Fun, Hot Weekend

What a fun, but H-O-T weekend. Thursday afternoon Gigi, Pa Pa, Aunt Ginger and cousins Hannah and Mya made it to San Antonio. We teased that they had to come to south Texas to cool off, way to many 100+ days for them in Oklahoma this summer. From the time they stepped over the threshold game was on!

Thursday after dinner we enjoyed an evening swim at the neighborhood pool. Friday morning we (except for our hard working daddy) headed to Kiddie Park and had planned on spending the morning playing followed by a yummy lunch at Mi Tierra in the Mercado area downtown. However, our plans changed when sweet baby Hayes was stung by a bee just under her eyebrow at Kiddie Park. She was such a good girl and let me put ice on the sting for about fifteen minutes while I watched for signs of an allergic reaction. Mommy is allergic to stinging critters so we crossed our fingers and were very relieved to see normal sting reactions. Hayes, Hatcher and I headed home while the rest of the crew stayed to play.

After a nap and snack Hayes was feeling better so Gigi and Pa Pa stayed with Hatcher while the rest of us went to Sea World for an evening of fun. We all had a great time but boy, was it hot! We got home around 10:30 with three tired kids and also three tired adults! Saturday morning Gigi and Pa Pa stayed with Hatcher and Mya while we went back to Sea World. How fun! We had planned on hitting the water park area Saturday but it was at capacity and the line was over a mile long. Needless to say we didn't swim there but came back for some pool time at Stonewall Ranch instead.

After breakfast and some more swim time Sunday morning (the goal was to make Hannah tired for the long drive north!) we had to say goodbye to our guests. We enjoyed the fun weekend and would love to have you all come back soon!

Pa Pa enjoying his grand girls.

Thursday night swimming with Hannah and Aunt Ginger.

Our sweet little girl ready for a fun day!

Kicked back and enjoying life!

A few hours after the bee sting. By the time we left Sea World Friday night it was much worse. Our sweet angel is so sweet the bees just couldn't leave her alone.

Hayes puffy eye Saturday morning. It looked like we punched our sweet angel in the eye. Poor baby.

Hayes loved identifying all of the colors of the fish.

Hayes, Ginger and Hannah enjoying the water show in the shade.

Our sweet angel way up high on a ride, she was all smiles and giggles. She loved it!

Feeding the sea lions.

Mr. Talkative

I have been trying to catch two things on camera for you, Hatcher talking and Hatcher rolling over. Tonight I successfully caught Hatcher in a chatty mood. He is so stinkin' cute, enjoy! We will still try and get him rolling over for you.

So serious.

He kept pushing himself up away from the pillows so he could sit up without so much support. Such a strong little guy.

So kissable!

PS - Hayes is taking 1 1/2 hour naps in her big girl bed and sleeping through the night. Hip, hip, hooray!

Sweet!

Each year the Watson family reunion is a "bring a covered dish" affair. I usually bring something sweet because that is easiest since we live soooo far away and sweets can make the eight hour drive. This year I took graham cracker toffee squares and a few of you wanted the recipe. They are super simple and as long as you have the graham crackers and toffee bits you can whip them up quickly. It makes quite a few but they never last long, around here anyway!

Enjoy!!

Yummy with a capital Y.

• 1 1/2 packages graham crackers, depending on your cookie sheet
• 1 package toffee bits
• sliced almonds, sometimes I chop them if I have time :)
• 2 sticks butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• chocolate chips, this time I tried the mini chips
• kosher salt

Preheat oven to 350. In a saucepan cook butter and sugar over medium, medium-high heat until frothy and syrupy but not brown - only takes a few minutes. While your butter mixture is cooking line your largest cookie sheet with foil and fill with graham crackers, sides touching. Sprinkle the crackers with almonds and toffee bits. Pour butter mixture over crackers and bake for about 12 minutes, until bubbly. Once out of the oven and still hot sprinkle with chocolate chips and salt. Once cool cut into two inch squares. Don't hate me...they are way too good. You can't eat just one!

*The friend that gave me the recipe toasts her almonds and chops them. I don't usually have time for those steps. I never toast my almonds but sometimes I chop them. No complaints yet! I tried the Wal-Mart brand crackers and was not happy with the result. I usually use the HEB brand, I have never tried the pricey brands.

Barium Boy

Hayes slept all night long (yippee!!) in her big girl bed and we actually woke her up at 7:15 since Tori was coming to watch her while we were at the hospital with Hatch. We are curious, what time would she have woken up on her own. She was snoozing hard!

Hatcher couldn't eat after 4:45 but he woke up at 3:30 this morning so he had a long time to wait before his procedure at 8:45. Poor guy didn't understand why we didn't feed him when he cried, he was especially confused when mommy held him but didn't nurse him. He was such a good boy when it was his turn for the x-rays. Hatcher doesn't like bottles, plain and simple and he usually only gets two - three per month. He was starving by 9:00 when the nurse gave him the barium and he gulped it down. The HUGE amount of Hershey's strawberry syrup she mixed with the barium didn't hurt. It really was a huge amount for a small bottle, enough that Craig and I both looked at each other with wide eyes!

We are so pleased to report that Hatcher only has acid reflux and nothing more severe. Craig and I are counting our blessings after seeing other children waiting in the radiology area with much more than just acid reflux. We are hoping his new medicine helps and that he outgrows this soon. He sure was wiped out and this is what he did most of the day upon our return...

Our tired little man!

We love you Hatcher!!

Life is Good

Life is going good right now and we can't really complain but there is a lot going on in our lives. Here is a brief run-down:

• After over a week of Hayes not sleeping well and not napping well, or at all, in her crib day bed mommy waved the white flag. After Mingie headed back to west Texas Sunday we loaded up and went on a full size mattress hunt. Daddy came home to covert Hayes bed to a full size bed and the kiddos and I headed out to find bedding for the new bed. At 4:30 on a Sunday afternoon our choices were quite limited considering we had to get it home, washed, and on the bed for bedtime. Hayes had fun picking out sheets at Target. She loves her big girl bed except at bedtime and nap time! We are making small strides in getting our angel back to loving her bed and being a great sleeper.
• Mid June Hatcher started spitting up rather frequently. It just kept getting worse, more frequent and more of it. He started spitting up after every feeding session and many times it was projectile. A few times it was yellow and I had called the doctor concerned with it's color. It didn't seem normal so on Friday Hatcher and I went to the doctor while Hayes stayed home and played with Mingie, Gigi and Pa Pa. Dr. Benbow suspects that Hatcher has acid reflux. Hatcher started taking Axid on Friday but it didn't seem to sit well with his stomach so I called today and they switched him to Pepcid. We hope this makes him feel better. Dr. Benbow didn't like that he has spit up yellow so on Thursday we go to the hospital for an upper GI with a small bowel follow through. Say a little prayer for Hatcher that it is just a minor issue that he will outgrow. I will let you know the results.
• And sadly I have news about my little Lexi dog. I have had Lexi longer than Craig. Lexi and I got together spring 1997 and Craig and I got together fall 1998. Lexi has been in declining health for a while but last Wednesday we found out that Lexi has a malignant lung tumor. She also has an enlarged liver so the doctor, without doing anything invasive, thinks it started in her liver and has spread to her lungs. We are trying to keep her as comfortable as possible. Such sad news.

Hayes Birthday Celebration

Thursday we were so excited that Mingie, Gigi and Pa Pa made it to our house for Hayes birthday celebration weekend. Everyone was so amazed at how much Hatcher had grown and how much more vocal Hayes has become. Saturday morning we loaded up and headed to Kiddie Park for some outdoor fun. The weather sure was warm but we all had a great time.

Gigi and Pa Pa packed up when we got home and headed back to Oklahoma but Mingie was able to stay until Sunday and left after a yummy lunch cooked by daddy. Thank you for spending the weekend with us and I'd love copies of any pictures you have...we didn't get many!

Blowing out her candles on a melting cake that didn't travel too well! Mingie and Gigi helped me play around with fondant Friday night and we made a carousel complete with horses. We couldn't get the carousel on top of the horses...the fondant was extremely melted! But it would have been so cute all put together (we don't recommend it for an outdoor party in July!).

Daddy and his little girl!

All smiles on the hand cart.

Once she got a push Hayes was able to go a little ways on her own.

Cowboys and Indians

We had a reunion of sorts for Craig tonight. When Craig attended McMurry University they were the Indians, now due to NCAA rules McMurry is simply...McMurry. My alma mater's mascot is the Cowboys. Jorge and Shannon moved into our neighborhood from Abilene last year and this week Greeley and Carrie enjoyed a family vacation in San Antonio. They all came over tonight with their families for dinner and it was a mini-McMurry reunion, five Indians and one lone Cowboy thrown into the mix! A good time was had by all and Hayes loved playing with all the big kids!

Lot's of fun for our sweet angel tonight.

Hayes still has her "cheese" face for pictures!