Turkey Day Eve

While most people are busy at the grocery stores, at home cooking and cleaning, traveling to their destination- we go to the Ft. Worth Zoo! And let me tell you- there were more people there than I thought- not too busy, but enough. I never really thought about what people do the day before Thanksgiving, but obviously going to the Zoo is an option. Considering we're not major Zoo people- this makes our 3rd one this year- Dallas, Milwaukee, and now Ft. Worth. It does bring new meaning to going to the Zoo when you have a toddler who loves animals!

Thanks all around!

Jonah is on this everyday- thanks again Grammy. We now have 3 cars in our garage!

Thanks Mrs. Andrea for my new PJ's.

Must be Santa....just a little early!

The big jolly man (actually a wonderful Grammy) came early to our house and delivered Jonah's pride and joy-- his own "beep, beep." He doesn't say car, beep beep does the job. Rick & Jared put it together which was hard since Jonah just wanted to ride in it, push it, etc- basically get in the way! Then his hot new wheels were ready for him! What a smile he has getting in and out, opening the door and closing the door, honking the horn, going forward and backwards...all making for one tired little boy. Thanks Grammy for a toy that he loves so much and can enjoy now before it gets too cold!

Everybody dance now!

Growing up into new things

loves Starfall.com

loves to color with 2 crayons - one in each hand!

39 & 61

So when it's your 39th and 61st bday, where do you go? Nowhere else than Amazing Jakes so all the kids can play! Art and Justine celebrated their bdays with a good buffet, lots of games, and overall fun!

What a year ~

Most people post about the year in December while the new year is just around the corner. But not me- this has been a rough year for our family. I have 3 Aunts. One of my Aunts died suddenly in July. And this past weekend another one of my Aunts died of cancer. I went from 3 to 1. I hope and pray for my family as they endure yet another passing of someone special.

My Aunt Betty passed away this weekend- and what a fighter she was! She is my Dad's sister and was the last remaining sibling of my father. She lived in San Antonio with her husband, children and grandchildren. She did chemo, radiation, got sick, got well, was strong then weak, the whole emotions of someone who has cancer. She loved going to Vegas and in her prime went sometimes twice a month. She is no longer in pain and is resting peaceful now- so now we pray for my cousins who are missing their mother already and for the coming days where it will be harder. Be at peace Aunt Betty ~ you are now pain free!

18 months old and counting

Weighing in at 27 pounds and measuring 33.5 inches!

1 in 58

That is the number of boys who are on the Autism Spectrum. That is a small and scary number. Money is being allocated for research and finding a cure and / or treatment, but it seems so far away. So in the meantime, we participated in a Autism Speaks Walk for our nephew Logan who has made huge strides and is working on more to conquer! Love you Logo!

Hook 'em

Working for the weekend!

Has all his important things for a Friday at school - mom's car keys to get there and his lunch!

Touch of Random here

the sign says it all!

Jonah's favorite pose ~ such a ham!

because one can never have too many footballs!

ready to learn ~ gotta start them young

playing blocks with Grammy

Trickin' & Treatin'

The usual neighbors all came down to our driveway for a campfire, food, drinks, passed out our candy, shared stories and good conversations. We took Jonah to trick and treat down 1 block and he was done. He tried to say "trick or treat", but he certainly said "bye-bye" to all the people who gave him candy, I mean gave us candy!

4th Annual Fright Night

It finally was here- the night where everyone acts like a kid and can get away with it- Halloween! Everyone came dressed up, we ate some good food, and yummy desserts too. And then the games began:

1st a spooky walk - like musical chairs, but a different trick. Then onto the Mummy wrap where the 2 presents went around many times before it was finally unwrapped. Andrea guessed the closest for the candy corn. And "Spider Man" Art won best costume with "Dr. Suess" Justine won 2nd place. It finally stopped raining long enough so we could enjoy some fun and games outside. We had the traditional tombstone search in teams and Rick did a real good job hiding this year b/c it took the teams much longer than in the past. We had a balloon sweep- but the balloons kept breaking- go figure! And then a candy corn relay with a real small spoon. Back inside the pumpkin decorating / carving contest. Lots of winners and very creative ideas too.

Good times- thanks to everyone for coming out and playing with us ~ can't wait til next year!!!

Will you grow up already?

That is what the cousins think of Jonah- they sometimes forget he's only 18 months old and can't do everything they do.....but he sure does try!

Props

We ventured out this weekend to see what we needed for our costumes- kinda sad that we ALL are so entertained by Halloweenie stuff.

Do they not just look like Elton John?

10.21.2000 ~ 9 years & counting

It's this day that we celebrated with family and friends alike making our commitment to each other. I remember - we weren't nervous, we wrote our own vows, we planned everything to fine detail and it was such a memorable weekend in San Antonio. Looking back over 9 years - what mattered was not the happenings of that weekend, but that over time we've been up, down and all around and still holding strong. There's something being said about marrying your best friend and we did just that.

• We used to go out of town spur of the moment, now we plan family trips for Jonah to explore and still make time for a trip by ourselves at least once a year.
• We used to go out to eat and then hit a favorite Musical, now we eat at home with Jonah, welcome our babysitter with open arms and head out for a Musical.
• We used to sleep late together, now one of us sleeps late on Saturday and the other on Sunday.
• We used to work late, now we come home and play with Jonah and work after he goes to bed.
• We used to spend money carelessly, now we spend it wisely.
• We used to travel internationally, now we travel nationally.
• We used to go to bars and hang out with our friends, now we hang out at friends houses.
• We used to hire and pay for a dog sitter for Shellie, now we are so blessed to have babysitters who only accept Jonah's smile for payment.
• We used to fight about small things, now at least we know what is really worth fighting over.
• We used to have our own traditions around the holidays and now we've started new family traditions.
• We used to live in Chicago for 3 years, then Austin for 3 years, and now Dallas - going on more than 3 years.
• We used to stay up late and watch movies, talk or just hang out or sometimes even clean out the garage, now we do still stay up late, but know how to make it work the next day so we're not so tired.
• We used to not know each others quirks, now we know them and probably more than either of us would admit.

I remember my cousin telling me how she loved her husband more now than the day she married him. I couldn't agree more! I love seeing Rick as my awesome husband, my friend, him being a friend, him as a son and brother and most importantly such a wonderful dad to Jonah. Happy Anniversary Rickister- thank you for making me so happy and doing all the little things to make us so. xoxoxo

Do we live in the sticks or what?

After a nice date night by ourselves, we arrive home to open our garage door and a possum goes into our garage! OMG!!!!!! I freaked!!! I don't do bugs or reptiles and certainly not rodents! When I taught Early Childhood, I had a unit on bugs for 2 weeks- I taught that unit in 1 week and we moved on! Those kids didn't miss anything, heck I was protecting them.

It ran in and we couldn't find where it went. I stayed in the car while Rick got out to search for it. He got a broom to hit things hoping the noise would scare the ugly rodent, but nothing. My job from the car was to watch and see if came out- well it didn't- and I could see clearly since my window was completely down, even though Rick says it was only cracked. I was going to make sure this thing was out of my garage no matter what- well Rick was going to make sure! So then Rick gets the lawn blower to scare it. That didn't work either- but I did see his nose poking out from the far corner. So Rick got the broom again and the dumb thing raced to the other end of our garage. Then it's so dumb it couldn't figure out which way was out (I mean the 2 cars running with the bright lights on aren't a clue or anything). It did finally leave and ran across our yard, probably so pissed off he'll be back for sure!

Oh who was taking the pics? That would be Justine who was watching Jonah for us- of course what else do you do when there is a rodent in your garage, but take pics of it, post it on your blog, and let everyone see your messy garage?

"my hero" getting that dumb rodant

that's me sticking my head out - see proof that my window was down all the way

"it"