It's great to be 7!

Lucky 7, indeed. Last Thursday, all 11 boys from 1B trekked over to Dart Bowl for one fantastic celebration. After last year's craziness (including one little guy who left with a broken arm) we decided to do something smaller, away from our house. But, have you ever seen a hamster in one of those cages, running like a crazy person in the spinning wheel? Well, that was 11 boys getting out of our cars to get to the bowling alley. It was still crazy, but the boys had a blast (and don't they look dashing in their dress uniforms, shirts half-way untucked, ties off?). Us? Well, we were completely exhausted after only an hour and a half!



Anna-Laura was feeling under the weather, so Nana stayed home with her (Scott, Granny and I all agreed she may have gotten the sweeter end of the deal). We didn't get to shoot our typical family pic - only the cake gets props this year. And, yes, it really was that delicious.







John Paul, Master Bowler.



Just how did Will get to be so big, so fast? There's something quite special about your firstborn. I mean, before Will, we were just a little family of two, living in another galaxy far, far away. But, he arrived and we gained another level of loving - him and one another. He was walking proof (ok, crying proof!) of our commitment to one another. Will is just an amazing little boy. He's always keenly aware of other people's feelings and will be the first one to dish out a hug. And, he builds legos so darn fast we can hardly keep them in stock.

Someday he may not want to hold our hands in public, but today he does.
Someday he won't be shorter than us, but today he is.
Someday he'll lose his sweet little boy innocence, but today it's intact.
Someday he will be a grown man, but today he's still our little boy.

Happy Birthday, buddy. You are one amazing kid. It's an honor to be known as Will's Mom and Dad.

Rough Weekend

To quote my dad, "Wowsers, what a rough weekend."

We hit the ground running when we got off the plane last Monday. Scott was gone a few nights, working late, and I was busy getting things ready for the party on Thursday. Then...dun, dun, dun, Stomach Virus '08 hit Casa Whitaker and it wasn't pretty. First victim was Anna-Laura on Wednesday evening, followed by John Paul the following night. Clare was numero tres on Friday morning and I brought up the rear (bad imagery, sorry) that afternoon. Thank goodness for my mother-in-law who was here to help celebrate Will's birthday. Well, we're glad she was here, she might not consider being around 4 really sick people her idea of a fun weekend. At any rate, we're all on the mend. Finally.

I'll have birthday pictures tomorrow, so check in after 3 for proof that we really do have a seven-year-old in the house!

Happy Birthday to the Williams!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BILL (29ish) AND WILL (7)!

My, my, how we've grown...



Last year's BIG bash.

Top Ten: Ode to Indiana

"Back home again in Indiana..." (sing with me)

While the old saying is true (You can take the kid out of Texas, but you can't take Texas out of the kid), Scott and I were able to spend 5 precious years in Indiana which we cherish very much. This Easter season, we ventured back for a long weekend and the trip did not disappoint. It was super-fantabulous. This week's top ten is dedicated to our trek cross country. Buckle your seatbelts and get comfy...

BEST MEMORIES FROM OUR INDIANA TRIP (in chronological order!)

1. The plane ride - going and coming. And, NO, that is not a typo. Four flights, no delays, no lost luggage, no screaming fits, no throwing up, no bomb threats, minimal sibling rivalry and multiple passenger comments about our children's nice behavior. We were prepared for the worst, but God gave us the best. I'll give a shout out to all those folks praying for safe travels - God heard.





2. Our hosts, Tim & Cathy, and their four children. Y'all are amazing. You doubled your house size overnight and were gracious enough to host an open house for our friends to come visit. Thanks for the late-night talks, the vino, the fruit salad (Cathy, we still need the recipe!!) and your friendship. Our kids are still talking about when we get to go back to Paul and Michael's house. Taylor, thanks for the egg hunt - the kids loved it. And, Maria, you were such a patient playmate with Anna-Laura. She so loved having another girl to pal around with.

3. The Children's Museum. Ok, so you think you've been to the best? Blogger reader, let me introduce you to the Indianapolis Children's Museum. Museum, meet blogger reader. W-O-W. This was cool when we lived there and it's even cooler now. This is a four-floor, sub-basement, moving carousel, IMAX converted to an interactive dinosphere, one-story slide, awesomest (yes, that's a word), kick butt museum. Oh, and the kids had a blast, too. Neal and Melanie, thanks for joining our crazy crew!!











ok, ok, I'll stop with the museum photos - there's just so many!!

4. Visiting with friends. Even though many miles separate us now, you each had a significant impact on our family. Lots 'o laughs and lots 'o reminiscing about the good old days, PC (pre-children). It was great seeing each of you over the weekend. Now, come visit US!! Central Texas is great in April - sunny, 75 and lots of wildflowers, no snow...







5. Spending time with the Godparents. Most of the kids' Godparents live in Indy and they were a big reason we headed back to the Crossroads of America for the Easter holiday. Fr Kevin, Carla, Gachia, Lynne, Fr Richard and Cathy - the time spent with each of you was precious. Truly, it was. And, to the "fathers" we know it was especially difficult for you to pull a Padre Pio and bilocate between your Godchildren and church during the holiest week of the year. Thank you.







I just had to throw this one in...Ray, you and Max looked too cute!









6. The Easter egg scavenger hunt / egg dying. Taylor, Cathy's oldest daughter, orchestrated this event for Saturday afternoon. The kids wore themselves out running all over the house in search for the eggs. Then, we headed to the garage to color Easter eggs. What fun!



John Paul telling Paul and Tim just how many Easter eggs he found.





7. The Easter Bunny! Need I say more? We did learn that the Indiana Easter Bunny hides his baskets, perhaps he will remember that when he visits us in Texas next year!



8. Mass at Our Lady. There's just something about familiar voices, songs and surroundings that make a holiday that much more special. For us, it was a bit surreal to think that when we left Indy five years ago, we had Master Will. When we came back, our quiver is now a busy 4! We are blessed and this Mass reminded us of that. Alleluia!



9. Celebrating Will's 7th birthday with Fr Kevin and the Ericksons. The last birthday we all celebrated together was numero uno. Will was smiling so hard his cheeks almost broke. What a big man. What a happy day.



10. Not losing any luggage. We managed to make it home with 7 suitcases, 2 carseats, 3 backpacks, 1 diaper bag, 1 double stroller, 6 coats, 4 hats, 1 toy bag, 4 kids, 2 tired parents and a partridge in a pear tree.

Hot Diggety Dog!

Will is O-fficially CAST-FREE! He and Scott headed to the doctor's office this morning and they removed the cast. Dr. S did give him a temporary removable splint to wear for the next couple of weeks while the tenderness goes away. This morning, as Will was getting dressed, I could hear him singing, "Hot dog, hot dog, hot diggety dog, I get my cast off..."

We're gearing up for a busy week - a couple of pretty cool William's are celebrating a birthday on the 27th. Stay tuned for tomorrow's Indiana recap and top ten, along with the birthday blowout on Thursday.

Have a great week!

Happy Easter!

Indy is great, we'll be back soon. Until then, Happy Easter!!!

Top Ten: Travel fears

Wondered where we were? I'm in super-fantastic packing mode. We're getting ready to leave for Indiana for Easter and I'm freaking out. You should see the million organized piles around our house. They're organized, but they're everywhere. I feel like I'm packing for an army, preparing for the worst possible scenario. The kids all have extra changes of clothes and we're carrying on the Easter outfits because I'm convinced that if we don't our luggage will end up in Hawaii. Which, by the way, is where Scott and I will wish we are about 20 minutes into the flight. Melikalikimaka...

In honor of my momentary freak-out session, allow me this luxury...to share my top 10

THINGS I HOPE THE KIDS DON'T SAY DURING THE SECURITY CHECK

1. "I need to go potty."

2. "Why couldn't we bring our rubberband gun?"

3. "I left my backpack at the check-in counter/van/bathroom." (insert high-pitched screaming here)

4. Body slam one another to the ground. Ok, not exactly a quote, but it could get ugly.

5. "John Paul just picked his nose and wiped his booger on me." Go ahead and laugh, but it did make #5. I give it 1 in 2 odds of happening.

6. "WHERE'S MY BABY?" Anna-Laura is attached at the hip to this thing. I'm praying she doesn't go ballistic when they put it through the x-ray machine. Maybe she'll buy the "baby is going on an adventure and will be back in a minute" story...

7. "Why did the Easter's bunny put our baskets in our luggage?" OK, this is seriously my biggest fear. I've been incognito for weeks on this. If those TSA security people ruin the Easter Bunny surprise for my kids, I'll probably make the paper. "Crazy lady attacks security with Hershey kisses and plastic eggs."

8. "Dad, wasn't that cool when the Imperial Star Destroyer blew up the other ships?" Will talks about Star Wars incessently. Let's hope he waits until we get to the gate on this one.

9. "I need to go potty, again."

10. "I feel like I'm gonna throw up."

Whew, now that I've written them down, they won't happen right? I'm sure I'll have many, many stories from our trip to the Hoosier State. Until then, pray for safe travels and have a Happy Easter!

Happy St. Patty's Day!

Everybody loves the Irish and by that I mean both the man and the university! Click here to read more about this awesome priest.

It's a Wrap

Is anybody else out there as sad as we are? Spring Break is officially over. (insert heavy sobbing here) Goodbye showers at 10am, goodbye late night ice cream, goodbye "let's wait until tomorrow to give the kids a bath" nights, goodbye late night HGTV, we'll see you this summer...

But, there's still a few hours left of this glorious week and I would be remiss without sharing some of our best photos from the Zilker adventure on Wednesday. When you have 4 kids under 6, a 20-minute ride downtown is as "spring-breaky" as it gets. As it turns out, though, it was the kids' favorite. Hah, who needs Disneyworld?

In no particular cuteness order, here they are!

I love this one of Scott and Clare, don't know why, just so cute.





This pond path was really cool (see the koi fish in the pond?) I'm surprised they're still alive actually. The boys were a "wee bit" excited about this part of the garden.



This was the reflection which I flipped in Photoshop. Very cool.





Attack of the butterflies. This was our last stop at the garden and the kids couldn't get enough of the butterflies. The afternoon sun rocked and they were good sports letting us take their pictures. Sometimes they cooperate and those are the days you call yourself a good parent...

Snapshots: A Day at the O.C.

We spent yesterday at Onion Creek, otherwise known as the O.C. Papa cooked some gourmet omelets, with his sous chef John Paul. They made quite a duo and the eggs were delish. Then, Papa and Scott took the boys golfing. It appears they had a good time. Although at hole #2, they were already asking for a bathroom and lunch.



Nana and I took the girls shopping, of course. Unfortunately, there are no pictures of our excursion, only receipts :-)

It's days like yesterday that made me thankful for many things...I have so many fond memories of time spent with my grandparents, especially my very own Papa (Great Papa to my kids) and I am so grateful that my parents are alive, healthy and active in their grandchildren's lives. To see their faces light up when they see the kids is such a special moment. Nostalgia, I suppose. And, a bit of a reminder that it's the relationships in our lives, rather than the things we have or do, that matter.

We had a great Texas "spring, but really a prelude to the scorching summer" weather - it was 94 yesterday!!!!

Be sure to check in tomorrow night. I have a tubload (wow, am I from Texas or what?) of pictures from the Zilker Botanical Gardens excursion we took on Wednesday. But, to tide you over until then, here's a teaser...

Snapshots: Blanton Museum

We've had this "date" on the books for 3 weeks. The Blanton Museum of Art at (ahem, t.u.) is just a block from Scott's downtown office. It's a truly fabulous place and for the last 6 weeks they've had this exhibit on "The Virgin, Saints and Angels." We had to check it out. I'm not sure who was more excited, Scott and I, or Will. I would show you the art, but no photos allowed. Sorry. If you have some time before this Sunday you gotta check it out.



We even ventured over to the Western art (Dad, you would've loved the Remington pieces) and Modern art. Little weird. Little funky. Definitely photo worthy. Especially the penny pit with cow bones above it. Yep. It was actually my favorite. Next time you see me, ask me why someone would want to make that art. It makes for a good story.

Top Ten: Best Spring Breaks

You knew it was coming, right? The weather here rocks (if you're not in Central Texas, I apologize now for gloating). It was 75 and sunny - just gorgeous - today, which really put me in the mood to reflect on favorite spring breaks. So, here goes...

BEST SPRING BREAKS

1. Tour 'o Texas. Some of you know my mom was a teacher and many of those years were spent teaching Texas history. It was not an option for my brother and I to be ignorant when it came to little known facts about the state. And, trust me, we know many. Quick, how many counties in Texas? 254 did you say? So, back to the trip. My mom received a grant to travel the state, so that we did. Without a doubt, the most memorable was watching her cry, IN THE POURING RAIN, at Stephen F. Austin's grave while my brother, my dad and I laughed. It sounds mean now, but if you were there, you'd be laughing, too. There are so many memories from this trip, but the best was doing the trip together. It was truly a Griswold Family Trek.

2. Ruidoso, New Mexico. This one was taken my sophomore year in college with my soon-to-be roomie, her boyfriend and Scott. While everyone else hit the slopes, Scott and I had a great time at the White Sands. I wish I had the time to scan the photo of us there. We wrote funny sayings in the sand and did alot of talking/laughing on the trip. I saw the funny side of Scott and we had a blast.

3. Amarillo, 1996. Ok, while that might not sound like a glamorous break, it was WHEN that makes it special. This was my last break, senior year in college, that I spent at home. My mom and I worked like crazy people to finish up the last details of my wedding. It was initially a rocky start with my mom, this planning thing. I was independent (whew, imagine THAT) and she was having a hard time letting go (now I understand why). What a great week. Now I'm getting a bit nostalgic. Sorry.

4. Angel Fire, New Mexico. There were so many breaks we spent in the mountains as a kid growing up. Dumas was only a quick 4-hour car ride away. We always stopped at some dive that you went to the window and placed your order. I just remember the lady that took our order remembered my dad and was nice to us. And, there was the log. It was this old thing that fell down near a spring and had water running from it into the stream. In the winter it froze and it was so cool. Those mountain trips are some of my very best childhood memories.

5. Disneyland. My senior year in high school, the band (yes, I was a band geek) traveled to California to play in the park. That was like one hour of the trip. The rest of the time we spent going to Universal Studios, walking Rodeo Drive, eating at Hard Rock (such a 90s thing to do) and being geeky band nerds in the big city. Um, now I'm thinking this might've happened during the Christmas Break? Oh well, it was during a break and we had fun. It stays in the top ten.

6. Winter Park, Colorado. Another band trip, but this one was my sophomore year. Luckily I didn't break any bones, but I did get left on the mountain and the bus had to come back for me. Stellar moment. But, the snow was incredible. Total powder, completley quiet on the mountain and some of the best skiing I ever did.

7. West Palm Beach, Florida. This was probably more like an Easter trip, but humor me. My parents were living there at the time and invited us down. Certainly warmer than where we were living at the time, Indiana. The weather was warm, conversation was good and the food delicious.

As I write, I'm noticing that most of these are pre-children and many pre-marriage. Wow, we need to get out more.

8. Today. Really, this could've gone up further on the list. But, the week's not over :-) Today we spent the afternoon at the Zilker Park Botanical Gardens. Hello. Gorgeous. Then, we spent some time walking / eating our way through Whole Foods. But, that's a post for later in the week. I'm getting ahead of myself. But, so far, so good on this one.

9. Camping. Yep, we ventured far for this one. Back in 2006, I had 3 kids under the age of 4 and a major back surgery around the corner. This photo really does capture the chaos, and the fun, we have around here. It's one of my favorites because we spent the break doing what we do everyday...raising a family.



10. Indiana to Texas. Back in 2003, I spent the break watching movers pack up our precious time in Indiana for the move back home. We always knew God would lead us back to the Friendly State, but we weren't prepared for just how hard saying goodbye to our other family would be. They were there for us when we gave birth to our first baby, when we lost our second, through job changes, lifestyle changes and Italy pilgrimages. It was a time of great growth in our marriage and in our faith. It was there that God led us through a spiritual transformation. Raise a glass to the Crossroads of America. That spring break changed our life.

Our first house in Indy (also our first digital camera...)