It's a Squirrel, It's a Bird, It's in my House?

For a while, we've had trouble with a squirrel scrambling around in the attic above Daniel's room.  Saturday morning, I heard one above my room.  As the day wore on, the sound moved into the hallway, then into the wall next to the fireplace.  By afternoon, it was scratching on the other side of the fireplace by the entertainment center.  The kids would go up to the wall and knock on it where the noise was coming from.  I'm not sure if they expected the squirrel to knock back or what.

We came home that evening after attending Megan, my niece, birthday party and sent the kids upstairs for a shower.  Ashley started whining that the squirrel was now in her walls.  Brian and I told them to ignore it and get in the shower.  Next thing you know, we heard screaming from her room.  Then shrieking!  She yelled, "There's a bird in my room!"  Wouldn't you know it.  There was a bird perched in her window.  

Brian went up to attempt to capture it while I went to close the doors to her room to trap it.  Neither one of us was fast enough because it escaped through the bathroom and flew down to our second story window in the family room.  We opened all the doors to the house and Brian scared it out of the window by poking at it with our long stick for opening the shutters.  It then flew to the breakfast room window.  Goodness. We proceeded to chase it out of several of those windows (there's 6 in there) before it finally flew out the porch door.

After we all calmed down, got showers and the kids were in bed, I noticed that the little door for the fireplace gas valve was open.  As I shut it, it dawned on me that the valve was open to the inside walls.  It must have been a bird in the walls all day rather than a squirrel and it had accidentally opened the little door and flown out into the house.  I guess I'm glad it wasn't a squirrel in that part of my walls, but it is creepy to know that the bird went into the attic, then walls, then escaped into the house.

On Sunday, Brian showed me the hole between the roof and siding where the bird and previous squirrels got in the attic.  Let's just say, their little access point will be closed very soon. No more scurrying noises in the attic or walls for this family.

Aqua Friends Open House

Last week, Birdie had her Preschool Open House event.  She, along with all the "3's" preschool classes, performed two songs for the church full of family and friends.  In the videos, she is on the top right in the back wearing pink with a pink bow in her hair.  Her cousin Alex is on the front row on the left wearing brown pants.

Laurie and her friend Brooke

Birdie has had a great year as an "Aqua Friend" at her preschool.  She has learned so many new things and really blossomed.  It's hard to think of her as a "little" girl any more.  We've been blessed with a great teacher who is also a good friend.  She has worked really well with Laurie, encouraging her to do things on her own and helping her pursue lots of new fun.  Laurie has loved being an Aqua Friend.

A New Swordfish

I'm proud to announce Birdie was promoted today at swim lessons.  She is no longer a "Dolphin" but now a "Swordfish"!

According to their website this means she has mastered - gliding in the proper prone position, quick shallow freestyle kicks, four big arms out of the water, big arms and side breathing with a barbell (width of pool-30 feet), introduction to side breathing, backstroke kicks, shallow dives, big arms and floating side breath without barbell (width of pool).

Congratulations Birdie!  She will make an awesome Swordfish!

Ashley Loves the Earth

Ashley and her artwork at HEB.

Earth Day at HEB

Ashley was one of about 20 students whose artwork was picked for an Earth Day display at our neighborhood HEB.  While I was there last night, I found it and got a picture to share.  Sorry for the blur - I took it with my phone while standing in the booth.

If you go check it out, hers is in the eat-in area in the far left corner above the booth. 

We are very proud of our blooming artist.

Preparing for First Holy Communion

Just a couple pictures of Ashley as we prepare for her First Holy Communion this weekend.

(yes, we will remove her blue and purple nail polish before this weekend)

Easter 2010

After Easter Mass, we headed over to my parents for lunch and egg hunt with the cousins.  

The kids

I finished the girls' dresses the night before.

The5Jones

My parents and siblings

 The 7 Henley cousins

KinderGators at the Zoo

Daniel had his first school field trip to the Houston Zoo.  In addition to his first field trip, it was also his first time on a big yellow school bus! 

Another mom and I were chaperones of 5 BOYS!  With 5 boys, our group was in constant motion, only stopping long enough at each animal for conversations about animal poop and to check the map.  Speaking of the map, Daniel was so excited to finally use the Houston Zoo iPhone app I had downloaded on my phone a few weeks ago.  With videos, animal information and an integrated map, he loved using it.

We could not have asked for better weather for a day at the zoo.  They were great kids, but wow, what energy! It was a long, fun day. 

Dinner with Karl Rove

Two weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending a dinner with Karl Rove as the featured speaker for the evening.

Dinner was nice and Karl Rove was an excellent and engaging speaker.  He recounted many events during his 7 years at the White House, as well as a moving story of a military family who has given so much to our country.  While I already knew he is very intelligent with a specialized knowledge of American History, I was surprised to find him very warm, personable, and funny.   His speech included a few words of wisdom for the upcoming Fall election and the necessary take back of our country.  I'll post more about that over on Of Sound Mind and Spirit soon.   I cannot wait to read his new book to learn more about him, hear about his experiences, but also about any plans he has for the future.

Equally as exciting for me was meeting and listening to Texas State Senator Dan Patrick speak that evening.  He is a passionate conservative with a bright vision for Texas.  A big Thank You to Senator Patrick for announcing tickets for the event on his FaceBook page (and offering a reduced price!)

 Talk show host, Sam Malone was also a presenter/speaker for the evening.  After having listened to him on the radio since college, it was nice to meet him in person.  He encouraged Bryan and I to call into his new morning show on 700AM, which Bryan did the next day!

As part of a fundraiser, Mom and Dad stepped up to the plate and purchased this great pewter platter from President George W. Bush 2004 Inauguration.  In addition to the platter, Dad will be having dinner with Jared Woodfill, Senator Patrick, Sam Malone and a few others soon.

Easter Egg Hunt

 

 The day before Easter, GrandMommy, GrandDaddy, Gigi and Uncle Ron came over for an Easter Egg Hunt with the kids.  

Ashley is excited to be almost as tall as her Gigi.

During the egg hunt, Birdie would only pick up colors that she likes - and then open the egg when she picked it up.  

I sat up the night before and made the girls these little sundresses for the day.

The bright colors looked so good on them.

Daniel ran as fast as he could picking up as many eggs as he could.

After they were done, the kids took turns re-hiding the eggs for the other two to hunt.

 

We had a great time!!

This is how Daniel fixed his own hair for his soccer game today. 

It’s certainly a “look”!

Great Grades Deserve Sushi!

Because the kids got GREAT report cards this nine weeks, Brian promised them dinner out.  Surprise, Surprise, Ashley and Daniel agreed on Japeniero's, a Sushi Bistro we all love.  Even though Ashley and Birdie don't like sushi, they LOVE the "Baby Roll" on the kid's menu.  It is a chicken nugget wrapped in rice and seaweed - like sushi.  

Daniel, on the other hand, will eat his weight in sushi.  His favorites include California roll and Mount Fuji. 

Ashley requested sitting outside on the patio as part of our dinner.  Thankfully, the weather was gorgeous. 

Ashley and I got the afternoon started by shopping together for her First Communion dress.  We had a great time walking the mall together from store to store.  After trying on several, Ashley fell in love with the "princess" style dress she tried on first. We bought it, a purse and shoes.  We ran out of time to find her a headpiece for her veil, but we still have a couple of weeks to get it done.  If we'd had more time, she wanted me to try on a colorful long prom dress for fun!  I was game, I mean, how often do you get to dress up for your daughter in purple sequins and satin?

We met up with Brian and the other kids on the patio of Japaniero's for tasty sushi and great weather.  Great food, great conversation for great grades.  What a night.  We are very proud of our scholars!

Wall Hangings are Hung

Back in January, I purchased some wall hangings while in Canton for a shopping trip.  I posted pictures of most of my purchases, but left out these two sets of hangings since they were still in the box.  

After 2 months of looking at the boxes, I was extremely lucky to have a friend volunteer to come over and hang my artwork for me.  Yeah!!  Not only did he "hang" the artwork, he did so with laser guided precision.  It is perfect!   

These four squares are hung over the front door on the new wall we had installed two years ago (see pictures here).

The mural over the fireplace is huge and adds so much color to the room.  Now I just have to shift a few of the other pictures around. 

Doesn't it look GREAT!!!  Makes me want to head back to Canton for more shopping.

A huge thank you to John for not only hanging these items, but for changing the lightbulbs in our ceiling fan!!  

Spring Flowers

My pretty pretty Spring flower

My Entrepreneur

Ashley is once again selling something....

 Its a Flower Sale!

  But look!  Buy now and you receive free blooming yellow roses!!  

What a deal!

Not on the Comfy Couch

Does this look comfortable to you?