A December to Remember

Ok I left off at Dale's Birthday and still have yet to have the party, but that should occur in January in a joint effort with Reid since his birthday is only 8 days away!

Dec.12 Dales Football team played in the State playoff game and WON! They had an undefeated season and the final game was a good one. The season was fun but I have to say I am enjoying having my week nights and Saturdays to myself again. The team photo at the end of the game!

Dale ready to hit someone

My boys

The signs I made for the game.

Part 2: December : Christmas

Christmas was wonderful and Santa showed up to spoil the masses. The top gifts were for Dale Prototype and the 4 other PS3 games he got. Reid was his PSP and games and Heelies shoes, and a racetrack. For Macy it was her microphone and speaker, and jewelry, and clothes, and toys....and EVERYTHING. For me I got a handmade calender from Reid, Pandora jewelry for my bracelet, all the Twilight books, and a wii game I hope I will use to get into shape, and cash...Duke well his comes next week his trip to California to the National Championship game but he also got a UT snuggie, and a 7 ft tall blow up Longhorn. It was a wonderful Christmas. Dukes mom came to visit, and the kids took in some movies. We also went to Kerrville and visited with my folks and brother Scott, Tanya and little Sam. I have to say my kids LOVE their cousin and are so eager to have more....and will in the spring and summer of next year!

A HUGE difference this year was that Dale was an in the know Santa Helper. He got to help us make it happen. In hindsight I wish I had made it more memorable like sticking him in a box and making him think you had to go get the gifts or something memorable but we just took him up in the garage storage area where I wrap it all up and he was amazed that it was even up there....and honestly he stared at the gifts more than helping ....but none the less was in awe.

Spreading Reindeer food on a VERY windy Christmas eve.

Macy with Santa at school.....she did not want to go and said mom I know it's Mr. Dustin and I don't wanna sit with him...but did to share the picture with Daddy
Our Christmas photo

REID

MACY

DALE

The Gingerbread house the kids did and ginger people that I have to give credit to my Neighbor Elena who made them for us.....SO CUTE

Lights in Marble Falls by the river.....really neat

December part 3: A Sad End

I do have to admit that December did have a sad end for us. We had to put our sweet dog Annie to sleep. On the 26th she woke up and had no mobility in her hind legs....but did all she could to drag herself where she wanted to be. So we took her to the emergency vet clinic where we decided to run xrays and blood work and really found nothing and decided to have them keep her overnight and see if the next day was better. She had been chewing at her tail and the vet said if there was any onset of early paralysis then very likely that was why she was licking it b/c it tingled. She improved mildly overnight and could stand on her legs if placed there but still could not walk. We went to visit her and she had to walk with a sling under her belly to support her back end and she had not willingly gone the the bathroom in 24 hours so we took her for a very assisted walk where she did go #2 but still no #1.... and she was very happy to see us...although it was a pretty tearful emotional visit. So we gave her back and were told they think she had a stroke of sorts and passed a clot that has effected her motor skills in her legs and that her back is in awful condition and very arthritis ridden. That she may improve with time but this might be as good as it will get. She needs to stay away from stairs, tile and slick surfaces, and will need assistance in using the restroom, but she could sustain life like that...also that since they are an emergency facility she would need to be picked up by 8 am the next day and taken to our own vet for care. So we left her and came home to talk it out both Duke and I knowing we were putting off the inevitable. His suggestion was go get her in the morning bring her home to see Sami and say our goodbye's. So I agreed and then 10 mins later said I think we should get her and bring her home.....if this is her last night I do not want it spent in a cage where she is scared.... we can give her medicine and take her out.....he agreed and I left to get her. She was overjoyed to see me, to leave and come home and wanted so badly to run and tried with the front legs but the hind ones were totally limp. We had a camp out in the living room so she could have all her people in one room and watch over us all one last night. And she did I woke up several times to find her just perched over us with her protective loving gaze. Duke heard her in the kitchen trying to go out side to go to the bathroom. She had drug herself there was stuck in the doggie door with 2 non working back limbs and he helped her out and back in. The kids knew this was the last night so that they could take it in and it was very hard as this was the first brush with death of a loved one. Duke bravely took her the next morning and did not leave her side until she was gone. We have had several teary night moments with no Annie at the end of our beds. Sami is very sad and confused and heard her collar shake yesterday and jumped up and ran to the sound to hopefully find Annie and only found the kids moving her collar....she has been pretty clingy but time heals all. I know this is kinda sappy and lots may think...uhhhh its just a dog, but I assure you the loss of the unconditional love of an animal is a tough loss. She was one of the first things we got married and for 11 years enjoyed her.... coming to terms with that is not easy.

We were wanting a companion for our other dog Sami, and looked at numerous cute puppies, and one afternoon in North Austin we were lured to stop and look at boxer puppies. They wanted $400 and I said I just want a dog I do not need a pedigree....and across the parking lot was a beat up farm truck that had a paper that said "free pups" She was the last one in the truck bed and just a little black ball....and I knew she was mine and little did I know I had just hit the dog lottery jackpot. She was a remarkable dog. She kinda became mine and Sami is kinda Dukes dog. Named Annie after one of the dogs in Where the Red Fern Grows...Duke's opinion, mine was after Little Orphan Annie... Annie just loved the kids....a very gentle spirit, but quite protective of them. She would place herself between us and any stranger that might come to the door and I guess she knew she could look mean but never was to us. Even when the kids horsed around and got rough she would bark at them as if to say...hey cool it! someones gonna get hurt! The kids would take food from her bowl and even from her mouth as babies and she just waited till they were done and resumed what ever she was doing. They rode her, fell on her, crawled on her, pulled up on her, sat on her, poked her eyes, ears and nose in curiosity ....you name it and she tolerated it with amazing Patience. She spent EVERY night splitting her time in our rooms....starting in the boys by the end of Dales bed, then to under Macys, then to ours under a table, and back to the boys and Macys and ours ALL night...and then she slept and rested during the days....that's what she loved.... to be with us. We knew that confining her to the downstairs alone at night with out any individual control would be harder on her than anyone else and no real quality of life. A tough sad decision but the right one.

Reid wrote this it says December 28th 2009 Annie Dog.... as a tribute to her on the 28th when Duke left with her.She loved the kids as if they were her babies.....when each one came home she never left the babies sides.

Here she is with Dale, then as a puppy, again watching Dale in his bassinet, with Reid, just an awesome dog.

Here meeting Macy , playing with Dale...those teeth look mean but NEVER even nibbled anyone..., and dressed for Christmas
My sweet gentle Annie rest in peace

Here there and everywhere

Macy hollerin' out a cheer

In the past month we have kept busy. Dales football team is still in the playoffs....with only 4 teams left the end is in sight. Don't get me wrong I love it but we began in July that is 6 months of fun....I am about fun-ed out. The cheerleaders I coached did awesome at competition and all our squads won first place. The older girls even were given an opportunity to perform at the Spurs halftime! So So proud of them and actually proud of me too ....it was a long season. My Cheer girls

We took in a few more UT games and my Grandma and Bepaw even came. It was lots of fun and the kids got to take a bunch of pics with cheerleaders and pom squad girls....Dales favorite.

Dale with Pom girl

Hook E'm

On the field with Bevo

We made the trek to Nebraska for Thanksgiving and honestly if there was a job Duke could do and support us there I would be all for moving. Got to visit with family I had not seen in a while and play some spoons and shuffleboard and eat more that I ever needed too. The drive was uneventful which was really nice. Duke hooked up the PlayStation to the car tv, we had ds's, ipods, portable dvd players, lots of technology driving down the road....but worth it for no major arguements. Our neighbor also loaned us an official CORN HEAD....super funny. My aunt actually had always wanted to have her picture in one and had not so a dream was full filled...thanks again Kurt. The boys went turkey hunting and found some cool bones from a calf, and turkey too! So some treasures did come home with us....yea.

kids with Great Grandma and Don
4 generation

The whole family...we most of them

We ended our trip with a stop in Dallas to visit with Troy and Carolyn and Mama Sam. We did Christmas with Troy and Carolyn and heard the news that the new cousin is a girl! It will be wonderful to have a sweet little girl cousin! Carolyn looks and feels great so all is going great!

Macy got Makeup

I finally feel like I am in the final stretch of catching up for last month and it is only the first week of the next one so that is not too bad. My laundry machine is washing away, Christmas is unpacked and out inside and outside will be as soon as I can do it and NOT freeze, shopping is pretty much done, but I have failed to get the Christmas pics taken and out so not sure what I am gonna do about that yet.

In final news I will have a 9 year old tomorrow! Wow that time flew. He is so big in so many way and so little in others. He is super smart...but can be so brain-less at times.
A couple funny stories :When driving to Nebraska we ate at Mc Donalds and he insisted " I DISGUISE MC Donalds!" really disguise?...it is in a mask b/c I think you mean despise....oh yea whatever I don't like that place.

Another funny was a kid got hurt and he asked me "mom will he have to be in a cartwheel? A cartwheel...he broke his arm I do not think he can do a cartwheel dale....no no the chair cartwheel....you mean wheelchair? Uhh yea.

And final funny was during a football game and he hollered out "that was International grounding....really dale international....as in all over the world....amazing. you know what I meant MOM!

Dale when he found out he had a PS3 to go with the PS3 game he got.

It was actually cute he got the game and acted excited as to not hurt mama Sam's feelings ...but we knew it was for the wrong system, and when we asked him he said, well we can take it back and switch it...but Mama Sam thank you so much...it is great!...She then said oh I thought I got you one...have you looked in the dryer at home? WHAT? Dale you have one at home. WHAT? YEAH! ensue jumping and dancing! Awesome love those moments.

He keeps me on my toes....but Happy Birthday Dude....your an all star!

Another interesting story we had football practice and Macy begged me to take some barbies...I advise not b/c it is dark once we are there and no real place to play with them but say it is her decision and she will be responsible for them. We go...it is frigid...we come home. Cue next morning I say get your jacket and lets go. ....sobs....My jacket I left it at practice....MY BARBIES! Where are they....sobs sobs. So I call in to work to inform them I will be late b/c I am driving to the field to see if either of the missing items are there. ....15 min drive there ..... traffic..... ticked mom....sad Macy....NO Jacket, No barbies....I then open the back of the car to find the jacket crumpled in the floor but no barbies. ...they ran away I guess...and she is still sad about it but hopefully a lesson has been learned! I threatened to sell her to some co-workers but have since changed my mind and I guess I will keep her.... and sadly I know that this is JUST the tip of the iceberg in what is to come....Lord help me

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

HAPPY BIRTHDAY HONEY

Monday Duke will celebrate his birthday! It was a Texas Football year for his birthday....he got 4 season tickets and he and Dale tickets to the TX OU football game! Thank goodness we won and made the drive worth the effort! They drove up Friday night, stayed with Troy and Carolyn...thanks guys for the bed! Went to the fair and then the game and had a little time to hang out before they came home. Funny side story...at game start there were a few late comers around them and Dale had an unobstructed view....5 plays in Duke turned to find Dale..head down and sad b/c he no could not see at all, since those fans arrived....so Duke being super dad held Dale on his shoulders the ENTIRE game. 4 hours of a 60 pound kid on your neck....Dukes shoulders hurt pretty good today but no worse for the wear and made Dales first OU /TX shoot out game one he could see and enjoy. Plus Dale made friends with a few college kids a couple of rows back that were at his lofted eye level and they exchanged high fives all game long! Initially Duke was going to take both boys to the game....but after a discussion it was determined that I could buy off Reid for much less than the cost of tickets. So I took Macy, him and a friend to Inflatable World Saturday evening for dinner and dessert and bouncing...they loved it and as I show up to his house to drop him off decked out in burnt orange....I meet his dad who is wearing an OU visor and had an OU decal on his car and graduated from OU. So in Dallas they had a shoot-out and in San Antonio we had a playdate.

Dale eating fried bacon....yummy???





The Field with the red/orange split
My second oldest longhorn nut

Dale and Reid at the Colorado Game

Dale with one of the cheerleaders

His other gift from me was some OU socks...they say it as a play on words b/c I really do not like my kids saying OU Sucks, but OU socks is totally different in Dads eyes. Yea I know a portion of the cost went to OU but worth it for the novelty. I have to say I absolutly love that Duke and the boys are making such huge memories at the games togeather, hopefully it is a tradion we can continue for years to come.

My time Hog

So here are some pretty shots of what occupies my life most days right now. We had team photos the other day and I took the time to take a few of my own .....not too bad.

Reid Flag

Dale Rookie

Macy Cheer

The Whole Crew

catchup

Dale had to do a Grandparents Project so he selected a scrapbook page....Traveling with Mama Sam and Hanging out with Grandma and Bepaw. They presented it at Grandparents day which Grandma was able to make, Bepaw was needed at a memorial service but made it up to the boys by taking them lunch and eating with them at school.... and they loved that. He and I wrote a poem for Grandpa Butch...his namesake, that he really liked and I guess so did the teacher...he got 100.

Richie McDonald, Paul Overstreet, and Scotty Emerick performing at the TX 4000 benefitThis "concert" was stellar I LOVED it ....very personal....super cool

Kids decked out on the deck watching a movie on the projector

First Day of School 2009, 1st grade and 3rd grade

1st tooth gone....the one next to it came out days later at football practice....with blood and all....Reid loved it.