A Visit to Texas!

For Thanksgiving this year, we headed to Aunt Lauras' house in San Antonio. It was a 2 day (pushing it!) drive there through Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma. While we were there, we went to the Alamo and the River Walk and enjoyed shopping and eating and visiting with our family. 

The Alamo was a highlight of our trip.

The kids played non-stop with Jane. It was a beautiful 75 degrees!

Seeing these giant boots was top on Bethany's list. There are so many cowboy boot stores in Texas, it was heaven for my little cowgirl. She even brought her plaid shirt and boots so she would fit in with all the Texans:)

What had to be the best of all was seeing baby Roman! He is so cute! The girls loved being able to hold and feed him.

And I can't forget to mention the wonderful turkey dinner with all the fixings. The girls made little cake toppers for each food dish, labels for "turkey" and "desrts" and name place cards for everyone.

After all the fun and visiting, we were on the road again for 2 days (pushing it!) This time through Texas, New Mexico, Colorado and then home.

This is HaLLoWeeN:

 

Curious George and The Man in the Yellow Hat (3rd times a charm!)

 50's Girl, Astronaut and Goth-Vanpire-Princess

Willard's favorite part! He spent several hours answering the door and handing out treats!  He would open the door and say "Hallo, here a go" and then offer treats then he'd say "see ya" or...

Trickatweet and Hapahaween!

Since my last post...

September 15th
Jameson turned 6! wow, crazy huh? He loved being in the spotlight. JJ is very smart. He can count to 109 and can add and subtract. He knows all his shapes, even a trapezoid! He has lots of friends (especially girl friends :)) and he loves the Wii and Nintendo DS. He is so nice to his little brother, and the perfect annoying little brother for his sisters - getting into their stuff etc.! He got a space shuttle lego set, Donkey Kong for the Wii, new shoes and a jar for his "treasures." Then he had a s'more ice cream sundae for a cake :) Nearly perfect in every way!

September 24th

And then I took the girls and Jameson to see "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat" It was so fun and they all loved it!

While we were gone, Jayme built a rock wall that almost finishes our huge yard project.

Crafting with JJ

With the girls back to school ALL DAY! (Yeah for me) JJ was a little bored, so we crafted these cute hangers so he could organize his outfits. He made all the planets and put them in order. And now he loves getting his week set up and then getting dressed is easy cause it's all decided! It's been great for this week since we have to dress in the color of the day!

Back to School

Marcee is in 6th grade

Bethany is in 4th grade

Jameson started kindergarten!

I have a motto for my family this year: 

I CAN DO HARD THINGS!

Each of my kids have big things this year. 

*Marcee is in middle school and has more than one teacher, a locker and has to dress for P.E.! 

*Bethany has to read 1 book a month and do a report on it, she also now has a math book and 2 pages of homework! Big change :) 

*Jameson has Kindergarten! Wow that's a big change. He goes to school on the bus and is gone everyday. 

They are all involved in a singing group as well and the girls have piano lessons. I am also working a little so they have to be responsible when they get home from school to do their homework and chores! They think it is SO much and TOO hard! But, we can do these hard things! Right?

SPoiLeD

Marcee turned 11 and WoW! She got some great gifts, including a 'nook' and a wire dress form (which she loves loves to dress up for school, lol)! We had a grand time celebrating with her. We went to her favorite restaurant, "the back house steak house!" more commonly know as "Outback Steak House." Then home for a movie, "Soul Surfer," and pop corn.
Marcee is a sweetheart. She is a good babysitter for her little brothers and is willing to help out when I ask. She loves to dress her 'own' style.
She is good at math, art and piano, and loves to read.
Happy Birthday baby girl!

Dress form ready for bed in her new night gown.

Surprise! Grandma and Grandpa got her a nook. She is sooo spoiled :)

Happy Birthday to You!

Willard turned 2!
I can hardly believe it!
He is a boy of few words but knows how to get what he wants. He is stubborn and a little sassy!
He loves to play and jump on the tramp with his sisters, and he likes to watch Jameson play the Wii. His favorite movie is "Curious George 2"
He calls trains "BahBah" and cars "VroomVroom." His sisters are "Sarsee" and "Sassee" and Jameson is "JayJa." Any food, treat or drink is a "Num-a-Num-a."
For his birthday he was given a giant stuffed bear, a new blanket for his big boy bed, cars, and legos.

His girls made him the perfect cake!

A few more things...

The piano recital and pre-school graduation
(all on the same day!)

Bethany played "The Chocolate Song"

Marcee played "Mermaid" and "Skip to My Lou"

JJ graduating :)

A few things to finish up...

Jameson sings with the Tiny Tone

Bethany plays goalie and her team finally wins a game!!!

Jamesons final soccer game :)

Playing at the park on the one (really, ONE) nice day in weeks.

It's beginning to look a lot like...?

I am so ready for some better WeaTHeR.
My kids are getting STiR CRaZy and
Willard just wants to run ouTSiDe, but hates the SNoW!

A Date with JJ

JJ and I went to the Tree House Museum for a mommy/son date. We spent the afternoon playing. He sat behind the presidents desk, dressed up like an astronaut, and climbed the giant tree many times. Then we went to lunch at Sandy's. JJ had a old-fashion chocolate shake to eat :) -he didn't touch his grilled cheese! It was so fun to just spend time one-on-one with him, he doesn't get that much with 2 older sisters and a baby brother!

Getting ready for Valentine's Day...

Crafting with Erinn

Making treats
(peanut butter blossoms with a heart instead of a kiss! so cute)

...and of course,
Count Down Kisses. 14 kisses 'till Valentine's Day!

Playing Catch-Up

I am so behind that I keep putting off writing, which is only putting me further behind! So, here is my attempt to do a catch up...
Following Jayme's accident, he signed up for an 8 week class that kept him busy every night. Thanks to my parents for making that possible! They came up 2-3 times a week to help me with homework, dinner, clean-up and bedtime! I couldn't have done it without them.

Thanksgiving was spent in San Diego, CA with all of my family. It was a nice break from the cold. We went to see "Tangled," had dinner at all of Clark's favorites like Fred's, The Hamburger Factory and a yummy pizza place (i can't remember the name). We even ventured to L.A. to take the girls to the American Girl Doll Store, definitely a highlight of the trip.

December flew by! I planned a cookie baking day with grandma and we went to see "Scrooge" a play at the Terrace Theater. We played in the snow and had a few family parties. And then it was Christmas.

January started with goal setting and a 21 day challenge - doing a quick clean-up of the down stairs -I'm on day 19 and doing good! Bethany turned 9 and we had a fun family party at the Olive Garden. And, Duke is now 18 months...Yeah, he can go to nursery!!!! We took the kids to the Clark Planetarium. JJ loves learning about space and now knows so many fun facts that he has been sharing with everybody!

Everyone has been sick at least once during all of this.
Bethany had 2 doctor visits. Her arthritis is quiet for now and her iritis is under control. She is sassy as ever, loving to write stories but not enjoying math ("I mean, what is the big deal about MATH?!?")
JJ had his first concert. He loves, loves playing his DS or the Wii, so much so that he forgets to use the bathroom! That's trouble. He loves pre-school and thinks it is much to cold to play outside.
Marcee dressed up as Florence Nightengale for school. She loves math and piano and reading. She is learning to be my tender, and is very good at it. Her brothers both love her tons.
Duke finally got all his teeth! He loves his dad most and is not too happy to be left without mom, dad or grandma. He is my only kid who cries in the nursery :(