This family picture was taken in our backyard by our friend Rachel. Winter weather is usually pretty mild here in Houston so this is the time of year to be outside. I hope that everyone had a safe and happy Christmas. Many blessings on your New Year!

Weeds or Flowers?

While I was unloading groceries from the van, Sara was busy exploring the new flora in our front yard. What I would see as a weed, she saw as something exciting and new - even worthy of picking. She did taste it too. I don't really know how she thought it tasted as I promptly picked petals out of her mouth.

Decorating Cookies

I have come to realize that a super-clean house is not one of those things that my children will remember from their childhood. I want to create memories of love and fun. Because I have learned to let some things go, we tend to do more things like this...

They both had a good time and made some wonderfully creative cookies. You will just have to believe me about Sara's cookies. She promptly ate each one she decorated!

Turkey Day Comes Early

Sara made this headband at Mother's Day Out on Friday.

Her teacher, Ms. Diane, said she was the only one to wear it for a long time. Sara was so excited for me to see her in it!

Pumpkin Carving Party

We were invited to a party to carve our jack-o-lanterns. We had fun getting messy and carving (not so) scary faces!

Daddy has a little help from Miss I-Can-Do-It-Myself (oh man, are we in trouble!).

Jacob is into making faces when I try to take his picture. This one is titled "Apathy".

Pumpkin Patch

Market Street

My kids love playing in the fountain at Market Street in The Woodlands. This day was unplanned so my children had nothing to change into after getting wet. Sara and Jacob didn't mind riding home in their skivvies, though.

For you who live north of us...I know! It's October and children are running around outside half dressed! And wet!!

Windrose Lake

We have a small lake (pond?) well within walking distance from our house. Joel took the kids one day near sundown. They got to play with the ducks and throw rocks into the water. Best of all, for me at least, was that Joel took some good photos of my kids while I was out of town.

Trick or Treat

This is how we trick or treat in style. Joel pulled the kids in the wagon
with his motorized cooler. They were the envy of the neighborhood.
Never has Spiderman or a ladybug had such a sweet ride.

Off to the grandparents!

As soon as Hobby Airport was up and running, we took off for Indiana. Sara hadn't flown since she was an infant. I was glad to have Joel there to be able to chase her and also keep an eye on Jacob.



Look-My carry-ons will fit nicely into the overhead bin!

Post Ike Movie Tavern-like (sort-of)

A few days after Ike blew through, we were able to share a generator with our next-door neighbors. We had one plug to use, so Joel hooked up the computer so the kids could watch "Mary Poppins". He also set up our guest bathroom as a little theater. They loved it.

A New Game

Okay, I have just learned how to post videos on our blog (Thanks, Missy).

Sara has discovered how fun it can be to play in our kitchen cabinets. I love this video. My favorite part, though, is in the end when she is pulling in her foot.

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Oh, so much to learn...

As the mother of a little girl, I need to learn how to fix her hair. This is my first attempt...

Jacob's sunflower

Jacob planted one sunflower seed and it has taken root. Last Wednesday, we decided to start taking weekly pictures of Jacob with his beloved plant.

Aug. 28

Jacob worried about the hurricane so he and Joel staked it last weekend.

Sept. 03

Goodbyes

Well, the day finally came to say goodbye to our good friends, the Mulls. John David and Stephanie headed out with their U-Hauls yesterday. I was blessed with being able to fly their children to St. Louis so they didn't have to make the long drive.That early morning, I picked up the kids and the Grebing's son-in-law, Brian to take the first flight out of Hobby.


This was Caleb's first flight since he was one. At first, he said he was scared but that was soon forgotten once we stepped on the plane. I will always enjoy a child's excitement about flying and airplanes. They are really very cool!

It was Hailey's first flight and this is how she spent part of it.

Caleb kept Brian busy with many questions about airplanes. Being a pilot, he is a much better source of information than I am.

On the way home, my heart was heavy. Outside, I saw some amazing clouds that I thought Jacob would think were cool. So...I took a picture of them .

Our Littlest Helper

Sara loves to be involved in whatever is going on at her level.

Here she is "helping" Joel put in the safety locks on the cabinet.

After a little dusting...

we did a little dancing.

SWA Banquet

The last weekend in June, we all went to Dallas to visit with friends and family.Our main reason for going, though, was to attend a Southwest Airlines party. It was an awards banquet to celebrate 10,20,25,30,and 35 year employees. We had a ball eating good food and visiting with my work friends. Believe me, this company can throw a party!

These are friends from my training class. From left: Nikki, Me, Kristi (my old roommate), and Kristin.

After playing so hard, this is what the back seat looked like on our way home.

Sleepy child #2

Bad Hair Day

Sara does her own hair.

Silly Sara

Sara is very good at getting on top of things she shouldn't. By the look on her face, she knows she is being naughty.

Taking photographs probably isn't the best way to discourage her from this behavior!

                                          

Good Friends

Tonight, we had our good friends, The Mulls, over for dinner. They are moving in six weeks to St. Louis so any time we can get together is precious. Jacob and Caleb are as close as two boys can be without actually being related although they certainly can fight like brothers. This night, though, they truly enjoyed just about every minute together. Do they know, really, what is soon to come? I won't tell them. The sadness will come soon enough.

First Haircut

Sara got her first haircut on her birthday. Although, she doesn't look like she needs one, she was getting shaggy.

Before...

After. (With our friend/stylist Erin)