Luke, my personal assistantMatt informed me today that it has almost been a month since my last post. He lives with me, so he already knows everything that has been going on, right?
Matt celebrated his 34th birthday on the 12th! The boys and I made him a pound cake with fudge frosting, and we made his favorite dinner, pepper steak. At this age, there is not nearly as much to be excited about.
We were extremely busy the month of November while David and Jean were in Houston for her to finish out her treatments. She had 22 days of radiation, twice a day, five days a week. She left on October 27th and returned home on December 1st. So, I was in charge of the mail and checking on the house, while Matt had to work with the cattle. Thankfully, Chris was around to help, but that left me at home with the boys most evenings. We are so glad to have them back home!
Thanksgiving day was relatively uneventful. I fixed turkey and sides, while Mimi fixed dressing and gravy, Chris and his parents and kids joined us, so we had a good time eating and talking about the black friday sales. I got up early on Friday and made a few stops to finish up my Christmas shopping. By 10:00, we were packed up and headed to Houston. Mimi was riding with us, and she was great helping keep the boys occupied on the 13.5 hour trip.
Jean had asked us to come out during her time in Houston, and we decided the last week in November would work out the best for all of us. Jean met another lady undergoing treatment in Houston who happens to have a vacation house on Tiki Island (just across the bay from Galveston). So, we got to stay in their house during the week. It was really nice, and we all didn't have to sleep in the same room!
We arrived Saturday night and went to church with David and Jean and Mimi on Sunday. David and Jean were renting an apartment from the church, they call it their oasis apartment, and they rent it to people visiting for medical treatments. It seems to be a great outreach and mission for them. Sunday night, we visited Moody Gardens and their Festival of Lights. The boys got to talk to Santa, and there were hardly any other people around, so it was a treat.
That night, Joshua finally lost the tooth that had started to stick out in the front. Whew, what a relief, I was sure that the dentist was going to have to remove it. Here he is showing off his new smile. See how his adult tooth is almost completely in already?
Not even 10 minutes into the zoo visited, Luke fell and busted his lip. He just seems to have an issue with his mouth, falling on it and making it bleed. So, here is his picture from the next day. It's been a week and a half, and he is still trying to pick the scab off his lip and making it bleed!
We also visited NASA, Space Center Houston, which was really neat. They had a lot of activities for kids, and the boys loved playing on the 3 story space themed playground. We learned so much about space travel, and Joshua says that it's too scary to be an astronaut...but he still wants to be a soldier, go figure.
Car shopping was also on our list for Houston. Matt doesn't seem to have time to do that while we're home, so we went to several dealerships in the area. We finally settled on a 2007 Honda Odyssey which we bought on our way home in Georgia. Yeah! The only trouble was that we had to unload a week's worth of stuff from the Windstar into the Odyssey. But, I wasn't going to argue, because I knew that it would be another year before I could get Matt to go car shopping again. :-) The poor sales guy (a single 21 year old) had to help, and I asked if he had ever seen such a mess..."yeah, my closet".
So, back to Houston, we visited Galveston, and I tried to remember what Hotel we stayed at for MaryEllen's wedding, but I couldn't. The boys got to pick up seashells from the beach. We attended Jean's "graduation" from treatments on her last day. Even though she is done with the major treatment, she still has appts in Houston for Jan, Feb, and Mar. February is when she will have her scans to make sure she still has the "all clear". Here is the plaque that she had to read aloud and ring the bell three times. She was too fast, and I didn't get a picture of her ringing the bell. :-(
On our way home, we spent the night with Chet and Amanda. Elizabeth turned five this past weekend, so we got to attend her Hannah Montana birthday party. We were all exhausted from the week, but it was nice to get to spend time with them.
So, we are home, and the suitcases are unpacked, the laundry is done, and our Christmas tree is finally up and decorated. I can now officially welcome the Christmas season! Christmas parties start tomorrow night, woo-hoo!
Lastly, I can't neglect to mention that my little Caleb turned 4 today. What a blessing in our lives...although sometimes quite difficult to deal with, he is always thinking and coming up with some little saying that makes us laugh. He is such a free spirit as you can see in his picture from the zoo. Happy Birthday wishes to my sweet boy. We'll have a Thomas the Train party this weekend.
So, if you are still with me, I wish you all much cheer during this Christmas season. Enjoy your blessings.
When they were done, Luke tried to sneak a taste.
We baked cupcakes for Lexi's birthday, and look who helped...Batman with his easybake mixer. He really saved the day!
Mom and I took our "almost" annual trip to Callaway Gardens with the boys. They loved the lights and getting to see Rudolph and Frosty and FIL the Frog. Caleb was so wiped out that he fell asleep at dinner...
Luke, my personal assistant
We arrived Saturday night and went to church with David and Jean and Mimi on Sunday. David and Jean were renting an apartment from the church, they call it their oasis apartment, and they rent it to people visiting for medical treatments. It seems to be a great outreach and mission for them. Sunday night, we visited Moody Gardens and their Festival of Lights. The boys got to talk to Santa, and there were hardly any other people around, so it was a treat.
That night, Joshua finally lost the tooth that had started to stick out in the front. Whew, what a relief, I was sure that the dentist was going to have to remove it. Here he is showing off his new smile. See how his adult tooth is almost completely in already?
Not even 10 minutes into the zoo visited, Luke fell and busted his lip. He just seems to have an issue with his mouth, falling on it and making it bleed. So, here is his picture from the next day. It's been a week and a half, and he is still trying to pick the scab off his lip and making it bleed!
We also visited NASA, Space Center Houston, which was really neat. They had a lot of activities for kids, and the boys loved playing on the 3 story space themed playground. We learned so much about space travel, and Joshua says that it's too scary to be an astronaut...but he still wants to be a soldier, go figure.
On our way home, we spent the night with Chet and Amanda. Elizabeth turned five this past weekend, so we got to attend her Hannah Montana birthday party. We were all exhausted from the week, but it was nice to get to spend time with them. 
So, if you are still with me, I wish you all much cheer during this Christmas season. Enjoy your blessings.
Luke is still climbing on the kitchen table several times a day and generally growing up way too fast. He found a "ring pop" that Caleb had left out, and decided it was just as good as his former pacifier. He would giggle and run away whenever he thought that I was going to take it away from him.
Joshua has an adult front tooth coming in, but the baby tooth hasn't fallen out yet. The baby tooth just keeps sticking out more and more as the adult tooth pushes it forward. Sometimes, when he smiles, you can see his front tooth sticking out between his lips, like some of those fake hillbilly teeth! It is driving me crazy, but he won't let me pull it out. Now, how much do braces cost?
This morning, we tried to get the picture for the Christmas card. What a disaster. Here's what happened. 
Caleb fell asleep on the tractor with Papa.
Pictures from the preschool field trip to the Jaemor Farm - apple orchard and pumpkin patch. We took a hay ride and ran around in the mini corn maze. The kids got to pick out a pumpkin they could carry. 
Joshua warms up for his soccer game.
the view from our 3 bedroom unit at SeaWatch Plantation
hanging out at Broadway at the Beach where we visited Ripley's Aquarium
Caleb gives the SCUBA diver a high five at the aquarium
The boys are digging machines.
Caleb had a good first day of school. He did well the first week, but the second week was a little more difficult. He didn't want to go in, a little separation anxiety. We've just started the third week, and he is doing better. We decided that he doesn't like the idea of Joshua and Luke going home with me and without him. I didn't even think of him feeling left out. :-( But, the time is good for me to work with Joshua one on one while Luke naps.
Joshua and I have enjoyed watching the birds come to the bird feeder and the hummingbirds coming to get a drink while we do school at the kitchen table. Here is one that sat still for so long that I was beginning to wonder if he was still alive.
Lexi and Mariah were at Chris' visiting weekend before last. The boys love playing with them all day long, then we usually settle for pizza or spaghetti in the evening. The kids were outside jumping on the trampoline after dinner when Lexi ran in and said there was a rattlesnake in the yard. Matt and Chris ran out to see what it was. I looked out from the patio window to see Matt holding what looked like a dead snake. I thought he'd killed it. So, Luke and I went out to investigate. It was just a snake skin, but it was about six feet long. Matt thinks it's probably a king snake, but oh my, the skin was right next to the trampoline! Here it is...Caleb is actually holding about another foot of skin, but it didn't make it into the picture.
Joshua is really into Star Wars right now. He has costumes for Anakin Skywalker, Darth Vader, and a Clone Trooper (do you know what those are, me neither but they look like a Storm Trooper). We have been reading the juvenile Star Wars books, and he plays with Matt's old Star Wars figures. Anyway, the other day he was quiet for quite a while, and he came in to get me. He wanted to show me his drawing. Outside on the driveway, he had drawn in chalk the Earth and the Death Star with all the fighters surrounding it. I had to get a picture, because he was so cute and so into it. He later destroyed the Death Star with water balloons, just like we did at his birthday party. He is in the process of saving up his money to buy a Darth Vader "laptop" computer that plays all sorts of games. Too funny.
I worked at the local consignment sale this weekend and got to shop early. I am anxiously awaiting my check. I don't think it will be too big. I can't seem to get rid of too much just yet. Well, Luke needs my attention, so I better get going. The boys are out rounding up stray cattle that got out today. Those cows...
The Relay for Life is a big deal here! The boys got to go down the inflatable slide and into the fire truck and the fire house simulator. Mom's square dance group came out for entertainment too. Here she is... "hi, mom!"
Luke had his 15 months checkup. He is 22 lbs, and he eats more that Joshua and Caleb. I keep telling them that Luke is going to catch up soon. He is toddling around, taking about 5 or 6 steps by himself. He loves to play in the toilet, ugh! Joshua starts soccer in a few weeks. After soccer camp, he feels quite sure of his abilities! Caleb is still Caleb. He amazes me at how verbal he is. I am anxious to see how well he adapts to his preschool. He starts in a couple of weeks. It is a school at the local high school. They have students run the program. A friend of mine is the teacher/coordinator. She says that she picks the cream of the crop for the program, mostly students who love to work with children or who want to be teachers when they grow up. So, the students spend the first month of school getting ready for the program, that is why they have a late start date.
Luke was very intent on the square dancing. The boys loved the slides. Tomorrow, we are going to a birthday party at a inflatable party place. They'll love that, and hopefully sleep well afterwards!
