2008 -- Summer Fun

The kids tried to have some summer fun wherever they could. They spent some time playing miniature golf, went to Port Aransas, played marbles, took in some baseball games with friends and lots of pool time.
(Sydni - June 2008; Caleb and Jacob - May 2008)

Sydni and her friend Mandy went to a game and had fun eating and eating -- oh, and did I mention eating!

(May 26, 2008)

Jacob and Caleb enjoying a round of minature golf;

(May 31, 2008)

I spent my birthday (July 4) in Chicago so the kids helped me celebrate when I got back on the 5th. Granny Gran helped them light some fireworks in the backyard.

(July 5, 2008)

Sydni, Jacob & Caleb playing marbles.

(July 6, 2008)

Caleb and Jacob enjoy going to the RR Express games because they get to play on the bungee jump and rock climb. I enjoy the games -- them, not so much.

(July 27, 2008)

2008 -- Soccer

Caleb and Jacob played soccer again. They get tired but enjoy being out there playing -- especially if they are winning. They are both great players. Sydni, not so much. She's finally opted out of playing but she will go to watch and lend her support.
(May 2008)


(Jacob & Caleb); (Diane and Sydni)

2008 -- Flat Stanley

I can't believe I forgot all about Flat Stanley. Caleb's class sent him to me so I took him with me to New York, the NASCAR race and to a couple of RR Express games. He wrote a great letter to the kids and even sent some pics and souvenirs to all.
(May 2008)

2008 -- End of School Year Awards

The kids had another school assembly on the last day of school. Sydni received a Writing Award and All-Year Classy Conduct award. Jacob received a Math Whiz Award and a perfect attendance award. I believe Caleb had one bad day during the school year which cost him a Classy Conduct Award.

(May 28, 2008)

2008 -- Boy Scouts

Jacob and Caleb attended their Boy Scouts Crossover in May. They went from Wolves to Bears. Diane is now a co-leader for their troop as well. They have so much fun at their meetings. They've learned about bike safety, learned how to use tools, Pine Derby cars, and so much more.

(May 17, 2008)

2008 -- NASCAR

Jacob and Sydni have been asking to go to the NASCAR races with me and Po-Po. This year, Po-Po got sick for the April races so I braved it and took both Jacob and Sydni with me. The ride up was good -- the kids listened to Katie Kazoo the entire way so they were entertained. When we got to the hotel, the first thing the kids wanted to do was go to the inside pool -- so we went there for a little while. We then went back to the room to order room service. In the middle of the night, we were awoken by the fire alarm. The entire hotel had to be evacuated because someone was smoking too close to a smoke detector. Jacob did not want to wake-up and it frightened Sydni a little.

The next day we made it to the races and bought some items for Po-Po before heading to our seats. We made it just in time for the beginning of the race. Jacob went for his electronics right away. Sydni was busy taking pictures. It got hot really fast and Sydni's film ran out so both were ready to go (about an hour after we got there!!!). So we headed out -- and someone hit us as we were driving out of the parking lot. They completely ruined my front door but luckily it was drivable. The kids slept the entire way home so they weren't disturbed by the door being ajar. I had to put duct tape all around the door to try and keep the air out and had to tie the seat belt through the door to make sure it didn't fly open.

(April 7, 2008)

2008 -- School Awards

The kids had a school assembly and were given awards. Caleb received the Reading Whiz Award and Jacob received the Math Whiz Award. Sydni was not happy that she did not receive an award this time around. We had to explain that she couldn't get something every six-week period -- there are other kids who also need to get the awards.

(April 3, 2008)

2008 -- Easter

We celebrated Easter at home this year. We had a little Easter egg hunt and of course, we had to have cascarones for the kids. They enjoy breaking those things over every one's head. The only problem is they are so messy when you go in the house after the big fight.

(March 24, 2008)

2008 -- Hockey

Sydni and I went to an Ice Bats game. Sydni enjoyed watching the players come in/off the skating rink. She also loved the hot chocolate they had. We had to huddle together quite a bit because it was freezing in the building. We love watching the fights (doesn't everyone?) and they had a couple at this game. Caleb also went to a game but I don't believe I got any photos.

(March 23, 2008)

2008 -- Houston Space Center

As predicted, Diane and I took the kids to the Houston Space Center. Caleb wants to be an astronaut so we knew he would love it. Sydni told her brothers all about the playscape that they have there and the awesome gift shop. We stayed overnight close to the Center and then started the morning with breakfast at the kids new favorite breakfast place, Denny's. Then we went to the Center and walked around and then took the tram tour. It is such a sight to see the control center where they engineers talk to the astronauts while they are in space. We also saw the movie about living in space. When the part where they mention that if a piece of debris hits an astronaut while he is walking in space it could be catastrophic -- Caleb turned to me and said he didn't think he wanted to be an astronaut any longer. He changed his mind by the time we left and he's back on track.

Our trip was during Spring Break and the Center had some activities for the kids. The day we were there, they had a funny funny man leading the kids in songs and they had cartoon characters to entertain them. Sydni got her picture with Tweety Bird -- she almost didn't; there was a long line and she didn't want to stand in it but once it got to the end of the line, she decided she did want a pic. Tweety Bird was so sweet and agreed to take the photo. Jacob got his picture with Diego (from Dora fame).

(March 18, 2008)

2008 -- GS @ Houston Space Center

Diane and I took Sydni to an overnighter with the Girl Scouts at the Houston Space Center. We went with our Cousin Colleen and her daughter, fellow girl scouter Gaby. The girls loved it! Once we saw the Space Center, we knew we'd be coming back with the boys soon. They did a lot of crafts (made a constellation and told the story of it; planets necklace) and learned a lot about space. We were awoken the same way the astronauts on the International Space Station are woken up -- with loud music over the intercom. I jumped up it was so loud!

(March 9, 2008)

2008 -- Hannah Montana

Sydni is a fan of Hannah Montana. When we found out she was coming to Austin for a concert, it was too late to get tickets -- and scalpers were selling them for over $200 each and I wasn't paying that for a concert. The day of the concert, a co-worker came by and said that they had just released a bunch of tickets to the concert so I called and was able to get us some tickets. They weren't by each other (one was on the floor and one was in the arena). Cousin Colleen also got tickets so she and Gaby were able to go too. At the concert, we were both able to have floor seats. It was SO LOUD!!! It was a pretty good concert and Sydni's first one.

(January 24, 2008)

2008 -- Corpus Christi

Diane and I took Sydni, Caleb & Jacob to Corpus Christi. We went as part of the boys Boy Scouts overnighter at the Aquarium in Corpus. We went up a day earlier so we could go to the beach and to the USS Lexington. The kids really enjoyed the Lexington. They went all over that ship.

It was too cold to enjoy the beach but we stayed for a little while to take pics.

The next day we met up with the other Boy Scouts and toured the Aquarium and then spent the night with the sharks.

(January 20, 2008)

2007 - Christmas: the presents

We celebrated Christmas with our family on Christmas Eve. We had our annual family gathering and then went home to open presents....and then more on Christmas Day.

Caleb got his iPod Nano that he has been wanting.
Sydni got Bratz and Littlest Pet Shop toys she requested.
and Jacob got a Wii as he requested two weeks before Christmas!!!

2007 - Christmas

Gingerbread Houses -- December 8, 2007

We made gingerbread houses with the kids at their house this year. Jacob and Sydni were all for doing this -- Caleb decided he didn't want to but then when we were just about through, he came into the kitchen and asked if I had an extra kit.

They all did a great job and did it pretty much on their own. Sydni's house ended up having a roof that was too heavy and it toppled over before we could save it. We caught Jacob's before it crumbled and saved it as best we could. By the time we did Caleb's we were pros and his went along pretty well.

School Program - December 3, 2007

The Second grade class sang Christmas carols at the PTO meeting this year. They did a great job and all three kids sang their little hearts out. Caleb has even been known to be caught singing in the shower.

2007 - Nascar

November 4, 2007

Popo and I took Caleb to the Nascar races in Fort Worth in November. It was Jacob's turn to go but at the last minute he decided he didn't want to go (because he was too busy watching TV). When I went to pick up Caleb, Sydni and Jacob both decided they wanted to go. I had asked Sydni earlier if she wanted to go in place of Jacob and she said no so I said Caleb could go again. They cried and cried and cried. It got to the point where I told Caleb that I should take Sydni since she hadn't been and he had and he started to cry saying that wasn't fair because I told him he could go. Oy vey! More tears and I finally had to leave Sydni and Jacob whimpering with Granny Gran. She called me five minutes later and told me they were ok -- with a little bribe at Wal-Mart.

It all turned out good. We went to the races on Saturday and Sunday. I've lost my pictures to I don't have any of Caleb but here is a general pic.

2007 - Bowling

November 2007

We have been doing a lot of bowling lately. We all enjoy it and it's a good couple of hours of good-clean family fun.

Sydni has even rolled a strike.

Pics: Sydni, Caleb & Jacob bowling

2007 -- Halloween

October 2007

This year for Halloween, Jacob dressed up as a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle; Sydni dressed up as a cheerleader; and Caleb didn't dress up. When the kids were young, some idiot jumped out of a tree when they were trick-or-treating and scared the daylights out of him. He hasn't forgotten and has finally decided he didn't want to trick-or-treat anymore because of that one incident.

Granny Gran and I took the kids to the local spooktacular -- Caleb and Sydni stayed and played games with me but Caleb decided he would rather go hand out candy with Granny Gran. After we played all the games, I took Jacob and Sydni trick-or-treating. They had fun and got lots of goodies.

2007 - Our Cheerleader

October 2007

Sydni participated in a cheerleading camp with the local high school cheerleaders this year. One of the perks was she was able to cheer at a Friday night football game. We weren't sure she was going to do it but she said if we all showed up, she would do it.



We were so proud of her! She was fabulous. It was so cold and this was our first year so we didn't know what she should wear underneath. We put grey sweats on and then Diane bought her a cheerleader outfit at the game. They cheered as the football players came on the field and then again at half-time in front of the bleachers. (Note: Sydni is at the very back in the video -- she has grey sweats on underneath her skirt)