Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

Excited is not an exciting enough word to describe Kate when we got ready to go see a local high school play, Snow White.  She was thrilled!!  Throughout the play she was disturbed by the mean Queen and the mirror on the wall who was "caaary" ... that is scary in Kate-language.  Kate did notice that Snow White had on a pink dress instead of the red, yellow and blue Disney version ... I don't think she understood us when we explained this was the Grimm's Brothers fairy tale version ... oh well, English Lit comes later in life.  She loved the play, though.  And she sat and watched it totally captivated.  SO fun!!  Kate has sat through endless sporting events for each big brother - soccer, tball, baseball, flag football, etc. and we thought it only fitting that her big brothers attended the play with her.  And lucky for them, Daddy bought "golden tickets" that gave us special entrance into a Snow White tea party after the performance!  Here is Kate with Snow White ...

at the tea party the drinks (green potion) had a small piece of dry ice in them ... everytime you took a drink steam came out ...  (even the boys had to admit that was cool)
One of the dwarves that served their food
We are now REALLY into the whole "princess" thing.  Every day Kate reminds us that she "is a Princess, the boys are Princes, Mommy is the Queen, and Daddy is the King!"  She dresses up in her dresses, shoes, plastic earrings, bracelets, crowns, etc. several times a day.  BUT the best news to come out of this cute play is ... drum roll ... she hates the idea of getting her princess panties wet!!!  Yes, she potty-trained herself.  Unless, of course, you make the mistake of putting on the Dora panties because that is old news and doesn't seem to matter as much!  Note taken ... Dora is out and the Princesses (Ariel, Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty) are IN!!

100th Day of School and Legos and more - a BIG week for Josh!

On the 100th day of school the first graders celebrate in many ways ... one thing they do at home is create a project using 100 items ... it was easy for Josh to choose Legos as his medium.  Caleb was hovering giving direction and supervision like all big brothers do ... obviously jealous that he was not taking Legos to school.

Kate joined in and made her first Lego creation.  Check out her concentration...
Daddy was on hand to monitor the counting of the pieces ...
After the 100th day, Josh competed in the Speech Meet and advanced to the District Meet.  And then he found out he is going to be Little Boy Blue (the part he tried out for) in his school play in a few weeks ... he was so excited by Friday afternoon, we thought he might pop!
Way to go, Josh!  We are proud of you!  

Winter Festival

Winter Festival at Kate's school is adorable ... the entire gym is transformed into a Winter Wonderland.  Winter games, snow cones, snowball fights (with socks), ice fishing, etc. make for a fun event with the kiddos and their parents.

"popping the bubbles"

snow cone with Daddy

snow cone with Mommy

dressing up some snowmen

After "catching" her fish, we cooked it up ...

the funny thing about the Winter Festival ... it was 70 degrees when we left ... only in Texas!

Welcome Home, Mattie!!

Yesterday, we evened the teams in the Glenney home ... 3 boys and 3 girls!  We added a 4 month old Yorkshire Terrier.  Yes, my team may be a little weak - a dog and a 2 year old - but it is the first time in our marriage that the numbers are even!  As we thought of names we started listing cities we loved and the kids said "Matamoras" because that is where we go in Mexico and stay at a Children's Home every summer for a week.  We laughed at the thought of naming her "Matamoras" until someone shortened it and said "Mattie".  Then, everyone agreed immediately and she was named!  Yes, we are now potty-training a dog and a human.  Yes, we have plenty of kids to take care of already.  BUT ... she is already 

teaching our children about responsibility, love, and care of another.  And it has only been a day!  A puppy is like bringing a newborn home ... lots of work, potty schedules and potty accidents, feeding, etc.  but I watched the kids giggling with her in the backyard and knew it was all worth it!

moments after arriving

"Really??? She's ours? To keep??"

Caleb taught her to sit using treats the first day - seriously.

Josh teared up and said "thank you so much" the first night.

Kate adores Mattie and likes to "boss" her around.  I think she has found someone with less authority than her for once.  She tells her to "come" and "to eat her dinner" with her hands on her hips... I seriously don't know where she gets that from ... 

Running

Caleb took this fantastic picture of Kate a few days ago -- running!  It captured the phase of life we are in right now -- sports, family time, school and homework, daily piano practice, working out, cooking, cleaning, laundry (every single day we keep wearing clothes for some reason), dentist and doctor appointments, haircuts, laughing -- lots of laughing lately ... it seems as though my feet don't touch the ground very much :)!!  

Traveling Family Fun

We enjoyed the last 2 weeks of the year with both of our families.  We traveled to Tomball for several days with Chris's family, to College Station for an Aggie basketball game, to the lakehouse for several days with my family, and to Abilene for a family wedding.  The boys were out of school for 16 days and we spent all but a few out of town.  We are glad to be home sleeping in our own bed but are so thankful for our precious families and the sweet time relaxing and laughing with them.

Aggie Basketball - we won!!

Crazy picture with cousins in Tomball

Boys with Papa and Meme at the lake

"Princess" cousins in their new bling

at our family wedding ... the boys were the ring bearers!

to family, to laughter, to low gas prices, and to a break from laundry and school...

Happy New Year!

Six Flags Holiday in the Park

W had a blast doing Holiday in the Park with both sets of Grandparents ... we are blessed that both sets of our parents enjoy each other and are willing to go on crazy excursions with us like this one ...

Getting ready to go in the park

Yes, both boys rode the Shock Wave along with my parents --- I had forgotten how scary it was.  I was sitting with my mom and a few not-so-nice things came out of mouth.  I wondered how in the world I had let my kids get on this crazy thing ... well, we got off and they had LOVED it!!

Josh attempting to hold his arms up for an entire ride with Meme!

The Cave ride that the entire family enjoyed, even Kate.  She loved the Looney Toons section with rides for her, too.

My Mom and I also rode the Rockin Rocket ... a rocket that goes up and down until you spin completely upside down ... not so good for your heart I am sure.  We were sore from holding our muscles so tightly from the tension of the ride ... my mom is the only Grandma I know that would do that one with me ... by the way, the hubby said "No Way!!" and my kids were scared to death for me ... probably not so good for their heart, too!

to SIx Flags with no lines and Christmas carols and lights and to family whom we dearly love ...