Saturday, December 31, 2011

December updates & Pictures

Visiting Gramps in Hospital after 2nd knee surgery - 12/3
Kids helped decorate tree this year - 12/8

 


Napa Trip - Anniversary dinner with friends 12/16/11
One of our favorites - Del Dotto
@Frank Family winery
@Verite Winery
At Spring Mountain Winery
At Caymus Winery - Largest bottle of wine in the world - bottle itself cost $35000 to make

   


Got to see Kasey at Gymnastics - 12/26
Met some old friends for bowling and fun - 12/26
Went to see Cousin Macey and family - 12/28
Aunt Jody and her grandbaby
kids decided that playing in the bathroom was fun - 12/28
3 of Nannies great grandbabies - 12/28

@ Woodlands to visit cousins - 12/29

Playing at park with cousins - 12/29

girls showing off new bags at lunch on beautiful day - 12/30

Cousins eating bananas together
Cousins about 3 months apart in age watching dogs outside - the were outside with them in no time - 12/30

playing before bed - 12/30

Kiddos and Cousin Cheri - 12/30

Aunt Mary has Kasey - 12/30
Telling Uncle Jim they love him - 12/31

Ready for Aggie bowl game - 12/31

on the way to Aggie bowl game 12/31

For more Napa pictures - click here
For more Conroe/Woodlands pictures - click here


12/29 - 12/31 - We got tickets for Greg and I and the kids for the A&M bowl game in Houston so we decided to spend a couple days with family as well.  We drove down to the woodlands on 29th so the kids could play with their twin cousins.  We had some really good fajitas, kids got to play lots and we got to visit.   Greg and Gary spent most of the time working on the ipad, and Marisela and I caught up while the kids played with everything.   We took the kids to the park for a little bit to run some off.  They were tired and went to be pretty well, but were a little wired.  Kasey woke up about 4:30 saying something about Landon - he had moved in the bed and was covering the whole thing so there was no room for Kasey.  The next morning we had breakfast,all took showers and then got ready for the day.  We went to an area new Woodlands mall and had a good lunch outside ant Tommy Bahamas.  It was a great day so it was nice to enjoy outside.

After lunch we headed to Jim and Mary's house in Montgomery.  Cousins Brittany and her daughter Ayla (3 months younger than Kasey) were there.  Kids had a great time playing outside with the dogs then inside playing with toys and each other.  We spent the afternoon visiting and catching up.   We had good brisket and sides and ate way to much as usual.   That night we looked at pictures from David and Cheri's Costa Rica trip and our Napa trip which was fun to see.  The kids went to sleep surprisingly well - no noises or complaining.  We checked on them when we went to bed, and Kasey was laying on Landon and Landon was all wrapped up in a blanket.


The next morning we left in the fog to head to Houston for the bowl game.  We got there pretty early, but it was better than sitting in traffic trying to get in.  We walked to the Stadium and walked around to see what was going on.  Our seats were pretty good around the 40 yard line which are best seats we've had that we paid for.   Kids did pretty well, and the game was good.  Aggies won which was good - guess we need to take kids to more bowl games. Then we got back in the car, let the kids rest for a little while before starting movies up for the drive home.   We stopped at one of the new rest stops on 45 which was quite nice.   We picked up Lady, picked up Salt Grass for a late dinner and went home to eat and get kids in bed.   Greg went to friends Juan and Marissa's new years party for a little which, and I stayed home with kids had some chocolate, wine and watched Letters for Juliet.


12/28 - I got to spend the afternoon at the salon thanks to family Christmas money.  I got facial & spa manicure and pedicure which was very nice.


12/26 - I tried to organize a group to get together and hang out from old AppleCreek crew.  Kind of last minute it came together and we went to Main event.  Dewers, Cooks, Turner and us were all there.  We had some lunch, then the kids bowled a game and we played some video games.  It was fun to catch up and good to get out for the kids.   Kids were tired - Kasey had a melt down on the way out and fell asleep in the car.   Landon spent the afternoon doing Legos and Kasey just played with everything.

12/25 - See Christmas 2011 Post

12/22 - We decided we wanted to go see the Ice exhibit at the Gaylor Texan.  I wanted to take the kids because it was based on Shrek which the kids love, and so Grammy and I took the kids.   It was pretty cool.   The kids and I put on thermal underwear under our A&M sweatshirts, double socks and took hats and gloves with us.   The exhibit is done by over 50 artists from China who make blocks of ice into the characters and the scenes.   It's 9 to 12 degrees Fahrenheit inside the exhibit so they give everyone a big coat that you have to wear.   We put on the coats and walked through.  They went through the story of Shrek the Halls which is really cute.  They had most of the characters all made out of ice.  I think the kids enjoyed it but they didn't like the coats.  After the Ice exhibit we went and shared a big cookie a banana shake.  Then Landon wanted to show me the trains at the Gaylord

12/16 - 12/20 - Greg and I took a trip to Napa Valley with Dave, Tracy and Doug.  We had a great time, and the kids got to spend some time with the grandparents.   We visited some wineries we had been to before and several new ones as well.  We bought lots of good wine,  and ate and really good restaurants.  It was a very nice brake from crazy work and normal business.   One of our favorites from our last trip to Napa seemed to be a favorite of everyones - Allora - very small winery where tasting are in the basement of their home.  They have great wines, they make chocolates and even have a good port.

12/11 - We had a couple parties to go to.  Greg took Landon to a school friend birthday party at Main event, and Kasey and I went to hang out with a few TI moms and their kids.  The kids got to play some and then we made gingerbread houses.  Kasey had a good time and decorated the roof of the house well.  When we got home Landon did a great job decorating more of the house.

12/8 - Greg and Landon put up the Christmas tree and lights on it last night.  Tonight the kids and I got to decorate it.  We all had some egg nog (Kasey had Soy nog, yuk), and of course I was the only one who liked it.  We turned on a little Christmas music and started getting ornaments out.  The kids each have a box of their ornaments from family and friends. They loved looking at these and seeing them.  Landon especially liked the ones with pictures.   He saw Kasey's and wanted to know why he didn't have one of him as a little baby - His first Christmas he was about 6 months so his first picture was around that age.  The kids put up most of the ornaments which was fun.

12/4 - We had Kasey's friend party at her Gymnastics place - ASI gymnastics.  We had about 20 kids from school, neighborhood and some old friends.   Kasey had a good time, and the other kids seemed to as well.   We made a Cinderella doll cake - it took 3 tries to get the cake it self right, but then after we got that decorating went pretty well.  I think it turned out well.  It's fun to have a creative outlet a couple times a year decorating the cakes for kids birthdays.

12/3 - Landon brought home his poetry and song folder.  At school they have songs for each color to remember how to spell them, and they have other nursery rhymes as well.   Each page the kids color what is in the song or rhyme.  Landon loves drawing and coloring.   He really loves his art projects
Landon is doing really well in school getting stickers for good behavior every day and seems to be learning and making good progress on his reading and writing.  He's reading level 1 books pretty well.  He is interested in learning how to spell different words.

12/2 - Kasey had her 3 year appointment today.  She weighed 31.8lbs (61%) and 3 feet 1 inch (50%).  She's doing great. We also got her ears pierced.  She picked sparkly diamond like earrings over pink flowers.  She was very brave, but cried a lot and said it hurt.   She told me she didn't like the earrings  right after she got them, but then when I got home from work she told me she liked them now.



Sunday, December 25, 2011

Christmas 2011

12/17 - Grandma, Grammy and Cindy took kids to see trains at Gaylord Texan
12/17 - @Gaylord Texan



Headed to Ice exhibit at Gaylord Texan - 12/22
Had to wear special coats for 9-12 degree temp in exhibit - 12/17


At Shrek the Halls Ice Exhibit - 12/17


Getting ready to take Durkin's Pizza to Fire fighters for thanks for working on Christmas Eve


Christmas Eve dessert options at Grammy/Gramps - 12/24

pretty tree - 12/24
Our Lady girl - 12/24


Kids ready to open Christmas presents - 12/24
Gramps and Landon got matching Rangers shirts - 12/24


Kasey's new tea set and cart - 12/24
Landon loves his new Legos - 12/24

Grammy and Kasey helping Landon with lego like project - 12/24

Art and cookies ready for Santa - 12/24
Santa came - 12/24


Landon made the family a gift at school and even made the wrapping - 12/25
Christmas morning ready to open gifts

Kasey ready to open presents Christmas morning


Kasey and Landon gave each other Angry Birds plush toys

oh my goodness

Kiddos and Aunt Cindy - 12/25

They act like they love each other :)

opening gifts with family


Landon loves his Legos

Getting help from cousin Rachel on Legos
You can check out more pictures  - click here

12/25 - Merry Christmas - We had a good day.   So Landon asked Santa for Legos and Kasey asked for a Doll house for her house (she has one at Grammy's house).  Santa had actually not gotten either - he knew that Grandparents/Aunt Cindy were getting several Legos for Landon and the doll house thing was new.   Santa brought Landon a small Lego (which he pointed out multiple times that it was small), 2 remote control cars and a Cars 2 Disney Book.  Santa brought Kasey a Cinderella dress up doll, a baby doll room set for her doll house at Grammy's and a Princess Disney Book.  
Kasey actually woke up before 7:30 and I could hear her but she was sitting on the stairs.  About 7:30 she said Mommy I can't get through the gates - we keep gates up to keep Lady from going pee on the carpet at night.  Kasey wanted to know why Santa wasn't still there.   She asked about her doll house and was sad, and I tried to explain, so did Greg.  We'll have to see about getting the Doll house at our house.   Both kids had fun and played mainly with the remote control cars all morning.

Then we headed to Grandma and Pops house for Lunch with them and Aunt Cindy and Nanny.  Pops ended up having to work until 2, but came home in time for gift opening.  Kids again had a fun time opening gifts.  They got pigs and shirts from angry birds which they loved.  Landon spent the afternoon doing Legos and Kasey played in water with her muddy dinosaur train characters - some of them get clean in the water.  Later the Goodsons came by to say hello and we got to hear about their new house and schools.

12/24 - What a fun Christmas Eve.  Kids actually slept in some which was nice.  We did get up, and the kids helped me make muffins.  They each made their own mix and helped stir and put mix into the pan.  Big helpers.   Greg made homemade sugar cookie dough and so the kids picked out shaped they wanted to make for Santa cookies, and helped make the shapes.    Then we all got ready.  One of my friends from high school owns a Pizza place in McKinney that we really like.  He makes pizza for fire stations on Christmas Eve just as a Thank you so we offered to make a delivery.   The kids wore little fire hats, and we took the pizzas and some homemade fudge.   The kids got to see the fire truck and say hi and thank you to them.  It was mainly paramedics at the fire station, but it was neat to give them something for the holiday. After that we packed up and went to Grammy and Gramps.   We had our traditional tacos which were great.  Landon ate 3 of them he liked them so much.  We also had some tamales that our housekeeper made from scratch which were great.  We also had several desserts that we "had" to try.    Then we opened presents and had a great time with that.   We hung out for a while, watching Cowboys lose, Landon worked on lego project, Kasey played a game (which was really the menu screen to a new learning toy) & her new tea set and cart, and we took a few cat naps as well.   Kids got pretty tired so we headed home.  We looked at a few Christmas lights in the neighborhood on our way home.  Landon started out saying that the multi color lights were his favorite, and then Kasey said for about every house that it was her favorite.   We got home and had to decorate the cookies for Santa.  The kids put lots of icing on the cookies and had fun putting sprinkles on them.  Kids got ready for bed then they got to see Santa move a few times on the Santa tracker.  We read the night before Christmas and one other Christmas book then kids got in bed.  Kasey was worried she wouldn't get in bed on time.   Landon said he would be awake when Santa came just in his room.


12/22 - We decided we wanted to go see the Ice exhibit at the Gaylor Texan.  I wanted to take the kids because it was based on Shrek which the kids love, and so Grammy and I took the kids.   It was pretty cool.   The kids and I put on thermal underwear under our A&M sweatshirts, double socks and took hats and gloves with us.   The exhibit is done by over 50 artists from China who make blocks of ice into the characters and the scenes.   It's 9 to 12 degrees Fahrenheit inside the exhibit so they give everyone a big coat that you have to wear.   We put on the coats and walked through.  They went through the story of Shrek the Halls which is really cute.  They had most of the characters all made out of ice.  I think the kids enjoyed it but they didn't like the coats.  After the Ice exhibit we went and shared a big cookie a banana shake.  Then Landon wanted to show me the trains at the Gaylord

Christmas Letter 2011

Hello family and friends:
Kasey is now 3 years old which I can’t believe.  Kasey started preschool this year.  She goes for just under 3 hours twice a week.  She really enjoys it.  Landon went to the same school so Kasey started out thinking she ruled the school.  After first two weeks she told Greg he could just drop her off and she actually gets upset if he has to walk something into the school. Kasey is also doing gymnastics, and she loves jumping and dancing around.  Kasey is very verbal and tells you how it is.  She keeps us on our toes reminding us of things we say a lot like calm down or don’t chew with your mouth full.  Kasey weighs 31.8lbs (61%) and 3 feet 1 inch (50%). Kasey is potty trained (at least during the day), and we're still working on the night. She's now wearing size 4T clothes and size 8 1/2 shoes. She still has some skin reaction to dairy, but not as much as she used to. She drinks Soy milk, but we usually let her have cheese. Kasey loves Cinderella, playing pretend & Dinosaur Train. She sleeps with her blanket still, her Wolfee (actually a wolf that Uncle Clifton gave to Landon a few years ago), and her new doggie (sometimes others). 

Landon started Kindergarten this year.  Oh what a change that has been from preschool.   They expect a lot of the kids both academically and responsibility wise. We think Landon was well prepared, but he still gets tired with long days at school. He's doing well reading level 1 books, he wants to learn how to spell new words. They have the kids writing journals where he tries to sound out sentences to write. They also have poetry and rhyme books where they learn how to spell colors and more words from rhymes. The kids draw and color what is in the song or rhyme. It's great to see his work and him enjoying learning. Landon loves art projects (he creates new ones all the time), he loves legos and can do most 5-12 or 6-13 age sets by himself.   Landon played multiple sports this year. He played 3 seasons of soccer, tball (Greg was head coach and I think he did great), flag football, and multiple sessions of ice skating/pre hockey.  Landon weighs about 50 pounds now (recently went through growth spurt), and he wears size 6 clothes and size 13 shoes.  Landon still wants me to sing Hush Little baby to him at night and sleeps with many stuffed animals.

Landon and Kasey have moments of playing together great. They play in their tents from Fredel or outside playing or going on vacation (they pretend), etc. They also have moments of getting on each others nerves and not liking each other.

This year we went to San Diego for Vacation in August. It was great to get away from the heat. We went to Sea World, Lego Land and the beach. We rented a little house about 5 blocks from the beach in La Jolla which was great. The kids loved it. Landon got to try out boogie board, we played in the sand and waves, and got to spend some good family fun at the amusement parks.

My work is going well. I have been very busy this year working a lot, but traveling less. I'm enjoying this job and having fun seeing how people use connectivity like Bluetooth, GPS and WiFi in all kinds of applications. It's a fun place to be.

Greg is still working part time and taking care of kids the rest of the time. We seem to have a pretty good routine. The Grandparents still help out with Kasey while Greg works, but don't get to see Landon as much since he started kindergarten.

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