A Ty update

Ty finished his second season of soccer. The team name is now the Tigers changed from Fireballs (that wasn't confusing). This season Ty came out of no where. He had a decent season last year but this past spring season takes the cake. He had a game plan which inculded being in at every possible moment. He didn't like being taken out to allow his other 5 teammates a go. And he was pretty tough on himself when he wasn't playing up to his standard. It was cute to watch the determined look that was a constant on his face on offence and defence. Next fall couldn't come soon enough to begin the new season for this little guy. Up next: karate over the summer.

Go Tigers! Shadow Creek Soccer May 2009 Video Length 4:18 Click here to watch





Ty graduated from preschool last week. He has attended a local "moms day out" for 2 years, twice a week from 9:00-2:00. I can't believe that ALL DAY kindergarten is just around the corner. He is ready. I am not. He took up reading pretty well at the beginning of this year and has taken off with it since. I might add here that the Wii is in part responsible for Ty's new found love of reading. Here's why: for every page read he gets 1 minutes time playing the wii. I of course determine the pages worthiness of a minute. We spent this past year gearing up and showing face as often as we could at big sis' school where he will soon attend. We took a day a week and volunteered at the library, ate lunch with Jaden (where we often sent Ty through the lunch line to get a feel for it) and helped in Jaden's classes. Here is Ty earning Wii minutes. We love http://www.starfall.com/ for when we run out of level reader books. (still trying to download the video)

And lastly, here Ty is with 4 of his best little buddies. We are sad to say goodbye to two of his close friends as they are moving to London and Austin. These boys could spend the entire day together with out a single problem, no kidding (Much different than I remember with Jaden and her friends. They could last only 3-4 hours before to much drama leaked into the playdate.)Moms need only provide food and assist with lego malfunctions with these boys. Other than that we never saw them during their playdates except in passing. These playdates rocked!

Only the largest rodeo in the world!

Five years we've been hittin' up the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo that rolls into town every spring and sets up at the Reliant Center which happens to be about a 12 minute drive and 2 minute metro ride from our home. My kids love it and it is very inexpensive. Sixteen dollars gets you in to see all the live stock you can handle, pig races, mechanical bull riding, real life cowboys (and girls) and of course the actual rodeo and concert inside the Houston Texans own Reliant Stadium. The rodeo is my favorite part. I love watching the bull riders, buckin' broncos and horse barrel races. The environment is so laid back and you can usually get a pretty good seat on any given day because the rodeo runs for over two weeks so there isn't the rush of a one-night-only crowd. Following the rodeo (and with in minutes) they roll out their fancy, rotating concert stage over the trodden dirt that was just occupied by the bull riders and bust out a 10 or 12 song concert from major country star performers. This year Taylor Swift sold out the stadium with over 70,000 as well, the Jonas Brothers and last year Hannah Montana attended. Every night there is a new performer. We've been known to go on random nights when we don't really know or particularly love the country star. For example, we went twice this year and saw Trace Atkins and Brooks and Dunn. What I wouldn't have given to have seen Taylor Swift! Until next year. . .

My sister, Sarah, was in town and joined us for the second round of the Houston Rodeo, also her friend Erin came down for the fun of it. However, Jaden missed this round while Sarah was in town as she got to visit her friend Taylor Nikolaus in Arizona during their spring breaks.

Already FIVE!

Our favorite boy is five and we can't believe it! Ty had 6 of his best buddies over and Kyle loaded them up and drove to the LEGO store where they each got to choose a lego box and then returned home for lunch and cake. Ty was 1 year shy of being old enough to officially be allowed, by the store, to have a birthday party. But that didn't hold him back. They went anyway. Honestly, the difference was them being able to put their legos together at the lego store with a table they provided. They weren't missing much.

These days Ty is most interested with star wars light sabers and LEGO's, preferably star wars lego's. He loves jumping on the tramp with buddies and older sis. He enjoys having homework assigned from his pre-school as he looks up to Jaden and sees that that is what she's doing. He is such an obedient child. He remembers every word that comes out of my mouth and follows through. Often, I forget that I have even asked a certain task of him or given an assignment but don't worry he'll come clean and remind me even though it is asking more of him. He is such a sweet, inquisitive, thoughtful, easy going, laid back kid that doesn't take life to seriously, yet. We love you Ty guy!

Kyle made a deal with Ty a few months ago. If Ty read through his whole Dick and Jane book (194 pages) before he started kindergarten in the fall then Kyle would march over to Target and purchase the Wii! Honestly, we've just been trying to prolong the inevitability that we would one day get it and then Ty's life would be taken over by it unless, of course, some serious rules were made. At first Ty thought it to large a task and read a page here and there, then the book got lost for a time and found, then lost again. Anyway, we found it a couple weeks before his birthday and with the help of Aunt Sarah visiting (as well as her desire for the wii while she visited) the two of them tore into the book and had it read 3 days before his birthday. The timing worked out great.

Happy 1st birthday today baby Reese!

Having a difficult time choosing a favorite!

Our healthy, happy, beyond crunch-able Reese!

Trying to get a video of Reese. . .

To my sisters who keep asking for videos of Reese: I'm telling you I can not grant your wish. I've been trying and trying. It's like she knows when I pull out the camera. Even when I am hiding. Maybe it's loud or maybe she's possessed. Here she is so cute and content reading in her chair. . . then she attacks me. When I begin to shoot video she comes after me. Here's what I've got.


However, in my efforts to get Reese on video I managed to get some awesome footage of Ty the Guy. This kid has no shame. He even comes up with his own sound track for the performance. And ya' think Jaden might be vying for some airtime? Ty can't do anything with out her becoming involved. Ty starts to tell a story Jaden finishes it - you get the picture.

This video below is black mail material. Don't ask.

P.S. there's no particular reason why he went skins on this one.

Jaden takes 3rd!

Jaden barley snuck in this year to compete in her school's UIL (University Interscholastic League created by the University of Texas) story telling competition. Three children from her grade were selected to represent Mary Marek at the district level competition. Jaden was selected as the alternate. She continued to attend practices every Monday after school with the understanding that she was back up. Dutifully, Jaden and Kyle arrived early Saturday morning the day of competition just in case one of the three students was late or a no show. I expected Kyle and Jaden home with in the hour but was surprised to receive an enthusiastic phone call from Jaden telling me that Franklin had not arrived and she was going to compete. As fate would have it Jaden continued through 2 eliminations and left her own Mary Marek Elementary team mates in the dust -- taking 3rd place overall in the district (which consists of 14 elementary schools). Last year Jaden placed 2nd in the same competition. She says this years win was much harder and, therefore, means a lot more to her. Good job, sis. We are proud of you!

Of course, much of the credit goes to Kyle who is the "bed time story" guru. He is often found telling the kids elaborate fables before tucking them in at night. He has a ginormous imagination. Even I am captivated by his stories. I usually hear the kids bellowing laughter from upstairs and I'm pulled in.

Here is video of the announcement of winners. I wish we had a video of her in action. However, no one was invited to watch. They performed in front of the three judges only. I guess it makes sense - no peer pressure. But, what we wouldn't have given to be a fly on the wall. By the way the award ceremony started late. We sat through 60 minutes of what I consider Hannah Montana concert like screaming (as you'll witness in the video) while waiting for the judges to make their final selections. We should win an award for keeping our sanity!

How we spent our Christmas

This year we stayed at our home in Texas for the Holidays. Here's how we spent our Christmas.

I got an amazing early Christmas present as the option for delivery was either the Friday before Christmas or after Christmas. Kyle surprised me with a piano. I don't play. I wish I did. However, learning to play had better be one of my top resolutions for 2009. Kyle plays. Jaden is taking lessons and we hope the rest of our children follow suit. Long story short, we have been looking for a piano on craigslist ever since we moved into our new house. We found this one online and it happened to be in our same city a few miles away from us. We drove over looked at it, played it and of course loved it. We thought the price was decent, loved the color and great shape it was in and couldn't argue with it being delivered and tuned as part of the deal. It seemed to good to be true. Then we started talking ourselves down from it. We wouldn't be living beyond our means by purchasing it but the economy is taking a turn. Maybe we should just hold on to our money. In the end I gave up on getting a piano in the near future. Obviously, Kyle had other plans. He tried to have it delivered while a friend was supposed to get me out of the house. But Jaden came down with an illness and it seemed I wouldn't leave so easily. Here is a picture of the beautiful and even more beautiful sounding piano that has made our house feel like a home! Thank you Kyle. I love it!

Christmas Eve Day we attended the Houston Ballet Nutcracker. This is a long standing tradition that Kyle's family has. They have always attended the "cracker" as they call it on Christmas Eve day. We loved it. Afterwards and non-traditionally, (although I could see it becoming a tradition) we drove through a downtown McDonald's drive through and ordered some dollar menu food. Classic! We hurried home read our last countdown to Christmas scripture story, watched the Luke 2 video, opened PJ's, made cookies for Santa, scattered reindeer food on the lawn, prayed that Santa would be guided safely to our home and tucked the 2 oldest in bed together.

We planned not to take Reese with us. However, she woke that morning with a slight fever. We took her with us and she did great. She slept until intermission and literally watched the second half without budging an inch on my lap. She loved it. We were glad we took her after all.

Let's pretend I made these pajamas. . .

The look of bewilderment. . .

The look of down right excitement. . .

Christmas Day dinner. We enjoyed a Christmas ham with all the trimmings. It was so relaxing to be on our own as we were able to spend every second with our kids. Afterwards, we visited a nearby rest home for some Christmas carolling. Can I just say it scared the crap out of my kids! Mission accomplished. . . just kidding.

Here are a few more highlights from December: