Pink Tulle and Blue Bonnets

In Texas, everyone pauses for Bluebonnets. Each Spring they line the freeways and hills and you must get pictures sitting in the middle of them. I think it might be a Texas law or something. Anyway, despite the full sun messing with the camera exposure and shadows casting strangely across Abby's pale face, I ended up with a few shots that are keepers.

OK, I LOOOOOOOOVE this one!

This one, below, is delicious! She is such a poser.

A House Full Of Grandparents

How lucky are we? We got to have two grandpa's, a grandma, and a Nintendo DS visit us all at the same time! My mom and dad have visited from Utah multiple times but it had been a while and we missed them!

Grandpa Mac had not been to Texas since World War II when as a soldier, his train crossed through Texas on the way to Fort Benning, Georgia. Texas wasn't that interesting in 1945 but when the train stopped in New Orleans, they announced that the war had ended. The MPs quickly gathered all of the soldiers off of Burbon Street and put them back on the train.

Grandpa is 92 years old and tries to golf twice a week when the weather permits. I lured him down here with promises of warmth and green golf courses. But of course, the temperatures were erratic and Texas-like. Grandpa Mac was freezing cold most of his visit. We actually did go to the driving range Friday afternoon, though. Brad, Zach, and Lauren were excited to show off their skills. Abby liked to throw the balls on the green. I got a private golf lesson from Grandpa Mac and it truly improved my swing immediately!
Grandma Bender brought her Nintendo Ds which the kids worshiped. She taught Brad to play Sudoku. My family was excited to sit down to full meals which she cooked. Sorry Mom. I totally made you work while you were here. We cleaned out the pantry and fridge and random closets, etc. We did make it to Sam Moon and Canton as a reward for our hard work, though.
Abigail became Grandpa Bender's little buddy. She takes a bit to warm up to people but then she snuggles right in. She made him play catch over and over and brought him baby dolls to play with. One afternoon their was a couch full of dolls with a grandpa somewhere in the middle.

We went to the Dallas Farmer's Market and La Madeline's for lunch. I'm addicted to their French Dip sandwich. I made everyone sit through a photo shoot Sunday afternoon and we played a wild game of "Spoons" that included several bouts of tears and tantrums.
I don't know if Grandpa Mac will ever come back for a visit. It gets a bit loud and crazy here. He also tripped and hurt his golfing shoulder... but he doesn't want to talk about that. He's a bit bitter and I don't blame him.

What a sweet blessing it is to have so many grandparents who truly want to know us. Mommer and Grandpa Lund are coming to visit in a few weeks! That's two more who love us!

I grew up with Grandma Helen and Grandpa Mac completely involved in my life. They came to every singing and school event. I was always perfect in their eyes. I love that my children know that their grandparents think that they are perfect, too. They get to overlook all of our flaws and make us feel like we are their favorites. Isn't that the role of a grandparent?

Thanks for the visit! Please come again!

the MANY faces of Loo Hoo

Thanksgiving at the Ranch

You gotta love Thanksgiving in Texas. We spent it at Possum Kingdom with Steve's sisters, Jen and Mindy, and their families. The kids got to go on a boat ride around the lake. They got to wear special wet suits that their uncle Steve said only worked when you peed in them. Zach tried it out and agreed that he was much warmer! Brad and Zach drove four-wheelers by themselves for the first time and everyone shot big rifles at skeet for the first time.

Lucky Number 7

7? Can my baby boys really be 7? Wasn't it just last week that Steve and I were up at night, each with a little bundle tucked in our arms? Wasn't it just yesterday that started to walk, talk, read, run, love?

There is something special about these boys. They exude hope. They still assume that everyone will be nice and that everyone in their class is their friend. They still like to snuggle with mom and dad. They still love to play with stuff animals who are their imaginary friends.

Zachary Hunter Lund loves to draw-- all day. He draws everything he sees or thinks about: video game screens, recipes, conversations in comic book form, how-to plans for inventions, plans and instructions for parties. He is detailed when he wants to be. He loves to play video games at his friend, Julian's. Mario Galaxy is his favorite game right now. He often says "and ya know" and stumbles on his thoughts. They seem to pour out of him and get lost in the rush. Zach is never bored. Zach is an optimist. Although 20 minutes younger than his brother, Zach is taller for the first time ever. He loves pizza, red, Build-a-Bear and getting Blue faces at school. His favorite book is "The Big Book of Questions and Answers".

Bradley Bender Lund is a really smart kid who knows that its most important to apply yourself. He always wants 100% on his assignments. He wants to follow directions and make good decisions. He is an amazing computer whiz and loves video games. Super Smash Brawl is his favorite game right now. He is the one I can count on to complete a job on his own. He remembers everything. He likes to read video game manuals and actually remembers what's in them. He loves blue, being first, pizza, Build-a-Bear, and Going Bonkers. He loves Cam Jensen books.

Holy Heroes Batman!

For the past six years I have given way too much energy to costume searching. Even worse, I spend a great deal of time manipulating my children into being who I want them to be. Lauren and I watched many Youtube clips of Wonder Woman and her Lasso of Truth. "Look how cool her crown is. It is like a boomerang! Wow! She can change clothes super fast! Boy, you will be an awesome Wonder Woman!" "Zach, you don't want to be Ben Ten. Several of your friends are going to be Ben Ten. There really should only be one Ben Ten. And look, Superman has muscles!"

I'm really into themes. This year, Superheroes. Last year, Classic Halloween: witches, dracula, and a bat. 2006, Peter Pan. 2005, A Toy Story. 2004, Cave girl with dinosaurs. I think this is the last year of the themes. The boys refuse to be Wizard of Oz characters and I don't want them to need therapy later in life because of their controlling mother.

We had some friends over for our Mystery Dinner and then went Trick or Treating around the neighborhood.

All that and Lauren wouldn't wear her wrist bands and boots, and Abby's cape went missing for the photo. Shocker!

The Pumpkin Patch

I got to go to the Pumpkin Patch in Flower Mound twice this year. Once with Abigail and her little boyfriends Asher and Gabe, and then back with the whole family. Second trip both camera batteries were dead. Don't you LOVE this picture of my sweet thing Abby?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAUREN!!

My lovely Miss Lauren is 5-years-old! She wanted a Unicorn Flying Pony party and invited her fairy friends to celebrate with her. The fairies made jewelry, searched for the flying unicorn and ate unicorn horn cupcakes in our backyard.

Her favorite gifts were from her grandparents: tap shoes and a stuffed flying unicorn. Doesn't that sound like Lauren?

Apples and Ovaries

I had parent/teacher conferences this week. Zach and Brad's teacher shared the following anecdote:

Another teacher came in to read a story to their class. About half way through the book about apples, Zach's hand shot up. His face was serious and anxious, like he just remembered something he was trying to recall,

"I know what they are called! Ovaries!"

The two teachers were caught off guard and stared at each other, then busted up laughing. Indeed, at some point in the production of an apple, the pod is called an ovary. Only Zach would know that.

Early on, Brad and Zach have loved learning detailed facts and Steve and I made a very conscious decision to omit several female facts for fear of a Kindergarten Cop type discussion with their peers. Oh, what a righteous decision that was! I can just hear Zach continuing, "Apple ovaries are not the same as girl ovaries because..."

Apple ovaries is really as close as I want to get to sex ed in the 1st grade classroom-- taught by my 1st grader.

Shake Your Booty Y'all!

Could it be that after 6 years and 10 months of constant diapering (sometimes three little bums at the same time), that we may get a break? I don't want to get my hopes up but Abigail started potty training today. She caught on after just one drop in the potty. I didn't have to remind her to go potty. She would just call out, "I going pee pee" and would already be on the potty when I got to her. She even did a #2. Yep, that's right. Genius. I think I should clone her.

Of course, she only stays dry when she is naked... which could cause a problem when we go anywhere with a dress code. And she will only go on the potty chair. She screams when I suggest the humongous big people potty with the beautifully squishy Dora seat. I enjoy the Dora seat so I can't figure out why she wouldn't love it.

I rewarded Abby with M&Ms each time she went but her favorite reward was the Potty Dance with Mommy. She likes to boogie to sassy country music and shakes her naked behind. Quite the cute picture.

Those are band-aids on her arm: Scooby Doo and Fairies (our first-aid kit is now empty).

Tomorrow is another day and hopefully once again diaper free. Do you think it is ok to bring the potty chair to church?