The Monkey is 3!!!

Today is Macy's 3rd Birthday. I can hardly grasp that she is 3.... seems like yesterday that we were so blessed and were at the hospital with our sweet baby girl. She is so amazing and fun, my neighbor called her the queen of the rag-a-muffins yesterday and it fits. I love how she loves all things girly and carries purses with style, and play make-up all the time and yet loves to take rides on the 4 wheeler and play in the dirt too....usually while wearing a dress and with a giant bow in her hair! Her is a recap of her first 3 years....This morning I said Happy Birthday Angel....and she hugged me and corrected me saying I am a Monkey mommy....its the monkeys birthday.

Kid Classic

Ok so we are watching Enchanted....the princess gets pushed into a well, goes through some water and pops through a man hole in New York a real human. This all confused Macy...
"why did the mean lady do that...what happened to Gisell, how did she get real?"
So we said "the mean lady was the princes step mom, dressed up, and she does not what the Prince to get married, b/c she could not be the boss anymore, so she pushed Giselle in well that went to the magic hole and it sent her to the real world."
"So that is how she got real....through the magic hole?"
"Yes that is right."
"Is that how I got real...through the magic hole?...And Dale and Reid too we came through the magic hole?"
Duke and I look at each other and grin and say "yes that is how."
Macy adds...."Daddy too right." and Duke said "yes but a different one."
So she is ok with this answer and is now convinced she and Dale went through togeather....he held her hand underwater....
I guess my birds and bees speech is done...totally wrong and so messed up but done....

A few weeks back Reid asked How did Tanya get the baby in her tummy...I said she prayed with Scott to God to give them a baby, and took some special vitamins. Macy then terrified looks at me and asked "How did she open her mouth that big to swallow the baby." So we went throught how it starts small and grows big. Open can number 2 of worms....Reid asked "How do they get the baby out?" I told him she will get a really bad tummy ache and go to the hospital and the Dr.s take out the baby....HOW....he persues. Well you know your belly button...through there...it opens up big and then they tie it closed...that is how the baby and mommy are attached by belly buttons. He looked at his belly perplexed....I jumped in and said it ONLY happens when you are pregnant with a baby. A little relieved we dropped the convo and went on to something less permentaly destructive on the psyche. Again Birds and Bees speal botched....I am sure there will be more opportunities to mess this up again and again.... Dukes dad had him convinced he could lay eggs...and he turned out kinda normal.

Tons of Fun

We have been busy having fun here. This past week we started a rock quary in our front yard.....not really but that is what it looks like. We now have new retaining walls in the backyard and frontyard, and side yard, and new garden beds..... it started much smaller and we were going to do a couple walls and then it looked so great we decided to do another part and then had one bed/wall that was different and my OCD kicked in and Duke said Ok have them do it too and make it all match... So now we will have a much more level front and back yard and some great looking rock work, but the levelness will make the yard so much more usable and play friendly. So the sprinkler guy and landscaper will come this week.... weather permitting at the end of this week we will have sod. This is a huge high for me as I am tired of DIRT on clothes, in hair, on the floor...the dirt smell that has invaded my house...eeeewww... but all worth it in the end. I am sure my neighbors will be releived too as their kids have been playing in it and they have to look at the demolition.

Momma Sam came and gave us our Easter gifts that included Season Passes to Fiesta Texas, so on Friday...good Friday....we went. It was fun, but crazy crowded....much more than I think the park expected. They were very understaffed, and were closing food stations at 3:30 b/c all their minor aged workers had reached their hourly limit for the day. There was a 2 hour wait for just about every ride....which is torture for a child....and pretty rough on an adult too. Reid got in line for so many rides and we made it 30 mins and he said lets go I do not want to wait....we did this about 3 or 4 times. Macy fell asleep in one line and ended up sleeping on jackets by a building....actually not too bad...in the shade and clean so we took turns sitting with her and waiting in lines... the passes will be wonderful in the Summer on weekdays when we can go and enjoy with out all of San Antonio too. The Easter Bunny also delivered a bubble machine, giant hopper balls, playdough, hollow chocolate bunnies, sleeping bags, shoes, camping lantern, and stuffed animals and the Bee movie....good stuff... here are a couple shots of the egg hunt....Macy got a head start, then Reid and Dale....all found a big load of eggs filled with candy and money!

Reid has become really good on the 4-wheeler....he is convinced he is a stunt man....here are a couple of his latest jumps off a ramp Duke made for him....side note Duke also used the jump last weekend ....on the 50 cc motorcycle. Mind you Duke looks like a schriner on the motorcylce to begin with....he has to ride with his legs out straight infront of him and then is a foot off the ground....so he decides to take a Jump....obviously his brain was on vacation at this moment. He jumps... lands...feet hit the ground, knees get stuck in the handlebars....so he cannot turn....the bike keeps going and his crotch hit the rear tire and tore his leg up....and he falls to the ground....then jumps up and said TA DA....yes TA DA....no real damage road rash to the knee, torn jeans , and torn up thigh....could have been much worse....back to Reid ....here he is landing his jumps.




We also celebrated Macys birthday....a bit early so I am going to make you wait to see her AMAZING CAKE that my friend and co-worker made her....no kidding so much work went into that cake....it was so outrageous. Rewind....I started a tradition of having Macys cake match her dress, and doing a 2 tier cake....so when she was 1 it was pink and white, 2 multi-colored dots, and this year was this cute pink outfit with black and white gingham accents and a antimated Paris scene on the top....Sarah recreated the whole thing....WOW....she should do it professionally...really outstanding, and even named the cafe she drew as Macy's Cafe.....soo soo cute. And to top it off it was great cake too!....ok here is a picture of the cake

That is some searious detail on the cake....a perfect match to the outfit....traditon still in place...more birthday pics soon...and landscaping pics too..

10 YEARS AGO TODAY...

Duke and I and our family are celebrating our families 10th birthday. This is how we choose to celebrate our anniversary....a family birthday. SO 10 years ago this is was us.



Unfortunately we did not have the digital age then, so I had to manually scan in those photos....so there are not very many...Wow times have sure changed. That night was awesome...great party, great friends, great beginning. Duke and I said last night that we hope the next 10 years is just as good as these 10 have been. Duke and I are going to go out tonight and this weekend we are all going to IHOP for the family celebration....huh IHOP you might say....this is where we ate our first married meal....at 2:00 a.m. we walked 3 blocks in downtown Austin to eat, we were starving, as the the Reception meal that was packed for us did not make the limo and we had champagne and m&ms in the room and that was not going to cut it....so our IHOP tradition was born and how lucky for us b/c the kids eat great there!

4 wheeling bug

I have been pestering Duke to take the kids to a 4-wheeler ranch to ride. So this Sunday we did it. We went to Buffalo Valley MX. Wow the boys had the best time riding their 4 wheelers, over little jumps, and in mud holes, short trails. We were on the very tame end of the spectrum as there were bikes and 4 wheelers flying through the air like you would see at a motocross show. Reids little face when he saw a 4 wheeler fly over a jump was priceless...then he says...I wanna do that. So Duke took him out and he did a little jump and caught about 2 foot of air unintentionally and was sooo scared he stopped mid track and Duke had to convince him to keep going...and he did and loved it. He also found a mud hole and rode all day through it...over and over and over....with a HUGE grin. Dale was so scared but wanted to ride the motorcycle again, so we did it once with me on the back with him and then he did it alone.... sans the concrete wall, and he did great....not a pro yet and not ready for anything other than do not fall...but he is getting it. Macy also had a great time riding with Duke and I and the boys gave her small rides around the truck and thru the mud. I have no pictures as we figured no evidence would be best in case there was ever a CPS filing...no I forgot it, but Duke and I were very impressed with their focus and awareness of surroundings and other vehicles....I am sure there will be more of this soon to come as Reid is already asking when he can go get his 4 wheeler dirty again.
Also I got a great gift this weekend....not one I would have picked had I had the choice but will love and use .... a new washer and dryer. They are on order since my old big washer crapped out on Monday/ last week.....I do have my other small unit so I am not out totally but am certainly crippled a bit, anyhow it was cheaper to buy a set rather than separately.... a whirpool duet front load washer and dryer for 799.98...or just the washer for 799.98 no negotiating ....and the cheapest other front load washer was 599.99 and it was smaller in capacity...that the small one I have....and anywhere else the Duet is 1200-1300 bucks...so well worth the price, so I can rival a small Laundromat with my soon to be 2 washers and 2 dryers again...

Dis enchanted Voter

Ok we all know I am NO rocket scientist....Scott and Brad stop laughing...but I felt really stupid at the primary voting I did. I went in and the lady said what ballot...kinda off-guard I said a party....(we will keep all parties nameless)...."OK sign here," ....."take this to that man," .... I go to the booth and he pulls up a ballot...I see my ballot....THIS IS NOT WHAT I WANT! Too late now.... so I voted only for that party....which I did not want to do I wanted all the options, all the candidates, which is what I assumed would be there, so I could do a few Democrat a few Republican....I like to see all the names when picking the ones I like best for the offices...example: Wilbur McDoorstep I would pass over for Police Chief but would go for Colt Fastdraw. My question is am I really in the HUGE minority of idiots in not knowing that my party affifiation statment limited my options? I think you should be able to truly choose who you think would be best regardless of party affiliation? Not every Republican is the best for every job and same hold true for Democrats, but I had to pick only one side blindly. I know that the clear winners will go on and that you have the chance at the general election to vote either candidate but think a fairer way would be able to hand pick your dream ballot or the lesser of all evils ballot and submit it for thus by giving all a fair shot to all to get on the ballot. Duke said I should have said Independent and then I would have been given the ballot I wanted and option on all candidates....have not researched that, but he is a whole lot smarter than I so I assume he is right. And feel a little better that a friend of mine, who I think is really smart, did not know that to be an option either...., and if this is an option than it should be offered to you...what ballot Democrat, Republican or Independant. I think we have seen that the general public is not all election brainiacs and clearly I am not one, lets recall the "chad" fiasco....all the more reason to overly educate the public and tell them. But none the less my goal of going in to record for posterity that honestly I am not sold on any candidate, but really think it will come these 2 and if so, I want this one....FOR SURE NOT THAT ONE, never happened b/c I had the wrong party ballot to do so. But the right ballot of who I would like to ultimatly get it just a hair more, which is I guess is ok that I "voted for my team," although not my mission, b/c I think there is a snowball's chance in Hell it will happen, so if "THAT ONE," makes the ballot I will be ticked that I did not have to opportunity to share that I did not what them there...which as bassaquadards as this all sounds was my goal, and it TOTALLY MAKES SENSE IN MY OWN HEAD, so whatever and what if Colt Fastdraw was on the other ticket and I had no chance to see his cool name and honor him with my support and instead had to pick Shi Thead...b/c he ran unopposed on my ballot....get it Shi Thead...s h i t h e a d ...just a laugh to end this on....lets see what the rest of Texas said, b/c in November I might move to England!

I aged 7 years in 1 min today

What...ok I will explain. since I know this makes sense in my head, but you are not in my head....are you???
SO we have great neighbors...no news there....one has 2 boys that ride dirt bikes...the oldest is almost 15 and really talented on his bike....so Reid has an idol, and younger of the boys is in 5th grade. They have been riding so several years and have gotten pretty good, Dale learned to ride a 2 wheel bike uhhh 2 months ago and is still very much a beginner at that and a never ever on a motorcycle. We do own a small dirt bike....but the boys have not ridden it since they could not ride a regular bike and enjoy the 4 wheelers. The neighbors boys were riding the little 50 bike this weekend just for fun, and actually was good for the bike since we really have never ridden it in the 1.5 years we have had it. Dale decided after seeing how cool the older boys thought the bike was that he too wants to ride it now... did I mention he was a never ever on the motorcycle...ok so I am chatting with a neighbor....the one whos kids ride and Reid is riding a 4-wheeler...all is pretty good ...then I see in our front yard Dale, Duke and the motorcycle....ok...litterally all in like 30 seconds Dale guns it on the bike and is FLYING, Reid is rubbernecking to see and it not looking in front of him and there is a car backing out down the street, I holler at Reid who avoids the car and stops and Dale well he did not stop until he NAILED a 2 foot tall concrete wall on the other side of the driveway next to our yard...and flys off....Thank GOODNESS for Helmets...he was unharmed, a small bruise on the leg, huge shot to the ego as the older boys were watching him and he was embarrassed that he did not ride like a professional on his first time. So all the motorized things were put up for a while, but Reid did make a ramp with some plywood and a block of wood and did stunts and jumps off of that ALL day on his bike and on a razor scooter...which is nothing really new for Reid as he was doing "stunts" and "wheelies" on his foot powered 3 wheeler since he was 1 yr old, only difference is he is actually getting a little air off his jumps and stunts now...and the helmet is actually necessary rather than something to make parents giggle at their walking bobble head kids.
Hopefully in the next few weeks there will be great pictures of so new landscaping to our yard...hopefully Rock walls, leveling, new sod and plants and I was going to price a hot tub but think that will have to wait from a cost standpoint as the money tree I planted never took, died and gave a fungus to all the plants around it.

ORGANIZING CRICKETS

Lions, and tigers and bears....

Oh my...

and monkeys and croc's and birds...

Oh wow...

and elephants, giraffes and hippos...

Holy cow

Take 16, 4 and 5 year olds to the zoo, and try and organize the chaios that will ensue.... I think this is VERY similar to trying to organize crickets.

We had a great time and saw some really cool animals. The day was beautiful and for the most part the crickets were tame. None were stepped on or eaten and all returned with us so that is a huge success. We found out where the siren came from...these monkeys...WOW loud and pretty cool.















Here is another group ski video I forgot to post and it is one of the best ones....go figure

I fell for the informortial

Yea...I did I am now the proud owner of Space Bags. I actually got them at Bed Bath and Beyond for our ski trip to try and minimize the baggage that ski stuff takes up and I have to admit I am impressed. I now have all of our ski stuff packed and stored in half the space and that is impressive to me....and they are dust free and downy fresh and will be next year when they see air again.
We had a FAST trip to Austin this weekend for a baby shower and Bepaws Birthday that is actually not until the end of the month but they are all tied up the next few weekends. I have to say I love baby shower gifts. Now that mine are out of the cute bibs and all...go figure to want what you can't have....not that I want another child. I love mine but starting over again would be so HUGE, we are at the point of no diapers, naps optional, all can entertain themselves....so to be at M and go back to A....no thank you.
We also ate at Toyko Steakhouse in Roundrock....Yummy, a bit of a wait and crazy cold while he was cooking but great food, the boys at salad, tried new soup, and ate their dinners really well and then CHOWED on Bepaws ice cream we got for his birthday...no kidding Reid ate 3 bowls, Macy and Bepaw shared theirs and mine, and Dale had at least a few and tons of fortune cookies...they just kept appearing....crazy, then we did and fast stop at momma sams to deliver her valentine flowers and pick up they items she has for the kids and blazed home.
Sunday we really did nothing, the kids played I ro-organized the playroom, and put up the bookshelves that we gave Scott and Tanya 4 years ago that they now have no space for so they are in the playroom....MORE Storage YEA. And that wrapped the weekend, Dale is off this friday for a work day and Reid and I go to the zoo tomorrow with his pre-school class, so more to come soon.

Here are some videos of the Ski Trip

Reid Skiing

Paul Stuck in the snow

Dale skiing the trees

Update time

Teaser pics....

The clan...notice Duke's eyes or lack of....
Snow Fun
More Snow
Paul stuck ...

Ekks almost a month has passed...my bad....here is what you missed

Healthy, for the most part Susan has a kidney stone....she has to pass it....it hurt, there are more but they are small....

Kids : good, healthy, happy

Duke...his parent company TOUSA filled chapter 11....ekkk...but his job is secure.....as secure as it can be in this type of situation, and we both feel we will come out stronger on the other side.

We are morning the lack of good NEW TV shows, and plugging along...that was January for the most part.

Feb.... Susan is having WAY too much fun with Tanya's diaper cake....so excited to throw her a shower in March and also de-baby-fy my home and gift it to her:) Great news Troy and Carolyn are moving to Dallas in July......YEA back in Texas finally.

Here is the good stuff ....SKI TRIP..... just got back from an amazing ski trip to Telluride. Us, Sam and freinds had the very best time. If we were ever going to play the lotto this would have been the week. First we get an upgrade on our accomodations from a 2 bd with loft in the ski village that would have been great to a log home on the mountain. WOW this house was better than great, ski in ski out....not for the faint of heart but very dooable. Our own hot tub, total privacy, soo much snow, heated garage, tons of space....great suff. Upon arrival to the airport in Montrose we pick up the car...upgrade from mini van to Suburban for free....the roads are bad and they want more 4x4's on the road...uhhh OK! So we got to drive a 2008 suburban with DVD which Duke was pretty excited about, as this is what he wants for my next car. Arrive in Telluride no problems and even found snowboots for Macy on sale for 16 bucks....at a shop in the ski village...this NEVER happens. Also the ski shop honored our cupon for free kids rentals...for a 200 dollar savings! Also to top it off friends, Paul and Brandy and Jake were able to join us for a few days. We had 2 blunders....Sam fell and strained her thumb, and Duke got an awful case of hives....that made him swell up and itch like crazy, he looked like a wrinkled puppy around the eyes. Most folks would take a steroid shot and move on but Duke is allergic to steroids so he had to do a concoction of over the counter items that seemed to help by day 3...and upon arrival home he was tons better. It was really an awesome trip both the boys are turning into great skiiers. It made my heart swell to watch them tear down the mountain, so fullfilling to have them love it and be successful at the sport. We skiied 4 days....day one...beautiful and sunny, Day 2 started good but had some searious snow and wind....no kidding we came over the top of a hill and all hit a wall of snow and wind soo fierce it stopped you and pushed you back...luckily a restruant was 100 yds away and co-co called ....you could not see the lift 20 feet infront of you! Nuts, but fun. Day 3 snowy but great, and Day 4 the very best ever sunny, clear and gorgeous.

The Hot Tub

The Reid-Deamon....the skiing champ...check out the parallel ski's downhill!

My Boys

Skiing with the boys....it is sleeting here our goggles were totally iced over!

Paul, Brandy, and Jake


Momma Sam and Macy on the Gon-bo-la

Macy and her snow ball

The white-out....that is the lift on top of the restruant...

Our view from the back deck...we saw more stars than you can imagineThe Log Cabin main room

Dale's Snow man

videos will be here soon

Ok now the promised videos and pics

The New Cars Tent that gets me out of the doghouse for donating his old torn one to the salvation army.

The Moon Jump that has seen so much use in less than a week!

The Bike riding that the boys mastered! So cool....Reid is a natural and Dale is doing awesome too!

The 4 -wheelers that are now so very loved and driven often, something that makes me smile.

I've been Tagged

My neighbor tagged me and I will tag on but I only have a few bloggers to tag so I have a handicap in my tagging. None the less here are the quid-pro-ques

The Rules:

Link to the person that tagged you and post the rules on your blog.

Share 5 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog.

or

Share the 5 top places on your “want to see or want to see again” list.

or

Share 5 things you never pictured being in your future when your were 25 years old.

Tag a minimum of 5, maximum of 10 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs.

Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

The tagees have a choice of which they want to do.

I think I will go with the want to see or see again.

1. In the USA Niagara Falls, D.C., South Carolina, Alaska

2. In the water: The great grey whales swimming while scuba diving with my kids

3. Other places: Italy, Paris, Germany, England, Turkey and the Holy Land

4. A 50th wedding anniversary with Duke

5. See all my Children graduate high school, college, get married and be there for my grandchildren

6. A cure for Cancer

Yea somewhat general I know but hey that is how I am rolling tonight. Ok Carolyn and Erin I am tagging you!

In other news Dale and Reid have each accomplished one of their New Years Resolutions

To ride a 2 wheeled bike.

We took them up to the school for a nice FLAT, OPEN area and had Dale try first. Struggles, frustration, determination and he did it...fell a few times but got the jist of it. We asked Reid if he wanted to try and he said NO....I think because Dale had such struggles and tumbles...nothing big but they were there. We tried to prep them by saying it is a new skill, it will be hard, you will fall. So then we convince Reid to try....the kid was OFF....like he has been riding a bike for years...CRAZY. We took Grandma and Bepaw up to the school to let them show off their new skills today and they both did AWESOME..... video and pics to come soon just realized it is 7:30 and I need to prep for school, bath 3 kids, read, and get their laundry ready.....gonna be a busy 30 mins!

Smoke but no fire...no visible fire

Last night after dinner the boys were wanting a snack before bed....ok what is fast, easy, and fairly healthy....fruit...no dice both said no, crackers, NO again...Popcorn....ok...I grabbed a bag of Microwave stuff....tossed it in and hit popcorn.....ahhh the ease of it all. I go and start folding laundry....I turn to go back and get out a bowl and WOW there is smoke billowing out of the microwave....BIG TIME, I hit cancel on the microwave, left the door closed afraid of what I might find and thinking if there is a fire it will burn up its oxygen and die. Reid runs over to Duke who is wishing for death on the sofa, suffering from allergies....he rolls over and says "what?" DADDY THERE'S A FIRE...."oh" Duke rolled back over and put the pillow back on his head and went back to sleep, well if there is a fire I am not dragging HIM out! ....I tell the boys open the doors to air it out.....as we open the front door Macy is coming home from Kathys house where she was playing in a clean house to arrive here at a smoky stinky house. So I finally get to open the microwave and the entire bag is BLACK and there is no popcorn ....just black char, and WOW the smoke that was in the microwave I think was toxic and the bag I am certian would have caused cancer in california. (why is it only in Califorina?.....another blog...another day) ok so the microwave has a layer of burnt butter/oil/funk that is orange....making me question the healthyness of popcorn but alas another blog as well....

Now 24 hours later my house STILL smells like burnt popcorn, the burnt bag is outside and has been since last night so I am a little puzzled but it will pass so I hope. What happened you might be wondering. Well I grabbed an individual snack size one of the kids got for something and since it was in the regular box I just assumed....yea ass u me....dang the intelligence of it all.

Also the UPS man came and never told us. We were expecting Reids gifts from Momma Sam and Grandma and Bepaw.....out for delivery the tracking said. At dinner I saw the UPS truck pass and said "he skipped us!" Turns out he set the 2 packages in the garage and never told us. So Duke went to feed the dogs at 7:30 and said there are boxes in here. The excitement was to follow b/c not putting it all up was not an option ....I could not make him wait a whole day, bedtime could wait a bit, plus besides a little hot...they were TIRED when bedtime did come.

Happy Birthday Reid-o

We're gonna score tonight,

we're gonna score tonight.

We're gonna rock, we're gonna roll,

We're gonna bop, we're gonna bowl.

We're gonna score score score score score....TONIGHT

Name it.....name it .....come on...... Grease 2 baby


REID TURNED 5..... I am in shock of this fact but face reality mamma....Ok well for Reids birthday we went Cosmic bowling...which is bowling via black light and music....super cool. The kids and adults had a great time no tears....no issues ....that is a great 5 year old party! Reid got a strike, I did not, but I beat Duke! Dale did awesome, claims he scored 102....but I never got the visual proof..., but I do believe him, and Macy even hit a few pins Bepaw was the big winner with 169....WOW nice show of skills Bepaw.

Reid and his buddy Max

The family patriarchsNate, Reid's buddy was SO excited with his first ever bowl and he did awesome!...prior to the picture he was dancing around....it was great! Macy Bowling and yes they do make sz 7 toddler bowling shoes....good to know!

Reid had a great number of friends come wish him well and showered him with AWESOME gifts, monster trucks, remote jeeps, more trucks, more trucks, tools, trucks.... and not 1 repeat and not 1 he already had.....better to be lucky than good sometimes. You might think that is alot of trucks.....tooo many? Have you met my son Reid? That is impossible in his mind of 4 wheelers and trucks, trailers, tractors....he is in HEAVEN. Grandma and Bepaw got him a huge pop up tent ...he is thrilled b/c 2 years ago he got one and it ripped so we a year later gave it to good will....I HAVE NEVER BEEN FORGIVEN ....EVERY time and I really mean EVERY time we pass the donation center he asks can we go see if they have my tent....I did NOT want to give it away MOMMY! I want it back...PLEASE...(tears) I loved it. so now #2 is on the way to be delivered Tuesday by UPS. Momma Sam got him a Bouncy Castle...his very own....for the yard, that in the summer a pool will be at the bottom of its huge slide for more fun than he will be able to handle! Then Duke and I got him the coolest little electric 4 wheeler. It is made by razor...they make the electric scooters.....it is awesome....truly stellar. So now he can ride it any time we are out to play, since the real one requires Daddy sometimes to start it and total parent supervision....so me at home alone with the 3 of them does not work. But this does and it has rubber tires...a huge plus on our sloped cul-de-sac! He loves it, Dale loves it , Macy loves
it .....one of those GREAT GIFTS.

REID-TOPIA

Dale giving Macy a ride...when we said "Dale go slow." she said "NO GO FAST!"

He's a coooool rider...a cool cool cool cool rider.....I got Grease on the brain....

Reid told me tonight even when he is 5 he will still tell me he loves me, and still wants me to sleep with him.....he may be big but not that big. Happy Birthday buddy!

My bad...its January and I never finished December.

oh yea this is the best picture ever......see compared to them I AM normal!!!!

OOPS time flew by so fast I have not caught up yet....

The Eychner Christmas



Following Christmas day Grandma and Bepaw had grandkid pangs and took the crew from wed-Saturday....WOW such a huge treat that was. They played with Brad and Jonelle and Grandma and Bepaw. Reid came bake using many of the same gestures as his Uncle Brad...good ones I might add....yea huge shock if you know Brad...just kidding, brad and Jonelle have VERY well behaved dogs and so Reid came home trying to put sami and annie on "stay" and sami looked at his with the "you talkin'to me?" dog look, and then later Reid went out back and put his hands in his pockets and disciplined the dogs....it was brad in a mirrir....CRAZY! Grandma and Bepaw, Scott and Tanya and Brad and Jonelle with sedona and ally....two VERY well behaved dogs. Again the onslaught of great food, the second using of the good silver and pool table/ dining table combo great company, so many gifts...Then polished off the year with fabulous friends for new years. The 'rare form' that I was last new years did NOT appear this year....an event Duke was very grateful for!

Week in review

The Rosanky Daniel- King Family

This could be a J. Crew add photo

Christmas Re-cap.....we have had several Christmas programs and half of Christmas is over....the decorating, and shopping, and cards....now the rest, wrapping, cooking, & guests. Kinda ready for that but not quite.

Last Friday ......Dale had his sing along at school this morning 9-10.....10:40 taking Dale lunch at school as per request....10:40-11:45.....12-1:30 Dales class party and as room mom I have to be there and set up and facilitate.....1:30 Dale leaves with me. 2:00 possible errand for the day care, 3:30 get Macy and Reid and head home with all 3.....= 1 day gone......time with Dale priceless....but really could have wrapped a few gifts too. I am doing laundry so there is some productiveness happening just not enough.

Dale, the ONLY one of the 3 to speak to or want anything to do with Santa.

Reid ... Pre School Play, he was a wiseman.....he took gold.....he dropped it on the floor for Mary and Jesus saying "I brought you this."...thunk.... very cute...he said his line and that was HUGE in my book of his shyness.

My Wiseman

On the mountain top seeing the star, deciding to follow it.

FYI I had to get approval for this one...

Macy's class also sort of sang jingle bells for her show....and chewed on the bells.

The Terrible Twos are here, and if there was anyway to return this particular "gift" I would... We had an ugly rearing of the Orneriness the other day Macy ripped off the letter z and x off the laptop keyboard. Brings it to me and says here is the squishy thing, I do not want it. I recognize what it is to and find the destruction. I holler a bit b/c I find the x but the z and all z pieces are gone.....Macy where is it......I don't know....in tears.....Macy I need you to remember.....I don't know....more tears.....MACY.....Its hiding.....WHERE....uhhh Did you check the trash....no....ok I found it go to your room. So thankfully I fixed it and all is well in zzzz and xxxx land so I can sleep and kiss in the one letter realm again. AHHHH

We went to Rosanky and saw Vicki and crew. Wow what a treat. This is Dukes sweet aunt who so lovingly made all the kids their special blankets they sleep with each night. And now she is the super cool Aunt Vicki that let Reid drive the truck, and tractor and feed hay, the Aunt that let Macy ride horses....that she now wants, and toted us all over their ranch to show the kids the cows and horses and cool stuff. We had a BALL, and seeing that side is always a treat. They make you feel so welcome and are so easy to be around even when visits are too far in coming....Duke has made a promise to go camp this spring and take the 4 wheelers there to ride. That is ALL Reid talked about on the ride home.....Dad remember the trailer, and tent, and we will need helmets, and gas, and fishing poles....so get all that when we get home....and we are going to need food....on and on and on. He is ready to go today! Macy said can we go back to Mickey's ( Vicki's) tomorrow....I need to ride a pony again.....just a'cause I need to.

I love Ponies

All 3 on Tire-Rod

Reid would rather ride Dale...or drive a truck

Feeding Midnight

Macy and My-Sam

Sam Troy and Carolyn came for Christmas and brought a toy store with them. We had a wonderful meal together on the pool table....a little clampitish by Dukes terms.....but totally functional and it was decorated nice and tasted YUMMY. Then we played a few games and then opened gifts....and gifts and gifts. We were all Totally spoiled with purses, jewelry, toys, jeeps, remote control stuff, gift certificates, perfume, clothes, decorations, books, movies, video games....wow so so incredibly blessed with family and top with great gifts makes it so special. I think my favorite gift is Dales Calendar he made me at school, he was so proud of it and hid it until Christmas, I teared up looking at all the hard work that went into it.

Reindeer Food Spreading
Santa arrived, we put out the Reindeer food, and apparently Prancer LOVES blue glitter so our stop was extra long.... and we were blessed with bikes for all, a table and chairs, more remote control cars, games, books, videos, boots, clothes, bags, helmets, candy.....wow going to need some organizational magic in this house to accommodate. We also have a FLEET of some really cool remote control cars and their garage is my kitchen table....I had no idea I needed them there....I am so very lucky....good thing we can eat at the kitchen island.

Best yet we have round 3 with the Eychner Side this weekend.....more great, food, company and gifts. This is some GOOD living, I hope all who enjoy this have had the same.

Wishing you and yours the most blessed Christmas and New Year imaginable.