Mimi's Bugs

Mesmerized

2009-11-09T21:33:00.002-06:00

Charlie loves the music from Superman. When we turn on the movie, he sits immobile through the entire intro and credits singing (or dun-dun-dunning) along.

Halloween 2009

2009-10-31T23:43:00.000-05:00

Abby was the cutest little piggie ever

Emerson was Super Baby from Dora

Charlie IS Superman

Anna Jane and Ally were Princess Jasmine and Dorothy (with Toto in tow)

I even got whole family pictures which were a real treat

Bo, Mandy and Abby
Chad, Liz, Charlie and Emerson
Lucas, Lacy, Anna Jane and Ally

Charlie is THREE

2009-10-09T23:59:00.001-05:00

Charlie celebrated his birthday with (naturally) a Superman Party

Mimi made a cake that Charlie helped design

It had Metropolis with the Daily Planet

and all the other places from the movie!

Clark Kent, Superman and Jor-El

All the little Super Heros

Aracelli brought a GIANT Superman pinata for the party

Happy birthday you super little boy!

Abby is TWO

2009-09-18T00:21:00.002-05:00

Abigail Elizabeth Bain is Two Years Old

...and I am getting "SO BIG!"

Abby had a party in Dallas with her friends that week

On her actual birthday, she came to Houston and we just kept on celebrating!

Our church had a 60's Party that night and Abby danced the night away

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!

Emmy and the Bug

2009-09-09T11:19:00.003-05:00

Labor Day 2009

2009-09-07T20:06:00.004-05:00

End of summer - Oh No!

Abby was in Dallas but celebrated with friends

and sent pictures of their fun

Mimi and Papa had all the other bugs (and their parents)

for a pool party and cook out

Dare devil Charlie - Papa and Daddy encouraged him!

Liz and Chad entertained all the group by

flipping each other in the pool

Emmy had a ball too

What a great summer this has been - the pool was so fun for us all!

Halloween Preview

2009-08-31T19:58:00.001-05:00

I've always been a little premature about Christmas, BUT now it seems Halloween is beginning to come too early too!

Both Abby and Charlie have already gotten their costumes

Too Cute....

This must have been as close to a CUTE Razorback as Mandy could find!

Of course - Charlie picked SUPERMAN

Check out these abs - no gym time involved either!

Back to school...

2009-08-26T17:23:00.000-05:00

Summer is officially over. Liz returned to school, so Charlie, Emerson and Mimi are back on a regular schedule together. Mimi is not in the groove yet, and realized we needed milk and money for Aracelli QUICK! We attempted an emergency run to Kroger today all together. We were successful and Charlie wanted to show Em all the "good things" at Kroger. She shared the Spiderman ride, but not the Carousel and got no donut. Maybe next time we will actually buy groceries!

Crazy Daze

2009-08-18T20:10:00.009-05:00

Mimi and Papa had an unexpected visit with Abby. Mandy & Bo needed to be in Arkansas with Mandy's family, so we got bonus time with the bug!

The house became a wild playground and we had SO much fun

Charlie and Abby had a ball together. They invented a game with Duckie and Turtle where they sandwiched each other between the toys and screamed. So much fun for Emerson & Mimi!

Emerson was amused by it all and watched their antics safely from her Exersaucer

I knew Abby was crazy about Emerson when she insisted that she play with her precious bunny that is her security toy

Abby love going "Side Side" - which was outside in the driveway to ride the bike. She has become very brave and wanted to do it all by herself

Just a small peek at the fun at our house this week....

Charlie scares me sometimes...

2009-08-06T20:22:00.006-05:00

Charlie has returned from Orlando and yesterday as we were on our way to Little Gym, he commented on the CD that was playing. It was the CD that I made for Camp with songs that were favorites of all the kids. One of Charlie's picks was Yellow Submarine.

He never said a word during camp, but today when it started playing, he said,

"Not this one Mimi, put on the real one.

The one with John, Paul, George and Ringo."

I laughed and asked if he didn't think that was the real one. He informed me that it wasn't!

I wasn't sure which disc it was on, but I changed it and started searching through the mix tape I usually play in my car.

When the first notes of the song started, and I still had not recognized it, he said,

"Yes, that's the right one. Thanks"

Today, when I was out in my car, I put both CDs in and kept switching back and forth between the 2 versions. The camp tape is definitely not the Beatles, but it is such a good cover that I didn't even realize it when I burned the CD

COUSIN CAMP DAY FIVE

2009-07-28T20:06:00.001-05:00

Camp ended on Tuesday with a photo shoot at Mimi & Papa's house. Pictures will be posted when I get them back. What a fantastic week. They have all been gone less than a day and we miss them SO MUCH!

Anna Jane went back to Dallas with Mandy and Abby for a visit. Ally went home to see her Mommy and Daddy. Charlie and Emerson were heading to Orlando to visit Chad's grandmother.

It sure is quiet here

COUSIN CAMP DAY FOUR

2009-07-27T00:25:00.009-05:00

Day four was a trip to the Downtown Aquarium. Liz, Mandy and Mimi loaded all the cousins into Papa's Tahoe and headed downtown - we were stuffed in the car but it was fun. The kids all wore their Camp Shirts that Anna Jane and Mimi made when she was visiting

We had lunch on the patio after all the rides and exhibits

- and then they ran in the Dancing Water

...or crawled ...or rolled!

COUSIN CAMP DAY THREE

2009-07-26T00:24:00.009-05:00

Sunday we had a "Cousin Camp Party" at Little Gym. All Charlie's cousin have been to watch his gym class and they all wanted to get to play too. Coach Jeff was going to host the party, but had to attend a conference, so Coach Ashley stepped in and was GREAT! We all participated in the fun - all the grown-ups were invited too!

Liz & Chad and Mandy & Bo came to help and play

We also invited Brooke and Paige, so Nat & David joined us too

Anna Jane Ally CharlieAbby
Emerson wanted to run and play too She and Mimi played games in the wheel

After an hour and half of fun at Little Gym, we had lunch at McDonalds

Saturday Night LIVE

2009-07-25T23:43:00.001-05:00

. . . and very LIVELY!

Mimi and Papa kept all the kids overnight and the parents had a night on the town. Abby took her coloring seriously. I wish I knew what she was telling Charlie! It looks like she is giving instructions before she allows him to get a crayon Papa was in charge of a pancake supper. I wish I had a better picture of his masterpieces - there were trains, airplanes and Mickey Mouse facesWe made it through the night and everyone was up and ready for a new day by 7. Charlie and Papa made a run to Shipley's for donuts for breakfast

Anna Jane enjoyed helping with Emerson (Thank Goodness!)

Abby - our pickiest eater - won the prise for most donuts eaten!

The funniest story of the night was Emerson and Baby Ebby. Ebby is a doll we got when Anna Jane was about a year old. She has lost her hair and MUST wear feet pajamas because one leg is no longer attached. She wears 3-6 months clothing. Emerson was fretful in the night and Mimi was afraid she was too hot in her pajamas. When I couldn't find a better option in her suitcase, I remembered this, and switched their pjs. All the other kids noticed it immediately and insisted we take their picture together. I think Emerson thought ANOTHER cousin had come to camp that she had not met!

COUSIN CAMP DAY TWO

2009-07-25T23:20:00.000-05:00

Saturday morning we went to the Children's Museum. Mimi had found matching outfits for the three big girls so she had to get a picture before we left home

The Artist Studio was a favorite with all the kids. Everyone painting a picture and we hung them all on the fireplace when we got home
Abby loved the puppet stage. She didn't want to make the puppets perform - she was the star of her show
Ally made a career of operating the dams in Flow Works

Anna Jane and Papa confer over the health of an animal at the Veterinary Clinic in Kidopolis

After Charlie had checked all the dogs and cats, he made sure Emerson was in good health too
Emerson was a Rock Star! She was amazingly good

Afternoon Swim Time

2009-07-24T22:48:00.000-05:00

In the afternoons every day, we had swim time at the house. On Friday night, Bo flew in for the weekend, and we had a supper party for everyone

All Aboard! Watch out Lizzie!
Charlie love showing his Daddy his water tricks

Lacy brought Cupcakes and we celebrated our July birthdays - Ally, Liz and Papa

COUSIN CAMP DAY ONE

2009-07-24T09:56:00.000-05:00

Mimi and Papa held Cousin Camp in Houston starting July 25th. It was five day of fun with ALL the Grandchildren. On the first day we went to the Ringling Brothers - Barnum & Bailey Circus at Reliant. The circus has changed a lot since 1959, but it was still fun. In 50 years, it has become a lot more Las Vegas than Clyde Beatty, but none of the kids knew the difference

Lacy, Mandy and Liz & Chad joined Papa and Mimi and all the cousins for a family affair to see the Greatest Show on Earth

Abby was all smiles in the second half, but she spent the first half snuggled on Mandy's shoulder, peeking through her fingers. All the niose and commotion was a lot! She recovered nicely and enjoyed (I think) the rest of the show
Anna Jane hid her eyes a few times too, but she was afraid the trapeze artists were going to fall

Emerson watched every minute of the show!

Visit to Henderson

2009-07-23T10:04:00.006-05:00

Mimi accompanied Liz, Charlie and Emerson to visit Aunt Ebby in Henderson for a few days. What fun. We saw Aunt Sarah and Gerald and the cousins

Ebby let the kids turn the house upside down. She even set up a tepee for them in her bedroom

Emerson shared some quality time with EbbyCharlie reacquainted with cousins Gracie and Sarah Elizabeth Chilling in Ebby's pretty yard was fun tooEbby and Sarah are wonderful cooks, so dinners were delicious and desserts are always special. Emerson watched every bite of custard that Uncle Gerald ate and couldn't believe he was sharing with her!A visit to Main Street Gallery is always fun. We played "dolls" with Emerson and took her for a ride in a toy baby carriage Charlie was a very sweet boy playing with his aunts and (all girl) cousins, but needed a wiggle break at McDonald's one afternoon
"I'm Done!"
On the ride home, Charlie was exhausted and was trying to use his pool shoes as a pillow to get comfortable in his car seat

Dallas Mercy Mission!

2009-07-21T16:16:00.000-05:00

Bo had to have surgery, so Papa and Mimi headed to Dallas to help Mandy take care of Abby AND Bo. Bo did great and Papa kept him company as he recovered watching the British Open Golf Tournament

Abby loved riding Papa's "horse"

Mimi found a new whale pool that squirted water. Abby loved it, but Mimi could not resist trying it out too - so fun!

Quiet time with Papa

Abby and Mimi went to her gymnastics class and ALL the friends had to go too! We took her doggie for a walk around the shopping center

...and took a break at the best store EVER. A combo Baskin Robbins AND Dunkin Donuts!

Mosaic KidZ Kamp

2009-07-13T21:38:00.006-05:00

Anna Jane's theater camp performed onstage in a Musical Play they learned

The whole family went to watch the show.

Getting ready for the show

"I am the Beach Police, helping people make good decisions in the sun since Spring Break '93"

Singing and dancing in the show

Scenes from Camp Week

What a fun week

Anna Jane's week

2009-07-08T22:46:00.003-05:00

Anna Jane's week with us was so busy and so fun. She went to a theater camp every morning, and then we played the rest of the day. The pool was the biggest hit. She worked hard on her swimming and diving and got very good at it.
One afternoon, Anna Jane and Mimi played golf with Papa. We mostly just drove the cart for him, but Anna Jane tried a few shots and walked with Papa for every shot

After golf, we had supper at a restaurant with horses, goats & peacocks

Anna Jane wasn't too sure she wanted to feed the horses & goats!

Ally is FOUR

2009-07-05T22:45:00.005-05:00

Ally celebrated her fourth birthday with all her Grandparent's on July 4th. Papa and Mimi went down to Noni & Goat's new house for lunch and cake. Her birthday is actually July 6th, so she will always have a hard time having a "real" party on 4th of July weekend!

Happy Birthday America

2009-07-04T23:08:00.005-05:00

Abby got to have a real Fourth of July celebration with water and fireworks in Dallas. .

Charlie was running a fever, so the Goodmans missed all the excitement. They were all dressed in their Red, White & Blue when Charlie's temperature spiked!

Emerson still had fun with Grandmother - she did not notice that she missed the fireworks!

Ally watched her fireworks with her Mom & Dad at Kemah and Anna Jane has come for her week with Mimi and Papa. We went to a MDUMC celebration with James Coney Island hot dogs, cotton candy and the Lakeside Fireworks

Impromptu Posing

2009-06-29T23:02:00.006-05:00

Somehow I managed to get Anna Jane, Ally, Charlie and Emerson to sit still long enough for a few pictures before they went to swim today. The girls were happy if it gave them an opportunity to hold Emerson and Charlie was willing to do anything Anna Jane & Ally were doing

We Love the Pool

2009-06-25T22:46:00.005-05:00

Who would have ever thought we would love having a pool in our yard! We have NEVER wanted one and I certainly did not think I would EVER get in it. Never say Never! Between gardening in this heat wave and Grandchildren - we are loving it.

Father's Day 2009

2009-06-21T23:04:00.005-05:00

Charlie, Emerson, Liz and Chad joined Papa and Mimi for church for Father's Day. We celebrated after church with lunch at Cafe Express before Papa went to the golf course.

Carousel Fun

2009-06-17T22:44:00.006-05:00

Today Liz and I took Charlie and Emerson to Memorial City for lunch and Carousel Rides. Charlie loves the Tea Cup and Emerson thought the horses and music were all very festive and fun

Emerson caught sight on Charlie's Marble Slab ice cream cone and wanted it so badly

Charlie's Swimming Lessons

2009-06-15T22:43:00.007-05:00

Charlie has been enrolled in MANDATORY swim lessons. He has no fear of the water and thinks nothing of just jumping in the pool at our house. It doesn't matter to him that he can't swim! He just comes up gasping & sputtering saying "I'm okay" - AFTER someone pulls him out! He is seriously dangerous.

He loved swimming lessons - but he loved the lollipop at the end the most!

It hasn't taught him to swim, but maybe has given him a little respect for the water. He was taught to get himself into a back float if he falls in. MAYBE?

Abby & Ally channel Anna Jane

2009-06-10T22:35:00.000-05:00

This picture of Anna Jane at 4 is on the cabinet in my den. It's a total "Anna Jane pose" with her head cocked to the side. Abby saw it and immediately tried to imitate the pose. Her posing was totally unsolicited and was so funny.Abby was a natural with the cocked head & smile

A week later, Ally was visiting, and noticed the picture too. She commented that she had the dress Anna Jane was wearing in her suitcase. She promptly changed her clothes and asked me to put her hair into pigtails like her sister's in the picture. It was truly a Kodak moment. I have never thought they look alike - to me they are so much their own little personalities - but Ally looked so much like her sister.
She definitely was not a natural at striking the pose. Abby had her beat!

105 in the Shade

2009-06-09T23:07:00.010-05:00

Record HOT temperatures are making outdoor fun miserable in Houston, as well as Dallas. Abby is LOVING the pool

Charlie & Coach Jeff

2009-06-05T22:39:00.006-05:00

At the Little Gym May Show, Charlie performed for Mimi, Papa, Mom, Ally & Emerson. He loved his Little Gym teacher this semester; Coach Jeff is his new hero!

Ally comes for her "Week Visit"

2009-06-04T22:41:00.001-05:00

Once Ally's school was over the year, she was able to come for a week visit with Mimi and Papa. We had so much fun just playing at the house. Liz was still in school, so she had lots of time to play to play with Charlie and EmersonAlly loved getting to know Emerson better
Ally and Mimi made pesto with the basil we grew in the garden

Dance Recital Act 3: Anna Jane

2009-05-30T23:15:00.001-05:00

Anna Jane is an old pro at Recitals. She has been dancing for several years and has had three Recitals. This is her favorite part - Costumes, Stage & Make-up!

There was no doubt Anna Jane was getting up on the stage. This is her favorite part about taking dance lessons - getting dressed up in costumes and performing on stage for the final recital! She is an old pro by now with three Recitals to her credit.

Dance Recital Act 2 - Ally

2009-05-30T22:40:00.001-05:00

Ally performed in her first Dance Recital this year. She had insisted she would do it, but we were not sure if stage fright might win out! Not to worry. She was amazing. She danced a ballet and a tap and had a ball.

Dance Recital Act 1

2009-05-30T20:34:00.001-05:00

For the first time this year, Lacy had both girls in dancing classes, which meant TWO dancers in the the Recital. In prior years, the week of Recital for Anna Jane, Ally would spend the week with Mimi, because of the hectic schedule of pictures and practices for the Show! Lacy & the girls had a VERY BUSY week, but it worth it all when the big night arrived and the house light dimmed...

Memorial Day

2009-05-28T22:38:00.002-05:00

All Family Pool Party on Memorial Day Weekend

It was wonderful having all the Bugs with us and we had a day of Sun & Fun and lots of water!

Feeding the Ducks

2009-05-25T22:33:00.004-05:00

Abby was in town, so Charlie and I took her to see the Ducks at Westlake. Emerson went too, but she slept through the whole trip. We had so much fun and found lots of ducks and lots of Turtles!

Charlie is not my Baby Boy anymore

2009-05-12T22:36:00.007-05:00

My school year with Charlie is almost over and it makes me sad! Next year he will go the real school 3 days a week and our lazy days of Randall's & Kroger shopping, walks to the lake and hanging out watching Wonder Pets will be numbered.

Each day he gets more "grown up" and he amazes me. Today he found Anna Jane's craft box and of course wanted to glue and cut. He worked so hard and concentrated on those scissors so hard to make them work. He was really pretty good for 2 1/2 years old! At least he could cut the paper.

We play golf on Sunday, right?

2009-04-28T21:39:00.013-05:00

When we were in Louisville for the Ryder Cup Tournament last September, we got Abby this smocked dress. This was taken Sunday after Church this week.
Look closely at the smocking...

GOLF BAGS!

Emerson is THREE months old

2009-04-27T21:31:00.009-05:00

Of course, I think all my BUGS are perfect and adorable. BUT...
Emerson may be the happiest little bug ever
She has the sweetest disposition & like most 2nd children, is undemanding.
When she cries, it almost scares me, because it is so seldom I hear her do it!
She smiles at everyone who talks to her
Hopefully this sweet personality is permanent!

Louisville Wedding

2009-04-17T21:50:00.006-05:00

In April, Anna Jane accompanied Mimi, Papa and her Mom to Louisville for her cousin Brittany's wedding.
All my other bugs were too little for the event.
Anna Jane loved getting to be "one of the big girls" with her older Ball cousins

Jaby, Papa, Libba, Allie, Cortney, Sissy, Jennie, Anna Jane, Mimi, Lacy and Bill

Anna Jane with second cousins, Cortney & Allie

Anna Jane was flower girl at Cortney's wedding in Charlotte two years ago

Anna Jane & Mom at the wedding

Spring Time Fun for Everyone

2009-04-15T22:22:00.001-05:00

All my bugs are busy doing so many fun things. Here are a few highlights of the pics they have sent me of the fun things they are doing

Charlie, Emerson, Liz & Chad went to the zoo

Ally went to the movies for the first time with Lacy to see Madagascar

Abby discovered Water Spray Parks & LOVED them!

Ally came for a day visit and Charlie shared his flower sprayer in the garden

Anna Jane is so busy with REAL school and all her activities with friends that I do not get to have her come visit like we used to get to do. We are planning a BIG week visit this summer

Class of 2029 ?

2009-04-15T21:21:00.003-05:00

I guess it is never too early to plant that seed. Mandy and Abby took a trip to Waco and visited campus and the Bear Pit.

Sic Em Bears!

Easter Sunday

2009-04-12T21:03:00.002-05:00

We celebrated the day with Church at MDUMC with all the Goodmans and all the Jones. After services, Nancy joined us all for dinner at Mimi and Papa's house. The weather did not cooperate - it was raining buckets - but that did not dim our fun

Liz, Chad, Charlie & Emerson in their Easter best

Brooke, Paige & Charlie did not seem to mind that the eggs were hidden only on the patio.

They had eggs! They had candy! All was good!

Easter Egg Hunting

2009-04-05T20:51:00.003-05:00

With Easter coming soon, the Easter Bunny was everwhere. Charlie and Emerson came to LOP for our neighborhood Egg Hunt and Abby saw the Bunny in Little Rock

Emerson was the only one willing to pose with the Bunny

We laughingly called it an Egg Run instead of an Egg Hunt

Eggs were everywhere - all over the ground

Papa and Mimi with our littlest Easter Egg

Playdate with Paige

2009-03-31T21:13:00.003-05:00

Gigi and Paige joined Mimi and Charlie for a play date. The weather was beautiful and they had a ball in the yard. They tried really hard to "accidentally" fall into the fountain they were not supposed to be touching

Charlie was busy moving the yard art from place to place

Paige was willing to stop and pose for me!

Another Sunday Night at Pine Forest

2009-03-29T22:15:00.001-05:00

It is always fun when the "younger generation" joins us old folks on Sunday night for supper at the club. This was Emerson's first of hopefully many Sunday suppers at Pine Forest. Brooke was thrilled to meet her and go her to smile and laugh

Liz, Emerson, Chad, Charlie, Paige, Bob, Brooke, Gigi & Papa

Charlie was more interested in the flags on the putting green than playing with the girls

Gigi, Mimi and the kids take a cart ride before supper

First Day Back at School

2009-03-25T22:26:00.002-05:00

Liz returned to School after Spring Break and Charlie and Emerson got to come back to stay with Mimi. On our first day together, during Charlie's nap, Em and Mimi had a little photo session

Happy Happy Baby Girl

How long will this last, Mimi?

I pushed my luck and posed her one too many times. She spit up all over her clothes and Mimi was caught completely by surprise and unprepared. I had to wrap her in a dish towel until I could find new clothes for her

Emerson was still smiling after all Mimi's silly-ness

Spring Break

2009-03-20T22:42:00.001-05:00

Anna Jane and Ally had their school Spring Break and came to spend the week with Mimi and Papa. The weather was beautiful and we spent the entire week outside playing. The girls spent hours on the bikes and we walked to the lake to see the ducks and play on the playground

My little girls are getting so grown up!

The girls and Mimi worked hard on making a sidewalk for the new flowerbed we put in outside the breakfast room window. We started with tiles, but decided to make it nicer. We found bricks in the backyard and the girls loaded them in the wagon and brought LOTS of loads to the garden. After we laid them out, they brought buckets of sand to fill the cracks.

It looked amazing and we had such fun doing it together

Of course, we made plenty of time to play with Charlie too

I love to have the cousins play together and watch them have fun

Lunch at Mimi's - Chicken Nuggets and Pizza!

...with a little Blue Bell for dessert

If it's Spring - There are Bluebonnets in Texas

2009-03-15T20:45:00.002-05:00

Charlie and Emerson posed with the Wildflowers

Rodeo Houston

2009-03-14T23:31:00.000-05:00

Horses, Cows and Pigs - OH MY!

We saw them all and a lot more. We had a fabulous day at the Livestock Show and Carnival. It was a big group and that made it even more fun. We saw a baby calf born, rode horses and went on lots of carnival rides. FUN FUN FUN

The favorite activity for the kids was a hill which was designed to be a viewing area for an exhibit. It was covered in astroturf and Anna Jane, Ally and Charlie thought it was made to be a "mountain" for them to roll down!

Carnival Rides with Chad

Charlie thought the BIG trucks and Tractors were the best

The girls picked a crop in the "Farm to Market" exhibit and took their produce to market for sale

Urban Cowgirl

Nothing runs like a Deere

...and Charlie drove them all

Emerson was an angel! She watched and dozed and smiled

Yee Haw

Finally....

2009-03-06T22:05:00.002-06:00

The week Emerson was born, Anna Jane and Ally got a virus that lingered for weeks. It was the first of March before they were all healthy enough to come to meet the new baby.

Mimi & Papa loved having 4 of the bugs at their house

Anna Jane is so sweet and gentle and was so excited to finally hold her new cousin

Ally too!

Bathtime Fun

2009-02-15T20:36:00.002-06:00

Emerson loves her bathtime and her snuggly towels!

Most of the time...

Mardi Gras

2009-02-14T21:57:00.003-06:00

The Hilbrichs go to Louisiana to visit the Prestons. They got to go to several Mardi Gras Parades and came home with LOTS of beadsAnna Jane with Becca and J P Preston
Beads, Beads ...

...and MORE BEADS

A Weekend with Abby

2009-02-09T21:39:00.002-06:00

Bo and Mandy had a weekend get-a-way so Abby could stay and play with Mimi and Papa

We had a wonderful time playing and playing and playing

Abby loved to dance in the Musical Skirt

Playing with the Dora Playhouse was a favorite past time

Abby is a VERY picky eater, but she loved Mimi's Blue Bell

Abby tried so hard to make friends with Missy. She was frustrated that Missy would not take the Milkbones from her

After playing Beauty Parlor, Abby loved checking out her hair in the big mirror in Mimi's room. She doesn't really need a reason to find a mirror - she is infatuated with her image!
She discovered she could use the car bumper as a mirror as well

A trip to Kroger with the babies. She LOVES Baby Ebby

Abby & her parents come to meet Emerson

2009-02-05T21:25:00.001-06:00

Abby meets her new cousin

Abby, Mandy & Bo came to Houston for a week to meet Emerson.

After her slow start, Emerson, is GREAT

She is a delightful happy baby and it's hard to believe she was so sick less than two weeks ago. Charlie and Abby voted for supper at Chuck E Cheese - so little Emerson went too

I Hope it Lasts...

2009-02-05T20:24:00.001-06:00

Charlie loves to run the vacuum - hope his obsession lasts until it will work to my advantage!

I think Aracelli and I created the monster of Charlie's passion for the vacuum cleaner. When he was tiny, she was so afraid it was going to scare him, that she went to great lengths to make it appear like a fun toy so he would not be afraid. She succeeded! He is NOT afraid - he loves it and will forgo most games if he can run it himself. When Aracelli is around, all he wants to do is HELP her. She is very patient and they have become great friends
On a trip to Bed Bath & Beyond, we had to take a few minutes to test all the floor models!

Anna Jane is SEVEN

2009-01-31T20:16:00.002-06:00

It is hard to believe that my little Ladybug is getting so big. She is seven going on seventeen. She has outgrown "family parties" with grandparents - her celebration was an AMERICAN GIRL TEA PARTY for her friends and their AG Dolls.

Anna Jane, Samantha & Mia with her party guests

Emerson finally comes home

2009-01-26T21:05:00.006-06:00

Emerson improved so quickly she was released on January 26th. Liz and Mimi arrived at the hospital for a visit that morning and got the unexpected news. Chad was at the Park with Charlie, they rushed home, got a car seat installed and came to pick them up

Charlie meeting his sister for the first time

He immediately thought she was great

Emerson at last in her crib at home with her new friends Charlie was fine about having to share Mom and Dad

A new BUG arrives

2009-01-25T19:55:00.009-06:00

EMERSON GRACE GOODMAN

Our newest bug arrived on January 20th but gave us quite a scare. Emerson's oxygen level was low, so she was taken to the NICU and had to stay for almost a week. It was days before her Mom could first hold her, but Mimi captured the moment finally at almost midnight on January 23rd

For days, Emerson lived in a little plastic oxygen bubble and we could only peek at her and gently touch her little foot. The nurses did not want stimulation that could cause her breathing to accelerate so touching was very limited

Finally, when Emerson was five days old, she was removed from her oxygen completely and moved to her own little isolette by a window

Emerson's wonderful nurse, Jean, surprised Liz when she returned that afternoon for a visit. She had started her on her bottle and her Mommy was able to feed her

Welcome 2009

2009-01-14T19:37:00.005-06:00

In early January, Ally came for a visit. Charlie and Ally made the most of their visit time doing all the things they liked to do together.

Helping Mimi in the yard is a favorite, and they did not seem to care that it was winter and nothing was growing and they had to bundle up. They spent hours moving dirt between all the empty flower beds.

It is so cute to watch them talk so seriously to each other - they love playing together

Ally loved taking a long bath in Mimi's big tub

A rare quiet moment watching The Wonder Pets

Ally got to go watch Charlie's Little Gym Class and he showed her how to swing on the bars

Aunt Lacy met us at class and she became a great basketball goal for Charlie

SANTA CAME...

2008-12-27T01:18:00.009-06:00

...with toys for good little Girls and Boys

Abby was in Little Rock, but they arrived in Houston the day after Christmas
Christmas Morning Fun
Bain Cousins: Top step - Charlie, Grace & Ally
Bottom Ste The Wii was the most popular gift this Christmas - with everyone!
Aunt Ebby, Aunt Sarah, Kelly, Grace & Madeline arrived on the 27th for the weekend and we all participated in a Wii Bowling Tournament that lasted all day
Top step -Charlie, Grace & Ally

Bottom step - Madeline, Anna Jane & Abby

Christmas Eve

2008-12-24T00:34:00.004-06:00

On Christmas Eve we celebrated our 15th ANNUAL Christmas Eve Party in our new home. As always, it was a wonderful celebration with family and friends. After Church at MDUMC with Liz and Chad and all of Bob & Georgia's family, we headed home to welcome our guestsLacy, Liz & Natalie - Haven't changed a bit since 1993, huh?
Our New Generation of Christmas Eve-ers

Paige, Jacob, Brooke, Annika, Audrey, Brody, Anna Jane & Charlie

Jacob, Brody & Charlie had a field day with the Trains & Little People Village

Charlie spent the holidays quite upset over the inflatable decorations. I think it was the noise that disturbed him. On Christmas Eve he finally made friends with the patio snowman

What a special surprise when Tommy arrived from Seguin for the party

Emily and Liz with Caroline & Emerson (almost here)
As the party came to a close, Ally got her stocking ready for Santa to arrive!
MERRY CHRISTMAS

Breakfast with Santa Claus

2008-12-13T00:05:00.003-06:00

December 13th was our annual Breakfast with Santa Claus at Pine Forest Country Club. Lacy, Liz and Mimi took Anna Jane, Ally and Charlie for a morning of fun with balloons, tricks, music, food and most important - SANTA!

When Santa took to the floor for song time, Charlie was completely enthralled

To Charlie, EVERYTHING he saw was exciting and amazing!

Anna Jane and Ally love the balloon animals made by the clown and face painting

This year Jessi, Luann and Jamison joined us for Breakfast. Emily and Brody were there too with the Lefler family so all three boys posed together

OLD FRIENDS * * * NEW TRADITIONS

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-11-30T23:45:00.003-06:00

It was always our family tradition to travel to Mississippi for Thanksgiving with the Ball Family, so celebrating in Houston is a new experience. We are having to make our own NEW traditions, but we will, in time. One thing that did not change was that Mimi & her Bugs got out the Christmas Decorations that week and did a little Pre-Thanksgiving decorating. We did wait until the Thanksgiving table was cleared before getting the tree out!

Bo and Mandy came from Dallas for the whole week so our house was filled with fun all week. Anna Jane had fun helping with the decorating and cooking dinner, Ally & Charlie had fun with each other and "helped" us a lot and Abby was much more interested in Missy and the singing Christmas toys than the people! We had a ball together - carrying on BALL traditions in Houston

Halloween 2008

2008-10-30T23:12:00.002-05:00

Anna Jane and Ally were magical fairies this year. Anna Jane was a Disney Fairy and Ally was Sesame Street's Abby Cadabby

Abby was just learning to walk, but there was no stopping this little puppy in her Trick or Treating mission!

My poor pumpkin Charlie started running a fever before he even got out the door and never got his first piece of Halloween candy

Abby's Dedication

2008-10-20T23:29:00.002-05:00

All the family traveled to Dallas to celebrate with Abby at her Baby Dedication at their Church in Dallas. Mandy was a great host as we all turned her house upside down. The Hilbrichs, Goodmans and Mimi & Papa stayed at the Embassy Suites which made for more fun with elevators and waterfalls!

Abby was beautiful in the gown Ebby brought from Belgium, but was really happy to get back into her comfy clothes and play.

Charlie enters the Terrific Twos!

2008-10-10T22:55:00.003-05:00

Charlie celebrated his Second Birthday at home with a BOOTS party

The yard was filled with lots of family and friends

Anna Jane & Brooke joined Charlie in the Sandbox

Paige, Ally, Anna Jane and Charlie enjoy Boots & Blue Bell
...and everyone bounced until they were pooped out!

What a fun time at the Goodman house

Abby is One Year Old

2008-09-28T21:56:00.005-05:00

Abby took her first airplane ride on her first birthday! Mommy, Daddy and Abby flew with Mimi and Papa to Louisville to visit Grandaddy Robert and the Great Boo

Abby thought the cake was very interesting!

We made the trip to Louisville for her Papa and her Daddy to go to the Ryder Cup.

It was a special time because it was a four generation celebration with Grandaddy Robert, Mimi, Daddy and Abby

Charlie goes to School

2008-09-15T22:01:00.001-05:00

Charlie started school this month. He goes one day a week and so far he seems quite content. Not thrilled, but happy enough. How can this be as much fun as Gran or Mimi's house??

Busy Busy Busy

2008-09-13T21:12:00.002-05:00

I can make a lot of excuses for being so negligent on my blogs - but number #1 is MOVING and #2 is named IKE! We have been BUSY packing and remodeling, to be ready to move - hopefully this Friday! In the midst of it all, IKE came to visit.

Anna Jane and Ally (with Mom) left home Thursday before IKE under a mandatory evacuation order and arrived at Mimi & Papa's on September 11th. Our house filled with their other grandparents and their aunt & uncle who live near the Gulf.

Charlie, Anna Jane & Ally take advantage of fun times at Mimi's house. Who cares that IKE is getting closer and stronger!

Ally and Charlie welcome Paige to the bedlam (I mean fun!)
By suppertime on Friday the 12th - the first winds of IKE arrived

We lost electricity about 8 o'clock. We relaxed on the patio to enjoy Ike's early cool breezes. All the patio furniture had been removed lest it blow away, so we made do with "Early Igloo" for furnishings as we listened to radio reports of Ike's approach.

Anna Jane was having a ball with all the excitement before the storm actually arrived

I tried to take a picture through the front door as the storm raged. Ally annouced at 4 am that "Ike was just so loud he woke her up!" AMEN. We were all VERY blessed that no one suffered any serious damages - just a sleepless night and days on end of no power or water.

Watch out world - Charlie has WHEELS!

2008-08-19T19:15:00.003-05:00

Charlie and Mimi are back to our "school" routine after a long summer apart. We celebrated our first day back together at Target and came home with a bike. He wanted a blue BOOTS bike, but he had to settle for orange and red (to Charlie it is a BOOTS bike - not DORA)

Taking Boots, Ernie and Monkey for their first ride

Abby came to town

2008-08-17T21:03:00.009-05:00

Abby (and her mom and dad) came for a visit. It was a wonderful six days for Mimi and Papa. She has grown so much and "talks" now. She loves to GO GO GO and clearly says DADA but is close to MAMA as well. I think she knows Mandy is trying to get her to say it because she smiles and says DADA when we tried. A few pics from our week:

She was crazy about Missy (not sure it was a mutual attraction) and she is quite a dancer and as you can see in this video below, she LOVED Mimi's silly singing animals!

It's a busy busy summer

2008-08-17T20:25:00.006-05:00

I have been reprimanded for my lack of blogging, but with my bugs off on vacations, my life has been busy with house packing instead of my usual bug time. Not as much fun! We now have possession of our new home and in usual Papa style we have begun overhauling everything. Why am I surprised?

We have already painted, and will start ripping up floors tomorrow! We did initiate the pool this week with all the bugs plus Brooke and Paige

Water Park

2008-07-14T13:47:00.007-05:00

Today Liz and Mimi took Anna Jane, Ally and Charlie to the Noah's Ark Water Park for a morning of water fun and lunch.
Anna Jane had a ball taking care of Charlie in the water" - however Charlie was fearless and really did not need HELP!

Ally was a daredevil too - she and Charlie loved the big water slide

Charlie would dive bomb into the water with no fear of sinking.

What a fun day!

Sunday Supper

2008-07-13T21:24:00.003-05:00

It's always fun when one of our bugs joins us on Sunday night for supper after golf. Tonight was extra special, because we had TWO

Unfortunately, Mimi had packed the kid's golf clubs, but the girls were quite content to roll golf balls toward the hole and across the walks! Riding in the Golf Cart is a special treat too.

Video on Demand

2008-07-12T18:47:00.004-05:00

Anna Jane and Ally are here for a stay and just saw the video of Abby on our blog. They wanted to see if themselves on tape so they gave a mini-concert for me to tape...

2008-07-09T20:23:00.002-05:00

Charlie and Liz have continued his Little Gym classes over the summer. I have missed two weeks with them and today was amazed at how much "braver" Charlie was in class. I think his mommy is braver too and Mimi has been too overprotective!

He definitely is loving his promotion from BIRDS to BEASTS

Ally is THREE

2008-07-06T15:29:00.009-05:00

Today Ally turned three, we celebrated with a fun party with family and friends at home. After changing her theme of choice from Elmo to Dora to Sesame Street to Tinkerbell - she picked a cake with Disney Princesses which had not even been on her list!
She told us her theme was YELLOW

Four VERY serious faces as Mommy tried to light the candles on the cake. Luckily she mastered the task!

With the candles successly lit and blown out, the girls chose their favorite Princess figure to lick clean of icing. Ally, of course, chose BELLE because she is YELLOW

Charlie had no interest in the Princesses, but LOVED the cake. Looking at his cute suit you wouldn't think any made it into his mouth!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MY SWEET BUSY BEE!

2008-07-05T16:29:00.001-05:00

Anna Jane lost another tooth and Abby got a new one this week. I'm wondering if maybe the Tooth Fairy is keeping the teeth in the family and just sending them on to Abs when Anna Jane has finished with them.

Fun Days

2008-07-04T19:31:00.008-05:00

Tuesday morning Mimi headed north with Charlie and Liz to visit Abby and Mandy while Bo was on a business trip. Abby has grown so much since I saw her a month ago. She is full of new and exciting tricks!CRAWLING
PAT-A-CAKE

What a joy it was to watch these two little cousins get reacquaintedBoth bugs loved the pool
Charlie enjoyed showing Abby all about how to operate the toys, and she watched patiently as if he were so smart. For the record, she needed no assistance, she was being kind. She was all over the place - playing and doing whatever she wanted. We had a great day at the Park
SAND
SWINGS

and SLIDES

Playing Peek-A-Boo with Mimi upstairs in "her room" as she packed her bags to head home. I miss her terribly already.

Two Special Beez

2008-06-30T22:03:00.004-05:00

The day our sweet friend and real estate agent came to the house to talk about selling our home we love, Ally was visiting us. Our friend's name is BEEZ and Ally couldn't wait to drag out her Bee Outfit and tell Beez that, she too, was a Busy Bee! While Beez was taking house photos, she snapped these of Ally.

Mimi's FIFTH bug is on the way...

2008-06-30T13:37:00.003-05:00

Fun in the Sun

2008-06-28T22:31:00.005-05:00

Anna Jane and Ally spent Saturday with us, so Charlie joined in for a little water play. I think they all thought they were going to play in a REAL pool because they had seen one Papa and Mimi were buying. They seemed content with hoses and a sprinkler though.

Ally took a break to taste test Papa's newly harvested tomatoes!

Rub-A-Dub-Dub three bugs on a NAP MAT! Charlie shows off his Jurassic Park skills to the girls

Abby is on the move

2008-06-27T22:30:00.007-05:00

I am So Big!!!!!

June 27th

Nine months and nine days old

Thank goodness I will see her in four days!

Charlie's summer with Mommy

2008-06-20T13:58:00.001-05:00

Summer is a great time - but for Mimi it means that Liz is home from school - and Charlie doesn't come to play all the time like we are used to doing. I still manage to see a lot of them both, but they are having a ball together this summer

Discovery ParkLots of Pool Time fun. Charlie has met some BOYS his age to play with at the pool, I was afraid he was beginning to believe there were only little girls in this world!
Takin' time to stop and smell the roses (or wildflowers as they were)
...and a daily phone call to Papa is mandatory

Is there life after GOLF?

2008-06-18T22:36:00.003-05:00

Contrary to popular belief Papa and Bob do more than play golf
Sometimes they play Pin Ball

Special Friendships

2008-06-15T22:29:00.003-05:00

When school was out, Lacy took Anna Jane and Ally to visit her friend Amy whose boys are the girls' ages. What fun all three had renewing old friendships. We loved seeing the pictures and hope we see this sweet special family soon

Ally, Anna Jane, Cole and Travis

I stole my pic from Amy's cute blog! Thanks, Conner

A Day at the Beach

2008-06-12T22:29:00.002-05:00

Papa's sister, Aunt Sarah rented a beach house and we took our crew down for a spend the day with the cousins from East TexasCharlie loved the surf and had no fear
Ally had more fun with the Sand Castles
Anna Jane was our bathing beauty
and Charlie was everywhere
And like his Papa, he spotted a GOLF CART and was ready for a game!

Our Bugs Love Water!

2008-06-11T22:31:00.002-05:00

Mimi and Papa have been a little sidetracked from the blog because we happened on a new house that we loved. In a whirlwind - we made an offer and find ourselves moving out of our home of 20 years! It was the pool and backyard that sold us...
Our Bugs are gonna love it!!!!

Abby's Security "Blanket"

2008-06-02T22:27:00.004-05:00

My littlest bug in Dallas has become VERY attached to the bumpers on her crib! When she visited us weeks ago, her Mommy brought her own bumpers and we thought it was cute that they thought it would matter to Abby.

IT DOES!

Not only do they appear to be her "Security Blanket" - they act as a pillow!

Dance Recital

2008-05-31T22:25:00.003-05:00

Anna Jane's Dance Recital was a HIT!
Needless to say, Mimi thought she was FABULOUS
...so did Papa!

Last Week of School

2008-05-25T22:26:00.006-05:00

Ally came to stay for a week at the end of May. Anna Jane was still in school, as was Liz, and Nancy was in Maryland with Farr & Justin welcoming Charlie's new cousin, Jackson.

Ally, Mimi and Charlie had a great week together. As pictures will prove - they are both serious ELMO fans

They had so much fun playing together
We had lots of Nillas (Charlie stores his in his cheeks for safe keeping)We made daily runs to Randalls where they helped with grocery shopping
But the best entertainment of all was pretending to cruise in the little red car sitting in the driveway

Skippers

2008-05-22T19:52:00.005-05:00

On Tuesday, Lacy and Ally were planning as usual to join Mimi for the day. With Charlie, Abby and Mandy at the house, we were going to have a ball. Liz decided Monday she couldn't miss the fun so she took a day off to play.

When Anna Jane woke up Tuesday morning, she had lost her library book, couldn't find her P.E. shoes, was missing her "bonus beads", etc, etc. etc...

She NEVER said she just didn't want to be left out - but she's no dummy!

Even her aunts that are teachers understood she NEEDED to skip school.

WE HAD A GREAT DAY ALL TOGETHER

We headed for the cool comfort of Memorial City Mall - not to shop - to play
The Carousel
The Game Room

Anna Jane helped Abby play at the Castle

We even had a group picture made at the JCPenny studio. I don't think we got a portrait suitable for framing, but we captured the fun of the moment. I'll post pics when they arrive!

The day ended in the Jumping Waters

Kissin' Kin

2008-05-19T11:00:00.002-05:00

Sunday night at the Club for dinner.
Gigi, Bob and their crew aren't relatives,

but definately qualify as "Kin Folks"
We're three generations of friendship

Third generation buddies: Charlie, Paige, Brooke and Abby

This weekend proved one thing for me. It is impossible to take a picture and get four preschoolers to sit still, look at the camera and smile at once!

Happy Birthday Abby

2008-05-18T21:05:00.004-05:00

Abby is 8 Months Old today!

As Good As It Gets

2008-05-17T20:41:00.001-05:00

Today was A happy day at Mimi's house! All four bugs were together for a day of fun. Papa, Lacy & Lucas, Liz & Chad and Bo went to a play downtown; Mandy stayed with Mimi at the house to play. Bo, Mandy and Abby arrived about noon and the fun began...

Liz, Chad and Charlie arrived soon after

By one o'clock, everyone was there and the chaos was in full swing!

By late afternoon, Mandy was willing to try ANYTHING for a rest break!

BUBBLES, BUBBLES, BUBBLES

2008-05-13T20:49:00.006-05:00

Lacy, Ally, Charlie and I spent the morning on a search for the perfect bench for the patio. Success!

Then it was time for playing in the bubbles

and more Bubbles...
and MORE BUBBLES!

Happy Mother's Day

2008-05-11T22:02:00.001-05:00

I had a fabulous Mother's Day with 2/3 of my children and 3/4 of my bugs!

Unfortunately Abby is digitally inserted into the picture

After Church together, we had a fabulous lunch at Liz and Chad's house

And I got fabulous new yard toys!!!

The wagon actually DUMPS and the garden cart has a CUP HOLDER!

Soccer Saturday

2008-05-10T20:30:00.004-05:00

What a fun Saturday - we drove down to see Anna Jane's Soccer game at 8:30!

She had a whole cheering section -
Mom, Dad, Ally, Nonie & Goat and Mimi & Papa
Anna Jane REALLY gets in there and plays hard