February Happenings

I can't wait until the time changes next weekend. I love the summer evening when we can go on walks together. I've been trying to get my steps in the evenings and that means we go on walks together. Jewell loves going on walks and so does Otis. 

I love when the weather is nice and watching the sun set over the lake. We usually walk all the way up the hill on the other side of the street and come back home. 

Back during Mardi Gras a few weeks ago, I went and got a King Cake for us. I like King Cake, but this one had a funky strawberry cream cheese icing in it, and I didn't really care for it. 

Jewell found the baby! In the first piece I cut. She was excited! 

Jewell loves painting. I shared with you her paintings she drew the other day. This is her chicken drawing

And her butterfly painting. I was actually pretty amazed at how well she painted these. She's a good little artist! 

Jolee finally got to taste some "real" boba tea. There is a Chinese grocery store in Killeen that I have always wanted to go and check out. It's a neat little store, they have all kinds of things in there including a restaurant, barber shop, bakery, ice cream shop and boba tea shop. Jolee got an orange boba and surprisingly it was actually really good. She sucked it down in no time. 

 

Another School Week

I can't believe we are in the last few months left of pre-school. Jewell has been having a great year so far. Her teacher sends me tons of pictures of her throughout the day but I am not allowed to share any photos of her in school until she is finished at the end of the year. So come May I'll be posting all the fun things she did in school this year. 

Last week was rodeo week. A petting zoo came to her school and they got to "ride a bull" and learned to rope. This week is Dr. Suess.

I'll have to say she is quiet the little artist!

She said this was a chicken!

She has been learning her letters and learning to sound out words

They had space week and learned all about the moon and stars

I'm actually pretty impressed at how well she can stay inside the lines at 4 years old. 

She is doing amazing!

Time for a Vet Visit

Last week Otis had a visit to the vet. I was dreading taking him. Back in December Justin found a quarter size knot on his right side of his butt. We immediately thought it could possibly be cancer. Since December the knot has grown into a huge baseball size knot. We noticed he was having a hard time laying and sitting on that one side. I also noticed that he would pick up his leg when we would take him for a walk thinking that the knot was hurting his leg.

As you can see in the picture the ball shaped knot on his right side next to his tail. The vet looked him over and was pretty concerned about his weight. He weighs almost 35 pounds and is at least 10 pounds over the weight that he should be for the type of dog he is. She was also concerned about his age of him being an "old dog". She felt around on the knot and then stuck a long needle in it and drew some blood. Then we sat and waited for the results.

Then the vet came back in to tell us that there was no cancer detected and that it is just a big benign fatty knot on his butt. That was definitely some great news to hear. She gave us some tips on how to get the weight off of him because she said while examining him, she could hear that he had a heart murmur. So, with him being overweight she said that is not good for his heart and he would need to go on a diet. After the vet visit we headed home.

Valentine Date Night

Love is in the air! 

Doesn't she look so sweet dressed up. She likes playing dress up. She looks like a Valentine heart :) 

Justin and I went out on a date night Friday. It was a late Valentine's Day dinner. It's been a while since we have gone to dinner alone. We went to Longhorn Steak House. It was pretty good. We enjoyed our alone time together. 

Then we stopped at Walgreen's to pick up sleeping pills and antacid. HAHA, 

I mean what date isn't complete at 40 years old without picking up meds, lol. 

Then we went to Crumbl cookie for dessert. We have never had Crumbl cookies before and thought it was perfect timing and we could bring cookies back for the girls. 

My thoughts

1. The cookies are huge

2. I like that they sell themed cookies

3. We bought 6 cookies, 2 strawberry, molten chocolate, chocolate and vanilla chip, 2 Valentine M&M

4. Cost- It was expensive! 6 cookies were $22!

5. Taste- I didn't think they tasted that special- Just like Justin said, "It's just a cookie", of course the girls loved them.

6. Would I try it again- Yes, I would give it another try but I would probably prefer something like a cupcake over a cookie but would try it again. 

Last Basketball Game

Last Tuesday Jaina performed at her last basketball game for the season. She performed at the last varsity boys' basketball game. It was a great and intense game. We only lost by a couple of points. The parents and the crowd were just as loud and crazy as the girls' basketball game.

Jaina's performance was good. She wasn't feeling that great the night she performed. She only dropped twice. Basketball crowds are very different then football. We will know going into basketball next year what to expect and maybe it will be a lot better season. She had to share the season with the other high school twirler which is why she only got to perform at two games. Next year she will not have to share with anyone and will get to perform at all or at least more than she did this year. 

This time around she did not want to wear her leggings with her leotard. I thought the outfit looked better with the leggings in my opinion, but she was the one performing not me, so she wore it without the leggings. 

Overall, basketball was super easy and a quick season. She will not have any more school performances with baton. She is officially done with Freshman baton. Now she will focus on competition and getting her routines ready for football for next fall. I will definitely say the year molded her into a different performer. She was brave, she was strong, and she got out there and did things that I would never be able to do. She fought for what she wanted and showed everyone she was going to fight until the end. We are so proud of her. Way to go Jaina! 

Stay Cool this Valentines Day

Jewell says "stay cool this Valentine's Day". 

Haha, she's such a mess.

My two little sweethearts and waiting for my third sweetheart to get home from baton practice to open their Valentine's Day gifts. Jewell was patiently waiting and telling me every five seconds that she was "so excited."

Allie gave the girls each a bag full of goodies.

And I gave them each a basket full of goodies. 

I gave Jewell a Polly Pocket which has now became her new toy obsession, two little Barbie Skipper dolls and some candy.

Jolee's basket

Both Jaina and Jolee's basket had the same thing in it, face masks and a makeup head band.

And some lip masks and got some candy

Jaina's basket

Allie gave Jolee some candy and a gift card.

Jewell got some candy and toys. New Calico Critters

And Jaina got some candy and a gift card.

They say thank you Allie!

And Justin got me flowers and wrote me a sweet note with a box of my favorite chocolates :) He's forever my Valentine! 

He also got the girls 1 rose each for Valentines Day. 

Jewell all ready for her Valentines Day party at school. She was so excited. She came home with a bag full of goodies.

She had to give a Valentine to each student in her class. So, we made little goodie bags for them with a rice Krispie treat, some suckers and a pencil.

She wrote her name on each card to her friends in class.

Grandma Dodo sent the girls some money for Valentines Day and gave the girls a box of goodies.

Jolee also received a brand-new pair of Nike shoes for doing so good at the fair with her bunny.

The girls also want to thank Mimi for their Valentine gifts they received when we visited last weekend. Can we say these girls are spoiled!

It's Mardi Gras yall!

Saturday we all headed to Galveston for Mardi gras. 

In the two weeks of Mardi Gras Galveston hosts tons of celebrations. Both weekends they host a huge parade in the morning and at night on the seawall. They also host parades at the Strand which are all kid friendly and then of course at night it is adult only at the strand.

We like to go to the morning parade.

 It's always so fun.

The floats throw out tons of beads, candy, little toy trinkets and even stuffed animals for the kids.

The kids were all so excited

It's become one of my favorite traditions

Stephanie and Rhiannon came and I brought Austin and Alyssa along since Jennifer had to work

Jewell was ready for the parade to start

The weather was about 75, very humid and very windy but not cold at all

My friend Jessica and her kids and her mom met us for the parade.

We got matching shirts made at a little boutique in Alvin

Showing the girls how to get those beads! I used to be a professional, LOL

Finally, the parade started

Jewell got lots of loot. She got tons of beads, a rubber duckie, a toothbrush (haha so random, yes it was new in a package) bath paint, some candy and a few other little trinkets.

Jaina and Jolee got some beds too

The parade had a lot of bands, floats and fun cars

Quincy and Jewell :)

Excited about my big beads

The parade lasted for about an hour. LOL, I think Austin got the most

After the parade was over Jennifer met us on her lunch break at The Spot. The Spot is a seafood and hamburger restaurant. They have really good burgers, but the shrimp and fish po'boy hit the spot.

Then we headed to Murdochs to look around

Then back to Mimi's house.

The girls and I left early Sundy morning and headed home. 

It was a fun weekend!