A Parade and Santa's Village

All five of us bundled up early this morning and walked up the street to watch the Annual Richardson Christmas Parade. We haven't been for a few years but since it was just one block from our house we decided it was a good year to go and check it out. It was a little chilly but ended up being a perfect day for a parade. All the kids took their warmest blankets and bundled up.

Connor loved everything we saw!

This is my oldest son! Hiding under the blanket. He inherited his mommy's dislike for cold weather. He did come out in time for all the floats and bands and cheerleaders! Jack does love a cute cheerleader. We saw lots of people we knew and the kids loved all the candy they got. We even saw our cousin, Emma. She was riding on an Adventure Guides float.

Later in the evening we all headed up to City Hall to walk around the Richardson Santa's Village. We try to go every year it is a fun little village with lots of Christmas spirit.

The kids with Sparky!

Connor and Bailey rode in a sleigh. Jack played reindeer and pulled a sleigh, but we didn't get a pic of him.

We also visited with Mrs. Claus and she gave the kids cookies. While we were in line to see the Animal Shelter puppies (a favorite every year) I noticed a little boy walking around us looking really scared. Then when he said, "Where's my mommy?" with tears in his eyes, the mommy in me jumped to help him. This sweet little boy told me his name and his mommy's name and that he was 3. I sent another mom to find a policeman. I held him until the policeman came and talked to him and told me he would take him to the Police post. The little boy didn't really want to let go of me, but eventually the policeman took him with him. I couldn't leave the village until I saw him with his mommy. She was so scared!

I was so fearful for this sweet 3 year old and I so hope someone else would do the same for one of my kids if they were lost. I think that this has to be a mommy's worst fear, to turn around in a crowded place and your child be gone.
All in all it was a really wonderful, winter day!

Good News!

Yesterday Connor had his regular check up with his Oncologist. I had decided to go into it with NO expectations because last August I assumed and banked on his numbers being high since he hadn't been sick for a while and his numbers were at a low for more than 8 months. Not good news. Well, yesterday his numbers were at an all time high for the last 8 months! This is really good news heading into the worst time of year for our little man. It gives him more cushion when he does get sick for his body to fight, fight, fight. This is Connor very mad when mommy wouldn't let him run in the Turkey Trot with his brother and sister. By the way, Jack placed 7th in all of 3rd grade, a big jump from last years 12th place. Way to go Jackson! Bailey was really disappointed in herself and we were not in the least. She didn't place really high but she ran the whole way and never gave up and we think that is what is truly important.

Counting Our Blessings

On this beautiful Thanksgiving day, I encouraged the kids to "count their blessings" and here is what they told me...
Jack says he is thankful for family, friends, food, and our house.
Bailey says she is thankful for God and Jesus, water, Grandparents, makeup, flowers and LuLu the dog.
Connor says he is thankful for mommy, daddy and the neigh neighs!

I loved the perspective of each child. It had a lot to do with their ages and personalities.
Jack just says it like it is. NO Elaboration whatsoever.
Bailey is more detailed and would have gone on and on and on...
Connor is thankful for the things he thinks are most important right now. I was surprised I ranked above the neigh neighs.

I guess if I am counting my blessings then here is my list.
My faith, my husband, my three children, my family, my friends, my preschool Spanish students, our health, our home, my kids teachers... I could go on and on too!

Our Little Bear

Last Thursday we had Connor's first Thanksgiving performance at Sunshine School. It was an exciting event around our house. Bailey had a performance at her school but told us she didn't want to go so she could see Connor as a Bear. All month long I have tried to get him to sing his bear songs and all month long he has told me "No, I not a bear!" so we were a little nervous as to how much he would actually sing. Here is my cute bear walking in with his class. He looked so big. Well, no need to worry about this little bear. He marched up on the stage and sang really well. We were very proud of him.

Here he is leaving the stage. I was in charge of pictures. Not such a good idea. Somehow after I got the one of him walking down the aisle I hit a button and shut off the flash. So the next picture is of him leaving the stage! The pictures weren't great but I do have great memories of my sweet little bear.

Date Night with 648 Screaming Girls!

My sweet husband knew how much I wanted to see this new movie that was coming out this weekend. He knew it would mean listening to lots of screaming girls, but he got passes from my wonderful sister and he took me anyway! I started the book a while back and something came up and I had not gotten back to it to finish it, but I was hooked and knew the movie would be amazing too. We arrived 1 1/2 hours early, yes really! Even that early we were in the second section third line for waiting. In front of us in line was a really nice couple with three kids also. She had loved the book and drug her husband along. He kept telling her they could go see Bond and still be in time for this movie. ( he did go to Bond and she saved him a seat) In back of us were about 12 teenage girls who kept bumping us and screaming. It was a peek into our future!
When they let people start going in people were running and yelling and saving seats. I have never seen anything like it at a movie. Well, maybe Star Wars when I was much younger. This theater seats 650 people and there was not an empty seat! Finally the movie started and it was well worth the wait. The first time, and really every time Edward comes on the screen all 648 girls screamed. I have to admit there was something about this vampire! I loved it and Greg really liked it too. Just maybe minus the screaming girls!

The Leaves are Falling...

This is what our backyard looks like all fall! Some mornings you can't see any yard or concrete for the amount of leaves that fall. And, this picture is the day after Daddy and Connor raked them! Connor has found his favorite new "job". He is really good at bagging leaves for daddy after daddy blows them into a pile.

There are times when I think wow, this kid is just like his brother. Sometimes I even think he acts like his sister. But, just lately his little personality has really become all his own. We all laugh so much at this little monkey. His new favorite saying is "That Kooky!" He got it from his favorite show, Wow Wow Wubbzy. We passed a loud car one day, he says That Kooky! His brother and sister have a fight, he says, That Kooky! He doesn't just say it, he holds his hands up and wiggles his fingers as he says it. So cute. He also works his mommy all day long. He will walk up to me and grab my face and say "I wuv you mommy". Usually just after he has broken something or eaten candy he wasn't suppose to have.

Several people lately have asked me how my baby is doing. He fought a cold all last week and I am so happy to say nothing serious came of it! We know his blood count numbers were down last time we had them taken and we know this is his hardest time of year, but we feel so blessed to have him stay as healthy as he has. Please continue to keep Connor in your prayers, we know that it has made a difference!

Long Overdue Praise!

This is so... long overdue, but here goes...
My sweet friend Traci has this wonderful talent for blog design and is now using this talent to start a business. She redesigned my very boring blog and made something spectacular for me. I went on line and picked a blog template and told her what I knew I wanted. She put this wonderful looking blog together for me and I love using it. It is so bright and cheerful and the colors and design are so me. You really should check her site out. She has lots of templates and sample designs to look at. She is also having a free blog makeover in the month of November. So check it out,
sweet cheeky designs.

Ouch!

We had an injury tonight! Jack was helping mommy unload the dryer and he dropped some socks. When he came back to get them he jumped up and hit his head on the corner of the counter. He immediately fell to the ground crying. A sure sign that Jack is really hurt. When I got to him he looked at me and asked,"Is there blood?" Yes, there was lots and lots of blood. So much that I screamed for Greg to come and helped him to the table to put a cloth on it. We really couldn't tell how bad it was for all the gushing blood. And when the blood spurted out at me I really started to panic a bit. We called Papa to come over and access the situation for us. Greg held a cloth on it for over 5 minutes and the blood had already started to clot. A really good sign. And after all that blood the gash was really rather small.

Papa taped him up. Then all night long we laughed at his funny taped up head. When daddy ripped the tape off (he tried to do it gently but that just didn't work) a good bit of hair came out too!

My Brown Eyed Girl!

Yesterday was my sweet Bailey's 7th Birthday. It amazes her daddy and I that she is already 7 years old. It really seems like yesterday that she was this little toddler with NO hair. I think this year I'll post some little known facts about Bailey for her birthday not the usual stuff everyone knows.
*Bailey has a very sensitive heart. She gets her heart hurt so easily.
*Bailey as girly as she seems loves to play in the dirt and mud!
*She is very Patriotic and took this election loss for "her" candidate very hard.
*She is a BIG pack rat, nothing like her mommy who tosses everything.
*Loves to lay in her bed and read, just like her mommy.
*Does all her homework by herself, no help, and does it all the first night when it should take 4 nights. Can you say Overachiever!
*Loves all holidays! Counts the days to the next person's birthday.
*She likes broccoli and squash!
*She never forgets a name or fact. We find ourselves asking her when we can't remember something.
*Finally, she has the biggest brown eyes and beautiful smile of anyone I know!

We love you Birthday Girl!

High School Musical 3

What a fun day at the movies! Today was Bailey's big birthday party. She loves HSM and wanted to see it for her party. We couldn't have asked for a better party. Several of her good friends came and we headed up to the movie singing HSM songs the whole way. Those girls know all the words. After purchasing tickets and our movie meals we got our up close seats! (up close chosen by the girls not the mommy) The movie was better than the other two. I think I liked it in the theater more than the little screen. A really cute movie with really cute songs. Thanks Mimi and Tamara for going with us! After HSM was over we headed home for pizza and cake.

Bailey opened all her fun gifts and took pictures with all the girls after she opened their presents. This is Bailey with her best school buddy, Isabella, and one of her gifts.

This is Bailey with a "Soccer Sister", Alondra, a friend from school. She got her a Hannah purse, perfect for B.

This is another "Soccer Sister" Nancy a school friend. Who gave her two Hannah shirts. How well do these girls know my Bailey!

This is Bailey with her sweet friend Kayla who got her a purse, wallet and bracelets. She was just telling me the other day she wanted a wallet to keep her allowance in. So, thanks Kayla!

This is B with her Mimi and Papa, who got her a new American Girl Doll, Julie. Bailey loves her!

She also received a wonderful gift from her Aunt Tamara, a purse filled with HSM things and a gift certificate to The American Girl Doll Store! One of her sweet friends also gave her a gift certificate to AGD Store so she has lots of money to spend later!

I couldn't have asked for a better Birthday party for my little girl. As I tucked her in tonight she told me it was the best party ever. If you know Bailey you know she will tell me that next year and the next year and so on... She is a truly appreciative little girl.

Big Girl-

Mommy and Daddy are so proud of the young lady you are becoming. We are so happy you had such a wonderful day with your friends. We can't wait to see what God has in store for you because the first seven years have been so much fun!

Halloween Night Frights

This Halloween night Mimi and Papa invited us to eat a special "spooky" dinner. Before we tricked and treated Mimi's door we went across the street to find a really scary graveyard their neighbors set up. It was full of headstones, vultures, bones and lots of spooks! My three little pirates were not scared in the least of the really bloody zombies we found behind the tombstones.

After visiting the graveyard we tricked and treated the neighbors houses then headed to Mimi and Papa's door.

The kids Papa has a tradition of trying his hardest to scare the kids. He has been a skeleton and a camouflage man in the past so we were not sure what to expect. The kids rang the bell, except for Bailey who hung back from fright, and to the side of the bushes came a "tooting" sound. So, of course they thought he was in the bushes. But no! The pumpkin man sitting in a rocking chair on the porch was none other then Papa! I do believe they all jumped a bit.

After a truly "gross" dinner including heart parts, eyeballs, fingers, mummy's favorite veggies and other things Jack enjoyed trying on the pumpkin head.

Sunshine School Party

We had a fun party at Sunshine School for Connor's class. I am in charge of parties this year for Connor's class and we started off with a fun Halloween Party. After yummy Halloween donuts and mini muffins they all drained their Sunny D's with their pumpkin straws. We also decorated funny face pumpkins, made spooky spiders and played toss the orange "pumpkin" in the cauldron.

Connor and Tedi are showing off their spooky spiders. These two have become great pals.

This little class of theirs is so cute! They really got excited about everything we did. Connor loves to go to school and play with his friends. Until this picture I didn't realize how tall my baby is! He is taller then everyone in his class. I guess he gets that from his daddy!

Pumpkin Patch Fun

We have a little Pumpkin Patch up the street from us and we love to visit it this time of year. Bailey loves her holidays and decorating and I think she gets it from her mommy.

*side note--Connor had to sit on this pumpkin for this picture, no matter how many times we said it's going to fall. Just after the click of the camera-- you got it, the pumpkin and Connor rolled right off the hay!

. My kids love fall and Halloween as much as their mommy so we always have fun dressing up in our Halloween clothes and playing in the pumpkins. I couldn't even believe how well all three of them posed for pictures. Connor was fine as long as he could sit on a pumpkin! Bailey had a great time "modeling" for me.

Connor decided to lay down for some pictures and it was so cute that all the other two decided to try it too!

I have to admit that this year we didn't buy any pumpkins because mommy has already decorated the front yard to the hilt. We don't need anymore pumpkins. I absolutely love this time of year. The smell of cool , crisp fall nights. The sounds of Friday Night Football. Warm clothes. The colors of fall. Eating soup on a cold night. Cuddling up with my kids under a fluffy blanket to watch a movie. Mums all over the porch and yard.

Friday Night Lights

Bailey attended the Pearce Cheerleading Camp a few weeks ago with several of her friends. She loves "pretending" to be a cheerleader and for that weekend she was! One of the perks of the camp is that the girls get to perform on the field at one of the Pearce games.
She also loved getting to cheer with her big girl friends, Ellery and Avery. They are on the Varsity Squad and helped with the camp.
The night of the performance, mommy, daddy, Jack, Connor, Mimi, and Aunt Tamara came to watch. We also sat with several of Bailey and Jack's friends and families from school. Bailey and her best buddy Isabella had so much fun cheering even in the stands. We live just two streets from the High School Stadium and on Friday nights our lives revolve around football. Greg and all three kids have gone to nearly every game this year. With the weather cooling off now I might even join them for the fun!

A Day At The Zoo

The kids had two days off this week for Fair Day and instead of fighting the crowds at the Fair we decided to head out to the zoo for a fun day. It was definitely the correct decision. We drove right past all the traffic headed to the Fair and we drove straight up to the front parking lot of the zoo and waited in NO lines.

If you asked my kids their favorite place to visit in Dallas I am pretty sure the zoo would be their first choice. The weather was amazing and cool. All the animals were out roaming around because they love the cool weather also. Having daddy go with us was a treat too. We spent alot of time at the birds of prey area. We have never really paid much attention to these animals because they are across from the lions area. Since the lion died last Spring we headed over to check the birds out. This huge Harpy Eagle would not take his eyes off my baby Connor! He seriously followed Connor everywhere he went. He was a truly magnificent creature. His claws were as large as a grizzly bears. He can eat an animal as large as a sloth in the rain forest! Come to think of it Connor is about the size of a sloth.


I call my two boys my monkeys and they really enjoy acting like them! All in all it was a perfect day at one of our favorite places!

Soccer Sisters

This is the cute face of one happy Soccer Sister! Bailey's soccer team, The Soccer Sisters, has been together now for several years and our Fall season began a few weeks ago. Our coach also got the girls new fancy lavender uniforms this season. On this Saturday, Bailey scored two goals in their 8 to 1 win and was rewarded with an ice cream sundae!

She plays all positions but loves forward the most. Of course she would, she gets to score that way. Here she is waiting to kick off to the other team.

Bailey is such a girly, girl so we are really proud of her aggressive play in soccer.

Way to Go Soccer Sisters!

The New Look

We have known for a while now that this was coming. A year ago we went to the eye doctor and he told us Jack was "borderline" nearsighted. We put it off as long as we could but he seemed to be getting a little worse. The eye doctor we see goes to our church and is wonderful with Jack. He was not only more nearsighted but has developed astigmatisms in both eyes! Now we had no choice, glasses it was. Jack made the comment, "Well, I only have to wear them until I'm 13 then I can get contacts." He has been a trooper about it. He claims he is excited about wearing glasses. So, now he has worn them for 2 days and he is adjusting. If you see Jack soon tell him how handsome he looks!

Connor's First Day of School!

This was one happy boy! Finally, after weeks of mommy being up at church planning and helping it was time for pre-school to start. Connor was really excited to "go to school like Jack and Bailey". Our 10 minute car ride was full of "will Tedi be in my classssss...." "will Broobie be in my classssss..." (Broobie is how Connor says Brookie, we laugh so hard when he says it!) After we got there Connor passed out some first day treats to his teacher and directors and Chapel teacher. Then it was off to class! His teacher is Mrs. Carey and he already likes her tons.

When it was time for me to go I have to admit I had a hard time leaving him. I know he is becoming a big boy, but he is still my last baby. He loves to tell people, "I mommy's baby!" Then he follows it up with, "but I a Big Boy too!" I don't start Spanish classes until Monday so I had a day off. I spent it by myself, in the quiet house! I was in need of a recharge day and I got it.

When I went to pick Connor up he was still fast asleep on his nap mat! I was shocked, I really figured he wouldn't take a nap. I was quite proud. He soon woke up and saw me and I helped him pack up. His teacher actually called him her ray of sunshine. I guess all the other sweet 2 year olds had cried alot! No crying for Connor, he was so excited about his day, he told Jack and Bailey and Daddy all about it!

Connor Update

I haven't given an update on Connor's health in quite a while. I haven't needed to. He has been doing really well. Since summer started he has only had two fever spells and one cold. Actually the other two kids have been sick more than him! That being said... we went for our regular visit to the oncologist today. I assumed that since he has been so well that the blood counts would be great too. No such luck! His white blood count was down somewhat but his ANC (total neutrophil count) was way down. Not such good news going into the winter sick times. What I tend to forget is that Connor appears on the outside so... well but on the inside he is just not so well. I feel completely blessed by the wonderful healthy summer we have had and will pray hard for a healthy winter.