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

Today is Monday....Some Lessons Are Hard

So today I am sitting at the kitchen table posting on my blog while enjoying a venti peppermint mocha and banana chocolate chip coffee cake. I have one very stuffy nose and sore throat and seem to be starting on the upside of this, I am sure cold. The rain is falling and the dogs are settled in on the sofas. I have a job interview today at 10:00 a.m. I also am expecting the pest control man to come by any time now for the 8:00 a.m. appointment. I have also had very little sleep overnight due to my very stuffy nose. I'll spare the details. My son has also endured a sleepless night. His complaints are of a stomach ache and not being able to sleep. He and I watched the news and cartoons from about 2:30 a.m. on. He finally dozed off about 6:00 a.m. Sadly it was short loved because he had to go to school. I would love to let him stay home and rest his weary eyes but alas that is not how the world goes and better he learn now than to grow up an irresponsible adult. There is mild suspicion that he may have encountered a Monster energy drink yesterday. I do not know this as fact. He grumbled and generally let me know being at home on this rainy day would be best. I agreed and told him I understood. I have my own responsibilities today- including 3 appointments -that must be met today. And oh how I would rather just curl up and rest today..... Welome to Life My Precious Son.

Pumpkins and Clean Hearts!

It's pumpkin time again! The kids still love carving pumpkins and so they did last weekend. They drew their designs on paper and then I wielded the knife to carve. Ethan wanted a "Jason" pumpkin bc he is into all the gory stuff boys like. Emily wanted a classic pumpkin face like they made last year in her Kinder class. She's a classic kind of a gal. All that pumpkin carving brought to mind the book I have for preschoolers: "The Pumpkin Gospel". Step by step it demonstrates how, like a pumpkin, God removes the sin (yucky insides) and makes us clean and able to shine a light for others to see. How thankful I am for a God can clean us up and make us shiny. I didn't read the book at the time we were doing our pumpkin thing but had read it to Emily a week or more before. So when Emily finished with her pumpkin and started to clean it off I thought there was a bit of symbolism in that. Happy October!

Emily's birthday is technically in October. However, this child has been requesting a pool party in the summer months for as long as either her daddy or I can remember. She specifically wanted it at the Rock 'N River. If nothing else Emily knows what she wants. Emily is her own person right down to her wolf cake and hand delivered invites (I would have gone the way of Evite myself). I love that about her. I finally found a copyright free photo and HEB did their thing. Emily had a great time. The weather was just right. Labor Day weekend was a true celebration for us. Happy 7th Birthday Emily!

After Party Snack -Yummy!

Emily and Rachel




The Gang is ALL here - where's Emily!
She and Rachel were waiting to tube on the lazy river.

PRESENTS! Friends are the best presents :)

Jacob, Emily and Rachel

Can you see them in about five years - TROUBLE!

Jake and Cake ;0)

Making a wish!

Emily and her wolf cake

At HEB picking up her cake.

Spa Treatment & Dinner Combo

So this picture just cracks me up. Ethan and two of his buddies wer eating dinner with us after we attended an amatuer hockey game. Salad and spaghetti was on the menu. One of Ethan's friends picks up two cucumber slices from his plate and asks if this what people use at spas. I confirmed that it was. They proceeded to place the cucumbers on their eyes. I wasn't quick enough to get their pics but managed to snap one of Emily...silly kids. :)

RAIN!

Texas has endured a 2 year drought and this past summer was one day short of a tie to be the hottest on record. 67 days of 100+ degree weather will eventually make you crazier than a June Bug. The lakes are low as low and we are on phase 2 and 4 water restrictions - some counties worse than others. Trees dying in Zilker and elsewhere. Overall just harsh. All summer rain has passed over our area as if we had a shield over us! It was maddening and got to be a running joke about the dome overhead. Well, September rolls around and we are one day away from matching the all time hottest record (1927) since record keeping began. So, we get RAIN. It fell for days straight! It was the good soaking kind and brought problems of its own with flash flooding. Regardless, we all relished the wet weather and cooler temps that have managed to stay. When its the low 90's and you think that's a cold snap you know its been a hot summer.

Funny to watch Buddy. He was born in February and hasn't experienced much rain.