Lily's 1st Birthday

We love our eclectic mix of neighbors. We really love the Wilsons because their son, Luke, & Justin love to play with each other. And how nice to walk 2 houses down to have a playmate. Luke's younger sister (who will be be in Justin's grade if we hold him back a year), Lily, turned one on Thursday. Since she is the third child, her mom decided to do a last minute get together for the video camera as proof that she did have a birthday party. I'm sure the more kids you have, the more similar your story is to this one.

Big sister Grace, Dawn, & Lily. Lily & Gary.



Denise & Krikor. Me & a little boy who is sticking out his tongue.


A can of Cream Soda that was bought at the 99 cent store. I loved it so much because it just looked like a white trash beer can. Justin found a cowboy hat - he looks hilarious!



Cupcakes for the birthday girl. Luke eating a chocolate one.


Sweet Lily with her cupcake. Birthday princess!

Hanging with the neighbors

Our neighbors, Denise & Krikor, are always entertaining us and half the street at their house. Their garage door is always open and they insist on you coming over for some homemade humus with carrots and the drink of your choice. Every time we walk by Justin wants to go over for a snack. They had us over for dinner on Saturday night after our side of the street was without power for 2 hours after a nasty rainstorm. So since I didn't have any electricity, I was definitely up for someone else feeding my family.

Justin likes to play with the rocks at their house. He also likes the indoor raised pool that they have set up in their garage.

Krikor loves to make shish-ka-bobs. Justin always wants to help with the hot grill. Next pic is a cactus flower - never noticed it before. It's really pretty, for a cactus, that is.

We love our neighbors. They are like another set of parents to us and are always checking in on little Justin. If Derek ever comes home from work, sees our car in the garage but no people, he knows we are having fun with the Hovsepians!

Isabel's Birthday Party

On Friday we joined our little buddies to help celebrate Isabel's 2nd birthday. Isabel speaks both English & Spanish, but one of the first English words she ever said was "Justin". So needless to say Justin and her get along great. The party was at her grandparents' house. There was a cart that help popcorn, ice cream, icee pops, and waters - all the kids were flocking it constantly. And Sophie's (Isabel's mom) sister made the cake.




Isabel having fun in the water. Ava sliding down the slide.


Luke in the pool. Chance laughing and having fun.


Henry on the slide. Justin eating a mini corndog on a stick and saying cheese at the same time.



The four fellas at the back gate. Justin was looking at the tractor in the street and the others followed. Justin & Henry are copying each other by spitting out water from the water bottles. Isabel loved playing in the bubbles.

Dairy Ashford Skating Rink

I have not actively been involved in a Sunday school class since I was in 11th grade. I either taught a children's class, never felt I belonged in a singles college class when I had a serious long distance boyfriend, and then moved too much the first years of marriage. Since setting down in Houston for good, Derek & I have thought up every excuse not to join a class (or get to church that much earlier). We finally felt the nudge at the beginning of the summer. We love our class! Imagine that. So each month the moms from the class plan an outing with the kids. This month it was at a skating rink on Friday. Each child brings a push toy which ends up being a free-for-all. There were about 40 toys that all the kids kept running around and playing with. Justin loves the scooters that some kids have. This Spiderman one is so great because it has two wheels in the back, making it easy for a little guy to move around with. I think I remember this same one at Angie's house earlier this summer. Anyways, it was a great outing, Justin had a blast, and I enjoyed getting to know the other ladies in the class that much better.

Katy's 30th Birthday Celebration

We took a quick trip to Waco this weekend to celebrate another 30th birthday! It's been a fun year with all of us entering our 4th decade of life. This weekend the honoree was one of my high school buddies, Katy. We started off the weekend at Julia & Josh's (Katy's sister-in-law & brother) house for lunch.

Then most of the husbands went to go play a long hot round of golf while the ladies lounged by the pool.

For the evening all 16 of us went to dinner at Se Cocina, a new Mexican restaurant in Waco. Great food and reasonable prices - I will definitely be going back there.
The whole group. The guys were rolling their eyes at me when I was telling them to put their heads to the side of their wives so we could see their faces. So here's their feeble attempt and the reason for the suggestion in the first place.
Me & D
Thanks to my folks who kept Justin & Barrett for the weekend so that the Michaelis' and Junods could have a great time with friends. Such a neat group of girls, some of which I have been friends with since the 80s. Yes, that dates me. Not that many people have been as blessed as I have with all the strong Christian women that have been in my life. They all mean the world to me, and it's such an added bonus when we get to hang out without all the children.

At the pool with Hannah

We went swimming at the YMCA last Friday with my old coworker, Ashley, and her daughter, Hannah. Although Hannah is 2 years older, Justin was having a blast with the Ariel songs she was constantly singing. I finally got them to stop for just one second for a "cheese" picture. Justin has gotten really good at saying that word since Mommy always has a camera with her.

Bluebell Tour

After the 4-0, all but 2 moms went to the Bluebell Factory Tour in Brenham. If you can imagine going on a tour with 14 kids ranging in age from 23 months to 10 months old, then you can hear the noisiness of it. The poor people that were there to learn something! It actually was fascinating to watch, and thankfully the tour was over in 25 minutes. We then got to have our own sample of ice cream, and I chose wisely: Southern Blackberry Cobbler. It was fantastic! Justin loved it but his mean mommy threw the rest away before he could eat the entire portion. Cut me some slack - the lady put almost 3 scoops in my cup and smushed then down to make it look like 1.

The whole crew

Party time at the 4-0

On Wednesday, Justin and I joined all our buddies in Houston near Navasota at the 4-0 Ranch. Katie Tuley's family owns this gorgeous piece of land with a pond, house large enough to sleep all 10 mothers and 17 kids (with beds to spare), and a game room that the kids had a blast in. I kept saying that this is how the polygamists must feel everyday - sometimes your kids nap, sometimes they don't, everyone is a mother to all the kids, and no one can really prop their feet up until every little set of eyes has closed for the night. Justin felt like he was a part of the Vontrap family and loved all his surrogate brothers and sisters for the 24 hour period. Here he is swinging with Chance and Harper.

They had 2 pieces of wood that functioned as a seesaw. Justin climbed on one while I took pictures. And then, 2 seconds later with me right there, he went past the middle, the board fell down, and he, of course, came tumbling down. Mom of the year award goes to me. Wendi & Brooks were teaming up with the Hopkins for some fun.

Tracy & Harper with laughs



Aubrey, Caden, Kim, & Justin looking at the pond.

A bunch of mommies and kiddos on the trampoline Mass production eating. We decided the cleanest way to feed the kids dinner was outside on the picnic table. The moms in charge of dinner brought out 17 plates with chicken nuggets, mac and cheese, and grapes. The moms ate a much more exciting meal much later.

Jess in town

My brothers and I have always had the privilege of Godparents. Unless you are a Catholic, most people don't have these. The Lundys are our godparents and have always been like family to us. So we were naturally pumped when their daughter, Jessica, was in town for work. Derek, Shane, Kaki, & I got to treat her to Lupe's and meet her friend, Jenny, as well. So all the girls wore black tops - an obvious photo op for me.

Just like old times, without Shane sleeping on a water raft for a bed.

We miss the Lundys dearly and wish they would get themselves back to Texas!

John David's Birthday Party

We went to Sugarland on Sunday for John David's 1 year birthday party. Justin had a blast swimming in the pool and playing with the waterfalls.

Brooks in the water

Justin & Harper chowing down

Fish cookies hanging from the "fishing poles"

Rice Krispie "sushi"

Fish birthday cake

The birthday boy

Justin crawling in the tunnel