Friday, June 6, 2014

Regan's 12th Birthday Party

We went SUPER EASY this year, and just reserved our neighborhood pool! It was very easy and she invited some neighbor friends, from kids from school, and that's about it. It was fun though, she wanted the ginormous Costco cupcakes, so I got those, she wanted a giant submarine sandwich, so I got some sub rolls and made a bunch, and chips/drinks, and we were set. I got a bunch of pool toys and water guns, and they had a blast. They got out of the pool to eat and open presents and that's about it! There was a bit of a cupcake war thanks to David! Little Bella was licking the icing off her cupcake and David smashed her face in it, she thought it was hilarious, so everyone else wanted in on it, and it ended with Tony wiping his face off on David's back! It was fun, the kids loved it.

So here's the million pics I took of her and her friends.

Regan's 12th Birthday Party

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Last Day of School!

I always like to compare pictures from the first day and the last day of school. See how much the kids have grown (or not!). Riley doesn't feel like he's grown much, but I got his physical form from the beginning of the year, and he's grown 4 inches and gained 20 pounds! He's not a little boy anymore, that's for sure!

Regan's school has a "5th Grade Walk" where they line up all the kids and teachers and then have the 5th graders walk through the school for one last time and everyone waves and high fives them. They played the song "The Best Day of our Lives" and there wasn't many dry eyes in the place. I was surprised at all the little girls bawling their eyes out, but I was almost one of them when I saw my baby walk through that curtain. Of course, she wasn't crying, she and her BFF Piper were calmly walking through (last ones too) and laughing at all the people who were crying!

Anyway, another year in the books. Next year is the beginning of middle school for Regan and Riley will be a sophomore.  Oh, and Regan won a reader award and A and B honor roll for the year! So proud of my girl!!





Friday, May 30, 2014

K1 Speed

Our Girl Scout Troop was planning a weekend camping trip but we got rained out! So, at the last minute, we had to plan something to do to make up for it, so the girls voted on indoor go-karts. It was really fun! We ordered pizza and had ginormous Costco cupcakes and had a party! The girls had fun, Riley and David came so Riley could race too, and Regan came in 3rd place from her whole troop. Riley came in 2nd in his race. It was a neat place, we will have to go back sometime this summer, good way to beat the heat!







Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Updates...

Well, it's been busy the past few weeks.

For starters, Riley was bench pressing and dropped a barbell on his nose and broke it. Got a call from the school trainer, so we rush him down to Dell Children's to find out there's not much they can do, but for us to wait for the swelling to go down and go to an ENT. So we've done that, and they tried to straighten his nose back out but it didn't work so now he will need surgery. His nose is still pretty crooked, but he can't breathe as well right now, and there's still a lot of pain, so as soon as school is out, he will have to have surgery to try and fix it. Boys, they sure keep you on your toes!

David had a class to take in Houston, so I went with him and we left the kids in the very capable hands of Uncle Matt!! It was fun to get away for a few days and not have to worry about feeding dogs or feeding kids. I dropped David off at his class at Rice University and went to the Holocaust Museum, to the movies, the bookstore, a cafe, just had some fun alone in my home town. Then at night we would take advantage of the hotel hot tub, and got to eat at some great restaurants. We stayed over and extra day too, and found and awesome chocolate shop in the Galleria where David bought my mother's day gift! He knows me so well!

Now it's the end of school rush, with awards and parties and tests every time we turn around. I am more than ready for school to be over. Riley had his AP Human Geography test, and they've both had STAAR tests and end of course exams, and Riley still has finals coming up. I'm DONE! I am ready for summer, and I know they are too!

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Color Guard

We had an interesting evening in downtown Austin! Riley was supposed to do Color Guard for "Speaker of the House". That was pretty much all the information we had. He was supposed to be at a hotel at 5. We weren't even sure what hotel, just had general directions. We thought he would do the Colors, and then leave, and we didn't even know what the event was.

So, we get him out of school a little early to beat traffic, and bring Regan with us so she's not home alone for who knows how long. We get to the hotel right at 5 (the Stephen F. Austin Intercontinental Hotel) and did I mention we were all in shorts, t-shirts, etc. NOT dressed up, in any way.

Well, it turns out, it was an awards banquet for Speaker Joe Straus. He was receiving an award for Mental Health Achievement and it was a fancy dinner in the ballroom. Color Guard practice was at 5, then the Sea Cadets were getting pictures made with the Senators at 6, then the banquet was at 7, and Riley seated at a table with his fellow Sea Cadets, and served a fancy ballroom dinner, and then a photo with the Speaker afterward. So David, Regan and I waited around in the lobby (after a quick dinner at the Athenian Grill that Regan was super excited about, she loves her Greek food!). Talk about feeling awkward sitting there waiting. We had no idea what was going on, so we didn't want to leave. It was strange. But then they came out, got their pictures, and we left.

Riley told us on the way home, that the food was okay, he got this big chunk of lettuce (a wedge salad) and he was almost done eating the thing when someone came around with the dressing! Also, he didn't care for the chicken that was covered in "green stuff" but he did eat 3 creme brulee desserts. I wish I had known he was supposed to be at a fancy dinner, I would have done a crash course on manners for him!! He did say at least he knew what fork to use.





Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Girl Scout Photo Shoot

Our Girl Scout troop did a photo shoot to celebrate another year together. The theme this year was "Girl Scouts are SUPER Girls!" And so each girl wore her Girl Scout uniform, and another outfit of something she is active in, sports, band, etc. We had Roller Girls, Volleyball, Karate, Flute, Trumpet, etc. Regan wore her church shirt since that's about the only other thing we are in right now! She is a Super Girl though because she works with the babies! Not many people love to do that as much as Regan.

So here are a few pictures from the photo shoot. The bonus was, siblings could jump in on the action too, so I bribed Riley and told him that would be my Mother's Day present if he would come, and SMILE for just a few pics. They turned out pretty good, so I'm glad he did.












Saturday, April 26, 2014

Awards and More Awards!!

Man, we have some great kids. I know I'm biased, but really, when half of spring is spent going to awards ceremonies, it's hard not to be a little proud!!  First was Riley's HHS MCJROTC Awards Ceremony. Yes, that's a mouthful! He was awarded ribbons for Arts and Academics, Athletics, and Physical Fitness Achievement. We were very proud, and it was an incredible awards ceremony. This is only Hendrickson's 4th year to have an ROTC program, and the awards these kids received, it was amazing to see. They have some very dedicated, motivated kids at this school.

Next up was Regan's Girl Scouts of Central Texas awards. This was for everyone in our council area, which is most of Texas. Regan was a top seller, so she got an award and her picture taken with the CEO of Girl Scouts! She also got to pick up her big prize, her Kindle! She was most excited about that.

Then it was Regan's Girl Scout local service unit awards. She was the 4th highest cookie seller in our service unit, so she got a cute little cookie booth trophy.

Riley also got a few more ribbons for Sea Cadets, and Regan got a few more awards at school, so they have been pretty busy.






Thursday, April 10, 2014

Updates...

I haven't posted much lately, we've been pretty busy. Thought I would do a big update post.

Riley is nearing the end of his 9th grade year. He's in Sylvan for some extra help 2 nights a week. So far it seems to be working well, he's learning to study better and take good notes, and we are hoping it will help him with his AP Human Geography test that he has coming up. He is in study sessions 2 or 3 times a week, before or after school, for that, and ROTC keeps him busy with PT tests and different drill and marksmanship challenges. Add in football, and a pretty rigorous AP biology and AP English class, and then Sea Cadets, Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and church, he's a busy guy. But he's a good kid, and has a great attitude, and he keeps us laughing.

Regan is nearing the end of 5th grade, elementary school, my baby!! She's in the middle of the dreaded STAAR testing and so afraid that she won't pass the STAAR tests and they will hold her back! I hate the fear they put in these kids. She makes all A's and B's so she has nothing to worry about, but she's also been in tutoring at 7am every morning for about a month, to work on math. They have one more to go, and then we might just have to take a mental health day! She's getting excited to go to middle school though, even if I'm not. I just can't believe my baby will be going to middle school.

And other than that, we've just been getting stuff done around the house. Finally worked on the downstairs bathroom, needed to fix the light in there and change out the curtain, then decided to switch out the toilet, but hey, why don't we change the floor too, it just kind of snowballed on us! But, now that it's done, it looks great, and we're ready to tackle other parts of the house now. It seems like every room needs SOMETHING. I guess that's the price of being a homeowner! No complaints here though.

David and I are great. In fact, our church asked us to go to Africa on a missions trip in December, and David said yes! He's never had any desire to go to Africa, but he knows I have always wanted to go. Our church has a campus in Xai-Xai, Mozambique, and in December, they host Christmas parties for the kids there, and we will be going with a team of mostly married couples to help with the Christmas parties. I can't wait, I'm so incredibly excited about it! Just have to get those dreaded shots first, ugh!!!

So, we would appreciate your prayers as we get ready, and of course, I will be updating along the way, and I'm sure I am going to have tons of pictures when we get back. I can't wait!!



 

Monday, April 7, 2014

Elise's Visit





We had another court date this week, so Trista, Chris and Elise decided to come down for the weekend, since court was on a Monday this time. It was so great to see her! I mean, them! :)

They got in Saturday and we went to eat and then went to church. Then Sunday we went to Chuck E Cheese and then shopping for Elise some new clothes. Then home to grill fajitas. She was so sweet and so cute. David really missed her, but now that she's almost 2, David realized how much work they are at this age, and realized how she's in the perfect home!!  Court went well, Kenzie had decided to relinquish her rights, and then they terminated the rights of the "father" so she is now officially ready to be adopted, and that's in the process and should happen in the next couple of months. Everyone was so excited. They'll be back in a couple of months for an update with the court, and then things should be finalized not long after that. I am so happy that this is happening for all of them. They are such a cute little family!

Thursday, March 13, 2014

Yee-haw! The Rodeo is in town!







David took Thursday and Friday of Spring Break off, and we took the kids (+1) to the rodeo carnival. We didn't get to go last year because of Regan's broken arms, so she was really wanting to go this year! This was David's first time to go with us, so it was nice. We got the kids wristbands and sent them on their way. David and I went to the other side of the fairgrounds and got to spend time together walking around and checking things out, and a friend of mine's daughter is doing a Flat Stanley project, so we took a bunch of pictures of Flat Stanley with Texas Longhorns, and all the rodeo animals. It was a lot of fun just being goofy! The weather was great, nice and cool, until we got home and realized we got sunburned!

Monday, March 10, 2014

Gattiland

It's Spring Break and I'm in spring cleaning-purge mode! After cookie season, the house is a wreck so I got a wild hair and just have been going crazy! I've cleaned out the pantry, the kitchen, closets, drawers, cabinets, everything that isn't nailed down has either been tossed or is going to Goodwill. The kids have been getting in on it too, Regan cleaned all the stuffed animals off her bed and has been straightening her room (miracle)!

But, I took a break and took Regan and friends to Gattiland for Mom's Eat Free. It wasn't too crazy. I brought my iPad and read while they played video games. They had a good time and then I got home and got back to purging! Working on #40bagsin40days!




Sunday, March 9, 2014

WICKED!

I was SO excited to see Wicked! It was Regan's first musical, and I wasn't sure how she would appreciate it, but I think David is probably tired of being dragged to everything that comes to town. Now I have a new play buddy!

It was great and Regan really enjoyed it. The sets and dresses were amazing. We went early so tickets weren't as expensive, but we did get pretty good seats, and not too far back to see anything, so that was nice! War Horse and Annie are coming, so I am hoping we can go see those too. I love musicals!


Tuesday, March 4, 2014

Icepocalypse

Well, the kids had ONE full week of school between Christmas and Spring Break this year! Crazy!! We had a delay every week or a snow day. A couple of times, it was because of the threat of ice, but we never got any ice. I can tell you, I'm over the cold. I know it's worse up north, but I was made for Texas summers!! So, here's the latest ice day. Got a nice 2 hour delay, but our power went out for a few hours so our clocks didn't go off, so we were running crazy all morning anyway!




Saturday, March 1, 2014

Radiant Conference

The Radiant Conference this year was AMAZING!! I really enjoyed it, and was so happy that we managed to sell out of our cookies right before the conference started, so I could go and not worry about anything but volunteering! It started Thursday night with Priscilla Shirer, who is one of my absolute favorite speakers, and then Friday morning, Friday evening, and Saturday morning, with Lisa Bevere, and our Pastors, Joe and Lori Champion. The music was great, the specials were awesome, it was just really top-notch. I really enjoyed it, and getting to spend time with friends and have lunch and just have a kind of "girls weekend"!  (David did campus support)  Here's a recap video:
 http://celebrationtx.smugmug.com/Events/Radiant-Conference-2014/Videos/i-sWtTzzF



Sunday, February 23, 2014

Juan in a Million



This is one of our favorite places to eat breakfast! And, I had a Groupon that was about to expire, AND we got to beat the SXSW crowds, and celebrate the (near) end of cookie season.

We always get the "Don Juan" and Riley has never before finished it, even though he always talks smack about how he can eat 2 or 3 of them if he wanted. Well, he finally was able to finish one, but it looks like he's about to hurl it up!

So after breakfast, Regan and I headed back out to finish up our cookie selling!