Happy Birthday Jackson

The traditional wake up birthday picture! We spent 7 hours of his birthday in the car on our way to the beach so when we got there we headed to dinner at his choice, The Boiling Pot. After a really yummy dinner of boiled shrimp, sausages, potatoes and corn that they dump on your table and you chow down on, we headed back to the house to let Jack open some gifts.

Shopping for a 9 year old is so much harder than say a 3 year old boy! Everything is electronic and really expensive. He had a great haul in the gifts department this year. Everything from a personal DVD player to Target gift cards to a giant super soaker!

He had a really special birthday this year and being on vacation made him feel even more special.

Greg and I are super proud of our big boy. He is such a sweet, confident, energetic young man.

Here are some interesting things about Jack at nine:

*loves the outdoors

*great at school

*not a big eater, but we keep trying!

*very friendly

*still a momma's boy

*lots of friends

*really loves his video games

*enjoys thinking games like chess and checkers and card games

*very helpful, would do anything for anybody

*can't wait until he is old enough to go to Guatemala with his grandparents

*loves elderly people, goes out of his way to hold doors or pick up something they drop and loves to talk to them

*loves history, really into watching the History Channel, anything about wars or presidents

*reminds me so very much of his daddy!

Happy Birthday Jack, we love you tons!

Swimming and more swimming

All three kids took swim lessons at our local recreation center pools before we left for vacation.
Jack took a class that was really the last level they offer and did great! All they do is swim back and forth doing all the different strokes that they have learned in all the other levels. The only new thing that they learned was how to do an underwater kick turn while still swimming. He has really mastered all strokes and was the best in class at the side stroke and back stroke! His freestyle is awesome when he breathes correctly. He tends to just keep his head above water so he doesn't have to take a breath! He is really done with swim lessons, not much left to teach him. Bailey on the other hand...
still lots to learn. She did finally graduate to the 2nd level this year and did awesome in that level. She is keeping her head under water and actually swimming for the first time. She is really good at her back float and gained so much confidence this year. She did graduate from this class and we are so proud of her!

Diving off the board was a big part of Jack's class and he loves to dive and cannonball off the board. He is into trying "trick" dives too. His favorite is the back flip dive off the board. Not mommy's fav.

Bailey would jump off the side into the deep, but off the board was a little more than she could handle just yet. She would get out to where the handles end and panic. Maybe next year...

I have not one picture of Connor at swim class. We were a little disappointed in his class. Because of his age we have to get in with him and after a brief description of what to work on it was just us helping him in the water. Could have done that on our on without having to pay! We were happy with how confident he is in the water and with his floaties on we don't have to hold on to him all the time. I think next year he will be swimming around by himself. All in all it was a very successful year of swim lessons!

Seriously, 9!

It is hard to believe that Jack is 9! Seriously, each year just seems to fly by faster and faster.
I have always loved, loved, loved planning our kids fun birthday parties. I guess at 9 that stops! Jack didn't want a "cute" party, "I'm too old for that mom". So, we planned a small sleepover for a few days before his actual birthday, we were leaving town for the beach on his birthday this year. He had three of his best buddies over to play games, jump on the trampoline and watch movies. No cute games, fun crafts or decorated tables!( Well, I did put a few things on the table)

I made cute frog cupcakes and had a few of the boys frogs on the table for decorations. Ok, I couldn't give up the cute completely!

Our Ranger Baseball Player

Well, the Rangers Baseball season is over, at least our Ranger's season is over! It was a good baseball season but they lost in the playoffs this last weekend. Jack loves playing 2nd or catcher. His fielding is so improved. He threw many players out at 1st this season. Very few balls got past him and he was so much more intense and serious in his playing.

We are going to keep working on batting. Sometimes he would smack it into the outfield and others he just couldn't make contact. He has a beautiful swing to watch, but needs to keep his head down until he makes contact. Next year in 4th grade we begin to have player pitch instead of machine pitch so we will have to relearn how to hit.

Jack was excited, his sweet 3rd grade teacher came to his last game and cheered him on!

Aunt Tamara

For Aunt Tamara's Birthday this year we had lunch at a fun Mexican restaurant where we ate yummy food and then they surprised her with a slice of cake with a sparkler in it and sang to her! She is very special to all the kids and we love spending time with her. I got a cute picture of her surrounded by all the nieces and nephews.
This is a picture of her cake and special birthday song.
We love you Aunt Tamara!

Last Day of School~ Yes I'm Back Tracking

I had some cute pictures of the kids with their teachers on the last day of school and forgot about them until I downloaded some pictures today.This was Jack's teacher but Bailey loved her too.

Bailey will miss all her girlfriends so much!

But, she will miss her teacher the most!

Super Heroes

Connor has made up Super Heroes for everyone in the family. His stories completely crack us up! I am going to try to write them down here so when he is 16 I can show him this and get a good laugh.
Daddy is Mr. Yucky.
Mommy is Dr. Winky.
Bailey is Doggy Girl.
Jack is Strong Boy.
And Connor is Strong Man.
He says that Mr. Yucky is a bad villian! That Dr. Winky is a good guy. Doggy girl is sorta good. Strong boy is ok and Strong Man is a good guy too.
When I asked him what Mr. Yucky did to be a villian he said, "This" and threw his hands up and waved them. He loves to crawl into our bed in the evening and curl up with me and tell all these "wild and crazy" super hero stories. I love our time together making up fun stories.

School's Out

This is a picture of the kids on the first day of school. And, a picture of the last day of school.

I can't believe that this year is really over! It feels like yesterday that we walked into 1st and 3rd grade to begin the year. Here is a recap of the kids year.

Jack has successfully finished 3rd grade. He was commended on both parts of the TAKS which means he did awesome. His final report card showed how hard he worked this year. This was the first year that they give number grades and he maintained above a 95 in all subjects. He even got a 99 and a 98 in two of the subjects. He joined an after school club that met twice a month. He loved it! He was nominated as the "morning announcement" person for the whole school. I always enjoyed the days I was there to hear him do the announcements, he was really good. He finished 5th in the Turkey Trot this year. He won the Science Fair and went on the the Regional Science Fair. He made some wonderful new friends this year. His teacher was the best! We love Mrs. Fox and will miss her terribly next year.

Bailey flew through 1st grade! When we got her last report card today it showed how much she loves school. She had a perfect report card all year. They only get E, S, N, U and she got E's all year in every subject. I don't think I helped her once all year with her homework. Her teacher would have to give Bailey her own harder books to read because she actually tested on above a 4th grade reading level. My kids do get their love of books and reading from me! She was chosen this year to be the "friend"and helper to new students to their class. She took her job very seriously. If her teacher got called out of the room for any reason she would ask Bailey to sit in her chair and read to the class. She really loved playing teacher. She made some great life long friends this year and has plans with each of them already this summer. We were blessed by her teacher too. Mrs. Collins was so wonderful to Bailey. She stretched and challenged her and was patient all at the same time.

All I can wish for my kids is that 2nd and 4th grade be as wonderful as this year was. We were so very proud of both of them!

We Have Moths!

All 7 of the moths that made it to the cocoon stage have now come out of them and are pretty white moths. It was really interesting when they started to "mate". Lots of questions. Which we were prepared for with good answers! Now they are laying eggs and soon will be with us no longer... This was a fun, interesting experience. It gave us lots of chances to look things up on the computer and to write and draw the cycle. Will I do it again...not anytime soon!

Summer Lovin'

Our trees have become so overgrown that our poor yard was suffering! So we spent this whole Saturday morning cutting, chopping, and dragging tree limbs to the curb. We all five love spending time outdoors so it wasn't too much of a stretch to ask them to help outside. Our curb is completely full, no room for anymore. And it is piled high. Thanks to the kids who drug most of it. Now my flowers and my grass and my flower beds can get some sunlight and will perk up.

We weren't all work and no play. We worked from 9 to about 2, ate a quick sandwich and then let the kids run around in the backyard in new swimsuits and play in the sprinkler. They love to get on the trampoline with the sprinkler coming up under it and jump.

Summer lovin' had me a blast...

Memorial Weekend

This year for Memorial Weekend we had NO sports events in our family so we took full advantage and had a family cookout. Jack and Bailey had gone to Oklahoma with Memaw and G-Dad for a French family reunion so we only had Connor for Saturday and Sunday. It was way too quiet! Connor had a fun birthday party for his best buddy Tedy on Saturday and Sunday we just let him play outside alot. On Monday the kids came back and we had Mimi and Papa and Aunt Tammy and Chris and Larry and Joy and Gretchen over to cook out burgers. After a yummy lunch, several of us headed up to Allen Outlet Mall to fight the crowd for a few things. After that we headed home and played a game called "Washers" that Chris had brought for the kids to play. We had so much fun that we played it out front for hours. Of course, we had to have some more watermelon to help us play better!

Ist Grade at the Dallas Zoo

Last week I got to go on a field trip to the Dallas Zoo with 1st grade. I didn't have to ride on the bus, Oh Drat!!! I got to ride with a mom of a boy in Bailey's class, and it was fun to get to know her better. Mrs. Collins class had so many parent volunteers that the groups were really small. I only had Bailey, her best buddy Isabella and another little friend. It was such a fun, easy going day with these three girls. We saw what we could see and didn't rush around trying to see everything. The penguins were being fed while we were watching them and they were so cute. They would swim right up to the glass and show off for the kids.

We made it to the new Ghost of the Bayou exhibit and it was worth it! The albino alligators are really spooky looking. Outside of the Reptile House we met up with two other friends and took some pictures.

These girls were all about posing!

Well, here we are at the end of another year. I can't believe my little girl is so grown up. She is more than ready for 2nd grade. I just hope that mommy is ready!

Flashback to the 80's

In Richardson we have a fun festival every spring called the Wild Flower Festival. It a fun weekend of concerts, food and booths set up in Richardson. We have been several times in the past. One year Greg surprised me with a trip to the festival to see Rick Springfield. Well, he was back this year and we decided to take Jack and Bailey to see him. Here is the flashback part... Rick Springfield was my very first concert in the early 80's. I loved his songs and watched him on General Hospital. A really good older friend took me because I wasn't even old enough to drive. Well, we loved the concert and now he was going to be my kids first concert too. Ok, this guy is 60 years old! He can still rock with the best of them. He was all over the stage. The kids loved the whole experience of a concert. They could even sing along with several of his 80's songs. Of course their favorite was Jessies Girl!

At one point, a girl climbed onto a guys shoulders and raised her tank top over her well endowed chest and flashed Rick. Jack's eyes got huge! Greg covered his eyes immediately. Security took care of her!

Our little flashback to the 80's was well worth it! I had the most fun watching my kids rock out to Rick Springfield.

Fish Dish

One of my favorite Mother's Day gifts was this cute homemade fish dish that Bailey made in Art at school. Jack made me one too, but his got put into the display case at school and he didn't get to give it to me for Mother's Day. They worked so hard to make them perfect for me and were so proud of them. I think I'll use one of them in the kitchen for my sponge to sit on. Thanks Bailey and Jack!

End of Year Preschool Program

Last week Connor had his end of year program at Sunshine School. The theme was "Camping" and the kids all wore their Sunshine school shirts and shorts and the teachers wore these camo t-shirts with camp counselor on them. My kids thought it was funny that mommy had on camo and not daddy for once!

After a cute program of camping and Spanish songs we went to Connor's room to see his work and then to have yummy ice cream sundaes!

This has been a wonderful year for Connor. He loves his teacher, Mrs. Laura, and his sweet friends. He will miss them all this summer and can't wait to go back to school in the fall.

We Have Silk!

The silkworms have begun to spin their silk. Now, they will try to climb the tub to get into a good position to spin into their cocoons.

Every morning the first thing Connor asks me is if the "wormies" need leaves. Then he asks to see how much poopie they left overnight. It has been an interesting experience for all of us!

Next, I'll get pictures of the cocoons!

Our Silkworms

We inherited silkworms from Connor's Enrichment teacher at Sunshine School! She told me Connor loved them and we should take some home to watch. Well, I did and we are enjoying watching them grow and grow and grow! They only eat mulberry leaves and we are raiding a neighbors tree daily to keep up with their feeding habits. They started out smaller than our fingernail and have more then tripled in size in a week! You can actually hear them crunching on the leaves while they eat.

When they get large enough they will spin themselves into a silky cocoon and I'll post pics then!

From what I remember of them from teaching 1st grade, I need to make sure closer to spinning time that the box is covered or they will climb my wall to spin!!!

Connor's Neigh Neigh Party

Connor has always loved horses. He yells neigh, neigh every time he sees one and loves to feed the horses at Memaw's carrots. So, when we began to talk about him turning 3 I asked him what kind of party he wanted. Thinking he would say something like Backyardigans or Superheroes, but no, he said from the beginning he wanted a neigh, neigh party. I started looking online for horse barns that hosted parties and found a great one, but it cost a great price too! So, back to the computer. After searching for a while I happened onto this site called Dallas Pony and I knew it was exactly what I had been looking for. They bring a pony, catered to your party, for the kids to ride. We rented Prince for an hour and they actually put blue glitter in his tail and mane and painted his hooves blue with glitter too! Everyone loved riding Prince, especially my two older kids who wanted to ride every time! We invited Connor's preschool class and a few other friends from church and had a wonderful Cowboy party in Mimi and Papa's backyard. It was a perfect day and a perfect setting. I couldn't have asked for a more perfect party for my special 3 year old.

Words can not express how truly blessed we feel each and everyday by this miracle that God gave us. We love you Connor Reid!

We are so Blessed!

This is not Connor's birthday blog, that will come later. First, I need to praise God and count my blessings as Spring begins! Two years ago we found out our sweet baby had this really random, scary illness. We didn't understand it because he seemed so healthy and happy and it hit him like a ton of bricks! After being in and out of the hospital with him having everything from pneumonia several times to lung infections and ear infections and being severely dehydrated from stomach flu we have made it this whole winter without one trip to the ER or hospital!!! His white blood counts have maintained a "good" level all winter and he was able to fight off several colds that last year turned to pneumonia overnight. We go to the Oncologist next Wednesday and we will know how his blood counts are then.

So, as Spring begins and as Connor turns 3 we are praising God and counting our blessings at our home!

The Aggie Experience

We packed up and headed to College Station this last weekend. Well, all but Connor, we left him here with his Aunt G to have his own fun. We were going to a Veterinarian Dinner and Fund Raiser/Auction. Since we were going this weekend I got online and looked for sports events to take the kids to. Instead I found a FREE Football camp for Jack. The boys got to watch the Aggie Football team hold their spring Offense/Defense game then they toured the facilities and received a whoop towel. After that they got to run onto the field through the end zone with the band playing. All the players slapped their hands as they ran onto the field. It was truly an amazing experience.

Then the players and position coaches ran the boys through drills. He had a great time tackling the players.

He got to catch some balls too. It was obviously just as much fun for the Aggie players as for the kids! We will definitely try to go again next year.

We also walked around a bit and took some pictures with the 12th man.

And saw where all the Reveille's are buried.

Sunday Papa took us to the Vet school for a quick visit. Our Bailey says that she really wants to go to A&M and be a vet someday. We love to hear her say,"It is so... good to be back in Aggieland!" Maybe someday...