Allison...NINE!

Allison turned nine on October 10th.  She had a couple friends over to celebrate.  Allison likes tacos, but not cucumbers.  She likes Butterfinger candy and pumpkin pie.  She loves to go to gymnastics.  She likes neon colors and is considering being a teacher when she grows up.  Allison enjoys crafts...just the other day she was hot gluing things like nuts found outside and jute onto the lid of a popcorn tin.  She likes to pretend to make things out of kitchen ingredients. She still likes to play with her dolls and with her "humming family" (Loving Family) dollhouse.  She likes going to Activity Days.  We enjoy going shopping together.  The other night we were reading Christmas stories, and there was one we were reading from the Friend magazine.  It was from Dec. 1958 and she commented that "that's when you were sorta born."  Oh goodness :)  Allison's interpretation of the medleys Tanner plays:  When he messes up, he goes to the next song!  She likes to play outside and jump on the trampoline.  Happy Birthday, Allison!

Connor...14

Connor turned 14 in October....the 5th.  We went shopping for a "fancy" calculator he practices on for UIL contest.  We ate dessert at Yumilicious.  He has moved out of Scott's scout group.  He likes chicken pockets and German pancakes.  He doesn't like King Ranch Chicken.  He loves jelly beans.  He likes to read anytime and likes the color green.  Connor is thinking he might become an engineer when he grows up.  Favorite sport?  Orchestra (you compete for chairs; that's sporty).  He enjoys orchestra, looks forward to summer and dreads English.  He claims he doesn't need it (English) and he doesn't like analyzing poems.  He has introduced our family to the "guanaco."  He wore his braces all year, just getting them off this past Wednesday.  Connor wishes his middle and ring finger were webbed together....why?...he would be cool and he could swim faster!  This past year we were talking about a consequence for Quinn bothering Allison.  Connor chimed in with a real good one, like where Quinn would have to mow, and then PAY ME after mowing!  Happy Birthday, Connor!

Summer's over...fall has begun.  I just got back from a Girl's Night Out, and one of my friends was maybe going to go home and update her blog.  I decided that I would like to do that, too!  I don't usually go to GNO.  I would rather go out with Scott or be with our family, or do just plain do what needs to be done.  But, this was a group of ladies I was excited to spend time with.  It was a small group, and oh, so refreshing! I love it when someone has an opinion and shares it.  I love to learn what someone else thinks.  Scott took Connor on his Scout Campout, and Quinn was willing to stay with Tanner and Allison.  So, I sneaked out to my friend's home after Quinn's baseball game.  I was a little shy about going, but I'm glad I did!  We laughed, talked, snacked and played a couple games.  

Summer highlights were Quinn's High Adventure canoeing in Canada for lots of days, Connor going to scout camp, Tanner playing in All Stars, Allison's competition in San Antonio (with Tanner and me) and some cousin time.  I did an exercise class with friends at Martin and walked tons with Oki.  I don't have much to show for it, but it was good then ;)

This school year, I'm team teaching seminary with Jacque Morgan.  We have a combined class of 9-12, with about 21 students (maybe 14 on any given day).  Jacque is heaven-sent.  I LOVE working with her.  She is so kind and generous (to me and to the youth).  Seminary is still a huge challenge in my life, but it is much sweeter working with Jacque now.  

I plan to volunteer in the school library on Mondays this year, starting next Monday.  After teaching seminary, I sometimes imagine I'd like to go back to school and become a school librarian.  And sometimes, I don't imagine going back to school just yet or even at all.  But, it's fun to be dreamy.  This summer, Connor and I did some book shelving at the public library for him to earn scout service hours.  Love the library!  No, I really love the library and children's literature.  

I also love fall baseball.  I love the excuse it gives me to get out of the house with the children in the cooler weather.  I enjoy watching them play, whether they are playing ball on the field in the game, or whether they are playing in the grass on the side of the fields.  And sometimes Scott and I will both be at a game at the same time, and that's a treat, too!

I don't have any fancy clincher line to end this post with.  I'll end with the beginning:  "Summer's over...fall has begun."   

19 Years

Scott and I celebrated our 19th anniversary this summer.  Because he doesn't usually bring me flowers, he truly surprised me with flowers for our anniversary!  Sometimes it seems just like yesterday that we were married, but then, you look at the next picture and it definitely wasn't yesterday that we got married!  It's been an amazing journey to have children and experience life together.  

The second picture is from the summer (from the date it looks like it was the day before our anniversary)....Allison had a "Fancy Nancy" fetish over the summer.  While Scott and I were gone for a little while Sunday evening, she made up a whole "plain, fancy" presentation.  

Happy Anniversary!

A Hot Hundred

A couple things are great about this picture (actually 3).  This reminds me that he and my brother, Edd, rode a 100 mile bike ride at the tail end of the summer.  Edd and Scott got up at like 2:30 in the morning and drove to Wichita Falls, biked 100+ miles and then drove home.  I think Anne and I might have had more fun here with the kids sewing and going on a picnic!  So, that's my first thing this picture reminds me of.  

The next reminder is that Scott got a new-to-him car.  We decided to let Quinn drive the old Camry, and he'd get something newer.  After looking at Accords, Altimas, etc., he found a VW Passat in Dallas.  It's a zippy little thing that Quinn and I take to seminary many mornings!

The last thing this picture reminds me of, is just how much I like that guy!  He will listen to me till the cows come home, and will usually tell me I'm right.  He makes breakfast on many Saturdays.  He consistently thanks me for dinner and always helps with clean up (and reminding the kids to do their kitchen jobs).  Scott helps me with seminary in any and every way possible.  He motivates me without pushing me.  He is kind and helpful.  And, he's a hard worker.  He means the world to me and is an amazing husband and father.  Lucky us!

Tanner's Talent

Tanner played the piano for some of the songs in the primary program!  We're grateful to his piano teacher (the primary pianist) for letting him shine.  He was also asked to play at a baptism of a friend, and he practiced diligently to learn 2 new songs.  He will play easy arrangements of Jim Brickman for me, and he'll play Star Wars for himself!  He plays even when he shouldn't play, like when he should be doing his jobs ;)  

Tanner is playing for the Padres this fall.  He is liking it just fine.  He is in the 6th grade--top of the school.  Very cool.  Very cool.  He doesn't even walk home with Allison and me many days.  He is playing violin still and has inherited Quinn's violin (Quinn isn't playing in the orchestra at the school anymore).  Tanner will be 12 in December.  The time is going by too quickly.  I don't want my littlest billy goat gruff to grow up too soon (but I do love watching him grow and learn).  

She's NINE and still a girl!

Allison is NINE and still a girl....when she was born, I asked Scott if she was still a girl.  The ultrasound said she was, but I wasn't totally going to believe it until she was here.  Scott verified that she was indeed still a girl, and I melted!  

Allison went to school on her birthday...the 10th.  She had a party on the Columbus Day off school that Monday before.  She had two friends over.  They played outside, went to Chick-Fil-A and decorated cupcakes.  Allison is into the "Friends" lego sets and put together her new sets on Monday.  She would still like some gymnastics mats someday.  Allison is enjoying 3rd grade.  She loves the time she's spent recently with her cousins, too!