Introducing our New Golden Retriever-"Wall-E"

Here is the newest member of our family: Wall-E Blankenship! He is a two-year-old Golden Retriever that we adopted TODAY from the DFW Metro Golden Retriever Rescue. He came from a wonderful and loving home, but his previous owners were elderly and could no longer care for him. So - we have been amazingly blessed to have this sweet, calm (seriously), loving, and house trained doggie join our family! Our former dog, a Bassett Hound named Cleo died of old age on Christmas Day, 2007, and we have waited more than a year to get another dog. Our kids are ECSTATIC!!!!

Our official Family Photo on Adoption Day at the Golden Retriever Rescue!

Ashley giving some love to her new Dog!

Relaxing with Wall-E at our home!

Ryan had a BLAST chasing and running from Wall-E all around the house!

Jack and Wall-E hanging out by the front door!

We are so thrilled to finally have our Golden! We have been on the waiting list for almost two months, but know that God - once again - had perfect timing in finding just the right dog for our family - with everyone healthy to enjoy him!

. . . just another day in the life . . .

Cowboy Cookout Day at Preschool!!!

How cute is this little boy????? Today was Cowboy Cookout and Western Dress-up Day at the boys' Preschool for Pre-K classes. Jack had a GREAT time dressing up and they finished studying a unit on Texas History!

"There's a new Sheriff in town . . .!"

Check out the SPURS on his shoes!!!! (Jack was VERY proud of these!)

Posing with little brother on the way out the door for Preschool today!


Enjoying "Campfire" time with friends!

At the celebration at school, the kids enjoyed snacks around the "campfire" (very creatively made of wood, red/yellow/orange tissue paper and a flickering flashlight), singing Cowboy songs and "roasting" marshmallows! (One adorable little girl just sat there for the longest time waiting for her marshmallow to cook. The teacher asked her if it was done yet, to which she replied "No - I think there's something wrong with your fire!" --- We laughed SO hard!!!)

Finally, we got to enjoy Jack's own "Cowboy" art (see picture below). Steve and I just LOVE his creativity!!!

Cowboy "Jack"

. . . just another day in the life . . .

Oh my gosh . . . My Daughter Bought Her 1st Car!!!!

Well, here is our 15 1/2 year old daughter and her very first car - - - that she just bought after saving up her own money since she was in elementary school! It's a Volkswagon Jetta (she has named "Jacob the Jetta") and she LOVES it! We are very proud of her for working very hard for a long time - babysitting, saving gifts from holidays and doing odd jobs whenever she could! Admittedly, there were times we called her savings account her "Trike Fund," her "Mountain Bike Fund" and her "Scooter Fund," but in the end she came through and is very proud of her first really big purchase! There may certainly be many more expensive cars driving at her High School, but having a kid enjoy the experience of saving and paying for something through hard work makes her car one of the most appreciated ones on campus!

Showing Mom the new keys!

Ashley driving Mom's car!

She just got her learners permit, and we really are "LEARNING" as we go! She does take coaching and so far nothing too terrible has occurred! I know every parent goes through this eventually! Pray for Mom and Dad - it's a tough one to swallow! (-: As my Mom (Ashley's Grandmother) said today on the phone - "I can remember when she was just a one-year-old toddling around and jumping down the stairs! She was so cute!!!" It's just hard to believe she's this old!

. . . just another day in the life . . .

Fun with Jack on "National Pancake Day"!

Today was "National Pancake Day" and for a 5 year old little boy who absolutely ADORES pancakes, this was a day worth celebrating!!! As of late, our boys have been requesting pancakes at EVERY single meal - yes . . . breakfast, lunch and dinner! And, despite our explanations of the food pyramid and proper nutrition, they still manage to have pancakes once almost every day! So - since we had a "Jack and Mom" day today - with Baby Ryan in Preschool on Tuesdays, Jack and I headed to the new IHOP in our neighborhood and feasted on "free" pancakes! (All we had to do is make a donation to the Shriner Hospitals - which we were thrilled to do!) Here's a look at our adventure:

Our new IHOP - it's been open for just over 2 weeks and this is the 3rd time we've visited!

Jack getting ready to enter for his pancake feast!

Jack with his favorite: Butter Pecan syrup!

Jack getting ready to cut his pancake and "syrup" it!

What a FUN time with my Jack! Happy Pancake Day, everyone!!!

. . . just another day in the life . . .

Ryan's "Special Day"!

Today is our Baby Ryan's "Special Day" for his Tuesday Preschool Class, and he is so excited!

Ryan ready to go to Preschool on his "Special Day"!

On your "Special Day," you get to bring a "treat" of your choice for the class and you get to select what "theme" you will have for the day. Ryan selected POPCORN for his snack (after much lobbying for brownies by brother Jack) and decided on a "Firetruck" theme! He couldn't wait to get to "school" to share with his 7 little friends!!!

Ryan's Firetruck plates and his POPCORN snack bags!

. . . just another day in the life . . .

A Little Boy After My Own Heart!!!

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE LOVE LOVE Sonic!!!! And those who have known me long enough can attest that I have loved since I was a KID - - - and that's a LONG time! Well, my littlest boy, Baby Ryan, thinks that having a Sonic drink is one of the best experiences in the world. In fact, whenever it's just he and I, that's one of the first things he asks for . . . "Mommy - - we go to SONIC and get a drink together???" And really - how can I say "No" to that precious voice? From Cherry Lime slushes to the ice that cannot be matched anywhere, I'm so glad that I get to enjoy this passion with my Baby!

The Energy of Little Boys!

After Preschool and Kindermusik class for Jack today, the boys and I had a picnic planned at their favorite local park. But . . . on the way to our car in the church parking lot, they just couldn't contain themselves! My two little buddies with energy that just puts me to shame (and I've always been a pretty energetic gal!), decided that they had to have "wild playtime" running and rolling up and down a small hill and "exploring for mysteries"! I just LOVE these two guys!

Burning off some of that energy!

Ryan having the time of his life rolling down a hill!

More joint hill rolling!

My little "Explorers"!

I'm not sure how anyone could not LOVE that little face?!?!

After about 20 minutes of this, we finally made our way to the car and spent another hour at the park! . . . And they STILL weren't tired!

. . . just another day in the life . . .

"R" Week - - - a Really "Ricky" Surprise!!!!!

Well, as many of you have read in my previous posts, Jack's preschool focuses on one letter each week and each child gets to bring an object starting with that letter to "Show and Tell." Well . . . this week, Jack just outdid himself. Since it was now "R" week we thought it would be fun to invite his Gran-Gan (my Dad) Randy Rudisell and his puppet, Ricky, to surpise the class for Show and Tell! Needless to say with a bunch of four and five year olds, it was a BIG hit!!!

Randy and Ricky waiting to enter the classroom!

Jack and Ricky showing a book to the class!

Ricky showing kids how to Read by using letters!

Jack was absolultely THRILLED to have such special visitors!

Jack wanted a picture with his surprise guests before they left!

What an absolute blessing to have the love of wonderful grandparents!!!! Jack is a lucky boy!

. . . just another day in the life . . .

Another Day . . . Another Park!

Well . . . it's hard to believe it is really February around here! With all the trees starting to bud and the beautiful, clear & sunny weather, it feels much more like Spring than the end of Winter. So - we decided that we would once again take advantage of the amazing late afternoon and take the boys to the park. This time, Daddy got to come along for the outing (which the boys just LOVED), and we went to a park that is very nearby our home, but one we had not been to since Ashley was in Elementary School. It was a completely new adventure for Jack and Ryan!

Steve pushing the boys on the Merry-Go-Round (The boys had never been on one of these!)

Jack was "built for speed"!

Ryan having a blast in the tunnell slide!

Ryan digging in the dirt. (Somehow our boys ALWAYS find this playground toy!!!)

Jack just simply enjoying the time together with his Dad!

. . . just another day in the life . . .

What a Beautiful Day to go to the Park!

Today was simply gorgeous - with the most amazing February weather (sunny, clear and 72 degrees)! So - with Ashley getting out early from High School (and even forgoing a shopping trip with her friends to spend time with her brothers - AWWW!), we took the little boys to our favorite neighborhood park and had a GREAT time! We've been bringing them here for as long as they have been alive, and both Jack and Ryan just LOVE to play here! The extra bonus is that recently our town's Parks & Recreation department (headed up by one of our good friends from church) just renovated the park - - - so there is now even more fun to be had! See our fun pictures below:

Ryan and Mommy on the "Obstacle Course"

Ryan and Ashley in the "Spider Web" climbing structure!


Mommy and Jack going through the Obstacle Course!

Jack near the end of the Obstacle Course - WAY off the ground! (This scares Mom to death!!!)

Ryan - what a beautiful little two-year-old! (Great picture taken by his older sister)

What a BLESSING it is to be able to enjoy all these special times with my children! (It certainly makes the tough days worthwhile!) THANK YOU to Steve for taking such good care of us!!!!

Our Little Nephew's Baptism!

Steve's beautiful little sister, Kristi, and her husband Chris, had their first child in July of last year, and we were privileged to celebrate our nephew, William Caleb Papa's Baptism in January! He is truly a beautiful gift from God and our whole family feels very blessed to have him! He was baptized at White's Chapel United Methodist Church and we enjoyed a delicious family lunch with both Steve's family (who came in from Tennessee) and Chris's family (who flew in from Canada!) William did GREAT, and the whole event couldn't have been more special!

Baby William with his Mommy and Daddy. (What a beautiful family!)

The whole "Blankenship" family!

Steve with our three precious children!

Jack enjoying lunch with his Gramma (Steve's Mom)!

Jack and his Mommy before the service started!

Oh - the fun you can have with a little PLAYDOUGH!!!

One day - while I was down with pneumonia, I gave Jack a jar of playdough and some eyes, wings, feet, etc. and THIS is what he created: his own exceptional BUG! It is always amazing to me that with all the many neat and complex toys our kids have available, sometimes the simplest things provide the most FUN! (I found this out as I spent so much time trying to entertain my two little guys literally from bed).

How do you get this little boy to SLEEP????

These two pictures were taken one night - - - well after 11:00 p.m., when we came upstairs to find our very adventuresome 2-year-old all dressed up and roaming all the rooms of the second floor of our home - EXCEPT for his own bedroom! Note that this was THREE (yes 3!!!) hours after we "put him to bed." This is the little boy who used to go to bed the minute you laid him in his crib and who would sleep to 11:00 a.m. (or even later if you let him) each day - all the way until he was two! Once he moved out of the baby bed, however, all bets were off, and we have struggled in getting this little guy to go to sleep. (At this point, we've even considered calling in Jo from "Super Nanny"!)

We loved the hat and crocs over the footie pajama look!
Just look at that little impish face!

A little after midnight that night, we FINALLY got the little guy to bed. The picture below shows Ryan the following day after church - just conked out on the couch next to Dad - who was up WITH the little one LATE into the night! Poor Steve!

Two really tired guys!

Ryan's First Ever Preschool Valentines Party!

Little Ryan was SO proud to give Valentines to all his friends!

Ryan had a GREAT time at his Valentine's Party at preschool - - - his very first one!!! It was A LOT different from Jack's party in the little ones in his "Younger Two's" class were much more controlled in their giving process. It was truly adorable!

Each child had a special Valentines Bag that they had decorated themselves with red stamps of hearts, swirls, etc. The bags were lined up and then each little child went up - one at a time - and placed a valentine into each of the lined up bags! The teachers helped the kids and it was just precious how proud each of them were to "GIVE" their own cards and candy to their friends.

I'm so glad I got to be there to see such a special event for my littlest guy!

Ryan placing his Valentines (and candy) into his classmates' bags!

Ryan getting a little help from his teacher, Miss Cindy, in giving his Valentine's!

There's our boy - Baby Ryan always clowing around!!!!