top 11 of 2011

Here are the top 11 of 2011 in no particular order

1. Macy lost her first tooth...she is one tough cookie.... she is also trying to loosen others to turn them in as well
2. We moved back to San Antonio from the valley... still with Sitterle Homes...miss the great friends we made but nice to be back home and closer to family and normalcy.
3. Watching the kids play football, baseball, run track, do tumbling, cheerleading, and speed and agility training...yes we were busy.. I do not think I can recall too many weekends or school night we spent uninvolved in something.
4. Duke thought to be tumour in his inner ear turned out to be a very expensive but none the less a major infection that is cleared up after numerous MRIs and Cat scans, a surgery, and referral to a specialist in San Antonio...and the final bills are all paid finally!
5. Made a trek to Nebraska to see great grandparents and family for Thanksgiving in the RV with the grandparents. I hope amazing memories will be made from these trips, the hunting with my Uncle is always a huge it.
6. Kids all excelled in school, passed to the next year with numerous accolades, Dale was recognised for perfect scores on the TAKs test , straight A's , Macy was flagged to the gifted and talented program, was an early reader, and Reid did outstanding and had on 89 that kept him from the A honor roll.
7. Macy learned to swim sans floaties, and got her back-walkover and back handspring... she is following in moms footsteps with all the tumbling and it is kinda neat to watch.
8. Took the most amazing family vacation to alaska on a disney cruise out of vancouver... I would move to either in a heartbeat...beautiful places and i could write tons about it... went with Dukes mom and both my folks...totally spoiled in every way possible.
9. Duke and I spent a weekend with great lifelong college friends in Rockport. We pretended we did not have adult responsibilities and it was wonderful and carefree. while we did the kids went to a week long camp in Kerrville at Mo Ranch and they LOVED it ... and are going again next year!
10. The construction industry continues to be our lifeblood and the once seemingly deep pockets now occasionally feel sewn shut but it is still clothing us.
11. We have great fellowship, good friends, a solid roof over our head, great family surround us, food in the fridge....and love in the home ... all in all a good year was had by us.




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Location:san antonio

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my reindeer

In decorating for christmas I realise my yard decorations are gone.... i envision a box full at good will full of all the random stuff I am missing and none of it meshes so highly unlikely but seriously where is it? so i talk to my sweet dad who cuts me logs to make reindeer like i had as a kid... i was totally stoked. I started drilling and honestly about the 4th time the drill spun out of my hand I thought ... maybe i am in over my head but pressed on and did it... drilled them all, chiseled the necks and legs to fit... took 2 days but i am pretty happy with how they turned out and have gotten numerous compliments on them too. So we are in the process of a sled but the rain has slowed that process a bit... I have the wood and have the rutters but need to finish the sides and center supports.... I also wanted to do the lights on the house but Duke mandated he be home when I do it ... and the 1st weekend of dec was dales party, this one was raining, and this next one we have parties and kinda silly to go to all that work for one week... so porch lights are it for this year. but inside is done with 2 trees and is pretty festive.


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all we are missing is a search warrant

WOW what a mess today was well not all but part. Dale had to stay home because his eye was all swollen and pink.... the 1100 dr apt said pink eye but by 2 without meds the eye was clear.... but dr note said he cant return until wed to school so i have a half sickie....whole bored kid at home and running errands with me, he actually was a bit of a help ....but shhh don't tell him that. so we hit the store and decide to get essentials and i will return later this week for the rest... i announce what was for dinner....spaghetti...which he does not like ....so he asks if he can have wings ....fine we get his wings....day sailing along....ffwd to dinner dale is loving his wings, others are loving spaghetti.... dale did not recall my instruction to put his trash in garage can so dogs do not get the chicken bones.... and he places his trash in the utility room can that is dog head height. Reid starts screaming and crying that the dogs are eating the bones...so we pull from them what we can which was not much and estimate they ate about 4 wing bones.... kids are a mess thinking the dogs are going to die....I google it and decide to overfeed them dinner so that there is more mass to pass the bones and that we need to watch for extra moodiness or laziness .... so immediately they pick up on mom this is weird, mom look at this and that...so far nothing alarming

FFWD 10 mins.... Bevo the big dog is pestering the other dog .....100% normal behaviour .... Daddy comes in and sami decides she does not want to play anymore and apparently bit Bevos ear... Bevo goes to lay down and Duke asks why is he bleeding....its everywhere on him..legs...head...couch...we take him to the kitchen to access and he shakes his head to sling blood everywhere....i find the spot on his ear, try to stop it with a paper towel.... see that it is not a deep cut more like a scratch just on the tip of the ear. So my good dog sits still for me to prod and wipe and apply pressure.... seemed to have stopped and i go to put him in his bed and he shakes his head and again blood everywhere... after a bit of research we find that since it is so vascular it will bleed a lot.... when it bleeds it tingles and dog will shake head ....viscous cycle... this happens again and we get him in bed and I take Macy to gymnastics complete with blood spatter..... and reports are that dog is not bleeding.... come home get him out to check and head shakes and blood again .....finally at 900 i went to the store to get some styptic powder and pencil to try that after calling a vet who said they can not advise over the phone for liability ....what bs where is dial a nurse for dogs when you need it. so at Walmart 915 and a ton of kids are there on a school night ...shocking in my book as mine are home in bed....come home with a bone and liquid bandage and styptic pencil.... only relief was the liquid bandage....and the bone for him that he devoured in all of 10 mins ... it took me longer to check out with the bone than to eat it.... ok the ear well it has broke open with every head shake since and if he runs....uuuggg so to clean my house i spent the better part of 3 hours mopping and scrubbing walls and I am sure I missed plenty so no black light s will be turned on in my home as I am sure a horror scene had less blood spatter...so dog is in his bed and he is so good... no complaints just sits and takes the initial bite... walks away... takes all the treatment and messing....stays in his bed contently....and he is supposedly the aggressive dog... when it is the little dog who gives the bites... this is not the first time or second or third....and he never complains he does usually initiate the pestering however but he is only 1 and a totally puppy and wants to play.

Heres hoping to a drying up day .... for the rain outside and the ear inside


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Christmas kids service

Reid and Macy were in our churches Christmas service. Reid spoke and sang and Macy sang. Both did a really good job and Macy cracked me up with her yawns throughout the performance..... classic . anyhow here are a couple pics

as well as my annual christmas photos of the kids complete with pained smiles and all.... they actually did pretty good and maybe we will go back to a professional place soon but it is just such a beating with all the waiting and then the edit is even worse cause the kids wanna leave and were done when the picture part ended .... thats why it ended.




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happy birthday Dale

Dale just celebrated his 11th birthday ..... wow that is so hard to comprehend. One of those the days drag and the years fly. Dale is such an amazing kid.... not without fault but pretty perfect in my book. Good student, good kid, honest, loving.... I was at a loss when I had him with what to do being the first and with the grace of God he is turning out great. for his birthday we had a group of boys over after a rampage hockey game and had cookie cake and a very late night but they had a ball so a total success.


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Turkey day pics

Ok a couple Halloween I forgot first



































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Thanksgiving up North

We had a fantastic Thanksgiving.  We went in an RV with Grandma and Bepaw and Scott Tanya Sam and Sophie.  Made a stop to see my cousin Jess and her new house...congrats Jess its great!  Not too many changes in the metropolis of Filley, Ne but kinda nice to have the same ole stuff for my kids to play with that I played with.  The boys went hunting with Uncle Tom and Drew and they loved it and came home with a few pheasants.  We also shot guns at cokes and pumpkins and cans.  Uncle tom made a bomb for us and blew up a pumpkin.  Rode the tractor, and four wheeler.  We played some shuffle board, some cards, and best of all just had some good family time.  We left on Friday and drove to Dallas where we stayed and then saw Troy and Carolyn, Emory and Greyson and Mama Sam.  We went to the SMU Rice game and played on the university grounds, I finally ate an In N Out Burger... good but as far as a fast food burger Whataburger is better. Then went to the Galleria and ice skated a little ... I do not see us as ice skaters but fun.  Finally we settled at Troy and Carolyns for an evening of togetherness... nice way to end the day.  We were also spoiled with some early Christmas gifts so the kids were eager to play with those as soon as we made it home.  I feel so blessed that we were able to see so many folks from both sides of the family ... really made it special.

Football pics

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Location:Trotters Bay,San Antonio,United Sta

finished with football

The boys football season came to a close.  Both boys teams ended up in 3rd place, and both had good games.

Halloween weekend

Halloween was wonderful my folks came down and I think I ended up in the right neighbourhood. As some of you know I like to decorate for the holidays and have blow ups and all and at Halloween like to project a movie on the wall outside while handing out candy. In some places I would be over the top but not here lots of folks went all out with photo booths, haunted garages, very in the spirit. Makes me excited for Christmas ...it could be very who-villeish.





Bevo as a bull with rider




My she devil samurai sniper And evil jester

In true Reid form he started in full costume and before he even made the first house he had ditched the hat long sleeve shirt and weapons from his ...every year he does it ....dale wore the mask for a while and ditched it as it was hot .... And Macy kept hers on but once home changed into #2 costume a compression shirt and athletic shorts ... And wanted to go back out dressed up as Reid .

Here are a few pics of reid playing ball on Sunday 11-30



Cutting



Running



Tackling


Running


Running



More running



Go reid go



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Fball. Dale

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Picture mashup

Macys she devil


Boys football


Reid tearing it


Reid-o all cute in his glasses


Team captain Reid


Goofy dogs


The Eychner cousins at lunch


Kids and Grandma and Bepaw


The ladies


Boys....too big for the kiddie cart


Pic I painted for Aiden's bday


Lil car for Aiden


Reid and his buddy Jaden


Dean Grant Dylan and Dale post game


Macy's school pic pose


Dale going for 6


Macy driving solo

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