First Day of School 2010-2011

Here they are, ready for the first day of school. Wow! It was such a hard day for me. They were all thrilled, I was heartbroken. Jase was moving to a brand new campus - Tidwell Middle School, Jackson was starting second grade and Gracie was beginning kindergarten! It was almost more than this momma could handle in one day. The little kids did fabulous! Jackson walked to his classroom and before he kissed me goodbye he said "Mom, you can go, I know today is a hard day for you!" Sweet, sweet boy! So Jason and I walked Gracie to her class and I started crying as soon as we walked in the door. So I kissed her and made a u-turn to get out of there as quickly as possible. Jason went into he class and took a few pictures. Gracie was beyond thrilled to be there. Then as I expected, there was no walking Jase into the building. This year we moved to the drop and drive. Boy - that was hard! My Jason took a couple of days off to help me over the hump. Fast forward to now - they are all still doing beautifully and loving school! What a blessing!

Gracie Girl ~ 5 years

Jase ~ 11 years

Jackson ~ 7 years

Ressurection Day!

He has risen.....He is not here! Mark 16:6

Thank you Easter Bunny!

Special Friends on Easter

These are some pictures of our dear friends. The wind was blowing so hard on Sunday, the girls were all having trouble keeping their hair out of their faces. Considering it all, I think I got some really good pictures of our very dear friends! Love you all!

Easter Egg Hunt

Several families from our ABF (Adult Bible Fellowship)got together after church for lunch and an Easter egg hunt. Rox decided that we should make it extra challenging for the big kiddos....and so we did. We tied their hands behind their back. They had to figure out a way to hold their basket and pick up eggs at the same time. It was a riot! Jase and Ross even tied their shoe laces together. It was so funny! The kids had a blast and so did all of their parents. It was a great day! Thanks Billy and Rox!

Take me out to the ballgame......

Spring is here.....we know this because it is opening day for BASEBALL season! On opening day each year the league host a parade of all of the players. So these are a few pictures from the opening day ceremony/parade of players. We are looking forward to lots of fun over the next few months! More baseball pictures coming soon!
Go Red Sox!!!!! Go Angels!!!!!

Snow Day in Fort Worth

These are few of the pictures that I took during one of our many snow days this winter. This particular snow storm we had over 12 inches of snow! Talk about fun! Jason, the children and I would go out and play until we were frozen, come inside, change clothes and warm up and then the cycle would repeat. I can't remember how many loads of laundry I had to wash....I can remember it was way to many!!! However, each load was well worth the fun that we had. Fun times in Texas!

Battle of the Books District Competition

This year Jase participated in The Battle of the Books Competition at Granger. The kids are placed on teams and then assigned 8 or 10 books to read. Then after several months of reading, they had a competition to see who could answer the most questions correctly about the books that they had read. Jase's team won the school competition. Then they went on to district competition to represent Granger Elementary. I think there were 10 teams at District and we placed 4th. Jase enjoyed it and it was a great experience for him. Way to go Team!

Daddy/Daughter Dance 2010

Gracie and her Daddy went to their very first Daddy/Daughter Dance this weekend. They went on a quadruple date with Gracie's BFF's and their Daddies. They had such a great time. They had an evening filled with lots of special memories. After the dance they all went out to dinner. Gracie is already planning for next year! I think her Daddy is too! Talk about one proud Papa!

Love, Santa

This is a letter from Santa.

Dear Jase, Jackson & Gracie,

Merry Christmas! I hope this letter finds all of you with big smiles and warm hearts. You all were such great kids this year that I really wanted Christmas morning to be extra special for you! I hope you all are pleased with the gifts that I have selected for you. I chose only the very best for you! To my surprise, I found another creature living in your home this year ~ Miss Bella! I left her a few treats too. I assumed the extra stocking hanging on the mantle belongs to her. Tell her that I said that she has been a good 'ole dog.

Here are a few challenges for you in 2010. Do your very best in school, love each other as Christ loves you and be extra nice to your Mom & Dad - for they love you so very much!

As you are enjoying all of your gifts, please take time to remember the REAL meaning of Christmas. You know, all of the gifts are so much fun but the birth our Savior means so much more! Take time to thank Him for all that He has done in your little life! He loves you so and He deserves your all!

One last thing before I close. I left a little something extra this year. There is an ancient German tradition that I would like to share with your family. It goes something like this.....On Christmas Eve, there will be a small pickle ornament hidden among the branches of the tree. The first one to find the pickle will be rewarded with a special treat. Remember each year to have your Mom & Dad to leave the pickle out so that I may find it and I will hide it over and over every year. May one of the best kiddos win! Remember, be a good sport! (Santa left a $20 gift card to Target for the winner)

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!
Love, Santa

Christmas Morning

These are few pictures that I captured Christmas morning. I'm finding it more and more difficult to get good pictures. I feel that when I am stuck taking pictures, I miss out on so many memories. So here goes the best of what I got.....

I saw Mommy kissing Santa Claus!

No mistletoe needed here! Leave it to Arline to capture these moments! Ha! Ha!

Holiday Fun with Ine & Unk

Ine and Unk came to visit for several days. Other than Gracie being sick a couple of days, it was a great visit. We went to the Fort Worth Parade of Lights, the kiddos baked cookies with Unk, we celebrated Jackson's birthday and the girls went Christmas shopping just to name of a few of the fun things we did together. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit with them. Thanks for the memories Ine & Unk!

Jenn and Bella

These are a few pictures that Arline took of me and my "other girl".

So proud of our Watch Dog Dad!

Jason is a part of a group of Dads at Granger. We call them the Watch Dog Dads. These extra special Dads take time off from their jobs to work at the school on various days throughout the year. Jase & Jackson LOVE it when their Daddy come to work at their school. Jackson's birthday was one of the days that Jason volunteered to work this year. He was one tired Watch Dog at the end of the day. I think he had a full days work! Unk (Uncle Alex) was in town on this day so we had his background check cleared just in time for him to be a Watch Dog too! It was a great days for all of them!

Thanksgiving at Granger 2009

Another tradition for Granger.....Thanksgiving lunch with your kiddos. Jason, Gracie and I joined the boys for Thanksgiving lunch at school. We had a great time! Gracie LOVES going to "the brothers" school. I think Jase and Jackson like having us there too! We shared our table with some good friends....Katie and Christy. It was a great day! Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Halloween 2009

Here are our trick or treaters. Jase went as a Mississippi State Basketball player. Jackson went as Superman for the third year in a row! And Gracie dressed as a fairy princess. The kiddos had a really great time. Jason tried to take Bella with us, but no such luck. That girl just refuses to be on her best behavior!!! Oh well....maybe we will try again next year. After getting lots of candy, we hung out with a few of our neighbors and handed out candy together. We roasted some yummy marshmallows...thanks to Kimmie and Justine. It was a fun night!

Our Granger Wrangler

Look at our little Granger Wrangler! Jason and I are so proud of this little guy. Jackson was the recipient of Mrs. Washington's Granger Wrangler Award for the first six weeks. Jackson was just as trilled and we were! Way to go, Jackson!

Happy Birthday to Mom!

This is the birthday cake that my girl picked out for me! Her Daddy took her to the ice cream cake shop and let her chose any cake she wanted. She said she liked this one because it had sprinkles and ribbon on it. Of course Daddy liked it.....ice cream cake is his all time favorite! It was delicious! Thanks Daddy and Grace Girl!

Here I am....the birthday girl! I turned 34 this year. Jason told Gracie that I was getting old and her response was, 'No! She is not old, my whole family is brand new!'. I like to think of myself as still being brand new. Jase likes to tease me about being older than Jason. Jackson on the other hand doesn't think it's so funny.

This last year had been a 'growing up' year for me. I have learned so much about myself and who I want to be. I have learned about what is important in my life and what is not. I have experienced true love and what true love is not. This past year, I have really learned what it means to be blessed. I figured out how to trust God and how to give my everything to Him! And I have been truly humbled to understand just how much He loves me. Minus a few bumps in the road...this has been the best year of my life. I am beyond thankful..... I have the BEST husband ever and three little hearts that live outside of my body! My prayer is that I continually grow in the years to come.

Cowboys Game ~ Sept 20,2009

Here are the lucky ducks! Jason and Jase went to the Cowboys' first game in the new stadium. They had the best time! Jase said the stadium was amazing! I think he really liked the cheerleaders this time too! He showed me some pictures that he took on his phone and they we not all of the players and stadium. I caught a glimpse of some long blonde headed girls with skimpy outfits on! Oh no! Believe it or not.....I didn't over-react. I just said "Hmmmm....looks like you got some good pictures.". They both were exhausted when they got home, but they agreed that it was well worth it all!