Thanksgiving Vacation

For Thanksgiving this year we had plans to go to Nana and Buddy's house. This spun from a simple weekend visit to a vacation/family reunion. It was GREAT to see everyone and spend relaxing time away from reality! As you grow up you start to see, know and understand family differently. I have always had great value for family but as I grow I start to understand how families function in ways I never knew as a kid/teen/young adult. I love my family and it was nice to feel like one of the grown ups but I really missed having my cousins and their families with us. I remember the Barnett family getting together for a summer reunion/vacation every two years growing up, which now as a grown up I see how difficult that must have been to pull off, and the memories are so great and I believe it kept us as a strong and close family even though we are scattered to what feels like the four corners. We had a wonderful visit eating, playing in the sandbox, at the beach, visiting, fishing and just being together. I must say how proud of my two little ones I am for they handled all of it extremely well for two and four! Yes, we had our moments but they are kids and that is what they do. I loved watching them bond with family members that we just don't get to see that often. Thank you Nana, Buddy, Aunt Carol, Uncle Jay, Aunt Linda, Uncle Dan, Uncle KC, Jill, James, Todd and OFCOURSE Paw Paw and Grandma Sarah who helped us to make it. I love you all. And Uncle Richard, Aunt Charlcy, Leigh, Jacob, Emma, Celeste, Zachary, Skyler, Jenny, Brian, Harbor, Neila, Abe, Derek and Sally WE MISSED YOU!

Breakfast in Shreveport

On the way to Alabama for the Barnett Thanksgiving we stopped for breakfast with Aunt Kelli and Matthew at his Nanny's house. It was great to get real food on the road. It gave the kids a break and us a chance to catch up. Thanks!

My Blue Heaven

This is the front porch view, back porch view and view of the house. How much more gorgeous could it get?

The BEACH!

This slide show is a little long but well worth it. It is a collection of all our playtime on the beach in Gulf Shores. We actually got beach time with every family member! Hard to do with 16 of us.

Sandbox

A brilliant mind built a mini beach-like sandbox (enclosed!) under a portion of the house and it was a HUGE hit! The kids had fun playing and the adults had fun visiting.

Bubble Jacuzzi

Kyler's words after getting out of the bath, "That tub is awesome! We need it at our home!" Just to clarify, I could fit stretched head to toe without bending...

Fishin'

Okay, this is fishin' with Paw Paw. Kyler and Daddy got to go fishing too (several times in one day) but Mandy was napping so I wasn't there to get pics with the camera! And on his last Daddy and Kyler fishing trip to the pier Kyler caught 4 brim! Woo Hoo, good job Kyler!

Just Play

Our Thanksgiving Christmas

While Daddy is away...

After the party yesterday the kids and I headed off to do our grocery shopping and Paw Paw and Grandma Sarah came over after supper to play. Oh what fun! I think it was a blessing since the kids were what I can only describe as on a sugar high. They were so wired and we had fun together but it was nice for grandparents to show up and give me a small break from all the enthusiasm! They the spiderman matching card game (over and over), did puzzles, played babies and read stories all at the speed of 100 mph. Thanks Paw Paw and Grandma Sarah! We all enjoyed the visit.

End of Soccer '08

This morning was our last soccer game for Fall '08! It was also the COLDEST! I couldn't believe we were all out there freezing our hinies off like that. The boys played well with a huge cheering section and then we were off to Peter Piper Pizza for our end of season party. Unfortunately our trophies were not in yet so we will have to pick those up later but we had a good/COLD day!

A real find...

Today at a garage sale down the street, this is what I found..
I was so excited when the guy said $20 (it is made of real wood!) and he even carried it into the house for me! Kyler was soooo excited that he immediately wanted to put "school work" in it and start working right away! He is a trip...Mandy then wanted to know what surprise I had put in her room. Heartbreaker! I had to let her know that it was just bubba's turn and her beautiful princess room was full of doll house, babies and a dance floor with a mirror. It has already been loved and abused by three kids and so has great character and no need to stress over it's care.

Catfish!

Aunt Kelly asked us to go to a catfish fry together before they were done for the season and ofcourse we thought that would be a blast...and it was! Grammy and Poppy joined us danced and played. The fish was fantastic, the kids had the best time with the bounce house, mini golf (with Poppy) and the mechanical bull. Alex was first up and is so brave, after she fell Austin and Mandy said not me! Kyler gave it a shot and really liked it until he started to slide to the side but he was NOT letting go. I am laughing so hard in the pictures because of the look on his face and yet I could not talk him into letting go of that rope! Shortly after the face, the man stopped for him to get off. Uncle Shawn had a hard time getting on (kept sliding right off the opposite side) and Kevin decided it was best just to help take pictures. Anywhoo, I don't think I have laughed quite as hard in a long time, nothing like some mechanical bull comedy! Thanks for inviting us Aunt Kelly.

Thursday night phone calls...

Anytime our phone rings after dinner on a Thursday our kids know who is coming! Santa? NO! Paw Paw! Yep, anytime he is on his way back in town he comes by for some grandkid therapy and man it sure does the kids a lot of good too! Ofcourse we don't see much of him because they are loving every second of the stories and play time! Which is great for me to see them having such a great relationship with their Paw paw. They went to bed NO problem, THANKS Paw Paw!

My Crazy Girl

While getting ready for be a couple of nights ago, this was Mandy's stall tactic...Her personality crack me up!

I have been tagged!

Thanks Erica, I am not nearly as creative about coming up with things as you are. I guess that is one of the differences in an English Teacher and a Science Teacher! HA! Okay, I will give it a shot...My 8 tidbits, maybe interesting, maybe not. These are in no particular order...

1. I love the feeling of getting home from a day at school with 110 crazy ten year olds to the sound of "MAAAAMAAAA!"

2. I can't stand for my house to be cluttered and dirty! (Which it usually is during the school year...)

3. I love to camp while Kyle hunts and I am sooo ready for the kids to be old enough that we can all go together like Kyle and I did before our lives were blessed with them.

4. I love to read books that require little to no thought because it seems to be the only time I can disappear into a world and NOT think about all the things that need to be done.

5. I get excited about going to science conferences where I can learn about all the new "stuff" that I can explore with my students.

6. I will NEVER be an administrator in a school system...I want to be with the kids and as far from the bureaucratic crap as possible. (If it is possible.)

7. I secretly enjoy Mommy and Me dance class even though I am not very girly.

8. I LOVE seeing my kids when they are proud of a recent success...sports...dance...academic...or just in life!

So, TAG you are it. If you are reading this tell us your 8 interesting tidbits.

November 1!

Holy Cow! I cannot believe it is already November...
Today we started with a soccer game, at the fields at 8:30....then we were off to lunch...change and grab Sydney's birthday gift and head to Flower Mound! Met Mandy with Grammy and Poppy and enjoyed Sydney's 5th birthday party and got to meet some of her new friends. It was at a new bounce party facility and there are not as many pictures of Kyler simply because I couldn't keep up with him! He was having WAY too much fun to hold still for the camera. Mandy however was still recovering from her SHORT nap and so it took her a little while to warm up to the idea of all the bouncing and all the people! By the end she wanted to keep going and see the kangaroo again. Rather than battle race day traffic we cut around the other end of the metroplex and dropped Kyler off to sleepover at Gran and Papa's house...YES...he called Papa and Gran to see if he could sleepover at their house. I know, I know they are going to be doing this more and more as they are getting old enough to ask but geez! I do however feel very blessed that they have so many grandparents close enough to do that and grandparents that love them enough to enjoy it too! And now, I am finally sitting still long enough to post this and then I am off to clean up my messes...