ITS CHRISTMAS CAROLE

TAYLOR TRIED OUT AND GOT THE LEAD ROLE IN THE CHRISTMAS PLAY. SHE WAS CAROLE, THE GRUMPIEST ELF IN TOWN. SHE DID AN AWESOME JOB! I AM SO PROUD OF HER. SHE MEMORIZED ALL OF HER LINES AND WAS REALLY EXPRESSIVE WHEN SHE NEEDED TO BE! NOT MONOTONE LIKE MOST KIDS WERE! I HAVE A VIDEO CLIP BUT CAN'T FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET IT ON HERE!!!!!!! OH WELL! PICTURED FROM LEFT TO RIGHT IS ALEX (TAYLOR AND CAMERON'S COUSIN), TAYLOR AND CAMERON.

"TRAINING COURSE"

Okay, so the object is to carry a hoola hoop (?-Alan and Jon's idea) while weaving in and out of the white "drums", hop through the three hoola hoops on the ground, run and step in the tire, walk across a beam (not pictured), crawl under the roped area, throw the hoola hoop over the "drum" letting it touch the ground, pick it up and run back to the beginning. Of course, the trampoline was a hit too, it wasnt a part of the activities, but we had about 15 kids on the trampoline at a time! Alan played a few more activities...dont really remember, something to do with parachute men and landing in the center of a hoola hoop. I was so cold that I stayed near the fire that Jon kept going for people who can't handle cold weather like me! Thank you, Jon!

CAMO PARTY

This weekend we celebrated Cameron's (8) and Parker's (11) birthday. The theme......CAMO! Alan and Jon created a training course that turned out to be the hit of the party. The last minute party preparations turned out GREAT! Jon creatively thought to hang the paper/plastic airplanes from the ceiling-thank goodness no one turned the fan on! More kids showed up then we originally expected, but it was great-the more the merrier! The boys got lots of gift and cash! Cameron received $40.00 bringing his new total to $62.00. He told me last night he is saving up for a flat wide screen television he saw at walmart for $249.00. If anyone can do it...Cameron can! He recently saved up enought money to buy Guitar Hero II and it was $80.00. I will have to post a few pictures of the "training course" later.

HAUNTED WOODS

HERE THEY ARE ALL TOGETHER AND NOT FIGHTING-RARE MOMENT!

MOM AND TAYLOR

SHE IS GETTING SOOOO BIG!

4-H Fund Raiser - Haunted Woods

The whole family had to be in charge of the "Torture Chamber" scene. I will take more pictures next weekend when we have to do this all ver again. I swear Jon is NOT touching my breast! - Just the way he is holding his hand up! I never realized how much fun scaring people could be!

OUR OLDEST TWO.....AREN'T THEY BEAUTIFUL!

LOOK HOW MUCH THEY HAVE GROWN! MEGAN IS 15 YEARS OLD (LEFT) AND SIDNEY IS 12 YEARS OLD (RIGHT)!

SIDNEY'S BIRTHDAY

SIDNEY CELEBRATED HER 12TH BIRTHDAY!!!!! OUR GIRLS ARE GROWING UP WAY TOO FAST!!!! LEFT TO RIGHT-MEGAN 15 YRS, TAYLOR 10 YRS, SIDNEY 12 YRS!

My little man...

My little man left me a message one morning....this is so cute!!!!

1st Day of School Jitters?????

1st day of school jitters or what! I didn't realize how funny this picture was until after I had downloaded it onto my computer! School officially started yesterday! Another busy year is expected! Taylor has expressed interest in playing tackle football! We will see! (If you look close, she is beginning to show signs of "growing" up-curves.) We can still wear the same size shoe, however she had to get 8 1/2 tennis shoes which is 1 1/2 sizes bigger than mine!

Cameron and cousin Olivia

Picture taken last week.... This is little Olivia. Doesn't she look just like Dixie and DeeDee! She is an adorable little girl. She is very content, calm, and just an overall good baby... Cameron is very involved with helping his Aunt DeeDee with Olivia. He holds her and feeds her. He refers to her as HIS "Livy". He will walk in to the house asking, "Where is my Livy!?" I know that she is a couple of months old, I can't remeber when she was born. She recently went to the doctor and was told she has the height and weight of a 5 month old. I think she is going to be tall!

FOXHOLE

This is the great thing about living in the country. The kids can dig holes and it is not a big deal! Look close at the pictures...I took the picture of Cameron first...he is all happy! Next I make Taylor get down in the hole. As you can see, she is FURIOUS! What you don't see is Cameron. He is right above her flicking dirt on her. It was so funny! I was fussing at him (as I was trying not to laugh) to stop! All I wanted to do is take a quick picture! The whole thing was so funny! Cameron is all boy! Taylor got a hold of him after the picture(s) were taken! DIRT BALL FIGHT!

GOING TO THE LAKE....

WE WENT TO A LOCAL LAKE FOR A "COMPANY" OUTING. WE HAD A GREAT TIME PLAYING VOLLEYBALL, EATING, VISITING, AND JUST HANGING OUT. I THINK THE KIDS HAD AN EVEN BETTER TIME. TAYLOR, CAMERON AND PARKER SWAM, JUMPED OF THE PIERS, DID THE ZIP LINE (30 FT HIGH) AND BOATING.

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

Okay, I know that I am late on this! I am still trying to play catch up on here! My mom and dad came down for father's day weekend. We ate lunch at Woody's...great BBQ!!!! Then we went home (my house) and played cards, ate chips and got lessons from Sidney and Megan on how to do the Butterfly! That is a dance move for those of you who have never heard of it. I tried to do it but the wrong thing shook! Failed attempt never to try again!!

Two Peas in a Pod

Uncle Butch and Daddy (Carl)! They are so crazy! Can you see the resemblance!!!!

Playing in the park

They are getting so BIG! Cameron thinks he is such a man! Taylor, well, of course she already knows EVERTHING. She is 10 years old and is already wearing the same size show as me...7 1/2 womens!

Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day weekend...we went to my Uncle Butch's house in Spring. We had a good time, at good food, played at the park and swam (of course i didnt swim!).

GO ASTROS!!!

I went with some friends to MinuteMaid Park in Houston to see an astros game. I have never been before and had a BLAST! Astros lost....oh well! It was a great experience. Pictured is Christiana (left) and me on the right.

8th Grade Graduation-Megan Abney

Will we ever grow up!!! Megan "graduated" 8th grade this past school year. We are so proud of her...she was in the Jr. High National Honor Society. She is so smart! BUT, as all teenagers do, they become natural teenagers along with the attitudes. I will be glad when we pass this stage. She is still so pretty, smart, and of course...a smarty pants!
From Left to Right...me (Melissa), Megan, Sidney, and daddy (Jon).