Geo-caching?!?

What is Geo-caching? Well, Auntie A introduced us to this fun game of treasure hunting. Basically, you download coordinates onto your GPS system and then when you get there, you search for the treasure.
Here is one called "baby back ribs" It was in the parking lot of a Chilis. We found it underneath the bottom of the lampost.

You have to use your GPS as well as the clues that are provided on the website. Here is one we found underneath a huge pole at Culvers. The paper Drew is holding is the "log" that everyone has signed when they find it. That one had been there since 2007! There are also little trinkets you can take, but if you take one, you need to leave one.
It was so fun and who knew that there were so many of these hidden treasures around here? This will be a new little hobby for us...thanks Auntie A!

Brooke Rules!

The weather has been so nice here, that Brooke and I like to go in the backyard and have our snack during the day. She pulls up her little red watermelon chair that Papa got her and attempts to drink out of a little juice box.
It is so funny.




She hasn't mastered the skill of the juice box. She squeezes the box, takes out the straw, or turns it upside down. She will NOT let you help her out of fear that she may not get it back. She's like a dog protecting it's food. I just sit there and let her pour it all over her and the ground. It buys me at least 15 minutes of sitting still.

This weekend, Auntie A came to visit (more pics. to follow) and she bought Brooke these sunglasses which she loved! She is always wanting to put mine on so now she has her own. How cute is that!

I just had to post a picture of her in this outfit that she wore to church. It is the first time she wore it and it is adorable.

I know the bow is almost as big as her head, but come on, we live in Texas!! Everything's bigger in Texas!!

What I love about Drew.....

So, when I came out for breakfast this morning, this is what I saw. A fully set breakfast table with silverware, glasses, and placemats....plus a lovely written note from Drew!! What a surprise!
Drew had gotten up early and done this....and it's not even Mother's Day!



Apparently, he got this idea from the radio show that he listens to at night. He likes to listen to this Christian radio station and they have callers that call in and tell their story. He reported to me that last night, a little girl had called in and said that she did this for her mom so he wanted to do that as well.

One of the things I love about Drew is his big heart. He definitely wears his heart on his sleeve. He is always thinking of others...when we are out and he sees something he thinks someone in the family would like, he wants to get it for them. I have a feeling he is going to be a romantic :) What a sweetie!

Baby, You're a Star!

So, it was my friend Kim's birthday, and we wanted to surprise her with a fun night to celebrate. Well, she loves all the celebrity magazines and we exchange our celebrity info. regularly, so last night, we made her the star! Renee's husband Jeff picked Kim up and brought her to the restaurant where we had the red carpet layed out and our flashed going. Look at her in this picture......just like the stars........saying, "don't take my picture!!" Throughout the night, awards were given away....Some she won, others she didn't. She won "Best body after 3 kids (she was up against Kelly Ripa and Heidi Klum), "Best crying at the drop of a hat"( she was up against Tammy Fay Baker)....just to name a few. We also made her her own gossip magazine all about herself! We all had written some things about her in there and why we thought she was a star to each of us.

All of our creative efforts and planning payed off....we had a great time and I couldn't think of any better way to celebrate than with these girls! I love them! Happy Birthday Kimmy!

Easter Fun

We had a great Easter with Jason's parents! As always, the kids loved having them here and they gave Jason and I a chance to get away by ourselves.....even if it was Wal-Mart...hey, it was nice to be without the kiddos!!
Anyways, here are the Easter baskets that the Easter bunny filled. Each of the kids got a new game or toy, and of course, lots of candy!
They can hardly wait to tear into their baskets. They are humoring me with a picture....

Brooke wasn't so interested in finding the eggs, but once she saw what was inside of them, she wanted to help the boys open their eggs. They patiently let her "help" them.

All dressed up and ready for church!

Brooke with her zhu-zhu pet....she LOVED this little hamster thing. She took it everywhere with her!

The Maupins treated us to an awesome brunch at the Bridlewood Country Club. After brunch, we set the kids free on the lawn to run off some of their energy.

We have not gotten a good family picture of us!! As you can see, it's tough getting a good one with a toddler who does not appreciate the beauty of a good family picture.

The kids with G-Ma and G-Pa. Thank you for an awesome weekend!

This is for you, Dad!!!

So....my dad always wanted me to marry an Alaskan fisherman. He has told me this since I was in middle school. Growing up in Kansas, I searched and searched and just couldn't find that fisherman. Instead, I married a Jayhawk who doesn't really like to fish. However, I kind of enjoy it! So, here I am with my big catch of the day on our fishing trip in Florida. It was the biggest trout and my dad gave me $5 for it.......

Check out Brooke proudly holding the coconut. We had them all over and the boys collected the ones that dropped and made a big pile. It's almost bigger than her!

This is how the boys spent most of their time....in
the pool!

Brooke LOVED this wagon and especially her
early morning rides with Uncle Ben to get a paper......"Just the two of us..."

Substitute Teacher

Drew had a substitute teacher today. He told me her name was "Mrs. Cutting-Ham." He thought that was a weird name and told me it must be because she was really good at cutting ham.

Happy Monday!

Captiva Island 2010

Our Spring Break Trip to Captiva Island...I have LOTs of pictures, so I will just capture things for you in a nutshell :)

Auntie A and Uncle Ben secretly set up an "Amazing Race" on the island for us. We picked teams and we were off! Here is one of our challenges....going to one of our favorite restaurants, The Mucky Duck, and hooking a ring on the ring toss game that they have out on the beach. Here's my dad trying his hand at it.




Roadblock!! We had to go to another restaurant and find a certain waitress who brought us a dozen peel and eat shrimp that we had to eat before we got the next clue. That's my mom and I...we were the "Hot Mamas" team!



I couldn't get many pictures because I was busy trying to win the race (which we did not!) But, here are the winners!! Jason and Drew!! Their prize was floating in the pool....trophies! We have them proudly displayed in our house :)



Auntie A and Drew looking cute at The Bubble Room.



Me and the kiddos in the "Tunnel of Love" at The Bubble Room.



Another day, we hopped a boat and set off to Gasparilla Island. We left at 10 in the morning and it seems someone conned their Aunt and Uncle into a little ice cream for breakfast....notice Brooke in the background in zipped up in my dad's sweatshirt. It was cold!!

Jason and Jackson working on their brackets.....

Nana and Papa fussing over Brooke. Whatever she needs, she gets!

Hangin' with the ice cream providers....wait until they have kids!

Brooke was sick during this vacation. We even ended up taking her to the er one night because I thought she may have pneumonia. Luckily, I had brought by nebulizer so here we are in the kitchen of some restaurant giving her a breathing treatment after lunch!

First time in the pool!

Auntie A ready to catch her!

The morning of our fishing trip....ready to catch a shark!

OK, maybe not a shark, but here's Drew with his Sheephead. He caught the biggest one!

Jackson with the biggest redfish....

Back on the dock watching the captain filet our fish!

At the only bar on the island that has KU on TV. The boys at their first bar....so exciting.

On a hike thru a nature preserve, we saw these signs. We did end up seeing one alligator at the waters edge. It was kinda freaky.

On our way to the beach......Brooke and her bodyguard!

She loved the sand! We would've stayed longer if the wind wasn't blowing so hard. She was getting into it.

Cutest cousins

My cousin and his wife came over for dinner the other night. Here is his little boy, Kyle, who Brooke was following around. Look at her gaze at him.....she thinks he is so cool! And he is!

They thought they were so big to be able to sit on the barstools! What you don't see is Jenifer on the floor behind them holding them up so they won't fall. Look at those cuties!!

Art Girls

Last night, a group of us went to the ArtHouse for an art and wine night. I was told we were each going to create our own original masterpiece......well, I was skeptical about that, but I knew there would be friends, food, and wine, so I knew I couldn't go wrong!







Here are Kim, Linda, and I putting the final details on our masterpieces. Check out the concentration.....



















Our hostess and planner of the event, Kari......look at her hospitality skills. She's the best!
















Finally, our finished products!! We all were instructed by our teacher, but we were all amazed how different everyone's turned out. From far away, everyone's paintings look great :) Don't look too closely...at least at mine!