A Daddy Moment

Shannon braved the craziness that is Emily's room and helped her with one of her Christmas gifts. It's a messenger bag that has iron on decorative applications. I came home from a children's ministry meeting and discovered the two of them hard at work.

Bedtime was later but the time with Daddy was priceless.

This moment is a jewel for our family. God is good ALL the time and He always brings the sunshine after the storm. Thank you God!

Ethan and Buddy Moments

Amazingly these are not staged nor was their any bribing involved.
For all of Buddy's Catahoula craziness he likes structure and a regular bedtime.
However, we were all up watching UT & Buddy wanted to be with his kids.
He chewed a rawhide and then actually snuggled up to Ethan.
Those stayed like this for most of the evening.

Very sweet moment.

In the Zone

Blanket hog

Emily's Strawberries and Sugar

My funny little girl LOVEs her some a little bit of strawberries with alot of sugar.
Emily came into the kitchen and said she was S-T-A-R-V-I-NG!

Good thing I'd just come back from Sam's Club. Emily made quick work of getting the strawberries out, washing them and cutting them up. She hightailed it to the pantry to get the sugar down from the shelf. All this with no assistance from her momma.

Typically Emily would prefer others to assist her.
Today I was much pleased at her independence. ;)


Yummy!

Daddy trying to sneak a bite of those yummy strawberries!

Christmas 2009

Christmas was simple and sweet this year. The kids are at an age where they like more expensive and less packaged toys. Ethan's requests were for an iTouch and XBox. We are not the Rockerfellers but got him started towards a savings plan. Didn't want to waste a teachable moment. ;D

Emily is still in the simpler stage of the artistic and creative and cute & cuddly. Next year I imagine a request for a fancy sewing machine....

We have definitely turned a corner. Santa is no longer and consumerism is trying to bombard them. In some ways this stage is nicer and in other ways it is hard to say farewell to the simplicity of childhood of Santa, reindeer and elves. Thankfully, the wonderment of the season is alive and strong. It is the celebration of Jesus' birth after all. Gifts are given because He gave the ulimate gift of sacrificial love.

We love because He first loved us. That gift I will be amazed over all my life.

Emily's art projects.
She couldn't wait to get started!

The kids and I gave Dad a DVD of Family Fued.

We had a blast playing that game together!

Christmas hugs and rawhides for Buddy. :)

Flower received a Dog Snuggie.

Sleeping Beauty

Emily came down with a sinus infection during Christmas break.

Tired and not feeling well, she finally fell asleep on the sofa.

She is wearing pj's her Grammy gave her for Christmas.

I kid you not, Emily wore those pj's day & night with few exceptions.

As a parent you learn to pick your battles. ;)

Emily has slept with her hands positioned like this since infancy.

I couldn't resist this photo op. of one of my fav Mommy Memories.

~Sweet precious girl~

Emily & Elizabeth - BFFs

Emily met Elizabeth last year in Kindergarten.

Ironically her momma worked with me at the Y.

Our families became fast friends.

They were only here for a year & a half but they will be in our hearts forever!

Tina (Elizabeth's sister), Elizabeth and Emily

The girls spent a last play date together while mom and dad did more packing

Movie Time!

What else would three beautiful girls watch but a princess movie!

Busy painting with Tina Bo-beena

Learning the Wii

Buddy

Buddy at 11months old. I can't believe he has been part of our lives since a mere 7 1/2 weeks old. I nearly lost my sanity and my religion when we first got him. His puppiness has settled down a bit and he is turning into a pleasant though albeit very mischievious creature. We have learned not to leave anything within in his reach~especially hand towels, socks and pot holders.

Priceless!

Buddy's new blanket and chewy (rawhide) from Grammy

This is the best way I like to see the dogs~Quiet!

Hook 'Em Horns!

(Emily showed her team spirit in her own artistic way.)

The Texas Longhorns played in the BCS Bowl in Pasadena on Thursday (1/7). So many people in burnt orange that day including me! Our family was so excited to watch the game that night.Shannon was on his way back into town and didn't want us to tell him how the game was going. I didn't think he'd make it through the airport without being made aware of that night's events. Sadly, the Horns lost the game. However, the family time together was great!

All together:Ethan and his friend Caleb, Emily, Buddy and Flower