Darla's award

Darla was recognized at the Hunt spirit assembly last week. They selected 2 students from each class to recognize for "Outstanding Behavior" and Ms. Muto chose Darla from her class. We went to the assembly and they gave her a Hunt Hound dog tag. We are so proud of her and the great job she's doing in Kindergarten. By the way - that's her "boyfriend" Price next to her in the blue shirt/white turtleneck. At least she likes the boys that behave in class!

While I'm on the subject of Darla, she cut her own hair a couple of weeks ago. I knew this day would come, but just didn't know when. She got a piece of gum stuck in her hair and decided to cut it out. She didn't tell us, she thought we wouldn't notice!! I don't think she realized that even if we hadn't seen the chunk missing from her hair, the huge pile of hair in her trash can would've surely given her away!

Now Bo can open doors!

My last entry was that Bo could walk - in just a few days he's now figured out how to open doors. He is growing up way too fast!

We had a great Thanksgiving. Last Sunday we went to Terrell and had lunch at Mom's - it was a nice afternoon, but very sad without Mimi there. This was the first big holiday without her. She always made the dressing every year and it was never cooked all the way through, so I actually felt a little guilty eating my mom's dressing and enjoying it...I've thought about Mimi a lot lately. There's a picture of her in the kitchen and it sits low on a table, so Bo can get to it. He always picks her picture up - he'll go around a dozen other ones to get to hers. I don't know what it means, but I feel like he's telling me that she's watching over him. She loved little boys so much!

Thursday we went to Durant and had another great meal. Darla decided to stay at Nanaw's for the rest of the weekend, so Bo and I headed home. Renay was nice enough to come over and babysit so I could go see Twilight...it was a great movie! I miss Darla and Brent, but Bo and I have had some good mother/son time the last few days. I talked to Darla today and we played "guess which room I'm in" on the phone. I would go in her room and make Butterscotch make noise or turn the sink on in the kitchen to give her clues. Brent talked to her earlier today and supposedly she's kept Nanaw hostage at the house and won't let Nanaw put clothes on...Darla wants them both to stay in their PJ's all day!!!

Bo is walking!

Bo is walking! He's been taking steps around the coffee table and stuff, but he's finally walking on his own around the house. He is so funny when he takes off because he puts his hands straight in the air and screams and laughs. Brent calls him little Frankenstein because of the way he walks... I'll try to get a picture of it to post on here.
Bo also has 6 teeth now - 4 on bottom and 2 on top!
Darla told Brent last night that she broke up with Evan Brady (a few weeks ago) because he wasn't very good at being a boyfriend. She told him that when she would talk to him or ask him something, he would just run off. So, her new boyfriend is Price - she told her Daddy that he talks to her so that's how she picked him. I sure hope her standards for boyfriend material will get a little higher as she gets older. I haven't met Price yet, but I'm signed up to volunteer for the Thanksgiving Feast on Tuesday, so I'll have to check this guy out then.

Historical Election - Nov 4, 2008

Since this blog is about what's going in on our lives, I couldn't leave off the very historical election we had Tuesday. Barack Obama became the first Black president in United States history. This election has consumed most of the country for months. Whether you agree or disagree with the new president, it definitely goes down as an election I'll never forget.

Halloween

Halloween was fun. Amy & Mik brought Anna and Mia over so we could trick-or-treat together. After a couple of pictures, we were on our way! We left the house around 7p...Bo was already tired. He only made it to one house, got a Butterfinger, and then he was done. I brought him home and he was asleep by 7:15. I sat out on the front porch passing out candy so the doorbell wouldn't wake him up. Darla stayed out with Daddy, Memaw and Anna so she got plenty of candy!

Picture Day

I had to post a picture of Darla this morning - she looked so cute for her school pictures. I am sure that she'll look back on them someday and blame me for putting her in this outfit, but now I can read this and remember that it was very cute for 2008!

It's my party & I'll cry if I want to...

Sometimes the pictures tell the whole story.

Happy Birthday Bo

I know I'm behind on posts, but I had to write one tonight on Bo's very first birthday. I can't believe my baby is already one. This year has flown by. A new little bottom tooth poked through this week, and he's taking small steps but not walking yet. We can't take our eyes off of him for even a second or he's hanging out the dog door, playing in Mugsy's water bowl or getting into something he shouldn't. He really likes books, especially the Barney Halloween book which now looks like a newspaper because it's in so many pieces. He also likes taking things in & out of sacks, boxes or anything else. Yesterday, I was cleaning out his closet and he just played with a pile of plastic coat hangers & a diaper box for 30 minutes. It was really cute. He holds his bottle by wrapping his left hand around it - not sure if that means he'll be left-handed or not.He is such a sweet boy and usually in a really good. Bo, we love you more than you can imagine...I am so happy we have you! These pictures were taken today - the one in the baby bed was first thing this morning when we woke him up singing Happy Birthday. He couldn't even get his eyes open all the way but he was smiling at Darla.

BatGirl, Genie, Yoda & a little Pig

We had a fun day at Cocoa's today. We took the kids' pictures in their costumes. This is an annual tradition for Darla & Jesse, but now Reese and Bo are subjected to dressing up weeks before Halloween too. Bo was a pretty good sport about wearing his costume. It's a little too big so I had to use clothespins to hold it up in the back, but we made it work. Reese was adorable in her pig costume - the pictures are cute but in person it's even cuter!!!
After taking pics, they decided to go swimming - it was freezing. Cortney turned the hot tub on and we kept waiting on it to heat up. Darla was in the hot tub and said "oh, this feels so good." So Jesse comes running and jumps in and screams "Oh my gosh - it's freeezing!" It was so funny to see Darla trying sooo hard to make herself believe the water was warm so she could keep swimming.
Bo loved the swing and he loved playing with Reese's toys. I think Reese likes having Bo around because she gets to be the "big girl" while he's there!

Sensitive feet

We are learning that Bo does not like his feet to touch anything but carpet or hardwood floors. This summer at Uncle Whit's, we realized he didn't like grass. He avoided the grass again at MadiRae's soccer game when Uncle Andy tried to pick him up and let him stand in the grass and both feet came up to his waist to keep from touching it. It was really funny.

This week, he was playing with "Pinto" - a little rocking horse Darla got from Nanaw & Papaw her first Christmas. Brent put Bo on the horse and first he tried to pull his feet up to avoid touching his fur, but that didn't work so he decided to stick them straight out to the side. You can see it in the picture...it's hilarious to see him do it!

I also caught him doing one of his favorite things - pulling all of the books off the shelf in the playroom. He just slings them back one by one.

Darla got on "Blue" again yesterday - she's doing such a good job in Kindergarten and we are so proud of her!

1st place

Miller and I have good news to report - we got 1st at the rodeo this weekend!!! This picture is actually an old one from this summer, but it's all I had so I thought it would work. Mom went with me and we had a great night hanging out.

I had to make an entry about the historic day we had today since I hope to make this blog into a scrapbook. Today the government failed to pass a $700 Billion Bailout Plan and the dow fell a record $778 points in one day...the biggest drop in US History. If you listen to the news, we are headed into a very dangerous economic situation and it's pretty scary. I choose to believe that this is out of my hands and it will work itself out somehow.

As I was getting Bo dressed after his bath tonight, he was playing in his bed and I went over and started tickling him. He laughed sooo hard and it was the sweetest sound in the world. I needed to hear it...with all the doom & gloom in the news, when you see your kids laugh and know they are happy & healthy, everything else seems pretty trivial.

Blue!

Darla had a great day at school yesterday. When Brent picked her up, she told him "don't look in my folder Dad". Well of course that means "look in my folder Dad." She got on Blue for the 3rd time this year. Green is good behavior - most of the time the kids stay on green which is great. Blue means they did something out of the ordinary. Apparently Ms. Muto left the room and all the kids were running and hiding from the teacher when they were supposed to be laying down for "DEAR time" (rest or reading time). Darla & 2 other kids were doing what they were supposed to, so they got moved to blue. She was so excited! The day got even better because when she got home, she & Bo loaded up and went to Nanaw & Papaw's for the weekend. Brent & I spent our free night last night in Princeton at "Catfish Heaven". It was a great little place and they had the best hushpuppies EVER.
I got Bo's invitations order this morning - save the date for Sunday, Oct 26th at 4pm.
Tonight I've entered a rodeo in Wills Point - Miller and I haven't been anywhere since Memorial Day, so we'll see how it goes.

11 months old tomorrow

It's such a cliche, but it's so true. Where does the time go? We went to Mia & Anna's birthday parties this weekend and it seems like yesterday Amy & I were both pregnant. I realized that Bo's birthday is almost here, so I decided I better start working on his party invitations. His favorite word right now is "uh-oh" and he's finally starting to walk a little if you hold his hands. He is getting better at giving kisses, but I think Brent & I probably ask for them a little too much! They are so sweet.

Darla & I went to the barn to ride Sunday while Bo played with Presley at the house. I see Darla on Barbie and I'm so proud of her. She's really doing a great job learning to ride. I have always loved my horses, but it hit me Sunday that I have never loved Barbie more than when I see her with Darla. I never understood why my Mom & Dad loved Buck & Keykeeper so much when they were MY horses. Now I get it - they loved them for taking care of ME... funny how things become clearer when we are parents.

Labor Day Weekend

It was a busy weekend for us. The kids went to Nanaw & Papaw's for a couple of days, so Brent & I left Friday night and went to Winstar Casino. I wanted to go to a furniture store in Henrietta, TX, so we thought we'd drive up to Oklahoma and gamble a little. They don't serve alcohol while you gamble there, so it's very easy to stop gambling when you start losing! I played a little Blackjack while Brent played the slots, but we came out pretty much even. I am looking for new bedroom furniture, but the store in Henrietta was very disappointing. They did have a cute little boutique there so I bought a $15 necklace just to say I got something for the drive out there.
Sunday we went to Durant to pick up the kids. Nanaw made brisket with all the good sides, and we ate until we were stuffed. While we were standing in the kitchen, I asked if she wanted kids someday. She said "maybe just one. I don't think I can handle two. And I'll have a husband (she held up her fingers and made quote signs as she said husband) and he can do all the work!" Ha!
Monday we went to Granddad & Nana's to swim and eat hot dogs. It was a fun weekend...

First Day of Kindergarten

What a day. Bo got us all up at 6am this morning. He usually sleeps until 7, so I guess he knew today was special. I put cinnamon rolls in the oven at 6:30 and then went in to wake up my Kindergartener. She was pretty easy to get out of bed. She got up, ate breakfast, got dressed, and even let me put a bow in her hair! She was so cute all dressed up with her backpack on and carrying her lunch. We loaded up the car and drove the 2 minute drive to school. It was so busy, we had to park a street over and walk in. Daddy & Bo stayed outside while I walked Darla to her class...or I should say, she walked me to her class since she knew right where it was.
We found her room and started putting her stuff away in her locker. Yes, they have lockers in kindergarten at Hunt Elem! When I told her I didn't have a locker in K, she looked at me like that was the saddest thing she'd ever heard!
Darla's name was on a table, so she sat down and started coloring a sheet that said "Welcome to Kindergarten." I know that's what it said because she read it to me and then said "my teacher is going to be so impressed." I'm sure she will be. I took a couple of pictures, gave her a hug, said goodbye and left her sitting there like she was 15 years old. No tears, no sad eyes, nothing...just an independent little girl who has no idea that she is taking a huge step towards growing up. I was so proud of her; she is such a great kid and I don't know how I got so lucky to have her.
I went outside to find Brent & Bo, and luckily, there's a window in Darla's classroom and it happens to be right by the front of the school, so we all peeked in to see her sitting at her table.
The day went pretty fast and it was time to go back. Darla is a "walker" which means she comes out of the east side of the building as though she's walking home (which she'll never do at 5 yrs old), but it's easier than fighting the carpool lane. She came out and had the biggest smile on her face! But, she forgot her lunchbox so we went back in to get it. Inside, she showed me the bathroom pass and told me all about asking to go potty. I'm sure they talk about that a lot the first day of Kindergarten! She told me her teacher "looked prettier & younger in person"! Ha! I'm sure Ms. Muto would love that. And she said she saw Brecklyn, Evan Brady and JoJo - friends from Whistle Stop. Since she claims Evan Brady is her boyfriend, I asked if they talked today and she said "I said hi but he didn't hear me." Hmmm, not sure if Evan Brady feels the same way about Darla as she does about him!
Lunch was her favorite part, and snack...but they "only have one snack time in Kindergarten, not 2 like Whistle Stop". Recess must have been cut short today because she said they only got to play outside today for "one second" but her teacher said tomorrow they could stay outside longer. They went to PE but she didn't need her tennis shoes, her flip flops were fine for today; and during quiet time she DIDN'T SUCK HER THUMB! All in all, it sounds like a successful first day of school.
It's 8:37pm, so I've got to go tuck her in so we can do this all over again tomorrow.

More cute pics

A few more pictures from this weekend...

Bo is 10 months old

Today Bo turned 10 months old. It seems like the time has flown by. He has 2 teeth on the bottom, one on the top, and the other top tooth is about to break through.
He sleeps about 10-12 hours a night and is taking 2 naps a day (sometimes). I sat him on our bathroom scale and he weighed 25 pounds - he's a big boy! He is such a sweet little boy. He is always in a happy mood and has the biggest, sweetest smile ever! He can crawl so fast now that he is across the room in a flash. He still loves Mugsy's dog door, and now he likes her food and water bowl too. Bo also likes when Darla reads to him - actually, he just likes to crawl all over her and take the books away, but it sure is fun to watch.
We went swimming over at Granddad's today, hoping to tire Darla out so she would go to bed early. Brent taught Darla how to jump off the diving board and swim all the way to the shallow end by herself! She told us she was doing the breast stroke to swim that far.

Saturday was Jesse's 6th birthday party at Libby Lu. The girls had so much fun. They had their hair done, make-up, nails painted, played dress up and had the best time. Darla chose the Hannah Montana wig - check out the pics!

Tomorrow is the first day of school. She read two stories to me before she went to bed, and then I laid in bed with here until she fell asleep. She asked me if "we could snuggle?" How can you say no to that?
We went to "Sneak a Peek" on Friday and Darla got to meet Ms. Muto. I didn't recognize any of the kids' names in her class, but I'm sure she'll make lots of new friends. I know I'll have a full report in the morning after I drop her off to KINDERGARTEN!!!

We just watched the closing ceremonies to the Olympics. Brent & I have decided that we are going to London in 2012.

Parent Meeting

Tonight was the Parent's meeting for all the new Kindergarteners at Hunt Elementary. I have to say, I feel like I am having an out of body experience when I sit at a "parent" school meeting. I just can't believe this is happening. I am so excited for Darla to begin her school years. She is going to have so much fun and make so many new friends. I just dread being tied to the school calendar for the next 15 years or so. I really don't know how the teachers can stand dealing with the parents. They had so many stupid question. And then the over achieving mom was there getting volunteers so I went up to introduce myself and sign the volunteer sheet when she asked me "Are you going to be a room mom?". I just froze. In my head I'm thinking, "uh, no. I would rather have all my teeth pulled out at once" but of course I said "Sure." LUCKILY, Ms. Muto's class already has a room mom signed up, so I was off the hook and even faked a small look of disappointment. I think I'm going to get out easy with a couple of days of lunch duty and "Super Centers" [I have no idea what Super Centers are but she assured me they are fun and easy]. Sneak-A-Peek is Friday night so that should be fun.
We started back up at gymnastics today. We've been watching the Olympics and Darla was stretching the other night while watching saying she wanted to be in the Olympics someday. Bo's top 2 teeth are officially coming in.

Swim Club

Last night Jesse spent the night. The girls had so much fun. They spent an hour in Darla's bathroom putting on eyeshadow, lipgloss, body glitter & who knows what else! They also built tents in the playroom and watched "Bridge to Terabithia". They both were a little scared at the part with the monsters so they wanted me to come in and lay with them, but then they said it didn't bother them at all.
This morning we got up and went to Cortney's to swim. Bo was so tired. He wouldn't take a nap so I took him in the pool anyway. Gina was holding him and he got so sleepy that he just put his head on her shoulder (in the pool) and fell asleep! It was so sweet. Cortney put a big float on the table in the shade and I laid him on it to take a little nap. It was the cutest thing ever. Bo is very much outnumbered with all these girls unless Jot's around.
Darla started doing the funniest thing this weekend. She wiggles her eyebrows up & down because she says it makes Bo laugh (which it does every single time). But she makes the funniest face while she's doing it that I can't stop laughing.
As I'm writing this, Darla & Brent just came in wearing crowns. He is "Burger King" and she is Princess Darla. I have a crown too, so I guess I am Mommy the Queen. Now Darla is reading the Littlest Pet Shop "Rapunzel" book to me. She can pretty much read every single word and it's a Level 2 book. I don't know how she got to be so smart. Every single day I am amazed at that child's intelligence, her compassion, everything. She is really a one of a kind human being, and I'm not just saying that because I'm her Mom.

First Blog Ever

Today is my very first entry. Since I can't seem to keep the kids' scrapbooks up to date, I thought I needed something that would tell the story of our everyday lives and all that's happening. Right now, Darla is 5 years old and Bo is 9 months. Darla is actually in Durant this weekend staying at Nanaw's. She wanted a weekend in OK "without her little brother" and she wanted to stay for 3 nights! I know she is having a blast. Nanaw is the best about playing with her for hours & hours. Today Brent & I took Bo to have his pictures taken. I needed the signature baby pose...or his "headshot" as I keep calling it. He smiled so big for the one shot and then kept his serious face the rest of the time. At least I got to see both bottom teeth in the picture. A new one on top popped through this morning. He is crawling, pulling up, and pretty much busy every single second that he is awake. There is no down time with this boy! I love it that Darla is an extra set of eyes & ears...she's so good about telling me when he is doing something he shouldn't be. Like playing with something too small or hitting the door stoppers which is one of his very favorite things right now. The dog door is also interesting to him. I guess he doesn't know why Mugsy can come in & out and he can't. We also went to Presley's 3rd birthday party today at Granddad's, then we went by the hospital to see Uncle Andy. He's had some weird infection in his leg so they've had him on an IV and antibiotics. He looks much better and should be home in a day or two.