CRAZY IS GOOD

Kay, my mother in law, is the best. She gives me old photos all the time because she knows how much I love them. I just found this one the other day. These are all of Jim's siblings : Kathy (hidden in back), Gigi, Chip, Marianne, and John (holding Jim), and Bill. This picture just cracks me up and I just love it....Jim looks a little overwhelmed by all the love.

<

Whenever I think my house is just too full of kids and craziness, I think of how full of life and laughter and noise the Goetz's house is. Even with seven brothers and sisters running around, there is always an extra plate set at the dinner table and everyone is always welcome. I want my house to be like that.

And I think how incredibly blessed I am to have my mom and dad, sisters and brother....and Jim's amazing family.....and four crazy kids. Crazy is good.....life is good.

Final Drive From Houston.....

Ah, are we glad Jim is home for good.....
And also VERY glad to get his furniture!
Hmmmm.....was this mirror this way when he picked up the truck?
Uh, yeah! HONEST.....
Love you, Jim.....

SIDE BANGS AND FEATHERS

Lots of "hair happenings" at our house this week.....
Annie got a feather in her hair.....
She is too cool.
Evie got side bangs and can't stop looking at herself in the mirror....
and taking pics of herself. Oh, the power of a good hair cut and cool bangs that hang over one eye.........

See, this is the only problem when you steal your mom's phone to make a random movie.....it WILL END UP ON MY BLOG.

Duh, Duh, Duh, Dunh........

BUGS IN THE HOUSE

When I was in third grade, my dad was taking a course in Organic Chemistry. I can still remember how huge that book was. During his course work, he had to mate fruit flies.....red eyed fruit flies and white eyed, and took notes on all of their offspring. Now that I think of it, how do you get fruit flies to mate? Thank goodness, we were spared the gory details. Anyway, I remember my mom being not too thrilled about Dad having to store little fruit fly offspring in test tubes in the refrigerator. What a poor sport Mom was..... Anyway, there were several escapee fruit flies. Mom was nominated for sainthood soon after this.
Anyway, I tell you all this because we have many bugs in our house right now. The one Evie is holding is a meal worm that hatched from a larvae.
She couldn't wait to show her teacher, Mrs. S.!
See that little orange guy? Evie let him go, and he is now living in meal worm paradise in our back yard.
But wait....there is more. Remember Bacon, Will's bearded dragon? He eats crickets every day, about four or five. We keep all the extra crickets in a cool little cricket condo, but a few escaped and have happily taken up residence behind our refrigerator. At first it was just one....and I tried to convince Jim how charming it was....like we were camping, right? It's pretty funny, right? Now that apparently it is the hottest spot in cricket real estate, and there are at least three back there competing, its not quite as charming, but still is pretty funny. Makes me laugh at least.

Makes you all want to come visit us in Texas, right? Only the best.......

The Manly Art of Power Washing

Look at these boys. They are so happy.
I mean, honestly. Who would know that spending all day cleaning the pool deck and furniture would be that much fun......
But look at this kids face! I caught him smiling as he was working!
Boys were meant to power wash.
Wish we somehow translate that power washing love into room cleaning love.......

April Fools' Day

Ahhh.....April Fools Day. We wait for it every year.....forget about it till that morning....and then try to pull a lame joke or two off on the kids. Which usually works , provides at least Jim and I a good laugh, and then we go on our day. But this year, the kids were ready.
In the middle of the night, WITHOUT JIM OR I NOTICING (Yup....we are up for parents of the year) , Will and Callie got up and teepeed Evie's room WHILE SHE WAS STILL IN BED. She is a sound sleeper but we were amazed because they did quite the job. Annie put Saran wrap over a few of the toilets (she knew enough not to mess with ours).....they post-it noted Will's room....
This was one of my favorites. First thing in the morning, Callie says, Dad, there was a letter at the door for you. The letter is ...ahem...."from" one of his business partner, Larry, letting him know that unfortunately, he has to move to California and end their partnership. My favorite part was when "Larry" tells Jim that they can "diffedently" keep in touch.
The kids then caught this fish and put it in the hot tub........(APRIL FOOLS).....
And last but not least blocked Callie's room with a mattress. Oh, the love that a good April Fools joke spreads. Happy April Fools Day, everyone........Love you!

Scout IS good for something!

This dog is a nut and has questionable intelligence.....but we love the way she cuddles, sleeps in, and watches Marley and Me intensely.

So you have that going for you, Scout......

The Spa at Polo Run

It's a proven fact that it is stressful to be a ten year old. Which is why all fourth graders really need a spa day. This is Callie's philosophy.....and why we had a spa birthday party for her tenth birthday.
There were cucumbers for the eyes and massages for their tired, fourth grade muscles.
We did their hair in beautiful curls (right before they went swimming......hmmmmmm....didn't think that through well....)
They got mani-pedis from a trained, licensed staff of 7th graders.......
And took a break from the pampering to open a few presents!
I love this picture of Caitlyn laughing so hard at Callie and the cucumbers.
The manicure station run by our neighbor, Miranda.
Yes, you are cute.....
The front desk.....after the fact. When they came in, they chose their nail polish and flip flops and their manicure set...... Grandma and Grandpa Goetz sent a book about "The Glamour Book for Girls" (so Callie) and that was displayed too.
This is our trained, beautiful staff.......and Will, just home from a field trip at the end of the night. Lucky for him, he missed the majority of it and was just in time to finish up the goodies. But we still forced him to take a picture with all of the girls.
A calm moment for Miranda and I behind the manicure desk....
Pedicure central!
Happy Birthday, Callie girl. I know you had fun......love you so much!

Evie goes to Houston!

Evie has been so patient. During the time that Jim lived in Houston, he started a tradition of taking each of the kids down to Houston on a special weekend to his condo. He took Annie....then WIll.....then Callie......and THEN.....we hit a spell where for one reason or another, life was a little crazy and it was hard to get Evie's visit scheduled. She was SO patient but once every couple of weeks, she would calmly remind us that she hadn't gone to Houston yet. So when Jim came home and we decided to sell his place.....we knew we had one final shot at getting her there!
The day finally came.....last Friday. Jim picked up Evie from school at lunch, and she got to play hooky for the rest of the afternoon. She had already told her softball coach that she'd be missing a game, her teacher that she HAD to miss school.....and anyone else that would listen that she was going away for the weekend with her dad. She had a good lunch and then slept all the way there (good girl!) Jim's condo is in the Galleria (see the arches in the background? They are all over the streets in the Galleria.) The first thing they did was run to Nordstroms, and Jim bought her a new dress, a sweater, and sandals. This was a pretty big deal for my sporty, shorts and tshirt wearing girl, that refuses to shop at Justice because the clothes are too sparkly. They found a non pink, non sparkly dress and she was BEAUTIFUL , and all ready for their big plans of the night......
DINNER AT MAZROFFS. This is Mr. Mazroff. He and his son run the most amazing restaurant in Houston, and this restaurant is very special to our family! We spent Thanksgiving there two years ago, and always would go there when we visited Jim. I think it may be the best restaurant in Texas! Evie had a very special date with her dad. She ordered duck, and ate THE WHOLE THING!
The next day they went to an art fair in the park and ate breakfast at The Daily Grill. Jim says he thinks they walked about eight miles!
Saturday, after all of the kids games were done, I drove Annie, Will, and Callie down to meet Jim and Evie, and we spent our last night at the condo! I have no idea why I didn't take pictures of the place, but here are some phone shots from dinner......
We had to wake Callie up for this picture, and it still makes me laugh!
Annie giving Will a "dimple".....
And last but not least, my favorite boys in the world. I will ALWAYS love Houston. That is where my first two babies were born and we made wonderful friends there......

Great memories, great times....very thankful for this past weekend and my all of a sudden, grown up, kids!

Callie Marie is a DECADE!

Callie Girl....She is a decade. She is a bright flashing smile. She is a quiet observant girl. She is wickedly funny.

She is an amazing dancer. She is a hidden actress waiting to be discovered. She is smart as a whip, and can memorize anything.
She has a huge, loving, forgiving, loving, heart. She feels deeply and is an amazing friend, sister, and daughter.
She LOVES hibachi. She says it was her best birthday ever and was thankful for everything she got. She is especially excited to go to "T SWift" with her daddy in September.

Callie, I am so blessed to have you as my daughter and every day I pray for you and love you more and more. I love you Callie Girl!