Neighboorhood Watch! And Bishop is A New Dog!

This isn't a great picture, but here is the neighborhood watch! Bruno and Bronx love to hang out on the swing set and bark at everybody that walks by the front of our house, and the neighbors on the backside of our house. (Three total) Most people think it is pretty funny to see them up there, others are terrified :) They can't see their tails wagging a hundred miles an hour. I'm so glad we bought this swing set for them:)

Bishop finally had his "boys" cut off on Wednesday. this is the collar they sent him home in. It kept rubbing against the ground and he was bumping into everything. Could it be any bigger?

This is the collar I found that night. So much better! He could actually drink, eat and sleep! He has to stay separated from the others for 2 weeks, and just when they can be around each other again Diesel and Bronx have their turn :)

Brayden's first day of preschool-Again:)

Brayden had his first day of preschool Friday. This is his second year, but a new preschool. I felt that he wasn't quite ready for kindergarten yet. He hated going to school last year, and if you hate preschool you are already in trouble:) He turned 5 this summer so he is one of the older ones. I look at it this way- All the kids turn 5 in preschool, he started preschool 5 and will end preschool 5 just like his classmates:) He will start kindergarten 6 and end 6 like his classmates:) The good news is he loved his first day and said this school was "more awesome" than his other preschool. He has a friend, Eric Bowcutt, from church in his class. That was a bonus.
This is his new Bakugan backpack that he wants his cousin Reid to see. He also picked out a G.I Joe lunchbox. Such excitement!

Ready to go. Not sure what is going on with Blake's hair:) She has "special" shampoo for her dry, eczema head and it isn't the most flattering stuff! No soft bouncy hair for her:(

Update on Blake

Blake has started methotrexate for her severe eczema. She has had three doses now. Her doctor said it will take a few before we see real results. She takes it once a week and has to have her blood drawn every 2 weeks to make sure her liver and kidneys are fine. Methotrexate is a very potent drug, according to her pharmacists and doctor. It makes her very tired and upsets her stomach.
There are a number of side effects that she could have and hopefully she won't have them. I am just hoping it works. I have seen some improvement for a few days, but then she will have a really bad day. I know there is no cure, but I am hoping for some relief. She can't sleep at night because she is so itchy. My brother was here last week and Blake was having one of her really bad nights were she was screaming and crying and trying to rip her skin off, and he said, " It just breaks my heart to see her like this." It really does break your heart because there is nothing you can do to make her comfortable. I suffer from chronic pain and her doctor and I were discussing how I would rather suffer from the worst chronic pain in the world than suffer from chronic itching. She scratches till she has sores and even then she will still dig deep into her skin.
I just pray this medicine gives her some relief and that her little body can handle it.

The girl's first day of school.

Monday was the first day of school. As you can see, even though Brice was born in 2000, she is an 80's baby:) Martin saw this and thought she was dressed for Halloween. I told him arm warmers are "in". Bailey has a black and white pair courtesy of Granddaddy. Bailey has Mr. Goss this year and we are soooo excited. He is the coolest teacher in 5th grade and he lives on the street next to us. Brice likes her teachers and her switch teacher is the same one Bailey had last year.
Here is a little update for those who haven't heard. Martin is back at Red McCombs Toyota in San Antonio. The kids and I are planning on staying here until the school year is finished and then we will move back. I can't say that I am all that excited about this. If this were a year ago it might be different, but now I can honestly say I don't want to move back! Houston has really grown on us and there are better schools and sport opportunities for the girls, not to mention we love our ward and the fact that it is not super crowded. I'm trying to think positive, we do have all our family there, which is nice, but I LOVE my house and the fact that there are so many trees here and that it actually rains, and did I mention I LOVE my house, so I'm not all that positive yet, but I have time:)

Summer Visits!

It has been a while since the last post:) Here are a FEW pictures from our summer. I won't comment on them all. We had family from the Dinh side and the Stratton side come visit us this summer, so of course that meant a lot of visits to the lake! Here is Uncle Brock wake skating for the first time, and Tara captured the perfect "landing" picture:) We loved seeing everyone and sharing our favorite thing to do with them-being on the boat of course-:)

We went to the children's museum when Kai and Kade were here. They all had exploring and pretending.

I love this picture of the cute butts. They were watching the older girls get thrown around on the tube.

The conga line.

Brayden's ready to rock. Whatever you do, don't smile Zoe!

Bailey was dancing to Beyonce's "All The Single Ladies" while she was wake boarding.

Caught you Sierra:)

Hello Cast, Goodbye Tooth!

Monday Brice fractured her wrist skating. It is a small buckle fracture that is very common. She wore it wrapped and in a sling until Thursday when she had her cast put on. She had to wait for the swelling to go down on her wrist before the real cast could be placed on. This lovely cast will be worn for 4 weeks. Such good itchy, smelly times ahead!

The lovely pink color she chose.

She wanted everyone to sign her cast and Bailey wanted to be the first. Of course, Brice being the artist that she is decided to decorate around every ones names. She didn't take into account that she didn't leave a lot of room for her cousins in San Antonio to sign. We leave tomorrow for Kai's big 2 year B-Day:) I guess everyone will have to sign super tiny. I also warned her about getting upset with her brother and using her cast as a weapon! I just know those screams will be coming soon:)

Bailey woke up early to go with us to get Brice's cast. Daddy, thankfully stayed home for a bit to watch the two crazies. She was excited to look at Brice's X-ray because she wanted to see the BIG BONES. It is a known fact that my family has LARGER bones than most( just picture tree trunks) and so Martin and I joke that the girls most likely have Stratton bones. So Bailey wanted to see those X-rays, as if she would be able to tell anyway:)

Well I couldn't have her feel left out of the pain process, so while we were waiting I finished getting her tooth out! Oh what a great way to start my day! I love to pull me some teeth:)

The Truth Comes Out!

This cutie is Brooklyn. We were lucky enough to get to babysit her twice so far. This was our second time. She feels right at home with us and I personally think it is because she is one of us "B's". Now below you will see what I mean by the truth comes out. My family and Martin's family already know about my LITTLE "OCD" problem. Since moving to Houston I have started medicine to help this and it has helped, but there is no medicine THAT strong:)

SOOOOO- Here is the big truth-If you ever leave your child with me expect that they will be cleaning my house at some point:) My kids have always loved playing with the cleaning toys. My mother has always said that it is a little sad that they thought that is what you do for fun and that they enjoyed it. They even knew how to take the accessories off the vacuums and use them:) I personally never thought twice about it. I think these toys are the best!

At one point Brooklyn was using the vacuum in one hand and trying to sweep with the other. I wasn't quick enough with the camera. Don't worry Tena, we didn't break too many child labor laws! You can blame Bailey, she pulled the toys out when she realized Brooklyn liked watching me vacuum the back room.

I know a good maid service if anyone is looking.