Uncle Dave and "Uncle Pat" visit

Uncle Dave & Pat visited last weekend. The kids love their uncles, just look!

Tori, Tori, Tori

What a good eater she is!

Two Pianos Concert

Last night our church had a piano concert. I thought that it would be fun to take Maddie and Ryan to hear the concert, especially since I want Ryan to start taking piano lessons next year. Before we went in we reviewed how to behave in that type of situation. Sit quietly, no talking, clap when the rest of the audience claps, no talking, sit quietly, clap when the rest of the audience claps. I said it several times and made them both repeat the rules to me. I was sure we were ready. Boy was I wrong. We lasted about 2 songs before both started walking up and down the pew, pulling out pencils and paper from the pewbacks and whispering to each other. Each time a song ended and people clapped Ryan would hoop and holler, clap, laugh and lay down on the pew kicking his feet. I didn't want to leave during a song so I gathered our coats and my purse and waited for a song to end so we could leave during the applause. They seemed to calm down so I decided we could stay a little longer. The church was full, the audience respectfully quiet and the pianists playing beautifully when suddenly, out of nowhere, Ryan lets out a howl at the top of his lungs. I was mortified. I tried to grab him to leave but he started kicking and saying no so I had to let him lay on the floor while we waited for the song to finish. I was so embarrassed I had the urge to laugh and was doing my best not to bust up laughing uncontrollably. When the song ended he was quiet so I thought we could stay a bit longer but again, boy was I wrong. One of the pianist stood up to thank the people who made the concert possible. As she was speaking Ryan started clapping. Yes, he was the only one clapping and she was still talking. So at that point I gathered our things and carried him out of there. Poor Maddie was still sitting in the pew and had to run to catch up with us when she realized we were leaving. He cried and cried when we got into the lobby because he really enjoyed the music and wanted to stay. Maybe when he's older..........

Girls' Weekend

This past weekend I got to have a "Girls' Weekend" with my mom and sister. This was a Christmas present courtesy of Mike and Marty. We met for lunch at the Stagecoach Inn in Salado. We have the same thing everytime we go there, chicken salad, and it is SOOO GOOD! Then we went shopping at the new outlets in Round Rock and to IKEA. I had never been to IKEA before and thought it was really cool. Next it was off to Embassy Suites for comp bar and room service for dinner. I got to sleep through the night with no kids waking me up, WONDERFUL. We got up, had breakfast and went our separate ways. I went to Old Navy for their winter clearance and got some great deals. 50% all clearance items. Me and the kids are set for the rest of the season. Thanks Mike for a great getaway and thanks Marty for the free room!

Maddie takes communion

Maddie took communion for the first time yesterday. At the Methodist church children are allowed to take communion but she has always refused. Yesterday at "children's time" the pastor talked about communion. Then right before communion she said that children were welcome at the lord's table. Maddie decided she would do it and even went before me. I am very proud of her. In case you're wondering where Ryan was, he goes to Sunday School while we're in church. Maddie likes to go the "big" church service.

Christmas

We drove down to SA Christmas Day to meet Sam and Jake who flew in that night. We stayed down there a week. Mike took Sam and Jake hunting. Jake shot a doe and an 8 point buck, very impressive. Sam shot a coyote. Jake is having his deerhead mounted and we will have plenty of meat from his deer.

Maddie and Ryan loved spending time with their big brother and sister. Maddie liked to play haircut with Sam.

Tori had pneumonia while we were in SA. At least the dr. thought it was pneumonia. He couldn't figure out how to work the xray machine at urgent care and had to send me to an imaging center. Their xray was mainly to look for the marble we thought she had swallowed so they didn't look at the lungs. However, the antibiotic took care of her illness and there was no sign of the marble. Wheewww.

Favorite gifts: Guitars from Aunt B, camoflauge clothes from both sets of grandparents and winter coat for Maddie. Santa brought them scooters.