A visit to Santa.....

When I was little my mom had me and my sisters visit Santa every year. She then displayed the pictures of our visits every Christmas. When I was about 12-13 years of age you can tell my attitude changed towards this tradition, the scowl and arm folding runs in our family. I felt I was to old for such silliness. Now that I have kids, we have visited Santa for 17 years now and I proudly place all my Santa Pictures at Christmas. My kids have such a great attitude about it. It's fun to look back at all the bad clothes and haircuts. Hopefully they will continue the tradition with their kids.

It was one year ago today that we were jetting to the land of beautiful beaches, coconuts, lagoons, feeling the sand through our toes, fighting for lounge chairs around the pool, trying to keep Devyn from calling my room, trying to decide which fish to try for dinner, dine in or dine out and yes the pictures of Santa in his hawaiian shirt and flip flops. This year will be just as special maybe a little colder but my mom and dad will be here to celebrate with us. Hopefully Keith can play tiny bubbles on that guitar thing.

A belated Thanksgiving Post

Can you believe it rains on Thanksgiving? How many months has it been since it has rained 3 or 4, and I have company and it rains. As you can see a pre-baseball game had to take place in the rain.

Although my grass looks really green, wow. Trevor at bat, and yes they are playing with wiffle balls (is that the right spelling?)
The kids table is such a great idea, as the adults were in the living room, you could hear the kids laughing, having such a great time. We then ventured to the temple, in the rain, for a picture with the kids.
T.J. was allowed on the temple grounds but he had to check in at the gate to let security know he was there. This was the only picture I had where everyone was at least trying to look in the same place. This post is belated due to the illiterate computer person at this end, thanks to Jer and her computer savvy my blog is now fixed. Now, no more dirty e-mails, and you know who you are. They are so harsh. I may need therapy.

The Guitar Hero

The Yellow Brick Road

Fall is always busy, but this season it has been especially busy. T.J.'s Eagle Scout Project at Sunset Park was very successful. We all had a great time and it was rewarding to see it come to an end and see what happens after hard work takes place. We had about 30 people come and work for about 6 hours. It was great!!!!
T.J. competed at the state tennis tournament at the Darling Center. We all had a great time. He made it to the third round, he did great. He has a lot of work to do before next season.
The kids loved hanging out and watching everyone play.
Avery had her first meet, she did great. She only fell off the beam once on her back hand spring. Her floor was fabulous, she even smiled during the floor exercise, this is a major development.
With fall, there comes many birthdays for our clan. I had my pregnancies planned so I would be off on maternity leave during the world series. So now we pay in October. Avery comes first in October.
Then Devyn, where everyday is a party.
Then Dawgie, 44 baby!!
Trick or treating took a different turn this year, I went on strike. I told Brett I am not handing our candy. The masses will just have to do without one house. We headed to the "FASHION SHOW MALL." What a nice experience. Godiva chocolates were giving out boxes of chocolates, Apple store was handing out thermos', and yes even Kate Spade was giving out candy. I was hoping for a purse but no such luck.
These are the hoodlums, I'm sure you are wondering what Trevor is, maybe a model for Hollister, a bum (with that long hair) no he was supposed to finish out my Wizard of Oz theme but his attitude got in the way. I sewed a lion costume for days, and he refused to wear it. So we ended up with the scarecrow, Dorothy and 2 lugs. Oh yeah, T.J. refused to be the tin man. So we traveled down the yellow brick road right into Red Lobster for a wonderful dinner. Happy Harvest!

Devyn is now "7"

A list of things you might not have known about Devyn.
1. She loves clothes. She has her own style and a definite opinion about her choices of clothing.
2. She hates to comb her hair.

3. This girl can feel the music but only if her lips are pursed together.
4. She wakes up happy, and goes to bed happy. She is always happy.

5. She is scared to death of bees. She will not swim if there are any around. Absolutely terrified.

6. She probaby has 15 pairs of shoes. She loves shoes that make sound on the tile.

7. Devyn knows where everything is, and if not she will find it especially if there is money involved for a reward.

Just a few things about out little dancer, we can't believe she is 7. Time sure flies.

happy b-day.

Happy "12th Birthday to our little red head. So I did a list for T.J., I better do one for Miss Sunshine. So here are 12 tid bits about our little peanut.

1.. Avery loves great, expensive food. Fish, lobster, and steak and of course, dessert.

2. Avery missed 3 questions on her math test, and took the test over just so she could get a 100%.

3. Avery is a mess pot, her projects are all over the house. She leaves a trail of destruction.

4. She is the most determined red head I know. In Hawaii they told her she would NOT win the waterslide races because she was so skinney. One thing you don't do is tell her she can't do something, Oh Yeah, she won.

5. Her aspirations include being a Thunderbird pilot, you know the one that flies upside down the whole time, #6. Probably, explains her love of Roller Coasters, they have to be big, twisty, and fast.

6. She is a lefty, but she used to be a righty. When she was 16 months old she broke her right arm and from that point on, she has been left handed.

7. She can text faster than anybody I know.

8. Her floor exercise music is always chosen because of her hair, the theme from "Bewitched" last year and this year "How do you know" from Enchanted.

9. Avery used to sing. She took singing lessons for about a year and sang in front of about 65 people. She sang "Supercalifragilisticexpalidocious." It was priceless.

10. She is finally paying attention to her hair and different styles, she still wears long shorts and t-shirts everyday, though.

11. She loves making cd's. Finding great music and taking it to gymnastics for everyone to warm up to is her favorite thing to do.

12. This little peanut may have started out tiny, 5lbs. 3 oz. but she is turning into such a wonderful young lady with definite opinions and a drive to become whatever she is destined to be.

Happy Birthday Sunshine.

Happy Birthday, T.J.

Today, is this little guys 16th birthday. I can't believe it has gone by so fast.

And now look at you. So in honor of his birthday, here are 16 things about T.J. (I stole this from Jen's blog).

1. He is scared to drive.

2. He absolutely loves "Gossip Girl."

3. He almost made his goal of having his eagle scout project done before his 16th birthday.

4. Likes to sleep with pillows all around him.

5. He is great at tennis, even his backhand.

6. He is scared to ask a girl to his birthday dinner, even though she practically asked herself.

7. He likes to mountain bike and is praying that they don't put houses behind us and ruin his trail.

8. He loves to long board, against his mother's request.

9. He is one of two names on the temple's security list.

10. He enjoys teasing and terrorizing 6 year olds, namely DEVYN.

11. He has no rhythm. I mean none whatsoever.

12. His flying squirrel dive is quite the show.

13. He has achieved straight A's and is ranked 6th in his class.

14. He will do chores around the house when severely threatened, with objects.

15. He has goals of being a pilot, orthodontist, architect, ESPN analyst, Nascar driver, who knows!

16. He's a mama's boy!!!!

Happy Birthday bud!

A Day in the City

Sometimes living here we forget how much our city has to offer. We took Taylor down to the Bellagio to see the fountains and it was great. I think I'm getting old, the kids were like, yeah okay mom.

The kids smiling and enjoying the hot, hot weather. By the time the fountains were done we wanted to jump in them.

My favorite place in the Bellagio is the Atrium, and it was decorated so beautifully. The kids took in Mt. Rushmore.

This is a minature Bellagio made out of seeds, twigs and plants, it was great.

This one is for you mom, these hydrangeas (Spelling?) were beautiful, almost as pretty as yours, mom.

This is the Trevi fountains in Ceasars Palace, we made a wish and a new car was not sitting in my drive way when we got home.

We had lunch with Rocky Balboa at Planet Hollywood. It was a great day. Giselle, no gambling was involved, not even a slot machine.

We have a Texan among us....

Our good friend Taylor flew in to spend the last of our summer break with us. This sweet girl, who has grown up, when we met back in the hood in Wichita Falls she was only 2 and look at her now.

The kids were so excited to see her, they weren't to happy about be making them stop in the baggage claim area for a picture. You can see the excitement on T.J.'s face. I can just hear him under his breath, I can't believe my mom is making me do this.

We stopped at "In and Out" for burgers and then they all just jumped in the pool. The did change first. We are so excited she is here and she made it flying stand-by.

Last day of school

It's finally the last day of school for those of us who are in year round school. Now we get a whole 2 weeks to get ready for the new year. As you can see Trevor is now going to be a 5th grader and rule the school. Hopefully he won't kill any class pets.

Avery is just a touch excited, the thoughts of having a locker, changing classes and not having a homeroom where she has the opportunity to take care of the class pet is exciting to her.

And last but not least, Dev is just hopeful she makes it through. Going all day will be difficult for this little princess but having school lunch will help alot. Now we are off for Summer vacation for 2 weeks. The joys of year round school.

graduation

Today, was kindergarten graduation, Devyn and her friends were so excited for this big day. She was up at 6:45 a.m. wanting to get ready.

The program included alot of singing and the kids showing everything they had learned all year.

And now may we present, our little graduate, Miss Devyn. She's excited for first grade but not as much as her mama, 9-3:00, yahoooooooo!!!!!!!! Not that I'm excited or anything, I really will miss her.

Avery killed the Class Pet

As track break began just a few 5 weeks ago, Avery walked to the car with a little cage and a small lizard inside and informed us she was taking care of the class pet on track break. I kind of cringed thinking a lizard would be in my house for awhile but it's a little late now to say no. So we take this reptile home and if you know us, WE HAVE NO PETS. And i have no desire for any pets, I have children. The kids loved this crawly thing, they fought over who got to feed it, change its water, they even caught crickets to feed the darn thing. After 3 days of having the Class Pet home, I walked into Avery's room and its not moving. I shake the cage, not moving. I even opened the lid (which is a pretty big deal) this stupid thing is dead. So now we are in a dilema. No Class pet. So track break is almost over and we have to do something about the class pet. So taking no chances of killing another lizard, we ventured to Petsmart and purchased a new Class Pet.

So 1 lizard and 24 baby crickets later, a new class pet is born. Avery came home yesterday and everyone in class couldn't believe how big the lizard had gotten in just 5 short weeks.

1 month blog update

After a month long of not keeping up to date on my blog, I have had a few people notice, my sisters, Jen's little update counter, My mom even blogged so here it goes to get caught up. My sister Annie came into town for the George Michael concert and we kidnapped her for some hair updating. She did not want to be photographed so that's all you get to see of her. Trevor really needed a trim with all-stars coming and it is so hot.

He's like a new boy with a new do, much cooler and he's not whipping his bangs out of his eyes anymore. Much better. The All-Star tournament was a lot of fun. The challenge wasn't the games it was finding shade to keep cool.

These all-stars did great and had fun. They won 2 and lost 2 which is pretty good when the teams probably outweigh and are so much taller than our team.

Trevor played 2nd base and outfield. He did great, I wish I could have his attitude about everything. Go out and have fun with whatever you do. Of course, the best part to him was trading pins with everyone.

Happy Fourth of July. What's a great firework show without Kentucky Fried Chicken. We all went to the base where it is still the best fireworks show yet.

Avery thoroughly enjoying corn on the cob, she picked at her braces all night.

The four hoodlums, enjoying the celebration, of course there is one of them that is still ticked off we picked him up at his friends and dragged him for some family time. Can you guess who? Yup, the oldest he was just thrilled with a little family bonding.

We then took off to St. George for Jaedon's baptism, we got some pool time in and enjoyed all the cousins having fun together.

The sleeping arrangements, what is it about all the girls lining up in a row to sleep. They had a really good time.

The baptism was great, it's always fun to see someone baptized but especially neat when it's your cousin.

This is T.J. heading to his all star tournament, in Henderson. They played great and won both games.

They won in district 2 and then we moved on to the State tournament.

The toothfairy appeared and finally Devyn lost her front tooth. It was just hanging there, everytime she talked it would flap in the wind.

Her new smile.

Off to the State tournament, it was just over in Summerlin. Thank Goodness.

They had a little cub scout troop do the flag ceremony and the national anthem played, we were waiting for the flyby of the Thunderbirds but that did not happen. It was very touching to see this little troop post the colors. All games should start that way.

We couldn't get anything going and lost both games 7-4, 6-1. We had a lot of fun and the kids loved trading pins all night. At last, baseball is over.