They say it better... Faith, Dads, and Children

This is a good read for all you dads out there, and for the rest of us who encourage them...

Photo Friday XV: Randomness from the week

I am very proud of this... single-handedly dressing all these boys for baseball.

On the way to church.  I apologize for the super fake smiles.  I think this was taken at 7:45, when no mother should have their camera out.  But aren't they sweet looking in their Sunday best?

Thanks to a dear friend turning 40, Chris and I got to dress up for a fabulous 1940's party.  Who said bridesmaids dresses couldn't be worn again?

I just love to see my boys reading books, especially when it is not forced.

And I love this, when he scrunches his shoulders as he smiles.

Photo Friday XIV: Jopie's Deput

Joseph gets to be an Oriole this fall.  And he is SO excited.  Saying he loves it would be an understatement.  After watching his brothers play, he knows just what to do.  

I mean, does it get cuter than that?

Or that?

"I got on base, Mommy."

Getting some base-running advice from Daddy.

It gets a little boring out here in right field.

Deep thoughts on 2nd.

Joseph, please stay 3 forever.  Love, Mommy.

They say it better... C.S. Lewis's Advice on Writing Well

I thought this was a good article for aspiring writers.  Check it out.

Get your guns up.

A weekend in Lubbock is always a weekend in little boy heaven.  Papa and Tandy know just how to spoil us.  All of us.  Chris and I got to go on a date and see a real live movie in a real live movie theater.  I think it had been 3 years.  Sad to say that it has been that long, but it's true.  The boys got to go watch Texas Tech beat SMU, while I got some good Starbucks time (ahh, bliss!)  And to top it off, Uncle Dave-o made the weekend by gifting us his baseball card collection.  Amazing, these Wolfes and their generosity toward us, and their love they demonstrate to our boys.

Lunch at the Ranch House.  A dive that Chris says looks exactly the same as when he was a child.  Same servers and all.

I had to watch Chris put ketchup and ranch dressing on his country fried steak that was already covered with that white gravy.  Does anyone else think that is gross?

Get your guns up!

Look at all those Wolfe boys.

The presentation of the baseball cards.

They couldn't wait to get their hands on them.

A little game of tackle football with Papa.  Papa and Samuel won.  Asher cried because he was upset about the interception that he threw.  The end.

Thanks for a great weekend!

Don't.

If you are tempted to tell your kid he can buy anything he wants at the Dollar Tree, you might reconsider.  Don't do it.  Tell him he can choose anything...

Except this.

Cousin Fun, Texas Style

We had a beautiful week together.  It was refreshing having some girls in the house.  We did give all the boys a stern reminder to pee with the bathroom door shut.  We certainly didn't want to traumatize these innocent girls.  Mary and Elsa are wonderful about coming into our world.  They stepped right into baseball card trading, bowling, laser tag, and swimming EVERY day.  I think they went home exhausted, or at least I was, from our days of fun in the sun.  Thank you, Grandpa and Grandma, for bringing the girls to us this week.  I think this could become a wonderful tradition.  Hint, hint.  Now, let the photos begin...

Meet Elsa.  She is the oldest cousin.  By 2 minutes.

And Mary.  Sweet smile.

Sonic happy hour.  I think we did this 4 times.  The only time my kids get their "own fun drink" is from 2-4:00 pm at the local Sonic.

Watching video clips from camp.

#1 reason why I love Elsa.  She organized my silverware drawer.  She also asked me no less than 10 times if she could do something to help.

And Mary.  She played with Joseph like this for hours.  And I do mean HOURS!  Thank you, Mary, for loving your littlest of cousins.

A typical moment.  That picture that is randomly showing up in the slideshow is one of my favorite photos ever.

Another moment.  Notice how shiny my floors are.  I have NEVER mopped them.  Ever.  So I guess that goes to show that mopping is unnecessary.  That makes me love this photo even more.

"Aunt" Judy celebrated her 27th birthday.  Cupcakes had to be made.

A typical afternoon at Sallie and Judy's pool.  Amazing.  One night we swam in the dark and made s'mores.  Thank you for letting us take over your back yard, girls!

Rangers vs. Twins.  The cousins were divided here.  The hype of the game might have been more fun than the actual game.  They all spent hours making posters and flags.  

Bowling and laser tag.  So fun.

Crazy hair.  We have had lots of inquiries about Cry Cry's hair.  When will he get the Wolfe buzz?

Sweet Sammies night.  Yes, we did take 7 children here at about 9:00, and walked around until about 10:30.  We did get some looks like, "what are you doing here at this hour with all of those children?"  But these poor home schooled children need some socializing.  So this is how we do it, stroll them by bars at 10:00 pm.  They WILL be ready for college!

Mary and Asher.

Elsa & Samuel

The whole gang.

Isn't that sweet?

The Bademan/Wolfe cousins.

It was a great week.  Let's do it again soon!

Photo Friday XIII: Cousins

Sorry about my lack of posting.  It has been nothing short of a zoo around here lately.  A very fun zoo.  My parents brought my nieces to visit this last week, and it has been party central every day.  Since it's late (1:06 am to be exact), this will just be a photo teaser.  I hope to post again soon with more of the fun details!