I'm dreaming of a White Christmas

SNOW! SNOW! SNOW!

We couldn't ask for better weather for our last Christmas home for a few years. I loved using the fireplace.

Christmas was wonderful! We stayed with Papa Smith. As soon as we got home #4 asked if "we could go back to Papa's tomorrow?"

I can't believe we didn't stop and get pics inside with Papa....but many memories are stored in our hearts. Like Sunday morning we had church at home. We brought our guitars, so we played a few worship songs, read from Luke to follow Christ without apologies. Then we all shared our hearts and prayed together. There is nothing like home fellowship. The kids woke up to Papa's pancakes every morning he had off. We all played a round of pictionary after Christmas dinner with all the cousins. It was so much fun.

Daddy made Snow Ice Cream and it was really good!

At papa Martinez's's's' we played a vicious round of hand and foot, ate more than should be humanly possible, and found some huge ice cycles! A few family members couldn't come, I think that was the only thing keeping this from being a perfect Christmas. We missed all who couldn't make it and love you all!

Double Digits!

The new tradition in our home was dad's growing up: As soon as the birthday boy/girl gets up, they get their presents accompanied with the Happy Birthday song. I love this one.
And fittingly he opened legos and more legos....

He ate Legos for breakfast!

I love this shot, dad cancelled his morning to put this together :)

GG and Gramps came!

Booger was played....

This birthday boy likes Brownies ala mode. He wanted to make footballs but settled on stars.

2 days old

Yes...yes she did.

I love it. I didn't let her go as short as she wanted in the back. Next time I will. It was the pony tail they gave me that threw me into shock! She wants it about three inches higher in the back.

We also ate out at WING STOP last night and our oldest gave it the "best chicken place ever!" He even made me take the picture of the paper in the bottom of the basket. It proudly claims:The Wing Experts.

They are: they said 10 minutes and in 10 minutes they brought us a 3 different kind of chicken strips, a huge basket of fresh seasoned fries, and free refills on a BIG root beer. I have to agree. Best chicken place ever!

(They also play sports on three screens.)

Here is one of the pumpkins we got last Monday. If you've seen BOLT the movie, you will understand how funny his pumpkin is. the hamster "Rhino" made this face in his hamster ball when he was ready to fight. And that's what he asked daddy to carve. "Let it begin!"

We went to love creek orchard as a family. No I didn't bring the camera. So I would actually be with the family. Regretting regretting..Everything we did from hay ride, pony rides, singing with two honky-tonk Christians with spoons! Chasing wild turkey around a pond. They all said the same thing.."do you have your camera? Take a pic!" ugh!.....Never-the-less, great time with their dad. We, being high school sweethearts, were amazed at where God has brought us as we walked 4 beautiful kids in hand across the field. For the parents and siblings around for those roller coaster days you can join in with the wonder of it all. Life is still a ride but this time, I don't want to get off! I just read psalm 139 last night and these verses rang true. No matter what we have done, how far we ran, in Christ we are in His favor: surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all our days.

"You both precede and follow me. You place your hand of blessing on my head.

How precious are your thoughts about me, O God! They are innumerable!

Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life. "

Love to you all and have a blessed week!

Let it Begin!

We had a great time last game day. Our cheeks were sore from smiling! it was hilarious to see the younger kids "play". At the beginning you could hear our little one singing, "evewy body is kung-fu fighting! HOO- HA!" with all the kicks and chops for affect. We were so proud.

The Dragons

The Bluebirds

The Ref said these two girls teams were the most aggressive group of players she had seen all day. Ya, we all took it as a compliment.

The Steelers

The Raiders

I have to confess, I cried at the first game of the day. One of the boys got excited during a play and elbowed a team member right in the eye. Who then cried all the way off the field covering his wounded eye. As a mother I only cared for my son slightly embarrassed. I just smiled and said "it's ok! Keep going!" I could see he felt really bad. I found my heart was strangely outside my chest and in the middle of a football field surrounded by 8 year olds. He went right back into " game mode". I, on the other hand, was a bucket of emotions. I had to laugh at myself. I also knew this is the same love of the Father. I know He hurts for us, and laughs with us. (And quite possibly chuckling at me too.)

School's In!

1st practice:

He felt led to help the coaches talk to the parents. We all got a chuckle with how comfortable he was taking over things.

Somehow Classical music and this dress inspired her heels and as he put it "I need something handsome for me"

Baking together

Making Slime

Having a closer look at an ant bed.

Nature walk challenges in our neighbor hood: To just look and discover things they were interested in.

This was my favorite part, He would walk a while and suddenly I would hear a desperate voice, "Momma! I need a hand!" He wasn't falling, just nervous about how tall the grass would get. For this to come from my most independent, this was sweet music to my ears.

we searched for any signs of Who's on this clover from a weed!?!

I looked up and had to take a picture of the beautiful Texas sky

Here is a science experiment on Sea creatures: The challenge was to see how long they could hold their hand in ice water with one rubber glove, then we added a layer of Vegetable Shortening (blubber) and timed ourselves again. The time went up from 45 seconds to about 3 minutes. But mostly lasting longer than the other brother!