What's been going on

The days and weeks seem to be flying by this year so far...can't believe Feb. is already halfway over. We have just been up to our usual stuff. It's a little busier right now since besides the usual...work, school, homework, keeping up with the house...I am taking J to practice for two sports instead of just one. We started practicing soccer a few weeks ago along with the basketball that is going on right now. This weekend everything will kick into high gear I guess since J will have basketball and soccer games on Sat...at least I just have to watch and not play!!!



We got a break from everything last week as a huge snow storm came through Thurs. No school or work Thurs. or Fri. and no soccer or basketball practice. I know J really enjoys both sports, but I think she also just had fun playing for a few days and not thinking about anything else but being a kid. Joey had a good idea to invite a friend over to enjoy the snow, so except for going out to take some pictures and helping with a few snowmen, we got to enjoy our days off in relative warmth inside while J had a great time out in the tundra!!!

They had a great time out there...and a great time inside afterward warming up with some hot chocolate and movies.

Basketball season is wrapping up, and I thought I'd post a few pictures of J playing her "favorite sport." Her team has had a great season so far...two games to go...and it has been exciting for me seeing how much she is growing as a player and finding all kinds of confidence in herself and her abilities. I will certainly be sad to see an end to this season...I love watching her play and LOVE the fact that it is indoors. :)

Student of the Week

So Jaden was named student of the week this week...she was very proud and excited. We were also very proud of her. Her excitement did fade a little when she realized that she had to fill out The Jaden Times to give everyone in the school a glimpse into what she's all about. When she finally got around to doing it though, it went really quickly...and I think she may have even had a little fun...although you'd never hear that from her. And so, drum roll please...here is my little student of the week and The Jaden Times!!!

My favorite thing that she wrote about were her heroes....I think she did a pretty good job describing her grandparents!!!

Sorry Mammaw and Pawpaw, I apparently cut your floating heads off when I took the picture. I was just concentrating on getting the words.

I also cut off the nickname she'd choose for herself...it was J, although she has her bball teammates call her Nike J...hopefully Nike won't find out about this!!!

And I have no idea how I ended up with this picture going the wrong way, but I am not technically inclined and so this is the way you get to look at it...it's supposed to be a cartoon image of her doing what she loves!!!

Through Jaden's Eyes

Jaden spent last weekend in Oklahoma on her own getting spoiled by her grandparents, and she had a great time...pretty sure she would have stayed longer if she could have.


I sent Jaden's little digital camera with her in case she felt like taking some pictures. Here are a few of the pictures that she came home with.

It was a dream weekend for her. A whole day spent with her sisters and plenty of pets to play with. Thanks everyone for giving her such a great weekend...and giving her parents a date night!!!

Better late than never

Apparently I have been quite the negligent blogger...the holidays will do that to a gal I guess, although it's probably more that I have been a bit on the lazy side. We have a pretty full holiday season as I'm sure most people do. Ours begins at Thanksgiving when Jaden's MeMaw and Poppy Joe start giving out presents. We always like to make a second trip before Christmas to finish up, somewhat because, unlike some of my sisters, I never get any shopping done before Thanksgiving and also because we just like the second Christmas trip!!!





We celebrate with some good friends sometime before Christmas and also have our family Christmas celebration since we head to the panhandle for a the BIG family celebration for the actual day. Here are a few photos of some of our Christmas celebrations.





J with some webkinz...yes she is still a BIG fan of webkinz.

She is also a big fan of Justice.

Shocker of all shockers there is actually a picture of me, so thought I would include it for a change of pace.

Joe with his autographed Jason Witten helmet.

Joe after reading his present from Jaden - 10 Reasons why You are the King. I got one called 10 Reasons why I Love You. Such sweet gifts from our wonderful little girl.

J with some Texas gear...too bad Colt got knocked out early or we would have another national championship!!!

J's new bball goal. Hopefully it will warm up enough soon to get out and play!!!

Going through her stocking Christmas morning. Luckily for her Santa found us at home Christmas morning and left J's stocking and her gift here. Our family gift was acidentally transported to the panhandle, but it was something to look forward to. This was Jaden's first Christmas to miss being with everyone, but the weather mad the decision for us that we would be staying home this year. Too bad it didn't decide a little sooner though, cause we had no food in the house Christmas day. Luckily for us we found out that Alberston's is open Christmas day...fried chicken and pumpkin pie, not exactly the turkey and dressing and all the trimmings that I was expecting at Mom's, but at least we didn't starve.

We were all a little depressed about not being with family for the actual holiday, but at least J had this to keep her entertained...the reason we were still at home was at least a fun distraction for.

She had a pretty good time building a snowman, making snow angels, and making and throwing snowballs...mostly at the fence although I did have a pretty good war with her later in the day.

We finally made it to the panhandle the next weekend for New Years Eve and got to hang out with everyone. Plus got the present Santa left for us there!!!

Thanks for the laptop Santa...we totally understand your confusion!!!

It started snowing New Years Eve while we were in the panhandle, so J got to enjoy the snow with her cousins and had plenty of targets for her snowballs!!!

And lastly...a picture of Jaden in her Christmas dress from MeMaw and Poppy Joe...turned into a New Years Eve dress!!!

We hope each and every one of you had a very Merry Christmas and are enjoying a wonderful New Year. Can't wait to do it all again next holiday season!!!

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas!!!

We could not believe it last week when we looked out the window and saw honest to goodness, real live snow falling here. We had been wearing our short sleeves all weekend long and then all of a sudden it decided to turn COLD...and it hasn't gone back to my nice mild temperatures that I am so fond of. Jaden was in heaven with this little bit of snow that we got...she had been a little jealous of some pictures of her cousins playing in the snow from the weekend. We bundled up and rushed right out to take advantage because it wouldn't be there when we got home!!!



Taking pictures while dodging snow balls is hard work.

Making snow angels is a much nicer past time...except for the changing out of the soaking wet clothes before school part!!!

Doesn't she make a pretty angle.

Thursday Sandie and Hope flew down to visit and shop and shop and hey, did I mention shop? Luckily for me they did come to do some shopping, and I am pleased to announce that I am pretty much done (except for a couple of small things) with my shopping. :)

Then we moved on to more important things...like a house that still had pumpkins in the front yard. It takes us a while to catch on that it's time to move on to the next holiday I guess. Jaden finally convinced her daddy to head up to the attic and haul down all the Christmas decorations, and she tackled her favorite job of the season...decorating the tree!!! This year she even had a little helper. They were so cute doing their job together. :)

I didn't actually hit the outside of the house until today when I got rid of the pumpkins and put the outside x-mas decorations up. We are now officially ready...except for the no presents under the tree part. As soon as I recover from all the shopping and decorating maybe I'll come up with some energy to start the wrapping!!!

Happy Late Thanksgiving

There is so much in this wonderful life that I have that I am thankful for that it would take a while to list it all. God has truly blessed me. I am most thankful for my family though. For Joe and Jaden, my parents, brothers, sisters, nieces and nephews. I am also thankful for the second family I got when I married Joey. They have taken me in like I was one of their own. This year for Thanksgiving we drove up to Oklahoma to spend the day with them. I am also thankful that they are close enough for a one day visit since I usually have to work the Wed. before and the Fri. after Thanksgiving. It was a great day filled with tons of great food, football, family and fun...the four F's!!! Jaden made this little guy her friend from the start, his name is Snickers!!!



The kids all had a great time together. This year we had Thanksgiving at one of the cousins homes and they had tons for the kids to do. We saw them when it was time to eat and out the windows. Thankfully it was a beautiful day, and they took full advantage of it!!! There was a trampoline, tree house, basketball goal, bikes, scooters and plenty of trails for J to perfect her driving skills...they had a 4 wheeler and an ATV which she took full advantage of.

Mykah looks a little scared...if any of J's driving ability comes from her mamma I'd be scared too!!! Thankfully there were no accidents to report. Jaden was a little sad when we had to leave, she is already plotting to take a change of clothes next year and stay even if I have to come home and work.

Joey was excited to get this gift from his parents.

I thought it was so cute...even if it did have OU stuff all over it. You can plug it in and it lights up and everything. A little of his excitement wore off when J and I got this...

These are so adorable...thanks so much Sandra and Joe. We had a great time with all of you!!!

A whirlwind

Since we got back from Oklahoma almost two weeks ago we have been going like crazy. Jaden had a soccer scrimmage Tues. and a game Thurs. night. Friday night her school had their annual fund raiser...MavFest - so after I picked her up from ESD we came home, changed and headed back up to the school. Jaden's favorite part of MavFest was the rock wall they had this year. She made it all the way to the top!!! She decided the line for the mechanical bull was too long. I was one of the volunteer parents. Luckily for me J and a few of her friends decided to help me out. I couldn't have done it without them!!!



After we got home from MavFest we hung out with the neighbors and waited for some family to roll into town. Mom, Rebecca and her kids showed up Friday night and Angie and her gang came by Saturday. The kids had a good time hanging out together.

There were dog piles and silly string and a trip to Going Bonkers throughout the day Saturday. There was also some shopping and of course another soccer game. No pictures from Bonkers...if you want good pictures there you have to crawl through with the kids. I was more in the sit at a table and talk with Mom and Rebecca mode.

After everyone went home on Sunday Jaden and I had a fun day of cleaning, laundry and grocery buying, well not fun but guess someone had to do it.

Monday Jaden had a well check at her doctors office. Her doctor discovered what she thought might be scoliosis. Joey is taking J to get an x-ray of her spine on Friday, and we will hopefully get some news back about that next week sometime...thanks for all the prayers everyone is saying for a good outcome!!!

Tuesday...what else, another soccer game. All this rain has made for a busy end of the soccer season:)

Today I went to Jaden's awards assembly at her school. I can't believe it is already the end of the second 6 weeks. Here is a picture of her on stage getting either her honor roll ribbon or perfect attendance...not sure which one, but they were both not very good pictures. My camera is not a fan of the lighting in the cafeteria.

Here's a picture of Jaden looking around to make sure I showed up!!!

No rest coming our way anytime soon either. Soccer games to finish up the season on Sat. and Sun. this weekend along with a basketball clinic on Sat. If you don't hear from me this weekend, now you'll know why!!!