Batgirl!

Sydney loves her Batgirl costume!  Yesterday she had to show her big sis Courtnay and she worked out to Biggest Loser on Wii for 25 minutes!  Then we went to dance but only one other girl dressed up this year.  It's hard to believe but they only have 3 more classes before the Christmas performance. The jazz dance this year is "Sleigh Bells" and the hiphop dance is not one I know.  Personally I don't know any hip hop holiday songs...do you?  There will be more fun posted later today and tomorrow  if  the technology in my house cooperates. Being all wireless has it's problems.

On Halloween we usually make caramel apples and carve a pumpkin.  We also have a Fall Festival at church but it's at night and I may not be able to get decent pictures.

Here we have Batgirl this year...seems so grown up! If I get my scanner working we will have pictures from Halloween past...cross your fingers!

Livin La Vida Coco!

I would like to say that this post has been delayed because I was unpacking, doing laundry, scrubbing my floors, getting a face lift etc. but it is late because the settings for posting have changed since I last posted and it took me a while to figure it out because I am somewhat handicapped in this area.

The point of this post is that we went to visit Coco and company last weekend and had a blast!  Thank you Coco for your hospitality.  You and your kids are a blast and we enjoyed every minute as usual.

We went to Sea World again and the weather was amazing because it was sunny and 75 degrees.  We went in July for Sydney's birthday and it was 110 degrees and very humid in San Antonio, TX.

The kids were mesmerized by the aquarium with all of the fish and of course sharks!  We were in there for a long time and wishing we knew about it in July since it was air conditioned.

We got to feed the dolphins which is something we couldn't get near last summer...

The lip of the pool is slanted and designed for the kids to lay on their stomachs and feed the dolphins with one hand and pet with the other and not fall in.  Sydney didn't really get this but she didn't fall in so all is well.

Sad Tessie Mayes drinking my root beer while everyone else (except me) rode the Shamu Express roller coaster.  Bram got to ride this one and he was happy.  He did not get to ride the Steele Eel with Coco and Sydney.

Tessie Mayes singing Gummy Bear song on You Tube...this is how she wakes up in the morning beautifull and singing...kind of like a dream!

We left Coco's for home but stopped by the pumpkin patch to paint pumpkins.

Face painting.....

Look! A tiger!

 

Lots of photo ops for the kids.

We left after a couple of hours and headded back to Fort Worth but first we stopped at the Dublin Dr. Pepper plant.  They weren't bottling that day but there was a party for the unveiling of the historical marker.

My Sweet Helper

There is not a lot to add to these words "Mama can I help you fold these clothes?" My sweet daughter offered to help with the laundry! She has been in quite a helpful mood lately. I'm so proud and I really need the help around here.

We stayed home today to avoid getting the flu. Every family I know except one has had the flu. Sweet Angel called this morning to ask us to pray for her since she has 103 degree fever and the flu. Rick and I looked at each other and said "we are staying put today". Also our kid's Sunday school classes double as classrooms for our church's private school and many of the kids who I know have swine flu also go to school there. We went to the doctor last week for an ear infection and hopefully to get our flu shots but they were out. I have a lot more to say about this but I'm really in a happy mood because of my sweet daughter and I don't want to spoil my happy day with politics.

On a fun note, I bought these cute shoes for Sydney yesterday...fun!

A bunch of princesses and one frog!

Yesterday we stopped in on our friends for a quick play date. All of the kids decided to play dress up, even brother Preston got in on the action. I kept thinking "how funny one frog for all of these princesses"! I can tell you this...he is really prince charming under that froggy costume! He is really special and is also a good sport for putting up with all of the girly stuff that goes on when you have two sisters. I'm proud of what a good brother you are.



Here is the gang all dressed up clockwise from the back is Sydney, Brooke, Kaylene, Preston and Shelby.



There are no words...Shelby and Kaylene...they are so stinking cute! I hope this is the beginning of a lifelong friendship.

Thanks for a fun afternoon!

Double Ear Infections!

I actually knew when we got up this morning and decided to call the doctor that this is what she would say. It happens about twice a year now which is much better than every 4 to 6 weeks when she was a baby. After 2 sets of tubes and dozens of ear infections. I should have known last week when she didn't hear anything I said, but how do you know that they aren't ignoring you? You don't until they say the magic words..."my ear hurts". There is almost always not fever for her and for someone who can gripe up a blue streak about just about anything...she doesn't complain when she feels bad! Still trying to figure this kid out...9 years and counting.

On a funny note, I texted her dad while we were in the doctors office and told him she was wearing a mask. He asked me "what kind". I guess he was thinking she had on a halloween mask? Really? So I sent him a photo!

Sydney's Super Fun Day!

Well, it was super fun for me because all of her super fun friends have super fun moms! Although we woke up to cold and rainy, the activities and friends of the day warmed us up quickly. Our home school group when to see The Jungle Book at Casa Manana. It was our first of many this year and we always see lots of friends. Brooke, Sydney and Angel sat together for the play and had a great time. After the play we always go to lunch with our girls usually Central Market, Jason's Deli or Purple Cow. Yesterday we went to Central Market for a yummy lunch with Cindy and Angel but this time our friend Catherine joined us with 3 of her 5 kids Sophia, Gunner and Issac.

After lunch we ran home for a little rest and then to Christopher and Emma's house where Courtnay joined me for a visit with my very super fun friend Tracey. We always have fun adventures at their house and lots of laughs with the kids. Tracey was my first friend when Sydney started private school in Kindergarten. Sydney and Christopher were both in Miss Smiths class and sat together most of the year. Tracey is from England but is now and American citizen as is her mom Val. Once while at their house having tea with a bunch of Tracey's British friends I laughed that "I'm the only one at this table who doesn't speak English"! I always thought I did but they speak English...I'm not sure what my language is called but I think it is Texan. Courtnay joined us back home for dinner and some visiting with her dad. We had a great day!

This is Simon, Christopher and Emma's guinea pig

This is Sydney, her big sister Courtnay and of course Alvin, Simon's brother!

This is Emma riding Sydney...I told you we never know what will happen at their house!

Weather Quote of the Day.

This morning the weather person at a television station here in the D/FW area gave the following forecast...and I quote: "This afternoon/evening we will have scattered strong storms and I wouldn't rule out an isolates tornado". What am I supposed to do with that information? Nobody is more afraid of storms and especially tornadoes than me! I found my self wondering if I have time to dig a storm shelter or ditch in my back yard. I get a little freaked out in storms and the last time the storm sirens went off my knees got weak and I thought I was going to faint...all the while my husband is standing in the middle of the front yard saying "I don't see anything" and "what color are hail clouds?" When I was pregnant with Sydney a tornado hit downtown Fort Worth just about 45 minutes after I left my work in downtown Fort Worth in the old Tandy Center which took a direct hit. Courtnay saved my life (and Sydney's) because I was supposed to work late that night and she wanted to go eat at Zekes and of course being pregnant I decided not to work late and go pig out on fried fish, hush puppies and fried mushrooms. The worse part is now that I am a parent I have to act like nothing is wrong, I'm not going to faint or throw up or anything...It's just a cool adventure. I have to say get in the closet honey like we do it every day. Now that Sydney is nine, she knows that it isn't normal to get into the linen closet!

Of course we all know that it probably won't even rain today and I will have gone through all of this for nothing, but I really had to get this off my chest.

I have been waiting all year for these babies!

These, my friends are honey crisp apples and they are magnificent! They are hands down the best apple in the world and I love all kinds of apples. Also they are a sign that summer and the hot weather of Texas are finally coming to an end. I am a total fall/winter kind of gal. I love sweaters, fires, chili and anything else you can think of that says cold weather. When I see honey crisp apples and pumpkins I know that cold weather (in my case cooler) is very near. Some people in Texas do burn their fireplaces when the temperature drops below 60 degrees...I know because I smelled a neighbor burning one of those stinky dura-flame logs the other night. To me they smell like when you blow out a candle.

My daughter begins belting out Christmas carols at the first sight of a pumpkin. I have asked her to please refrain from that particular activity until at least Thanksgiving has passed. Thanksgiving has always been one of my favorite holidays because is revolves nothing but eating, being around loved ones and being thankful. For my dear sweet daughter it is just another big lunch of stuff she doesn't eat. As we speak she in on the back porch reciting the names of all of Santa's reindeer. I am off to find my ear plugs.

I promise I am in no way a Scrooge...but give me a break...it's October 5th!