Sam Playing Dress up with Daddy!

Thanksgiving Weekend -- So Far!

Thanksgiving was a wonderful day -- long and tiring, but truly wonderful. We were lucky to spend the day with the ENTIRE family -- both Tom's and mine! We spent half the day at my parents and the other half with Tom's. Out of our house by Noon on Thursday and home at almost 11 p.m.! Friday it was back over to Mom and Dad's for leftovers -- Mmmmm! Here are a few pictures.

A glimpse of things to come....

 
Samantha talked Aunt Goo into giving her a 'do. What a big girl!

I like my New 'Do

Summer in November!

 
 
It was so pretty this week, so we played outside.

Happy Kids!

A recent photo of Thomas and Sam playing in the playhouse. Actually, it is Sam who is so happy because her big brother is playing with her!

Just before bed

 

Just had a bath, now we are rocking on our chair. Time for bed.

Dancin', dancin', dancin'!

 

Congratulations Michael!

Here's a picture of my nephew Michael wearing the medal he won for placing third in a wrestling tournment he competed in on Saturday -- Way to Go Michael!

Kenny Ray is 21!

 

Here are some pictures of Kenny's Party. There is Thomas, Mason and Ryan playing; Mary and Ryan; Kenny and his Dad; Jheri and Kenny and the awesome Happy Day cake; and Papa and Samantha and Thomas and Ryan playing in the hay! It was a great party for a great guy.

Howdy Folks -- It's State Fair Time

This week we went to the beloved State Fair of Texas. For those of you outside of Texas, these pictures do not do it justice. It is a day of visiting exhibits, including every "As seen on TV" product being demonstrated, to eating all kinds of food that is bad for you -- Fried PB & J & B(bananas!), Fries, Corny Dogs, cotton candy, sausage on a stick, well, you get the picture. There is the car show (George this picture is for you!), and the petting zoo, which was a big hit with both Sam and Thomas. As you can see, a good time was had by all!

Samantha is 1

Samantha's First Birthday Party

It is hard to believe that Sam has turned 1. What is harder to believe is Preston is 13 and Kenny Ray is 21! We had Sam's birthday pictures made and her birthday party last week. I'm not going to get all mushy, but I can already see her going on her first date and learning to drive (she's been riding Thomas' little car and she LOVES it!).

The Fire Station

Jheri took Thomas to the fire station today. Here are some pictures. He got the grand tour, including the kitchen, in which he saw a plastic container. He thought it was a cake box and told the fireman that "Thomas likes happy cake." The fireman told him that had vegetables in it; so, Thomas said "Thomas likes vegetables." (I am sure he was thinking someone was trying to pull the wool over his eyes.) When the fireman offered him some, he replied "No thanks." But, he did get some cookies.

Our Rock-n-Roll Babies

 

Here is the next Brother/Sister Rock-n-Roll sensation!

Woo Hoo! We have so Much Fun Together!

Yeah, the kids do love each other -- or are they just big fat hams? I'm going with the love each other option!

An Update

Thomas – He’s now at that age where he wants to “do it himself!” He’s a big boy who can get his own water from the refrigerator door, attempt to fix a bowl of cereal, drink from a cup with no lid, and get up in his car seat and seat at the table. He knows that it is Jesus on the cross. He knows his extended family. He follows directions very well (when he wants!), knows his letters, numbers (and knows what is a number and what is a letter) and colors, can count, build tunnels with this blocks, and can talk Daddy into giving him candy!

Sam – She is playing peek-a-boo, snorting, giggling, crawling all over the place, sitting up all by herself, cruising along the furniture, climbing out of her highchair and getting into all of Thomas’ toys, including knocking down the tunnels he builds with his blocks. Sleeping through the night is hit or miss, but she is trying. She is eating real food and is shunning baby food. She is getting a great personality. She loves her Daddy and when she wants him she gets him!

Tom – He is a wonderful Daddy. He has been such an incredible source of help, support and inspiration to me. Mommies are supposed to know everything, be sure everyone had everything they need, cook the dinners, keep the house clean, do the laundry, go to work, fix the boo boos, and be everyone’s cheerleader. Well, Mommy is not very good at doing all of that all of time. Luckily, I don’t’ have to. Tom is always there when I need him and always reminds me that everything does not have be done RIGHT NOW! Tom is working for a smaller company and is enjoying this work, although he’d like to be busier. His love for baseball is being shared with Thomas. Tom is also a wonderful husband. There is no one on this earth I would rather be with, spend time with, or share my life with than him.

Me – I am in constant awe when I look at Thomas and Samantha. Everything about them amazes me, their smiles, their giggles, their development, and their love for me and Tom. I’m still working and am grateful for my job. Being a paralegal for the attorney I work for is challenging, rewarding and enjoyable. Tom and I have been playing in a year-long Texas Hold’em tournament and I am really having fun. Currently we are doing very well, but the last game in either November or December is what will count. I’m going to start a month-long session of the Little Rock Scripture Study course in September and am looking forward to that.

A shopping we will go....

Jheri took the kids shopping today! They all are getting SOOOO big! Michael and Preston will be going back to school on Monday. Thomas and Samantha will sure miss them during the day.

Pretty Soon, I'll Be Driving this Bus!