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twenty-eight days till we Cruise!

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 02:35:00 GMT

Well the tickets have come and we started tanning. I'm getting pretty excited about our cruise. Our neighbors across the street are going with us (no kids!) and we have started planning what we are going to pack.

My baby with her baby

Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:52:03 GMT

Cassidy is turning into such a little girl. She is so cute with her dolls and necklaces. She loves girly things and I love that! Today we took a walk and she brought her baby. She was so proud. (and of course I was as well!)

Swimming Lessons

Wed, 20 Jun 2007 19:27:01 GMT

We are back at the pool for swimming lessons. This time Parker will be participating in the Turtle class while Hudson continues on in the Dolphin class. Both are doing very well. Parker wasn't the least bit scared to put his head in the water and Hudson is learning to float. Cassidy is the one who suprised me the most. We could not keep her out of the water!

Cassidy experiences McDonalds

Wed, 30 May 2007 19:29:46 GMT

I'm not sure how many times we have taken Cassidy to McDonalds, but this would be the first time she participated. We went to meet some of the girls I worked with during the school year. Other teachers and their kids. Only a few of us showed up but it was very, very crowded anyway. The boys ran off to play as soon as we got there. Cassidy just watched the action for the first 10 minutes. After that, she got down and went right into the screaming mass of climbing children. It didn't even faze her. She loved it!

Last day of School.

Fri, 25 May 2007 16:10:45 GMT

Well, Hudson came home from school for the last time yesterday . . . until next year. He was happy but did admit that he really likes school. He doesn't enjoy getting up in the morning though. I think he is actually getting up at the same time, just not by an annoying alarm clock. Anyway, I was looking through his backpack this morning and found his report card as well as some cute pictures he had done through the year. His report card was perfect of course. I told him he couldn't of done any better than he did because it really was perfect. He did stay on green all year. The only one in his class to do that! I'm so very proud of him!

Hudson Makes the Expo Program

Fri, 23 Feb 2007 19:06:54 GMT

I know that I'm bragging but I don't care. Hudson starts the Expo (Gifted & Talented Program) Program today. He will be automatically re-enrolled next year. He is really excited... although it might be because we keep telling him how proud we are. I can't wait to hear what he says about it.

My funny Parker.

Wed, 17 Jan 2007 16:26:00 GMT

Parker is the silliest of my children. But even when he is being very serious he cracks me up. A couple of days ago, while driving into Denton, we all noticed a bad smell outside. We live near cattle so it was very obvious to me what it was. Parker always blames the smell on skunks, which he calls a stunk. So that day he asks, "What is that smell?" Before I could answer he states, "I think it's a stunk ... or chocolate cake." You just never know what he is going to say.

Cassidy's playdate.

Mon, 08 Jan 2007 18:27:07 GMT

My friend Mary brought over her niece Mya yesterday for a playdate. (Mya is actually Mary's niece's daughter.) Even though Mary lives directly across the street, we sometimes need a good excuse to get together. We have been talking about doing the playdate thing for awhile now. Mya is two months older than Cassidy and walking. Isn't she Cute!

	They had such a good time and played well together. It might be just a coincidence, but Cassidy kept pulling up to a standing position the rest of the day. That night she would let go of whatever she was holding on to and stand...for just a second. Then Dave held her hands and had her walking across the room to me. That was the first time she ever tried to walk.

Parker doesn't like to share.

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 21:32:00 GMT

I have always been aware of Parker's lack of enthusiasm for sharing but somehow I am still able to be shocked by it. At lunch today he brought down from his room a set of silverware (actually it was green plastic). I remember him going through the silverware drawer yesterday but had no idea that he was hoarding his favorite colored set for himself. I'm wondering what else he has in his room that he doesn't want to share.

Little girls are so FUN!

Thu, 04 Jan 2007 16:53:13 GMT

Now everyone should know that I LOVE my two little boys. They are fun and crack me up everyday. But I just love doing girly stuff with my little princess. Today it was putting pigtails in her hair. I was alittle worried that I wouldn't be able to do it. I haven't had much practice. It only took me a few tries I'm happy to say. Check it out.

	Cassidy in the kitchen
She is so happy when I take her picture!
	She got a red car walker from her Grandma and Pop Shuck for Christmas.
There they are! I had to put little bows on them so they didn't look like little horns. She needs some curl in her hair.

Cassidy's cute napping pictures.

Wed, 03 Jan 2007 19:05:23 GMT

I have started putting Cassidy in her room for about 30 minutes a day. It gives her alittle playtime and hopefully alittle independence. We will be working our way up to an hour. Well today she decided to turn her playtime into naptime. When I go to check on her she will come to the gate and want out. Not this time. I found her asleep on her frog!

	Cassidy likes to clap her frog's hands together when she gets tired.

Trying to catch up.

Mon, 01 Jan 2007 01:55:25 GMT

Well, so much has happened since I last blogged. Cassidy is trying to talk. We can now add uh-oh, Ma ma, & oooop to her ever growing vocabulary. By the way, oooop is only said when we are changing a poop diaper. She is also crawling everywhere fast. She pulled up for the first time on December 23rd in her playpen. Nothing in her reach is safe. So, now I am spending more time keeping our coffee table cleared off and mopping the kitchen/dining room floors. Vacuuming is an everyday must since I pulled a string out of her butt the other day. Yeah, it was about three inches long. More than you wanted to know I'm sure. Don't worry... I didn't save it for the scrapbook.

We had a great Christmas holiday. Christmas Eve started at Dave's Sister's (Lori's) house. We talked, played games, some worked on a puzzle and of course we snacked. We went to the Church for the Carol and Candlelight service next. That was so much fun for Cassidy. She loves music as much as Parker does. She would not stay still and ended up turned around facing everyone behind us. (We were in the second row from the front.) The first couple of singers had Cassidy covering her ears (literally!) but after that she was holding on to the back of the pew dancing for all to see. I had several people afterward come up to me and tell me that she was adorable. The boys were so well behaved and I think that they enjoyed the service as well. They were the ones to hold the "candle". We went to Dave's parents' house after the service for dinner and presents. The kids racked up a lot of great gifts and we didn't leave until 12:30ish. The boys were worried that we wouldn't beat Santa home so we watched for Rudolf's shiny nose in the sky the whole way. Hudson reminded us that we had to do our Christmas Eve checklist as soon as we got home. It was so cute. The next morning started at 7:15ish. The kids got everything they wanted. Hudson got a Gamecube and the game Lego Star Wars II. Parker got a Shake & Go Racetrack. Cassidy got a Leap Frog toy that sticks to refrigerator and talks & plays music. Of course that was just the Santa part. We opened gifts and put together toys the whole morning. It was a great morning (except for the being awake part!). We went to my Dad's house that afternoon for lunch. Everyone was there except for my brother's little girl Lucy. She spent Christmas with her Mother this year. On the up side... my Granny, Aunt Becky, Uncle Gary, and their families (my Dad's Mom, Sister, & Brother) were in from Wichita Falls. This was the first time for them to see Cassidy in person. I don't get to see them enough so this made Christmas even more special for me. There was a house full of people and presents. It was chaotic but that is what we are used to on my side of the family. I think that Dave might be used to it by now. After presents were opened, we had birthday cake for Parker. Yes, my Christmas baby is now 4!!!! He had picked out a Darth Vader cake and we had brought that over to my Dad's the night before. After cake we went to my Sister's (Melanie's) to meet up with my Mom and Don. Melanie lives in Garland so that was an hour drive. More food, more presents. We got home about 10:30 and went straight to bed. I know a big family is a blessing, but sometimes it can wear you out.

Cassidy's First Tooth

Tue, 19 Dec 2006 15:40:09 GMT

Cassidy is into everything. I have to keep the doors to every room downstairs closed at all times. So this morning I found her pulling potting soil out of one of my plants. As I was checking her mouth for who knows what, I felt those little ridges that finally pushed through the gum. Her first tooth! On the bottom front, her left side. Hudson was almost 12 months when he got his first and I can't even remember when Parker got his. I probably have a picture of it somewhere though. So it's a big day at our house. Yeaaaa!

Hudson's Kindergarten Program

Fri, 15 Dec 2006 17:09:40 GMT

So I just got home from watching Hudson's first Kindergarten Program. You could tell that it was a Kindergarten program because there was not enough seats. We had to set up more chairs in the back just to sit down. It looked like a red carpet affair with all the camcorders and cameras. Camera phones up in the air as the singing started. And yes, I was one of those camera crazed Moms.
	Hudson didn't look like he was having a great time but he looked precious with his red nose and antlers on. Hudson is just not into singing and Parker sure did notice. He wanted to know why Hudson wasn't singing.
They sang some cute songs and were absolutely adorable dancing along to them. After they were done they waved to us and sat down so the parents could come up and take pictures.
	My sweet little reindeer!
My friend & neighbor Wendy held on to Cassidy the whole program while I took pictures.

We saw Santa Claus today!

Thu, 07 Dec 2006 03:48:09 GMT

Where - Stonebriar Mall
When - after Hudson got home from school
Who - Me, Hudson, Parker, Cassidy, my best friend Leslie and her daughter Zoe (age 3)

It was a great time. The kids played in line while Leslie and I changed Cassidy into her pink poofy dress. Her Grandma Sybil had bought her the dress and brought it over the night before. It was perfect!

Cassidy was not quite sure about Santa but did not cry. If we had not been calling out to her (trying to get a smile), I'm afraid there would of been some tears. Everyone told me she did great but they haven't seen her happy smiley face. Hudson was pretty sure that Santa remembered him and Parker was upset that he didn't get what he asked for right then & there.

After seeing Santa, we went to the play area and then hit the food court. The kids talked us into letting them ride the carousal. I'm so glad that we did. We all got on and everyone was smiling and laughing. Cassidy loved it. I put her on one of the outside horses. She was so happy. Anyone who looked at her knew that she was loving it.

By the time we got home, the kids were worn out. They went straight to bed. Parker had to wear his "I saw the Big Guy" button pinned to his pj's. I wouldn't expect anything less from him. That is such a Parker thing to do.

Hudson lost a tooth!

Mon, 04 Dec 2006 20:39:20 GMT

So we had a very exciting day yesterday! Yes, Hudson lost his second tooth. It took a lot of convincing but Dave pulled it out. It was sooo loose and was ready to go but Hudson was worried that it would hurt. After hearing a story about my Dad tying a string around my tooth and a door knob, he was ready to try anything else. He let me attempt to pull it out with a tissue but it was too tiny. I did loosen it up even more before he ran to Daddy. After it was out, it was in a baggie and under his pillow before we knew it. In other news... we received a letter from Hudson's school. We were asked to allow Hudson to take a test that would put him in the EXPO program which is Denton's Gifted & Talented Program. It is designed to work with the top 5% of each grade. We of course are very proud of him but not too surprised. He is such a smart boy. We love to see that others see it too!

University of North Texas Football Game.

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 06:20:02 GMT

Dave and I (plus kids) went to a UNT football game this Saturday. We started off tailgating with some of our friends from our Sunday school class. The boys were so excited and we had a really good time. We were real impressed with Hudson's interest in the game as well as his ability to know and understand what was going on. This year in flag football has really had an impact on him. Between plays he would get impatient and was ready to leave as soon as the half time show started. In contrast, Parker was up and down in his seat complaining that he couldn't see; ready to go... until the half time show started. He was standing in Dave's lap watching the band and when the song would end, he would clap his hands until no one else was clapping. When we left the game we asked the boys if they had a good time and they both agreed that they did. Of course like everything else they do, they enjoyed the game for different reasons.

Cassidy is officially crawling.

Mon, 20 Nov 2006 06:03:14 GMT

She is slow, she is a little awkward, but she is crawling. I'm excited for her but worried about what she can now get into. Still, there is not much cuter than a baby crawling.

My Parker loves to sing!

Fri, 17 Nov 2006 06:35:26 GMT

On Wednesdays at Southmont (our church), Parker will be singing with the children's choir. He is starting late but he picks up lyrics so easily and loves learning new songs. I'm hoping that these new songs will replace the ones that he has learned from the radio (totally my fault). It is pretty bad when you walk into the living room to hear your three year old singing "Miss New Booty". Yes, some new songs will be a blessing. He will actually be singing at our next worship service. I cannot wait to see him perform! So would it be wrong to take pictures?

Hudson has a great Super Bowl.

Sun, 12 Nov 2006 23:16:22 GMT

Saturday was the big day. Super Bowl! We went to the UNT football field at 9:00 am for a 10:00 game and it was freezing. I was very glad to see Wayne and Sybil (Pop and Grandma Shuck) with blankets in hand. Uncle Jay showed up a little later. This was both of our Aubrey flag football teams combined to play against Whitesboro White & Gold. It was a great game even though we lost (18 to 6). Hudson played the first half of the game and really did a wonderful job at right tackle. After the game, they recieved their trophy out on the field.

Now, the interesting part is that even after the head coach and two assistant coaches boycotted the game, our boys still brought it! The coaches wanted to only play the 2nd graders in the game, didn't get their way and pulled out their sons (2nd graders and first string players). The only touchdown that we got against Whitesboro all year was from a boy that only played defense all season. With the coaches sons out of the game, we had the best game against Whitesboro yet. I hope that the coaches learned something from this.

And of course there were the cheerleaders!