A Visit to the Lonestar State

So we capped off April with a visit to the Lonestar State for The Godfather's wedding.  The girls were so excited to go to TEXAS! Chatty brought along a journal from school and documented the entire trip.  She couldn't wait to get back to school to tell her classmates about it. 

As soon as we got in we headed to the Godfather's house to meet Aunt G.  We absolutely loved her!  She is awesome, makes the Godfather happy and was great with the girls.

We spent the next day checking out the sights at the capitol and UT.

In front of the Bob Bullock Texas State Museum

The Capitol - beautiful building inside and out

In front of the building is this plaque ... not sure if you can read it or not but it states "it depicts 6 children"

And here are the 6 children!

Don't you love Chatty's pose?!

Standing in front of the 6 flags that have flown over Texas

(Chatty took this one to school with her journal)

The Main building on the UT campus. 

Mr. ESPN enjoyed the scenery, specifically the co-eds!

Chatty's eyes are scary here - but they insisted

on a picture with the Horns (sorry Cousin Jann!)

She was in heaven! We saw some co-eds playing on a practice field

and she was dieing to join them!

Outside the stadium -

we would love to go to a game there sometime. 

Beautiful campus ..

Walking around is tough work!

After spending the day sightseeing with two kids who complained non-stop about being hungry, tired, anything they could think of, it was nice to have some adult time.  I was lucky enough to meet up with Merry Mack.  We headed out to Happy Hour and enjoyed some tasty beverages and food and great conversation!  Unfortunately Coco couldn't make it!  Thanks Merry Mack for a great evening!

Can you tell how happy we are to be sans kids?  Kidding - sort of!

After some pool time at the Four Seasons the following day with The Godfather and Aunt G it was back to the hotel to get ready for the wedding. 

The handsome Godfather

The God-daughter - she looks like she is 12 here!

And a fuzzy family picture where Bia has a weird face!

No I don't have any pics of the bride and groom - most of our pictures didn't turn out.  I am hoping to order some from the photographer at the wedding.  She took a bunch of the girls.

All in all a great weekend - so great that Chatty bawled about leaving Uncle G and Aunt G.  I see some summer vacations for her in Austin in the future!  Let's hope Uncle G & Aunt G agree!

March and April In Review

Since I am horrible at blogging I am recapping the past 2 months (I can't believe it is already May) with some pictures that aren't from my phone...

A little Sisterly Love ... Maybe if I print this picture I can show it to them when they start fighting!

The Kingston Queen came and babysat for us so we could go out for Mr. ESPN's birthday

The next morning before Bia's Birthday Bash

Loving the slide at her Birthday Bash

Two weeks later, Chatty turned 8!!

Lovin' her new Goalie Jersey!

Annual Phillies game with Dad!

Those were some of the March and April highlights for the ESPN family.  Next up ... The Godfather's Wedding in Austin ...

Random Catch Up

Gee, so what's been going on since I last posted?  Well we had a 38th birthday, 5th birthday, Easter and an 8th birthday in our house.  And that was just in the last 2 weeks!  This time of year is always crazy for the ESPN family.  Add to that a major project on Greek mythology for Chatty, a trip back east for me and a crazy workload at work and people wonder why I am cranky! 

But in all honesty that is nothing compared to what some friends of mine are going through.  I admit, I am not the best at praying.  In fact my prayers are more like little conversations with God at the most random times.  But it seems like lately I have been having a lot more conversations with God (which is a good thing) ... to say thanks for great things happening to sweet friends and to ask him to take care of others (please keep Sara and her sweet family and baby JR in your prayers).  During these conversations I am also trying to remember that I can't control things (thank you Laurie for reminding me).

I am so thankful for my great support group of friends who remind me of what's important!  Speaking of great friends, we are heading to Austin next week for the Godfather's wedding! 

And some random I-phone pics because I can't seem to find time to download any pics from my real camera!

The girls just before Bia's Birthday Party

The joint party was a huge success!

Easter Sunday before Church

Yes we are wearing the same dresses to the Godfather's wedding

Ignore the huge cold sore I have in the picture

Chatty's Greek Mythology "Wax Museum" Presentation

Notice anything wrong with this picture?

Yep - she put her wings on upside down!

And yes - she was wearing her Nike kicks!

Say Cheese

Last weekend we headed out to have our family pictures made. This is the third time we have worked with this photographer.  He is awesome with the girls (and affordable).  Below are some of my favorites.

Notice how all of the ones I posted are only of the girls?  We had a few taken of us as an entire family and I hate the way I look in them (what else is new?).  But at least I got some cute ones of Bia and Chatty!   

What We've Been Up To

So much exciting stuff that I don't have time to blog!  Kidding - nothing exciting, just staying busy, as usual.  And - like my cousin Jann, I just haven't been in the mood to blog.  Probably because work has been busy and by the time I get home I don't even want to think about getting on a computer. 

So a recap of what we have been up to lately (excuse the quality of the photos - all from my phone since I haven't had time to download any from my camera ... and if you are FB friends with me you have seen most of them)...

Playing so hard at school that we destroy our clothes

Attempting to fill the niche in our family room, we've only been in the house 8 years!

Finishing up our soccer season ... Woo Hoo!

   

 

Attending a Girly Girlz Party where they painted nails and did hair.

Taking our first family hike.  Dee you woull be proud of us!  Chatty loved it and Bia had a good time but was worn out by the end.

Trying to find outfits for spring (birthday) pictures

That's about it ... up next - basketball games, pictures, soccer party, Mr. ESPN's birthday, Bia's birthday and party, work travel,  Chatty's birthday and Spring Break!

I keep thinking I am going to find some time to write/post something and it just never happens.  Seriously, I started this post several days hours ago and I am only on the second sentence. 

Last week I was in lovely

Actually it wasn't bad but it was a LONG week.  The kicker was during my trip I found out I have to go back next month for another week.  Timing couldn't be worse ... it is the week of Mr. ESPN and Bia's birthdays.  Yeah crappy huh?  I am trying to think of special little surprises to have for them while I am gone.  Which means I have to have something special for Chatty too so she doesn't feel left out (it's always a competition at our house). 

Speaking of competitions, we spent last weekend watching Chatty play a lot of this:

She had a tournament last weekend and has another this weekend.  Then the season is over!  Amen!  Can you tell I am excited?  I need a little break from soccer.  She will still have clinics and some other stuff but the main season will be over.  Last weekend we had some good friends come watch her play.  Chatty loved having her own cheering section (even if they did lose).  Thanks Cottrell's and Pattersons for coming out! 

Bia is still dancing, well sort of.  She was asked to perform a few weeks ago at an event and froze on stage and cried.  Chatty (not at all shy like her sister) just didn't get it - "Why isn't she dancing mom?" 

 

This is the best time of year to live in the desert.  Beautiful weather, lots of fun activities going on ... so much so that I think we have something planned every single weekend between now and Easter.  Between family pictures, birthdays (Mr. ESPN, Bia and Chatty), birthday parties, spring basketball for Chatty (coached by Mr. ESPN), dance for Bia, church stuff, work, etc., it's crazy (good) around here. 

I better hit publish post now, otherwise it may be a few more days before this gets posted!

Can You Feel the Love?

So to borrow a line from my friend Casey, "It looks like Valentine's threw up in my house!"  We have loads of candy, valentine's scattered in every room, hearts galore and more flowers than I have seen since my wedding day.

Unlike some of my other friends, I didn't do any fabulous Valentine's crafts - maybe next year.  I am totally stealing Sara's idea.  My excuse ... out of town all last week.  But we did get some treats ...

Flowers for the girls from Mr. ESPN (per my suggestion).  Tulips for me from last week - Mr. ESPN surprised me with them when he picked me up from the airport.  No we don't do that grand welcome home thing, he picks me up on the curb ... but this time he had flowers in the car. 

More flowers from Mr. ESPN - he wasn't sure what to get the girls and since Chatty isn't into pink he got this bouquet on the left (which still haven't opened) and then roses for me.  Don't worry - all flowers were purchased at Costco the day before Valentine's Day because - duh Costco is the best store ever and because their flowers are cheap and pretty and smell good.

Valentine's morning - they were just a tad bit wired and this was pre-candy!

I bought this shirt at Christmas for some family pictures we never got around to taking ... came in handy for Valentine's day for the girl who HATES pink!

And the girl who loves pink and all things girlie

A little sisterly love

Who would have thought based on the picture above that they were fighting on the way home from school when we called Granny to wish her a Happy Birthday (my Granny celebrated her 85th on Valentine's Day).   Oh well, at least we got some pictures that morning!

Can you feel the love?!