Eagle's Nest

There are some baby eagles in a tree near town that have captured many people's attention. I have kept the video open during the day and Grant has enjoyed checking out the picture. Just today we saw a parent eagle bring in a fish to feed the (currently) 2 babies, the mom pecking the remaining egg, and both parents sitting in the nest together.

Check it out! Kinda of fun for the kids (and adults!) to see.

Live Video Stream

Eagle's nest pictures

it's also extra exciting for Grant as his school mascot is an Eagle!

spring "BREAK"

and he broke it!!! Grant started a karate class 3 weeks ago, and already scheduled was a "Belt test" and a "board breaking" event - so we went, not knowing what to expect. He passed his belt test and now has a black tip on his white belt. Next step - yellow stripe. On Wednesday night, there was a time students could come and break a board with their foot using a kick - and he got it on the FIRST TRY! He did it twice, and was SO proud. Look how much he is beaming below (so was his family!).

I tried to get the video up here but for some reason, I am having troubles! May try later, and may not try.

It's snowy here - nothing like snow to welcome the first of Springtime!

Spring Break Images

We have had a great Spring Break! A lot of playdates with some little boys, and some quality time with family! Here's a picture of Mr. Teddy Bear at 2 weeks old - you can see how big his feet are getting!! And, yes, to answer some questions: we fully intend to "upgrade" to the frog aquarium and keep him in our family for a long time! I kinda think Jason and I are having as much (or more!) fun watching him change daily! www.growafrog.com if you think you need one for your house!
Lots of time at the park!!! Here was a picnic at the park with GG. Love my boys.

Grant has turned Big Boy -he was scared of this last summer.

Totally hysterically laughing on the merry-go-round.

Fun ride with the top down!!! Kyle's favorite part - such a car fanatic.

Senior Mr. Cool

Junior Mr. Cool

Family Dog Pile!!! Thanks to our camera timer for allowing us to recreate it - amazingly got it on the first try! At least of everyone but me but I didn't really care... cute dimples!

Very Sad Story

The following is a story that is a tough one for me to post - a young dad, only 32, participated in a Dallas-area half-marathon this weekend, and after he crossed the finish line, he fell and died. It is a personal connection for us because one of our hygenists was right behind him and his brother at the finish line and was there during the CPR. Sad deal...

You never know when your life will end. This man was in great shape and just ran 13.1 miles. Live your life. Tell your loved ones that you care - every day. Laugh.

----------
Family Shocked by Half-Marathoner's Death
Brother: "Should have been me: I'm 10 years older"
by Ellen Goldberg
A North Texas family is mourning the loss of a young father who died at a Dallas half-marathon.

Mark Austry, 32, a former baseball player for Texas Tech and the Fort Worth Cats, collapsed just seconds after crossing the finish line at Sunday's Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon in Dallas on Sunday.

“We high-fived, (and) he got a glass of water,” said Michael Austry, who ran the 13.1 mile race alongside his younger brother. “I turned around and just missed catching him; he was out.”

Paramedics tried to revive the Lantana husband and father of two girls. He was rushed to Baylor Medical Center in Dallas but never regained consciousness.

Family Mourns Fallen Marathon Runner

WATCH
“They did a great job trying to keep him with us, but it didn't take," his brother said.

Mark Austry had been athlete his entire life. He played baseball in college and professionally at one time for the Fort Worth Cats.

Michael Austry, his elder by nearly 11 years, was the runner in the family. He said he talked his brother into running the half-marathon.

“It’s hard to acknowledge it, but I think he did it because he loved me, because he wanted to spend some time on something he knows I do," he said.

The initial autopsy report from the medical examiner was inconclusive.

Michael Austry said his brother was in top shape and had no known health issues prior to Sunday's race.

“I don't know if our pace was too fast, if it would have happened anyhow, if we should have walked," he said. "But why would we walk? He felt good.”

He said they stopped for water several times and cracked jokes along the course.

Mark Austry is survived by his wife and two daughters, ages 1 and 3.

Michael Austry and his wife are expecting their first child this summer, and he said he hopes to be half as good of a father as his younger brother.

Services for Mark Austry are scheduled for Friday at Saint Ann Catholic Parish in Coppell. A fund has also been set up for Austry's daughters. Donations can be made at any Edward Jones Investment firm across the state in care of the "Austry girls."

just like cake!

This was the phrase of the day that made me smile the most:

"Miss Stacy, I really like coming to your house. It smells just like cake!"

That was from Grant's school friend that came to play this morning. He made my day without even knowing it! To me, the smell of a bakery and baked goods means warmth and love and comfort... it's A-OK to me if that is how my house will be perceived by my children and their friends!

Just bring on the ice cream for a-la-mode!

http://

Meet Teddy Bear

One of Grant's birthday presents was a "Grow A Frog" where you send in the certificate for a tadpole and then get to experience the development from tadpole to frog... he arrived on Friday! We have his little aquarium all set up in our kitchen and it's been fun. His little legs are starting to grow and we can tell he has changed just in four days.

Here he is posing for a picture!
And then he even went to side view shot for me knowing I was trying to take it! how helpful. (suggestion - WAY easier pet than a dog or cat).

Grant could name our tadpole anything he wanted, and he finally settled on Teddy Bear. ohhh-kaayy. But, whatever floats his boat.

So, welcome to Teddy Bear the Tadpole/Froggy. :)

All In A Day!

Here's our day so far - Kyle got his teeth cleaned! It was his second time (I forgot to take picture the first time!). We have the three best hygenists - yay! Grant was being Mr. Helper, too. uh-huh.Grant came home with his school project for the day - to write all the names of people in his family and to cut them each out. Since when did we get six people in our immediate family!?!? Guess G and B (grandparents formerly known as GG and Bubba) are now in our family.... and look how well he wrote everyone!

This is Grant reading an Easter book to Teddy Bear (the tadpole). He loves that amphibian (??)! Plus, this just shows his oh-so-sweet nature.

Baking Rack Winner!

Thanks to one of my best friends from high school (all the way back to first grade, actually!), I got to be a winner of something for the second time in two weeks! Angela is a regular blogger and had a contest on her blog. The prize was a stacking cooling rack, and considering that I didn't have any cooling racks, I was thrilled!!! Lucky #5! :) Plus, you can check out her blog regularly to learn about their awesome journey on an international adoption! I love seeing the Lord through her and her husband and their children. Big hugs to you and your family!!!

Grape Escape

This was a fun little event last night that I was able to be a part of! We had a good turnout, with fun ladies attending, and good representation from so many other Greek chapters. We came up with a game, too, and had a door prize!