Hey let me see your grill

We better call the jewerly store and have them make Dale a grill.....because he is grill-less. So Tuesday night Duke pulled the other front tooth.... I have to say I love his gummy grin.





So the first week of school is winding to a close and all is a success thus far. All except for my house.....wow looks like a train wreck. Being busy and away all day, then coming home and dumping has taken its toll....so looks like tomorrow will be a FUN FILLED day of straightening up. But the routine is good for us, after our week in Hawaii we lost all regiment and then that next week was the last week of summer and all routine was out the window. So I am glad to I get back to the gym, Duke got back to his running routine, and the kids are back to bed early. Hopefully this weekend we can do a little labor around the house to the yard and such....hope your labor day holiday is labor less.

Day One....One Tooth....

So day 1 of first grade was good. He got the most punches on his card....5 of them only 5 more and he can buy an eraser or pencil, or eat lunch with the teacher....which is what he wants to do. Yea I see politics in his future...have a sit down with the person who calls the shots...smart boy. He said they sit all day at the desks and there were no centers to play at, but that it was fun. His best little Buddy has a different recess time so he was a little bummed about that but they do get to see each other at lunch and there are other boys in his class he knows and likes so it is ok.

Tonight at 8:20 we are headed to bed and decide to have Duke pull on one of the front teeth that is SOOOO LOOSE. Now you all know Duke he has HUGE hands and fills the rumor that he has huge gloves too....ha ha got cha...any how yea huge hands that I love b/c they are so reassuring and comforting to me but to pull teeth from a 6 yr old mouth....yea Dale talks like he has a mouth the size of Canada but I promise you it is normal sized....so I find the pulling, a feat in itself...so POP out comes the tooth on the first pull, and lots of blood but stopped it with lots of ice chips and off to bed for the fairy to come....he just lost a tooth on Friday night, and the tooth fairy paid out 5 bucks so I can only assume that will be the case again, and I told Dale that I think that 5 bucks a tooth is tops for the fairy....he said "yea probably but 10 would be COOL!" So now he looks so goofy, yet cute with one center tooth on top and one on bottom, and the other top tooth is days away from being gone....my Dale the toothless wonder.

That is one toothless happy kid

Check out that G A P... you could sail a boat through that space!

So I was a total goof in that I failed to give props to my brother and sister in law for keeping the kids while we went to the Texas 4000 tribute. They really had a blast. The went swimming, and got to sleep in a fort, and watch movies, and go bowling out front.....sounds like a blast to me. Scott and Tanya claimed that the kids were good and that they had a good time too....hope that is true so they earn the Awesome Aunt and Uncle Award as well.....and Brad well he is good too.....but lets say brothers tell no tales, and I know what you did last Saturday.....he he he, so Jonelle can be an Awesome Aunt but your title is in question.....just kidding my kids are really blessed to have such great, giving, loving people in their lives.

Reid and Macy did great at school today. Reid got to be the line leader b/c he was the quietest.....which is the biggest deal to little kids, and he also got to carry the walke talke on the way to and from the main building. He asked his morning if he gets to go on a field trip today....since that is a big perk for the kinder readiness class....I said not today but soon. he went in like a champ and started playing.

All ready for school....sans backpacks b/c they were too heavy to carry....filled with supplies



Macy did great as well. She did ask if she could go eat breakfast with Kathy and Becky but when I said no, she was ok with it and took off to put the classroom babies nite nite. No tears all day and took a nap and was happy to see me this afternoon but could have hung out a while longer and been fine too, so that to me is a huge plus.....here's to a great school year!

A Brand new year!

Today is the first day of school.....Dale was very excited and a little nervous. He said the only thing he was at all worried about was making a new friend. I know he will make tons of new friends, and I think he is a little scared that he will lose his friendship with his best little buddy, who is no longer in his class, but who lives in our neighborhood so I am sure that it will continue to flourish.



Reid & Macy start their new classes tomorrow. Reid will be in the BIG KID Treehouse building that has a gym attached. I know he will love it, but I am certain there will be a couple of tears and clinging to my leg, and hiding behind me this first week for him.



Macy .....well she too will learn to love her class. I think it might be hardest for her, she will be leaving the loving, comfortable environment of Kathy and Becky. She was so well loved in their hands, I had zero trepidation dropping her off, and her new teacher has had Dale and Reid in the past and has even had Macy too and is wonderful and great as well, but I highly doubt that she will get the same specialized treatment of strawberry milk, falling asleep in Kathy's lap...... in her new class.



So to jump trains Duke and I went to Austin and met up with Troy and Carolyn, The Joe's (Carolyn's parents), and Magnus ( what a great name!) and Stephanie, Magnus's wife (Troys college buddy) for the Texas 4000 for Cancer Tribute. It is a group of UT college kids that bicycle from Austin TX to Anchorage Alaska. A 4500 mile trip, which each rider will ride at least 4000 miles. Each rider must raise and donate $4000, to ride, and daily the riders gather up and dedicate their day of riding to a person effected by cancer. Their goals are to touch people through Charity, Knowledge and Hope. They stop at hospitals on the way to visit with local residents, give out knowledge of how to protect your self and loved ones through information from the American Cancer Society and MD Anderson. And finally to give hope for beating cancer, just as a cancer patient and family must fight all odds to beat their disease, they ride across the nation beating the elements as the elements beat on them proving that the unthinkable is attainable....not easy but can be done. Carolyn has created and donated paintings the last 2 years for auction, Troy has been a big supporter of this group and has had a hand in helping it evolve from a small, self funded, volunteer group to now a corporate funded, staffed, supported machine that is so touching and inspiring. Also, it is great to know that your entire donation go to cancer research, since Sense Corp generously funds the group this is possible. Duke and I were very inspired, and proud of Troy and Carolyn and their involvement in this group. I you want to know more check out the website http://www.blogger.com/www.texas4000.org Also on another note last month, the Texas legislature passed the companion legislation, HJR 90, which assures a public vote on November 6 and offers Texans an opportunity to approve $3 billion in general obligation bonds that would provide $300 million a year for cancer research in Texas, I think it is something we all need to vote for, Cancer costs Texans approximately $30 billion a year in direct and indirect costs. This year alone, more than 85,000 Texans will be diagnosed with cancer, and nearly 35,000 Texans will lose their lives to the disease. I personally know too many people directly affected by cancer....and I am sure you do too.

Troy and Carolyn and Duke and I at the dinner

Ok I digress and wish you all a great school year and much love!

Check out my Slide Show!

Also go to Carolyns page....her Maui post is great.... http://www.carolyndaniel.blogspot.com/

ALOHA!

ALOHA

Wow we just got back from the best vacation ever.....we took the whole crew to Maui Hawaii. Flossie tried to dampen our spirits but other than a little wind and making a few waves, the attempt was laughable. We do appreciate all our friends and family that were concerned for us and feared the worst but we were all for the best there.
Saturday after we checked in we hit the beach....late and swam there and in the pool. Then on Sunday we rode Atlantis submarine down 131 feet to the ocean floor and let the boys experience what Duke and I see when we scuba dive. Saw a ship wreck, and some cool fish and coral...the boys and adults loved it. Troy asked Reid if he wanted to sit on his lap, because he looked a little nervous on the boat ride out and he said no.....I'll just hold your hand....and was a brave little dude, but once on the sub.....he was loving the window portals to the ocean floor. We also shopped Front Street and ate at Bubba Gumps.....and saw Forrest run.... ocean side, sunny and with family what more could you want.

On Board Atlantis

Monday we took the crew on a Volcano tour to the big island. We saw some majestic views of cliffs, valleys and waterfalls that were so beautiful. Reid took the most expensive nap ever on the ride there. So then we cruise in to see the lava flow. The top of the volcano is no longer erupting, it is a giant steam vent ....it erupted and then it caved in on itself and now there is a huge lava flow that broke out on the side. Because of the volcano there are earthquakes on the island daily some big, some small. So the ride in to see the flow was OOOHH SOOO BUMPY....like crazy bumpy...we dipped a wing and saw it....really cool looking, crystal clear views of the flow and mountain and then caught a quick turn to catch it again and the clouds had moved in so quick you could not see ANYTHING.....apparently the weather on the volcano is moment by moment, so captain Bill opted for our safety and we started the return trip home rather than another shot at the flow. So at this point I am SMILING and BREATHING.....anything to not use my ALOHA bag......Dale is hurting too....as well as Reid. Duke is enjoying the ride. I found my tiny air conditioner vent and stuck my face in it and avoided the ALOHA....Dale fell asleep, as well as Reid and soon we were to smoother air and back on Maui.....feeling better and happy to have feet on solid ground.
So for the rest of the day we swam and hung out. FYI Captain Bill plays the bass in a Hawaiian Band and we were treated to his music on flight and his cd upon landing.....what is the difference between surf music and volcano music......volcano music is HOT.....yea sad joke but it's Captain Bills

Reid serenading us at dinner.....
Tuesday we played at the ocean and the pool for a good half of the day and my chest showed it.....so that afternoon we all rested shopped at Whalers Village and ate at Cool Cat Cafe .....live music, good food and family.
Wednesday we swam and then went to ride the SUGAR CANE TRAIN. Grabbed lunch and ate it on the train ride back. The kids played on a life size toy train and Dale scaled the steam spout.....only Dale.... so Duke and I had our romantic dinner that he arranged for Troy and Carolyn to watch the monkeys....so we went to LeLani's on the beach and had some amazing food, and watched an even better sunset and we took a walk on the beach.....very nice....and the company was even better.
Thursday we had Family Beach Day and rented cabana's right outside the hotel on the beach, Dale snorkeled all over with Duke, Troy turned Reid into a bogey board champ.....and Macy is a sea monkey.....that little girl loves the water.....any water. We built sand castles with Carolyn and Troy....who by the way have to be the best Aunt and Uncle ever! We hung out with Mamma Sam in the cabana's. Then that afternoon the boys and Duke and I went pari-sailing. 800 feet up over paradise, sooo goood. Reid was my buddy and he loved it, got to see the different colors of the water, but did ask "why are we up here?" Dale and Duke rode and Dale asked if they could stay up all day, when Justin said sure...$700 you can have it all day. Dale looked at Duke with his PAY THE MAN DADDY....look. So obviously he loved it and wants to do it again and declared Thursday as the best part of the entire vacation, Then we went to The Aloha Mixed Plate for dinner as a family on Troy and Carolyn's last night.
Friday we said our goodbye's to Troy and Carolyn, Dale was extra sad b/c "Mom, Carolyn means more to me than you know, she's special." And yes she is Dale.
The rest of the day Friday we went to Lahina and shopped a bit, went to Hard Rock for lunch and milkshakes, mailed 2 coconuts, and went back to the beach to swim one last time. We also found this huge hole on the beach and claimed it and played for hours digging tunnels, watching the tide roll in....it was very relaxing and fun.

Saturday after check out we went to the Maui Aquarium to see the sharks, turtles, fish, jellies, eels, shrimp.....and a scuba diver feeding the sharks....Macy's favorite part. Then we took the toomungus bus.....Macys version of Humongous bus turned it in and headed home....the flights were uneventful which is good, and on the last flight to SA we had a bunch of soldiers on their way home from Iraq.....thanks for your work guys....and girls. Dale declared that if there were girl they would have on dresses....and then was proven wrong when one came aboard in BDU's that were pants....

Another funny was that Dale made a friend on the plane on the way there from Dallas to Maui, she was in first class and he was with Mamma Sam in first as well. They bonded over hubba bubba. We saw her again at baggage claim and he was bummed b/c he forgot her name. Sam ans I both said well Maui is a small island maybe you will see her again.....so on Tuesday at the pool, I see Dale playing with a girl....and think WOW she looks kinda like the girl from the plane......it was her, staying at the Kaanapali Beach Club with us.....and to top it off on the same flight home and sat in the row infront of us! So they played on and off all week at the pool....Small world....her name is Lauren, lives in Dallas, but she is only a friend as he declared. Dale the ladies man, meets a girl on the way to Maui, that is like every single persons dream and he does it at age 6.

Macy the beach babe!

Now that is a big DECK

So the crew from ALL ABOUT DECKS finished the deck in the back yard. Now all I have to do is wait for it to shrink and stain it to match the other part. It is really nice.

Also this week Dale and I took a fieldtrip to a really cool Ranch in Bandera..... Enchanted Springs Ranch. They have a ton of awesome longhorns and animals like llamas and catfish, pigs, horses and lots of deer. They look like an old west town, have been in lots of movies and have another movie they are the backdrop in starting this fall. They do a neat christmas deal for the kids that we will go to this winter.

HOOK UM!

It was really beautiful there.....made you wish for some property on the river!

And then we just had some good water fun in the front yard on our slippin slide..

60th issue

It is my 60th... blog. Ok so let me recap the weekend. Duke took the boys offroading in Llano and they LOVED it....the Jeep performed great and Duke was very impressed and only laid it over in a tree once, and it only left little scratches. The boys thought it was the very best thing ever. Macy went to visit her teacher at her house.....Mrs. Kathy....yea on one her 2 days off she wanted to have Macy come visit....twist my arm. So I dropped her off and she arrived home numerous hours later after swimming, going out to lunch, and a shopping trip. She came home with a new dress, bow, and 3....yes 3 new pairs of sandals, are you thinking spoiled? Well your right....when Macy has to graduate to a big girl class in 3 weeks....it is going to be TOUGH! So I had a very relaxing day and didn't do much I mowed the lawn, cleaned, and grocery shopped....I should have done something much more exciting and adventurous but ah such is life.
In more recent news my pleads to have a deck extension are coming to fruition....We ripped all the vine out of one of the trees.....which was HARD, tore out 3 shrubs and 1 other small tree, a ton of elephant ears and have a HUGE space for a bigger deck. They started today and should be done on Thursday....YEA. So I will send some pictures soon. Ok must run b/c we have to get going before 10 tomorrow and my kids have gotten in the habit of sleeping until 10....yea school days are going to be SO MUCH FUN!