Ballard Bunch

so here are the rules for "eight things": . mention the person that tagged you . complete the list of eight things . tag eight of your wonderful blogger friends . go tell them you tagged them Eight things I look forward to: 1. friday 2. Jason getting home in the evenings 3. family errands/activities 4. summer 5. football Season starting 6. holiday season 7. bedtime 8. date nights Eight things I did yesterday: 1. went to the "mercado" grocery store to get cookies for Cinco de Mayo celebration at school 2. had lunch with an old friend 3. worked 4. unpacked 5. cooked dinner 6. took a shower 7. watched Tivo'd Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice 8. caught up on my Google Reader Eight things i wish i could do: 1. pray more...and not get distracted while doing it 2. run long distances and enjoy it 3. clean my house better 4. french braid Lucy's hair 5. start my own business 6. be more patient with my kids 7. make a good pie crust- everytime! 8. buy a...

We were in Port Aransas last week with my Dad and stepmom, Peepaw and GG. We stayed at a great resort, Port Royal, that was right on the beach, but also had the biggest pool in Texas!! The kids have been asking about the beach, and we were so excited for their first time to see the ocean. I absolutely LOVE the ocean- I could sit and watch the waves and listen to the sounds all day. Our back porch was about 100 yards from the ocean, and it was so great to just sit out there and see the waves roll in, and out. The Drive We left at 6:30 in the morning. The kids were so excited- and I was so apprehensive!! This was the longest driving trip we had ever been on, and I was hoping for the best. Lucy listening to the iPod Doing their craft. I brought visors for them to decorate with fish stickers We made it!!! The kids did great on the drive, but we were all so glad to get there. The view from our patio My handsome hubby We highly recommend Fins. We ate their the first night, and every night af...

Lucy was 3 1/2 on April 18. I cannot believe my baby girl is getting so big and grown up. I do NOT have little ones anymore, I have kids. They can do so much for themselves, and and growing and learning so much every time I turn around. It's going by so fast!!! She is her bubba's girl. They are so fun to watch and listen to. When they are home, they are NOT apart. They play together, watch TV together, take baths together. I say it all the time, but I love having my kids this clost together. They have a very special bond. Lucy is left-handed. Not sure where that came from, but she definitely is!! She loves to swing on stuff- whether she is actually supposed to swing on it or not! Her favorite thing at gymnastics (gew-nastics as she still calls it) is the bar. But, she will find other things to swing on outside of gymnastics class!! She is fearless. I was used to Walker, who is very careful about climbing and things like that. Not Lucy. I actually thought I lost her at a McDonal...

I didn't get a good picture of them posing in their precious Easter get-ups. It was rainy and wet on Sunday, and they were too preoccupied at Easter lunch with the petting zoo to get a good picture. What a fun weekend!! 2 egg hunts, a great lunch and TOO much candy!! They were in bed by 7:40 Sunday night and asleep by 8. Whew!!! Egg hunt next door at Peepaws. They hid them good- they kids had a blast searching!! Showing off her favorite Easter basket. The tutu comes off and she can WEAR it!!! They had a petting zoo at the Fort Worth Club this year. Lucy loved the bunny Walker holding a duckling. Ballards and Shaws in our Easter best

The kids had their Easter parties at school this week, and we have been enjoying the great weather outside since everyone is feeling better. They had a great time finding eggs, and eating treats. Walker's class serenaded us with some fun songs they have been learning. We have two more Egg hunts this weekend with family, plus our "special Easter lunch" downtown on Sunday at Fort Worth Club. I love holidays!! Jason was off one day this week, and we made it a family fun day. We picked them up from school, went and saw Monsters vs. Aliens (super cute!), and then they played outside with Daddy while I made breakfast for dinner! On the scooter (I love this one. A boy and his dog...) Riding the car (Lucy's already asking for her own for her birthday. Surprise, surprise- she wants a pink one!) Swinging in the backyard Filling the bird feeder with seed. We love seeing the cardinals! Happy Easter!!

What a week!!! I have been at home with Lucy and Walker most days. It started as allergies, but Lucy started wheezing, so we went to the doctor and started the breathing treatments. The doctor also put her on a steroid and 2 stronger allergy meds. 2 days later, she was still wheezing so we went back to the doctor- she has pneumonia!!! AHH! It's only in one lung, and he gave us an antibiotic that we started immediately. I talked to him about going to an allergist, but he thinks she is too young and doesn't need it yet. He gave us alot of samples, so hopefully that will last us until the weather calms down. This is what my counter top looks like right now. Walker is on over-the-counter allergy meds and cough medicine. Lucy is on steroids, 2 allergy meds, and an antibiotic. We finished the breathing treatments yesterday. Our New Decor!!! We have drawings taped all over the place now. The kids LOVE coloring, drawing and writing right now, and of course they want to showcase all the...

We had a blast and stayed busy last week. Jason was off most of the week, so we did some "family activities". We avoided the Fort Worth Zoo like the plague (23,000 visitors on half price Wednesday last week!!), but found some other fun stuff to do. We finally went to Dinosaur World, in Glen Rose. It is an outside trail featuring over 100 life- size dinos!! Right up the Ballards alley!! The kids loved the trail, and the fossil dig, and the museum. It was a neat place. Digging for fossils with Daddy T-Rex Triceratops My sweeties!! We finished alot earlier than we thought at Dino World, and thought- What the heck? We were only 45 minutes away from... Dublin!!! Gotta stop in at Old Doc's Soda Shop for a DP frosty and a case of good ole' Dublin Dr. Pepper. We love this stuff in our fam! We even drove through Stephenville, and got to see our favorite cousin, Amanda! Despite being Fort Worth snobs, the Dallas World Aquarium is a great place to go!! It has awesome animals th...