More Camping Fun...

Due to popular demand, we must have more pics of the great camp out!! :-)

The Big Camp Out

This Saturday, the girls got to spend an evening alone with their Daddy. He decided to take them on a "camp out". This means they go out and sleep in the yard in our RV. (I know, it doesn't sound very exciting, but clearly, if you are a kid, this is an AWESOME thing!) Luke really went all out - he built a camp fire and they roasted hot dogs and marshmallows. They got to stay outside until dark playing on our new swing set. Then they slept "under the stars" (sort of...) :-)
All of this without mommy's help! Fabulous! Super-Dad even managed to take photos of the whole thing. Here are the photos for your viewing pleasure!!!

Horse Lovin' Gal

Katie has a new "hobby"... horses! She is really a "horse-lovin' gal" right now. She's taking riding lessons and is lobbying her Daddy really hard for a horse of her own. Mom says after she has taken lessons for a year, and THEN if we have a barn or some other place to keep this horse, we will TALK about it. Katie thinks I am a real downer for being so practical! :-)

GRACE

My latest Gracie story is pretty typical for her... A few weeks ago we went out to eat in Waco at a Japanese Hibachi place. The kids thought it was great, so we went again to celebrate my birthday. The owner, who is named Mr. Miagi (yes, like Karate Kid), remembered Grace by name when we came in the second time. (I understand why... she can be hard to forget sometimes, if you know what I mean! ha ha) Anyway, he played with her and brought her chopsticks and introduced her to the waitress, who was named Angela. So, we have a great time and Luke and think that is the end of it. BUT, NO! A couple of nights later, we are saying bedtime prayers and Miss Grace folds her hands and closes her eyes, and (in typical Gracie fashion) says: "Thank you, God, for Angela and Mr. Miagi and the 'Bachi place. The End." No mention of her parents or sisters or anyone else, but we are really thankful for the Japanese Hibachi place. Enough said.

Wake Up, Daddy

My darlin' husband has been on-call twice this week, so he's pretty tired. Then last night he got called into the E.R. for a big car wreck with mulitiple victims. He was gone in the middle of the night for several hours. So, naturally, this morning Miss Gracie was up bright and early to wake us up! It was actually pretty cute, because she was so pleasant and SO determined. She kept saying, "Rise and Shine, Daddy!" We tried to lure her into the living room to drink chocolate milk and watch Scooby-Doo (two of her favorite things right now), but even then she was back after a few minutes. This was her third attempt to get him up, and I just had to take some pictures. (Luckily, he never reads this blog, so he won't know I put these photos on it!)

Random Photo Time!

Just a few more random photos of the girls that I like. You can never have too many photos, right?!?!?!?

Katie's Big Day

This post is just to brag on my awesome oldest daughter, Katie. She asked Jesus to be the Lord of her life on July 4th this year. It was an awesome experience. She sat on a fence with our pastor, Keith, and they prayed for Jesus to come into her heart. Then the fireworks went off...literally! She followed it up by being baptized over Labor Day Weekend alongside her dear friend, Sydney. We are so proud of her!

Code Green!

Each time I relay this story to other Moms, they fall on the ground laughing. One of my friends said, "Now, THAT you should type in your blog!" I thought, "OK!" So, here goes...

2 Saturdays ago, Luke was on call for the weekend. So the girls and I have nothing going on... we decide we should go shopping in Waco. Now, mind you, every time I attempt a big shopping trip with all the kids by myself, I swear I'll never do it again. But, time fades all memories... it sounded like a good idea... so off we went.

While we are at the mall, I actually run into some of our good friends from Hamilton, Jon and Robbye, and their kids. Robbye comments on how brave I am, and I tell her that, really, this has been a great trip. Everyone is behaving and we are having a good time. No major problems. I should have shut my mouth and headed home right then.

But, no, I decide we have time for one more stop. We go to Target. The kids are hungry and thirsty, so our first stop is at the snack bar. We load our cart with popcorn and drinks and begin to shop. Grace is riding in the back of the cart and Kate and Abigail are walking. We shop and casually stroll the aisles. We find bargains we can't live without and load our cart. I stop at some point to look at men's T-shirts for my partner-in-life who is slaving away at the hospital. While I am looking, Grace leans over the edge of the cart at THE EXACT MOMENT that Abby decides to step up on the side of the cart. I'm sure you experienced Moms know what happens next... The cart tips over (and I mean COMPLETELY over - wheels in the air) and lands on top of Abby. Grace flies out. Popcorn goes everywhere. All drinks spill. Contents of the cart scattered across the aisle. Katie (my 8 year old) is the only child not hurt, and she is crying the loudest. I tell her (and not too nicely, either) to sit down and be quiet. I pull the cart off of Abby and try and comfort Gracie. Target employees come out of the WOODWORK. I didn't know that many people worked there! They proceed to call a "code green" on us (whatever that means). More employees arrive, including a security guard. Everyone is calmed down now, and after many assurances that we are all OK, they cleaned up the popcorn and drinks for us and let us go on our way. Luckily, no one was hurt, but really, I thought Katie was going to walk away and leave us there. She was SOOOOOO embarrassed!

Needless to say, it will be awhile before I venture out alone... I think they have our photo on the door at Target... (don't let this family in again... Code Green!)

No photos - even though I would LOVE to have had a picture of Katie's face... she was mortified!

Tea Time!

Today Abby had her best bud, Lainey, over after school. I thought it was just a regular play date, but BOY! was I wrong! Abby had told Miss Judy ( our wonderful, irreplaceable, surrogate grandma-in-residence) that she and Lainey wanted to have a real tea party. They also buttered her up really well by asking her if she would teach them how to be little "ladies". SO... Miss Judy came with fresh roses from her garden (pink, of course), tablecloth, pink cloth napkins, fancy hats, raspberry tea, and cookies. I don't know who had more fun - the girls or Judy!

Potty Time!

Just a quick post to celebrate the successful potty-training of Miss Gracie (I think!) No more diapers for the Killian family!!!!! This is cause for great celebration. We have had somebody in diapers for 8 years (with the exception of a couple of months thrown in there). This is a LOVELY photo of Grace in her "big girl" panties. (Won't she love me for this in a few years?!?!?!?) Anyway, right now, she is very proud of herself!

More Summer Fun...

OK - last posting of the night... I'm going to try and put a couple more photos of the girls up from our wonderful, laid-back summer.

Summertime Fun!

I am a successful blogger!!!! I have posted pictures!! I feel validated (sob - sob) :)
OK... here we go again. I'm going to try and post some photos of our fun summer. This should be a picture of Luke playing in our creek with the girls, and a picture of the girls getting ready to have some fun on the beach.

First Day of School

Ok - day 3 of me trying to get some photos of my kids on here! Maybe the 3rd time is the charm... This should be pictures of Katie and Abby on the first day of school, and Miss Gracie, just being herself!

Here We Go!

OK! Here it goes! I'm going to give the "blogging" a shot! (Even though I can't even manage to get a shower some days... I don't know WHY I think I might get this done!!)