No monkey

Last night Liza was gone to Dallas so I was at home with the kids. When I was rocking Isabella before she went to bed, I said, "I love you, my little monkey." She responded, "Belle no monkey!" "You're not? Then what are you?" I said. She immediately said, "Belle a girl!" Indeed. I then asked her if Zach was a monkey and she said, "Yeah. Yack a monkey!" Now if she just maintains that perspective on boys until she is, oh, say, 19, things should be great. :-)

Chris

Prayers answered

The other evening, Isabella was complaining that her ear hurt. When we put her to bed, we prayed that her ear would stop hurting. The next evening when we were getting ready to pray before bed, she said "Ear no hurt!" Then she said, "Pray tongue." She bit her tongue at dinner and so now we needed to pray that her tongue wouldn't hurt any more. She's getting it.

Favorite part of day

One of my favorite parts of the day has become when I put Zach down for his nap. Part of his routine is rocking and singing "Jesus Loves Me" a few times. Isabella has decided to join me in this so we sit in the rocking chair in her room, both of them on my lap, and sing together to Zach. He just stares and smiles at Isabella. Her voice is definitely stronger at the end of each phrase, but she is slowly learning the song. It is really precious to see their relationship developing. Then she comes into Zach's room with me and sits quietly on the futon while I rock him a little more and then put him down. So fun.

Belle and her daddy

Last night I was rocking Isabella before bed. I told her that I loved her so much like I often do. She responded saying "Belle yove Daddy so much."

Daddy got home from Mexico last night and when Belle saw him this morning, she was so excited. She and I took LaDawn and Anyssa to the airport and then went to drown our sorrows in pretzels at Sam's. While eating, I asked her what her best part of the day had been. She responded "Daddy tome home..." I told her I agreed.

Hoosier is a good playmate

Last night after our 3rd meal at Rudy's we came home and put Zach to bed. Afterwards I was playing with Isabella and Anyssa while LaDawn packed. Hoosier came up to us with his bone and so I threw it for him. He jumped over Isabella to go after it. The girls started laughing hysterically. They wanted to do it again so I threw the bone again when Hoosier brought the bone back. They loved it. Hoosier entertained the girls for half an hour before we went to bed.

After he was tired of chasing the bone he started licking Isabella. She kept trying to push him away while laughing. Finally he left, but went around the couch and came up behind Isabella. She looked back and he completely scared her. That made the girls laugh more. So fun!

Zach's growing up

Zach had a couple of momentous events this week to which Aunt Dawny and Anyssa were the witnesses. On Monday he got tooth #1 and yesterday #2. Cuisine opportunities are going to expand.

Fun with Dawny and Anyssa

In the event of rain with 3 children and a double stroller, call LaDawn. She can make it into a triple stroller. That was the fun with the kids last night while I was on campus. LaDawn made them supper, took them to the park, gave them baths (which Zach doesn't mind observing from the walker), and got them all to bed.

Other fun...this morning we went to Dunkin' Donuts and Old Navy, we have been to Rudy's twice, Kerbey Lane once, and for supper we are having home-made pizza. If the kids don't sleep all afternoon, we're heading to the pool (yes, it's that warm!) Fun! Fun! Fun!

Visitors

We are very happy to have Aunt Dawny and Baby 'Nyssa visiting this week while Daddy is in Mexico. But since I don't have any idea how to load them, there will be no pictures this week.

Last night we had a football party watching UT lose to Ohio State. Isabella loved it! When I told her it was time to go night-night, she said "No, more football." Earlier in the evening I did ask her what our favorite sport is. She responded correctly, "Basketball!" Someone commented you could start brainwashing early. Every so often she would yell "Texas!" We practiced "Hook 'em Horns!" and the hand signal. By the end of the season I think she will have it.

This evening we were driving home from dinner and Anyssa was crying. Isabella said she was sad because she missed her daddy. I asked her if she missed Isabella's daddy, and Isabella said, "No, Uh-uh Perwey." She is getting these families figured out.

LaDawn is very excited to have already gone to Rudy's for lunch! We have our priorities.

Catching up...

Just so you know, we were in Kansas over Labor Day weekend celebrating Grandma Dye's 90th birthday. It was so special to be there with her and the entire DeGarmo family plus a few. The adventure included a 3 car caravan driving 14 hours to get there, and Isabella using her potty seat in the middle of the Texas panhandle to go poop-stink. I am so thankful for patient aunts, uncle, and cousins who cheered her on as she continues to master potty-training. We'll try to put up pictures in the next couple of days...

Fishy Tales

The other day I heard Isabella singing in her room. She was singing the "Veggie Tales" theme song, but her version was a bit different... "Brock-a-lee, cell-a-ree, Fishy Tales!" Now she often asks to watch the "Fishy tales." Very cute.