Week 2 - 4 Accomplishments

These past couple of weeks the progress has been really slow, but I wanted to highlight what I did accomplish rather than the stuff that I didn't.

* watched the Lowe's delivery guy install the oven/stove
* deep cleaned the kitchen (because the Lowe's guy was coming)
* painted the laundry room thus needing to refix the dryer vent
* spent the MLK holiday with my daughter, nieces and my parents
* ice skating for Jenna with friends while Jackson swam at the CAC with friends
* completed Jackson's AT-AT Walker that Santa gave him
* movie with my sister on one of her days off
* girls night / movie night with some girlfriends
* deep cleaned the kids' bathroom (yuck is all I have to say)
* had my own pity party for a few days
* snowed / iced in for 4 days with the family - there aren't enough Wii games, crafts, books to make you not have a little cabin fever
* read lots of books to contain some of the nervous energy

Hopefully this next week will be a more productive one. The snow days really hinder everything that was needed to be done, so we are praying for good weather.

Week 1 Accomplishments

In order to keep sane during this time of unknown I have decided to highlight my accomplishments. Here is everything that I/we accomplished during Week 1:

* installed over the range microwave
* deep cleaned the living room
* had a date day with Jason including a grown up movie
* started my workout routine that was suspended during the holidays
* one job interview
* worked on Saturday on random house projects with my Dad while Jason worked
* Hung out with my parents and nieces

Next week...the oven/stove is delivered. Yeah!

The Nutcracker

Later Saturday night we headed to watch the San Angelo Civic Ballet's production of the Nutcracker. It is mainly performed by children. It was a lovely time out with the girls.

Annual Mother - Daughter Game

November 20th was our annual Mother - Daughter Texas game. It was an afternoon game so we didn't have to get up quite so early to drive down. It was a non-conference game that Texas actually won so it was a good one for Jenna to attend.



Jenna still liked watching the band.



Or maybe getting on the Jumbotron was her favorite this year.



Since it was an afternoon game Jenna got to see the tower turn orange at the end of "Eyes of Texas."



Great day with Jenna! She started asking football questions and tried to understand the game. Wonderful memories that I remember sharing with my Dad as a kid.

Jennifer's Birthday

The week of my birthday I had the opportunity to be off from work. I didn't log in to anything work related so it really was a vacation. My goal was to purge through several bins of things before the holidays are upon us. So I was working but I tried to do something for myself each day. I had dessert, walked places instead of driving, got my toes done, got my hair done, went to the movies in the middle of the day with Jason and slept in a few days.

We went to dinner on Macaroni Grill and my kids were good which is really the only gift I needed but Jackson scored me some free chocolate cake! Jenna took the very close up picture so I have like four chins.




The kids drew me birthday cards while we waited for our food.

Saturday of Games

We started bright and early on Saturday and headed to the State Fair. We met up with our friends Steve and Jenny to head to the Baylor / Tech game. Jason and I even wore green to support the Bears.



Before we headed into the game we were able to go through the Tom Landry exhibit. The exhibit is a prelude to the Super Bowl in Arlington in February.





We had to head a little early to get Jason to the Rangers game.



Unfortantely both the Bears and the Rangers lost. Other than a little more sun than we wanted we had a great time.

Happy Anniversary Jennifer!

Jason gave me an anniversary present a day early. We traveled to Kansas City to visit all things Hallmark. We went to the visitors center that had a great stamping activity through the different exhibits for the kids.



The kids got to make a purple bow



Jenna liked the ornament section - as do I.



We ate lunch at the Crayola Cafe



Visited the Crayon Store



The kids loved being creative in Kaleidoscope activity center.




One of the many fountains



We headed across I-35 to enter Kansas - this is the best it gets picture wise.


Jenna kept busy with her new craft.



Best part of all this - everything but lunch was free!

Branson

Since we were in three different condos we had the opportunity to share meals together. The kids loved eating on the covered patio.



One of the things G-Mommy wanted to take the kids to was the Noah's Ark musical. It was a mix of animated and real animals. It was really good.



Jason and I went to the Titanic exhibit and later brought the kids to see the ship.



In the parking area they have these horses made out of sticks. Here's Jenna's favorite.



We did plenty of swimming both in the pool and the tub.





We hit up the Hollywood Wax Museum




Found a couple of things in the Five & Dime store in Old Historic Branson


Then we saw a familiar sign!

Branson - Riding the Ducks

On Monday we headed into town to ride the ducks. It is one of Granddaddy's favorite! They had an area to entertain the kiddos while you wait for your boat.



Our flock



Our boat



See this yellow horns - everyone in our boat had one. Pretty cool on the boat, not so cool in the condo.





Once we got to Table Rock Lake we roll down this ramp straight into the lake. Our boat went old school and headed in Dukes of Hazzard style. Once we were on the lake the kids on the boat get to drive the boat. The best was memory is my 4 year old niece Reese started flirting with Captain Who during her time at the wheel.




This old fashion paddleboat tours the lake



Afterwards the kids got their certificates signed by Captain Who. Can you see Reese flirting? Is 20 too old for a 4 year old?

Another Family Reunion

The kids and I headed to another family reunion at the end of June. This time in New Braunsfel. This reunion has been going on every two years since 1980. It all stems from my grandmother's grandparents down. Sometimes it is so huge we have to really have name tags to know how we are related. I hadn't been able to come since 2004 due to ballet recitals.

I went down on Friday morning to spend some time with my parents. Mom and I went to Gruene. We walked and window shopped and didn't purchase a thing.



On Saturday was the reunion. It was at least 100 degrees out but the kids had a good time on the playground, the climbing trees and on the train around the park.


Jackson, Rylee and Jenna




We were along the river which had flooded the park about two weeks prior to our reunion so we were lucky. Although the kids like to see how close to the river they could get.


Quinton, Cole, Hayden, Will holding Presley, Jenna, Rylee, Reese, Aunt Dee Dee, Jackson. These are all but one of my grandmother's great-grandkids.

At the end of the day we take the required family shots in front of the family quilt. We use to be able to all fit in one group shot, but with the kiddos growing we had to split into two shots. Here is my Mom's family shot:


Here is my Uncle Jack's family shot: