Our baby turns 5!

Every year after Christmas is the planning of Abby's Birthday Party. It pushes you to clean up from Christmas just to clean up from her party. Maybe next year we'll venture out somewhere and leave the clean up to someone/where else. She celebrated with many friends at her 'Tea Party'. Miranda gave her the pink Sharpay Dress up outfit that made her feel so beautiful. She looked so sweet and had fun playing with her friends. The girls colored pictures and Miranda conducted bingo. MJ's got a way with kids that's for sure. Abby's favorite present at her party was the sleeping dog that she had requested for Christmas but didn't get. The day after her party we chilled around the house continuing to play with all our Christmas goodies and her bday presents. For Christmas, the family got the Magic Bullet. Miranda trying to make every recipe she could. We made pancakes, nachos, a coffee drink, and the girls had smoothies. I'd say we've broken it in. This is what happens when you try and take a really big sip. She was waiting for me to get her a towel NOT the camera. I live for moments like this.

Christmas Time

This year we stayed off the roads and home for the holidays. Gotta say it was a nice treat. The week leading up to this fabulous holiday was an interesting one. Miranda managed to poke herself in the cornea, tearing it enough that a day through school wasn't an option. Off to the doctor and then a specialist...he said it wasn't all that bad. Does that mean we don't have to pay? JK I came down with a sinus infection (my first in quite some time). Then Shawn managed to partake in a McRib sandwich. The gout had something to say about that. Abby was a great little helper to us all. Miranda couldn't see, I couldn't smell, and Shawn couldn't walk. Good thing we didn't have a fire!

Every year Santa brings the girls new pajamas. This is to let them know he's in the neighborhood and it's time for bedtime. Off to bed...or at least we thought so, when Santa was a few steps from delivering all the packages under the tree, then here comes Abby. Apparently, Miranda was taking up too much room in her bed. That was close! Santa did his round and we caught him on the camera. Check it out in the Animoto video. Quite impressive!

It was fun to celebrate with Dianne, Shawn's mom this year. Sharing Christmas morning with kids is a treat (at least in my book). We are thankful for all the thoughtfulness that surrounds us each and every day!

So Thankful

Again this year we get visitors, Yeah!!! My mom and stepdad, Steve drove down from Kansas City. Klaus was delighted & surprised they brought along their black lab, Rowdy. We enjoyed being able to lounge around the house, ate a great feast on Thursday that continued on through the weekend. Friday we went out to dinner at our favorite Thai restaurant. Gosh we love that place. We packed a lunch and spent the day at the park with the dogs. The dogs loved being able to swim in the lake. We played games, watched movies, and of course, took naps. It's nice to live out in the 'hill country' so that our guests can come and relax.

Happy Halloweenie!

Every year we get together with our friends Jenny and John to trick-or-treat in their neighborhood. Abby was a 'Witchy Kitty' that half way into the journey shed her witch hat w/ green braided headband. Then it was the mask. Comfort is what I say too. Miranda on the other hand was so stuffed with balloons that she was waddling all over the place. Quite funny. She hung with Maile (3yrs old). I said to "Miranda it's nice that you are going door-to-door with Maile". She said, "She waits for me". So slow and slower went together while Abby and Emma (11 yrs old) ran from house to house. This year was great because it was one big circle and on the final stretch the girls were both ready to be done. We checked out the loot and both girls crashed on the drive home. We missed Shawn going with us. His good buddy John was in from Boston and so they were partying it up together.

Time to Get Caught Up!

So let's see here...school started and is half over now. Miranda is really enjoying 5th grade and learning a lot about people, teachers, and friends. She is such a determined kid do right and be a great student. Everyday we drive in and out of Cedar Park which is about 20 minutes away to take her to school. Social Studies and Science are her least favorite subjects. She enjoys Reading and Math a whole lot more but recess is her favorite. That's a given, right? That along with lunch.
This is Miranda's 9th season playing soccer. She's a very fast right wing forward. My proudest moment this season was sitting on the sideline opposite of her during a game. I watched as she blazed down line dribbling the ball and counted how many girls she passed. Thought to myself 'Is anyone going to catch her?' Her nickname is 'speedy'...funny her coach's last name is Gonzalez (hehe)! She's got the pull move down and Shawn has been encouraging her to add a new move into her game plan. Well just this week while walking through a practice, I got to see her new move. She's again blazing down the line while a team mate in front of her pretending like they are the opposing team. She pulls out this zigzag move. Her coach is beaming in aw...'did you see that?' 'that's what I'm talking about' As we all know she likes to be in the spotlight...oh our little red making us proud again and again.

Our Family Trip to Hutchinson, KS

We had the opportunity to drive back to Hutchinson for a little business (meeting a new business alliance partner) and pleasure (State Fair Weekend)! Shawn went to High School there and so we are very lucky to get to stay with his high school buddy. Dave and Shawn are like two peas in a pod with sarcasm and jokes flying around non-stop. Abby & Chloe are the same age and go from playing one thing onto the next. Brittany & MJ while a few years apart get along very well. They sat in the same room did homework and watched the same TV programs. Michelle and I enjoy being laid back and just hanging. Everyone worked on Friday. Played at the Fair all day Saturday- Checked out the famous Butter Sculpture, saw all the farm animals, the kids road many rides, we ate a little bit of everything (cheese curds, fried oreos, gyros,and then some) played the carnival games (won the stuffed animals). Went home, regrouped and the adults went back to the fair to the Beer Garden for a mini reunion. Then it was Football-Football Sunday. We drove back on Monday.

MJ's First Day of 5th Grade

We're all loaded up in the car with Klaus in tow. Get to Miranda's school, open up the door and there goes Klaus. Talk about confused. This dog didn't know what direction to go. The girls and I pile back into the car and here comes Klaus(Sucka). Miranda meet up with her class and OMG she's the big kid on the block...watch OUT! Many quick hours in between..."Miranda how was your first day of school". Well except the stapler upside my head...It was fine. She got the teacher she wanted and from the picture you can tell Mrs.Hough wanted Miranda too! This is going to be a great year. Can you believe she's already talking about being in middle school next year.