Boo!!

With the exception of Kiley I've known Boo fewer years than everyone else in our home.  In spite of that, everything I know about her seems exceptional to me.  She was a "rescue" that has been loyal for many years.  When Courtney first found her she was maybe a year or two old but already pregnant.  Courtney told me a very cute story about when she was nursing her little ones and just couldn't give any more.  To help keep the pups corralled they were put in a small kiddie pool.  Sometimes Boo would nurse them in the pool and when she was done she would leave the pool with some of them still latched on until they reached the edge and they would plop off one at a time.  I still laugh at what that must have looked like.

Eventually all her puppies were given a good home, one of which stayed in the family.  That was Magoo, who was put to sleep last year.  As the kids grew up Boo let them climb all over her just like she did her puppies.  They sometimes used her as a stepping stool to climb on the couch or bed.  She never seemed to mind.

She looked after our family too.  There were very few times that she felt as if the kids were being threatened by someone she may have been meeting for the first time.  It was during those times that she let out a fierce bark that was definitely unlike her under normal circumstances.  And of course, once we reassured her that everything was okay she let down her guard.  She was such an excellent protector.

I will remember her for her gentleness, her loyalty (especially to Courtney), her sweet disposition and kindness to the children even when they were pretty rough with her (Kiley), her playfulness and her strength.  She very often kept up with the two younger boys who can be very rough.

We love you Boo and we'll miss you!!!

I Am by Jake

I am logical and smart

I wonder how we were created

I hear the theories

I see pictures from long ago

I want the knowledge of many

I am rational and intelligent

I pretend I have all the answers

I feel the presence of my ancestors

I touch the leaves of my family tree   

I worry my search is in vain

I cry out of frustration

I am logical and smart

I understand that something created us

I say that there is an answer

I dream that God is watching over me

I try not to get discouraged  

I hope someday to stumble across the answer to all my questions

I am logical and smart

Kiley

Here is her first school picture. We love it, and we know that, unfortunately, it's all downhill from here - at least in terms of quality school pictures. (I could post Jake & Sydney's school pics as proof of this, but won't do that to them. You'll have to take my word...)

Mat and MC are married!!!

This past weekend we took a trip to Memphis to see the last of the family get married off. It was exciting to see most everyone in the family and really sad to see them go the following morning. I realized how much I miss them and how grown up they are.

Here are a few pictures from Memphis. Congratulations Mat and Mary Claire!!!! :)

The new married couple

Almost everyone.... (We were missing Bob and Steve and their families)


Sydney taking a pony ride the day before the wedding


We couldn't believe we got Jake on the pony too. He loved it! ...and so did we. :)


Kiley NEVER stopped dancing!



Kiley and Bella at the Botanical Gardens in Memphis


Did you have fun Jake? (i hope to get a decent picture of Jake someday)

Subliminal Message: Bunny....Please

I thought this was an incredibly cute and creative way for Sydney to ask for a bunny. I've dreamed of bunnies for many nights since she put up the print-outs. I wouldn't say that we've given in but we did lay out the responsibility of having a bunny and what that would mean for her. She's rethinking the idea....i'm sure we haven't seen the last of her subtle hints. I love you Sydney!!

Happy Easter

We had a really nice Easter, although we so missed being with Martin's family. We'll get to see them soon for Mat and Mary Claire's wedding, so we are looking forward to that (our first long road trip with the kids - wish us luck!!!). This Easter was the start of my reign as the Stewart/Brown family hostess for holiday celebrations. I learned a lot, including:

• it's not as hard to make a good pie crust from scratch as you would think
• it's much harder to get a cake to come cleanly out of a mold shaped like a lamb
• when making whip topping from heavy whipping cream, mixing it faster and longer doesn't make it lighter and creamier; it makes it butter
• shoving all the potato peels into the disposal at once = a late night shopping trip for Drano
• HEB is closed on Easter Sunday (which I think is great); Wal-Mart isn't 
• in spite of what Mom said, it is possible to make chocolate pie filling too thick

Even though we made four pie fillings and three cakes in order to serve a cake and two pies, I would say the meal was a success. We had: smoked turkey, black forest ham, broccoli, rice, cheese casserole, zucchini tomato casserole, corn casserole, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, green beans, fruit salad, home-made rolls, chocolate cream pie, banana cream pie, and lamb cake. I think I gained at least three pounds...  :(

The Easter bunny brought baskets with little surprises for the kids. You can see below Kiley's reaction to getting her own pink brush (from the dollar store :). The big kids helped hide eggs, and then hunted them with Kiley and two of our good friends who came over and played for awhile while we cooked. Also, below is a picture of my beautiful girls taken at Sydney's recent poetry performance, and one of Jake and Kiley hunting eggs.

The sweetest thank you yet

Today kiley and I went to the park. Tonight while I was putting her down to bed, while she was hugging me and kissing me good night she said papa thank you for taking me to the park. She is sooooooo sweet.