Annabelle in the bluebonnets

I do have plans to take all 3 kids to get some pictures in the bluebonnets, but the boys were at school today and I needed to find out how the bluebonnets were blooming for my upcoming mini sessions.
Annabelle was having a ball running through the field chasing butterflies.  (I did ask her to try not to trample the bluebonnets and she was careful.) She and I had a lovely time playing in the flowers!

(not sure why the last one looks so dark...definitely doesn't look like that anywhere else! ugh.)

Went to the grocery store with a princess

Yup, you could say Annabelle was classin' up the joint when she strutted into Kroger wearing her tiara, tutu, and pink "polta dot" rubber boots.  Me? I just walked down the aisles like it was the most normal thing in the world to buy bananas and frozen pizza for a princess...except for the 2 minutes while I was taking pictures (also a completely normal sight for the health food aisle...a crazy lady with a camera taking pics of her crazy tutu-wearing daughter.)

Somebody let Kyle have a microphone??

Kyle's "indoor voice" would be considered a shout by just about anyone, so giving him a microphone is completely unnecessary.  But the cub scout den had the opportunity to tour a radio station and the DJ let the boys talk On Air.  It was quite the experience for Kyle.  He was so excited.

Baseball season has begun

Barrett is excited about the start of another baseball season.  Cody coaches and pitches for the team.  Right now Barrett wants to play pitcher and he is very good at hitting and getting on base. I see so much improvement each season in all of these boys.  It's amazing to watch them learn how to play. When they first started playing baseball, the Short Stop would be drawing pictures in the dirt, while the left fielder was looking the wrong direction. Nobody knew what to do with the ball when they got it but they would all run for it and fight over it anyway.  Now, they can hit a pretty fast-pitched ball, make double plays, catch fly balls, and tag runners out!  They are learning to listen to their coaches and I think this year they will learn to stop looking at where they hit the ball and just RUN!  It's going to be a great season full of fun and learning!

I love watching the games and very often Gigi is with me cheering the team on and I think that Casey and Grandma and Papa will try to make it to a few games too.

Annabelle loves going to the games and cheering for her brother...that, and getting snacks from the concession stand.

Little Mommy

Annabelle is such a little mommy.   She's nurturing and patient with her dolls.  She never forgets to tuck anyone in and gives lots of pats and kisses.  Annabelle is very often shh-ing us and whispering sweet reminders about sleeping babies.  We oblige.
When necessary, Annabelle is not afraid to be firm when someone, a baby doll, Bailey, or one of her brothers, gets out of line. Her voice gets deep and stern and she says something like, "Kyle, go to bed now." as she points her finger to the door.  I don't know where she gets this stuff!  Let's just say I need to be very careful about what and how I say things because somebody is watching me very closely.

I walked upstairs the other day because it was very quiet and found this: (Check out the name of the book she's reading to her babies)