Christmas in SoTX

We are back from our vacation. We all enjoyed our time in South Texas with family, but were definitely glad to be home. The day we left McAllen, 26th, it was 87, when we got home on the 27th it was 28, amazing what a thousand miles will do to the temp. Todd was able to go hunting, as Taylor said, "My daddy killed a deer". The girls were happy that Santa came to McAllen. Madison did check her stocking when she got home, just to make sure there wasn't something in it.

Getting Ready for Christmas

The girls and I decorated the house for Christmas the weekend after Thanksgiving. They are very ready for our trip to Texas. 7 days and counting, not at all ready or prepared for our journey. It's been a year since our last long road trip, I am hopeful that the girls will do well. Hopefully we will be able to bake cookies this weekend. Wouldn't be Christmas without cookies.

Halloween - FINALLY!

Halloween photos are finally here. Madison was Hannah Montana, Taylor was a Cat, Lexi was Mini Mouse and Danny was Tigger. The all got lots of loot.

Happy Birthday to Taylor

Today was Taylor's big day. She hit the big 4. She sang Happy Birthday to herself all day long. We opened presents, had dinner, then cake. She received a cat costume (the pink dress), a wallet & a Camp Rock t-shirt. She was very pleased.

OH......notice the front door, looks a little different.

Just a little closer

With the back splash up we are just a little closer to being done in the kitchen. We need to get a new window, put up trim and finish up the paint. Having the back splash up is a huge improvement.

Sunny Sunday

We enjoyed the backyard yesterday while Todd installed the back splash, yes, a back splash. I will have photo's up soon. It turned out great. We ended up with 2x4 california gold slate tiles. Really looks great.

Madison and Taylor played in the dirt and had a grand ole time.

Madison turns 7

Hard to believe it has only been 7 years. Madison took brownies to school yesterday to celebrate her birthday, then after school, they made a banner for her. When we got home she opened her presents. She got a new helmet, a book, an activity book, a Camp Rock t-shirt & two head bands. In between dinner and cake they played with the Drakes, who joined us for cake. All in all, I think she had a pretty great day.

High Society

Todd and I had our photo published in a local Magazine. Todd's company, Midwest Earth Solutions was one of the sponsors. http://viewer.zmags.com/showmag.php?mid=wqtpqd&pageid=44#/page44/

Make-up

The girls love to be made-over.

Last day of summer

Today was the last day of summer. The high was 77, it was a sunny, beautiful day. The girls played with the Drake's this afternoon. Todd took off Madison's training wheels, she is officially a bike rider. She did great. Took off on her own and only fell once. Taylor never got her hair brushed, I would call it a typical "bad hair day".

First Day of School

School started on Thursday, 14th, but Madison stayed home with a fever and stomach ache. She did go on Friday and was very excited about going to school. When I picked her up after school, she said that her teacher, Ms. Ucman, was very nice and pretty. Ms. Ucman graduated from college in 2006. Big difference from Mrs. Schulteis last year.

It's Hot

Well what do you do on a sunday morning when it is unbearably hot, you turn on the sprinklers. And then you come inside and make your own music videos with your webcam.

Its a bird, no, a plane, no, its Super Taylor!

Taylor was invited to a birthday party and when I RSVP's I was informed that it was a costume, specifically superheros, party. So, last Saturday afternoon while Madison was at a swimming party, Taylor and I went to Hobby Lobby. Taylor got to pick out her cape, mask and belt fabric. She chose a picked pokadotted pink fleece for her came and mask and then the shiny pink fabric for her belt. I created a Super T logo out of the pink and blue felt. I tried to get her in a motion shot, but she was ready to go to the party and did't really want to run around the yard. She had a good time at her party, it was on a Tuesday 6-7:30pm, odd time for a party, but just about everyone from her class was there.

Our Stay-Cation

Last week we had our stay-cation, in other words, vacation at home. We started out last Sunday going to the Overland Park Arboretum for a walk in the morning, then to the City Farmer's Market where we picked up some produce and the girls went on pony rides. Then to lunch. Monday was a laundry day. Tuesday we went to the pool. Wednesday morning we got up early to go to the movies. We saw Clifford's Really Big Movie then had lunch at Cheeseburger in Paradise. We came home and made cookies. Thursday we headed to Lawrence to go to Clinton Lake with the Drake's. Again up early, packed up the car and off we went. We spent the day on the beach, wasn't quite SPI, but the girls and boy had fun. Friday, after lunch we went to Hallmark's children center, Kaleidoscope, we got to make all sorts of crafts & paint. After our session we went to Fritz's for a snack. Fritz's is a railroad themed restaurant. You order by phone at your booth and then the food is brought out by train. They have tracks overhead and your order comes in a bin. The girls really enjoyed that. Then we went to an exhibit at Crown Center, Moneyville. The girls got to create their own money. The finale was Saturday, bowling with Dad. Madison was the big winner with a 44. Of course, I didn't have the camera on me at all. I was able to snap some shots of the money though.

The New Do

Its been about two weeks since we got Madison's hair cut. She said she wanted it short. It does look cute. We went to the pool yesterday and Madison finally went down the BIG slide (with Lexi's help). Now she is an old pro. Taylor wants to go down once she is bigger, if she grows about a foot in the next year, she will be able to, but I doubt that will happen.

Swimming Lessons

Tonight was the last night of swimming lessons. Madison graduated to "second wave", Taylor gets to take "preschool 2" again (she did skip preschool 1 though). They originally gave Taylor a male instructor and she didn't really like him, actually she didn't give him a chance, she didn't want a "big boy teacher". She fell off the ladder one day while jumping in over and over again. Two days later she slipped into the pool while they were in the deeper end. She definitely has no fears. Madison did well. The few times I caught her turn, seems like they were always jumping in the deep or back floating. Notice her hair is considerably shorter!

New post

Well I was going to upload some new pictures of the girls at swimming lessons (and Madison's new do), but I lost them during a Kodak Easyshare upgrade. So, I will take some more tomorrow and try again. I see they have added the video feature. So, I have added a video of the girls singing. (It does take a while to download though).

Kitchen Update

So, the cabinets have been painted, hardware updated. 12 x 12 Slate tiles for floor (we hope to be done in the kitchen this weekend), Hazel White Granite Countertops. New Stainless Steel appliances. Large granite composite sink (its awesome), one big tub, almost like a farm sink. That leaves the backsplash to be purchased & installed. What we originally purchased, isn't going to work, but we have found a replacement. Great thing about the new one, it doesn't require grout.

Feels like Summer

It was a gorgeous day in Kansas City, few clouds 85 degrees. The girls put on their swimsuits and we got the ladybug sprinkler that Nana sent. It was another long day outside. Coming in long enough to eat and then back out. The girls played hide & seek with the Drakes (Lexi & Danny) til it was time to come in to get ready for bed. For 2 1/2 to 6 1/2 year olds they did a pretty good job of staying put.