(20/20) Whew.....

I really need to plan my time better so I don't wait till the end of the month and try to do 10 quick entries to make my goal of 20....can't believe it's been a year since I started and I only come up short by one for one month....not to shabby.

(19/20) What Weston does at the skate park....

Weston has big plans of flying through the air on his skateboard...it looks easy, right?? He loves to go to the skate parks but usually ends up watching rather than skating (gotta love a cautious boy) Oh Well....it gave him a great chance to chat with his dad!

(18/20) Grandma's Birdhouses...

(17/20) Bikers and Boarders....

During the Thanksgiving Break, Doug and Weston hit a local skate park to watch the action....some of the guys were amazing and they had a great time watching all the tricks.

(16/20) House of cards....

Way to go Avery, Weston and Aunt Karen!!

(15/20) Family Photo...

My father-in-law wanted a photo of each of the "families"....Doug's side and my side...so he set out chairs and sat us down in their backyard. I am well hidden behind two children who insist on never being further than 2 inches from me during pictures. What you don't see...the fact that we had to look directly into the blinding sun..while trying to keep our eyes open. I think we all burned our retinas and may never see clearly again!! I do, however, think it's a fabu picture of my brother and his wife!!

(14/20) Why I picked my husband....

(13/20) The aftermath....

The result of to much turkey and other goodies....four very lazy boys watching football.

(12/20) The Table........

This is the table my mom and I ate at....we took the kids table and had great conversation (and the ham) all to ourselves.

(11/20) The Via Ranch...

This picture is one of my favorites....it hangs over the couch in Doug's parents living room...and shows an arial view of their ranch. Looking at it not only reminds me of what a beautiful property they live on...but of the many, many memories we have been blessed to share out there. Doug proposed to me near the barn...later we were married under the tree in front and had a wonderful bar-b-q dinner and dance in that same barn. My kids love to spend time there...where Avery is know as the "cow whisperer" for her ability to tame the baby calves. Weston climbs on the hay and shoots the bb gun....both kids love to fish and drive the gater...they even spend the night in the apartment built into the barn...where Grandma and Papa lived while their house was being built. I'm so thankful for this place....a place where we all can kick back...take a deep breath...and become county kids for a little while.

(10/20) Thankful....

A few years ago, I did a Bible study called "The Power of a Positive Mom". It focused on thankfulness and the power of a positive attitude. I need to take it again...it's time. One thing I remember clearly is to get into the habit of thanking God as you go about your chores...while putting away the dishes, be thankful you have dishes...and food to eat...many do not. Be thankful the dishwasher is loaded with plastic princess dishes....and spiderman cups...and you have healthy children to eat off those dishes. Be thankful for a dishwasher to wash your dishes...and cabinets to store them in...and a home which holds the cabinets. Be thankful for clean water to wash with...for soap and towels...and all the things I need to keep my home clean. It's easy to get bogged down in the every day process of living...but as I go about my daily routine...I'm going to remember how very, very much I have to be thankful for.

(9/20) My other kids....

Sugar came to us about 14 years ago...we agreed to keep her for a few weeks while my best friend got settled in a new place. Now, we can't imagine life without her....she's quite comical looking...with a huge underbite, bulgey eyes, a fang that sticks almost straight out and hair that's like wire and sticks in all directions. She's old and crotchety and will sit in your lap for hours. Avery thinks she's beautiful and dresses her like a princess.

Wrangler is her son....we thought she came to us already spade and saw no signs of heat for 10+ years....until a friendly Australian Shepard dug under the fence and seduced her. We were very nervous because she was older and had never had puppies before...but she did wonderfully and was a great mom. Wrangler is our bull-in-a-china-shop....running into and over everything, constantly pushing his mom out of the way and knocking her down. What he does, he does with great abandon....it would be hard to find a happier dog than he is. Avery thinks he's perfect and dresses him like a cowboy. She spends hours "training" him to jump over laundry baskets and piles of books.
Two dogs....two kids....2 turtles and 3 hamsters...."they" out number us but we wouldn't have it any other way.

(8/20) Memories and Ornaments....

I love decorating the Christmas tree. It always starts out with all of us decorating...choosing ornaments that are special to us...the kids (and Doug) soon become bored and I am left to finish. That's okay...it gives me time to look at each ornament and remember what made it so very special to my family. There are ornaments my kids made that I love, and ornaments that I made when I was little...saved and given to me by my mom.
Each year on Christmas Eve, the elves sneak in and leave the kids a package containing new PJ's and a special ornament representing something they did/liked during the past year...we've had spiderman and Barbie Princess...Spongebob and horses.

This one is over 30 years old, given to me by my mom and dad when I was young.

The kids and I picked this one out for Doug...suits him perfectly.

A pink "My Little Pony" reminds how quickly the years pass....not long ago Avery was playing with pink plastic horses...now she's riding and showing real horses.

Each year we get a new family ornament...with all our names...I love this one because, well, I love snowmen.

This ornament was from Weston's first year of Scouting...we have great memories of Space Camp, camping together as a family and making new friends.

So many memories to be unpacked, held in our hands and in our hearts...I just wonder what this years special ornament will be.

(7/20) I "heart" Snowmen....

(6/20) Homecoming.....

Last Friday at school the kids had homecoming. They wore school shirts and painted their faces...at school, they had a huge pep rally with the Eagle Mascot from UNT as well as the UNT Cheerleaders. The principal, Mr. Mac....handed out awards for A/B honor roll, Perfect Attendance, etc. Avery received the 3rd Grade Science Award...her response...."I don't even like science. " I don't remember having homecoming in elementary school...but at least I didn't have to buy anyone a mum (yet!)

(5/20) Phoenix.....

Avery doesn't always like to ride Phoenix...but I think they make a perfect pair...two sassy blondes. For her Phoenix's canter feels fast, although he isn't any faster than the big horses, he just takes smaller steps. It still tests her confidence to ride other horses besides Shoni and, although she may be nervous, sometimes in riding...just like in life...you just gotta hang on and ride.

(4/20) Birthday shirts....

Just a sample of some birthday shirts I created to sell in my store.....super cute and so festive...now, if only I could get Avery to wear one.

(3/20) The Goods.....

The results of lots of walking, door-bell ringing and trick-or-treating...a pile of candy big enough to dive into. We usually go for it on Halloween....letting the kids eat until they "can't eat no more". After that, it's limited to a piece or two a day and finally left-overs are sent to Grandma to be used on the Gingerbread Houses.

(2/20) Trick or Treat....