Happy Halloween!!!

Halloween.....one of our favorite times of year. We always have lots of activities planned during the fall...costumes to choose, pumpkins to carve and candy to eat. This year, Avery was Hannah Montana and Weston alternated between the guy from Scream and a Jedi Knight. As always, we spent an afternoon at the Flower Mound Pumpkin Patch. This place is so much!! There's a hayride, lots of wooden character cutouts, snacks, a petting zoo, huge piles of hay to climb on, a log cabin and a teepee, tons of pumpkins and the kids favorite...a giant hay maze


. We also made this totally cute haunted house out of gingerbread.

On the week-end before Halloween, we went to a party at Weston's friends Andrews. Check it out.......
Weston loved bobbing for apples



Avery played "fast and furious" to win a cake in the Musical Chairs Game

As if wasn't enough fun...we also attended Boo at the Zoo...another yearly tradition!!

And of course....carving our pumpkins is always fun!!!

Finally...when all the work is done...it's CANDY TIME!!!!!

The First Day of School

Wow...I really need to blog more!!! This one is only 2 months late! This year, Avery starts first grade and Weston will be in third. Although I say this every year, I really don't know where the time has gone. I'm amazed when I look at my kids, backpacks ready and lunch boxes packed, walking away from me. Who do those big kids belong to...surely they are not my babies.
Weston is in Mrs. Schimpf's class. He's part of the Gifted and Talented Program and enjoys attending the Good News Club after school on Wednesdays.


Avery is in Mr. DeLeon's class. This is a Dual Language class where she is taught in both English and Spanish. Student's must test before Kindergarten to be accepted into this program, then requalify each year after that. She also loves the Good News Club...this is a weekly after-school activity sponsored by a local church. I'm really proud of how well they do in school...both are excellent students.
After school, I surprised them with a pencil-shaped brownie...although it didn't turn out exactly the way it looked in the book, it sure tasted good and the kids loved it.


This year is going fast...much faster than I'd like. I'm amazed how much the kids are required to learn...I see their school work as Avery learns about solids, liquids and gases and beginning sentences with a capital and ending with a period. Weston is adding and subtracting three digit numbers and working hard to prepare for the TAKS test. We already miss the lazy days of summer!!!

San Antonio, Soccer and Summer Time

Wow....I can't believe it's been almost a month since I've posted!! We have been busy, busy, busy as summer comes to a close. We've enjoyed time at the water park, time with friends and endless hours of Hannah Montana. Sweet Niblets people, where has the time gone. A few weeks ago Doug had a shoot at a water park in Coppell so...being the good family that we are...we loaded up and went with him. The kids had a blast swimming and especially enjoyed the diving board. They are much braver than me and thought nothing of jumping off into 12 feet of water.

Avery started her 4th season of soccer....once again playing on the Ponies team. Her sweet friend Faith is on the team and the girls so love the time they get to spend together. Avery and Faith have been best friends since their days in preschool at Discovery School. Watch for this wild gang of pony-tailed girls coming to a soccer field near you.

We're ready for Sea World...is Sea World ready for us???



We also spent a few days in San Antonio before summer came to an end. The kids loved the shows at SeaWorld...especially seeing Shamu.

Hang on Avery!!! I rode this with Avery and almost lost my breakfast...Urghhhh!!!!

As if once wasn't enough....they rode it again at Six Flags!!


Doug and Weston rode the Steel Eel....Avery and I watched! I'm not sure Weston realized that this was a huge roller coaster until it was to late...but he did it!!


Doug and Weston loved the bird feeding area...I can't remember what kind of birds they were, but they were beautiful. (Except the one that ripped the cup out of my hand and bit me...really hard...that one, not my favorite :)
While at Sea World, we fed birds, alligators and dolphins (our absolute favorite...they even allowed us to pet them which was amazing!)

We hit Sea World on Friday...Fiesta Texas/Six Flags on Saturday and Sea World again on Sunday..you are lookin' at two tired kiddos!

Birds, Frogs and Ducks...Or....Mom, Can we keep him?

My kids love animals, especially Avery. She loves any kind of animals, animals with feathers, animals with scales, animals that creep and crawl..that little girl loves them all. I'll never forget going to brush my teeth one morning and finding a baggie full of worms she had washed because "They were dirty". Here's what she's come up with just over the last week:
Our neighbor found this bird and "gave" him to my kids. We've kept him in a box with water and soggy bread for almost a week...he's almost doubled in size and has all his feathers so we expect him to leave "our nest" soon.

This little fella was found in the backyard. He enjoyed some time on the trampoline with 4 jumping kids, met the bird from above and rode around for quite some time in Avery's pocket. He was released (unharmed thank goodness) and quickly hopped away deep into the bushes.


And finally...2 darling ducklings we found at Chisolm Park. These were with their mom however, and she made her presence known loud and clear. She patiently allowed the kids to hold her babies for a few minutes but let them know in no uncertain terms when it was time to put her babies down. She opened her beak and flew at the kids straight out of the water...that was the fastest I saw them move all day :)
Sooo....the baby ducks are home with their family, the frog is safe in the bushes and our bird will soon be big enough to fly and fend for himself...my only question...what will she bring home next???

Rock On Bubba!!!

Happy Birthday to me!!!!
I spent the day with one of my favorite boys...we went to the movies then hit Blockbuster for some more...movies. Tonight, he has a date with grandma. As of 5:00, Weston plans to have dinner at Friday's then hit the game stores and possibly Wal-Mart. He's been counting down the days and planning his shopping spree all week...I can't wait to see what he comes home with.
While they're out and about, I'll have dinner with my other favorite guy. Doug and I plan on a quiet dinner at a local Chinese buffet...one of our favorites.
When Doug and I first got married and started talking about having children, I imagined a little boy dressed in wrangler jeans and cowboy boots. He'd love horses, rodeos and all things western. When Weston was little, I could dress him any way I wanted, and he often wore wranglers, a western shirt and cowboy hat. His nickname is Bubba. I even had his room painted...I mean floor to ceiling from one end to the other painted...in a mural showing him on a horse, a farm house and tree with a tire swing, a group of cowboys herding cattle through the mountains. Today, this little boy is 8 going on 9...and this is what he looks like:Okay....he's totally cute and very smoochable...but where did this inner rocker come from. I grew up with horses, love country music and did my
share of the boot scootin' boogie. Don't I have any say about what this??
I blame it all on this guy:
Notice any resemblance....but I still have time, people, I still have time.

Lets get cooking.......

Today I had a dentist appointment (Yuck) and had my first filling...not bad for 40 years. I actually have several cavities and have been putting this off for quite awhile. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, although I was pretty sore afterwards. While I was enjoying the "laughing gas" Mom was kind enough to watch Avery for me. They set off for Target and according to Avery " Grandma said because I was being good I could choose anything in the store." And what did she choose....
Avery and Bethany with the brand new kitchen

Let's get cooking!!
Avery and I spent the afternoon putting this together (thanks Mom) because, apparently Grandma's don't build...although Avery did question this after spying a screwdriver at Grandma's house. I was nominated as kitchen builder because...also according to my sweet daughter...daddy works so hard and he'll be to tired to put it together when he gets home. So, between eating bonbons and watching my soaps I somehow managed to put together this darling kitchen, complete with pots, pans, oven mitts, spatulas, etc. Avery loves it...she couldn't wait for Bethany to get home so they could play chef. They cooked all afternoon then headed off to swim at Bethany's before Vacation Bible School. We have plans tomorrow to do some room rearranging and put her new kitchen in a place of honor. Thanks Mom...she really loves it and had a great time hanging with you today!!
Tomorrow we'll pick up Weston from Grandma Vias...I can't wait to hear all his adventures. I'll have 'em both over the week-end then Avery heads off to the ranch for the week. So Mom...you-know-who will be expecting a shopping trip too....bring your checkbook!!

Girlie Girls and Golf Camp

Today we're pretty quiet. Weston is spending the week with Grandma and Papa...going to golf camp in the morning then out and about in the afternoons. I know they are planning on taking the train into Dallas for lunch on day...should be fun. It is a good opportunity for him to enjoy being spoiled for a week.
Avery and I are just hanging out...we went to NRH2O yesterday and she'll go to Vacation Bible School every evening with her friend Faith. Right now, she's playing with Bethany and I keep hearing squeals and giggles coming from down the hall. Gotta love those girlies!!
A few days ago, the kids and I made a family tree using chocolate cupcakes...YUM!! We started with God, then the grandparents, Doug and I and our siblings, then the kids and their cousins. It was fun for them to see where they fit in the family, and fun to share memories of my dad and my grandma, who we recently lost.

Check out my busy bakers:

Love those baby blues!!

We're Bored.....I mean really bored!!

If you live anywhere near Texas, then you know that it's rained...and rained...and rained...almost every day this summer. And all this rain, plus my 2 kids, plus any stray neighborhood kids that end up and my house can sometimes equal strange activities. For example...making puppets out of my sons toes using Polly Pocket clothes and accessories and a couple of sharpies.
Please....we need sunshine....and quickly!!!

Camping with the Boys

Because I've just started blogging, I'll be going backwards sometimes just to share some memories and mis-adventures from the recent past. Each year, Doug and Weston spend the week-end camping with a group of other dads and their sons. The really cool thing is...Doug has been friends with these guys for years...some he's known since grade school...and they all have boys about the same age. So, they pack up and head out for adventure...spending the day fishing, swimming, throwing rocks and the number one favorite activity of small boys.....playing on a dirt pile!! Jackpot baby....you couldn't pay money for this kind of entertainment. Check this out!!!
Weston, Chase, Kevin and Zach...their Goal-Try to dig to the center of the Earth


We've almost buried Kevin

And if digging wasn't enough..check out these fun filled camping activities:

Fishing......


Hatchet Throwing....




Swimming......


Log rolling.......


and of course....eating!!

They came back really tired, really dirty and really sunburned...and ready for the next trip!!

4th of July in Weston

Happy 4th of July

What a fun 4th. As is our tradition, we started the day riding in the Weston Parade. In this town of 625 people, it seems as if everyone either rides in the parade or watches it. There are Fire Trucks and classic cars, tractors pulling flatbed trailers, four-wheelers, Barbie cars, wagons, bikes, trikes and horses. And, there's usually someone leading a goat or a pony, decorated for the holiday. This year, the kids and I rode with Papa on the Ranger while Doug and Grandma watched and took pictures. Weston actually steered the Ranger...and did a great job. This is a small taste of what I have to look forward to in another 8 years...I don't think we ever went over 5 miles an hour but I was pretty nervous the entire time.Here comes Weston

Because the parade is so small, we can make 2 rounds through town in about 20 minutes. After the parade, the crowd is entertained by local singers, snowcones and hotdogs for sale and the annual bake sale. It's so much fun for the kids and has become one of our favorite family traditions.

Avery's waiting for a snowcone

After the parade, we rested a bit at Grandma and Papa's then headed over to their neighbors for a cook-out. This was our first time to meet them and we had a blast. They have a daughter Avery's age and they quickly became fast friends. Weston hung out with Doug, checking out their new iphone but quickly spotted the pool and was ready for a swim. After eating, the adults hung out around the pool while the kids swam, splashed, dunked and dove.

Weston loved the waterfall....


and the diving board!!!

We ended the day with sparklers and fireworks. Our favorites...the Ladybugs that twirled around then shot about 50 feet into the air. Throughout the day, we are reminded to be thankful for our freedom, for those who fight and fought for our freedom and for friends, both new and old. We are blessed!!

Happy 4th of July Everyone!!!

Go Amy...I'm a blogger

Wow...my first blog. I hope to use this site as a way to write down all the funny, special, silly and sometimes frustrating things my children do. I'm excited, and also a little nervous. I'll have to learn how to post pics...which will force me me actually look through and pull out the pictures from my digital camera. Hopefully, I'll post some pics soon.
So, as for today, Weston is spending the night with his best friend Ryan...last week the boys stayed here and were prowling the house at 4:00 am. Hopefully they'll go to bed at a decent hour tonight (Good luck Dana!) Avery invited Ryan's sister, Ashley, over to play so I'm sure I'm in for an afternoon of pink toenail polish, body glitter and tea parties. We are all ready for some time outside in the sun...swimming, jumping on the trampoline...all the things we look forward to do in the summer. Because of this rain...this everyday, never-ending rain...we have tried to stay content with watching movies, playing games, guitar hero, Polly Pockets...anything to pass the time. Hopefully we'll have a break soon...I'm ready for NRH2O!!