Did you know...

That it snows in Dallas? I heard it did, but in two years I'd never seen it and didn't quite believe it. Who knew that a state that melts me at least 6 months out of 12 could also look like this:
We got about 7 or 8 inches total, but (don't laugh CO) school was cancelled.Today was supposed to be my day to catch up, clean, finish laundy, organize. Instead:

Each of the girls had a friend over (in an attempt to keep them away from my immediate area) but my diabolical plan failed and I spent the entire morning at the beck and call of seven little children who wanted to play in the snow. I hunted mittens and hats, tried to mediate fights over the two pair of boots we have, answered unending knocks at the door, put Nate on the tramp, took Nate off the tramp, got snacks, provided dry pants and socks, refit wet mittens, answered more knocks at the door, tried to keep wet boots off the carpet, made slushies, wiped up spilled juice, answered calls for Emma on MY cell phone, etc. etc. etc. They were so loud coming and going that Nate never took a nap. I took a picture of each girl with her friend.

Ashley and Meghan

Camille and Mackenzie

Emma and Abby

Now all the friends are gone, and it is still a disaster, and I'm out of here. I called a sitter and I'm going out to dinner. I'll worry about the rest tomorrow.

Dallas Arboretum

It was such a beautiful day, but the kids just weren't feelin' it and the pictures didn't turn out as well as I had hoped. We fed them lunch right before leaving but they started whining and asking for candy the minute we got there, and they kept giving me these lame half smiles. We could hardly get Ashley to look at the camera, you wouldn't believe how many pictures I got of her staring off into space.

Such a pretty setting, I wish they had cooperated!

Does it seem like there are million people in this picture to anyone else besides me?

This house is made mostly of pumpkins, it has strings and strings of chilies hanging from the ceiling.

This is Uncle Adam, they all love him, especially Nate, he has a man crush.

Ashley actually took this picture. She loves to mess around with my cell phone camera, or my real camera. I don't love it, but she's getting better!

I just love this boy! We forgot his shoes rushing out of the house and he didn't like the grass--when I put him down he stood on one foot and fussed a little.

Dallas World Aquarium

One of the things the kids wanted to do before their summer ended was go to the Dallas World Aquarium. Tammy was still in the hospital so we took Nana and Courtney with us, and Brandon got to come too. The kids loved it.

Ashley thought the flamingos stank. She also thinks she is funny.


I just like this picture of tubby in his stroller because he is wearing my favorite outfit. Something about the way it fits his drumstick legs just makes me want to squeeze him.


These are the Mayan performers that do a butterfly dance and they they give you an envelope with live butterflies to release. It was the coolest part of the whole aquarium. The kids were fascinated. Those are real McCaws that guy has on his shoulders.