The star on the Tree

The kids get to take turns every year putting the star on top of the tree.

Last year was Cooper's turn and he FREAKED out when Clarence held him up high to do it, so Lexi got to step in and do it.

So,... Cooper got another shot at it this year.

Before Clarence got home, we had a "Tree topping drill". I explained everything to him, and showed him what he would be doing. He seemed excited that he had such a big job to do!

So,... the moment of truth came.

We handed the star to Cooper, I got the camera ready, Clarence lifted up, and....

he freaked out and started crying!
So,.... Clarence brought him down, and I gave him another pep talk and he was willing to try one more time. So,... Clarence lifted him up, and.....




HE DID IT! He was a little scared, but managed to do it!

HOORAY!

It's Friday Night!!

So,.... it's the day after Thanksgiving, and what does that mean?

A&M vs tu

It's a VERY big day in our home and the only day that the gloves get to come off!

Paul has watched almost every football game with Clarence this season (if not, EVERY one), so he, of course, had to come! Since I have VERY FEW A&M friends in town, I am usually by myself! With Fran's nasty record this season, I was prepared for the worst. I was just really hoping we wouldn't lose like 80-0!!

The whole McGowan Family, the Keese Family, and my neighbor Joyce all crowded around the TV anxious for the game to get started!

So,... after A&M scored their first touch down, I said, "You know,... this MAY be the only time A&M scores, so I am just going to go ahead and do a little victory dance!" So,... I did.... nothing BIG, just because I had NO ONE to high five!

So,... of course,... as soon as texas scored, Paul HAD to come in and do his own little dance.

You may ask,.... what? he is doing, but it is the "running man"!!

It was funny!

So,... I got ALL caught up in the game and forgot to take more picture. And,.... the overall mood in the house was NOT pleasant, so I just continued to cheer on the Ag's and watched them WIN.... AGAIN!!

So,.... GO AG'S!

WHOOP!!!

After the game, everyone (except me) was in a foul mood.

So, what better way to lift our spirits high than to play a game of Sing Star Rocks!

One of our newest fave pastimes!

It's a GREAT game and NONE of us can sing and we all know it and don't care!

Here's Lexi and Madeline:

Cooper will sing some of the time, but he mainly likes to break dance!

Here's Clarence & Ashley doing a duet.

We played this FOREVER, but everyone had a GREAT time!

Maybe Santa will bring us more "Sing Star" games!!

Thanksgiving

Well, well, well....

Fo the second year in a row (I think maybe more?) we have had a sick kid on Thanksgiving Day! This time it was Cooper's turn.

So,... Lexi & Clarence went to south Austin to celebrate with Clarence's family.

Cooper and I stayed home. Unfortunetely, Cooper is not a "fun" patient.

We could've watched movies.... heck, even the dog show.

But,....nooooooo.....

But,.... Lexi looked very pretty in her dress (even though she had mono at this moment and we had had NO idea!!). Clarence looks good too!

They had fun and brought Cooper and I a plate home.

I tried to get a pic of Coop & I making a sad face,... howver, that ended up in a battle I didn't want to come close to, so I left it alone!

Cricket turns two!

Cricket just had her second birthday and OF COURSE.... Lexi wanted to have a BIG blow-out party for her! Well,... we were at a time when we just wouldn't get well, and it was Thanksgiving,.... and she's a dog! SOOOO..... we just had a small family party!

Here she is with her Barbie Princess Crown!

Here is her doggie Ice Cream with 2 candles.

Seriously!!

But, I think Cricket loved it,.... either that or she was just scared stiff!

She did love the ice cream!

It was gone VERY quickly!!

Happy Birthday!

International Children's Day

Lexi's school has an evening of International Children's Day.

There are LOTS of exhibits from families at the school that represent different cultures from all over the world. Weeks before the event, every class does an elaborate display outside of their classroom of a different country. Each wing of the the school is split up between continents.

On the big night, each child receives a "passport", and as we travel around the world our passports gets stamped.

It's very cool and the kids seem to LOVE it!!

Lexi's class did Ireland.

Here's Lexi and Cooper in front of the mural that they did.

Here's a leprechaun that Lexi colored.

She was so proud because it was the only one on the pot of gold :)

Girl Scout Event

Lexi is in Brownies this year.

She LOVES it!!

Here she is all decked out in her vest!

Trip To Tyler

Over this past summer, our famil took a week long trip to Tyler and styed in the time share. We had SOOOO much fun and the Tyler area has a lot more to offer than I could have imagined! On the resort, there is a putt-putt course.

We played this every day that we could.

The kids LOVE putt-putt!

Here's a butterfly on the course.

Cooper got wiped out!

Here are are at Tyler zoo!

The zoo is VERY nice, and not too overwhelming!

They even have longhorns.... "whatever" Lexi!

They have this bird room where you can purachase sticks of peanut butter and a bird will come perch and eat. I LOVE Lexi's expression on her face. She really wanted to do it, but looks a little scared!



Cooper liked this hat in the gift shop! Seriously!






Here he is,.... wiped out AGAIN! The clock reads 6pm.

Here's our fishing trip we took.

Go Lexi!

Cooper was very focused!

There is a place called "Brookshire's Museum". It was really neat. They have the largest selection of "stuffed" animals - you know, the kind that used to be real.

It was kind of creep, but neat to see some animals up close that I will probably never get to see.

The kids LOVED it!

Lexi is being attacked by a lion!

Monkeys playing poker.

Outside, there was a HUGE playground, with a life-size caboose.....

and a real tractor!

There is also a Tiger Refuge we got to go to.

There were some famous tigers there.... for example, the tiger that is on the cover ofone of Michael Jackson's albums. I can't remember which one, but the tiger was just a baby.

There is also a neat Rose museum & garden. My camera died right after I took the picture below. Trust me,.... that STUNK! There were dresses from the old Rose Queens and the garden was HUGE and SO beautiful!!

When it rained, the kids choregraphed their own dance to the soundtrack of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factiry". It is HILARIOUS!!!

Say "Cheese"!

Lexi entered a hula-hoop contest - and won!! Those girls were hula-hooping for almost 30 minutes!!! Can you imagine?

Here's a VERY short video of her hula-hooping.

I can't figure out how to rotate it - sorry!

More from Florida

Here's more from Florida!

Sorry - it's LATE adI got REAL tired!!

I LOVE this pic of the butterfly.

Butterfly World is phenomenal!!

Here are the boys with their mom.

Lexi feeding the fishies.

Cooper running on the bridge - his FAVE!!

The Newleyweds!

The old-timers - ignore the "evil eyes"!

Aww.... how cute - Rollie & Anne

right before the wedding.

Take by: Lexi

My guys!

At Aruba - a GREAT restaurant!

Saying "good-bye"

One more snuggle!

Cheese!!!!!

Dancing the night away!!

Whipeee!!!

Look how clear the water is!!

That is NO TX beach!!!

They decided to carry the vessel!

On the plane!

Is she related to me?

Beautiful pic out of the window!

Anxiously awaiting their first ride!