Let the Brainwashing Begin...

We decided that it was time for the indoctrination to begin! The day didn't start off all that well, but by the time we got there...everybody was ready to have some fun!

I don't think Luke was really into the game. He was more into taking pictures,

bothering "Mr. Matt", eating junk food, spilling drinks and looking at everything through his toy binoculars...

Natalia was more into wearing the gear, eating junk food, talking (very loudly) and playing with "Mrs. Elizabeth".

Carson and Dave, on the other hand, were into the game 100% and also into all the A&M traditions that go along with it. Carson never took his eyes off of the football field! He was completely interested in the whole experience. He never stopped asking Dave questions about the game.

I couldn't even get Carson to take a picture with us!

After the game, we were able to walk on the football field (a first, even for Dave). Carson was in heaven! He asked Dave to race him to the end zone. He could imagine himself being a football player! You could see it in his face.

If you see closely though, I don't think Luke is very convinced about the whole thing just yet (not sure if he wants to be an Aggie or a Longhorn)! Still, lots of work to be done!

Luke's Last First Day of Preschool

Last Tuesday was Luke's first day of school. Where has time gone?! I cannot believe this is Luke's last year of preschool! Luke was so ready to go back to school. He loves his teachers and he is enjoying seeing so many friends from last year, church and Bible Study Fellowship (BSF).

I even had to take some pictures of Luke with his gun...he insisted. He was even posing for the camera.

First Day Back To School

We had a great summer and hopefully I'll blog about it one day (who am I kidding!?). But for now, here are a few photos of my First Grader and my Third Grader!!! Wow, time has gone by so fast.

Dave and Carson with their First Grade teacher, Mrs. Kalkbrenner. Mrs. Kalkbrenner was Dave's First Grade teacher many, many years ago. Can you believe it? And now, she is Carson's teacher.

Natalia and Mrs. Nordstrom ~ 3rd Grade

Praying for a great school year!

Summer Time!

Very proud of Natalia and Carson. They had a wonderful school year!

Carson got a trophy for perfect attendance! Way to go Carson...

Can't believe Carson is a first grader!

Carson and Mrs. Canent on the last day of School

Natalia got Perfect Attendance, All A Honor Roll and First Place on AR with 284.6 points (103 more points than 2nd place). Woohoo Natalia, way to go!!!!

Proud Daddy

(Sorry for the quality of photo, but this is all I have.)

Last day of school was hard for Natalia. She woke up saying that she wished it wasn't her last day of school because she was going to miss Mrs. Celeste. She is a wonderful teacher and I think I'm also going to miss her...

Natalia writing a Thank You card for Mrs. Celeste all by her self. I almost cried after reading it!

One last picture with some of Natalia's classmates and Mrs. Celeste.

Don't let Natalia's smile fool you. She almost cried.

Happy Summer!!!!

Happy 8th Birthday Big Girl!

When did this happened? Natalia is 8 years old! Hard to believe that she already is 8. Someone...please make time stop. It's going by way too fast.

Tuesday evening, the day before her birthday, Papi and Mami came to Beaumont to help Natalia celebrate. My parents offered to take her anywhere for dinner and she chose...take a guess...Chick-fil-A (like mother like daughter). Later, they went to Barnes & Noble.

The next day, Natalia was supposed to go with Daddy, before school, to play tennis (like they have been doing once a week for some time now) and then out for breakfast, but she was way too sleepy from the night before. So, Daddy cooked her a special breakfast and I made her some chocolate covered strawberries and cherries (her two favorite fruits).

Papi and Mami brought her McDonalds for lunch, per her request of course. Later, they picked Natalia and Carson up from school and they went straight to Chuck E. Cheese to continue celebrating. Will they ever get tired of Chuck E. Cheese? ~I'm really not sure...

Immediately after all that, we headed to Sartin's for some bbq crab! Natalia's favorite! After all you can eat crab...we ended Natalia's special day at Marble Slab!

O.K. so all that was good, but then Grannie and Papaw hosted a little family party at their house on Saturday night. We had hamburgers, fruit, chips, cookie cake, ice-cream and lots of toppings. The kids enjoyed the slip and slide and just spending time with their cousins Solomon and Tytus.

And finally, Natalia celebrated her 8th Birthday with her friends from her soccer team, school with her bff, Hannah! What fun time they all had. Every girl got the piece of their choice and painted it however they wanted.

Natalia & Hannah (BBF)

Oh yea, and this is a photo just to show you that yes...Natalia has a mom. I DO exist!

A Wonderful Mother's Day

What a much needed fun and relaxing day I had. Perfect way to celebrate Mother's Day. Woke up to Dave and the kids preparing breakfast. They made the most delicious pancakes I've ever had, scrambled eggs, chocolate covered strawberries and Natalia prepared my favorite cup of coffee.

Immediately after, the kids presented me with gifts. Natalia gave me some bath salt she made in her science class and Carson made me a paper flower arrangement along with a sweet card.

The night before Mother's Day, Natalia and Dave were plotting...

Come to find out, this is what they were talking about...

Aww, how thoughtful! My own homemade Kindle! Natalia was able to keep the secret, whereas Carson...well, let's just say he has to earn his way back into Daddy's circle of trust!

But, guess what!? Later that morning, before church, I found a real Kindle under my pillow. I couldn't believe it!!! In reality, this is my Valentine's Day, Mother's Day and Birthday gift. Apparently, the kids didn't know about this surprise (you know, can't really keep a secret just yet). So, I asked them all to sit on the couch because I wanted to read to them from my "Kindle". I wish I would have taken a picture of Natalia's face when she saw the "real" Kindle for the first time. She could not believe that I actually had a "real" Kindle in my hands! She could not even talk. She was so surprised. Needless to say, I have not been able to use it yet. She got to download the very first book and read it all day long.

After church, we went to Papaw and Grannie's house for lunch and then we got to relax at home and at the bookstore before we went for a special dinner at Carrabba's!

Yikes! Has It Really Been That Long?

Can't believe how quickly time goes by...has it really been that long since I've blogged? C'mon! I have to do better than that. Not because I think there are many people out there that are dying for me to post something, but so that my grandfather, aunts, uncles and cousins who live in Guatemala can, at least, be a part of our lives through this blog. So...I'm hoping to do a little better and what better excuse than Dave riding the MS 150!

About a month ago, Dave decided to sign up and do something he has been wanting to do for a while now. His friend encouraged him to ride the MS 150 with his team, so Dave went for it. One week before the ride though, it was questionable if he was going to be able to ride it. During one of his training rides, something got in his eye and it looked pretty bad for a week or so. Then the following week, he went riding and came back with a lot of pain on his right hand. He went to see the doctor and he told him that he looked more like a swimmer and should think about changing sports. Oh, but this did not stop Dave! The morning before the ride, Dave decided to go for it...

I was on my way to San Antonio with the kids when all of a sudden, I get a text on my iPhone with a map telling me where he was. Come to find out, he was only about 15 miles from where we were at the moment, so I decided to take a little detour and meet up with him. Well, that little detour added about 5 hours to our trip, but the kids had a blast being able to see daddy ride.

Break point at Fayetteville Texas

After seeing Dave at the finish line for the day at La Grange Texas, we headed to San Antonio. We met up with my parents at their stores at the Market and while they were working, we decided to party at Fiesta, which is going on this week. It was crazy!!!! Not very kid friendly.

After all that "partying" I had enough, so I went home while the kids and my parents went to see my parent's possible new store which is located right in front of the Alamo. While there, they decided to take the kids on a carriage ride.

The next day, we headed to Austin to see Dave cross the finish line! There were thousands of people. It was so much fun being a part of this. We found a great spot to cheer Dave on.

Good job Dave, we are so proud of you!!!