New Digs!

Here's a few pics of the house and the yard...we'll send more later, but at least you can see our favorite hang outs! I took these with my cell phone, so they may not be great. But its what you get. We moved and its quite possible my camera didn't. Or at least it hid when it moved with us.

Here's the front room - complete with Taylor trying to look like he was doing his job, and that is an optical illusion...I'm going to have to find out from Sherri how she shined up the stone in her fireplace, but not till I have a beach vaca planned...I understand it is very stinky.

This is the back yard view from the master deck upstairs. You can kind of see the pool back there--really the whole reason for the house "being" as far as the little kids are concerned. This tree is over 350 years old! The things it has seen! It gives me a new appreciation for the settlers, though. They slept out in the elements. There are a lot of creepie crawlies around here and I have great respect for anyone sleeping out on the ground. There is a swing in the tree that reminds me of the one we had in Darby. I am looking forward to the grass being destroyed under the swing....

This is the view from the master deck. It is much prettier than my phone took. Notice how brown the grass is, though...ten year drought in Texas. As bad as the dust bowls in the 30's. Still lots of green trees. I can see the sunrise from my bedroom window in the morning. I love that! Also notice the spiral stairs laying on the ground. They used to go to my deck. We have kids. I don't think so! Stairs are going bye-bye.

This screen porch is off of the kitchen. It's kind of a dark picture, but we spent all morning scrubbing the floor so it can be stained. We'll need to do quite a bit of work in there, but we are turning it into another family space--ceiling fans, tv, game tables, the works. We spend a lot of time out here in the evening and its one of our favorite places. The poor puppy will be quiet disappointed in a few days. The screen that is ripped is being replaced and his "doggy door" will be no more.

Part of the kitchen...love the skylight...window looks into the screen porch. To the left is another window over the sink that has a bird feeder and so far, we have seen about 15-20 different types of birds. Some really great ones! We can hardly wait to get my Dad's bird feeder up! We waited to put it up here where it will stay. Poor Mike. He's trying to clean up garbage and I want him to put up my bird feeder....it's really such a shame that he didn't marry someone more practical. I'll have to give him a heads up for the next time.

Garbage out front...we included this one so that in a few months everyone will say "Wow! You've done a lot with the place!"

Please note the construction debris everywhere...that's not ours...just wanted to make sure that everyone knew my kids had not trashed the place already. The poor people that lived here before had to rebuild two porches at almost the last minute due to dry rot....I could have saved them the trouble since I am moving in and dry rot is my official medical diagnosis.

Rain!

We've had lots of rain this week--big rain drops, warm rain drops and the kids were out enjoying it. Since that's WAY more interesting than school being canceled for two weeks due to swine flu concerns, we're posting pictures of rain instead. You already know what swine look like. I'm just glad that "swine" flu refers to the actual flu itself and not to the possibility that my kids may or may not be clean or may or may not have cleaned their rooms this week.

More Random Kid Shots....

This is in the hotel room when Kayden thought we were sleeping....he got into my iPod, turned it on, and hooked it up to his ears. Smart boy!

I have this really great phone that has a GPS, Internet, and TV on it, among other things. Zachary was supposed to be sleeping and I found the little guy asleep in my bed while watching Sesame Street.

Here she is! Miss Professional herself!! This is Patriece's first Oral Interpretation competition. She was recruited to the team on Thursday, practiced on Friday, and competed on Saturday. She took 5th in her room--not bad for a 48 hour prep blitz!

Chase's Boot Camp Gradution!

Graduation was divided into two days. The first day was family day and they had their dress uniforms on for the short ceremony. Chase is right behind the guy in the BCG's (Army speak for birth control glasses!). It was something to see them all march in after the Colors. I got a little teary but the flag always does that to me.


We spent the rest of the day doing really important things--nothing! Chase slept a few times, we ate, and just hung out. I felt it was going to be too boring, but he said it was great to just not have to do anything and spend time with his family. The next day, was the graduation. As I understand it, because our country is at war, the graduates wore their combat uniforms. It was really cool. There were two tanks that rolled in shooting off blanks and smoke, then the tanks opened up and a select few ran out of it, then came forward during some pretty great music while they talked about their accomplishments, their individual weapons, and so on. Chase was one of the few chosen. You can see the tank in the background. This picture doesn't do it justice, but Chase was only a few feet from us. Kayden loved it!!

This picture was taken just after the graduation, Kayden kept looking and looking at him. He wouldn't look at me for the picture, but I decided that maybe that was best as he was so enthralled with his Daddy.

After graduation, those who were in the tanks were to display their weapons for the attendees to see. Here is Chase displaying his weapon.

And this is Kayden on the way to the airport--displaying his t-shirt. He was so proud of his Daddy!! Read the shirt--it says it all. We're proud of you, too, Chase! And just to make sure everyone knows--we're so proud of Tori, too. This wasn't just Chase's accomplishment. This is Tori's too. We love you!

Chase's Graduation from Boot Camp - Part 1

This is a quick picture of Chase from his boot camp graduation. I have more pics and some video, but I'll post that later.

Random Pictures, Random Kids

Cutest Dang Kids Around! Just a smattering of pictures found on the camera and only a few of them taken by Mom. Amazing what you can find in there!

Austin and Buff

Zachary figures he's dressed if he's wearing underwear. Notice Shoshi completely ignoring her birthday cake. Are we excited yet?
















If you pay attention to Taylor's form, you may understand why he plays football...

Josh was purchasing take-home presents for his family. This shop was the pinnacle of good taste. At least it was Patriotic!

Lauren and Josh at the Alamo.

Lauren and Josh taking a break with Emma.

One of Patriece's more lovely looks. This actually takes some talent!

Malika commenting on the smell wafting in from her brother's bedroom after a day at the basketball courts. What is it about boys?!

What I Did for Christmas!

The kids chipped in and sent Mike and me overnight for Christmas. We went to Padre Island, down by Corpus Christi--important part of that is it was the beach! In order to get there, you need to take a ferry...so here's a picture of the ferry where our trip was made memorable....

...when our call stalled for no reason. We had to ride the ferry back to the beginning, get a tow off the ferry, wander around downtown till we found someone with jumper cables, get a jump, then try the crossing again. Meanwhile, this particular car has never had that problem before or since. Go figure. Now the suburban on the other hand....

The beach the morning we got there. It was 85 degrees. These beaches reminded me of the ones in North Carolina when I was a child. OK--when I was littler. Haven't figured out if I am grown up yet or not!

Kids playing on the beach were from Minnesota. All the native Texans were freezing--at 85.

And Mike. Lovely day for a stroll.

Christmas 2008!

OK--Backtracking just a bit...I just found the camera cord so I could download pictures. Now you get to see all the wonderful things we did. Or maybe not that wonderful. Maybe just wonderful because we did them as a family!

Emma gets her first presents thus setting the trend for the rest of her life....








My Dad always wore a Santa Hat so therefore, must Mike. My traditions, my way. 'Course now the kids can't imagine Christmas without the dumb hat that has long ago lost its fuzzy ball. Which goes with the man who has long ago lost his dignity....

Twas the night before Christmas....our tradition of sleeping all together while waiting for Santa continues. What has changed is that the kids are older--so they no longer get up at 5 or 6 am, they no longer sleep on the floor but drag mattresses into the family room, and they no longer try to stay up all night waiting to hear Santa. This was taken at....drum roll....10:30 pm. However, we must say that doesn't mean they don't believe in Santa.

Jaimie, Iesha and Patriece on the Riverwalk the night Jaimie and Iesha arrived. It truly was beautiful. They wanted pictures to prove that they were outside, in December, in shirt sleeves.

And finally, skipping all the "look of surprise" pictures of people opening gifts, we get to the star of the show--who likes the paper things came in better than the actual gifts.

Emma--The Rocker!

Emma's favorite is the Disney movie "Cars" and she just can't sit still when it's playing. She's on the beat and everything!

GRADUATION!!

I'm so proud of my daughter! It's been a tough road, but she graduated today from Cosmetology School. Now get out there and let's bang some hair!! Preferrably mine first.