME!!!! ....... so we are left with CHICKEN LITTLEBROOKS... his new nickname!

*TONIGHT:

Dax and I bolted (really fast in my mind ;-) out the door for a quick run before getting everyone ready for bed. It was a great night... perfect weather, the moon sparkling through the trees....it was such a blast, so peaceful, so....*****RING,RING,RING****** "Hello, hey man! We are headed right home........"(there was more to this but I will spare you) My neighbor (wonderful man) was on the other end with Dax recounting that ALL 4 of my kids had just come over because the fire alarm was going off. I am so proud of my kids... they got out of the house together and did as I have instructed in an emergency. Dax sprinted home....I ran home slightly slower.... firefighters arrived.... not fire just a haywire alarm....THANK GOD....

anyway, I'm tired.....

Happy Hump Day & Happy

2010-04-21T06:42:00.000-07:00

Birthday in Heaven to Robin!

Making me Happy today are sweet, funny and even silly memories of Robin. Memories of the light if excitement when the kids would see her... loving you Aunt Robbie and Happy Happy you blessed our lives!

If you get a chance stop by Robin's Blog!

Now off to get a cake for tonight!

My Aggie Ring

2010-04-17T18:11:00.001-07:00

One of the greatest moments in the life of any Aggie is the day that they receive their Aggie Ring. This moment began with the Class of 1889.

I grabbed the sentence above (& below) from http://aggietraditions.tamu.edu/symbols/aggiering.html & NOW I can very seriously say this is TRUE! Wow, what an awesome day....April 16, 2010... my RING DAY! Dax & I got the kids out of school early and drove to Aggieland. It was so much fun...I even had tears in my eyes as Dax slipped the ring on my finger. It was also so special to share some neat traditions with the kids.

I have 2 years till I graduate in the Spring of 2012 but I am a Senior and I worked hard for all those hours. Plus, this is my reminder that I'm gonna do it... I CAN DO IT! Well, I am super proud and had to share a few of my pictures.

The ring worn by all Aggie graduates is the same except for the class year. This serves as a common link for former students. When an Aggie sees the ring on another Aggie's hand, a spontaneous reunion occurs.
The Aggie Ring is one of the most symbolic of our traditions. Everything seen on the ring represents a value that an Aggie should hold. On the top is a large shield, which symbolizes the desire to protect the reputation of the university. The 13 stripes on the shield represent the 13 original states of America. The five stars on the shield refer to the phases of development of any Aggie: mind or intellect; body; spiritual attainment; emotional poise; and integrity of character. The eagle symbolizes agility and power, and the ability to reach great heights.The large star on the side of the ring symbolizes the Seal of Texas. The five-pointed star is encircled with a wreath of olive and laurel leaves symbolizing achievement and a desire for peace. The live oak leaves symbolize the strength to fight for our country and our state. The leaves are joined at the bottom by an encircling ribbon to show the necessity of joining these two traits to accomplish one's ambition to serve.An ancient cannon, a saber, and a rifle are on the other side of the ring and symbolize how citizens of Texas fought for their land and are determined to defend it. The saber stands for valor and confidence, while the rifle and cannon stand for a preparedness and defense. The crossed flags of the United States and Texas recognize an Aggie's dual allegiance to both nation and state.Traditionally, students wear their ring with the class year facing them to signify the fact that their time at A&M is not yet complete. During Senior Weekend at the annual Ring Dance , the student's ring is turned around to face the world proudly, just as the Aggie graduate will be ready to face the world.

Gig'em!!!

Happy Hump Day!

2010-03-31T12:28:00.000-07:00

Making me Happy today: my new Vibram Five Fingers!

To busy to say more :-)

Happy Hump Day!

2010-03-10T14:28:00.001-08:00

Making me Happy today is the sweet Valentine I got from my hubby!

I am so FAR behind....

2010-03-06T17:07:00.000-08:00

Wow, long time NO blog ;-) Well, maybe I can get caught up....... here is what we have been up to:

school/ work
studying, studying, studying, studying....(me...and it NEVER STOPS)

playing

cuddling (it has been an oddly cold winter here but making fires has been so much fun)

Reading to Ollie's class and Jax's class (Me and it was sooo FUN!!!)

Junior Achievement: Dax has been going once a week to teach JA to Jax's 2nd grade class. He LOVES it. From what Jax tells me the class thinks he is the COOLEST DAD EVER! I am super proud of him for this.... and KNOW he is the COOLEST DAD ever!!!

eating (mostly JUNK.... gaining weight... yikes)

sleeping (oh way tooooo little for me.... going to bed after midnight and waking at 5am 2x's a week....uhggg)

Jax, Emma, Delaney ran their 1st 5k in 42 minutes with Dax. I was SUPER impressed! That is better than my 1st 5k that I ran at 29 yrs. Waaahoooooo, my kids ROCK!!!!

DI (yeah these meetings/ tournament.... OVER)

Soccer (Ollie)

Baseball (Jax)

Volleyball (starting Monday-Emma & Dede)

making our house the messiest place on the earth ;-)

creating DIRTY clothes faster than we are cleaning....way faster!!!

My sister & I went to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston: something I needed to do for school.... but oh ART... another one of my passions... it was WONDERFUL! I enjoyed the day with Leah too :-)

Seeing Stomp with Dax! It was awesome. I had to go to for a class project but am so glad that I did!

Mary (Dax's mom) took the kids to her mom's house for some family fun & to give us a break....which is when we went to stomp!

being sick (me mostly....thank goodness)

Tear Fest 2010: Me- about always being sick, messy house, dirty clothes, and generally feeling like the WORST mom/ wife/ friend on the planet. Luckily after sobbing to Dax, I feel much better....this was during the middle of last week.

Oh, Dax, Leah, Will & I went to the Houston Rodeo (Kenny Chesney)...but I was like a zombie because I had only had 4hrs of sleep the night before..... I didn't have even a sip of alcohol but I was tripping and swaying when standing still.....but I fit in with all the other women who looked ridiculous because they were drunk....so sad! It still was fun. The tickets were FREE and on the CLUB level!!!! I CAN'T wait because Leah & I are going to see Toby Keith this coming Friday night.....yippeeeeeee! WE LOVE TOBY KEITH ;-)

Today, we went to see a performance of Junie B. Jones and a little Monkey Business. It was a great experience. We will be hooked on this theater!!! This was something else I had to do for school... it is a tough life HAVING to do such HARD things ;-)

RAIN, RAIN...

2010-02-11T19:40:00.000-08:00

GO AWAY!

COME AGAIN ON WARMER DAYS!

RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY!

GET THE SUN TO COME OUT AND PLAY!
It's cold and wet.... walking across campus on days like this are FUN!

Well, I have lots to post about but am sooooooo tired. Hopefully, I will get used to this schedule soon.....ha ha ha.... waking at 5am on Tuesday/ Thursday and driving while it's still dark .... I THINK NOT!

Kids are good and sugared up!
Dax is great...and LOVING his job!
The house is a ~~mess~~ ~~pig pin~~ disaster!

Clothes need washing, dishes need cleaning, floors need sweeping.....

It's impossible to walk upstairs without tripping.

I have a million (slight exaggeration) tests next week!

But really it's not THAT bad ;-)

What's wrong with this picture?

2010-02-04T17:30:00.000-08:00

I took it today...

Well, if you can't figure it out here's a hint:

LOOK AT THE POST FROM YESTERDAY!

(oh and it's NOT the mess in the background!)

Yes, we win PARENTS of the YEAR ;-)

Happy Hump Day!

2010-02-03T13:29:00.000-08:00

Happy 100th Day of school

is making me happy today!

Well, really the fact that my kindergartner came home bouncing and saying it was,

"One of my BEST DAYS EVER!"

How wonderful is that? I couldn't help but smile & be happy!!!

Quick update:I am so busy with school. Hopefully, I can get caught up on posting here soon. I am loving my classes. I have TONS of work though ;-) research papers, presentations, things outside of school I need to attend, reading, reading, & reading....and so much more! Thankfully, I LOVE the content soooooo much it is worth it! A classmate from another major said the other day, "Education, the new engineering!" meaning that the study/work load is very heavy. I laughed thinking of how many times over the years I have heard people trivializing the importance & degrees of teachers. Anyway.....just something on my mind!

So remember my word of the year *FLOW*.... I'm really feeling it! I am even studying about FLOW in one of my classes....so cool!

The kids are great. They are busy with school, friends, and Destination ImagiNation. Soon Ollie will start soccer. And Jax starts baseball not long after. Dax is busy with work. He is the BEST dad and hubby. I can't even begin to express how much he helps. I sure am blessed!!!

Happy Hump Day!

2010-01-20T07:34:00.001-08:00

Making me HAPPY :-) this Wednesday is

MY SWEET GIRLS!!!

We are so blessed by these 2 girls. It would take me more space than allowed to write all about them that makes me HAPPY but here are a few things:

HELPFUL BIG SISTERS
SISTERS, TWINS, FRIENDS
MUSIC LOVERS
PHONE TALKERS
OUTDOOR LOVING
KIND TO ANIMALS
FUN
DEEP THINKERS
DISH WASHERS
COMPUTER SAVVY
LOVE THEIR DADDY
BREAKFAST MAKERS
DOG WALKERS
JOKE TELLERS
BOOK READERS
SILLY, SILLY, SILLY

I wonder....

2010-01-18T01:01:00.000-08:00

if till the Spring of 2012 I will FREAK OUT at the beginning of every semester? Over the last week, I have once again had a roller coaster of emotions: excited, nervous, tearful, happy, sad, full out crazy. I have been alternating from getting ready to just laying around like it will all happen by itself ;-) I must say I did a little TOO much feeling sorry for myself over the last week. Over and over again, I was asking myself these burning questions:

How am I going to make it work? my kids, Dax time, class schedule, 4 kids schedules, laundry, dinner,........ all the UNKNOWNS
What do I do when the kids get sick? Am I going to take a puking kid to the Dr. just to have an excuse or will Dax take off work or maybe Leah will watch them (THEY AREN'T EVEN SICK SOOOOO WHY AM I PLANNING THIS IN MY HEAD)

Am I missing out on time with the kids being in school myself? Are they only going to remember me studying all the time?

Can I do this? Am I REALLY doing this? Why again AM I doing this...NOW?

Over $500 in books.....BOOKS....I am talking about 4 books.... WHY?

Am I going to FINISH anything....EVER?

Why do I worry so much?

Ok, so I really already know the answer to these questions.

I know why I have chosen to go back to school.

I am loving school!

I know that I am fortunate that what I am loving will also make me a better parent.

The time I spend with the kids is all about quality. They know I love them.

I know that I have a wonderful supportive husband and 4 cool kids pitching to help me!!!

And well, I worry because............... I don't know but I thought just typing it out would help me feel better. My Spring classes start Tuesday....wish me (us all) luck and say a little prayer if you are so inclined!!!!

Snapshot Sunday by the "Little"brooks

2010-01-17T22:30:00.000-08:00

Kitty's nightly outings have been cut out because of cold weather! She has a FEW calm moments. The kids captured this one but in the next minute she was attacking their ankles, faces or trying to trip them ;-)

WE all LOVE our kitty Cleo!!!!!!

Happy Hump Day!

2010-01-13T05:57:00.000-08:00

Our new refrigerator is making me VERY Happy this Wednesday! We were living with the small one that the previous owners left the past year. It was french door and you could not get all the way into the fridge because of the wall on the right! Yippeee... this one works great! It is FUNNY because the kids are as excited as Dax & I! Dax went to get mulch at Lowe's before Christmas saw this (one we wanted but couldn't justify because of the price) in the scratch & dent area. He got is $600 off the original price....whoooohoooo!

Salon Time

2010-01-12T04:26:00.000-08:00

Ollie came and bounced on my lap. I noticed that in his little hands was a bottle of fingernail polish. My first thought was of Jax at the age of 4 and him wanting his Aunt Robbie to paint his nails black....which she did & I continued to do for MONTHS & MONTHS! In my head I was thinking, "Oh dear, this is GLITTER.......GLITTER.... not sure if Houston can handle glitter.... I really think the black would be pushing it ;-)

Ollie: "Mom, this is really pretty!"

Me: "Yes Son, it is very pretty!"

Ollie: " We could light candles and make is like a VERY FANCY Salon & I could paint your nails. It would be VERY fancy for you."
WHEW....

Me: "That would be very kind of you Ollie!"

He ran in the kitchen to set it up for me!

Here is a close up.....my cuticles are very glittery ALSO :-)

He is very sensitive that I am missing his daddy! I have been getting extra hugs & kisses.

Jax has been doing Daddy work like bringing in the wood for fires. He got a splinter and said that it was ok because he was taking care of keeping us WARM!!!!

WHY IS IT...........

2010-01-11T06:18:00.000-08:00

that every light bulb goes out that requires a ladder to change,

the kids get hurt WAY more than usual,

and numerous other annoying little things happen the moment my husband leaves the country?

I guess to remind me why I keep him around ;-)

Snapshot Sunday by the "Little"brooks

2010-01-10T18:46:00.001-08:00

This week I am one of the subjects of the "Little"brooks! I sure love these LITTLE ones!

My Word for 2010

2010-01-08T02:48:00.000-08:00

I read about One Little Word last year on Brene Brown & Ali Edwards blogs. Oops, I never got around to doing it but something just grabbed me this year on the Ordinary Courage Blog. I couldn't let another year pass without claiming my word.

I found a free tool by Christine Kane to help discover your word of the year. I sat down and wrote words that came to mind.... and if you know me my MIND is STRANGE ;-)

Volume
Rising
Glue
Stamina
Flow....... Flow

FLOW

and there it was popping out at me FLOW!

I had filed this word away in my mind since reading a post Lesley last month.

Over 2009 I had quite a few flow experiences...more & more as I returned to College last semester. I am hooked on the rush and joy of being totally emersed in a task. It is the feeling I get when running (not when I start but during the run). I am envisioning this year being a FLOW YEAR! I am challenging myself to find the flow in all aspects of life not just limit it to one or two. The above picture is from a visit to the farm earlier in the week. It is of my children in one of my favorite places on Earth!

So in 2010 my word is Flow.

New Years Eve with Friends

2010-01-07T09:42:00.001-08:00

Middlebrooks & Pond Family together again! We went to Baytown during the day on New Years Eve to see our dear friend the Ponds. They were our neighbors in Kyle. It has been strange the last year not seeing them EVERYDAY over the last year. Our crews were so excited reunite!

Another neighbor and friend (on the left) tagged along with them for the fun! I have known her since she was 4 years old....she is NOW 14years old! Wow, time flies :-)

We were blinded by camera flashes! We had fun playing games & eating Wendy's (Anne's mom) yummy food! OH....ham salad, Chocolate cake, and gingerbread cake with lemon curd!!!!!!

These 4 boys are the BEST of friends! One time when these twins were younger, they came over while we were gone and raided our pantry! Their mom found a trail of food between our houses! :-) I JUST love 'em to pieces!!!!

I miss afternoons sitting on the porch doing a whole lot of NOTHING together!

My girls love the boys too!

The kids and dads had fun torturing the geese!

Friends like Family!

2010-01-07T08:29:00.000-08:00

Over the Holiday, we had some dear friends come visit us! These 2 families are very much like family. It is funny because many of our friends we made while living in Kyle fall into this category! Eventhough, I was very under the weather at the time we had lots of fun & ate tons of great food!
Working Puzzles
Sherry & I put back quite a few Sangria's this night! I am very sad that I didn't get a picture of us together. She is one of my cheerleaders and a GREAT friend! She graduates this spring and I couldn't be more proud of her! She has worked very hard.

Monkey Brothers!

Computer Fun!

High Tech Kids!

These teenagers made some FABULOUS Crepes this night!

Buddies!

My sister and nephew cleaned my yard..... THEY ROCK!!!

My niece, ONLY 8, raked the WHOLE back yard! She is a SUPER hard worker!

Dax showing everyone some cool videos from Dude Perfect!

Christmas Eve!

2009-12-29T11:55:00.000-08:00

On Christmas Eve, we made the 2 hr drive to see the Middlebrooks gang in Bridge City! We woke up feeling halfway like ourselves and prayed we didn't pass any germs to the rest of the family. It was great seeing everyone even if it was only a few hours!

The girls watching Pawpaw open his gifts.

Grandma & Dalee

Kiley on her NEW BIKE!

Emma

Boys new toys

Cousins

Stanley(his dad) & Dax

Dax, Jax, & Beth

Jax & Nanny (Mary)

Middlebrooks Crew opening presents

Jax, Dax, & Mary

Handing out presents!

Jax wearing his head lamp spending his Christmas money!

Ollie's new head lamp....so proud!

Christmas!

2009-12-29T11:26:00.000-08:00

Our Holiday has been wonderful so far. We have been able to see lots of family and even had friends come visit.(I'll post those later) Unfortunately, we all had been battling illness. 5 out of the 6 of us are on antibiotics, prednisone and cough meds. Hopefully, we are on the mend!

Our Christmas morning was just the 6 of us. It was very nice! The kids woke Dax at 3am..... he sent them back to bed ;-) They were back up at 7. The kids were so cute this year. They were all so happy for each other. Emma had made gifts for everyone. Delaney had used money she earned while at Angie's and bought everyone a present. Later in the day, Mary (Dax's mom), my mom, and Harold joined us for food and fun. In the evening my brother's family stopped by for more fun!

Look who I saw at the Post Office!

2009-12-21T06:05:00.000-08:00

This guy was great! He actually has Santa Jim on his drivers license. His wife's name is Mrs. Claus. He was really a nice guy. He talked to all the kids in there. He was there sending packages NOT working! This is his website: http://realsantajim.com/

Super reader

2009-12-20T08:37:00.001-08:00

New glasses to help Jax's dyslexia & dysgraphia! We had him tested to see if he was having tracking problems while reading. Sure enough...he was and although this is a slight prescription it made a HUGE difference!

Below is the the exercise the Doctor told Jax (all of us to do) for 2mins. every morning!

Happy Hump Day!

2009-12-16T05:49:00.000-08:00

Making me HAPPY this Wednesday is time spent with my AMAZING GIRLS!

Smart, bold, funny,
questioning, thinking, kind,
open, friendly, suspicious,
helpful, loving, laughing,
brave, seekers, wonderful,
PERFECT just the way they are!!!!!!

A family picture....

2009-12-14T21:03:00.000-08:00

too late for the Christmas cards I mailed today but not for the blog!My sweet neighbor Kerry rushed over to take this of us.

We were racing off to the girls 5th grade program. She took only 2 (this and the one in the header) & both turned out GREAT!

The girls were Santa's Elves! It was a great program. Dede even had a speaking role.

*Sweet Sisters*

Actor in the making!!!!

This Artist made the picture we ironed on to her shirt!

Will I ever catch up?

;-) Probably, not but I will always try! Maybe in some of my free time this break..HA!

I have finished finals...yeah! I think that I got A's in all four of my classes.

My sweet hubby took off Monday and Tuesday this week so we could have time alone ;-) SWEET! We ate at The Egg & I for breakfast....yummy!Went shopping for a few extra gifts. Then ate at Double Dave's Pizza for Lunch (something we did too often in College...years ago!)

We just really enjoyed each other's company. I can't wait till tomorrow.

Last night, our car was broken into while in our driveway. NOTHING was taken...or so it appears! We were told often the take papers, steal money & identity...yikes! Pray that is not the case!

I have tons of laundry and house cleaning to get done before the kids get out of school on Friday. I know winter break will be over too fast.

When I graduate and get a job the #1 thing to do is hire a maid!!!!

I can't believe how fast the kids are growing. They are all making tons of little buddies around here. I am also starting to feel like I have some good friends around (besides family)! I was invited to a wine party last week which was so fun. It was nice being out. Plus, I really have made friends with several of my classmates. I was able to study last week with a new friend at her house. THIS was a huge plus because I got to love on her babies. They are the same age difference as my boys. OH, holding babies... it gave me fever...BABY FEVER! In case you don't know: this is NOT an option! None the less it was FUN!

I am taking Jax this week to get his eyes checked for tracking problems. He has really been struggling with reading. He also has been getting headaches. We wonder if his eye are the problem. The school has tested for many things but to no avail. Of course, Delaney's problems were not OFFICIAL till 3rd grade! He is only in 2nd! I am worried they might want to retain him next year. Little dude will NOT like this idea!

Anyway, I am rambling and it is LATE!

~I'm adding this one...It's the one I had in the title!

Sometimes all you need is....

2009-12-09T20:12:00.000-08:00

A five year olds point of view

Just as Dax was about to tell Ollie to clean these up,

the little man stood up and and proudly exclaimed:

"NOW, they are all holding hands!!!"

We thought that this was pretty darn cute! Oh by the way, my mom always kept this Nativity set out when I was little. I can remember hours of play.....sweet memories! I guess that is why I have 5 different sets. Below is the Nativity I purchased last year 75% off..... I just LOVE it! Not at much as my childhood one but ALMOST.

So I guess making me happy this Wednesday are

Christmas memories and the new ones being made!

Happy HUMP-Day!

p.s. I am still studying like a mad-woman ;-)

It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

2009-12-06T19:30:00.000-08:00

I took the weekend off from my studies and we started decorating! This is our will be out first Christmas in this house. It was tons of fun and I just HAD to share!!!

We got a new white lighted tree ($35 at Walmart) for the upstairs landing!

Our regular tree!

No getting on the roof of this house ;-)

The picture doesn't do it justice.... it is really pretty!

I searched the internet for some ideas and found the shooting star from Martha Stewart!

I think Dax did an awesome job making it for me/ us!!! ;-)

BACK TO MY STUDIES!!!!!

Finals!

2009-12-01T13:30:00.000-08:00

I am taking a break from blogging! My first final is tonight! Until Dec. 12 (last one), I am going to be very swamped. After completing these 18hrs. I will be a Senior, WHOOP! This unfortunately does not mean I will be graduating any time soon ;-) I still have 2 1/2 years.....ha, ha, ha. This Gemini sure is taking a LONG time to get an undergraduate degree!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving and I can't wait to share my pictures! PLUS, I can't wait to catch up on my blog reading!

Snapshot Sunday by the "Little"brooks

2009-11-29T06:57:00.000-08:00

One of the girls must have grabbed the camera to document playing in the rain!

Notice: Ollie in girls jacket!

Snapshot Sunday by the "Little"brooks

2009-11-22T06:42:00.000-08:00

The girls had the camera this time! This first one must have been a spy mission.

Strong guy!

Proof they were in a room that is OFF LIMITS!!!

Self Portraits

Happy Hump Day!

2009-11-18T06:29:00.000-08:00

Making me happy this Wednesday:

My sweet girl Emma has been really into getting me to braid her hair.

Her favorite is two french braids on the sides.

I am sure all too soon they won't want me to help with much. I am hanging on to these sweet moments. It also has brought back many a sweet memories of mom braiding my hair. I laugh about all the times I was such a brat... now I know why mom had a grin on her face when I was frustrated with my hair or her ;-)

A girl at my school wears her hair something like this.

I think it looks great on Delaney! She was very proud!

Snapshot Sunday by the "Little"brooks

2009-11-15T06:04:00.000-08:00

Hands

by the "Little"brooks

Happy Hump Day!

2009-11-11T06:01:00.000-08:00

Making me happy this Wednesday is something my sweet Ollie said yesterday!

He woke up congested and said he didn't feel well.

I suggested that his brother go get him a coke to help settle it.

He liked this idea.

I knew a little caffeine would be good for my slow to wake kid!

After Jax handed it to him he said,

"I think I want a snuggie!"

"Ok, maybe for Christmas!", I said brushing him off.

"No right NOW for my coke.... you know a snuggie for my coke!"

This is what he meant:

I love the way his mind works! Too cute :-)

Snapshot Sunday by the "Little"brooks

2009-11-08T05:53:00.000-08:00

Phineas and Ferb - Disney Channel

A favorite of the "Little"brooks so much that we found 20 snapshots of one episode.

"Hey Ferb, I know what we are going to do today!"

"Aren't you a little young to be doing this?"

"Whatcha Doing?"

Little Miss Sunshine!

2009-11-06T10:46:00.000-08:00

Yesterday was a weird day for me. I just felt slightly off all day. One of my classes was on some hard subjects dealing with kids.... not fun! On my drive home from school I felt compelled to stop and get new helmets for the boys. I left empty handed realizing I needed their heads! Later that evening with his old helmet that was on loose (he has been sharing with Jax), Ollie and the road had a collision. The road won.... yikes check out his forehead below! His elbow also got scraped up. It was very similar to last years bike crash....... poor baby. He slept with Dax and I last night. I woke up about every 30 minutes to make sure he was ok.

Also, I sat down to check my online classes late last night and realized I had a quiz due in 2 hours.....too much!!! Anyway, about the Little Miss Sunshine.... after my rough day Dax thought I could use a little sunshine :-) He got this for me for Christmas but said he thought I could use it now. I LOVE Little Miss Sunshine. I had her book when I was little and she makes me smile!!!

I have been having a hard time adjusting to my new roles and letting go of some too. Today, I needed to take a moment away from my studies and have a DATE....well 2 dates to be exact! I had lunch with Ollie at 10:20. He was so excited and surprised. I brought him a Sonic Cherry Slush. He told me he didn't need a lunch note from me today because he got me!!!! So sweet.

Jax was excited to see me but almost walked past me. He said, "Hi mom!" and kept walking and then it clicked. That's my mom.... and he came over to sit with me. Several times during lunch he just snuggled up to me. It was very sweet. He also LOVED his cherry slush!

It was fun to hang with my boys but now I must get to test taking.... 2 MORE today!

What have I gotten myself into?!?!

Happy Hump Day!

2009-11-04T06:00:00.000-08:00

A blast from the past is making this Hump Day Happy!

Dax sharing his skills of old school Atari games.

He even let the kids play.... some :-)

Snapshot Sunday by the "Little"brooks

2009-11-01T05:41:00.000-08:00

Note: The 2 pics below were taken standing on a counter. None of the "Little"brooks are tall enough to capture this angle. I guess these were taken to document what a messy house their mother keeps ;-)

Fatherhood and Education

2009-10-29T12:07:00.000-07:00

Yippee!!!! Today, was a big one for me. It was the first day that I had to speak to a large group in years. I was part of a group presentation teaching a lesson on the importance of fathers in society and education. My group all wore ties. We had a super powerpoint that included some great videos (here is a great one from ABC News), handed out a rockin' brochure and gave out tootsie "POPS"! I spoke about my dear friend Mark who is a wonderful and involved dad! I had asked him questions about how to make father's feel welcome and what future teachers need to know about father involvement among a few other things. Here are a few of his answers:

Ask for help with enthusiasm and expectancy!

Make sure to extend offers to fathers.

Have dad specific activities. Getting one Dad in the door will encourage other Dads to join the fun!

Dads can be an additional resource that wasn't previously expected.

Here are some interesting facts:

Fatherless children are twice as likely to drop out of school.Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. National Center for Health Statistics. Survey on Child Health. Washington, D.C.: GPO, 1993

Father involvement in schools is associated with the higher likelihood of a student getting mostly A's. This was true for fathers in biological parent families, for stepfathers, and for fathers heading single-parent families.Source: Nord, Christine Winquist, and Jerry West. Fathers’ and Mothers’ Involvement in Their Children’s Schools by Family Type and Resident Status. (NCES 2001-032). Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, 2001

A study of 1330 children from the PSID showed that fathers who are involved on a personal level with their child schooling increases the likelihood of their child's achievement. When fathers assume a positive role in their child's education, students feel a positive impact.Source: McBride, Brent A., Sarah K. Schoppe-Sullivan, and Moon-Ho Ho. "The mediating role of fathers' school involvement on student achievement." Applied Developmental Psychology 26 (2005): 201-216

http://www.fathers.com/ This is a great website for fathers and for those of us who want to encourage their involvement!

OK... so can you tell I am VERY excited about everything I am learning :-)

My kids are very lucky to have a wonderful Dad who takes his role in their life VERY seriously!

Happy Hump Day!

2009-10-28T05:49:00.000-07:00

Shhhhhhh.....here is Jax's secret ingredient to eggs:

Coffee Sugar

(AKA: refined white sugar)

Making me happy this Hump day is listening to Jax tell the secret to anyone and everyone. He loves making scrambled "chicken" eggs in the microwave without help. On the weekend, he wakes early and starts making these "sweet" eggs for EVERYONE! This day I was up early enough to suggest him helping me make some sunny side up eggs and "pan-na-cakes".

This boy loves cooking! He also loves gathering the eggs at Harold and Doc's house.

"Chicken" eggs are the best!!!

Two Love Bugs in the Kitchen

2009-10-25T06:40:00.000-07:00

The kids were all at the table last week when Ollie announced,

"2 Love Bugs in the Kitchen!"

Dax and I were fixing the kid's plates. We had stopped to sneak a kiss when Ollie caught us!

Even at 5...... they don't miss a beat!

Today, we have been married 14 years! WOW!

Last night, Dax took me out to celebrate.

Here are the pictures I got the sitter to take before we left.

Snapshot Sunday by the "Little"brooks

2009-10-25T03:50:00.000-07:00

Happy Hump Day!

2009-10-21T05:41:00.000-07:00

My happy thing for this Wednesday is

Emma always having a books in her hands.

Snapshot Sunday by the "Little"brooks

2009-10-18T05:40:00.000-07:00

Happy Hump Day!

2009-10-14T06:23:00.000-07:00

Making me smile this Hump day is a funny conversation with the boys.

Jax: "Mom, I remember you said Ollie is a ladies man!"

Mom: "You are both ladies men!"

Both boys grin a devilish grin!

Ollie: "Yeah Jax, you have a wife and a girlfriend!"

Jax: "So....you do too!"

Ladies take this as your warning: These boys are dangerously cute!!!

Snapshot Sunday by the "Little"brooks

2009-10-11T06:24:00.000-07:00

I have so many photos that the kids have taken over the years. I thought I would start sharing. We let them take off with the camera on a regular basis. The world from their perspective is funny, fun, strange, amazing and beautiful!

Stay away....

2009-10-08T14:00:00.000-07:00

from us!

Don't come around our house! We have 2 kids have type A flu!

Fevers, coughs, aches, snotty noses, and bad moods...

This kid is not a morning person!

Yummy, Emma made me waffles!

Emma made me take this picture so she could make a b-day present for her Dadda!

Em has been a super helper with everyone being sick! I am so proud of her!!!

Straighten UP...

2009-10-07T05:39:00.000-07:00

One of the girls friends has a new CHI flat iron. Every time De comes home she has straight hair! I have done it for her once for school! They are growing up too fast!

Spin Jammers

2009-10-05T05:55:00.000-07:00

These have been the talk of our house for weeks. In P.E., all the kids have been using Spin Jammers. They can do many tricks and the older 3 are now playing disc golf with them. Well, the coaches just started selling ones the students could buy! FUN! So the first day, each of my kiddos went to school with their $5 and returned with their very own. They really are fun and addicting!

The girls like to spin, dance, and sing the Miley Cyrus song Hoedown Throwdown :-) Cute!

Even Ollie can really jam!!!! The oldest kids throw them in the air and catch them most of time. They spin it under a leg and arm. All of them can pass to a friend.

No matter where or what they are doing you can find the spin jammer.

Ollie was resting watching TV in my bed and spinning away!

This was a blonde moment!

2009-10-02T05:43:00.000-07:00

Her answer to all the questions she got was, "The closet light is out!" We all got a good laugh out of this one! She laughed along.... no worries for this blue eyed girl!!!!!!

Dede, Everyone Loves A Blue Eyed Girl TOO!!!

Happy B-day Dax!

2009-10-01T05:55:00.000-07:00

Three Words Describing Dadda:

Delaney, 10yrs.= fun, curious, and entertaining

Jax, 7yrs.= golf, love, and Daddy

Ollie, 5yrs.=goofy, loving, and hangs me upside down

Emma, 10yrs.=goof-ball-ish, funny, and nice

Favorite thing Dadda does:

Delaney= He is good at math. He describes things in kooky ways the other kids don't get, but I do!

Jax= Golf!

Ollie= Sometimes, he lets us go to the movie theater!

Emma= When he calls me all the funny nicknames!

My favorite activity with Dadda:

Delaney= ripsticking together

Jax= Golf

Ollie= play baseball with him

Emma= Going to the library with him & playing sports with him

If you could give him any B-day gift in the whole world what would it be:

Delaney= A see through glow-in-the-dark ripstick!

Jax= A new golf club

Ollie= A new green golf bag..... let's go get him one now...... Ollie, he already has a new green golf bag..... ok, how bout a red one!

Emma: A flying hovercraft that you could go fishing on & play baseball on!

Happy Birthday Dadda!

xoxo: Delaney, Jax, Ollie, and Emma

Dax,

I hope that this is the best year yet! I love you so much. You always go above and way beyond... thank you! I am not going to get too mushy here....

xoxo, Bethy

I will get caught up....

2009-09-30T19:27:00.000-07:00

MAYBE ;-)

Where Mom goes to school! Gig'em Ags!

So we are getting some kind of order around here! Ha, ha, ha!!! Well, my head is spinning most evenings but it seems to be settling down a bit. Taking 15 hrs. at A&M is HARD work. I am LOVING it & learning so much. Dax is helping so much. 2 mornings a week he get the kids ready & brings them to school. This is FUN for them having dad home a few mornings :-) I am hitting the highway 3 days a week. It takes me about 1hr and 20 min one way. It is nice to be alone with my thoughts.....it had been years & sometimes I scare myself.......but that is another post! I have an early morning but I just wanted to touch base and say hello outside world.... I'm here.... just now I am a busy college girl ;-) Ang, this is the only "school" picture that anyone has taken of me... I need one with my backpack like you suggested!

School Kids

2009-09-04T06:47:00.000-07:00

I have been so busy starting school myself that the blog has been neglected! I have been VERY overwhelmed so say an extra prayer for me if you get a chance :-) Everyone is loving school and their teachers....yea!

Happy Hump Day!

2009-08-12T12:06:00.000-07:00

This Wednesday I am Happy and smiling with sweet memories of my sister-in-law Robin! I went to the Ford dealership today to pick up my car which was having work done. In the service line was 3 Blue Mustangs..... I felt like she was telling me hello!!! The picture above is the last picture we took together. It is from one of our lazy day soaking up the sun! We had SOOOO much fun with the kids this summer..... hard to believe it's been 3 yrs tomorrow!

Well, little sister............ Happy Hump day in Heaven!

Robin Memories Blog

Taking on a NEW shape!

2009-08-09T16:53:00.000-07:00

The Middlebrooks are taking on a NEW shape!

I titled this blog Molding the Middlebrooks knowing that we are ever changing. Well, our mold is definitely changing! Over the last 10 years, I have been home with toddlers. I cleaned gallons of milk out of carpet, a whole bottle of chocolate syrup off of new carpets, and poop that was wiped in 2 different rooms at the same time (got to love twin thinking)! I spent many a day at library story time, kindermusik and playing at the park. I spent many of those years running with a double jogger.... 2 girls, 2 boys! I loved bring Daddy lunch and eating at the pond. Oh, so many naps with someone crying to stay awake and me crying for NEED of sleep! Play dates with dear friends and seeing my babies faces light up seeing a friend! Diaper bags to potty training. Dolls, trains, trucks, Polly Pockets, and dinosaurs. Singing silly song and reading fun books.

Teaching colors, letters and wrong from right. Slobbery kisses and messy hugs. Ring a round the rosies..... WE ALL FALL DOWN!

Where has the time gone?

Some days it seemed so slow.

NOW in 2 short weeks I will have 4 kids in elementary school, a Kindergartner, a 2ND grader and two 5Th graders. It seems like it all just blew by.....

Moody Gardens '01

Dax's last drill with USMC '01

Lake Lanier, Georgia '99

Atlanta, GA '99 our little sweeties

Kiddos '07

Bluebonnet '05

Brothers '04

Smiley Jax '02

Girls on Dad's homemade parallel bars '02

Waiting to be BIG sisters '02

Jax and Viv '05

Monkey Bar Girls '05

Curly Ollie '05

Well, I am starting a new chapter also. I am enrolled at Texas A&M University and will be taking 15 hrs towards a degree in Elementary Education. (When I first went to TAMU I was working toward an Environmental Design BA 98hrs but did not complete) I figure that I have loved teaching my children so much that it will be a natural fit for me! Delaney's struggles with reading has really inspired me to help other children learn to read.

Life it going to be hectic but I think we work well with a busy schedule. To make things more exciting Dax will be leaving soon for a 2 week business trip overseas. We will miss him but know that we can handle it.

All summer the kids have been working around the house and helping with chores like champs! Ok, so their rooms are not as great as I would LIKE but I am letting that go a bit.

We do teamwork to get EVERYTHING done. The downstairs is staying pretty organized.

We also bit the bullet after 8 months living in our house.... we decorated. I got a lot of,

"Wow, Mom it FEELS like home now!"

Wow, I feel better just typing it all out...

I am very excited, anxious, happy, nervous, loved, scared, and looking forward to all the wonderful twist and turns our life will take.

I can't even imagine how AWESOME our mold will be in 10 more years.

The girls will be 20yrs, Jax will be 17yrs and Oliver will be 15yrs.... wow!

Happy Hump Day!

2009-08-05T20:33:00.000-07:00

Making me happy Mid-week is this sweet post: I'll Grow Into It Daddy written by one of the GREATEST "Daddas" (my kiddos call him Dadda) I know, my husband Dax. I love that my boys want to grow to be just like him. It make me VERY happy! So this post might be cheating a bit..... but none the less.... it makes me happy! I can see Jax and Oliver very clearly as successful grown men, sweet husbands and wonderful fathers..... but am very glad that they still are my cuddly little boys for the moment!!!!

Happy Hump Day: better late than never!

2009-07-30T20:13:00.000-07:00

This week has been VERY hectic! I had left the girls in Del Rio to hang with their cousin and have some fun on their own. (Which they DID for a couple of days ) Well, on Monday night Angie called to let me know Delaney was in severe pain. She took her to the hospital and they were thinking it was appendicitis. We were 6 hrs away and it was 11pm......we quickly loaded bags and the boys in the car and started our long journey. Many a prayer was said that night. Thank God it appears we caught it early enough and it can be cleared with antibiotics and pain meds. Poor thing was sobbing and shaking VERY unlike her!!! When we rolled into Del Rio it was 5AM and she was at Angie's passed out from the drugs! She didn't feel like traveling till this morning and still is having pain and fever....so keep those prayers coming!

Anyway, my Happy Hump Day is my sweet girl Delaney and that she is SOOOOOO like me she asked Angie to take a picture of her IV... to show to the boys!!!!

San Antonio Trip

2009-07-27T18:56:00.001-07:00

Our trip was filled with fun! My sister Leah & cousin Angie along with their kids joined us. We hung out at the hotel and enjoyed the pool. Also, we went to the Witte Museum... so fun I recommend it!!!! Mom, Harold, Danny, Stacey and kids joined us on Sat. for the Witte & lunch! On the last day, Dax and I took our crew to the Alamo and the Buckhorn Museum. It was a great time packed into a weekend! Here is a picture collage of the highlights!!!!

We Moo Anything 4 FREE Food!

2009-07-27T18:42:00.001-07:00

My crazy sister and I dressed our herd up to get free food from Chick Fil A the other day! We had a lot of fun and enjoyed seeing all the other homemade cows!

Happy Hump Day

2009-07-22T06:11:00.000-07:00

Making me happy this Wednesday is my cousin Angie! I will be, as you read this, spending the week with my dear cousin in Del Rio! I am soooooo excited and am CERTAIN that there will not be slump in my week spent with her and her son!!!!!

Here is a recent picture of us!

SIGNS....

2009-07-20T20:17:00.000-07:00

My 10 year old girls have really gotten into making signs lately. Most of the time it is a "No little Boys allowed!" "Keep Out" "I'm on the phone!" sign on their door.

Well, last week Emma came downstairs to tell me Dede had thrown up. After making sure she was OK, I told Emma we would let Dad know after his conference call was over. I am not very good at puke and if I don't have to clean it up we are all better off! I do clean it when I have too ;-) Emma is a bit obsessive when she decides something needs to get done (especially when it comes to her twin). She NEEDED to let her dad know and he NEEDED to know RIGHT THEN!!!!

So as Dax was working hard in his office, he looked up from his desk to see Emma holding this sign on the other side of his french doors!

Animal Planet NEVER ENDS!

2009-07-19T18:08:00.000-07:00

"What do you mean Ollie?" I asked.

"Animal Planet NEVER ends!" he replied.

"OK?!?!" I said slowly.

Arm stretched out he kept going, "Mom, Animal Planet NEVER ends! It just keeps going and going! LIKE GOD!"

"Oh, I see!"

"YEAH, Jax told me!" he bounced away saying VERY PLEASED!

The other day Ollie was telling me how his BROTHER teaches him so much. How his brother is so smart! He said at night when they are in their bunk beds, Jax tells him about EVERYTHING! It is so SWEET how much he loves him. We are so BLESSED and they are my proof God's love NEVER ENDS! I am proud they can see it too!

Ok.....so I went to snap a picture for this post and said get together. They set themselves up in this pose..... it is LOVE no matter how it looks..... they are BOYS after all
;-)

TGIF

2009-07-17T16:30:00.000-07:00

TRUST, GRATITUDE and INSPIRATION FRIDAY

I loved this (above link) post so much today on Ordinary Courage!

I made my comment answering these questions...just thought I would share!

It is GREAT to think about!!!!

Who/what are you trusting today?
Today, I am trusting that going back to college is the PERFECT next step!
Who/what are you grateful for today?
Today, I am grateful for my husband who is helping me navigate on this great journey!
Who/what is inspiring you today?
My 4 kids are inspiring me today. They showed so much JOY at the children's museum today while learning new things!

what's your TGIF???????

Happy Hump Day!

2009-07-15T06:00:00.000-07:00

What makes me happy on this Hump Day?

Improvising

Oliver wanted cereal for breakfast and was so sad when I told him we were out of milk. I told him fix it dry if he really wanted it. His BIG brother Jax made him cereal anyway and used Chocolate Syrup....yummy!

So I am Happy today because of improvising kids,

Chocolate Syrup Golden Grahams and Big Brother's with BIG IDEAS!

STOP

2009-07-13T09:03:00.000-07:00

When I was about 4yrs old, everytime time I saw a stop sign I would shout out S~T~O~P....STOP! Jax now does something similar with speed limit signs. It is so nice to hear "Speed Limit 35, Speed Limit 50, Speed Limit 70....." from the backseat. REALLY, often I even ask him what the limit is because I am spaced out. See I am spacing out now...

today's post is my shout out to say

S~T~O~P

STOP......STOP......

today, stop to enjoy your family. Hug your babies. Make some extra special memories. I am writing this post as a memorial to a special little angel, Matteo Martino! I never met this little boy, but his mother's posts have moved me. I linked to this blog from Rachal's family blog. This is the beautiful thing about about the web.... people connecting, lifting one another, reminding each other what matters. Matteo's mother Jodi writes about knowing that her angel has touch so many others. I wanted to continue this.... so when you read this and link to the families website http://martinomadness.blogspot.com/. Remember, Angel Matteo has touched you and your family and say a prayer for HIS family!

Our First 4th of July

2009-07-08T09:31:00.000-07:00

After spending the 4Th of July in Plum Creek for 8 years, we spent our FIRST 4Th of July in our new neighborhood. In the morning, the girls were with their Nanny but they all joined us later in the day. Watching the Parade!

Limbo contest.... Ollie How LOW can you GO!

Jax CAN go VERY LOW!!!!

Fun Family Time

Sword fighting with Dad

Hula hoop contest.... Jax Did every contest and dance! He had a blast. Ollie made new friends and swam most of the time.

"Super" Mom getting some love!

Nanny and Dede all patriotic!

Making a whirlpool!

King Jax!!!

Smoke bombs, poppers and sparklers.....then we watched fireworks from the fort in the backyard! It was a wonderful 1st in our new home :-)

Happy Hump Day!

2009-07-08T08:44:00.000-07:00

Homemade Pizza makes me Happy on this Wednesday!

Last Night, we made individual Pizzas! The crust was made from Beer Bread (my neighbor sells Tastefully Simple yummy & easy!) We used Meme's Tomato Relish as the sauce. Toppings were your choice of cheese, left-over ham, tomatoes (from the farm), and pineapples! They were soooooo good! It was fun family time making them together!

Granger Smith: One Day In Denver "The Story of Paul"

2009-07-02T14:41:00.000-07:00

Ok, So I just had to post this on here! Granger Smith is an awesome country singer with a Texas sized heart. The little boy in the story happens to be that of my dear friend Esther. Paul (age 5) has battled RETINOBLASTOMA, the rare children's eye cancer, since he was 2 months old. He is an amazing Super Boy! This family is really a strong & faithful crew!
Granger doing this speaks volumes on his character. He is an Aggie after all.... GIG'EM Granger Smith!!!

Our Travels

2009-07-02T04:32:00.000-07:00

We spent the last week hanging out with some of our dear friends. We had so much fun! It was a great time catching up. I was on a crutches and with out a voice most of the trip. I got a few good pictures but am sad that I didn't get more!

They went up and down this hill for an hour! So much energy!!!

SLEEP WHERE YOU FALL!!!!!!

How many kids are in this picture?!?!

LOVE THESE 2 TEENAGERS!!!!

She was so sweet playing with Ollie for hours! I miss this girl!!!

Resting after a LONG day at VBS/ CIA! It was sooooo HOT outside 101 to 105 everyday!!!!

Wearing my shoes..... so CUTE!!!

Great View at the Leigh's!

Sweet Friends!!!!

Jonas made us yummy steaks!!! They were a HUGE hit!!!!

Happy Hump Day

2009-07-01T16:18:00.000-07:00

Making me happy this week is my NEW Memory foam mattress topper!!! Dax got it for me as a surprise when I returned from our travels! Being on crutches, I am spending lots of time in bed! It is soooooo wonderful!!!!! It's like sleeping on a cloud ;-)

He got it at Sam's (mine is 2 1/2 inches thick) !

TEN!!!!

2009-06-27T02:13:00.000-07:00

HOW DID THIS DAY COME SO FAST?!?!?

My sweet baby girls are 10 years old today! They seem to be changing now even faster than when they were infants. One day they want to be grown and the next the are struggling with growing. They are kind, helpful and great friends! Em loves to read, ride bikes, sing, write and draw. De loves to cook, sew, swim, ripstick and watch over the rest of the crew. Emma is a fashion DIVA.... or as I like to call her PUNKY ( just like Punky Brewster)! De can do ANYTHING! All you have to do is ask and she will figure out a way to get it done. I am so proud that we get watch them grow as the do amazing things with their lives every day!

To celebrate the girls BIG Day we went to Barton Springs Pool in Austin with some of our DEAR friends! These girls have all been friends for a LONG time even as young as 2 :-) I am so glad they are all still in touch!

GOLF KIDS!!!!

2009-06-25T12:46:00.000-07:00

This year at the Tournement all 5 kids placed! We had 2 First Place, 2 Second Place and a Fourth Place in their age group! WOW, we have some golfing kids.... move over Tiger ;-)

Happy Hump Day

2009-06-24T06:01:00.000-07:00

Cooking makes me very happy....

I love finding Healty Yummy recipes... and for them to be easy and taste REALLY fancy ;-)

I found a new Magazine that has some great recipes.

You can find them online: Health Magazine...I just LOVE it!

Here is the latest recipe I tried out from the magazine:

Cheese-Bacon Tart

Ingredients
1 (16-ounce) container 1% low-fat cottage cheese 1 (16-ounce) container 1% low-fat cottage cheese
1 large egg 1 large egg
3 scallions, thinly sliced 3 scallions, thinly sliced ( I used a little Lipton's Onion Soup Mix instead)
3 ounces Canadian bacon, diced 3 ounces Canadian bacon, diced ( I used turkey)
1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese 1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg

1/4 teaspoon black pepper 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

2 tablespoons olive oil, divided 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
6 (14- x 9-inch) sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed 6 (14- x 9-inch) sheets frozen phyllo dough, thawed

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 375°. In a food processor or blender, purée cottage cheese and egg 1 minute or until very smooth. Transfer to a bowl; stir in scallions and next 4 ingredients (through pepper) until well-combined.
2. Brush bottom of 9-inch pie plate with 1 teaspoon oil. Stack 2 phyllo sheets together; brush with 2 1/2 teaspoons oil. Place in pie plate with the sides hanging over. Repeat with remaining phyllo and 2 1/2 teaspoons oil, alternating direction of layers.
3. Spoon cheese mixture into pie plate. Pull phyllo overhang in about 2 inches all around, leaving center of pie exposed. Brush top with remaining 1/2 teaspoon oil.
4. Place pan on a baking sheet, and bake 1 hour or until cheese is set and edges are lightly browned. Let stand 15 minutes before slicing.

Best thing is a serving is 1/4 a pie.... only 298 calories a serving!!!

Summer Fun in the NEW HOOD :-)

2009-06-19T08:11:00.000-07:00

We have been enjoying hanging at the pool in the new neighborhood and making new friends! Summer has been fun so far and we are doing our best to beat the heat! Of course, I am mean... and make us ride our bikes all the way to the pool with towels & ice chest full of snacks, lunch and drinks. It is a lot of work but I think it is worth the reward!!!!

SEVEN!

2009-06-18T07:44:00.000-07:00

Happy B-Day Sweet Boy!

This little man is a Kind, Gentle (unless wrestling with his brother) soul! He still loves to hold my hand. Some nights he still wants a bedtime story. I am amazed by his JOY for life.... always wanting to make me smile & laugh. He is the protective BIG brother.... even over his Big sisters. We are so privileged to watch him grow and love him along the way!

Jax recently decided he doesn't like CAKE... so we had yummy cookies instead!

Last week, we celebrated Jax's B-day with a SPLASH!

The kids enjoyed swimming, slip n slide and water balloons. After the slip n slide broke.... we made up a water limbo game....these kids can go LOW ;-)

Check out my party decorating skills- chalk on the fence..... aren't I clever ;-)

Happy Hump Day

2009-06-17T05:01:00.000-07:00

Well, this Wednesday I am thinking about something that ALWAYS makes me happy......

FINDING A GOOD DEAL!!!!!

I still remember when the girls were about 1 year old and I bought them a ton of RED, WHITE, and BLUE pants, tops and skirts. They were only 99 cents a piece at Children's Place Outlet. That was 9 years ago.....

I remember when I find a BARGAIN!

Here is my latest FIND... one of my new friends let me know about this one!

$4.99 CROCS at the Outlet in Cypress....I got each of the kids a couple of pairs! YIPPEE!!!

OH.... and today is my B-day so that's also makes me HAPPY ;-)

Post Secret

2009-06-16T12:26:00.000-07:00

I stumbled on the Post Secret a few months ago and was very moved. Here is a video that explains the draw of these little post cards. If you get a chance also head over to Post Secret Community !

Happy Hump Day!

2009-06-10T05:27:00.000-07:00

Happy Wednesday! Today, I am Happy thinking of the YUMMY homemade ice cream we made in a ziploc bag! The kids all chose their own flavor.....mint, vanilla, or lemon! My favorite was the vanilla but they all were very good!

Ziploc Ice Cream Recipe
Ingredients:
1/2 cup milk (it doesn't matter what kind, whole, 2%, chocolate, etc.
1 Tablespoon sugar
1/4 teaspoon vanilla (you might try other flavorings)
Method:
Add these to a pint size zip lock freezer bag and zip shut.
Place that bag in a larger (quart or larger) zip lock bag
Add ice to fill bag 1/2 way, 6 Tablespoons salt (rock or regular)
Zip that one shut and shake, turn, toss, and mix the bag. In about 5-10 minutes you will have cold hands and yummy ice cream.
Warnings:
Don't double this it doesn't seem to work.
Be sure you get all the salt off the small bag before you open it.

The boys ate their after 5min. it was good but still a little slushy..... the rest of us waited till 10 minutes and it was yummy. We each just put a spoon in our bag and ate it up ;-)

Clever Kid!

2009-06-08T20:43:00.001-07:00

Jax worked so hard on this! He wrote out many more names I just didn't get pictures! It kept him busy most of the afternoon.

Kissing Lesson

2009-06-05T12:28:00.000-07:00

The kids were watching TV in the living room when something came on with 2 people kissing. Here is the conversation that followed:

Dax says, "Ollie hide your eyes, you don't want to see that yucky, mushy stuff!"

Ollie replies, "Dad, I want to watch so I can learn how to kiss girls!"

I never really thought he need any lessons. The boy came into the world knowing how to woo the ladies.... of course maybe this is why he recognizes the need to learn different techniques ;-) Smart BOY!!!!!

Getting a hug from his crush.... SNOW WHITE last spring break '08!

Snow White told her about Ollie's charm.....

she came over and gave him a kiss after talking to him!

Oh, the joy..... Mulan has become a new favorite!

Happy Hump Day!

2009-06-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

Today, happens to be the LAST day of school and this makes me HAPPY! Ready for Summer to begin, happy to sleep late and well happy for 1 more Mommy Ollie day....our last!

SO MY Happy thoughts to get me through this WEDNESDAY are about

"Mommy Ollie Days", spending fun time with all 4 kids this summer and all before.....

oh and sleeping LATE ;-) Here is a picture from last summer....

I can't wait for all the great ones we will get this summer!

Happy Hump Day

2009-05-27T09:01:00.000-07:00

What makes me happy on this Wednesday:

Brothers & Sisters

There is something magical about watching my kids as their bonds grow! Maybe it is that I appreciate my bond with my siblings so much. I realize that no matter our differences our bond runs so deep. We share inside jokes that no one else could fully understand. All it takes is to be in the same room and I can sense how my siblings are feeling. It is so neat to watch my kids do the same. I love knowing that they have each other.... to play, laugh, love and even fight!

Me, Danny & Leah

My kids loving on each other:

It's a Zoo Out there...

2009-05-25T06:00:00.001-07:00

...so be careful, Beware!

A few weeks ago, the 1st grade had it's performance.... Zoo-antics! It was soooo cute and funny!

The songs were very clever. Jax favorite song was about a Vulture who wanted culture. This song was sung almost everyday for a month!

Artwork done for the show!

If you have some time (mainly did this for grandparents), you can watch the poorly recorded video.... Jax is in the brown shirt front & center. His hat kept falling off!

Too Much TV

2009-05-25T06:00:00.000-07:00

The other day while Ollie was going potty, I realized that I need to go get the toilet paper I just bought. When I brought it in the room he joyously exclaimed, " Oh, you got the ULTRA SOFT so it won't hurt my bottom! Thanks Mommy!!!"

My kids are always quoting commercials. Just recently they started spouting out animal facts..... OLLIE loves Animal Planet!
Jax was for the LONGEST time reminding me to buy JET DRY for that extra shine and sparkle!!! Everyone wanted to buy AQUA GLOBES, Moon Sand, Snuggie, Bendaroos, Blendy Pens, ..... and many more from toys to household items my kids have a slogan and knowledge to give on products!

Really, this cracks me up.... they really care and have big opinions. They are PROUD when they know more than Dax & I. When they can give a rare fact to the family at dinner or in the super market.

FYI: These kids are rough & tumble outdoor types.... oh and 1 with her nose in a book.... TV really doesn't consume our house.... I can only imagine if it did! What's truly sad is that we have purchased many of these.....

Happy Hump Day

2009-05-20T06:00:00.000-07:00

Here is my Random Happy Thing for this week:

Dax's face

when I brought up us running

26.2 ....a marathon.

Minutes later he opened an excel spreadsheet with a training schedule he had already made....just in case ;-)

Well, that is all it took and a few hours later we were signed up for

the Rock'n'Roll San Antonio Marathon.

Heaven help me!

Really, I am happy about the time we will be setting aside for just the 2 of us. Plus, we are making the weekend of the race a get away/ 14th Anniversary trip. We plan on staying a few days after to relax!!!!

oh and now I really do need this shirt.....

We LOVE BOOKS!

2009-05-19T08:33:00.000-07:00

What a wonderful statement to make! My girls have been obsessed with the Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan. They wait and wait until the next book comes out. In the fall, their WONDERFUL teacher exposed them to the series by reading the 1st book The Lightening Thief in class. They were hooked. Here is what it is about:

The Percy Jackson Series:
The gods of Olympus are alive and well in the 21st Century! They still fall in love with mortals and have children who are half-god, half-human, like the heroes of the old Greek myths. Could you be one of those children? Join the adventures of Percy Jackson and his modern demigod friends as they fight mythological monsters and the forces of the titan lord Kronos.

Best thing is that dyslexic kids are the demigods.... and you know we have one living RIGHT here in our house! The kids went to a book signing for the last book. They were all so excited. The author 1st spoke and both the girls asked questions. When they were getting the books signed, Rick told De she must be a demigod! Oh wow....this MAN ROCKS!!!! Another man who rocks is my sweet husband Dax! He took all 4 kids to this by himself. I was so sick and unable to go...what a WONDERFUL DADDY!

Oh & they are making a movie..... whoooohooooo!

Our new pool

2009-05-15T09:22:00.000-07:00

To beat the Houston heat we got a above ground pool with a saltwater pump. It is not the MOST beautiful thing but will keep me from having to trek to the pool multiple times in a day. If you know my kids.... they are all FISH and during the summer we spend all day everyday WET! OH, the bottles of sunscreen we go through ;-) The pool was a gift for the June (4 of us) Birthdays from Dad and Tammy. The kids and Dax have really been enjoying it. I haven't gotten a chance to swim yet but can't wait :-) Dax has been having FUN taking care of it. He is such a NERD.....that is why I LOVE him you know!!!! I guess this is our dry run for hopefully owning a "real" pool someday!

We put it right out my bedroom window, so I can sit at my desk and watch them swim!

Pre-K Graduation

2009-05-15T07:05:00.000-07:00

So this was very emotional.... on many levels! My BABY is getting so big. We were at this program and although the people at this school are very kind it was not our school in Kyle. None of those little 4/5yr old faces were babies I have watched grow. Anyway, wiping away the tears....my big boy was so cute he sang his heart out. By the end he was getting very tired, yawning and staring into space! He was proud to show off his school to his sisters and brother!

Big Boy with his Sweet Teacher!

My Cool Kids outside Ollie's school!

The Director makes each kid a wonderful scrapbook.

His teacher made him 4 learning books with his work inside.... letter, number, color & shape books.

He was so VERY proud!!!!!