Thursday, December 6, 2012

Christmas Letter 2012



Hello family and friends:

I hope this letter finds Everyone doing well.   I’ve decided to save some trees and write a blog Christmas letter

What a Year!

Most recently my company laid off 1700 people world wide (just from my overall organization and its support functions).  I feel very blessed that I still have a job and was not part of the layoff.  From being at TI for so long many friends I have worked with for years have been affected so it’s been tough.  We’ll see what’s in store for next year with a much smaller group.  I’m still involved at the schools.  I’m President of the Preschool board and doing newsletter for Elementary PTA.  I try to volunteer at Landon’s school when I can.  I'm working out more.  One of our neighborhood friends does a boot camp early in the morning that I do a few days a week, and then I do aerobics once or twice depending on schedules.

Greg is still working part time, it’s basically his adult or sanity time. :)  He’s also been coaching a lot this year.  He was head coach for Landon’s baseball team in Spring and Fall.  He also helped coach soccer both seasons and flag football in this fall.  Greg has become the morning dropoff helper at the preschool – interesting comments from the kids on him wearing a lot of A&M gear or a few kids that are scared of him.

We lost our dog Lady this year.  Greg brought her home right after we got married in January 2001, and we were very sad to lose her this year.  She was our first baby.

Kasey is now 4, but wants to be at least 10.   She does a lot of pretending.  She has her own children and husband (but she calls him her dad).  They get sick and do silly things, and go to school and all kinds of things.  She talks about it a lot.  We sometimes have to check if she’s talking about the pretend world or the real one.  I think it’s cute – I had an imaginary friend growing up and I turned out pretty normal :) Kasey is in preschool and they are doing Letter people so she’s learning sounds and words more.  She spells NO really well.  She is currently taking dance - she really like it and tries and follows instructions most of the time.  I got to see her class a few weeks ago and was really proud of her.  I told her I was a dancer for many years.  She’s also taking swim lessons.  This spring she was on her first soccer team. She had taken soccer tots so she had skills and when she wanted to was able to score goals.  Then other times she just didn’t want to run.  Right now she doesn’t want to play soccer again.  We’ll probably try tball in the spring.  Kasey loves Rapunzel, playing pretend, playing games, and driving her brother crazy.  She’s got a personality and will tell you how it is or tell you if you are doing something wrong.  Kasey is in size 6 clothes and size 10 shoe.  She like dresses right now, and sometimes wearing clothes that don’t match (but she picks them out). At her 4 year old appointment she was being asked about the right foods to eat, and that we need to exercise, and she asked what we do to keep our teeth clean - she said keep chewing with them.

Landon is 6 ½ now.  This fall he played 3 sports at the same time, and since those sports have ended he has more energy than he knows what to do with.   We’re very proud of him.  In soccer he was able to score a few goals, and enjoyed playing defense and goalie.  In Flag football he pulled some flags and was able to get several 2 point conversions.  In baseball, he ended up getting the most hits on the team, and sometimes tried to play every position on the field no matter where he was (all to help the team).  Landon is also in gymnastics which has been great for building strength, and he’s improved in this as well.  Landon is in first grade and doing really well.  He enjoys school, his teacher likes him, and he’s taken off reading a ton from this summer.  He’s reading the Magic Tree House books and getting close to the end of the series.  This fall he entered a recycling coloring contest and won 2nd place for 1st grade at his school.  His class also did a turkey decoration contest and he won first place.   He really enjoys hanging out with friends, and playing outside.   He also likes watching A&M no huddle football games on tv.  He loves being Johnny Football right now.  We got him a little A&M SEC football and he carries it around a lot making Johnny Football moves.  This Winter he’s going to try out basketball.  Landon lost his first tooth in August, but he hasn’t really been toothless because the adult tooth grew in behind the baby tooth.  Landon wears size 7 clothes and 1 ½ shoe.

Landon sang Take me out to the ball game in talent show with some of his baseball team mates, he wrote a book on dolphins at the end of kindergarten, & he loves legos (he can put 8-14 year old ones together by himself in a few hours)

 In February we got to go to Great Wolf Lodge for the weekend in Grapevine.  In June we all went to College Station for the A&M baseball regional.  Also in June Greg and I went to Lake Tahoe just the two of us for a long weekend. This August we went to Watercolor, Florida for a family vacation.  We went with our good friends the Steiners and Doug.  We spent most of the time at the beach relaxing and enjoying the sun.  The waves got a little rough one day, but we all had a great time.  Even with 4 kids sports this fall we still made it to College Station for several A&M football games (we still have season tickets for all of us). Greg and I got to see the first A&M SEC game in College Station against Florida.  We also have season tickets to the Allen Eagle High School games – we just went to the first one in the new $70M stadium and sold the rest to our neighbor.  

We hope that everyone has a wonderful Christmas and happy New Year.  May God Bless you this coming year.

Love,     Dana, Greg, Landon and Kasey Myers

Friday, November 30, 2012

November 2012 Pictures


November updates

11/27-11/30 - This was a crazy week at work.  I had 40 engineers in town from all over the world for training that I was organizing, in addition I had all day partner meeting and dinner, event with the training engineer, and then 2 days of leadership training.  In the middle of all that TI laid off 500 people from my organization on Wednesday.  I feel very fortunate to still have a job, but very sad to see many friends I've worked with for years leave TI.

11/28 - Kasey's birthday.  I went to work out at boot camp at 5:15am.  Then I went to get donuts because I knew I would be gone most of the day and evening.  I guess someone new took ownership of the donut place we sometimes go to.  They now had cute stars, bears, football donuts. I got Kasey a pink star and Landon a football.  They both liked them.

I was in an all day meeting as 500 people got laid off.  It was pretty tough.  I left that meeting to go back to training. I stopped off at the park for a little bit where Greg had to kids to say hi.  I was about in tears from the day, but glad to see the kids and hug Greg.

Then I went to my training to close up the day.  Brilliant mother of the year I planned the summit even on Kasey's birthday.   We closed up and I headed home for a few minutes since it was Kasey's Birthday.  Then had just gotten home from Torchy Tacos and so we opened a few presents with Kasey before I had to head to my event.  

We had a good event.  A few people showed up that had been around for a while or were laid off that day.  Tough times.

On Landon's 4th birthday we took away his blanket.  More with him because he was still sucking his thumb.  We decided to do the same with Kasey.  She willingly gave up her blanket to Greg. She has MANY pets and kids that she can sleep with.

11/23-25 - We left in the morning to drive to Conroe to see family.  I decided to drive to help Greg out, and the kids were great.  Didn't really hear much from them, they watched movies the whole way down.

We had good visits with family and kids played outside a lot.  Also played Wii bowling and baseball alot.  Landon is getting pretty good at it.

Saturday morning Cousins Haley and Ashlyn came over to play.  They also brought nice birthday and Christmas gifts for the kids.  The kids had a great time seeing them.   We left about 11am to go meet friends in College Station, and Mom and Dad took Landon and Kasey home with them.
We spent the day in College Station, Aggies won.   Sunday we headed back home

11/22 - We had a good family breakfast that Greg made us, had an afternoon snack and then Big Thanksgiving dinner.   We had 18 people at our house for Thanksgiving from Greg's family.   Kids got to play with their cousin Masey who's about 20 months old so that was fun.  We had great food and enjoyed catching up with everyone.  I decided not to do big family birthday for Kasey this year, but we did sing to her and let her blow out candles.  Few aunts and uncles and cousins brought her fun presents as well.


11/21 - Landon went to a friends for a few hours.  Kasey and I watched a little dancing with the stars (her first time).  She likes when they got scores and wanted to know right away who won.
We went to lunch at Elkas (really good sandwiches and , and then went to dinner at Bavarian Grill (yummy German food and beer).

11/20 - We took the kids to the zoo today.  Had a fun morning seeing the Lion experience and the African area.  Then we headed to lunch and the other side of the zoo.  We got to see a chameleon eating crickets which was pretty cool.  We also got to see several albino animals like snake, alligator, python.  We got to see koala bears.  When we got there the Lemurs were going crazy making many noises. We were there from about 10-2:30, but Greg and I were quite tired.  Kids were too.  Landon went to a friends who just had his tonsils out to "rest" and watch a movie.  I went a  did a little shopping during that time and Kasey watched a movie at home.


11/19 - I took the day off.  I had to work some in the morning.  Then Greg, Landon and I went up to Kasey's school so that Landon could read to her class.  He read Green Eggs and Ham and a funny Zoomer book.  They both enjoyed it.  At the end they sang the song everyone everyone jump up and down - Landon did it as well.  He got to see his old teachers and the directors.

Then we all went to lunch together.  Greg went to work and the kids and I went to run a few errands.  We walked around the Villages some doing a little shopping, said hi to Santa, had hot chocolate.  We had fun.  We got back home for kids to play some outside.  Then I took Landon to gymnastics.   I don't get to go often, but he seems to be doing well.  I can tell that a lot of the muscle he has is from gymnastics which is good.  His coach came up afterwards and said he was listening really well and they would probably get him moved up to next level soon.

That night we had Greg's office Christmas dinner.  It was at Maggianos.   They had xbox set up so Landon got to play that for a while - he totally missed appetizers and then got upset that he missed it.  He got plenty to eat for sure.  They had multiple dishes. I convinced Kasey that she should try at least a bite of everything.  That's what I learned growing up and am trying to do the same although difficult.  She did - she tried eggplant Parmesan, lasagna, spegetti and salmon.  She only liked the lasagna, but she tried all of them.  She was going into detail about what was happening in her pretend life.  He husband was in the hospital with sprained ankle from playing baseball, grandparents had the kids at home.  She takes things from things that happen with us, but then puts them together in different ways.  It's very interesting to see the way she thinks.  Anyway, I think we all had fun.


11/17 - Of course kids got up before 7am.  We tried to get them to sleep in further but that didn't happen.   We all got showers and headed out to the Chicken for an early lunch.  We played dominoes and kids built stuff with them as well.  Then we headed to the MSC for a little shopping before the game.  Aggies won, kids got to play on the field after the game.  We then had dinner on Northgate and brought the kids to the house for bed.  I left my purse at Freebirds but Greg was able to get it with everything still in it.

11/16 - Greg, Doug and kids picked me up from work and head headed down to College Station.  We had fast dinner at Freebirds and got kids to bed before 8:30 (which is late for them).   I hung out at the house and the boys went to Duddleys.

11/14 - TI announced today that they will lay off 1700 people from the wireless group which of course I'm in.   This is very scary and huge impact to our organization.  I won't know for a few weeks if I will be affected by this.

I worked from home today because we had a few things going on.  I got to have lunch with Landon at his Thanksgiving Feast which was fun.  We went to the book fair for a few books afterwards.

Then Kasey and I went to pick out her party gifts and invitations for her birthday party coming up. She was excited.  We're having a Princess and Knights Theme where kids get to dress up, play games and then have cake in a fun princess filled room.

I worked in the morning and afternoon and got done just in time to go to Kasey's dance.  I am so proud of her.  She really pays attention and tries to do the moves well.  I told her I was a dancer for many years and she just smiled

Then we went to pick Landon up at a friends and went to Mi Cocina to use some of our Knights Thank you money for the baseball team - very sweet of the team to get us gift certificates.

11/8 - tonight Kasey told me a story while I was brushing her hair.  It was about a girl named Cinderella and a girl named Kasey who both liked to serve breakfast.  Kasey was wearing a beautiful nightgown (she said but it wasn't blue like Cinderellas).  She didn't much more after that but it was cute to see her mind work.   Then we read a Rapunzel book.

I got to read Landon the Grasshopper and the ANT story which he liked.

11/7 - I was wearing my hair mostly down, and Kasey told me as I was telling her goodnight that I needed to put my hair in a pony tail before I brushed my teeth so that I didn't get it all in my hair.
11/4 - We hung out in the morning and the kids wanted to play duck duck goose.  Somehow there was a fox involved.  Running around the living room playing duck duck goose with 3 people was amusing.  That afternoon Greg and Landon went to cub scouts meeting and Kasey and I listened to music and painted our toenails.  

11/3 - We had another busy day.  Football, 2 soccer games and a baseball game.  Landon had a good run and pulled a flag in football, and he scored a goal in soccer.  Kasey scored 2 goals in her game.   Then we came home and all watched part of the A&M game until the kids had to go to bed. 

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

October 2012 Pictures


October Updates

10/31 - We had trick or treating with neighbor friends.   We all met up and walked the kids around the block.  Kasey had been sick and so had one of the neighbor girls.  Landon was General Grievous from Star Wars, and Kasey was Rapunzel.

10/27 - Interesting day.   We got up in the morning.  I went to work out and Greg was holding an indoor batting practice.  Kasey was a little warm, but she was acting pretty normal. I went to pick her up and she came home and got into bed covered up and didn't do anything while I showered and got dressed.  Not normal for Kasey, but i thought she was probably ok.  We all got ready for Kasey's & Landon's soccer games.  Kasey only wanted to eat Apple Sauce and some Apple juice.   She did play in her game, but didn't play like normal.  She yawned more than I've ever seen her and looked like she forgot how to run.   Then we went to Landon's game.  Kasey fell asleep in my lap then in the 3rd quarter she threw up all over me.  Poor girl.  Grandma took us home to clean up.  She got cleaned up some, dressed and started watching Tangled.   She fell asleep about 1:30 and slept for the most part until little after 4pm.     Grammy came over to watch her so I got go watch Landon's baseball game.   When we got home Kasey had 103 temp and was acting sick.  We got her some Motrin,and she started acting like she was feeling better.  She was cheering on the aggies, and ate some applesauce and  a little jello.

Landon on the other hand had a good day.  He got a goal, and played really well in the game. His team won 4-2 which is the first game they have won this season.    In football, he got a 20 yard run, he pulled a flag, and he got a two point conversion.   In his baseball game he got a single and a double, and helped to make a few good defensive plays.  He was pretty excited.

10/23 - We had Landon's parent teacher conference today.  I really liked his teacher.  She had children that had been gifted and talented and she said that she really tries to get the kids to think in different ways which is great.   Landon went from level 7 reading end of kindergarten to 20+ - she said they wouldn't let them test over 20.  Needless to say that's a big improvement and above average for his grade.  He's also developed (highest level) in all of the math areas that they test for in 1st grade.  His teacher really seems to like him.  He can improve in comprehension when reading and handwriting.  He also enjoys school.  This week being Knight of the week he got to be teachers assistant handing things out, turning the smart board on and off, being the mathematician, and getting to pick where he stood in line - he picked by Collin.

10/19 - 10/21 -  Landon got Knight of the Week this week - Go Landon
We picked Landon up from school, packed up and left for College Station.   We went to Ninfas for dinner, and then I stayed at the house while everyone else went out.  I got some work done and got to relax some which was nice.

Friday night we got to College Station and had dinner at Ninfas.  We ended up sitting outside and it was a little cool but ok.  After dinner we took kids back to the house and got them to bed.  Then Greg and Doug went out to Northgate.  Dave and Tracy also came down and joined them at Duddleys.
I ended up working and having a glass of Sangria at the house while they were out.  That night because all of us where at the house, the kids stayed on in our room on a full size blow up mattress.   The kids took turns getting up about every hour.  At one point Landon got up to go to the bathroom and ended up throwing up all over.  He was fine before and after so who knows what it was.
We got up the next morning and had to get 5 adults through one bathroom to get ready and out the door by 8am.  We actually left a little early so that was good.  We headed to our parking spaces and had some breakfast at the car.  Greg had gotten muffins, bananas, and little pastries.   It was early enough that kids and I got to eat and could make it to kids yell practice and walk in.  So we left.
Because it was early it wasn't to crowded.  The kids got to participate in Kids yell practice, and we got to see the team walk in which is always fun.  After that the kids played around some.  There was a McDonalds stand that if you threw a football into the hole you got a bracelet or sunglasses. Landon got the ball in twice his first time to get him and Kasey a bracelet.  

Landon wanted to try kicking a field goal, but it was sponsored by Texas lottery so they wouldn't let kids do it.   So I ended up trying a filed goal.  I didn't do very well.

After that the kids played on the bounce houses for quite a while.  There weren't that many people so kids got to be in short lines.  Kasey had a hard time with a big slide one.  She came down after getting a little ways, but then after she watched a few kids doing it she was able to get up.    They had the most fun on the big race jump thing.

Then we walked up to our seats, got some popcorn and sat down.  Kids did pretty well at the game even though we didn't win.

That night kids were pretty tired to say the least.  they went to bed, I took a shower, and then hung out downstairs with some Sangria and TV.  The boys went out.
We got up the next morning, got a few donuts and headed home.

 10/15-18 - I left to go to a conference at Walt Disney World.  Kind of weird going without the kids, but I was giving a training and representing our group.   I left in the morning.  Dad took me to the airport and traffic was not good, but I got there with enough time.  Got to Orlando and took the magical express to my hotel - Beach Club Resort on Disney World property.   Everyone is super nice there.  I actually spent the afternoon working.  With our conference you could get afternoon or evening tickets to one park for a discount.  I was looking at agenda they gave with room check in and saw that Magic Kingdom had electric light parade and fireworks that night.  I decided I was going to go.  I don't do much by myself, but I went for it.   While it was a little weird being without the kids it was fun.  I got to ride It's a Small World After All, Space mountain, see the great electric parade and amazing fireworks.  I got to go into the haunted mansion.  I got to see new fantasy land and see the Ariel and Belle experiences.   When I was younger and went to Disney world I really wanted to see the Presidents Exhibit.  When we went I was so tired that I fell asleep.  I figured I would go now and see it.  Of course when I tried to go again after the fireworks it had just closed.    I say Disney is pretty magical.

Tuesday was my class, and I had a few meetings.  That night the conference attendees were going to Animal Kingdom.  We had private dinner there, and then they took us to another part of the park for dessert and private roller coaster ride.  We had dessert and rode the roller coaster several times which was fun in the dark.

Wednesday I had some meetings and then we had a showcase to demonstrate.  Of course my key demonstration stopped working at the beginning of the showcase.   I was going to grab dinner with some of the team and work, but then several people were going to downtown Disney.  We ate at a Cuban restaurant   We got to sit outside in great weather with nice view over lake.  We all had Mojitos.  After that we went to an Irish pub and had a few beers.  Fun times.  I got back to hotel a little after 1am. I had to get up for bus ride to airport at 5:30am.   Silly me

Thursday I got back in around lunch time.  Grammy, Gramps and Kasey picked me up from the airport.   We took Gramps to get his car so he could work out. Grammy, Kasey and I went to chocolate Angel for lunch and had a girls lunch.  Kasey got to read the menu because it had pictures.  She got to walk Grammy to the bathroom to show her where it was.  She got to take the credit card up front to pay, and then pick out a cookie.  We had a fun girls lunch.

That night Kasey had a soccer game.  She scored 2 goals, and was really close a few more times.  She was in a mood and didn't really want to play.

10/13 - Another busy Saturday.  I left for the gym at 8, Greg took kids to Kasey's soccer practice at 9.  He dropped Kasey off at the house at 9:45 and took Landon to pre game practice for football.   We went to Landon's football game at 10:30.  He played first half, was quarterback, team scored a touchdown, Landon scored 2 point conversion, and he pulled a flag.   He did well.  We had to leave at half time to get to his soccer game.   Both kids wanted to ride with Grammy and Gramps.
Landon played well in his soccer game.  I yelled at him to much when he was on offense.  He doesn't try to get the ball to the goal.  I talked to the coach later, and he said he asks Landon to stay back and help with defense when certain players are playing defense.  I should just be quiet.  He's trying very hard.  He stopped several goals as goalie, and overall played well.

Then kids ate sandwiches on the way home.   Landon took a really quick shower and got ready for Cub Scouts meeting.  The Den met at Heritage Farm in Plano to learn about how things used to be - they had old school house, house from 1800s, donkey, some sheep and chickens and a bunch of old farm equipment.  Kids thought it was pretty cool.  They also got their Tiger Totem where they will put their beads that they earn this year.  


10/10 - Putting Kasey to bed, she wanted me to blow my cheeks up so she could squish the air out.  I made a funny face and she just laughed.  She asked me to do it like 3 times, and then said one more time.  She kept laughing.  then she said, I want to blink with you for 1 minute.  So she's laying in bed, and I'm leaning over her and we blink together for about 1 minute.  She was laughing so hard.  To bad you can't put children's laughter in a can.  I'd buy some :)   Fun times

Landon got to go to Pumpkin patch for school field trip.  I really wanted to go, but really couldn't get away from work.  He had fun.  He said they got good marks for helping each other.  I think they were helping carry all the lunches.  They got to go on a hay ride, feed goats and a bull, and pick out a pumpkin.  They also got to have a picnic there.   He was pretty excited about it.


10/8 - Landon was off school so Greg brought the kids up to my office to see my new office and have lunch with me.  They had fun, and got to meet some people in the office.

10/7 - We decided to go to breakfast and went up to Cafe Brazil that we go to some.  It was closed so we ended up at Bonnie Ruth's which is good, but very filling.

Kids and I spent some time cleaning up, and Greg was installing new lights and changing out lightbulbs.  We had a fun family day together.

Landon needed to go sell some popcorn for Cub Scouts so he got dressed in his uniform, and we headed out on the block to sell some popcorn.  Before we went I helped him with what to say.  I had him write down 3 points on paper so he could look at it if he got nervous.  He said - Hi my name is Landon, I'm raising money for my cub scout troop, would you like to buy some popcorn.  He did well, but did look at his paper.  Then a few neighbors knew his name, and that threw him off a little what to say.  I was proud of him though.


10/6 - I really wanted to work out since I slept through two work outs this week (I must be tired).   Greg and Landon had to be at football game where Greg was coaching since the other coach had a conflict at 9.  My class was til 9:15 so I asked Grammy and Gramps to come watch Kasey until I could get there.  Of course it was cold that day, and I show up in workout shorts and a thin jacket.  Brilliant.  I think everyone else was ok, and I used Landon's jacket to cover my legs.  Titans won 20 to 0.


Then we had a baseball game that afternoon.  Kids tried hard.  Landon got a double, triple and home run.  He was pretty excited about it.

10/3 - I had brought home a few random small stuffed animals from work and gave them to the kids.  Kasey made them all a family and said they were all boys.  I asked her why there were no girls.  She said none of them had eyelashes and that's how you tell it's a girl.  This is true for dinosaur train :)


10/2 - Knights baseball team had first game of tournament today.  We had a bad referee.  Landon got
2 outs and got 2 good hits.  Kasey might be getting sick so Grandma brought her home to get a good nights sleep.

10/1 - I started moving into my high wall office at work.  I've been in a cube since I graduated from college, so I'm pretty excited about it.

Landon's excited about having a job at school.  This week he is the lunch counter.  He counts how many of the lunch choices kids want who are buying lunch.

Sunday, September 30, 2012

September 2012 Pictures


September 2012

9/30 - I told Kasey Saturday night that Sunday was family day.  We had a good day.  We got up and went out to breakfast together.  Then we went to see Hotel Transylvania movie which was fun.   We did a little winter clothes shopping for the kids and came back to settle down.   We want to the park with some neighbors, and then had an early dinner together.  We had a fun day.

9/29 - It was a rainy day.  Landon's football game was cancelled so we all got to go to the JDRF walk.   Team Liam was out in force even in the rain with about 80 members walking.  Landon walked most of it, and then traded out with Mason riding in the stroller we brought.  Greg pushed Kasey and Peyton the whole way.

There were many emails about other games being cancelled that day.  Landon ended up playing 1/4 of soccer in pooring windy rain.  Kasey and I were under and umbrella trying to stay dry, but didn't help a whole lot.  We got an email on the way to Landons game that Kasey's game would be on.  We asked Grammy and gramps to stop by the house and pick up her stuff because he coach had previously sent an email that her game was cancelled.

Anyway, after wet morning we all went home to shower and hung out.

9/26 - Landon was telling me about recess the other day.  He said in kindergarten they played Chase the Girl.  Which means they literally chased one of the girls around the playground.  He said that in 1st grade they don't let them do it.  

They have also been doing a lot at school with apples.  They made apple sauce, learned about Johnny Appleseed, made some stories about how apple trees grow.  He's been enjoying it.  He has a little boy in his class that just moved from India.  He has a buddy each week to help him out.  Landon got to be his buddy the 2nd week.  

9/24-9/28 - what a crazy week - crazier than usual for us
Monday - Greg had to run Kasey's soccer practice because her coach was out of town
Tuesday - I was in Arizona for a day trip.  Landon had baseball practice and Greg had a softball game
Wednesday - Kasey had ballet and Landon has cub scouts
Thursday - Landon had soccer practice and cub scouts Pack meeting
Friday - luckily football practice was cancelled

9/22 - What a day.  Greg got up about 6am to go help set stuff up for the Team Liam garage sale.   Kids and I were up about 7am.   We all kept going down to the garage sale.  From my previous evening I had gotten a few things for the kids, and then of course they wanted something of their own.  Landon got a Chess game, and Kasey got a little play set (with small parts) that looks like it has Cinderella and the Prince and many other little things.  We all also got some treats.

Kasey had soccer pictures and soccer game in the morning, and Greg headed down to College station for Football game.   Landon had a breakdown after Kasey's pictures, but luckily the day got better.  Kasey scored 5 goals in her game and almost scored a 6th but the other team took the ball from her and scored for us :).  We were proud of her.   Then Grammy, Gramps, Grandma and kids and I went to lunch at Elkas between games.   Then we headed back to the house to rest for a bit.  Gramps started teaching Landon how to play chess - it didn't take long for him to decide he wanted to play checkers.  Landon was vikings and Gramps was Cowboys.   Landon beat Gramps by double jumping a few times.

Then I took Landon to his soccer pictures and his game.   Landon didn't score any goals, but played well.  He played defense, mid field, and goalie.  He didn't allow any goals as goalie, and got two shots on goal.  He dribbled the ball down the field multiple times.

It was a warm day so we headed home pretty tired.  We had Torchy Tacos for dinner and watched some of the A&M football game.  On the way to pick up dinner Kasey was on her pretend phone talking, and it was driving Landon crazy.  He wanted her off the phone, and she wouldn't get off the phone.  i tried to get Landon into singing She's on the Phone, but that didn't help.  When we got there he took her phone and threw it in the car.   I let her have it back, but told her she had to stay off the phone in the restaurant.  Then on the way home Landon was making noised that bothered Kasey.  I just laughed.  Can't wait til they are teenagers :)  Once kids were in bed they were out pretty quick.
I took a shower, got a cold beer and sat down for some A&M football.  I think we'll all sleep well.

9/21 - left work heading for football practice.  Of course in my brilliance I drove on tollway through addison where Oktoberfest was going on.  Not smart.  took me an hour to get to practice.   got the kids home - Kasey was having a breakdown from being tired.  We had dinner and got kids into bed.

Then I headed down the street to help with garage sale for Team Liam.  We drank some wine and priced and organized a bunch of stuff.

9/20 - Kasey and I had dinner with Grandma, then went home to get her a shower and into bed.  Landon and Greg came home from soccer practice.  Landon got int he shower and in bed. Greg went to meet Doug and Dave at Oktoberfest.  Luckily be brought home some Helmuts Strudel.  YUM.

9/18 - We had PTA meeting and picture at school, and then Landon had a late baseball game.  He hit a double and an in park grand slam.  Both were sort of from the other team not getting the ball, but he was so excited for both.  I left early to get Kasey in bed it was already an  hour after bed time, and of course right after I left he hit the in field grand slam.  He was super excited.


9/15 - What a day.  We had 4 sporting events.  Started with Landon's flag football game - Landon pulled a flag in the game and got to run the ball.  Then we went home to rest and have lunch.  After lunch was Kasey's soccer game - she scored 2 goals which is great.  Then we had Landon's soccer game.  The team we played was good and they had a tough time.  After that was Landon's baseball game.  We tied the other team, Landon got 2 of 3 outs in the game including the last play to keep the game a tie instead of a loss. He also got  a good hit and scored a run.  One of his teammates got an in park home run.

After games Grandma and Pops took Landon and Kasey to their house to spend the night.  Greg and I went to Kellys for quick dinner, went to La Duni for dessert, and then went home.  Greg was in bed by 10, and I was by 10:45pm.   We slept about 10 hours which we never get to do.  Of course the kids didn't sleep that long.  Landon woke up middle of the night coughing bad - we think from allergies.


9/8 - We still woke up at 8am, or Greg did and he woke me up.   We got up to shower and such, and headed to tailgate where Doug and his customer was.   We cooked out some Brats and burgers for lunch and hung out.

We took the bus to the game.   Atmosphere was great.  Our seat neighbor who lost her husband this year was there at the game.  She was having a tough time being there without him.  We had told the guys sitting next to us what happened so they wouldn't ask, but someone in front of her did.   It was a cooler day, much cooler than usual which we all enjoyed.
The Aggies played a good first half, but as we are unfortunately used to didn't play to well in 2nd half.

After the game we went back to the tailgate and just vegged out watching TV.  One of the RVs near where we were had been cooking brisket and all kinds of stuff all weekend.    They let us have some, and it was an awesome dinner.

Unfortunately we missed Kasey's first soccer game ever, and Landon's first of the season.   Kasey played well, and Landon played goaly and saved some goals.  Mom and dad took video so we got to see some of it which was great.

9/7 - Greg and I were pretty tired after the 2nd week of school.  We had curriculum night and getting into weeks of several practices.  Kids stayed with my parents for the weekend while Greg, Doug and I went to College Station for the first A&M SEC game against Florida.   We found a guy who is renting the upstairs to his house out.   We basically rented it for the entire football season.  It gives us flexibility to stay or not, and it's much cheaper than hotels.  There is also room for kids when they come with us.

We went down on Friday evening.  Greg and I got to go to Ninfas for dinner - yum.  Good Strong Ninfaritas.  Then we checked into the house.  Then we headed to Northgate.  We met up with Dave and Tracy for after they had dinner.

We got to go to Midnight yell practice - there were 40k people there which was great.  we haven't been in a long time.  Doug was there with one of his customers who were Florida fans, but they were pretty impressed by yell practice.

We headed back to Duddley's for a few drinks after yell, and ended up staying out past 2am - We don't do that to often.

9/2 - We started the day at the pool and then hung out in the afternoon.  I was working on Newsletter for Norton PTA, and had not finished so Greg offered to take the kids by himself to the FC Dallas game.  I got to eat Chinese Food, get some newsletter done, and work on getting some stuff out for the Team Liam Garage sale.

Greg got home, kids were in bed, and Lyn said she was watching The Lucky One - I've been wanting to see it since it came out on big screen because I had read the book.  Anyway,  I dropped everything and went over to her house to watch it.  Good movie, and fun last minute night.


9/1 - I went to work out, Greg took kids to Landon's soccer practice.  Then several friends from soccer and a few from the neighborhood headed to the pool which was really nice after all of us being sweaty.  Dowdy's, Roys, & Kearns were there.  Also Rebecca and Alison Hughes, and Maya and her grandparents were there.  We had a good time hanging out and swimming.

That night Greg went out with Doug to Roughriders baseball game, and Lyn and Jessica came over to hang out and drink some wine.  We had fun as usual.