Fall Happenings

Kevin put lights on the playhouse! They love it!

Making pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving.



Audrey in her pilgrim outfit for the CCS Thanksgiving Feast

Tatum blowing out her candles at her Pump it Up party.

Hudson with his backpack on his first day of preschool!

Yes...it's been a long time since we've posted! There has been a lot going on the past month - Tatum's birthday, the Thanksgiving Feast at Audrey's school, and Hudson started preschool! Yes, I caved - but with #4 coming in May, I thought it would be good for me to have some time for doctor appointments, naps, etc! We both cried on his first day, but it's getting better. He loves his teachers and has now started singing songs he's learned in music class and chapel. He loves it when he sees Tatum at school - he yells at her from across the room!

Halloween

Here are some pics from Halloween. Audrey was a Fairy, Tatum was Word Girl (from the new PBS series) and Hudson was Bob the Builder. Hudson totally got into going to the neighbors' houses this year. We had a blast! I think we're set for candy until at least Valentine's Day! Enjoy the pictures. Thanks to Shara for making the Fairy and Word Girl Costumes! It'd be pretty sad if I had to make them!

The little man is 2!

It's hard to believe that Hudson is 2! It truly seems like yesterday that he was born. What a blessing he has been to us. Lately he's been so funny - he tells knock, knock jokes because his sisters love telling them. He can only get it half out - but it's funny anyway! His big thing is to say "Hunny do!!" As in "Hudson do!" He loves to boss the girls around and tell Tatum no and go! And he's already a big snitch - he tells on Tatum mostly (Tatum hit me...Tatum touch hat). Can you tell they have a dynamic relationship??? He had a great Nemo party with friends and family. It was a wonderful celebration.

Big Summer

It's been a big summer with the Fort Worth Foxes. We went to California, Audrey lost a tooth AND got a "big girl" haircut, we hosted a big birthday bash and helped Caitlin get settled in at TCU. We are looking forward to this school year as Audrey starts first grade and Tatum starts in the "4 year old" class (well, she's almost 4!). Hud will stay home with me - I'm not ready to let that stinker go. He'll be a big 2-year-old next month! Here are some photos from the summer, in random order!

The Land of the Lost and a Lost Tooth

You know it's 107 outside when you hit the public library and come out with an assortment of books and a DVD of Disc 1 of the entire first season of "Land of the Lost..." Yes, there are THREE discs in the series and there are 17 episodes in the first season. As I have yet to find season 2 - I'm guessing Marshall, Will and Holly are either still trapped in that other dimension or Enik (the intelligent Sleestak) helped them through a portal with those colorful crystals. If that's true, then Holly is now "Ronny" - remember when her older self comes back to visit?? I have to admit, I LOVED that show when I was a kid - when the Kroftt Superstars show came on, I wished it was The Land of the Lost instead of the Bugaloos!!! But watching as an adult is an entirely different story!! It is so lame! And the stories are crazy and the props are terrible. But, everytime it was on, I would find myself drifting to a chair and sitting down to watch a few episodes! You know your a kid of the 70s if these Land of the Lost characters/props sound familiar: Chaka, Ta and Sa; Grumpy; Big Alice; Dopey; Sleestaks; pylons; Saresataka; Enik; S'Latch. There's so much more, but it's already taking up too much brain space, must stop remembering! I'll end my discussion of LOL with the theme song, which the girls now know and love (and love the show!):

Marshall, Will and Holly
On a routine expedition
When the greatest earthquake ever known
High on the rapids, struck their tiny raft (AHHHHHHH!!!!)
Plunged them down, a thousand feet below (really, only 1,000 feet??)
To the land of the lost
To the land of the lost

I apologize now for putting that song in your head...on to the Land of the Lost Tooth...Audrey lost her first tooth! It was a bloody, painful, experience that was all forgotten once said tooth was removed and the promise of the Tooth Fairy was remembered...she was so excited! It's a bottom tooth - I think she's the only girl in her kindergarden class who hadn't lost a tooth by the end of the year...She's such a big girl! The next post will be about her big Hawaiin luau birthday party. I think we're way in over our heads!! I'll post pictures next time. And by then, Caitlin will be here and getting settled in at TCU!! Woo hoo!!

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

We had a friend over last night - the "other" Audrey, one of our Audrey's sweet friends. They had both been at MusiCamp all day so I figured they'd be so tired they'd fall asleep quickly that night. Wrong! They giggled until after 11:00 - and they were up early this morning. We had to fix hair for "crazy hair day!"

Anyway...this video is from their production of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz...with some creative license taken...(note the background music!) They all had such a great time!

I love a parade...

Hope everyone had a great 4th of July celebration! The girls and Kevin partipated in a parade in our neighborhood - they had such fun! Hudson and I met them at a corner and cheered them on as they went by. We decorated Audrey's bike and helmet with red, white and blue streamers and Kevin put an American flag in the bike trailer, along with Tatum! It was fun! The rest of the day was lazy, lazy as we just hung around the house and the girls played in their little pool in the backyard. We went to Alan and Kerri's that night and ate dinner, swam and got to visit with great friends and family. Tatum has discovered arm floaties and didn't want anyone to touch her in the pool - "I can do it myself!" Audrey has yet to discover that it's not so bad to put your face in the water and I discovered that Hudson will jump off the side of the pool to me and I can take him under for a few seconds. He alternately laughs and cries, but he seemed to enjoy it! Later we had a great view of the fireworks! :) It was a great day.

California

Wow! We had such a great time in California celebrating Caitlin's graduation. Of the seven (soon to be eight!) grandkids, there are six who are 5 and under. They all got along amazingly well - like they played together all the time. What a joy to all be together. The next high school graduation celebration will be Audrey's in 2020. SCARY!! I won't even think about how old we'll all be when that happens! Hopefully we'll all be able to be together again and think about all the great memories we've had over the years. We talked about doing another all-family summer vacation next summer - let's do it!! Start saving now and let's head to New Mexico!

While in San Diego, Kevin and I had the opportunity to go to the US Open on Friday. What a treat! And yes, I really do like watching golf! I don't do it just for Kevin's sake - for those that know me well, you know I'm not that nice! haha... We got to see Tiger and Phil make their way through the 18th hole and we parked ourselves at the 7th hole to see several groups go by - including Rocco Mediate's. What a beautiful course and the weather was wonderful!

Here are some pics from our trip. Wish we could do it more often. Love you all! - Holly

The graduates

It's hard to believe that Audrey has finished Kindergarten! She officially "graduated" on May 22. They wore caps and gowns and even got diplomas. It was so sweet to watch them do their recitation together for the last time as a class. We feel so blessed to have her at Covenant - a place where God comes first. We couldn't be happier about her first year in school. The day before graduation, Audrey had a field day - the kindergarten classes had friendly competitions with water balloon fights, races, tag, and some crazy game where they had to run to a pile of clothes, put them on and spin around and then take the clothes off and run back to tag the next person. I had never heard of that one, but they had fun doing it! Most importantly, Audrey received the sportsmanship award for the kindergarten classes (for the girls.) Her sweet friend Bronson, our carpool buddy, received the award for the kindergarten boys. Must be all that good advice Sharon and I give during our weekly carpool drives! Ha!! We just have sweet kids. I was very proud of Audrey.


Not to be out done, Tatum had a last-day-of-school party and she also received a diploma. She will now officially be in the "older threes" class next year! She's had a great first year of preschool and she's changed so much in the past year. The other day she told me she was done with "the Tatum talk" and then she kept asking me if I noticed how much her words had changed. She's a nut! I think she just wants to be big like Audrey. She's already claiming to be four and it's hard to convince her otherwise!


Can't forget Hudson - he's just crazy! He is obsessed with Nemo these days - he's always walking around saying "Nemo, Nemo, no!!" and "but" (boat). He can also say "shark bait," but I would have no way of knowing how to spell his version of how he pronounces it! It's cute. He is constantly telling Tatum (Taydoo) "no!" and running away from her or something. He calls himself "honey," which I guess is a way of saying Huddy.


Summer is here - time for lazy days and not having to get up at the crack of dawn. Look for our next post in the next few days -- we went camping with the girls!!

Happy Mother's Day!

The girls wanted to send some love to Mamaw in California! Happy Mother's Day Mom!! Wish we were there to hug your neck and tell you ourselves. But we'll see you very soon! We feel so blessed that our kids have such amazing grandmothers who both love the Lord and, we know, pray continuously for our kids. Your example and love for them is a huge blessing from God. To Mamaw and Geebee - we can't say thanks enough for all you do for our family. We love you!!

The video

You're probably sick of the swingset! Too bad. I'm testing out posting video from our new camera. It's awesome. This is my second attempt - hopefully it will work! It's not near as entertaining as Keely's post (check our her blog - homecooks.blogspot.com). But hopefully it will work!

Motorcyle Mania!

We are so proud of our nephew Colton, who at almost 5, is more talented on his motorcycle than most adults! He is going to participate in his first race later this month. Wow! Of course, my brother Mike is just about the most fearless person I know so I shouldn't be surprised that his son is as well!! But I did want to show that the apple doesn't far fall from the tree in our house as well as far as riding motorcycles is concerned! Just take a look at the FEAR on the faces of our daughters as they cautiously sit on the bike with Uncle Alan. They actually rode with him for a bit...but like their mama - they are a bit nervous!!! I guess we won't be signing them up for motorcross races any time soon!! These pics were taken May 2007. -- H

Our new Horned Frog!!

We are so proud of Caitlin getting into TCU! What a major accomplishment. She came to visit a few weeks ago and I think she got her fill on Sonic during the seven days she was here! We were either at Sonic, doing something related to TCU or playing cards (SkipBo and Phase 10!) She beat me most of the time. We can't wait until August when she is here. I know the California crew will miss her like crazy -- but what an adventure she'll have here.

If you want to know more about what a Horned Frog is, here's a link! It will tell you all you need to know! :)

http://www.admissions.tcu.edu/funstuff/horned_frog.asp

H

The playhouse

The playhouse is done! Wow - it's incredible! I think it took Kevin about 20 hours to put together. The kids love it! Even Hudson is learning to climb up. When he wants help up, he says "Come on, Come on." At least, that's what I know he's saying! It's much more kid-friendly than the pond, and so far we haven't found RATS nesting there, which is what we found when we disassembled the pond! Yuck!

On the picture of the three kids, I told them to make a funny face - Hudson immediately went for the nose pick. What a kid! The girls have already imagined spending the night in the clubhouse. I'll let Kevin handle that one!

Now that I'm not having trouble with posting pictures on our blog, I'll do my best to keep it updated. -- H