Presenting...

My new haircute... oops, I mean haircut - but I do think it's cute!

In pictures...

My life right now pretty much revolves around my kids... luckily they are extremely cute! See the proof below...

Oli LOVES watching the Texas Rangers with Daddy - and he can name the starting lineup too! He looks thrilled, right! :)

Sweet Gabby is always so happy when she wakes up from sleeping! She's now [obviously] able to pull herself up to standing

Loves her puppies!

This boy still loves to read

And Gabriella is getting interested too

So her sweet big brother decided that he wanted to read to her like mommy reads to him. Notice how the book is facing her direction. This was done complete with many "words" being said... presumably his interpretation of reading, but in his own Oli-language. He also adds in our special little touch of getting him to participate in the book reading sessions. Turn up your speakers and check out the cute video below!

Preschool Activity Bag Swap

Last night I hosted a Preschool Activity Bag Swap at my house. What is that you may ask... well I will tell you! Nineteen moms all got together and using a wonderful book I bought from the following website (www.activitybags.com), helped each other create a wealth of activities for our preschoolers to do that are both educational and fun! Each gallon-sized ziploc bag contains a self-guided activity that a preschooler can do by himself with little or no help.

I was the coordinator - no surprise for those of you who know me well. I sent out activity assignments to the 19 moms who signed up, including me! We each took our assigned activity and made 19 identical bags. The goal was to keep the price of all of the items making up each individual bag to $1... so that it would cost you less than $20 to make them all. Then we brought all of those bags to my house last night to do the swap... kind of like a cookie swap if you have ever done one. We put one of our bags into the collection bag of every other mom there, kind of like Valentine's Day boxes in Elementary School. Then after some snacks, lots of talking and a game (of couse - once again, no surprise for those of you who know me well), we all took our collection of bags home with us. For an example, some activity titles are Boredom Busters, Alpha Beads, Hidden Treasure, and ABC123 Match!

Oliver LOVES them! I am so excited to have so many prepared activities to do with him any time a moment of boredom hits! I've heard other moms say that their kids are having a blast too. So I would highly recommend this to you other moms out there. Organize a swap of your own!

Here are some pictures:All of the filled collection bags on my dining room table

A sample view of a filled collection bag

Oliver enjoying the "Let's Go Fishing" activity!

Something strange that makes me SO happy...

...is cooler weather. Now, I know it is not cool here by some people's definitions... but when I look at the Dallas weather forecast this week and see high temperatures of 82, 80, 78, 83... I just smile! And just so you all know this about me, my FAVORITE temperature is 65. So anytime we get close to that temperature I get excited. So not only are the highs looking nice, the lows are even better - 68, 65, 65, 66! That means we can go outside in the morning and have it feel cool :)

Now these temperatures are caused by a storm front coming through the area, but hey, I'll take the rain no problem if it means cooler temperatures.

It is a little easier to please me with these temperatures than some other Dallasites because having moved here only a little over a year ago, I am still used to the Phoenix summer weather. Here is their forecast for the next few days... 105, 106, 107, 107!!!

I am a weather nerd. Always have been. I blame my dad.

Memories...

This past weekend, our family made yet another trip to Houston for my 10 year high school reunion. The kids stayed with my parents while Matt and I headed to downtown Houston for the festivities. I had no idea what to expect... didn't know what activities were planned, who would be there, I just knew the time and the place. It turned out that one of the first people that walked into the door after us was my good friend from high school Lindsey... who also went on to become my college roommate for 4 years and the maid of honor in my wedding. I hadn't seen her in YEARS! So it was so nice to get to see her and catch up! I spent the majority of the evening talking with her and loved it! She is getting married in November in San Antonio and we are planning to be there. I can't wait to visit San Antonio/Trinity University again AND get to celebrate with her at her wedding. It will be a fun weekend.

I also got to see some other friends from band... those were my closest friends in high school since we spent so much time together at marching practices, rehearsals, driving to and from competitions and football games, hanging out afterward, etc. So it was great to see so many familiar faces and catch up with all of them. It's funny to see people who are frozen in your mind how they were 10 years ago and hear how their lives have changed so dramatically since then. I guess that's why reunions are so fun.

Lindsey, me, Brian (my high school boyfriend!), Stacey, Logan, and Christin

So we are done with our many summer trips! They were great but it will be nice to remember what it feels like to actually be at home on a Saturday! Stay tuned for our fall trips... not so many of them, but some fun ones nonetheless.

My Little Fish

For the past two weeks, half of our family has been making the trek to take Oliver to swimming lessons every Monday-Thursday night. Matt and I have switched off on taking him since Gabriella is usually ready for bed before the lesson is over. It has been so much fun to have some one-on-one time with Oliver. I know he has loved it and his Daddy and I have sure enjoyed having 2 1/2 year old conversations with him... mostly about the Texas Rangers (his new obsession), animals in the movie The Jungle Book, and the latest going underwater experience complete with re-enactments. Tonight was the final night of lessons and I am proud to report he has actually come through with some new skills:

• Not being afraid to go underwater... and actually even enjoying it
• Jumping off of the side of the pool to a waiting parent without holding hands
• A much better kicker
• Blowing bubbles in the water for the first time... although I only think this happened once or twice. But that's once or twice more than he had ever done it before
• LOVING the pool

Below are some pictures from our last day of lessons today. We are all so proud of him!

His certificate of completion - look at those smiling eyes!

Ice cream cone to celebrate afterward

Cute Mad Face Girly!

Not that happy... but still very cute!

My Reading Fool...

My sweet reader... love this!