THE SPLASH PARK.

While Laura and Danny were off to their first doctor's appointment, Mom and I volunteered to watched the kids.  Given the 100 degree temperatures, what better place to entertain three bundles of energy than at the splash park?  I was so excited to spend an afternoon with my nieces and nephew!  I don't get to see any of them nearly enough but I rarely get to see Makayla and Garrett!  Whenever they manage to make it here to the valley it is usually their weekend with their dad.  I get to hang out with Claire (yeah!) but I might only get to see the older two kids for a couple of minutes if I'm lucky!  Spending HOURS with ALL of them was a rare treat indeed!  It was hot, muggy and miserable outside but the kids were awesome!  

~Summer 2008~

     

A trip to the baby doctor meant Aunt Tess got to drive the 

BRAND NEW EXPEDITION!

It was so NICE but it felt so HUGE too!

I felt like a school bus driver so I sang the "Wheels on the Bus" song.

(at least CLAIRE was impressed!)

    

About two minutes before I pulled into the parking lot, Little Miss fell asleep!

Mom and I took turns sitting in the AIR CONDITIONING while she finished her nap!

  

Makayla

she spotted a friend from school and quickly disappeared with her.

i didn't get many pictures of her!

Garrett

I feel like I don't get to spend much time with Mr. Garrett so I particularly enjoyed our afternoon together!  He is such a GOOF!  I have no idea where he gets that trait from!

:o)

    

    

  

  

i have to admit, this is my FAVORITE picture of the day!

    

Makayla is in this phase where she doesn't even want to STAND next to her brother!

Garrett, the sweetheart, is such a good sport about it though!

  

Look who finally woke up!

Aunt Tess just had to play with her in the water too!

  

Don't forget the sunscreen Aunt T!

  

Claire and Nana

    

I LOVE THESE KIDS!

  

infamous self portraits!

BABY!

Tuesday afternoon Laura and Danny had their first ultrasound!  Although they looked and looked (and looked again) they could only find ONE little gummy bear looking baby in there!  Baby looks healthy and measured out perfect!  He/she, at the age of around 8 weeks, is only the size of your THUMB!  However, that tiny little stinker is making my sister one sick little Mama!  They gave her some meds that will hopefully help control her continuous and unbearable nausea.  I feel so bad for her and wish I lived closer so that I could help with the day to day chores she still has to somehow find the strength to accomplish.  I am so proud of her though!  Even though growing babies is hard work, she is such a terrific and amazing Mommy!  Hang in there girl!  You know I'm feeling for you!  

THIS BETTER BE ONE HELL OF A CUTE KID! :O)

OUR MARCH BABY!

The kids meeting their newest sibling for the very first time . . .

  

  

MARCH 12TH JUST CAN'T COME FAST ENOUGH!

HOW MANY WILL THERE BE?

My sister has her first ultra-sound tomorrow afternoon!

That means we will know for sure if there is just one . . . or will they find TWO or even THREE?!

Auntie Tess can't wait to find out how many there will be!

I think if they are having twins, they should give one to me!

:)

Wait!  I forgot about all the poopie!

That won't work for me.

:(

Twins?  Tomorrow we shall see!

Either way I'll be filled with GLEE!

Cause I looooove being an Aunt T!

but wouldn't twins be the coolest?  unlike my unintentional spontaneous poem?

MORE CHIRPING!

WHY, OH, WHY . . .

do the batteries in smoke alarms always run dead in the 

MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT? 

At my house dead smoke alarm batteries mean more than that annoyingly random chirping.  Jackson is TERRIFIED of the chirping and FREAKS at the very first chirp!  As was the case this week, I'm never awakened by the actual chirping of the alarm.  I am startled awake by a violently shaking, pathetically chubby dog panting frantically and drooling disgustingly on my face.  I know even before I hear the evil chirp myself what is going on and I immediately stumble for my 9 volt battery reserve.  

  

While I was trying to identify the exact smoke alarm with the battery disability (which is surprisingly difficult at 4:30 in the morning) Jackson and Sadie ran for the comfort of Cousin Abby.  I love their beady little glowing eyes in this picture!  Also, Abby had, conveniently enough, fallen asleep with her light on thereby allowing all of you to see not only her messy room but the fact that she was sleeping in a bed without sheets on it!  Silly girl.  Evil Alarm!

First it is the Chirp Chirp Riot next door and now a Chirp Chirping Smoke Alarm?

I'm on the fast track to CRAZY!

JESUS HAS LEFT THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

A few weeks ago my nice, neat, friendly, QUIET neighbor, Jesus, packed up and moved out of state.  :(  Abby and I have been watching the new neighbors--dreaded RENTERS--move into Jesus' well kept property.  Before Jesus left he came to say his goodbyes and to offer me a few words of reassurement.  He said, "They church people.  They have only few visitors.  Be good neighbors.  But if they not, call me."  He gave me his new number (and  I promised to call the moment I saw smoke boiling out of his windows) and that was the last I saw of him.  As the new Church People Neighbors moved in, they certainly caused a few raised eyebrows here at the Estrogen Castle.  Abby, initially, showed the most distain for what she calls their "Light-blue ghetto-beater-Minivan" (ironic since she herself parks a light blue Shaggin-Wagon MINIVAN in my garage every night).  That part was funny haha--ghetto-beater minivan--and, even though they are an eye-sore, ghetto-beaters are tolerable.  And then the birds arrived.  Chirpy birds.  Like twenty of them all causing a Chirp Chirp RIOT out on Churchy's patio.  And I was annoyed.  I seriously contemplated violence, even death by pellet gun but Abby said she sort of liked their Chirp Chirp Riot.  I decided to accept the riot and even tried really hard to like it too.  One night Michael, Abby and I were sitting out on my patio and it suddenly occurred to me that I could hear the peeping of . . . could it be . . . CHICKS?  As in baby chickens?  And I swear I just heard a goose!  Yep, Churchy likes birds.  Of all kinds, shapes, sizes and ages.  Even CHICKENS!  Growing up, we always had chickens running around (and sometimes chasing me) and there is one thing about chickens that is still very vivid in my memory . . .

ROOSTERS!

Oh, yes, and two days after Churchy moved in, his young little rooster learned to

CROW.

Now I am really annoyed.  The Chirp Chirp Riot was one thing, but crowing?  That's just downright ridiculous!  AND NOW . . .

 they have become FREE RANGE CHICKENS . . .

my covert, hold-the-phone-over-the-fence, picture!

they are certainly some NASTY looking chickens too!

Which means my kids are suddenly extremely interested in what is going on on the other side of that fence!

Some of us are not only extremely interested but extremely determined as well.  Dachsunds are born DIGGERS.  Coupled with the fact that Jackson is also a proven CHICKEN KILLER (he butchered FIVE one spring) we have a serious problem at my house!  I hate the chickens and I really, reeeeaaaally want to let Jackson finish that hole he started under the fence! >:)  

stay tuned.  you can be sure there will be more to my

 EVIIIIIL CHICKEN SAGA.

do you think the chicken obsession might stem from the fact that i constantly feed them costco chicken jerky treats?