Home Improvement

We've been working on our kitchen for at least a month now. New countertops and a new backsplash were the easy part. We also replaced the stove, oven, hood, and microwave. By "we", I really mean my handy-dandy hubby! We are having the walls painted this week and are still debating on what to do with the cabinets. Any suggestions are welcome.

Before (minus the old, nasty, white hood):
During (with a little help from his friend):After:
Wow! I love my new kitchen. We can't wait for Bryon's parents, my mom and step-dad, and the Morrises to all see the finished product this weekend for Shelby's birthday party. Has it already been a year??

Semi-Boring Video

One of the best gifts I got for Mothers' Day was a food tower from Harry and David from my dad and Christy. The Harry and David pears are so yummy and soft that they just melt in your mouth. Unfortunately for me, Shelby LOVES them also. I've been learning to share...Anyway, here's an amusing video of her totally enthralled with a slice of pear. Enjoy, and try not to go to sleep!

Food!

It was the best Mothers' Day I've ever had, and it was all about the food. Bryon made his famous green chili chicken enchiladas for me, Mom, and Jeff. Just like always, I ate every last bite. Then, Mom brought over the most delicious banana pudding for dessert. The guys went fishing, so Mom, Shelby, and I did a little shopping. Shelby loves to shop with Mama and Mimi and did such a great job just looking around and taking it all in. We had to re-fuel with more banana pudding after we were done!

After Mom and Jeff left, Bryon and I went to dinner at Sweet Tomato, a salad buffet place. What fun! Shelby ate a little of everything we had including corn, peas, cucumber, squash, beets, corn bread, macaroni and cheese, a strawberry, a black olive, some blueberry muffin, ice cream, and cookies. The only thing she didn't seem to like was the corn bread. It made my day to see her enjoying all the new tastes and textures and loving every minute of it.

Thanks to everyone for the good wishes and great company!

Swimming 101

Shelby started swimming lessons today. While she wasn't the star of the class, she didn't scream and cry like 2 of the students. It was a little chilly, and her bottom lip was quivering by the end of class. Hopefully she will take a long nap this afternoon!

Shelby's Walking

Watch her go!

NOW She's a Texan!

The weather turned out to be beautiful late in the day yesterday, so Noëlle, Shelby's sitter, and I took our kids to see the bluebonnets. It was a little hectic and a lot muddy, but it was SO worth it to see the great pictures we captured. For my out-of-state friends, the bluebonnet is the state flower, and it blooms all along the roadsides in the spring. Every kid that grew up in Texas has a picture just like this one! Here's Shelby with Rebel and Zoë:

Happy Easter 2009!

Our little family had a great Easter with the Rowland and Morris families yesterday, including an egg hunt with Carly and Conrad, a lively rendition of "Annie" with Linda and Jeff performing under Carly's direction, some yummy burgers from Jeff, and church on Saturday night. This time next year, Mimi will have four little ones to chase around, keeping her in tip-top shape!