You want a piece of me???

Well that was a long break, last blog post was in 2012.  I'll start back up with what I'm about to do on National Slurpee day, 7/11.  I'm  going to be a kidney donor!!!  I am scheduled to donate one of my kidneys to my lovely sister n law, Rachel.  She's struggled for years with PKD (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polycystic_kidney_disease) and the time has come, dialysis or a transplant.  I'm a great match, I've been approved and here we are.  So crazy it's here already.  It's been a journey to get here.  The approval process is its own blog post.  Which I really should write.  Some day.

Stay tuned for updates on how surgery went, how it's going, etc.

And by the way, I have to close with updated pics of my gorgeous, amazing 3 kiddos!  I haven't even written about Samantha on this blog yet.  Now I have!  :-)

That was taken at a rained out swim meet a couple weeks ago.  Love them so so much.  I'm going to miss them when I'm gone.  Hubby, too!

Surgery is in LA.  I'll need to be gone 2 whole weeks.  God speed my recovery and Rachel's.

Everyday nothings (3yrs 2 mo)

Ok, I wrote this in May but forgot to post. It's July, but who's counting?  I'll post it anyway.  (Now, I really should get busy on a July post)

.....

• I walked in on a "failed" nap day (it's occasional they actually nap now) and quite often find naked babies in their cribs.  I ask the dumb question "Why are you naked?" and they respond "Puz, I took my cwothes off."  Oh, that clears it up.
• I love how they love watchin "Monster trucks" on daddy's phone before bedtime.  Sophia gets disappointed if no tires fall off.  Tough crowd!
• The weirdest things fascinate them.  In the morning, while they're eating, Daddy will usually take his vitamins.  If they see him, it's "I wanna see! I wanna see!!"  Then Daddy's gotta walk over, show them his hand before he swallows them, and shows them again after each pill is swallowed. They like to see them disappear, I guess.  And it does not get old. 
• I love how Sophia will be talking to Jacob and she'll end with: "......., you understand Dakub?"  haha, I wonder who she gets that from!
• Oh how Jacob needs his sister!  I still hardly split them up (say if I want to go shopping and take Sophia w/me)...Jacob will not have it.  He wants his Sophia.  Even if he falls down and gets hurt sometimes, he won't shout for me, or Dad, he'll say "I want Sophia!!"  I think that's so cute.  Sophia does try to make him feel better by comforting him, "Whats wong, Dakub?" What a great big sis!
• Prayer time is always memorable.  I should hide a tape recorder under the table sometime.  Jacob's are usually short and sweet, his might go something like this: "God is great, for our food...and for mommy and daddy and sophia and for chokwit (chocolate) drink, and for sausage and for trees....AMEN."  (and he talks fast).  Sophia is the prayer leader!  She tells us all who goes first, who's next, etc.  :)  Hers are usually the longest, they start similar to Jacob's...."God is great for our food....thank you for mommy and daddy and Dakub and Tay-May (Katy May) and for strawberries and orange juice and....she pretty much names what's on her plate and whatever she can see in the kitchen, then ends with: "..and for Jenny Duck to feel better....AMEN."  Once she even included "mommy's pretty nails"  :)  Prayer time is a nice time, indeed.
• Yesterday I bought a new IPAD game for them, some sort of puzzle.  And I thought I'd start it up, show them how to play, but I couldn't figure it out!  I kept swiping things and pushing buttons, seemed like nothing would happen.  I finally suggested we play a different game. Then Sophia tried and of course, figured it out immediately.  Then she says, "See mom.  It's not tricky."  :-)  Ok then!  I guess I am not smarter than a preschooler!

Silly kiddos!!  Well, I better go see what they are doing...here are some random May photos....hasta luego!!

They often bring all their "friends" to tv time or to just ride "the boat" (aka couch)

This was jump #47 off our patio...I love this shot :)

Last day of Preschool

Their first year of preschool (mother's day out) has come to an end, last day was Tuesday.  They only went 2 mornings a week, but it has been such a blast for them, they've learned and grown a lot.  One of my favorite memories will always be pick up time. Pretty much every time I walked in, as soon as they saw me they'd shout "Momma!  You came BACK!!!" and I'd get the biggest hug ever. :)  (Thanks to my friend Jenny R. for getting us that Llama Llama book about starting preschool.  Pretty sure they snagged that line from the book!)

Here's a few pics from over the year.

First, let's start w/a FIRST day / LAST day picture comparison.   Look at those big kids!!

They loved that big yellow slide out front....pickup time ritual.

Halloween and Christmas parties were fun....

Springtime, picking "flowers" w/friends...

Easter Hunt Fun!

Hard to believe how fast this year flew by. Their last day closed with a program, several songs they have worked on all year, including signing and spanish.  It was nice to finally hear the songs in full (that they've been singing over the baby monitor at bedtime.) It was very cute, the teachers did a great job.  I love that Jacob was one of the loudest singers!  :)

So very proud of both of them...now let's see what adventures lie ahead this summer!

Our two are three!

On Saturday, March 17th, St Patty's day...we celebrated 2 remarkable young people :)  It was a fun day.  We had a small gathering at our house, family and friends came over and a few "special guests" arrived to provide extra fun!  

birthday prince

birthday princess

                                  

After everyone munched on some pizza and snacks....our mystery guest arrived.  Everyone went to the backyard to check it out. Who could it be??  A leprechaun?  Hmmm....

AWE.....it's a PONY!!!

Yay!!  Let me ride!

We had lots of naturals at this....such cute cowboys and cowgirls!

Takota Ponies provided the horses, they are such great people. I thought they were only bringing 2 ponies, but they ended up bringing 3 plus a horse for the same price.  My lovely neices monopolized the horse, looks like they had a blast :)

Lots of rides...

Big boy "hang out"

So glad the kiddos had fun.  The horses even helped us "mow" our yard.  There's a nice bonus!

Time to head inside for a little St Patty's day cake.  No, I did not make it, that's a long, funny story.  (Thanks HEB for coming to my rescue)

 Several days after their birthday, they kept asking "Are we still thwee?"  Hee hee.


Such a fun age, I love it. Happy birthday lil sweet peas.