"All seasons are beautiful for the person who carries happiness within." Horace Friess

Well, today was the first UT Longhorn game of the season. Welcome back football season! So, while Daddy went to the game with PaPa and Amber we stayed home and showed our support by wearing our burnt orange "Hook 'Em Horns shirts!

The game wasn't on TV, so we couldn't watch it- but we did listen to a little of it on the radio in the car. We tried to go to Pluckers and watch it there, but the crowd was larger than I had expected and there was not a parking spot in site!

So....we decided to try Rudinos and see if they had in on their tvs. Well....they did not...but it didn't stop us from having a great time! We ate all the garlic bread, pizza, hotwings and french fries we could take. The kids love this place! And I do too!

It was lots of fun to be with just the kiddos tonight and we really had a good time!

"Bite off more than you can chew, then chew it." Ella Williams

7 things I plan to do before I die

1) teach again

2) learn to sew

3) learn to not sweat the small stuff

4) finish my children's scrapbooks

5) live in another home

6) buy a new car

7) drink more wine

7 things I can do

1) take photographs

2) scrapbook

3) worry like hell/hold a grudge

4) keep a clean house

5) host parties---love it!

6) love my kids like there is no tomorrow

7) call my sister 20 times a day

7 things I cannot do

1) eat sardines

2) stop catalogue ordering

3) sew

4) not worry about everything!!!

5) stop drinking Mt.Dew

6) leave my kids more than 2 days at a time

7) weed eat the yard

7 things that attract me to the opposite sex (changing this one to 'my spouse')

1) he is the BEST dad

2) his eyes

3) his strong work ethic

4) his laugh

5) his brains...rain man!

6) his hugs!

7) his deep love for me and our children

7 things I say most often

1) Kaci

2) Bailey

3) Bless!

4) What's up?

5) Say CHEESE!

6) I love you more!

7) Did you wipe off my kisses?

7 celebrity crushes (just for fun, OK?!)

1) ???????????????

"Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you." Frank Lloyd Wright

This is how Kaci and Bailey spent most of the afternoon today! We bought a butterfly kit at Target a few months ago (Kaci has been begging me to order the one on the TV infomercial) So, when I saw them on sale at Target, I scooped one up!

We sent off for our baby caterpillars a few weeks ago and they arrived today! The mail lady brought them to our door and was so relieved to see that we were home on her second try. She said that she had had them in her cooler to make sure they didn't get too hot and die! What a sweetie!

We got five caterpillars and all seem to be doing well. At first they weren't moving and I was a little nervous, but once they "warmed up" from being out of the cooler they are really crawling around. Directions say they will be this way from 7-10 days until they start to make their chrysalis. Then 7-10 days after that they will be beautiful butterflies ( I think) I will have to check the directions again! Not sure how long we get to keep them once they are butterflies, but I do know they will turn into Painted Ladies!

I can't wait to see them....almost as much as Kaci and Bailey.

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm." Ralph Waldo Emerson

Tonight was meet the teacher at Bailey's new school! He is over the moon for it!

Mrs. Heather will be his new teacher and he was so happy to finally meet her. There are 6 other kids in his class and he will be there 3 days a week; Tuesday through Thursday!

When we walked in Mrs. Heather asked him if he could find his name at the table. Boy was she shocked when he found it and then proceded to read everything around the room. Wouldn't I love to say I taught him how to read....but I think he taught himself. He has been reading now since he was 3 and can read almost anything you put in front of him. It is quite amusing to see someone so small read the words he does!

He already got his first homework assignment and could not wait to get home and complete it. He had to put 5 things in a bag that are important to him. He choose his speed racer car, his sticky ball, itty bitty brown bear, his Tow Mater car and his game pen. Clint asked if he would like to include a picture of us, Reagan or his new cat, Patches...but he said no his toys were fine!

He is so full of enthusiasm and is so ready to learn and make new friends! I know this is going to be so good for him. I feel very fortunate to have a spot at this school. We were called off the wait list a few weeks ago...just in time to start the new school year off! What a blessing! Everyone was so warm and friendly tonight and it is a place I am proud to say we are a part of now!

"You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance." Franklin P. Jones

Well, we said goodbye to summer yesterday and Kaci started first grade at her new school!

I think it is going to take a while to get used to the new place, but the first day was a good start.

Her teacher seems very sweet and she couldn't wait to tell me all about the bear hunt they went on to learn where everything in the school was~

Bailey missed her alot--but it won't be long before he starts back to school next week!

I missed her too, but I know that she is learning and growing everyday and as much as I want to stop time....it continues to tick on. So, I will have to roll with it!

"No matter how much the cats fight, there always seem to be plenty of kittens." Abraham Lincoln

OH ...how true this quote is~ Kaci got her first kitten this from her Grandma's house this week. We went and picked it up on Tuesday. Grandma has a few strays that hang out at her house and she has now been blessed with 12 kittens....so we decided to take one off of her hands. She was riddled with fleas, so before we could even leave the house, she got to enjoy her first, second and third bath!

Kaci and Bailey had decided before we even brought her home that her name would be Patches! She is only 4 weeks old and still very tiny. She will not drink milk from a bowl yet, or even get near a bowl of kitty food so.......we made a trip to PetSmart and bought her her very own bottle! She must be fed every 3 hours and isn't shy at letting you know she is hungry. She is quite the chore, but we all think she will be well worth it in the end and a very good cat!

Reagan doesn't seem to mind her (which is good considering she will be staying for quite a while)

We will be taking her in a few weeks to get her first round of shots. Kaci has already given me some of her very own money to help out. Bailey, on the other hand, said "using my money for kitty shots is a waste of money- I would rather buy toys with it!

"Winning may not be everything, but losing has little to recommend it." Dianne Feinstein

As part of my Dad's birthday present we took him to an Astro's baseball game on Sunday. Clint bought the tickets months ago and we found out a few days before that they would be holding the Craig Biggio Jersey Retirement Ceremony the same day -just an hour before the game! It was awesome. It was a great program and we were there to see it! Astros ended up winning the game and we spent plenty of money at concessions! It was a great day~

"Love at first sight is easy to understand; it's when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle." Amy Bloom

Today Clint and I have been married 10 years.
We spent our honeymoon at DisneyWorld and have had the pleasure of going back twice now with our children. Here are a few pictures from our trip this summer!
I couldn't have picked a better man to spend the rest of my life with~

"Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It is not rude, it is not self-seeking.
It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs.
Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.
It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Love never fails."
I Corinthians 13:4-8

"When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people; as I grow older, I admire kind people." Abraham Joshua Heschel

Today is my dad's birthday! Perhaps the "kindest" man you will ever meet. Dad or Daddy to me and my sister and Pa Pa to Kaci and Bailey. BUT unlike my quote ...I don't just admire him for his kindness, he is intelligent too!

Always there when anyone needs him. The breadwinner of our family and the sole provider for many years. -even moving out of state to provide for us when we were younger. My dad posesses patience and self control. He is a man of faith and family. My dad believes in integrity, honesty, and helping others.

When I asked Kaci and Bailey why they loved their PaPa this is what they had to say:

Bailey said, "I love Pa Pa because he knows when I need to go potty." See...this shows how good my dad is at helping others! ha

Kaci said, "I love Papa becuase he is nice, he takes care of me and Bailey and he buys us stuff." This shows my Dad is kind (he is nice), patient (taking care of them) and a provider (buying them stuff!) ha

Tonight we will celebrate my Dad's birthday at Olive Garden! I can't wait for the all you can eat breadsticks and salad. Then we will finish it off with a slumber party at his house. Me, my sister and the kids are all going to stay the night. I wonder when the last time my dad had a slumber party for his birthday - or if he has EVER had one? I will have to ask him tonight.

Happy Birthday, Dad!

"You cannot do a kindness too soon, for you never know how soon it will be too late." Ralph Waldo Emerson

I love this quote. It is important for all of us to remember to be kind to others....and not just when it benefits us. You never know when you will be the one seeking the kindness of someone else to brighten your day or improve your situation. Pay it forward...Use kindness as a weapon and kill someone with it!

"What we see depends mainly on what we look for." John Lubbock

Kaci has finally decided (after much thought and discussion) to transfer to her home school for first grade. She went to Union Hill for Kindergarten....but wants to have a fresh start since so many of her friends are starting at a new school this year. We are going tomorrow to complete her enrollment and check out the new school. She is very excited about it and can't wait to be at a new school. She is excited about making all new friends just like her brother! I must admit, I am a little nervous about the change, but I think it will be what is best for her in the end! After printing off the school supply list for the new school-- Looks like we will be heading back to Target after enrollment. Good thing these ladies don't mind shopping!!

"We all live with the objective of being happy; our lives are all different and yet the same." Anne Frank

Good friends and good times! 8-8-08

"The best way to keep children home is to make the home atmosphere pleasant -- and let the air out of the tires." Dorothy Parker

Well, we went and signed Bailey up for Pre-K today! The school is perfect! He is in a class of just 10 other children and is going to be in Mrs. Heather's class. We even found out he is going to have a friend from Miss Renee's ABC class in his new class! How much better can you get? Nice new school, good friends and just a few days a week.

As happy as I am about it....I am equally sad. This is just another step in growing up.... and (if you ask me) those steps are coming way to fast! It is true what your parents and Kenny Chesney say, " Don't blink!" But I know that this is something Bailey wants as well as something he needs, so for now, I won't let the air out of his tires. Besides....he can't ride his bike yet anyway, so I don't think I have anything to worry about!

"The world is round and the place which may seem like the end may also be the beginning." Ivy Baker Priest

I am perhaps the only mother on the planet who is not ready for school to start! Hard to believe that it is already that time of year again. Seems like just yesterday that Kaci graduated from Kindergarten and Bailey finished his last day of ABC School! I am not ready for the days of sleeping late, swimming, going to the movies, and playing board games all day to end!-but, time will not stop for me. It marches on. Kaci will be in first grade this year and we have already done all our school supply shopping. She went with a Camp Rock messenger bag and a High School Musical lunchbox and she is cute enough to make me cry when I see her holding them. Bailey got a new football lunchbox and is thrilled that he is going to get to go to school 3 days a week this year, instead of just one, at a "Big Boy School" It will be an adjustment for everyone...but the world is round!