What a difference 24 hours makes

Here is what I saw out my backdoor on Tuesday, October 25th...

Moka even enjoyed the fall views!

Here is what I saw out my backdoor this morning, Wednesday, October 26th...

This poor tree is 7 years old... finally tall enough to give us some good shade.

Now that it broke we'll have to wait and see what damage is done. Bummer.

A heavy, wet snow indeed.

The kids has hoped for a snow day, but it wasn't quite bad enough. Besides, as Reagan said, "I already got ready for school." She looked cute, who would want to waste a cute day home in front of a movie? All of us.

Go Yeah-Yeah!

Whitney tried softball this year, a new sport for her. She played for her school team and did an awesome job. Her coach was a CSU senior whose sport was volleyball, but Nicole did an amazing job coaching these girls. She gave the girls nicknames, most were from The Sandlot. Whitney's was Yeah Yeah!

Whitney in the dugout!

Yeah Yeah is on the left.

She played shortstop, just like Yeah Yeah.

A little batting practice.

Yeah Yeah getting ready to run. She's quite the athlete this one!!

Her biggest fans cheering her on (before we found the true spelling of the name).

Each middle school had a team and then they were given

a MLB name as well. They were the KC Royals.

Going...

going...

GONE!

Nicole's twin brother Zach coached too, so much fun!!

Their tournament was Saturday & they came in 2nd!

Great season Whitney we're so proud of you!!

Wrestlemania

A couple weeks ago Tennison had his good buddy Braden over. It didn't take long before they were outside wrestling. I got some great shots before they knew the camera was on them!!

Gotcha!!

I'm not going to let that happen again!

Time to get serious! Looks like Master Shifu on Kung Fu Panda.

You OK buddy?

Time to get real serious...

Shirtless.

Friends forever.

 

I LOVE BOYS!

Ageless

A year ago we took a family vacation to California. Part of what made it so fun was being able to stay in an amazing apartment in downtown LA. This was our view when we opened our curtains in the morning.

The famous Disney Hall on one side of the apartment.

These were out the other side.

A king size bed? Are you kidding the big guy?!!

The dining area. Notice how I barely made it in for the timed photo?

Story of my life and every other designated family photographer!!

Without the generosity of Jack and Winnie, we might not have been able to do all that we did. We felt like we were going home each night from our adventures. What a treat when you're on vacation!!



We finally got the privilege of thanking them as a family over some Texas Sheet Cake. We spent the evening chatting and getting to know these wonderful people.

First of all, Jack is 91 and Winnie is 88. When you meet them you really can't believe it. Jack is one of the most bright eyed men I've ever met. He took a seat at the kitchen table and parked it there for the evening, him and his cane. Winnie was chatting and getting to know each of us, her with her sweet smile. At one point Whitney tells us to come outside to look at the rainbow. Winnie was so discouraged, "I just can't see it." How heartbreaking. She had surgery on her eyes and they aren't doing so well. I instantly thought, if you drove here how in the world did you arrive safely? I assumed she drove since Jack is 91. Nope, he drove.

Over dessert we heard their love story. I've never seen all three kids so mesmerized. They took turns telling us how they dated as teenagers, but then he went to the war and she married a sailor. He married and divorced, she was widowed in her 70's. That was when they were reunited through family friends. He would stop in Denver to visit on business trips between Houston and LA. They dated and one day with his briefcase in hand, apparently his signature look, he said something along the lines of wanting to talk about the proposition of marriage. "Real romantic, right?" he asks us. In Winnie's sweet way, she said, "I told him, Jack you know how I feel about Jesus and my relationship with him." She was basically telling Jack that since he wasn't a believer she couldn't marry him. He went home and started reading and learning more. In the meantime he got into a serious accident at work, a 1,200 lb. gate fell on him and he ended up in the hospital for months. During that time he accepted the Lord and look at that... they have been married 14 years.

On their way out I sent them home with cake. She said something about Jack noticing when she gets a little fluffy. What, this woman is tiny. He tells me, "I know fluffy when I see it." The kids were dying!!

We walked them out to where Jack parked their Mercedes SVU. How cool are they? I'm having a mini-coronary watching them navigatge our steep driveway. Scott didn't know Jack was their designated driver so I think he was having his own mini-coronary when he took off down our street. Lets just say we prayed for a safe trip home.

What an evening with amazing people who didn't mind at all not acting their age!!!

Bailout

There are different kinds of bailouts in life. Let me tell you about this morning's bailout. The phone rang at 8:30. Tennison came to me and said it was Dustin, "Hello?" No Dustin. The phone rings again. "Hey, I need some help." He proceeds to tell me how sick his wife is and that he needs to get her to urgent care, could I watch their kids. The kids - one is almost 3 and twins almost 1. Knowing I needed to get Ten to school, he loaded all 3 in his car so when I got there we took off for school.

I remember the days driving along with a chatty two year old. Non-stop chatting, I miss that! He tells us how him and Ten are best buds. He talked on and on about the monster truck Ten had brought with him. After we left the school I asked him what his little brother might call him when he can talk, "Hey Putz." How funny is that? He pointed out all of the cars, trucks and buses he saw. He also said some words in another language I don't speak. I guess that language is called Two Year Old.

We got to their house where I was struck with a dilemma. Who do I get out of the car seat first? A twin? Do I leave one alone in the car and put one in the house... who then I leave alone in the house to get the one alone in the car? Crumb! I told Caleb to tell his brother not to walk off. He looked at me like I was crazy, he can only crawl. What a juggling act!!

After an hour and a half I was reminded how great little ones are. After that I was also glad to have that stage of life behind me. I'm ready for Caleb to come visit to play cars with Tennison. He said, "I'll get in my car. Park in a parking spot. Open my door. Get out. Close the door...." So many details and he isn't even in my house yet. Except he did stop to ask, "Do you have dinner there?" I love a two year old!! I also love a good bailout - that is what friends are for.

Artist

I'm convinced that part of my duties as assigned as a mom is to find things for my kids to do. Not just "things" to fill time, but activities they might get passionate for. In our culture it seems that when someone doesn't play a sport, what could they possibly be doing? As a non-athlete myself, I know there is plenty to do.

This fall Reagan decided to stop playing the viola in school. When we went to return the rental instrument I threw out the idea of the guitar. Now Reagan owns a guitar, is taking lessons and having fun doing something she wants to do, not has to do. She has also been asking about art lessons, she's speaking my language. Talk about a part time job... the time it took to find guitar lessons from a woman, and now art classes? But let me tell you about the pay off. Not only did she get to paint, I got to do it with her. That was my paycheck for the work of finding the class... time spent with my daughter.

~ Week 1, Landscape ~

Reagan's bridge in acrylics.

We drew out the bridge and did the buildings freehand.

Mine...

ours, side by side.

~Week 2, Seascape ~

We were so surprised at the layering that goes into acrylics.

You start with a canvas, paint an entire background color,

then start layering the details.

Making it look like a crashing wave? You're kidding me.

~Week 3, Floral ~

Miss Reagan

Moi

Together again!

~ Week 4, The grand finale, Still Life ~

Thank goodness we talked our teacher into taking

out the plate and pitcher for this painting.

This was tricky enough.

 We now know why it cost so much to buy a painting from a true artist,

so much work and heart go into each painting.

What a great month of art. We learned a lot, laughed a lot, and got frustrated a lot. I was thrilled to make a memory like this with Reagan.

I highly recommend taking an art class with your kids. This wasn't a parent and child class, but they're out there. Have fun and get artsy!!