Sixteen years ago today ...

I know the picture is a little hard to see (I took a picture of a picture).  On this day, October 22, sixteen years ago my sweetie asked me out on our first date.  We went to a movie, The Last of the Mohicans, and had hamburgers at the Chicken Oil Company.  Then, he dropped me off at my dorm bright and early.  I loved him instantly but could never have guessed that night when I went in to tell my roommate about my date that he was going to take care of me for the next sixteen years like he has.  He is the father I dreamed of for my children but even more than that he is still my "knight in shining armor".  I have no idea why God has blessed me so with the gift of him but I am so so thankful for it.  Still making me laugh after all of these years ... I love you!!!!

It's been a week ...

Well, one week ago our dear friends left for Quito, Ecuador as missionaries for a boy's home.

The leaving was gut-wrenching hard.

Our hopes and prayers for them are so genuine.  As much as we will miss them living a minute away, we truly can't wait to see the impact God makes through them.

Josh went to school the morning after saying bye and had the biggest, puffy eyes because he cried himself to sleep saying "Why? Why can't they tell people in Tyler about God???"  

He is our dramatic one!

Caleb got sad and quiet.  Then, he started drawings and notes for his buddy 

which made him feel much better.

The one that gets my heart the most is Kate.  

She cannot figure out where her buddy went ... everytime we drive by their house she calls her friend's name.  We went into their empty house and she ran through it calling her name looking for her.  I said calmly for the 100th time 

"Remember, she moved to Ecuador."

I guess Kate got it a little bit more because she stamped her foot and said,"NO ECUDOOR!!!" and then she started crying and would not leave my side until we left.

Then, we set up Skype. 

 Oh, how awesome is that.  We chatted and saw them on the computer and the kids all pushed their way into the camera laughing - felt good!

So, if you have a moment, stop and pray for our friends and you might just pray for those who stayed behind, too!!! :)

We love you, Bryans family!!!

Toddler Fair

Kate and Ellie going for a "ride" at the Toddler Fair.

Thanks Dads!!
When all of the fairs start in Texas, Kids Kaleidoscope has its very own Toddler Fair!

Chris and I came for the fun and lunch (thank goodness for the Adams who ate with us later at Heartland Ham because the mini corn dogs just didn't do it)!!

Kate and Ellie had fun eating cotton candy, dipping apples in caramel, entering the livestock show with their stuffed animals (and yes, her cow got a first place ribbon), making picture frames, and much more!  Those are little tickets sticking out of Kate's overalls - each booth "cost" a few tickets - too cute.  Here is Kate putting her tickets in to get some caramel apples.

Picnic with Mom and Dad

As we go through this with Kate, I can't help but think "Oh ... my last Toddler Fair ..."  Time is flying by so quickly!

Flag Football Season

Flag footballl season is here!

We are having a blast watching the boys play on Saturday mornings.

Even Kate has fun yelling "Go Josh!" and "Go Caleb!" and shaking her pom poms.

She got in front of the crowd last weekend and sang shake your "bo bo"...I have no idea where she gets that unladylike behavior!!! It was a little embarassing ...

Here is Josh ... who plays as hard as anyone! He concentrates, grits his teeth and runs with his fists clenched! He is not necessarily the fastest on the team but he tries hard :) !!

this is Caleb's favorite position ... rushing the passer ... I think that is what it is called ... anyway, he loves going after the QB!!!

And here is the cheerleader having fun!

We love football, cheerleaders, pom poms, Aggies, Cowboys

and that pigskin ball at our house ...fun times!!!

Simply the Best (or so I thought)

Tina Turner could not say it any better : Simply the Best!!
I dropped my littlest one off at preschool (no tears, just a high five) and went and got a Spa Pedicure today! Now, I added the "spa" part because I went for the upgrade version. I turned on my new Iphone which might be the most awesome, cool, handy, wonderful gadget I have ever had (thanks to the hubby who surprised me with it last week) and blasted Tina on my way to the salon. What could be better about this? All kiddos taken care of for a couple of hours!! I admit that I had no idea what the upgrade meant and I must share/warn all of you about it. It's wax ... poured on your feet at a temperature that I could not believe left my feet without at least second degree burns. The wax (poured on as a liquid) hardened around my tootsies and supposedly they are softer, etc. from it but I still cannot get over the heat!!! Oh the heat!! I have never, repeat never, had something that hot on my body and not quickly removed it. No, I sat there and smiled and started sweating. It took approximately 10 - 15 minutes for the liquid (my foot was in a plastic bag) to solidify. Now, think about when a candle melts ... think how quickly the wax hardens as it drips down the candle ... not on my feet ... no there was nothing quick about this expensive torture method ... oh the heat. I kept thinking the wax had to be getting harder ... surely this had to be ending ... but on the outside I just smiled and sweated. Why do we do that? Why didn't I say "What are you doing?? Take that off of my feet NOW!" My hubby would have. But not me ... I didn't want to hurt the feelings of the precious woman who was so proud to be giving me this special "spa" pedicure. She had raved about the wax treatment for the first thirty minutes!! Oh the heat ... so let this be a warning ... pedicures, Iphones, kids at school, etc are indeed simply the best but do not, do not try to go overboard with an upgrade ... be happy with a pedicure ... plain and simple ... no upgrade, no "spa" treatment, no heat!!!! Say no to wax!!

First Day of Preschool

Kate started preschool.

I cannot tell you what the boys wore on their first day but Kate had shoes that matched the top that matched the bow and if it weren't against the rules we would have brought the matching purse, too!!!! Girls!!! She loves her backpack. She loves the fact that it has her name on it! She loves her Dora lunchbox and loves even more that she eats what she wants out of it and nothing more :)!!!

Ready to go!!

She hung up her backpack when we arrived and then never stopped.

She ran to the centers to start playing and I could hardly get her to look at me to say "bye"!

to a few hours "off", to a brave teacher putting up with 2 year olds, and to growing up - they do it whether we are ready or not!!

Aggieland

The first game ... whoop!!

Ok ... for those of you who do not like football or do not like A&M,

go ahead and exit because this is pretty sappy!!

We love Texas A&M - A LOT!!!!
We all (grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, kids...) went to the first game on Saturday and in Glenney style we had maroon from head to toe, got our faces painted, arrived several hours before kick-off just revel in the joy of the day, walked around the happiest place on earth (where everyone says "howdy"), took dozens of pictures, reminisced wonderful memories (yup, met the hubby there the first day of college) ...

anyway, there is no place like Aggieland! The flyover before the game was flown by this pilot (whom we met after the game).
Caleb stretching his leg over the end zone ... McGee only had that far to get a touchdown!!

How we felt about the score ...

But...

regardless of the score

here's to the Aggies, to a family fun day on Kyle Field, to sharing with our children our passion of A&M and football, and to kisses after the touchdown!!