Christmas Eve 2009

This morning everyone slept in except for me, but I was fine with it because the house was calm and peaceful. Then once everyone woke up we decided to head to IHOP for breakfast. Yummy pancakes, sausage, eggs, hashbrows were enjoyed by all. The morning has just been lazy with wrapping the last few Christmas gifts. I started teaching Zachary a new computer program called GIMP. GIMP is just like Photoshop but it is a FREE program. He really enjoyed it. Mark went into work for a couple of hours and is now home. I have painted a little bit more on Brooke's mural but I have to wait until Mark can watch her and I can lock her out of her room. Zachary and I will be headed into town to watch Alvin and the Chipmunks the squeakeel. Sorry don't know how to spell that. Later we will do our family tradition of heading over to Mark's Grandmothers house to exchange presents with her and have a huge feast.

Tonight we will make cookies for Santa and put those out with some milk. Mark and I will put the kids to sleep and put out Santa presents and socking stuffers. Then snuggle up and sleep until the morning when we are awoken by the kids climbing into our beds and screaming "Santa came, lets open presents".

Brooke's Mural in her Room

I wanted to put a mural of an Enchanted Forest in Brooke's room on one wall. However, everything I saw was toooo expensive. So, I decided to do it my self. No, I have never done this before but I love to doodle. So, the day before her 2nd b-day I drew the forest on her wall in pencil. Friday of that same week I started painting it. I haven't finished but I wanted to post pics as it is coming along.

I'm not sure how it will turn out but someone told me "That even if it isn't perfect Brooke will love it". This is so true! Every time she comes in and I have more of it finished she squeals in delight.

Right Side of Wall (you should be able to see a litte bit of what I drew in pencil.)

Left Side of wall

Birthdays...

Well, both of my children has had their birthdays. My little boy is no longer a little boy. On Nov. 30 he turned 8 years old. He is starting to cook somethings for himself that needs to be microwaved or in the toaster oven. He can even reach the top of the refrig. It seems that just a couple of years ago he was just a little thing. For his birthday he got a microscope that really cool. You connect it to the computer and view the images on the computer. He also got the 3rd book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

My baby girl is growing up also. On Dec. 16 Brooke turned 2 years old. After getting her into her birthday dress and fixing her hair she looked so much older. She got a big girl doll house (it is taller than her), some dolls. She is learning so fast also. She already knows her letters and all their sounds. What a huge accomplished to achieve before turning 2.

After looking at my blog header I am going to have to change the pics. They no longer look like that anymore. Those pic are a year old. WOW! how time flies.

Pics (sorry some are sideways)

kids playing in the rain

Brooke 2009

Yes, she has a dirty mouth

She is toooooo cute!

This is some of the kids in Zachary's 3rd grade class playing a game.

Family went to the Arboretum to meet Zachary's TXVA Teacher. Brook looks at a waterfall.

Yep, he likes to pose for the camera.

The arboretum in Dallas is really pretty. Spring is always nice.

Neither one wanted to look at me nor did they want to sit by each other.

Zachary and his teacher Mrs. Layton (3rd grade)

Zachary shooting the bow at Mom and me Cubscout campout

Me shooting a bow at Mom & Me. This was really fun.

Pumpkin patch

Pumpkin patch

Zachary at mom and me (my lil model)

He thinks he is sooooo cute. Watch out girls.

Mom and me campout theme was Circus

Best Friends

Zachary posing in the sun. Oops should have gotten the sun out of your eyes.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!

I would like to congratulate my son Zachary. He completed 3rd grade math 2 weeks ago and last week he started on 4th grade math. Good job on all the hard work and keep it up.


CONGRATS Zachary!

General Update

Hopfully I will have pictures up soon. Our old computer, the one that I usually upload pics from, is about to go. I am trying to download everything on CD's before it goes. life has been crazy! School, cubscouts, being a wife, being a mother, cleaning, church, family, deaths, and everything else I'm about to scream.

Mark will be headed out of town this weekend to visit a friend in New Orelans, Louisiana. He better be good! So, I am having a girls night out this Friday. I will be going to watch 2012 the movie (no i don't believe in the whole 2012 prophacy) but the movie should have some really good special effects. I am also thinking about heading to Longview on Saturday to do some shopping.

Shopping now that's another story. At this point I have to think about Zachary's Birthday, Brooke's Birthday and Christmas. To many presants to think about all at one time. November and December just gets crazy around here.

Birthdays will be done differently this year. We have decided to just do birthday parties with family. Then when Summer comes we will have one be Pool party with a bouncy house for Zachary's and Brooke's half birthday. Right now I am thinking no presants but maybe a can food item to donate to the food pantry.

A lot has happened

Well, I can't believe that it has been over a month since I blogged. Sorry guys! Well, this should be a long post.

Weight Lost Jorney:
Well, WW didn't work or I just wasn't into it. Then when school started up so did cub scouts and the ww meetings and cubscouts are on the same day at the same time. So, I couldn't go. Well, I am a huge Biggest Loser fan. I think I have only missed 1 season. Well, you know that thing they were on their arms, I have one. Yes, that is right I have one. So, if you see something on my arm it is called a bodyBugg. It is actually the coolest thing. I long onto my account and input my food for the day. It calculates how many calories I ate then I plug in my bodybugg and it calculates how many calories I burned for that day. If i am in a deficiet I am losing weight if I am in a surplus I am gaining weight. It will also tell me how much protein, fat, carbs, etc.. that I have eaten for that day.



3rd grade school: (Zachary)
Zachary is doing great. He loves the science even through he he way ahead of it. He is moving so fast in it that he will be finished probably by december. I have purchased an online program called www.Exploreelearning.com. It has both math and science. We will use it mainly for science. It goes from 3rd-12th grade for science. It is like doing all the hands-on experiments without actually buying all the materials to do them. He loves it and will actually do it on Saturdays.

He has completed all the math unit assessments but we skipped the lessons assessments and he is 37% finished with 3rd grade. I asked the teacher to move him up but she says he has to be 85% finished. UGH!!! So, we are blazing through the lessons assessments to get to 85% so that he can move up. He has only missed 5 or 6 questions total in 37%. Plus, if he can do the unit assessments then he understands the lessons assessments. I also think he will move fast with the 4th grade curriculum. With this program it looks as if mid-way through 5th is his actually level.
Zachary in Art class.Brooke in her brothers art class

Brooke:
Well, Brooke is growing leaps and bounds. Both physcially and mentally. She is in the 90% for her height. She is really verbal and loves to talk. She has also started potty training. She started when she was 20 months old. I say give her a couple more months and she will be potty traning. Wow!! It will be nice to have a child that is potty trained at 2 years old.

Sewing:

I have started sewing. I love making pillowcase dressing and skirts. Here is one that I made for a friend.