Well, If You Must Know

It's been a while.  I know this.  So, in a nutshell...

Blaine got a mo-hawk.  But his curls are making a comeback
and I think he's going to have a curl-hawk here pretty soon. 

Blaine and David caught some fish.

They cleaned them.

We ate them.  (Mmmmmmmm!)

We watched Daddy play softball.  The best part of the game though
was when my sweet Mister asked me, "When is this gonna be over?  And
is Daddy's game going to be on TV?  I'll just watch it later." (LOL)

And then May came.  And apparently it snows in Colorado.  IN MAY!

Blaine made a super cool volcano with Ms. Sara.
But then he ran out of vinegar.  (What a project!)

Oh, did I mention that it SNOWED in May?

Tug had a growth on his eye.  The vet had to remove it surgically.
He is now sporting a cone so he doesn't paw at his stitches and
I think his eye might be permanently droopy post-op. :(  Poor thing.

Mister is still in swim lessons but now he has a fancy swim cap.

I went on a women's retreat with our church.  It was, hands down,
one of the top five best weekends of my life.  God worked
very powerfully this past weekend.  I am a grateful lady today.

More of Crooked Creek Ranch, where the retreat was held.

My kids' favorite cousin had her 1st birthday party this
weekend too.  She loved her cake.  More than any other
one year old.. ever.. I think!

And of course, Hannah G never turns down a cupcake.
Wouldn't be right.

Every time we go to see Uncle Steve (and I do mean, EVERY time)
Hannah fake cries and says, "I don't yike Uncle Steeeve.  He's a big guy."
Which is funny because she says it every time and he's not big.
Clearly she is "not" liking this book at all!

Her favorite party favor: noise makers!  Oh, I'll
get Aunt Sarah back for this someday :)

Oh, there is a lot more but I can't remember any of it right now.  I do know there are only two more full weeks of school left after this one and then it is officially SUMMER break and next week marks one whole year of David's employment at Trada!  Not to mention the biggest news of all - some little person around here is turning 3 in a month!  Wow, time flies when you're having the busiest and craziest life ever!

I'll be sure to update you all again when the kids are like 9 and 7!  Ha :)

D's new boat

D and his fancy new boat. Aren't they cute together?

I am married to a Mangler

Thanks to too much activity this weekend, we are T.i.r.e.d. I'm beginning to think that sleep will never be a part of my life again. Aside from getting up like 45 times each night this weekend to help Sister, we did some major partying with Pops and Mimi.  Those crazy Dallas kids always bring fun with them (and really good food).  Marie made the most tender (it literally felt like I was biting into soft butter) Filet Mignon and vegetable shish kabobs.  Oh. My. Gosh.

Sister's medicine was refilled inaccurately (they mixed and suspended it wrong) on Thursday and so now she is really struggling with her reflux, especially at night. Poor darlin'.

She's still happy though... in between vomiting episodes.

And then there is my Mister who has been a rock-star lately.  Well behaved and sweet and pretty compliant.

 

Look at that face - he's about to do something evil in the last picture.  Getting ready for Halloween I guess.

The biggest news of the weekend is that I am (again) married to The Master Angler or as I like to call him The MAngler.  D had another kayak fishing tournament this weekend and he won first place.  I think this is his 3rd first-place finish this year. (Boy am I in trouble if that is wrong.) He won a brand spankin' new fishing kayak which he is considering selling to pay me for all the overtime hours I've worked being mom while he goes out and slays the big ones.  I only charge $67.50 per hour - a decent rate given my experience level.  All joking aside, I am very proud of D for showing those anglers how it's done 'round here.  I just knew he was going to win when he left this morning - but then again, anyone that gets up at 4:30 am delighted and happy  (and they're not trying to catch a plane to Maui) is a winner in my book.  Congrats, Babe!

I am looking forward to the week - I'm certain it will be full of surprises, BMWs, new clothes, dairy-free desserts and maybe even a balloon or two.

A tradition continues

I took Blaine fishing for the second time today and for the first time with a camera. The first go round was more focused on not falling into the lake, ducking swinging hooks and snack time than it was about fishing but today was all business. Blaine normally gets up between 6:30 and 7:00 so I set my alarm for 6, loaded the canoe and gear into the truck and waited. We had discussed the possibility of going fishing the day before and Blaine was excited by the prospect. At 6:28 his door flung open and he came tearing out of his room and hit my leg in Lawrence Taylor fashion saying "we fish!”

Any real fisherman will tell you that breakfast is a must prior to a day on the water so we hit the donut shop on the way to Brushy Creek Lake. We split a kolache and Blaine suspiciously eyed my double chocolate doughnut despite my attempts at subtlety asking "Daddeey what you got"? We put the boat in just after 7:00 and spent 30 unproductive minutes until the action began. We were after bass and got more than we bargained for when we came a little too close to a diamond back water snake catching some morning sun after it's breakfast. It looked to stretch to about 7 feet and was fat! We covered the do's and don'ts of snakes as I snapped a quick picture and looked over my shoulder more than once as we paddled away.

Moments later we were hooked up with our first fish, a solid 1.5 pounder. Blaine squealed with delight when I told him "fish on" as the bass hit the top water lure. Blaine laughed out loud as it splashed us as it neared the boat. We got it in and Blaine gladly held it for his first photo with a fish. I told him to smile and he willingly obliged.

A few paddle strokes, a waterlogged hat and two crackers later we had number two on the other end of our line. I could tell that this was a better fish and Blaine was pumped. His face was less thrilled and more "what that?!" when I pulled the five pounder over the gunnel. Getting him to agree to hold this one took a little convincing and as is reflected in his face wrangling a bigger fish took a little more work and just a bit more courage. Before we let this one go we managed a second photo with a strained smile for the camera.

Unfortunately our third won't be making his internet debut. Blaine gladly held this .75 pounder while I turned around to get the camera from the dry bag. I heard a small splash and turned to see my empty handed son with a grin on his face. "I throw him back!” I patiently explained the importance of keeping catch, photo, and release in the correct order as we moved to the next likely spot. Blaine laughed at me and reminded me several times throughout the trip how funny it was.

Our fourth made it into the boat with us about 20 minutes later. By this time Blaine's fish handling confidence was soaring and he boldly grabbed this one from me, took two steps back and gave us the best picture of the day. This fish also hit the water before I could look up from the camera. You see, Blaine is a true conservationist and not one to leave his fishy friends uncomfortable for any longer than is absolutely necessary.

We caught our limit of five and got soaked as the last fish tail danced around the canoe. In true BASS pro form Blaine tossed his hat to the deck and proceeded to lip this one with both hands and hoist it with a big smile for the last shot of the day.

Some of my fondest memories are from time spent in, on and around the water. Today marks the beginning of a lifetime of similar memories for Blaine. A father couldn't be more proud of and grateful for his son and the opportunity to pass along the age old tradition of fishing.