January, January

January started off nicely enough, with all of us still taking a few days of vacation before hitting the crazy streets again on the 5th.  Well, if not on vacation exactly, working remotely. 

Very remotely.

Apparently delaying our return to the city was good for us. Bad for the fish of Possom Kingdom Lake, however.

Room on the sofas is at a premium.

Trust a 14-year old girl to understand the importance of holding a pose until the shutter clicks.

When in the suburbs, do as the suburbanites do.  The kids love this place.

Basketball (soccer, baseball, et. al.) season is upon us. 

With one day to spare, we caught the Impressionist Masters: Portraits exhibit at the Kimball before it was all shipped to it's next location. 

Our reward for good behavior at the museum was lunch down in Fort Worth. 

When you can't decide which Halloween costume to reprise on a Sunday morning.

What I failed to capture here is that the cake had big candles in declaring "53" on Amy's cake. It was pretty funny.

This bear came out of a claw machine in the downtown Decatur Taco Mac and is his most prized possession.  It's the only thing allowed in his bed at night and I live in daily fear of what happens when it disintegrates for good or gets misplaced.

Something tells me this guy's had practice posing.

Thank goodness for plate glass.  That is a big ass crocodile. 

Some things never get old.

I had a brilliant idea to let the kids play with some leftover modeling clay I bought.  Then, naturally, they needed to paint their creations. 

When you give a mouse a cookie...

We finished out a fun month with another birthday...cake!!

Now, December

I realize we're all about 2015 these days, but I cannot let my favorite month of the year go undocumented.  It was glorious, stressful, full, fun, joyous, and...full.  I love December.

Unbelievable as it may seem to us, Ella celebrated her ninth birthday.  It was a low-key but fun day of lunch and presents with the gals, followed by her first ever mani/pedi combination treatments.  She can never go back now, I'm sure.

Before we knew it, Christmas Eve (and the chance to open just one present) was finally here.

What it looks like when a six-year old opens a present with pure excitement only to discover...it's jammies. (It ended well.  They are his favorite jammies now.)

How to get your kids to pose for just one quick photo together on Christmas morning?  Threaten not to let them open any gifts until the next day.  Yes, I went there.

Distribution time.

You can never be too safe with a treasured new toy.

Nana made the coolest knit initials for each of the kids this year. 

Michael clearly agrees!

Yes, our kids like putting things on their heads.  It never gets old.

While all of the family was gathered Christmas Day, Ella snuck in Birthday Celebration No. 2!

One perk of a child who refuses to sleep anywhere but home...a chance to see the sunrise over the lake. (Although, if I'm being honest, sleep is totally better.)

The pups needed frequent breaks from each other.  They disagreed with this policy.

Before the freeze set in.

Time to get the ribs smokin'.  Brisket was anxious to learn as well.

Not to give off the impression that only wholesome activities happen at the lake...iPad City.

Meanwhile, time to clean yesterday's catch!  One of a few very successful days out on the boat.

When on vacation, play cards.  Lots of them.

Preferably while drinking hot chocolate.

Vacation is tiring.

Just kidding.

Move aside, boys.  I've got this next shot.

Y'all!  Happy New Year.  May it be the best one yet. 

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The December Skip

While all of my December files are busy in Texas, I'll squeak in a New Year post from the second half of our sequester out in Possum Kingdom.  As you can see, the first days of our January were full of quiet family time, staying warm inside, and perfecting -- um, at least improving -- our Euchre skills (not pictured).

And -- if you were willing to brave windy, drizzly 30-something degree weather -- catching really big fish.

Happy New Year, friends.  We think it's going to be a good one.

November

November. In one catch-up post. Because apparently it's December now.

And a little bit of December, too. 

Phew, all ready for the next family adventure.  Here's to hoping I can get it posted in the month in which it occurs!

Throwback Thursday

I realize this not throwing back very far, but I'm going with it.  I'm also sure everyone's had their collective fill of kids in Halloween costumes, but I've been a little behind lately so here are ours.  Well, three of them are ours -- the matching ninja set -- and two are good friends. 

Corn dogs = Happiness

The day after Halloween, we played catch up on some October birthdays.  Henry was all for it.  We even had to re-light the candles and sing again so he could have a proper go at blowing them all out and yelling "Yay! Bur-day!"

What Makes the Ride Worthwhile

Love doesn't make the world go 'round,

Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.

- Franklin P. Jones

It's official.  The knot is tied and the honeymooners are enjoying Punta Cana this week.  Ella is slowing coming down from her Flower Girl High and we're thankful to Aunt Molly for scheduling her wedding the weekend before Halloween so that there is something else exciting to distract Ella from her post-wedding blues.  Not to compare running around in ninja costumes to  celebrating a commitment to life-long love...but hey, candy is pretty important to the Elementary School set. 

But before we get to the bridal finery, we rehearse.  Explaining this process to Michael was a hoot.

With our places and roles committed to memory, we were off to enjoy a relaxing BBQ dinner then attempt to get some rest before the Big Day.   Molly was calm and collected the entire afternoon.  We laughed our way through the day, taking our time to get ready before bridal party portraits, and suddenly it was time for the ceremony.

It was a good day.  A great night.  And the start of a promising new marriage, and new family ties. 

The next morning, enjoyed breakfast at the hotel, took advantage of a some pretty light in the lobby for a picture with Poppa and Gigi, then gathered up enough luggage that might have sustained us for a full week's stay.

Congratulations to the happy couple.  We love you!

An eventful weekend

 The weekend started off the way most do lately, with a soccer game.

It's hard being six.  And waiting for your little brother to give the ball back.

Next was the school's Fall Festival. 

We made it nearly nine years before having to take a kid in for a head injury repair.  Nearly.  But first, slushies, cookies, face painting and cotton candy.

And then, Urgent Care.  Where getting two staples in the back of your head is rewarded with rainbow pops.  Fair trade?  Michael seemed good with it. 

There Go Our Sundays Again

If kids knew what was good for them, they'd behave like angels when enjoying all of the benefits of hours of TV watching each day.  Instead, they often act like turds (pardon my language) and so the TV gets turned off.  This time, for the whole weekend, with the exception of one show a piece first thing in the morning.  After that, the tube was off and, on the whole, it was a really, really good weekend. 

Okay, I'm probably making it sound better than it was.  Instead of fighting over whose turn it was to pick a show, they fought over whose turn it was to use the Dot-to-Dot book, feed the dog or ride the Big Wheel...Life with short people, I guess.

A wonderful break in the middle of our day today was Ella's first soccer game back with her team after nursing her broken foot for more than two months.  And it was a gorgeous day.  Seventy-two and sunny.  I'll miss having free Sundays for a while, but if they could all be spent sitting outside on days like today, I won't complain.   

"Put me in, coach."

The Pumpkin Patch

"Git dat punkin!"

I don't often have brilliant ideas, but when I do, I will brag to the entire world.  We loaded the kids up for our annual pumpkin patch visit at 4:45 p.m. on a Wednesday afternoon -- early in the month -- and it was blissfully uncrowded.  Mustremembertodothisagainnextyear.

Round Top

There are few things that I will happily set a 5 a.m. alarm for on a Friday morning -- heading down to Round Top, Texas to wander the state's best antiques show with my daughter and parents is near the top of the list.

The driving's pretty good until you hit Round Top Road near Warrenton, at which point a collection of Patsy Cline, Roy Orbison and Johnny Cash albums to keep you entertained will come in handy.   Rocket's always prepared.

This girl has the antiques/shopping bug.  She gets it honestly from her Nana.

Ella had a small allowance to bargain with and I was very proud that she was careful not to spend it all the first day.  This flag was one of the few little treasures that she brought home.

The weather was gorgeous, the people were friendly, and we came home with lots of little finds that are sure to become favorite staples in our homes.  Most of all, it was nice to slow down and spend some precious hours driving country roads and seeking out beautiful bits and pieces of daily life that are passed into new hands in places like these.   In a few weeks when I bake another birthday cake, and I pull out my lop-sided Ironstone cake stand, I know I'll be wondering who else has gathered around this dish and made a wish that came true. 

At the very least, this is one trip I know we'll be finding ways to make again and again in the years to come. 

One more milestone, One last time

Today was Henry's first visit to the dentist.  The big kids went first so he could watch and see what was up, then he boldly climbed up in the big green chair for his turn.  And when it was time to pick out a prize from the Treasure Chest, he picked out a sticker and asked if we could go get a pop-pop (lollipop). 

As if I could say no to that.

"Mom, they have TV!"

Caption this.

The Texas State Fair

How it's possible that I have lived in this great state for seven (non-consecutive) years and never once been to the State Fair, I do not understand.  We handily fixed this problem yesterday, I'm happy to report. 

Let the games begin.  Because you know not 10 feet beyond the point where you pay admission to the fair grounds, there's a coupon stand which you'll need to visit before you can actually enjoy anything inside the gates.

Top Ten Things We Learned While Visiting The Texas State Fair

(In no particular order.)

1. Chicken-Fried Bacon tastes as delicious as it sounds.  However, we would like to offer up this idea to the culinary geniuses at Sun in my Belly in Kirkwood, Georgia, to see how they'd interpret it using their thick-cut maple bacon. 

2. It is impossible for children to be within one mile of a face painter and not beg incessantly for you to stop.  They will complain within 10 minutes that their face is itchy.  And they will cry when they see paint under their fingernails. Naturally this is time well-spent.

3. You will spend an average of $30 in GameCard funds -- note, your handy coupons that you purchased cannot be used on games -- in order to win a prize valued no more than $0.75 on a good day.  It will fall apart on the way home.

Multiply this factor by each child (or child-like person) in your party.

4. Allowing your two-year old to ride in his big sister's Bumper Car is a solidly bad idea.

5. So is putting him in a Jeep ride where the car gently bounces up and down and spins around in a circle.  Your six-year old will be bored to tears with this ride after the first 30 seconds, however, and won't appreciate the fact it cost you $8 in coupons for them to ride.

6. Carousels never get old regardless of your age or stage in life.

7. Neither do paddle boats.  Most especially ones shaped like a swan.

8. The people-watching will absolutely be even better than you can hope.  Wear sunglasses.

9.  You will either stick your face through a wooden cut-out for an embarrassing photo or someone will force you to do so. If you complain, your photographer will pretend like she can't get the camera to meter correctly.  Just stand there oooooone more minute, please. 

10.  Spending five and a half hours at the fair will allow you to experience approximately 15% of what there is to see and do.

So much Texas, so little time.

Michael hadn't figured out how boring this ride was yet.  Henry hadn't decided how much longer he could hold out before starting to sob and cry out for someone to come rescue him.

I swear, he enjoyed this one.

America

Ella's third grade music program was a stars and stripes-filled celebration of patriotic songs and anecdotes presented by the students.  It might be my favorite program so far (and not only because it was a perfectly appropriate 20 minutes long).  Promise. 

Peace, y'all

Boys.

Practice, Practice

A day of panic set in last week when I wanted to reach for my D700 and it wasn't there any more.  I missed it's low-light abilities, it's lightning-fast shutter.  I missed the comfort of adjusting my exposure without consciously thinking through the motions needed.

After a bit, though, the nausea subsided, I read and re-read the good advice from a few great friends who understand my anxiety, and I remembered all of the important reasons behind making this switch to mirrorless.  So now, it's practice, practice for me.  I'm failing more, I'm frustrated more and I'm feeling generally uncomfortable.  Smarter people than me assure me this is a great place from which to grow.  Acting on faith that they are right, I'm going to stress less, shoot more and hopefully start seeing more of the images that exist only in my head come to life on paper.  (When I get around to actually starting this year's family album, of course.)

Meanwhile, please excuse my scattered mess.

He's getting obnoxiously big for a high chair but none of us can seem to let it go.

Ella, typing up her Student Council campaign speech. 

Our Checkers dynamo.

What exhausted parents will put up with for just five more minutes of shut-eye.

The Minions were back for another W on Saturday, and this time, they brought their head bands.

During the game, these two proved to be inseparable.  I had a little trouble focusing on the field, as you can probably imagine. 

Does this boy look exhausted yet? Nope.

Later that day, it was time for the kids' quarterly shearing appointments.

And that evening, we were off to Aunt Molly's bachelorette dinner.  My stomach kind of hurt, we laughed so much. 

Hopefully, soon-to-be Uncle Clif didn't mind Molly coming home with a few, ahem, souvenirs.  

Big Kid in Class

By a stroke of dumb luck, Michael's birthday falls just after the September 1 cut-off date for school, so we never had to enter into the dreaded Kindergarten Red-Shirting debate.  It has another side benefit, too: Being the first kid in class to celebrate your birthday means no comparing what your mom did (or didn't) do for your classmates with Susie or Joe who had a birthday last month.  Phew.

While I fell down on the classroom celebration -- they don't allow baked goods in class anymore, so I'm telling myself that giving out a bunch of pencils won't exactly be missed -- we did have a really good time celebrating a little early on Saturday with family.

Of course, me feeling weepy about yet another birthday milestone passing, I had to go look up old posts for Michael's birthdays.  When I started this photoblog adventure in 2010, I did not one but two second birthday posts.  (Clearly, back then, I was a better mommy who covered both the home and classroom parties.) 

If you're not immediately bored with Memory Lane, here's when he turned three, four and five.   Geeze, I even managed to do a school party last year, too. 

I'll do better for age seven. 

Promise, dude.

This year's cake creation required six layers of cake.  Thankfully, Michael was excited to help with all of the prep work.

In the morning, we had a soccer game.  Due to all of the crazy prep going on at our house -- not just for Michael's birthday but also for a lemonade and cookies fundraiser the kids were doing the next day -- Ella, Henry and I were 15 minutes late to the game.  Right when we arrived, Wes told me I missed Michael scoring two goals.

I could have cried.

But then he scored two more.  Not that I managed to grab photos of either goal, but I got to be there which is even better.

Yes, it was a dead calm 102 degrees at last Saturday's game.  And a downright windy 59 degrees at this one. 

After the Minion's triumph over the Raiders, we all headed out to a hearty lunch.

Then back to the house for cake!  Before dinner!  It was so exciting.

These photos were taken before the four-layer mushroom top began to slowly slide and crush the two-layer mushroom stem.  I have much respect for you real cake decorators out there. 

"Yay! Bu-day!"

Onward to our next adventure -- Medieval Times!

Following the great advice of a friend, we doled out the extra $20 to have Michael knighted.  It was worth five times that.  He is convinced he now has the authority to knight other people and animals and he could not be prouder. 

I trust the 45-year old man we saw also being knighted had a similarly awesome experience. 

The Blue Knight kissed then tossed a carnation to Ella.  I think she swooned a little.  (P.S., don't tell her it isn't a rose.)

As soon as we got home, the big kids made a bee line for the stack of presents Michael opened earlier in the day.   Those LEGO boxes didn't stand a chance.

It was a really good day. 

Happy birthday to our birthday boy (for real today)!  We love you more than words, images and squishy hugs could ever convey. 

Soccer Season (For One, Anyway)

Following a second set of x-rays last week, we learned Ella is still nursing a broken toe and will be out for at least another month.  While it's nice to have our Sunday afternoons free for a while longer, we do enjoy watching the kids play.  Luckily, Michael is trying out soccer while taking a T-ball break for the fall and his season just started.  We think it suits him pretty well. 

Read: Lots of running and channeling his crazy energy.  Yessssss.

There are still some basics to work through.  Such as who is and is not on your own team. 

It was blazing hot on the sidelines, but we made it.  Next time, we need a bigger umbrella. 

It was a good game. 

Saturday morning, we headed back to the Perot Museum for a quick visit.  I couldn't figure out how to get my camera out of manual mode, so it spent more time in the bag than usual.  Oh well. 

First, I had some help with our morning pancakes. 

You can kind of see the reason for our double-tooth Tooth Fairy visit earlier this week in this one. 

Figured out my auto-focus issues on the way home.  Thank you, Google. 

The Dogs of Labor Day

Meet Marge.  You know Brisket.  Then there's puppy Claire, Big Ed, Tank(ster) and Esther.  With twelve adults and five kids under roof for the holiday weekend, we hardly noticed the dogs. 

Dude, they had a good time.

So did we. 

Quiet House

The kids are all gone. 

I gave Brisket the run of the house this morning and he's been wandering in and out of my office for two hours now, having no idea what to do with himself and no idea where his pals have gone. 

Michael comes home early the first three days of school and I'm sure he's been plotting to convince me to take him to lunch at Red Brick Pizza.  I'll probably say "yes."  I can't wait to hear how his first day of Kindergarten has gone.  Then we'll wait by the front door for our pre-schooler and big third grader to come home!

Third grade.  THIRD.  Gah.

Michael hopped on all of the colored tiles down the hallway to his classroom. 

By the time we got to Ella's class, the bell had run and I had to rush out!  But I was able to get two (very) quick photos. 

The photos below don't have a thing to do with school starting, but clearly I'm too lazy to do multiple posts (please excuse me).  This goofball below has really taken to my new phone.  Unfortunately, I have not.  I'm sure after another month or so together, we'll be friends. 

Maybe Henry can teach me how it works.

Preschool-Bound

There's one really great thing about the X-T1...when I can't see through welled-up tears to take a picture, the facial detection feature allows me to blindly point the camera in the direction of people and take a focused image. 

I think it was invented for moms sending their youngest children off to their first day of preschool.   At least picking out his backpack was easy -- once I saw the one with rockets all over it, my shopping was d-o-n-e.

Minus the part where he refused to take a picture with his new teacher -- my fault, I was interrupting his time playing with modeling clay -- it was a great morning.  I hope he's having a blast and making some new friends. 

And napping.  Please Lord, let him nap.

Molly's Getting Married

 No turning back now.  We all agreed that the shower was such a good time, she has to have the wedding, too.