White Sands National Monument

This may sound rude.  In fact, it is rude.  The majority of what I have seen of New Mexico, it is an UGLY aesthetically challenged state.  But there are pockets of beauty that we have discovered.  We live in a beautiful town in the mountains.  We also discovered the beauty of White Sands National Monument.  Seriously, after driving through an hour's worth of blah desert, we were shocked to see the pure white gypsum dunes.  We had a blast!  Boo asks to go back every weekend.

Changes.

It amazes me the changes that happen in a month.  Baby is one month old!  (Nickname is still pending, though we are considering "Beaker".)

Here is a picture of Baby at one week old.

Here are a couple of pictures taken today.  

Casey was getting some great smiles out of baby, but my camera would only catch them at the end.  Isn't she a sweet thing!    

"When I grow down..."

Bug has had a little baby jealousy.  Well, it is more of baby swing jealousy.  I've caught her sitting in it a couple of times.  Her bum was just an inch from the ground!  After explaining that she was too big for it, I thought she had let the issue go.

Bug came back a few minutes later and declared, "When I grow down to a 'yittle' baby, I will sit in the swing!"

"I look hot!"

Boo had won the "Busy Bee" award in her class last week.  She picked a pair of shades as her prize. In typical Boo fashion, the minute she stepped off the school bus she exclaimed, "I look hot!"  Casey and I have never used that term to describe Boo.  We've told her she is pretty, beautiful, lovely, looks good and so on.

Curious, I asked, "What does hot mean?"

"You know, it means I look cool."

What do you do with a "hot"  (or is that "cool?") five-year-old?  You take pictures of course!

Boo Teaches Human Anatomy 101

I'm very proud Casey devoted three years of his life to grad school to learn his profession.  Yet sometimes, I wonder if it was a little over kill.  Boo pulled out one of Cak's anatomy book and proceeded to teach Bug.  Maybe Casey only needed a year, and Boo to be a physical therapist. 

See what I I'm saying?  Grad school is way over-rated!

The first week home.

I once tried to explain to Boo that Grandma was my mommy.  "No, she is my grandma!" was her answer.  I decided to drop it. 

Thank goodness I have a mommy though!  There are times in life when Mommy needs her mommy.  Bringing home  a new baby is one of them.  Bringing home a new baby after having a c-section, and there are two other kids to take care of, and hubby doesn't have anymore paid time off.... yup.  Mommy.

My folks flew in and drove down Wednesday evening.  Papa Mark's main job was to be Papa, and run multiple times to the store.  Bug and Boo just love hanging out with Papa.

Grandma Paula played with the girls, and took care of baby and Mommy.  She gave baby her first bath.

Isn't my mom beautiful?  Baby is too!

On Papa and Grandma's last night here, Bug and Boo got to stay up late and play out side with glow sticks.  Grandma and Papa came up with a game of "hot and cold" in the dark.  The girls had to use their glow sticks to find Daddy's hidden hat. It is a really fun version that I think any age would like.  (I liked it and I'm 28 years old!)

Isn't family great!