Sara's 13th B-day party

This evening was Sara's 13th birthday party. She had 5 girls come and 3 spent the night. We began with lots of giggles in her room. Then they made individual pizzas. Next they painted a letter for their first name and "blinged" it. Next they did sand bottles and most of those came out OK. Then the soccer cake-marble our new favorite. Finally a rush to make one last craft before the two sets of parents came for a pick up. Though we rented 3 movies for them to watch, they elected to watch some we already had. Sara picked out some sock slippers for each and also gave them a small rhinestone picture frame. Of course on Sun am it was donuts all around followed by some more movie watching. All were gone by noon. It was a great party

What is a neighbor?

Today we spent the afternoon having so much fun. Beginning at noon, we went next door to help my neighbor and her 8 yo son put up her Christmas lights. She had boxes of decorations and the girls untangled the strings of lights, I directed which direction for the final electrical hook up, the 3 kids put the steaks holding the lights and outlined the yard and front garden. As we were doing this, the next neighbors up, an elderly couple, came out and the kids quickly move to help them do their lights. Once again, lots of laughter.

I took a break to do the final year end cut on the yard, which required raking 5 large bags of leaves, and the 8 yo came over and helped.

At the end of the day we were exhausted, hungry, and proud of all we had accomplished.

I told the kids that this is exactly what being a neighbor is all about. Yes, we do know all of our neighbors..I make a point that we meet all the newcomers. I hope the girls see what it is all about and are always good neighbors when they grow up. I think everyone would benefit if we were all better neighbors.

There.....that is my wish for the day...besides....they are so much fun!

neurosurgeon

We are back to the neurosurgeon with Sara. She has continued to have occasional site pain. We were told nothing to be worried about, but keep a journel of when it occurs, what she is doing at that time, etc. Of course she had one when I picked her up from school.....bad timing, but good news all around.

I can tell that the kids are not getting enough exercise due to the cold....they are WAY to full of energy when they get home, especially Sara who simply can not unwind!

After school we did some Christmas shopping. I now let the girls pick out the clothes they want and put them under the tree. I have different taste then they do and I do not want to mess with exchanging afterwards. They both finally found boots that they liked.


My friend Erin and her family are now in Majuro, where Ruth was born, to adopt their new beautiful daughter. Now daughter #1 will be a big sister, and she will be a very good one.

Band Concert

This evening was Sara's bank concert. She plays the flute. They were very good. This year they wear formal tuxedo shirts and black pants/skirts for this concert. We had to get a special order shirt for Sara because they were all too big.

Busy weekend

First we went to Pet Smart and had a picture take of Jessie and Cooper with Santa. We were very lucky that the first photo was the best. Let's just say that Jessie has not learned to socialize outside the house yet.

Then the girls decorated ginger bread houses. We bought the kits from Wal Mart -ready made, and all we had to do is decorate. Ruth took about 2+ house, Sara about 1. Ruth's is on the left, Sara's on the right.
Next we made individual pizzas. We are trying out ideas for Sara's birthday sleep over. The girls will make their own small pizzas. They were good. NO SURPRISE~~Sara used her super hot sauce instead of tomato sauce.

We tried the antlers on Jessie-he was begging for removal, which we did, but it is such a funny picture.

We also did some Christmas shopping. We went to Marshall's and got the girls some shirts that they chose and will find under the tree Christmas morning. We restocked our beef jerky. There is a man that makes it himself in his store about 3 miles from our house and luckily, one is hot enough for Sara.

Of course, I needed relief at the end of it all.

Christmas craft idea

This is an idea that I got out of some magazine years ago using foam sheats from the craft store. Do you see their hand prints up side down? Sara noticed how her had has grown. What I love about this is that they can NOT be broken, and the kids helped make them, and who doesn't love their kid's hand prints.

Thanksgiving & Jeff's birthday

Thanksgiving at my parents and we were as stuffed as the turkey, and as lively afterwards. We did play cards for hours-one of our family's favorite past times. This was the first car trip for Jessie-the light one-and he cried for the first 1/2 hour in the car, than settled down. Going home was better~~a little. Cooper is an old pro at it all.

Monday was Jeff's birthday-now even older than me. We were very creative for his "cake" spaghetti...no sugar allowed. Have you ever seen meatballs with candles in them...only at our house and we love it.

fun time

The girls were having so much fun today!

Adoption pending

I knew this would get your attention.....but it is not us!!!!

A very good friend of mine is possible minutes from finding out the age of her new daughter from Majuro, RMI--the same place Ruth is from. They have a beautiful daughter that they welcomed into their home about 9 months before we brought home Sara, who just turned 5. They will have to leave almost immediately for the islands....I will keep you posted~~~~~~oh the excitement~~~~~

Thanksgiving

We are heading to my parent's house for Thanksgiving. Jennifer and Marc are back from their honeymoon and I am sure we will see many beautiful photos.


The kids have been out of school this entire week, but their teachers made sure that they had a week's worth of homework....aka mom's the assistant in these huge projects.



Sara has not finished making a book on the Tx Revolution, photos included. Ruth is progressing nicely on her independent study that she chose, why and how do Chameleons change colors. We are now thankful for the old printer dying because we have one that does photos along with many other things and this is so very helpful in these projects.....more when we get back.

new do

Ruth got her hair cut and it really looks good. The lady cutting her hair said that it made her look older and I told her that this is not what I want because she is only 11. She said oh, she thought Ruth was 14 and then agreed with me that we do not need for her to look older.

RECEPTION

And we danced the night away. . .

The girl's flowere were beautiful white roses and they smelled wonderful.......AND SARA CAUGHT THE BOUQUET!

The reception was at an exclusive club downtown, of course we got lost looking for it. There was a "keeping" room where everyone drank and ate small snacks while they waited for the party to have the photos back at the church. Then off to a huge dining room for the meal. The decorations were beautiful and the meal was 5-star!

WEDDING

And the new couple Marc and Jennifer!

Kathy, my oldest sister, and Mike were so proud. The girls were the first to walk down the aisle and they did it perfectly.

The bridal party arrived on a trolly they hired. The girls did not get to arrive on it because I would have had to take them downtown to get on it. They did ride the trolly after the wedding with the entire wedding party to the reception. The we so sweet and stopped at a liquor store and amoung other things, bought the girls a ton of skittles because as one groomsman said "you need something to celebrate with". They were all fantastic with the girls.

Then it was off for photos. The girls were so beautiful and of course my niece Jennifer was so beautiful.

Rehersal dinner

What can I say but yummy! We went to the Cadillac Bar and Grill in downtown Houston and had a private room. We ate until we could not eat any longer, then topped off with double chocolate cake or cheesecake. Matt, the groom's brother, did a slide show of both Marc and Jennifer through the years and the years of them together. There were many tears in the room and it was very nice. Ruth and Sara sat at a separate table with their cousins, some who came in from out of town.

Wedding Rehersal

We did the rehersal at 6 pm. There are to be 4 weddings tomorrow so all the groups had to get in and out with their rehersals w/i a one hour slot, so it was fast.

Nails and other bling

After the lunch, the bride & bridesmaids all went over to a nail salon for the manicure and pedicure. This was a first for both Ruth and Sara. They (Sara) was upset that they went last and was a tad impatient....oh the teen years

bridesmaid luncheon

This afternoon was the bridesmaid's luncheon at a very lovely restaurant. The seating we had opened to a beautiful garden and it was perfect weather. We got a little lost getting there due to downtown traffic going 0mph due to construction, but with the lifesaving GPS we found a long detour and we were still the second ones there. For those who know me I will ALWAYS show up early because I hate being late.

WEDDING TIME

We are leaving Thursday am for my niece's wedding. Marc and Jennifer will be married at the chapel of their college. Both the girls are in the wedding and today I finished altering the dresses. I had to take them both in at the bodice and luckily Sara's spike heels are tall enough so that I do not need to take her dress up. We have bought matching bracelets and Ruth will wear her hair back with a headband and Sara's hair will get french braided and let down before the wedding for the wavy look.....

I will provide photos when I can