Catch UP!!

It's time to play catch-up!!  Let the games begin...

In February, for Ga Ga's birthday, the kids and I met up with the my Mom and Dad in Dallas.  We stayed in a hotel, ate a birthday dinner at Macaroni's, went to the Aquarium as well as heritage park, where you see us here on the front porch of a 100 + year old restored home.  We had a great time just being together.

You should know that this is mostly what we've been up to lately...adding a room onto our house.  But this is a topic for a whole other day.  But I won't mention it here without giving infinite amounts of thanks to Pop Pop (Joey's Dad) for all his hard work on our behalf.  We're LOVING the extra space!

My great friend Zeffy came for a visit over Spring Break in March.  It was so great to see her.  The kids got along marvelously after almost 2 years of being a part.

We had a GREAT time!  Here's Isaac with Olivia!

After Zeffy left us we drove down to Dallas to meet up with our friend Abby, her little sister Olivia and her parents Mary and Ben.  It was, once again, great to catch up with old friends.  Becky and Trevor Hunt and kids joined us too.  But I'm horrible with a camera so I don't have very many shots.  

We went to Six Flags for one whole day, stayed up way too late at night talking and visited the Stock Yards in Fort Worth.  Mary and I squeezed in some shopping as well...you better bet we didn't skip out on that opportunity!

At Six Flags, the guys karaokied {sp??} your body is a wonderland for us ladies.  We were in stitches watching them make total fools of themselves.  They got really into it and it was hilarious!!

Isaac rode his first BIG roller coaster.  He climbed aboard bravely with Daddy to "test drive" it before Georgie and I went on together.  When the end came he had a grin on his face but advised Georgie of it's begin too scary!!  He didn't recommend it!  But he was a good sport and proud of himself for trying it.  

I had to include the photo of naked jumping on the hotel bed!  woo-hoo!!

Happy Easter!  Here Isaac is with his friend Ben Foster at the base Easter egg hunt.

Georgie and her boys!

Georgie can pump herself in a swing now!!  And she's very proud!

Our favorite Easter gift ever??  Klutz' face painting book.  I would highly recommend it!

Georgie was hilarious with her snow queen persona.  She kept fanning her arms out and gently flicking her wrists in slow motion as she pranced about the house.  She felt so absolutely beautiful!

For Joey's birthday we invited over some friends for a simple taco salad and key lime cheesecake.  Here are a few of our smaller guests, who, by the way, LOVE Joey;)

I'm not sure if this was the end of one of our sleepovers but here I am reading the Bahr kids a story, right before they have to go home one afternoon.  We've had quite a few sleepovers this spring and it has been so much fun!!

Isaac has been scaling up on his chores lately!!  Here he is with the vacuum, wearing a smile!  What a great attitude!

A bad picture because only our zoom lens works right now, this is the twin size bed that I finally finished for the kids.  I'm really happy with how it turned out!  With strict adherence to the "no jumping on the bed" rule, I hope it will last long enough to be an heirloom!  

Okay...now I can begin life as a regular blogger again!  Gee, I've missed it!

Daddy plays the guitar....

One of my favorite things about Joey's fathering are his guitar skills.  Every night, he plays one requested song for each kiddo and they sing along. (more if he's in a real rock-a-billy mood!)  Joey feels self conscious if I'm in there so I get to listen from outside of the room, usually working on the computer or doing dishes.  I imagine him nodding his head to the beat, face squenched and contorted in true rocker fashion....something he wouldn't do if he knew I were watching.  Every night he gets to feel like a star.  And Georgie and Isaac get a homegrown star performance.   Its a glorious combination!  In fact, in the background at this very moment he sings..."I'm a creep/I'm a winner/What the 'heck' am I doing here?/I don't belong here..." (these aren't primary songs people;)

My point in recording all of this is simply to record a few of Isaac's favorite songs of the moment.

Friday I'm in Love by The Cure....he knows all the words
Won't Back Down by Tom Petty
Ring of Fire by Johnny Cash (this one has lasted a while)
She Loves You by The Beatles
and
Waltzing Matilda, an Australian Folk Song

This guitar singing tradition was handed down by Uncle Bob.  Joey loved his visits to 1 Leeward Glen with Rocky, Cary, Amy and Shaun.  He remembers Uncle Bob strumming Puff the Magic Dragon for them before bedtime.  It was an easy step to begin doing something like this for Isaac from almost the moment that he was weened.  The tradition continues.  Thanks Uncle Bob.

Daddy's So Funny

After Dinner Delight

After a lovely dinner outside (spring is finally coming to OK!) 

I came out to find this in our new hammock:

Joey and Isaac were having a Star Wars quiz...

Joey:  "who said 'Flying through hyperspace isn't like dusting crops, boy'

Isaac:  "mmm...Han Solo"

How's that for cute?

p.s. Did I tell you I leave for San Diego tomorrow for a childless trip with my husband?  Woo HOO!!  My lovely, generous parents offered to take the kids for us while JOey and I attend his pediatric conference (he attends, I play).  This is my idea of perfect...half the day alone, doing WHATEVER I FEEL LIKE and the other half of the day with my best friend!  And the kids couldn't be more excited about a long weekend with their very best friends in the world...Gaga and Papa.  Truth be known, I miss them already!  

Thanks to Crystal for all the travel tips!

Happy Birthday, Daddy!

Happy Birthday Joey!

We celebrated for two days this year!  

(hence the day late post)

On his REAL birthday we had a party at his work.  The ladies at the office were so kind to pitch in on a potluck lunch complete with presents and a decorated office!  Darnit where was my camera!  It was hilarious.  Explanations wouldn't do it justice.  That evening, after Isaacs soccer game, we went to Applebees ( I know yucky, but our choices are slim here okay...and we had a gift card;)

Today we had his birthday dinner at home:

Marinated Steak

"Green Fries"

Key Lime Cheescake

 (this was supposed to be the last picture...not sure what happened)

Grilled Flat Bread

Happy Birthday to you...

Happy Birthday to you...Happy Birthday dear Daddy, Happy Birthday to you!

Favorite things about Daddy:

Isaac:  "Daddy plays guitar for me and teaches me how to play soccer"

Georgie:  "Daddy pushes me on the horsey swing...and the park"

Me:  "I love that Joey loves me for who I am, even when I'm upset, he lets me be me, inspires me to be a more honest person, and I can talk to him about anything in the whole wide world."

We love you, Joey and are so grateful for you. 

We're In Good Hands

I'm frequently asked just how nice it is to have a pediatrician in the home.   Today I'd have to say "pretty, darn nice."  If Joey hadn't been around with all his "know-how", I would have taken Gigi into the emergency room this weekend.  Consider exhibit A:

This is the position Georgie has kept for nearly two days straight, (actually her eyes are usually open, staring off into space) with a few Tylenol highs mixed in.  Sometimes sound effects are added such as moaning, whimpering and shrill cries for Mommy.  And don't forget the sound of dry heaving and vomiting.  She is so scared of throwing up now that you know one is coming because she begins to shake her head, "no, no, no" and then masks a dry heave with a fake cough.  Her temperature has been flirting with 104' several times.  But, Dr.Daddy is on call with his stethoscope and Ibuprofen and I have nothing to worry about.   He makes sure she is not "septic" (you don't really need to know what that means) every once in a while and I am comforted enough, at his reassurance, that she is going to be just fine.  Here's to a better day tomorrow for our sweet Georgie girl.

On a happier note, here's Isaac and Daddy on their first private date!  I've rarely seen Isaac come home happier!  They went to the park, then to Long John Silvers for a treasure chest meal and then topped it all off with Ice Cream from Brahms (an Oklahoma specialty!).

Goodbye our favorite boys!  

Georgie and I had a little fun too...lots of books were read at home!

And one more just for fun....One of our favorite past times, coloring!