get ready

Get ready for the largest "blog barf" yet! I think I made 9 posts today! Check 'em all out!

Galveston Beach

Here are some pictures of us at the Beach in Galveston, TX . They're terrible pictures, because my camera was broken and I didn't know it. But here they are anyway. IT was a FUN FUN day at the beach. Lots of sun, a nice constant breeze, and the water was CLEAR, (for Galveston).

The sad thing about this beach trip was that when we all got back in the car to drive home, we discovered that our A/C stopped working!!!!!!!!

So, for the entire hour and twenty minute ride home, we got to enjoy the 103 degree weather. NICE.

Matt and his little sidekick

My camera is still broken - but I had to capture Matt and his little helper fixing the air conditioner on the car.

Kimball's FAVORITE thing is to tinker around Matt's tool chest and make a total mess out of it. He pulls out the tools & bangs them on things nearby. Then he pulls out various screws and fits them into any nook and cranny he can find. It's just lovely.

Gotta love little helpers . . .

This is an especially attractive face.

There must be something puzzling about this tool

Like Father, Like Son, #384

Rain, Rain . . . you can stay

It has been raining like CRAZY here. For almost a week, we have had rain almost every day. But, I'll take it! It sure beats the blazing heat that we'd have instead. And it saves me on my water bill --watering the lawn so nicely.

Well, it takes more than Rain to stop Kimball from going outside. In fact, it's not much different from playing in the sprinklers, since it's still nice and warm outside - even when raining. So Kimball had a great time playing in it. Typical boy style too. I couldn't resist taking all of these pictures. He's such a crazy kid.

Here he is trying to figure out what's happening . . .

experimenting . . . splashing . . .

scooping . . .

This is FUN, Mom!

This is the look of pure excitement and happiness !

Let's see. Can I drink it too?

Yep! Mmmmm tasty.

"uh-oh , Mom. There's a mess!"

(he thinks someone spilled water all over - so he got a towel to clean it up)

Using his feet, like Mommy, to clean up the mess.

Look at the proud look on his face for cleaning up.

So funny.

This is what he looks like when I tell him NOT to climb on the table.

Of course, that doesn't stop him, does it?

And in case you're wondering . . . the answer to your question is, "NO" this child never wears clothes!!! Maybe in a couple more months, you'll see more pictures of him actually dressed.

Allison riding her bike -- without Training Wheels!!!

All I have to say is, Allison is my most "cautious" child. So with that said, it's no surprise that she was almost 7 before she finally agreed to let us take off her training wheels. Nevermind, that she hasn't really been USING them for MONTHS now (she could ride so balanced that the training wheels never touched the road.) But we could NOT convince her to take them off. The mere mention of it would send her into panic! Crazy girl! So finally, we forced the issue (days before school was supposed to start) by saying that she was going to be the only 1st grader STILL using training wheels. That got her goat. So she finally agreed. And guess what???

She took off! The moment we showed her how to start, she was gone. See Matt trying to keep up with her, reassuring her, "I won't let you fall!"

I love this picture. Look at her focus!

After a few trips up and down the cul de sac, she could manage to smile and ride at the same time. You go girl!!

And just so we didn't leave anyone out of this post, here's a picture of mushroom head, oh- I mean Kimball. Doesn't he look like mushroom head on MarioKart?

Little does Sarah know, that we plan to teach her MUCH earlier.

Here's Matt already adjusting her training wheels so they are more "uneven."

Sarah starts Preschool!

The big day for Sarah finally arrived. Her first day of Preschool. She's been waiting a long time to get to go, like Allison did.

Here she is with, big Sis, Allison

Showing off their backpacks.

Posing with Daddy.

Sarah and Kimball at the front door of the preschool

This picture is classic.

We, uh, arrived a little too early!

(Sarah just couldn't wait to get in the car and leave!!!)

So when we got there, the preschool doors were still locked!!

Sarah & Kimball are peeking through the glass doors (and Kimball's diaper peeking through his pajamas. Gotta love it.)

We finally got in.

Ms Claudia is showing Sarah where to put her backpack and nap mat

Signing in her name.

Sarah and Ms Claudia. My girl's growing up too fast!

Poor Little Guy

With all of the fuss over Allison starting school again, and Sarah starting Preschool, Kimball thinks he's ready to go too! He got Allison's backpack off the hook, put it on, walked out the door and started down the sidewalk towards the bus stop. THIS KID!

Matt took some cute video of him doing this, but I've never successfully gotten it to download to my blog before. And this time is no exception. It's a shame, because it's soooo cute!

One HOT Sunday Evening . . .

. . . we decided to let the kids cool off by running through the sprinklers.

Then, popsicles sounded like a good idea.

Allison and Kimball being silly

Sarah got cold with wet clothes & hair- so she needed a towel while she ate hers.

And then Kimball wanted his swim diaper off.

So -- there you have it - a naked baby in the front yard.

Aren't you impressed with the "modesty" shot?

(ie: no bum bum or pee pee in view)!!

And by the way, does his head look WAY disproportionate to his body in this picture???

That must come from the CRANER side :) It's all Matt's fault.

200,000 miles, baby!

About a month ago, we hit a major milestone. Well, our car did, at least. The Tahoe hit 200,000 miles!!! For some reason, Matt was so excited about it, that he took these pictures to prove it. Then he told the girls tomake a sign to celebrate. So while I was at work one day, the babysitter helped the girls make these signs!

aaauuugghhh

So much to blog about. So little time . . .

Something Texas can be "proud" of . . . nice.

Texas No. 1 in Young
Teens Giving Birth

Updated: Tuesday, 01 Sep 2009, 5:52 PM CDT
Published : Tuesday, 01 Sep 2009, 4:31 PM CDT

• KRISTINE GALVAN

HOUSTON - Our state ranks tops in a category you probably wouldn't be too proud of.

A new report by Child Trends, a Washington D.C.- based research group, shows there are more girls younger than 15 years old giving birth here in Texas than in any other state. The same report shows Houston leading all major cities, nationwide, followed by Chicago, Los Angeles, and New York City in that same category.

Here's the Full story.