Were CLOSED

On Wednesday afternoon Duke and I closed on a some beautiful little acreage in Bulverde. This will be the new spot for our family's home. The plan is to start construction in a year, and move there in about 2 years. We are all excited, as the kids can ride 4 wheelers out there till their hands hurt, and not bother anyone too much. Each one of the kids has drawn a house, Macys has 30+ rooms off her room for all her babies, Reids has a huge garage for the cars and 4 wheelers and even bigger pools...yes like 4 pools, and Dales has secret passage ways and tunnels....not sure if all of that will make the final cut but we'll consider it all. It is on a cul-de-sac which is important to me and so many other perks. The kids will have to change schools, which is sad, but thats at least a year off, and they will eventually attend Smithson Valley HS, which is a great school, and small perk, it has its own stadium, something that is not an option where we are now. Not a big deal but I think it is cool to have. SO now we have to come up with a floor plan and architect and start from scratch including a well and septic....but it will be our original and have a huge garage for Duke and a pool for me and beyond that we will see what time brings. Hopefully Duke and I can work together well in this endeavor....could be interesting, as I am opinionated and he is smart....especially when it comes to building stuff....I may have to let him win a couple of battles but we will both win the war when the house it finished! I am sure we will keep you posted.

More Milestones

Yesterday was the first day of Reid's school career. He is officially a kindergartner. He has Mrs. Washington, who Dale had in kinder and we LOVED her. On last Monday, we went to help the PTA deliver the kids pre-ordered school supplies to classrooms. When we went to make sure his supplies made it to his class, she was there. She allowed him to pick his cubby 1st, and he chose the best one (in his mind), and then helped her in the room for a minute and we left. We returned on Thursday for meet the teacher and realized a friend from pre- school was in his class, and Reid helped him pick his cubby...the one next to his, they colored a picture and we departed to await Monday...the first day. I have to admit Reid is the one I worry about, he is my sweetheart.....not sure if it is a middle kid thing or what but he has such a tender heart. Mrs. Washington asked for a note about the kids and this is what I wrote:

Mrs. Washington,

Here is a summation of Reid; I hope he will be an asset to your classroom this year. I am very excited that he has a teacher I adore, and he already has a connection too.

Reid 101, to keep this brief, he is reserved, and very shy, until he is comfortable, then is goofy and silly. He is affectionate, loving, eager to please, imaginative, listens well, wants to learn, and plays well with others. He enjoys learning, but will come up with excuses of why he cannot do it, when he gets frustrated or bored with the task. He loves to be a sidekick and helper for Duke and I at home, and for his pre-school teachers. I must add that he is a fantastic help too. He also wears his heart on his sleeve, when he gets upset at home his first reaction is to run and hide. If he dinks his toe at home, and Mom is near, he is very emotional. However, if he gets hurt with his peers, he is generally very stoic and tough, resisting emotion unless there is immense pain or blood involved. Reid is my sweetheart, and is a mini version his daddy, which is possibly why he holds a special part of my heart.

My hope for him for the year is to have a positive exposure to school. I am confident in your teaching abilities and techniques, and know you will prepare him well for his school career. I will facilitate all I can at home to reinforce what you teach in the classroom. Please let me know if there is anything more I can do to help him learn.

Reid and Mrs. Washington

He said when I picked him up, that he had fun, and would go back tomorrow... I take that as success.

Reid here is the beginning of a new chapter in your life, you are bright and strong and have so much to offer, I cherish that I will be able to watch.

Dale also started 2nd grade. I swear he has not been alive long enough to be in 2nd grade...but time flies apparently. He has a great teacher that is very well spoken of, and he has 2 friends in his class. He DID NOT want to be walked to class, so he went solo and did great on his first day too. It is strange b/c Dale is now a "big" kid at the school, and yet so still my little man in my heart. I have to share that Dale astounds me with the nurturing and caring he does for both Reid and Macy, Dale is walking Reid to his class each day to make sure he get there and last week at Fiesta Texas he helped Macy get into her seat for all the rides and got her settled, then after made sure she got out ok and held her hand to walk her out....it was a pictureesque moment that actually happens frequently and made my heart melt and also felt so proud of him....I guess he is getting bigger after all...

On a side note that is actually a huge plus for me....I got the boys an alarm clock. Initially I thought they do not need one...but then thought about how grumpy Dale can be in the mornings and thought maybe I can pass the "bad guy who wakes me up" tag to someone or something else. So bought the clock, set it to a radio station, and guess what.... this morning was SO drama free it was scary. The boys both woke up to the music at 6:50 am, got dressed, and came downstairs and made their own breakfasts....even Macy got up and got dressed....since she felt the need to sleep in their room last night. I went in at 6:48, and decided to wait and see what the 2 minutes would bring, went to finish getting ready and those 2 minutes brought me a slice of HEAVEN. We have become the family of planning to combat mornings...with the mantra of IF it can be completed the night before it is....bags packed, lunches made, clothes and shoes laid out....all to ease the tension that some mornings bring when you toss a tired, grumpy kid in the equation. I hope this is a trend that continues.

Macy also starts in a new room, but has the same teacher as last year but is no in a 4 yr old room. So she too will be learning new and fun things....here she is doing one of her cheers.

Twinkle Toes

So Dale is actually HITTING people in football....he was leery at first and that night Duke and I made him tackle us in the front yard...and it clicked. The next day when they did drills he nailed into a big kid and took him down....YEA DALE, not that I am all about the physical contact but it is a part of the game. Then he had to go on the opposite side and attempt to run past defenders and he blew up the sideline like an all-star....pretty cool...you gotta take the perks when they come b/c he will get hit and he did later that day but he made it past a good half of the time.


One TIRED TITAN

Reid is doing great as well, he has some very patient coaches and they are working on breaking a huddle and the hut....going on 2 has proven to be a tough concept for the 5-6 yr olds....but it is funny to watch. Also another favorite of mine is jumping jacks.....not many have mastered the skill and it is a show.



Macy is a fair weather cheerleader...she takes lots of breaks, but is learning the chants and cheers...and she hollers them out at home so I think her performances will be video worthy. But every time I try to record her she sees me and runs over to say HI.

Macy ready to Cheer

Fantastic Contraption

Our entire family has been taken hostage by this cute little frustrating game..... you have to try it....it is very brain training....Fantastic Contraption.....it is all about physics and Duke is very good at it...I am sub-par and the Dale is ok....Reid thinks he is awesome but hes not. Some of the challenges are super tough and once you beat it you can view others ideas....and some are crazy cool.

Attack of the Titans

Ok we are officially a Texas Youth Sports family. Dale is playing tackle football #10 he picked it, Reid is playing Flag #8...his choice, and Macy is one of their cheerleaders, she opted to cheer rather than ballet...for the Stone Oak Titans. It is a total time hog, and physically challenging but the kids are loving it. Last, this, and next week they all have conditioning practice EVERY day from 6-8. Dale was given pads and his helmet today. Macy ordered her cheer leading uniform today as well. It is tough but they are giving 110%, and I am pleased thus far with the organization, it is organized, they are teaching some actual skills, that are both good on the field and off the field. Once school begins Dale and Macy have practice tues, wed, and thurs and Reid has it tues, and wed. The best part is they all practice at the same place, same time, and games will be at the same place, Reid first and Dale second games each time, and Macy cheers for both games, if she wants....so even though it is 3 times a week....it is more like one for each kid, which I would have anyway if all three were in activities. The only down fall is the dumb fundraiser that you have to do and each child is on the hook for 100 dollars, or you have to sell 9 discount cards at 20 a pop to Nike...where you do save about 60% on merchandise but it is only a discount coupon card, but what you do not sell you have to still fund the remaining money....so any of you aunts and uncles and godparents, grandmas, grandpas and the like feel free to purchase a card....PLEASE...none the less I think it will make it neat that all are in the same organization, and are sorta together in spirit. Macys uniform is SOOO cute and they actually go participate in a competition on November 1st. She is a mascot and there are 3 other 3 yr olds participating and they just try and get what they can out of them as far as practice goes...and she is a ham so I am sure she will do great especially since there are bigger girls there and she loves to feel big too and will copy them. I am sure there will be plenty of updates and pics to follow. To say they are tired at the end of the day is an understatement...they run so much, but the objective is to be the best conditioned team on the field so they can finish strong in the 4th quarter...go TITANS.