"Snow Day"

We are into our fourth "snow day" with at last some snow. Before we really just had ice. Believe it or not the people who live in this part of Texas are not prepared for these type of conditions. Not to mention that the Super Bowl is coming to town this weekend. I'm sure the football commission is really kicking itself in the butt for that one. But since they did not have a magic ball to predict that a freak snow storm was going to come to town they should really give that some consideration.

I'm sure Jerry land will be very upset if they are not able to host the Super Bowl again in five years, since he pretty much built the stadium for that single purpose in mind. Oh well on to bigger and better things.


Speaking of bigger, that is what I am getting. That's right the fourth and last child is on its way. Growing everyday and already starting to make his/her appearance known, since I have been stretched out three times before it gets harder and harder to hide each time. So far things are good and we are expecting our newest bundle of joy to arrive sometime in the first few days of August. So instead of complaining about the cold, I will be wailing on about the heat.


Enough of that, back to our snow day. The kids were all very excited about the snow and could hardly wait to go outside. So after a quick breakfast, they were getting dressed and racing out the door. Cooper discovered he does not like the snow to touch his gloves. Now I'm not sure if that is a function of his gloves being too small and not fittng well so he got snow down his sleeve a little or if that is because he hands got too cold. Either way it was pretty funny.

Isabelle decided to revamp snow angles and do them face first. Bear followed suit but did not like it as much as she did. I think she would have played outside longer if her brothers did not want to come in early. I was able to sweep the drive way off so that there was not as much snow covering the ice that is still there, but that was just silliness since it started to snow some more. Somehow I missed the report that told us it was going to snow. Crazy! (that person was driving too fast).


My four season garden just might be toast after this weekend. Since the cover is not on because two of the poles are missing in the neighbors yard. She is either:
1. Too lazy to go outside and toss them back over
2. Never goes in the back yard and does not know they are there
3. Has a different schedule than us so we have not had the chance to ask for them back


I should have just gone over during the day and gotten them from her yard. Oh well, we'll see how things go. After all we just planted some stuff anyway that would not be covered so it will be interesting to see what comes up when the weather changes.


Hopefully the kids will want to go play in the snow some more this afternoon. It's too bad they can't make a very good snowman. The snow is too dry. Makes for easy sweeping though. On the plus side, being home so much has really helped Cooper and I get over some of our potty training issues. Now for number 2 and we will be in good and pretty much done. I'm ready!

Two at last

That's right Cooper is now offically a todler, and is here to make sure you all know it. He is so much fun, we just love to have him around he makes the day all worth while. Although he is trying to grow up too fast, becasue he really wants to hang with the big kids, so cute.


We just had a small party to celbrate his birthday, and I think he really enjoyed all the attention and friends who came to play. I made him a lego cake for his special day. I'm not sure why I decide I can do these things when obviously my talents lie elsewhere. Oh well for my crap job of icing a cake it came out pretty well. I really should get some cake icing spatuals I think that would help. And maybe a larger freezer. Either way it tasted good and it was all gone by the end of passing out the cake.



These are what I think some of Cooper's goals will be for this year:

1. Ride a bike/run bike
2. Potty Train
3. Learn Colors
4. Learn Shapes
5. Grow up more quickly than what Mom would like

Here are a few more images from his big day, as celebrated with friends and family.

Cookie Time

That's right people it is time for Girl Scout cookies. Isabelle is so excited to be selling cookies this year she can hardly wait to get out on the mean streets and sell away. Now if the weather would work out a little better we might actually be able to get that done.


We waited in line for what seemed like hours to pick up cookies. No more pre-orders here, we get cookies now. I'm not sure if I like this plan because you get 12 cases of cookies and they are the same as everyone else, no substitutions.


We just need to be able to go out and sell, sell, sell. So if you or anybody you know would like to purchase some delicious girl scout cookies please let us know.

The Project

One of the many projects that I wanted to have completed during the holiday break was cleaning out my closet under the stairs. With Ben's help, ok so mostly Ben, we managed to get it cleaned up and organized. I can now get in there and not have to step over fourty-five items to find the game I am looking for.


It is so nice to have a place for everything, I can hardly tell you. And let me tell you there was a lot of crap in the this closet, considering how big it is, I was amazed.

All of my photography props are put away nicely and are easy to get to. The games are well organized and you can actually see their names. Plus you can even walk into the closet without having to step over one item, so nice.


Now to finish work on my garden I will be all set.

The Ride

We took a carriage ride around down town San Antonio this year. It was pretty cool. Our "driver" could have started telling us about the area a little sooner but hey it all works out right. I think the kids had lots of fun, and the carriage was huge. I guess I never really paid that close attention to see what size they are, because we all fit in one.

Christmas Day

We spent Chritmas in San Antonio this year at my parents house. It was nice to get away for a few days and have the kids spend some time with Oma and Grandpa Don. My brother even had the chance to take a few days off and come down to spend some time together with everyone, which is really nice. The kids really like Uncle Adam a lot, and just think he is too funny.

This year Isabelle was pretty excited because she got a new camera for Christmas, and just loves it. She can take pictures and videos. I think most of them are of her but hey who cares. At least if she so desires to print some of these pictures out they won't be crap.


Bear's was pretty excited to get his own Leapster, and the nice thing about his, is that he has a stylist so it makes it easier to use. He managed to cut Isa's off, but they still use both and love to play with them.


Cooper was just excited to open presents and be able to play with the siblings. I would have to say he played the most with his new building blocks. The lincon logs were a big hit with the other two but Cooper liked this legos the best.


Adam went all out and purchased Mom and Dad a river cruise vacation for ten (10) in Europe. They were so happy, mom could hardly keep from crying. I'm so envious, I think they will have a really good time. I told her to make sure they take lots of pictures, or figure out a way to hire a photographer to come along and take pictures as well. I'm sure I know of one that would go for to price of the trip. Hint, hint. No just kidding. I hope they have lots of fun, my real request was to have them bring back some wine.


Ben and I got a new kitchen table for Christmas. We have been looking for one for about eight years, and finally found the one we like. It is a bar stool heighth table, that can go from a sqaure to a circle, with a lazy susan in the middle. So exciting. I just love. That makes two furiture purchases in one year, we better slow down.

I hope you all enjoyed your holiday season and that it was filled with love and joy.

Happy Birthday Isa

Isabelle is offically 6 years old. She wanted to have a flower cake with a monkey coming out of it. I had originally planed to use her little pet shop monkey but forgot to bring it along so I had to use a paper monkey instead.


She loved it and that is all that mattered. Plus since it was a smaller cake there was not too much let over. Which is always nice, since we do a small family party on her birthday.


This year should be great, I'm not sure what all her goals will be but I do think that selling a lot of Girl Scout cookies will be one, learning to read better, and helping out around the house should be a few. We'll just have to wait and see what the year brings.

Friends Party

Isabelle had her first sleep over party with multiple friends as her birthday party this past weekend. She was so excited to do some girly stuff and spend time with her friends.
We had four little girls total and they all had a great time. It was a blast. They decorated cupcakes, watched movies, played with her toys and painted their toe nails. Cooper loved this and tried to get in on the action. Maybe next time little man.

Santa Letters

The kids were so excited to get Santa Letters in the mail from Santa himself. They could hardly believe how special they were and how Santa knew so much about what was going on in their lives. It was a real treat for them. Too bad, Mom, messed up on the information and forgot to tell Santa that we will be in San Antonio, I think they still bought it though.

Look What I did

I very rarely get to say that now a days because some other people get all the credit for making new things but I have made something fun and exciting. At least I think it is exciting, plus I learned something new.



Isabelle's name is a little long so I had to use her nickname.






I made one for each of the kids. The hard part was trying to remember where I had the camera focused so the picture could be seen by the lens. I hope you enjoy!

School Awards

Isabelle has also received her first award from school. She was awarded a ribbon for knowing all of her sight words and for being a good citizen and making good choices. I am so proud of her; she is doing so well in her crappy school. At least I know she will thrive in almost any environment. We even got a picture of her and her teacher Mrs. Bloodworth. Go Isabelle!!

Girl Scouts

Isabelle is officially a Girl Scout. I know I have posted this before but now it really is true, she just had her investiture ceremony for her troop and has been pinned as a Daisy Girl Scout. I am so excited. She is so excited. She has even earned her Center for her Daisy Petal and her first Petal. Yea, go Isabelle. I am so proud of her, and can hardly wait to watch her go through her years in Girl Scouts.


Oh yea, let us know how many boxes of Girl Scout cookies you are going to buy. They will be here in January.

The Rockets

Since the Rangers went to the World Series Penny got everyone a shirt.

Penny and her boyfriend Rob decided to get the kids rockets for Christmas. So one day we had to a paint the rockets, and then decorate them before we sent them into the air. The kids all had a blast painting their rockets in their color of choice and were almost too excited to let them dry. With much urging from parents the drying time was waited through and some how they managed well.

Everyone with their rockets before launch.

Once they were decorated all up the kids finally got a chance to launch their rockets. They were all very excited about this and could hardly wait their turn. Upon threat of death they all waited and tried to catch their own rockets as they fell from the sky.

Bear's Rocket going up.

It was a lot of fun to watch the kids get so excited about thier rocket flight. Cooper even got to shoot off his own rocket. I'm not sure what he thought about it but he just knew it was a big kid thing to do.


Isabelle's rocket lost it's top and so she only got to shoot off hers once. There was an extra rocket that they let her do a second time since hers was no more. Over all it was a lot of fun and the kids loved every minute of the rocket event.

Turkey Day

This is how big our table is for Thanksgiving, there was talk of having to move a group of diners into the living room to form a "T" or maybe a "L" I guess next year we'll have to see who is all coming. There were a few people missing and Charity is having a baby, so there will be at least a few more chairs needed.


After we ate dinner the kids were all excited and for somereason Penny thought I was a great idea to decorate cookies. Of course the kids loved it and had a blast, so it was not too bad, just a little messy. I even think that some of the cookies made it into a tray for later. Now that right there is a huge acomplishment.

I really want to put in more pictures but blogger is not being nice to my computer, maybe later.

Thanksgiving

The kids readying for Cops and Robbers.

The kids had so much fun playing with the cousins for a whole week. I sure do wish we all lived just a little closer, they all play so well together and have such a great time.

Mason, Noah and Jeremiah check out the competition.

Morgan organized the little kids in all sorts of games, which of course they all loved. I think that these kids all think that Morgan is one of the best big cousin's ever.

I know I'm a big kid, I know I'm a big kid.

And of course we had lots of food to eat, projects to complete and games to be played. Here are just a few pictures of the wildness that went on with those crazy kids.

Who wants to run under next, wait you're laying on the parachute.