Seasons of 2011 - Part 1

Winter brought us some snow days...

Gary found the biggest icicle (bigger is better!)

Larry went with a fire to roast hot dogs and mallows.  A favorite in our family.

Bram sliding into a soft pile of snow.

Spring brought us....

A trip to Branson with Grandma and Grandpa Hartzell

Big helpers with the yard work.

Swinging in the front yard.

Lego creations.  I think there are 18 different ships all built by Bram.

Anticipation and excitement to meet Harper.

Wading and finding hidden treasures in the water...

Like a dead fish.

Hot dog and mallow roasting again, but in shorts and T-shirts.

                     Pinnacle Moutain Hike.  But for the boys its more of a run up the mountain while the adults try to keep up.

Good times at the park (Gary and his cousin Beatrix.)

Summer brought us...

Sunny hot days spent at the pool.  Nice jump Bram!

Up to no good at the pool I am sure!

Grilling in the Backyard.

Swim team.  

Tasty Treats to forget how hot it was outside.

More swimming.

Summer fun with family and friends, 2011

Here are just a few pictures of our life over the last 6 months. Enjoy!

https://picasaweb.google.com/lardog8u/SummerFunWithFriendsAndFamily2011?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCLeXjdrz0p-P0wE&feat=directlink

Trip to Guatemala - October 2010

In October, Larry went on a 10 day trip to Guatemala as part of a large medical mission group. The trip was coordinated by Helps International (based in Guatemala) and Iaomai Medical Ministries (based in San Diego).

He joined his mentor, Dr. Lisa Buckmiller,

and together operated on over 20 children with cleft lips and palates.

The mission took place in Huehuetenango which resides high in the Sierra Nevada mountains. There were about 80 people in all involved with the trip including people from all walks of life preforming everything from surgery to nursing to cooking, translating and providing spiritual support. It was an amazing experience!!

The people were so grateful for the assistance we provided and it was so fulfilling to be part of this effort.

After more than a week of intense operating, we then headed to Antigua which is a beautiful city surrounded by some volcanoes.

Overall, an amazing experience. I’m looking forward to the next chance (hoping to go at least every other year after completing my Fellowship in Pediatric Otolaryngology with an emphasis on cleft lip and palate surgery)!!

We’re having a girl!

In early December, we had an ultrasound to check on the baby. We brought the boys along with us as they were so excited to find out what the baby would look like. Bram was hoping for a little brother that he “could battle with.” Gary, however, wanted a little sister. They were both wrong, we were having an alien …

Just kidding. We found out it was a girl and she looked so precious!!

We’re all of course so excited!!! We both kept discussing the possibility of a girl prior to this and throwing around girl names. We both figured we’d have a boy since all our relatives seem to be so good at having boys (13/15 grandkids are boys on the Hartzell side with another due within the next few days; 6/8 grandkids are boys on the Cornia side). But we hoped for a girl and the new experiences and relationships that would result. We are thrilled! And a little intimidated about the expected difference from our very rowdy boys. Now Holly can finally start looking at all the cute little girl stuff that she’s always admired and use her sewing skills to make all sorts of cute stuff.

Stay tuned: baby girl is due May 4th but we expect the c-section to be scheduled about 1 week before that. We still don’t agree on names but are leaning towards Charlotte. We shall see!

Pirate Attack – May 22, 2010

I hadn’t done much in way of Birthdays, so I figured for Gary’s sixth we should do something a little extra.  He chose the pirate theme, and somehow things just fell into place.  I found plates and napkins, and a treasure chest, and hats and patches.  It was lots of fun hunting all these items down.  

On Gary’s special day, we opened some presents (new clothes to get dressed)  then headed out to a special breakfast.  Then it was time to get ready for the party.  Gary and Bram played while Larry and I got busy.  Larry filled up 200 blue water balloons for canon balls.  We also hung the Jolley Roger (flag) and a sail for the ship. Our backyard deck made a great Poop Deck!

 

The cake came next.  Luckily we had received some Lego Pirate booty and this made the cake a cinch.  

There was a treasure map which sent the kids all over the front and back yard, as well as through the doggy door, I mean Seamans Cave!  There was Lightning Sand, Grave’s End, Hangman’s tree, Mermaid Lagoon, and the Fire Swamp!

The kids all had a blast throwing water ballons off the deck at the adults, I have to admit, the adults had lots of fun too!

 

Then it was time for cake and ice cream and gifts!  It was so much fun seeing Gary with all his friends around him and how happy he was.  All the effort was definitely worth it!  Once the party was over we took the boys to the water park (Wild River Country.)  It was 6 at night, but it was such a warm day we swam until 8.  We came home and tucked our sweet little big boy into bed.  Couldn’t believe it had been six years since that sweet boy came into my life. 

Texas (or as my children like to say “Dexas”)

 

We arrived at our Friends house Thursday evening.  The next morning we headed out to a vintage kiddie park.   All the rides were so cute.  Bram loved this horse and Buggy one.  He rode it at least a dozen times in a row, changing carriages each time.

Gary’s in front and That’s Bram in the back.

Luckily the rides were all in the shade.  But by 12 it was hot and time for some refreshment.

Something so good about snow cones when it’s 100 degrees out!

Time to hit the quarters. 

Even the trash can was in theme.  My kids were actually willing to throw their trash away!

The next day we hit up Sea World.  The kids were so excited and Bram could use his newest saying, “Did you know that Orca is another name for Killer Whale?” 

Our friends spoiled us, they watched the kids and bought us ‘quick queue’ passes and Larry and I rode all the rides.  It made me feel young again, but then not so young when I stepped off and was completely dizzy.  But not so much that we did it again. And again. 

Wish we had gotten some pictures while we were there, but the camera was too big to lug around!  The best ride was the ‘Journey to Atlantis’ and Bram was able to go on the ride as well.  I just told him the louder you scream the more fun you have, and sure enough he screamed his heart out.  I wish I could describe the picture etched in my mind the first time we went on the ride and went backwards, it was a look of pure “what am I doing all the way up here”  combined with the highest pitched scream I have ever heard.  Adorable. 

Thanks to our friends in San Antonio for such wonderful memories!

Now off to Dallas!

After a busy day of shopping at Ikea, we all needed to put our feet up, except for Bram who was in heaven with all the new toys at his fingertips. 

That night we stayed up late playing games and being extremely goofy and reminiscing about our days back at the Y.  The next day we realized we had purchased the wrong mattress and so we headed back to Ikea, corrected our mistake and headed back home. 

Good Times!  Thanks Dallas friends. 

Swimmin’ Time

 

Around here it is so hot and humid that hanging out at the pool is the only way to pass the summer.  My kids love swimming and they both did swim team this year which was a blast!

Fun on the waterslide.

Gary and Bram getting started at their swim meet in Hilsborough.

 

The Big Race.  Gary swam freestyle and breast.  (although his father might say he swam breast in both races ;D)  Bram didn’t compete in this one and he was pretty bummed to not race, but the pool was HUGE and the water was freezing.  I don’t think I will be able to hold him back next year though.

 

Swim Team Party, Jumping over the seahorse.  This was the last hoo-raw for the swim team.  We ate lots of  hotdogs, chips, watermelon, and cookies.  We swam in the very warm pool (it had been over 100 degrees the last two days)  and just horsed around. 

Are we tired of swimming yet?  No way, we still have a few weeks left to get in our daily swims.  We even venture up to Wild River Country, the local water park, once a week for more soak time! 

Backin' Up and Catchin' UP

Since it has been so hot here, I thought I should post some pictures from January 2010 when we had a bunch of snow days. It was lots of fun staying home and lazing around in Pajamas while building various Lego creations. Also a wee bit messy, but I didn't mind, for the most part.

 

T-rex (which took two hours one day, and another two the next) and Tow truck which was really easy!

Getting ready to head out

 

Trash can lid for an impromptu sled :)

Almost makes me wish for Winter again.

This is how they work together to get things in High Places.

Jumping in undies

The boys were out jumping today. Enjoy!

Here's the boys jumping just last week

Oh, Little Rock weather...

We were surprised to find in the local section of our paper yesterday some familiar faces. Holly and Bram were at story time earlier this week and were captured having a good time.