state fair - take 2

So, my AweSomE friends from Austin came to visit Wednesday - Friday last week! Yea!!

We ventured to the State Fair again.

You can not go to the fair too much in one year! It's like Vegas with it's addictive qualities that make you want more - no matter how often you go, you could always go again!

Anyway, this fair trip was the first (of many i hope) for Ryan & Case! The aquarium is being renovated and is on the up & up. Sting ray bay is too cool. Daddy helped Case touch the baby sting rays at first & then Case was a brave boy and really liked them. Little hands (or something like that) was a hit...you'll see Braxton & Case later. Here, Braxton was still at school & Case was snoozing! Renee helped me carry the girls through the activities.

Ryan was a big help with the girls & he warmed up quickly to the idea of baby #2 being a girl!

David left work, drove to Rockwall to get little man & drove back to Dallas to enjoy the fair!

Ayla just had a little melt down before this, so she's got a little grumpy face. My little 'hand' - He TOTALLY loved this!

Case & Daddy gardening.

Happy again

My big boy - with shoes - 39"

Ryan, Renee & Baby Case (as Braxton calls him) - we SO completely enjoyed your company! Thank you for visiting us. We hope this becomes a tradition. We love you all & thank God for your friendship.

state fair - take 1

This is the result: From the following!

mesmerized by Big Tex talking....Braxton said "Yee-haw Cowboy"!loving his cousinsUncle David with Evie Tia with Ayla - Ayla thinks it stinks in the petting zoo.

***to see the rest of these pictures - look me up on facebook***

photo shoot

my backyard photo shoot sometime last week.

i have about 30 more that i would love to share, but i figured that would be overkill!

enjoy

Weekend Get-away

After the Rangers game last Thursday, my mom took Braxton home (to the farm) with her. (Mike worked on Friday/Saturday a.m. and was able to join them for the rest of the weekend.) They weren't sure if he would stay the entire weekend, because he's really not ever spent a night away from us. Except when we delivered the twins...he was with his grandmothers in a hotel just a few miles away.

Anyway - she started the trip off just right in his eyes. (spoiling him from the get go)

She took him to walmart to buy all of his favorite foods! AND, she bought him a really awesome handy manny race car, boxer underwear (SOO cute), socks, light up toy story shoes, rain boots, a back pack, pajama pants, sunglasses and who knows what else!?!?!?! Then she took him to chick-fil-a for chicken and french fries! Believe me, he was set!

When he saw the camouflage rain boots, he told her, "Ooh, boots.. Yee-haw Cowboy!" (like Woody)

He spent most of his time digging (dozing) in the sand and riding the jeep all by himself.

You can tell by his HUGE smile in every picture that he was LOVING it.

Surprisingly enough, he came home without a fight! :) Thank you, Mawmaw and Pawpaw! Braxton had so much fun, and with David working the majority of the weekend, it sure eased my life to have one less child. I was able to nap and sew!

pumpkins - round 1

our neighbors have this CUTE display in front of their home - so we (i) thought we should take some photos. we will definitely be taking more - i have to get braxton in them, i have to dress them in 'fall' and 'coordinating' attire, and i have some good friends coming in town next week - so there is another 'must' photo op :) enjoy the first few.

donuts with dad

seriously?!? this could not be any cuter - LOOK how happy they both are! david talked about this day for a week - he couldn't wait. he was the second dad to arrive & the last dad to leave!

have i told you what a great husband and father he is?!?braxton is wanting to 'redo' the puzzle picture he made for daddy. it says, "all of the pieces of my heart belong to my daddy". here, braxton is drinking coffee from his juice cup. while daddy was tossing some napkins, braxton was still thirsty & instead of just drinking some of daddy's, he thought he'd pour his own!

go RANGERS go

SOOO excited here in Dallas for our Texas Rangers! It's playoff time :) woo hoo.

I bought tickets for my step-dad's birthday about two months or so ago. I didn't know if we would still be 'in' it or not & the tickets were for a game vs. the angels - usually a top competitor of ours. So, I figured in advance it would be a great game to attend...and it was. We won & had so much fun.

Happy Birthday, Mike! So glad we benefited from your birthday present :)

tower time

i recently pulled these oversized lego blocks from the attic - Braxton was thrilled. This is what he did while Texas was being upset last week ....i suppose this is going to be the theme three weeks in a row :(his 'ta da' face and hand revealing the finished product for the camera.

pure sweetness

just sayin'

...this is a new phrase (thought i'd "go" with it)... as i look over my blog and contemplate it at night - i think how precious it is, and how i anxiously await manipulating all of the exciting, intricate, wonderful details into a book. i made digital books for my wedding, honeymoon and the first 6 months of braxton's life... and then i started this blog! my friend, kristen (many of you know), convinced me to do this for distant relatives and because it would be an easy scrapbook! AND, she is right. it's been so much fun to do this and read comments and know that people are "keeping up" with the chaplin crew. BUT, i've also come to realize that it is a false depiction of our reality. yes, i've posted pictures of my self disheveled and unadorned with make up or jewelry ... BUT, i also sift through pictures and post the most becoming images of my children, husband and self when applicable. let me get to the point. i am a stay at home mom, with three children, a tutor in the evenings, with a husband works incredibly hard to care for us all...a beautiful home, a great van (yes, i drive a mini van), and so many other blessings i can't begin to describe...we are debt free (other than our mortgage) "PRAISE GOD" - we couldn't live this way otherwise! still, life is overwhelming at times. an almost three year old boy is 'off the handle' most of the time with his energy and excitement and need to be in control of his environment. our two sweet little baby girls love routine and desire their beds at each scheduled nap hour and are not ashamed to let you know when/what they need. we go through each day relying on God to answer prayers for discipline, patience and self control (most of those are for me)! some days end with my need to retire my motherhood - at least until they cry out for me - either in the middle of the night or in the morning. i am more tired now than EVER. yes, it's hard to believe - all of those months of sleepless nights of crying, changing diapers, nursing, etc... i'm still more tired in the evenings than ever. i get overwhelmed, i get angry, i lose my temper, i spank and i yell...these are the things that my life can't stand. i've been praying daily about these (a friend of mine disclosed this information to me, too, years ago and said these were the sins with which she was struggling). then, i thought to myself, REALLY? that's it? those are sins? But now, I GET IT. Yes, they are sins. i struggle, too, it's hard work! being a mother is the hardest work i've ever done in my life - WHY didn't someone warn me? the cries and tantrums grate on my nerves and then my son with all his ALMOST three year old wisdom knows everything and definitely vocalizes his opinion on everything. ***side note: the other day, he wanted something to drink, and i said, "ok, you can have water." he then yells, "NO, not water, juice." (or milk, or whatever he wanted at the time.) i looked at him and said "excuse me?" he replied, "i was just screaming at you." ~~~ "ummm, yes, you were. that is unacceptable!!!!" (funny, but not).*** i am doing my best - with the help of my creator - to be the mother He has called me to be. but i wonder why sometimes He chose me to be the mother of 3 under 3. He continues to be faithful and my days are getting much better, my anger is controlled when i realize it's my need for control that is creating my lack of control :) i stop and pray - A LOT - and it's working. i take time to relax and evaluate the situation before spanking and i speak in a calm voice rather than yelling! i am still a work in progress. all of this to say - my life is not 'picture perfect' as i attempt to portray on this blog. my children do cry and throw fits - i do yell and make MANY mistakes - but i do realize that although some of this is just the stage of life we are in, i also realize that i am in a stage where God is seeking to refine me! it's ok to admit you're not ok! it's ok to lean on The One who knows you best. and it's ok to tell your blog family about all of your drama... "i'm just sayin'"

birthday party

we attended a birthday party at gymboree last weekend - here is the birthday girl with my two girls.braxton was wild almost the entire time - usual.

he was loving sliding.the babies' favorite part was playing with maracas.evie was pretty nervous the whole time - here she is clinging to mom. sweet friends were helping us the whole time with all of our children :) ayla pretty much enjoyed every activity.

my boy - in his new longhorn shirt i made!!!

awesome party favor - braxton calls it a flasher, because it lights up.

buh buh

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

yummy dinner

happy evie!!! (with her new nose scrunch)ayla's all done!