She can see!

Brighton's teacher has hinted to me on several occasions that she may need glasses. I finally made an appt. for her and she was right. She was so cute driving home wearing them after they came in as she kept saying "everything looks so clear, and I can actually read all the signs now!" She no longer has to sit at the front of the class to read the board and can see the clock in lunch to figure out how much time she has left to eat. She doesn't have to wear them when reading up close, playing the piano, playing sports, etc., but mostly for school and watching tv. I guess she's just following in the footsteps of her mom and dad! And I think she looks awfully cute (she totally picked them out herself, too).

 

Vday and More

After I get everything for the kids and make it a big hoopla holiday for them, I'll admit that Chris and I have fallen short for each other on this rather cheesy holiday. But this year he really surprised me (and I have to admit that I LOVED it and no longer find it to be a bit annoying and only for kids!). Anyway, yesterday he came home with tulips! He finally got my "hint" that I like these so much more than roses! Then last night we went to dinner and then he bought me this perfume that I've wanted since I first smelled it over a year ago. And I'm not much for perfume or cologne, but this one takes the cake!

 

Then this morning he brought me my card and I went outside to find these ALL over the yard and house!

 

He cut out like 65 hearts, wrote on them, glued them to popscicle sticks, and stuck them in the ground ALL over the front yard and taped them to the house. I haven't been "heart-attacked" since we were dating! Afterwards, he made us omelettes (and he's no chef, so this was probably the most impressive of all). So fun! Poor Carter is still sick so I'm home from church with him today, but tonight I'm making a total Vday dinner that I've been working on all weekend. So cheesy, and I love it!

Yesterday morning the primary had a talent show, and a few weeks ago Sydney came home telling us that she wanted to sing a solo in it. Well, if you know Sydney, you can imagine why Chris and I were so shocked and in disbelief. But she actually did it! Go figure! Brighton also played the piano, but my memory card ran out of space like 2 seconds into it!

Finally, after the talent show Sydney was able to go to Young Chefs Academy with her Daisy Girl Scout troop and make mini cakes - her FAVORITE thing to do. It was fun to really see her in her element.

 

Snow much fun!

Boy, Texas is sure delivering on the snow this year! I think this past weekend beat anything I can ever remember, though. I believe I heard that we got 10" of snow? And the best things is, 2 days later, it's almost gone and like it never happened! But the kids had a wonderful day. Thursday they got right out in it after school, along with the rest of the neighborhood, and it continued the whole next day as school was cancelled. We love our new neighbors - us and the next 3 houses in a row all have lots of young kids and they just rotated houses and yards all day long. I took the girls sledding early Friday morning and they LOVED it (OK, so did I)!

 

 

Here's the snowman we built in our yard Friday afternoon

 

And here's the one the girls built with some of the neighbors on Thursday after school. Pretty impressive, huh?

 

Arizona Trip

We all went as a family to Arizona to visit everyone over there. Brandon and Mandy and their kids met us there, too, so all of Chris's family was together. It was fun! It was especially fun that we FLEW this time instead of drive (hence, the reason we went over MLK weekend rather than Christmas - MUCH cheaper). We went to Peter Piper Pizza, over to Aly's, played at the river, to Amazing Jakes ALL day one day, walked the dogs about 3 times a day, every day (note to self - get the kids a dog), went roller skating, and just played and played. The kids especially loved being with their cousins. Fun times!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas

Christmas was a little different this year without having any immediate family around (my sisters that both live here went to Guatemala to visit my parents; we'll be going next year). But we stayed quite busy with activities and had a wonderful holiday. How can you not - it's Christmas? We still went to my aunt Patty's house for Christmas Eve, despite the snow and having to drive 20 mph the whole way home. And what can beat a WHITE CHRISTMAS IN TEXAS? What a fun way to spend Christmas morning once all the presents were opened! You can tell we're not quite used to the snow with all the plastic bags over the kids shoes!

 

 

 

 

 

Post Christmas

After Christmas we took the kids to Sea World down in San Antonio and had a really great time. It was a tad cold, but very fun nonetheless (despite being shoved over by a crazy Shamoo-loving woman while Sydney was on my shoulders, but that's another story). I still think one of their favorite parts of travel is the hotel and free breakfast, though! Then on New Year's Day we took the kids (minus Gavin - THANK YOU LAUREN!) to Six Flags. Sydney still remains my ever-crazy child who will ride ANYTHING!

 

 

 

 

Who can resist a little girl in a leotard?

I love watching dance performances - but like the title, I may be a bit biased to the outfits! This wasn't a recital, jut a little "parent observation day". So, this one's for you Nana and Grandma!

And Brighton decided to try Hip Hop this year - pretty cute, huh? Chris wasn't sure how this would really help further Brighton along in her quest to better herself :), but I figured between this, piano, soccer, Activity Days and basketball, it's all about variety, right? And it can't hurt with the whole gaining coordination thing. (Sorry the video is so bad - I was pinning Gavin down with my legs so he wouldn't run out there with the girls while Carter was climbing on my back at the same time).