Christmas Baking

After my friends were over this weekend, and Ashley was the only one at the house while they were over. I had a major problem. Because my friend made these cute 'reindeer' candies and Ashley got to help and you know she had to let Clara know that she got to help 'bake' while Clara was gone. I don't even have to tell you how well that went over. NEEDLESS to say, we made more reindeer candies tonight so that Ashley could show Clara how they were made. Oh Geez! Girls! But I did have fun baking with them and watching their anticipation of what they would taste like.








Finished product is suppose to be a reindeer face with an m&m nose - the pretzel is the ears.

Craft Day/Weekend

Well, several of my friends and I got together, as we do every year, to make some crafts. This is because we are so poor that we can't afford to buy gifts for all of those special people in our lives like our kids' teachers (because we have a zillion of them). This weekend we started Friday and night and didn't end until Sunday aftenoon - off and on throughout the entire weekend. But what a blast and how rewarding it was to see the finished product. Here are just a few pictures

HOPE THEY ENJOY THEM AS MUCH AS WE ENJOYED MAKING THEM!!!!!!!!



A decorated picture frame


All the pictues frames during the process of completing them.



"FAMILY" boards we made. These aren't finished until we tie the curly wire and a huge bow on the top. They turned out cuter than this picture does them justice.

!

Back at Thanksgiving

Over the week of Thanksgiving, Keith's cousin and his family came to spend the week with us. We had a crazy but fun week. Over the course of that week, we had 4 adults and 8 kids staying with us. (Our 4, their 2, and then Raylynn and Ryan (Ray's kids) came to stay with us to. We had a blast. A couple of things we did was visit the JFK muesum at the 6th Floor Book Depository and The Ft. Worth Stockyards. Both were so much fun for those from out of town and those who live here. I personally have lived in DFW my entire life and NEVER have been to the Book Depository Muesum. It was fun having conversations with Richard (he was the only one really old enough to know all about the events it describe). Here are some pictures of our week's events!



Ashley and Piper (She's 8)


Brother's from another mother (Keith and his cousin)

The Stockyards - Lilly, Clara, Piper, Ashley, Raylynn, and Ryan

Lunch at Spaghetti Warehouse - Jeremy, Christine, and Piper

More Lunch - Clara, Lilly, Ash, and Ricahrd


The Kids with JFK and Jackie O.

Super Bowl

Richard's football team wasn't overly successful this year but they fought hard. They had a 4-5 record but they fought to win their playoff game which landed them a spot in the super bowl. To top it off they played the super bowl at the high school stadium which got the boys hyped up!

Each team fought hard and played till the end. Richard's coach has said all year "You play till the end"...and he addressed that that statement is true in every life lesson. You never give up and that is what the Falcons have done. They WON!!! 20 - 14. What a season. It was so rewarding as a parent to see your child work hard for 3 months for something and be so proud of themselves. I love my little #11!!!!

Way to go Falcons!!!!

Richard getting his trophy from his coach!

Football in the Fall

Today was the most perfect weather for a football game. Richard's team played at the big field today (the high school) and they have a perfect record there. They have a perfect record at the little league fields too but it's the loosing end. The weather was perfect, the score was perfect, and Richard even caught an interception!

Mimi even made it out to see the game!

Go Richard!!!!!!!!

Go Falcons!!!!!!!!

Halloween

Today was beautiful. The weather was breezy and cool and we had a blast.

Richard went out trick-or-treating with his friend so he wouldn't wait long enough for me to grab a picture. But here are the three girls all ready to go!

Kylie the Witch, Cassie (our neighbor) dressed as Hannah Montana, and Ashley - aka Tinkerbell

Kylie, Clara (a cat) and Ashley

Sumo Wrestling

This is how we spend our family time on the weekends...SUMO wrestling!
Crazy, probably...

Priceless, oh yeah!




Clara attempting to look up for help!

Richard being strapped into his helmet while clara attempts to just 'be' in her suit.

Great times, Great Friends

This past weekend, I got to celebrate my wonderful friend Christina's 30th birthday. Her husband threw a great party and we danced and ate and laughed like school girls. I even arranged for "our partner in crime" to come up from Houston and surprise Christina. The three of us worked together 2 years ago and then Angel moved to Houston. We have missed her and haven't seen her since she moved. It was a blast! Here's to my friends that make my life simplier and make me laugh through the hard days!

Love you guys!

me, Christina, and Angel!

Richard and his Euphonium (mini tuba)

So lately my house has been taken over by these low, loud sounds that might be passed off as sounds of gas but if you know much about my house, you know it is just Richard practicing his euphonium. The Euphonium is a mini tuba and he is doing really good at it. I have hopes of this being his new passion since it doesn't look like he will be able to play football after next summer.

Here is Richard and his Euphonium!

It's Fall, Y'All!

I love the Fall weather and all the activities it brings. And, if you live in Texas, you know that Texas Fall means football. So, we are celebrating another season with Richard playing football and loving sitting out in the cool sunshine on Saturdays. It is neat to see him growing up and he is finally not the tallest on his team...although he is close.

So here's the scoop on my Falcon...

#11

11 years old

5 ft. 4 in.

95 pounds

defensive end/wide reciever

GO FALCONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In the pictures, they had to wear the orange jersey's because the other team wore black jersey's like us.

More from Florida

When we weren't in the ocean in Florida, we were in the pool. Here are some shots of the kids at the pool!



Clara and Lilly at the pool

Ashley and her daddy

Clara 'surfin' in the pool with some help from Jeremy

Vacation to Panama City Beach, Florida

We spent last week hangin' out at the beach with Keith's cousin, Jeremy, and his family. We had a blast swimming and digging in the sand the entire day. What a great way to end our summer as we prepare to go back to school. The kids had so much fun!!!!!! I even got them dressed up one night for some pictures on the beach.

Trip to Georgia

This past weekend, Keith, Ashley and I headed out to visit Keith's cousin and family who live in the 'cuntry'. Just kidding...they really do live in the country but it isn't like what we Texan's think of as 'cuntry'. It is peaceful, slow, relaxing, fun, not near as hot, and we had a blast. Keith's cousin Jeremy and his wife Christine have two beautiful and sweet daughters, Lilly and Piper. They were instantly attached to Ashley and were the 3 amigos the whole weekend. We hung out at their pool, shot our own fireworks, people watched the locals at the town square 4th of July celebration, and even went into town on Sunday for church, lunch, and some shopping. It wouldn't take much to convince me to move down there. They live on 25 acres so we could sit out pool side as late as we wanted to be as loud as we wanted. That was the biggest change from home. We were all instant buddies discussing the many memories of loved ones that have passed and hearing stories of Keith and Jeremy growing up. We are very grateful for their hospitality and can't wait to see them again. Here are some pics from our trip...just a couple...more to come later.....

Their backyard

The family on the Town Square!

Keith's Aunt Janette, Ashley, and Piper.

Ashley and Jeremy playing in the pool

Keith and Jeremy playing Boce outside.

Great Wolf Lodge

Last weekend, we surpised the kids with an overnight stay at Great Wolf Lodge...our version of a 'staycation'. We set out on Saturday afternoon to 'run some errands' to many arguments and whines from the kids. After about an hour of driving and a couple of stops (to stock up on snacks for the hotel room), we pulled in to Great Wolf Lodge...this was Clara's expression??? sorry it won't let me turn it around

She is actually saying "What are we doing at Great Wolf Lodge?"

We had a blast!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The kids loved both the indoor and outside pools...especially the wave pool inside. Something we will do again...after we save up again for it! whoa a bank breaker!!!!!!!!

looking down at the lobby

Richard playing the magicquest game

inside wave pool

Complaining and Thankful

I am both (I know hard to believe). This is the first summer since Keith and I have been married that I have been home alone with the kids during the summer. It's a whip! He has always worked his bounce house company during the summer only so he didn't have too much to do except some deliveries here and there...mostly on the weekends. (There is my complaint). But with the economy and growing kids, we decided that he would put that business on the back burner and go back to work. I am thankful though that he has a job and one that keeps him so busy he has worked 12 hours days this whole week. (There is my thanks).

I just can't come up with enough to do to keep the kids busy. They are either arguing with each other or complaining that there isn't anything to do. They have also reached the age where two gang up on one and cause mischief - I am not sure where that came from because I am 100% certain my sisters and I never did that!!!!!!!Plus this is my vacation too, right???? Ah, the joys of motherhood!

Commencement - Confirmed

Well, our trip to Phoenix was cancelled due to unexpected life things that come our way and really not wanting to drive that far in the car by myself with 3 kids. But to my surprised, when I called to cancel my name, I was told that there is a ceremony here in Dallas that same weekend! Yippee! Sooooo, I registered to participate in that ceremony and I am still going to 'walk' after all. Here is the 'news' I got...


DALLAS
Sunday, July 19, 2009 2 PM
CONFIRMED
American Airlines Center

I am super excited!

My Graduate (tear, sniffle)

It's official...with the end of this school year, Clara has officially graduated Kindergarten. She has made it through her first year of school and is headed to being the big girl she already feels/acts like. She was so excited about graduating and hearing her name called, she could barely stand it. I am excited to see the plans God has for her and the young lady she is going to turn in to.

Their kindergarten celebration was an Luau theme. Instead of getting all dressed up, they each wore Hawaiian clothes and instead of recieving their paper awards off the bat, they were 'laid'. Then the paper awards were sent home in an envelope for the parents.

Awaiting her name to be called

Being 'laid' or recieving her awards

H
Her class friends

Watching her friends get their awards

Richard's Music Concert

This year Richard was part of an elite musical group at his school. Over 100 kids auditioned and only 20 made it, including him. He has truly enjoyed being a part of this group. They perform with the choir but they only play percussion instruments. Everything is from memory, they don't read music. Tonight they had their final concert so we took a picture of him and his ensemble teacher, Mrs. McKenzie which he loves. She is the cutest, toughest teacher out there. I am just amazed at how big my 'little' boy is getting. This concert to finish out 5th grade comes just after his first 'dance' last Friay night.

Change of Seasons...

This quote was given to me by a friend at school and I thought it was fitting for lots of reasons right now. Dealing with the loss of a loved one, several seasons of activities ending, school closing for the summer...what do you think??

"The song is complete, but the melody lingers on." - Irving Berlin

The question is, how does that melody of things passed affect our lives???

Our Ray

Romans 8:37 - 39

"No , in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angles nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

May Ray feel the love our our Lord!