Tuesday, February 19, 2008

Kemah

Hmmmm. Even thinking when asleep (Notice his finger). He was so tired after Kemah...literally pulled out of the parking lot and onto the main road and he was gone.
All aboard! Ready to ride the train with ticket in hand.
Mark jumped in at the last second with a great smile...Joe had a big smile too but I missed it.

Our little bundles of joy and Courtney. (L-R) June 1 1/2, John 1, Joseph 1, Jack 3, Mark 4, Luis 1, Lauren 9 mo, Allyson 2. I was thinking after taking this picture how fun it is going to be to get to show them this years down the road...hopefully we will all still be around here. This is such a great group of mom's and babies and I feel so blessed to be able to stay home and get to enjoy our little get togethers. Today we went to Kemah and played, had a picnic lunch and rode the train (it was a great ride for $3).

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Taking Steps

Sorry for the short video. I don't have a hook up to my regular camera so I have to use my digital which doesn't shoot long videos.

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Just A Mom

A woman, renewing her driver's license at the County Clerk Office was asked by the woman recorder to state her occupation.
She hesitated, uncertain how to classify herself.
"What I mean is" explained the recorder, "do you have a job or are you just a......?"
"Of course, I have a job," snapped the woman. "I'm a Mom."
"We don't list 'Mom' as an occupation, 'housewife' covers it," said the recorder emphatically.
I forgot all about her story until one day I found myself in the same situation, this time at our own Town Hall.
The Clerk was obviously a career woman, poised, efficient, and possessed of a high sounding title like, "Official Interrogator" or "Town Registrar."
"What is your occupation?" she probed.
What made me say it? I do not know. The words simply popped out. "I'm a Research Associate in the field of Child Development and Human Relations." The clerk paused, ball-point pen frozen in midair and looked up as though she had not heard right. I repeated the title slowly emphasizing the most significant words. Then I stared with wonder as my pronouncement was written, in bold, black ink on the official questionnaire.
"Might I ask, "just what you do in your field?" asked the clerk.
Coolly, without any trace of fluster in my voice, I heard myself reply, "I have a continuing program of research, [what mother doesn't) in the laboratory and in the field, (normally I would have said indoors and out). I'm working for my Masters, (first the Lord and then the whole family) and already have four credits (all daughters). Of course, the job is one of the most demanding in the humanities, (any mother care to disagree?) and I often work 14 hours a day, (24 is more like it). But the job is more challenging than most run-of-the-mill careers and the rewards are more of a satisfaction rather than just money."
There was an increasing note of respect in the clerk's voice as she completed the form, stood up and personally ushered me to the door. As I drove into our driveway, buoyed up by my glamorous new career, I was greeted by my lab assistants -- ages 13, 7, and 3. Upstairs I could hear our new experimental model, (a 6 month old baby) in the child development program, testing out a new vocal pattern. I felt I had scored a beat on bureaucracy! And I had gone on the official records as someone more distinguished and indispensable to mankind than "just another Mom." Motherhood! What a glorious career! Especially when there's a title on the door. Does this make Grandmothers "Senior Research Associates in the field of Child Development and Human Relations" and Great Grandmothers "Executive Senior Research Associates?" I think so!!! I also think it makes Aunts "Associate Research Assistants".

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Bouncy Bouncy

For some reason this pictures haunts me...the fact that I am letting my child enter a dark tunnel. Good thing this isn't a real tunnel and just a fun obstacle inflatable at Bounce on It.


Joe making his way through the obstacle course.
I don't know what it is, but my son always gets hurt on slides, even inflatables. Here he is perservering after taking a spill down the slide...I believe he was trying to crawl down it and his arms got stuck and his legs came over him causing his to tumble to the landing pad.

Joe in ball heaven. I think this one and the train obstacle were by far his favorite.

Aeros

Joseph taking in his first Aeros hockey game. We had front row seats and he did really well with all the banging and yelling. What was also special about this night was during the intermission we took him to the food area and let him move around. While we were up there he took 2 1/2 steps!!