Traveling With Three Kids...

We have about 2 more days in our house before the packers arrive and start packing up all of our stuff. I am trying to be as organized as I can be right now.......but I really do not feel very organized! I think all of the things going through my mind are preventing me from being organized! Anyways, I am looking for any suggestions that you may have on traveling with three kids. Do I bring a car seat for Tori to ride in on the plane? We are definitely bringing Katie's car seat. We will be traveling during her nap time and I want Tori to be able to nap comfortably. But, do I really want to lug another car seat around three different airports? And what are the most entertaining toys that I could bring on the plane? We are definitely bringing a DVD player and the Leapster L-MAX. Let me know if you have any suggestions...

A Wonderful Suprise!

Today, July 19th, is Katie's first birthday! I think this has been the fastest year of my life! I am so thankful God blessed us with Katie. I cannot imagine our family without her.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY LITTLE MISS KATHERINE BROOKE!





P.S.
Happy Birthday Shana! I think it is so great that my daughter shares a birthday with you! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Our Trip to The Big D

The girls and I made a road trip up to Dallas this past week. The drive up was pretty easy. I almost enjoy driving up 35. I have so many memories up and down that highway. Memories from leaving San Antonio to go to college in San Marcos, driving to work in Austin, then driving all the way up to 35W to go to Lawton, OK to be with my new husband, to Killeen where we lived the longest- 2 1/2 years, back to Lawton, and then to McKinney, and then back down to San Antonio. WOW! We sure have moved a lot! 35 has gotten me home in all directions! I don't think it goes up to New Jersey??? Anyways...the girls and I had a great time. Our first stop was at my friend Betty's. I met her in McKinney at the park. Alli and Kaitlyn started playing together right away and instantly became friends. Betty and I also became good friends. Isn't that nice when that happens! We spent a lot of time at the pool and just hanging out. After a couple of days with Betty, the girls and I were off to The Prugh's. But before going to the Prugh's we met up with Rachael and Drew at one of my favorite spots while I lived in McKinney, Stonebriar Mall. It was our first time to meet the newest addition to the Barresi family and I am so glad we were able to meet up. When we got to Shana's, the girls ran in and started playing like we had just been there yesterday. It was so awesome to see how distance and time has not changed a thing. Being at Shana's house and just spending time with her brought back so many good memories. While in McKinney, I was lucky enough to run into my friend Jennifer. We had spend a lot of time with Jennifer and her family when we lived there. And our last stop was to visit our old friend's The Yanelli's. We had visited them a couple of months ago and, as always, it was a great time for me and the girls. Katie was especially happy to have another baby to play with. Thanks to everyone for having us! We had an awesome time. And thanks to Uncle Brian and (soon to be) Aunt Laura for watching Maddie.

Happy 4th of July

Pete and I really were absent minded when it came to making plans for this Fourth of July. With him being in New Jersey during the week now, we really did not know when he would be home or for how long. So last minute planning, we decided to do what Alli has been wanting to do. Alli has been wanting to spend the night in a hotel room and order room service. Ordering room service was the most important and most talked about part. On Tuesday, we drove about 5 miles down the road to The Westin Resort at La Cantera for an early check-in. We started our vacation with a nice lunch and then we were off to the pool. We played at the pool for awhile. It was a good thing we got the early check-in because it started storming just as we were leaving the pool. We spent the rest of the night in our room. We did order room service and Alli could not wait to answer the door. She and Tori ate their dinner on their bed and thought it was so cool. After dinner we watched a movie. The movie ended just in time for the fireworks show from Fiesta Texas. We made sure we had a room that faced Fiesta Texas so we could watch them from our balcony. Katie missed out on everything. She goes to bed pretty early. And on this night, she was especially tired from all the swimming. Our hotel bathroom became Katie's room. I set up the pac-n-play in there so she would not be disturbed by all the noise her sisters were making. I did say that we spent the rest of the night in our room, but since our bathroom was off limits, that is not so true. We took several trips down the hall to the elevator to get to a bathroom.........the things I do to keep my kids on a good sleep schedule!! Overall, the "vacation" was great because the girls enjoyed it so much. But I was not overly impressed with the resort.............but then again, the last two resorts that I have been to were free trips that Pete won through work to The Four Seasons in Great Exuma, Bahamas and The One and Only Palmilla in Cabo. The Westin was nice, but not quite as nice as the others!!
The next day we went over to MoMo's to spend some time the family.

So Grown Up

I took this picture of Tori the other day. Doesn't she look like such a big girl? She usually only wants a "big" pony tail or pic-tails. I think just having her hair fixed this way makes her look older.
The "pictures" below were made by Tori for her daddy. I thought it was so cute because she drew these at different times. She made one and brought it to him. And then she went back and forth two more times to make the picture and then bring it to him, making the same picture all three times!
Every picture Tori makes these days is for her daddy. She really misses him and can't wait to move to New Jersey to be with him.