Thanksgiving Feast and Birthday Fun!

Thanksgiving was at our house this year. We had a bunch of family and friends come to town! Oma, Opa, Nathan, Philip, Aaron, Gma and Papa, Wendy and Bill, Rachael and her new hubby Darrell, Aunt Cheryl and Uncle Ron, Sherry and Jimmy, Muffy and Freddy, Lisa and Mike and Tyler, Todd, Susan and fam, Jamie, me and Darrell, Ashlee, Sydney, James, Chris and Rick Berkseiger, Mike and Cindy Sheen to name a few.



We surprised Gma for her 60th birthday with a party at Johnny Carino's the night before Thanksgiving. She didn't have a clue! She said she was expecting something the next day on Thanksgiving. Wendy and I ran around to Party City, also to pick up her cake and went early to the restaurant to decorate. Then we just acted like we were going out to dinner for Mom's birthday but when we got her there everyone was already at Johnny Carino's and surprised her. I wrote a poem for her and turned it into a scrapbook for her to keep. She still keeps saying "I'm just in shock and amazement!"












The next day we had around 30 people at our house for Thanksgiving dinner. Everything went even better than expected! I cooked a turkey and ham in the oven and Darrell fried a turkey outside. People brought different sides and desserts. Everything was fabulous! We played dominoes and stayed up til the wee hours of the night talking and laughing. Even the weather was beautiful for the kids to play outside in. I hated to see everyone go, but boy was I wiped out!

I have made a slideshow of the memories and attached it below. Enjoy!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Budding Conversationalist

My little one's a budding conversationalist. He's beginning to ask lots of questions, a development that fills two needs for him: It's a way of finding out about things, and it's also a way of keeping Mommy's attention.

Early favorite questions include "Why?" and "What's that?" and his latest..."Where you going?"

James loves to answer questions as much as ask the questions. When we're reading books, I ask about the pictures or the story: "Where is the brown doggie?" "What do you think he likes to eat?" He enjoys answering and this happens to be our favorite part of the day.

I try to answer his questions as quickly as I can, in simple, full sentences. Today he was watching the birds through our window and he says to me "Where birds going?" I replied, "Birds have wings that keep them up in the air." He looks very serious at me and says..."Oh, birds fly away." Next thing you know he is getting a book out of his room about birds..he was ready to share. So we learned about birds today...what tomorrow will bring who knows! But I can't wait!

James is growing independent too. He insists on putting on socks "by self" regardless of how long it takes. After "mommy's turn" it is James' "my turn" to brush his teeth. He is also trying out the potty chair. He is definitely interested and has begun to experience it. He looks so big sitting there reading his "potty books" waiting to make the potty sing. (Yes, it plays a song when wet..ha!)

Speaking of chairs...James has learned about the timeout chair as well. With his new found independence also comes heated temper tantrums. It's amazing how the "pleases", "sorry's", "thank you's" seem to flow out of his two year old body with just the threat of the dreaded "naughty spot."

James keeps us on our toes....life is ever changing around here!

Happy Halloween 2009!

Our friends and neighbors threw a Halloween/Birthday Bash for Adeliene and her brother Charlie. The kids decorated spooky picture frames, ate gooly food, and had a blast in their costumes. Once the party was over...trick or treating began! The neighborhood was filled with little people dressed in all kinds of costumes..from scary to sweet. James went as Thomas the Train...although he kept the costume on for a picture and that was it. Sydney was a beautiful ladybug and Ashlee began as a Midnight Fairy but changed her mind shortly thereafter. The itchy skirt was more than she could handle so the token Pirate costume emerged once again! Have to say that I got my money worth out of that one! Take a look at all the fun with the Smilebox of memories that I created.

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Zoo Boo

Back to the zoo we go! One of our favorite family outings in a long time was at the Zoo Boo. The kids didn't dress up but we still had a blast visiting our favorite animals. Ashlee's friend Tori got to come with us too. We ate our picnic lunch while watching all the little kids in the costume parade.
The weather was beautiful so the animals were out and so were the people. The Houston zoo is so big though that the crowd really didn't bother us. We did have to park across the street in the hospital parking garage but it was worth it!

Happy Birthday Darrell!

Today the rain poured down and the temperatures dropped to mid 50's. Fall is trying to trickle on into Texas...just in time! Tonight is our Fall Picnic with our Bible Class. The kids will dress up in costume, carve pumpkins, and go on a hay ride around the neighborhood. Darrell is supposed to pull the trailor full of hay and kids but he is coming down with the flu i think. The past couple of days he hasn't felt very good and now he is achey all over. We might need to leave him home tonight.

October 2nd was Darrell's birthday. We spent the evening with friends (home group) and a cake with 42 candles. We met up with his parents and sister's family at BJs Brewhouse for dinner. He spent the rest of the weekend at Academy and Home Depot hince the gift cards from both sets of parents and his sister Susan.
I need to brag on both girls! This 6 weeks they both received straight A report cards!!! Sydney is practicing daily with those multiplication flashcards. Learning her times tables is hard work! Ashlee is continuing to do well in advanced classes. Her math teacher pulled me aside at lunch the other day to let me know how much she enjoys teaching Ashlee. She stated that she is motivated and has a knack with numbers...don't know where she got that from! *Uh-hum...Papa!!

James is talking up a storm these days. Every word making sense if you listen hard enough. We were at the doctors office for his 2 year checkup. Yes, he was a month overdue. I just couldn't bare to take him to get a shot! He is now at the age he would know and remember...or so I thought. The little stinker didn't even whince from the pain...he is a tuff little bugger. Anyways, we had to wait for the doctor for a little while. So out of curiousity he would open the door and sweetly say "Doc, where are you?" and then "Doc come here." Then he saw a long prescription name on a wall poster he pointed at the letters and started to sing the ABC's. He knew they were letters! He is very observant too...directed me home from his school the other day. When we came to a turn I would say "which way is home?" He would point in the right direction and say "dat way home mom!"

Grandma and Grandpa Higgins came over last night. They came to hang out with the grandkids while Darrell and I went on a date to the new seafood restaurant in Manvel. It is nice to be able to go on date night together once in a while. Thanks to Grandma and pa Higgins!

Life is good. Until next time...God bless!

Catching up with all the fun!

Let's see...the last time I blogged was the first week back to school. It is now the beginning of the 5th week and boy have we been busy. Where do I start???

I guess I'll begin with our visit to the Houston zoo on Labor Day. What a fabulous time! James is finally at the age where he really enjoyed the animals. His favorite was the dragon and elephants.
I love the Houston zoo in the fall! Not too hot, so the animals are active. We were able to see the lions and bears walking around and feeding. The girls and James were sooo excited. We will go back near Halloween time for the Boo Fest. The kids dress up in their Halloween costumes and play all kinds of informational games that involve candy! Animals, fun, and candy...what more could a kid want? *snicker*

My girlfriend Becky is having a baby anyday now. SO last weekend I hosted a baby shower for her with 5 other ol' friends; Michelle, MK, Jodi, Tasch, and Maria (Beck's friend from highschool). We held the shower at my house and it turned out beautiful. We served Becky's favorite food...enchiladas, beans and rice. We had little pinata's shaped like a pacifier and a duck. I made her a scrapbook and a diaper cake. Since she doesn't scrapbook (YET!-i'm working on her...ha!) I decided to put one together for her so that all she has to do is drop the pictures in later. I hope she get's excited about it then maybe in the future we can hang out with the kids and scrap! Fun girl time!
In the middle of all the baby fun, last Saturday I went to the Leadership Training through my church for all the kids bible study teachers. To open, Pastor Young spoke to us through a powerful message...he said that we (bible study teachers) have been called to do one of the most important things on earth...to teach children about the gospel. I had goosebumps all over my body and tears trickling down my cheeks by the time he was through speaking. I can't express what it means (or feels like) to me to see a child grow in His love...some grow more than others. You never know what an impact an adult can make in a child's life..especially at 5th and 6th grade where they are changing physically and emotionally. How Jesus fills their hearts and molds them into his image is amazing!

That's about all for now except that we have had our first "cold front" this Fall. The much needed rain brought cooler weather. The highs dropped to the mid 70's last week. The low humidity makes it really nice to play outside with the kids. The backyard toys have once again become a blessing! The kids absolutely have a ball with each other...they play so well together. We are so blessed!

First Day of School

Summer is over and it's back to the ol' grind stone. The girls were excited and nervous about their first day at school. Ashlee is in 6th grade this year and Sydney is in the 3rd grade.

Sydney actually got Ashlee's old teacher so she is happy to have the inside scoop. She knows all the in and outs of Mrs. Reyes class and expects to have a smooth sailing year.

Ashlee is in honors classes this year. She likes it so far...even though she has much more homework than last year. She has already written a creative story from rough draft to the final copy and it's only been one week. I have to say she has wonderful writing skills. The plot is full of exciting pirate adventure and the characters are so detailed you feel like you're in the story when reading it. She has had some great writing teachers, including her mom! No really, she wrote this one all by herself and it's a masterpiece if I say so myself.

So here is to a good school year. I'm sure it will fly by...making exciting memories along the way.