Many years ago . . .

Halloween 2009

Aidan - My little cowboy

Just a picniking . . .

Oldies But Goodies

I messed around a bit with Picnik today (gotta love Saturdays when you're not in Grad School!) and I changed this photo up a bit . . . I did join Picnik today (I know I know - but it's fun!). Enjoy!

My Babies . . .

This was shot at Cook's Childrens right before Aidan's surgery to remove his tonsils. I think we went on the pre-op tour this day. I pray that no one else ever need to have surgery performed on their child - but if they do - then I can recommend Cooks. They were friendly and wonderful. The nurse even went and retrieved Aidan's tonsils from the operating room so he could see them before they went - uh - before they went wherever it is that tonsils seperated from their human host go. Hmm. I have no idea.

I'm in LOVE!

My dear friend, Angelica (hi!), shared a new photo editing website with me. It's called Picnik and it's great! Here are 2 old pictures of the boys that I grabbed up and played around with a little tonight. Look how cool they are!





Thanks Angelica! Now that Grad school is done, I can spend my evenings playing with this neat new toy. :)

Money Money Money

Well my neighbor and I decided that we were not only overweight, but also trying to refigure out lives after our recent divorces. Reinventing oneself in the mid-thirties is a serious task indeed. :)

One of the things that we decided to do to set precidence for our new lives was to sign up to walk/run a 1/2 marathon in November. We will be training every Saturday morning at 6:45 (EEEKKKKS!). So not only will be getting into shape, but we will also be raising money to fight blood cancers, which brings me to my next point. Please donate to my fundraising page - I need to raise $1900 dollars by November. Time is ticking!

See the following link:

Thanks!

The Big Move

It's official! We are members of the Benbrook community! The boys and I have moved into our new home and settled in rather quickly. We have great neighbors, a super fun pool, and an entire summer to relax. Can't beat that!

Aidan and His Teeth

Little Aidan lost his baby teeth in a funny pattern. He ended up with only 2 permanent teeth on the bottom and not teeth up top. It was like he had bunny teeth - upside down. He was a good sport about it - especially since the tooth fairy is paying ten bucks a tooth now. His teeth have started coming in so once again my little guy can chomp on some apples.

Sid and His Guitar

I just found this super cute picture of Sid with his cowboy hat and guitar. Looking at it you might think that we are typical Texans when in truth we are not. My boys don't have, nor have they ever had, cowboys boots and they only have cowboys hats on a whim that their grandparents had. I do think Sid is cute as a cowboy though - may have to start him down this path . . .

New School and New Rules

After much deliberation, I decided to bring the boys with me to my fantastic school. They have been attending a private Christian school, and while successful there, I grew tired of being without them so much. They felt the same way, because when presented with the idea of transfering so late in the year, they both jumped at the chance. They are now Segiun Longhorns and have fit right in. It's such a blessing to see my boys throughout the day. I kick myself for not bringing them earlier in the year, but I know that at the time I was doing what I thought best.

Another blessing in my life was my Grandma. We lost her 3 years ago and she was a powerful influence over all of her children, grandchildren, great grandchildren and now great great grandchildren. She was a lovely woman who protected her family with a kind fierceness, had a hand in all of our futures, bonded a family spread throughout the country, smart as a whip, and loved her kin with her whole being. She was also an oral wordsmith.She had lots of "Grannyisms". In hindsight (why is it always this way?), I wish I would have kept better record of her stories, her words, as this was a flavor in my life that I cannot duplicate. Here is her picture. Isn't she beautiful?



This is a picture of her with my mother but she is holding a neighbor's child. Please notice the matching dresses. Grandma made all of their clothing, and would make matching outfits for mom's dolls.

My mom and I have noticed that Aidan is an oral wordsmith too. We have started noticing his "Aidanisms". For instance, this last week he told his Grandma, "My brain just hatched a great idea!" How much do you love that?

Tiny Beards and Science Project Hell

The other day I remembered something that Aidan said a few years ago. He was playing soccer at the time and had a wonderful couple of coaches that developed really great relationships with all the boys. One of the coaches had some facial hair on his chin. I think it might be called a soul patch? It looked like this:



Anyways - Aidan was discussing his coach with me and said that he really liked his "tiny beard". I love that kid!

This week Sid had a science project due. WTH? Third graders? Science projects? Are they serious? Yes, I enjoy and promote the idea of a child learning the scientific experiment process. But I wholeheartedly feel like a worksheet would have been just as effective - and less taxing on my pocketbook and watch. I would rather take my child to a science museum, a book store, a nursery (plants that is), our backyard, our kitchen or sit and watch the discovery channel than funnel my energy into a project that isn't going to "ribbon" and then explain to my child that "winning doesn't matter" when it most certainly does to a third grader in our NOW NOW NOW society.

NOW that being said I am not of the school of thought that wants every child to get something just for the sake of getting something. However, I also hate to see my child's feelings hurt. Nothing much is black and white anymore. This is Sid as a mad scientist.



So science fair is over. We won't find out how he was graded till later. Ahhh. That's nice. Let's postpone the excitement.



Do you have any science fair projects to share?

Tonight, as I type this, I finally hear quiet in the house. My children have drifted off to sleep. I never know how I will find them when I check on them before bed. They will usually be in the same bed, but at opposite ends. While I craved bunk beds as a child, my boys could care less about sleeping on the top bunk. There was talk before bed tonight of the floor possibly being more comfortable than their beds. This was due, I think, to the fact that their sleeping bags are out and even though I really couldn't see the idea forming in their head, I could almost see the light bulb going off above them.

I imagine tonight that I will find them, curled up in sleeping bags, in the middle of their "mythology school" fast asleep. They have taken it upon themselves to school the unsuspecting neighborhood children about all things related to Greek Mythology (No - thank YOU Lightening Thief). If they teach school any thing like I did when I was their age, there will be a time out corner, a strict behavior policy, and really great snacks. I can only hope that the neighborhood children's parents won't get too upset with my children teaching theirs about the polytheistic system of the ancient Greeks. My oldest son, Sid, has already had an interesting conversation with our Catholic neighbor's son.

Zeus - where are you when we need you?