This is what happens when you turn 6,000 boys loose for the week-end.

Last week-end (the coldest, windiest week-end of the year) Doug and Weston went to Texas Motor Speedway to celebrate the 100th year of scouting. Although bitter cold, the boys had a great time and there were tons of activities for them. They learned to decorate leather using a stamp and a hammer.

They ran through obstacle courses and mazes.

They played lots and lots of football.

And they (by they I mean all the other scouts as my two slept in the car...engine running and heater on) slept in tents...roughing it on the coldest night we've had this year!!

Take a close look at the sweet boy you see in these pictures....my next post will show you what happens when you send you son out to spend the week-end with his dad and 6.000 other boys. And, it ain't pretty folks.

How we roll in our hood....

In our neighborhood...the scooter is the vehicle of choice. On any given afternoon...you can see kids scooting up and down the street...chasing each other, screaming...having fun. Yup...this is how we roll in our hood.

Just a Swingin' Part 2

Our next door neighbor has a porch swing...which Avery loves. She often goes over and swings, sometimes inviting a friend...sometimes inviting 3. They look so cute, sitting together and swinging back and forth. Thankfully our wonderful neighbor doesn't mind a porch full of children. From blond to brown..light skin to dark...I love that children see each other for who they are, not what they look like. The lessons my children teach me...sometimes greater than the lessons I teach them.
Keep swingin' sweet sister!!!

What is the number one fear of most people....

Public Speaking....but not my kid. Using his football as a prop, he stood up in front of his Scout Troup, Scout Leader and a few parents...and made his speech. He talked....

and talked some more....

Thought of a few more things to say....

Said those things......

and finally talked some more. The requirement...a 3 minute speech on any subject. The result...a 5 1/2 minute (after some frantic waving from Doug to let him know he was over the limit) speech on football. Me...I couldn't be prouder. That's my boy!!!

My favorite time of year....

My favorite time of year is Christmas. I love it. We've bought our new, pre-lit tree, the house is decorated (yes, already...don't be hatin') and....most afternoons it's 70 degrees outside. Which is why I really "heart" Christmas in Texas because I don't like cold weather!!
These pictures were from last year....around February I believe, which is usually the time it gets really cold in Texas. The kids loved it (although we are totally unprepared with the appropriate clothes and I have to keep the dryer going to provide them with dry gloves since all we have is the $1.00 knit ones from walmart) and built an awesome snowman...we enjoyed the change in weather and the next day...it was 70 degrees again...sigh....I "heart" Texas!!

Notice Avery's ear warmers on top of her hood and nowhere near her ears...silly girl!!

My Christmas Shirts....

Just a quick picture of the shirts I'm making for my fall craft shows. These turned out darling and luckily..have been selling very well. Now...I'm off to sew!!

Mckinney Trade Days

Yesterday was so cold....crazy cold with a crazy cold wind blowing. I sat out in it...all day....trying to sell hairbows and girlie things. A few people came and shopped...most were to cold to even take their hands out of their pockets to pick items up and look at them. Today was better...in typical Texas fashion today was actually beautiful...a perfect day to shop. So tonight, I'm tired, content with my sales, and ready to snuggle in with my family and watch the Cowboys play.

A few weeks ago, Savannah held a "National Night Out" Celebration. This was a great chance to meet neighbors, check out the inside of a firetruck and a Careflight helicoptor, enjoy some Bar-B-Q...and play football. Football is what Weston does....every day after school he plays with a group of boys from the neighborhood...they play until a parent yells "Time for Dinner" then the game breaks up until tomorrow. During the National Night Out celebration, an even bigger group of boys got together and played...big boys and little boys, boys in shoes and boys wearing only socks...they passed, caught, tagged and tackled. At the end of the game, they're all sweaty, dirty and sometimes bruised....but man, do they have fun.

Camping and "the pukies"

Weston and Doug are going to spend the first night camping...with about 5,000 other Boy Scouts. As if that weren't enough, they're going to spend the night...outside...tonight, which also happens to be the night of our first big FREEZE...have fun boys. Avery and I started our day at the Mckinney Trade Days..I'm selling my goodies and she's my loyal assistant. She spent about an hour huddled under a blanket before begging me to call 9-1-1- G-R-A-N-D-M-A. Poor sweet thing ended up being sick and throwing up at the check-out counter at Micheal's (sorry Grandma) so....my super sweet mother-in-law has volunteered to keep my little chicken, feed her warm soup and cold sprite, and probably play some games and color a few pictures. Honestly, I'm not sure where we would be without grandparents...they have saved the day more than once. And Mom (aka Grandma O'Nuts)...I've already heard rumblings about her coming home with you after Thanksgiving...just giving you a warning :)

I "heart" my daughter....

Avery is taking English riding lessons...how much do I love to see her, posting around the arena while Buddy is in a nice steady trot....wearing her riding helmet and looking so yummy I could eat her up...manure on her boots and all. I was, and am, a horse girl....thank you, thank you, thank you for giving me a little girl who also loves horses. She is my heart!!

Happy Birthday Papa...

It takes a special man to walk his granddaughter around (and around and around) simply because she loves to ride the sweet and patient Dolly. There's a special name for a man like this....Papa!! Happy Birthday..we love you!!!

Spooky Feast

This year for Halloween, we had a very special Spooky Feast. We invited some friends and family...and tried to eat some "real" food before the sugar-fest began. Our Spooktactular Treats included....

Spider Eggs

My Favorite...Witches Fingers

Avery's Peanut Butter and Pretzel Spiders

Pumpkin Fudge (the fudge that didn't win the Savannah Pumpkin Cook-off...not that I'm bitter or anything)

Bread Bones dipped in Blood (Marinara Sauce)

Mummy Dogs (hot dogs rolled in strips of dough) with chips and hot sauce.

My Favorite (straight from the pages of The Pioneer Woman) were these darling cake balls decorated to look like ghosts and frankenstein.

Really...how cute are these!!!

Raingutter Regatta

Sadly, I missed the Raingutter Regatta...but my sweet husband took photo's in my place. This is an annual event for scouts...they build a boat, race it down a raingutter filled with water, empty the water and fill the raingutter with ice cream (and isn't that what it's really about people
...the ice cream)

70's Day

At school, they have various dress-up days to celebrate Red Ribbon Week. Surprisingly...Weston loves to participate while Avery prefers to stay low key. One day, the kids were supposed to dress from the 70's so....here's my main man Weston....stay cool, Baby!!!

Can you dig it????