My Boys

I am in LOVE with this photo and of course the subjects of the photo!:) Three years ago Brian started a tradition with Emma....he takes her (just the two of them) to see The Nutcracker. Now that Ben is old enough Brian wanted to start a tradition with him. So for their first annual Christmas (cultural) outing, Brian took Ben to see White Christmas down in Houston.

Oh my gosh!!! Ben just instinctively knew that this was a BIG deal and was very excited. I was sick all week, and not until Wednesday ( the night of the show) did I think to lay out his suit.....that was what he insisted on wearing. When I put his suit on I had proof that he has been sprouting like a weed! His suit pants were total flood waters and the sleeves on his suit jacket were half up his arm....panic! I had to run out to get something that actually fit, and that was when he decided he wanted to dress "cool like Daddy" and wear a sweater and blazer.

Anyway, I thought he was too stinking precious and he knew it. He was just grinning ear to ear. He loved his evening out with just the guys....which was made extra special because of our surprise and random snow "storm".

Look at those dimples!!

"TOUGH"

Recently at the Childrens' Museum I asked the kids to pose against an old jalopy covered with graffiti. I told them to give me their best "living on the streets" tough look. This is what I got....they're not very tough. This is about as ghetto as they get!!!!

Anniversary

For our 15th anniversary in August, Brian and I had talked about going to Hawaii to celebrate. Sometimes, however, God has other plans, and this year His plans didn't include going to Hula land. Brian has always been quite the romantic, and as a surprise, he got up early the morning of our anniversary and decorated. He said if we couldn't go TO Hawaii, he would bring it to ME! I was very pleased, and moved by his thoughtfulness......and slightly confused....I thought, for a split second, that somehow he had pulled it off and that we were going! :) We weren't, and we had a great morning drinking pineapple juice out of coconut cups!

YIKES IKE!!!!!

These were taken about 7:15....sky starting to turn ugly, but not too threatening yet. Wind is definitely picking up....trying to get a little video I can share later.

Brian decided to board up a couple of windows!! Makes it seems extra ominous!!

Stay tuned!!!!!!!!!!!

My Lil Cowboy

Ben just recently started taking horse riding lessons, too. He's good, handles it well, but doesn't seem as comfortable up there as Emma. After only two lessons, he went on his first trail ride. While on vacation we all went on a ride, and they let both kids ride on their own. Emma is an old pro, but Ben was just use to riding within the arena. He LOVED it, cuz he got to trot.....in fact he literally trotted right outta his boots! I love some of these pics.

More Squirrels

Okay, I'm trying this again. My dear friend, Deborah Sue, is trying to walk me through this....I want to post more than one picture per post, so here goes.

My Lil Cowgirl

Emma, who has always been my "girly girl" is absolutely in her element in the horse barn where she takes her riding lessons. Her teacher, who has become a family friend, has allowed our family to stay at her home while she is out of town on a couple of occasions. When we are out there we like to take hikes or walks together, feed and pet the horses or ride on the 4 wheeler. But Emma is most content with the horses. This last time we stayed there was the first part of August, and it was bloody HOT!!!!!!!! Really too hot to enjoy anything outside, and so mostly we were hanging out inside. Emma, however, just would not leave the barn. At one point she was so red I had to make her come in and lie down under a fan until she could cool down. I love this picture of her....her little red cheeks and sweat drops, even her hair tells you how hot she is.

Ike???? Try Alvin, Simon and Theodore

With everyone prepping for Ike, Brian decided we needed to have some trees cut down.....NOW. Apparently one of the trees had a squirrel nest in it, and Brian carefully lifted it, along with the three babies, into a box. I had just put the kids down for a little pre-hurrican nap, when he carried the baby squirrels upstairs to show Emma and Ben. Oh my gosh! They were totally thrilled. They all just gathered around the box ooohin and ahhing and watching the babies sleep. When Brian tried to pick one up the baby started crying and the kids that that was sooooooo cute. Anyway, here are a couple (I hope) of pictures.



The kids decided to name them Alvin, Simon and Theodore.

I don't know how I managed to cut myself off. As I was saaaaaying... my boy handled it like a champ. No tears and no pouting...just a little nose-picking!

Hopefully tonight, after everyone is tucked in, I will put a picture from today -- the REAL first day.

Also, I want to share my experience so far homeschooling Emma. Part of her journey will be to start her own blog and share her side of it with you all.

1st Day of Pre-K!!

NOT!!

Today (Thursday the 4th) was Ben's first day of Pre-K. Or so we thought. Brian and I took little Benjo to school only to find out that it didn't actually start until today! School starts at 9:00, and we got there about 20 minutes early.....you know, to have plenty of time to take lots and lots of cute pictures. Brian immediately commented that there were not very many cars in the parking lot, and I reminded him that we had gotten there early. But something was just not right...surely the teachers would already be there. Anyway, much to our chagrin, we were there a few DAYS early, not just 20 minutes. School actually started today. :)

My boy handled it like a champ

I decided to sit down and write about how surreal, sad and exciting it is that my Baby Girl is no longer a 1st grader. She had her last day today, and, I don't know, something just tightens in my throat when I think of how fast it all goes by. I think about how sweet and amazingly thoughtful she is, and about how so many people in her life comment on how gentle her spirit is, or "she's like an old soul". My Baby Girl, who puts everyone before herself, even at a very young age, who doesn't want to hurt anyone or any of God's creatures... she is just so loving and tender.

And then, just as I decided to write, she decided to play school with Ben, Savannah and Avery. Oh, my Lord!! What a hag!! I keep thinking 'um, what happened to my Baby Girl?' If she ever decides to pursue a career as a teacher, I am seriously going to have to dissuade her. She is barking orders at her "students" and threatening to quit playing if everyone isn't "very quiet and do as I say". Can anyone say 'BOSSY'? Anyway, I'm seeing a totally different side of my child today. I mean, don't get me wrong, she has her days, but today was like the bossy of all bossy!! What is really perplexing is that they all keep playing! I'm sure I should intervene, but I am laughing too hard.


Ta Ta!!

Just went to pick up Avery to have a little play date with Ben...they are total BFF's , two peas in a pod, like peanut butter and jelly! Once we were in the car Ben turned to Avery and said, "Avery, you don't still suck your thumb, right?"

Avery: Uh, yuh, I do!!

Ben: Well, Avery, your three yeared ole, you can't suck your thumb!"

Avery: Well I can, cuz I'm three, but I'm little, I'm almost two!"

They went back and forth a couple more times, and then it was apparently decided that she would indeed continue to suck her thumb, but only for a little while, because she is "three, almost four". She's aging quickly!!

It was making me laugh....Erin, you were saying the other day that she is either "little" or "growed up" depending on which is convenient.

Could NOT get to sleep last night....I think thanks to a little diet assist from my sister! Last time I looked at the clock it was close to 5 am, and I had to get up at 7 to get my Emma ready for school...I mention this because you might think I would be dragging and maybe even a little crabby. BUT I actually think I'm still feeling (and reaping the benefits from) my sister's "diet assist". Being intentionally and obviously vague on that issue. :) Let's just say I'm getting a lot done in a very little amount of time! Thanks, Erin!!

Anyway, last night when I couldn't go to sleep I tried reading a little, but that didn't help. I was reading 12 Extraordinary Women and I was trying too hard to really take it all in, so because of my desire for some late night Bible study I was way too focused to fall asleep while reading. So I flipped on the ol' t.v. and found that 80's (?) movie called Baby Boom with Diane Keaton. You know the one where she "inherits" a friends baby and they move to the country in Vermont and start making gourmet baby food? Please tell me somebody remembers that movie. I loved it when it came out...don't know exactly why, it wasn't a blockbuster or anything, but I like it. I have also decided that I really like Diane Keaton as an actress.

When that ended at 2 am I was still awake and raring to go, so I allowed myself to get hooked on the next movie which was Gracie. Okay, as my sisters say, "don't judge me", but I liked it, sappy as it was. It was a soccer movie based loosely on the Shue family...remember them? Elizabeth Shue was in that babysitter movie, and her very handsome bro Andrew...think he was on Melrose Place. In case you don't ever get a middle of the night chance to see it , Andrew is aging very nicely!

Really this is all very random, but I really want to get in the habit of getting on here even if it is a rambling mess! Well maybe I shouldn't make that part a habit!

The kids and I decided to try our hands at gardening a couple of months ago. We were determined to really make a go of it and work hard. We started with some basic herbs, cucumbers and tomatoes. The basil seems to be doing fine and we have five little cherry tomatoes growing...I really don't know who is more excited about our success, me or the kids! Since I really like to do as much organic as I can possibly afford, this was my way of trying to take a little off the grocery bill, and while we don't have that much yet, it is way cool to know that we are sort of on the way.

We started with organic seeds, potted with organic (composted) dirt and topped it off with organic fertilizer...so I am pleased with the prospect of having some organic basics right in my back yard! It looks like right now all we will be able to get out of it is some really good bruschetta!! since the only things really growing are the tomatoes and basil...but I'm still holding out for the cucumbers!

These are pictures of our first tomatoes. If you read the post about camping, there were three pictures way, way below that posting....don't know if you all got that far or not. I'm still trying to get the posting thing down.

I'm sure I will be blogging more about the garden endeavor, because it is sooo exciting!!

Ta Ta!!!

Okay, somewhere in my old age I have really gotten interested in being one with nature. Not sure how it happened, but it did and I'm enjoying it. My little family has gone camping now just a handful of times and we have loved it. Recently our friend Andy suggested a bunch of us go camping and I mentioned how I have wanted to go to Garner State Park for some time. Somehow he made it happen and we all headed out there this past Friday.

It was wonderful, we all had a ball and I think lots of memories were made. I couldn't keep my kids out of the water...the Frio River to be exact, and I couldn't blame them because it was just beautiful! The water was so clear that you could look down and see the catfish, and they had an absolute ball fishing. We don't know anything about fishing, and this was our first real attempt at it, and I was really proud of both of my little ones. Emma was a casting fool and Ben really picked it up fast as well. Really the water was the biggest draw...great for swimming, splashing, fishing, paddle boating and picture taking!

Along with Andy's family, all three of my sisters were able to go, and it was a nice mix. All the cousins and little people played and the rest of us got to enjoy a nice visit and play some Catch Phrase. The only disappointing thing was that there was a burn ban so we were not able to do S'mores...bummer!

If I can remember how to post pictures I will & I will also post some more stories from our camping trip.

My first Blog

Hey, guys! What do you think of my new blog?? Pretty impressive??? Mom, challenge$$$!!!!