Ward Family Happenings

Austin Trip

We made a trip to Austin at the end of May so Jeff could attend an open house. Since most people haven't heard yet...

Yup, that's right! After years of talking about it, thinking about and even taking tests, we have finally made the leap. It feels like the right time for our family and Jeff is excited to go and get his MBA. We are doing the program out of Houston though so we don't even have to move (thank goodness!) So, now his only dilemma is sports...he still gets worked up about me teaching the kids some "hook em horns" but despite this change, we still bleed blue!

The kids loved the hotel.

We had a dinner for all the incoming students up in the box at the stadium. The view was pretty great.

We spent the rest of the weekend exploring the city. We found a lot of great places to eat, some great farmer's markets and little shops. Friday night we went to see the bats and I think we heard more then we saw, but it was still a lot of fun to experience. I took a video, but no pictures of that.

Bode getting ready for her first farmer's market.

Raegan our rock collector.

South Congress shops.

It was a great trip and got us all a little more excited for Jeff's program. It will be a long 2 years (or 21 months), but we are excited to see what doors his MBA will open up for him and for us.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day was different this year. Jeff had big plans to make me breakfast and dinner and the kids were going to help, but Mother's Day, I woke up and it was my turn to get the flu! Such a bummer! Instead of my nice stuffed chicken dinner and cinnamon roll breakfast, I enjoyed crackers and ginger ale for breakfast and chicken soup for dinner. Everyone still tried to make it special and I did get to spend most of the day in bed. I just wish I had felt better.

Well, 2 days later, I was feeling better! Jeff and the kids had flowers delivered and he made our awesome dinner. Then over the next weekend he made the cinnamon rolls. Everything was great and it was kind of fun to spread it out over the week.

My kids are so great and it is fun to celebrate being a mom. It is the most challenging and exciting thing I have ever done and I wouldn't change a thing. I would love to get more sleep and be able to go to the bathroom by myself sometimes, but I guess that will happen again some day!

May Outings-Space Center and Zoo

So, I am way behind, but since we started May with a visit to the Dr. for pink eye with Bode and then had the stomach flu hit everyone in the house, I think I am excused. We were literally at the dr. May 1st and by the time I wasn't doing 3 loads of sheets, towels and whatever else had someone's bodily fluids on them it was May 20th! Crazy times and NOT something I want to go through again.

Even though someone was always sick, we managed to still have a little bit of fun.

Right after everyone showed signs of improvement, Deana and I took the kids to the space center. I had been wanting to go and I knew Deana would like it. It was fun, but they changed a lot since the last time I was there.
The tram ride was about 30 mins. longer and the kids were bored by the end. Plus I didn't bring snacks.

They loved seeing the big rocket parts though.

And they got rid of the big children's play area. They still have some cool stuff so Harrison tested out his simulation skills while Raegan ran around to everything. It was a fun time!

Then at the end of May we took 2 trips to the zoo. One was spent checking out the splashpad area.

And playing.

The second was spent seeing the brand new bug exhibit and bug house. Harrison loved it, Raegan just wanted to eat snacks and go see the monkeys.

I was so glad that Jeff came with us the first trip and Deana came with us the second, because outings with all three kids can be pretty tricky, but the kids usually have fun and we all come home tired!

May at Home

Most of May we spent at home and when we weren't sick, we found things to do. Mostly Bode kept us all entertained:)

This girl loves to eat and when she is in her high chair, I know she is out of trouble.

Or when she is in bed she is also out of trouble! Although I don't know how she can sleep like this!

Usually we find her getting into things like this...and her other favorite places are the fire place and the dirt in the house plants. She just figured out how to open cabinets too so watch out for that!

Raegan discovered her favorite food. Yes, there she is enjoying her own stick of butter.

And since we were home so much, we decided to paint nails.

Raegan's first Sunday back at church she was so excited to go to nursery. Well, we showed up and the water in the building wasn't working so they sent everyone home after sacrament meeting. She was so upset that I bribed her with a fun treat and we all enjoyed making and eating Muddy Buddies when we couldn't go to church!

These are my 2 early birds. Both are usually up just before 7 and we enjoy a quiet morning (most of the time). Raegan usually makes her apperance about 8:30 or 9.