This just in...

Snow and cute kids are waiting for us in Utah!

I know I have said that I am ready for Christmas at home one of these years, but look what I would miss. These adorable little guys are Noah and little brother Luke, Huy's sister's kids. They were out playing in the fresh snow.

We ALL can not wait to see them and the rest of the family so we have decided to leave earlier. We will be heading to Utah on Thursday rather than waiting until the kids are out of school and leaving Saturday. Let the fun begin!

Nike Dog

That's what we call him sometimes, Nike Dog. We have come to adore this guy. He is definately a big part of the family. His latest... he loves chewing ice cubes. When I fix the kids waters bottles for school, I usually drop one as I'm fitting them in the bottle and so now he has learned to sit and wait. Now I drop one reguardless if I meant to or not.

And isn't this the saddest thing ever? He has to wear a lampshade for about ten days to keep him from pulling out his own stitches because yes, he was neutered! But he is still a man dog. Huy assures us of that.

Where's Tanner?

Do you see him? Can you pick him out of the crowd? Oh, there he is... at his 5th grade musical! He just loves to sing and dance and perform. He would rather do this than go to basketball practice. He is such a good kid and he did a great job singing and doing his little ditties that went along with the music. We are so proud!

I mean, check out the good time he is having. NOT! He went and was pleasant about it, but surely didn't love going over basketball practice. He would hardly smile for the camera. I think he was pretty glad when it was over. But he at least now knows the song, "My Favorite Things" from the Sound of Music. (The theme was "All That Jazz" so they sang a few classics and had a live band. It was really pretty good."

Look who came for a visit!

One night we were all getting ready for bed and there was a knock at the door... it was Santa! He came to see if the kids had been naughty or nice this year and he sat with each of them, asking them what they wanted for Christmas and gave them a little present. They weren't quite sure what to think of the whole thing, but Kaylie was definately enjoying all of it. She came up to me and asked if she could give him her letter and she had a little book catalog that she had been looking at. She shared them both with Santa and she was just too cute. Santa had a cookie and was gone. I'm sure he had many stops still to make.

The photo quality that night wasn't so good, a little dark and fuzzy. Darn.

Ward Christmas Party

Yes, I made these adorable, or not so adorable bible clothes. I thought, ahh, just a few dollars a yard at Walmart and I can sew a straight line. This should be something I can do and it will be kind of fun. Well, about $50 dollars later and most of the day leading up to the event, this was the outcome. Note to self, look up "bible costumes" on Google BEFORE making your own. You can't see it in these pictures, but the length of ours were more like ninja or jedi costumes than the floor length attire worn in the day.

We were invited to Bethlehem as if it were during the time of Jesus' birth. We received a decree that told us where we needed to be when and what we needed to bring. It was very cute and clever. The gym was set-up with all these tents you could visit after eating a "meal" on a blanket. There was a fresh fruit market, the food tent that had bread and hummus and cheese cubes and dates, and a jewlery tent. Kaylie immursed herself in the storytelling.

Taylin and Tanner liked the game booth where they were taught how to play a game called "Dreidle." It was so cool I sent it to my nephews on their mission. They can have fun playing on Christmas with their companions! And I'll probably bring it out with our families in Utah. It is a fun way to get some candy! The evening was followed by a nice program of the nativity.

Huy and Tanner decided to modernize their costumes. Everything in our house needs this logo!

Late Nights with Friends

The Colquitt girls have been coming over for a few "late nights." They have enjoyed playing, watching movies on the projector and having hot chocolate. They've had so much fun and it is nice to have good friends for them to play with! Kassadi and Halle, you are welcome anytime!

Disney's M A G I C K I N G D O M

Because Tanner's team was going to Disney World, the girls and I HAD to come along and one of the great perks... going to Magic Kingdom. It was the best mother/daughter date ever! The girls and I had all day to do all the things that girls wanted to. As you can see, it was such a great time that I couldn't choose one or two or three pictures to share - there were so many cute ones. It surely was "where dreams come true!"

After spending ALL day doing EVERYTHING, we had to stick around to see Cinderella's castle lit up in Christmas lights. Kaylie had fallen asleep and Taylin and I were freezing (yes freezing, even in Florida), but it was worth it. It was beautiful!

It was fun to shop all the Disney stores too. Taylin got her cute, black and white plaind hat. So High School Musical! She loves it. And Kaylie got a Tinkerbell Polly Pocket and then a Minnie Mouse one. She couldn't seem to live without them. We had so much fun! We want to go back next year!

NFL National Flag Football Championships

What an experience! Tanner and the rest of the Dallas Cowboys team had a great time in Orlando, Florida at the Disney All-Star Sports Complex competing for the National Championship title. They won their first three games in their pool which placed them as the first seeded team in the tournament brackets. They then won their first game in the bracket which led them to the semi-finals where they played a well-known, veteran system team, Mo Steel. The Cowboys were very close to winning it, but ended up losing to Mo Steel who went on to win in the championship game. Despite the loss, it was an experience that we will all remember for a lifetime!

The Clarks and Thanksgiving

This is a sampling of our dear friends, the Clarks, and their Christmas card photo shoot. It was one of the many fun things we did over the Thanksgiving weekend. They came down from Fort Worth after their dinner with Karmen's Aunt and family and after we enjoyed our Thanskgiving feast with our friends. We always have a good time and it has been such fun to watch our families grow up together!

Taylin and Lauren had a great time playing and playing and playing some more. They often included the little girls which was nice too. They were good to keep themselves entertained so we could get started on Christmas things.

Cole and Tanner kept themselves busy as well. They made vinegar and soda bombs and let them go off in the cul-de-sac. After several small "booms," they wanted bigger ones so they proceeded to make bigger ones. And then when one went off, I told them about the kids in the neighborhood that the police showed up at their doorstep for letting bombs off and that seemed to quiet the big ones down and they went for a few more smaller ones.

Ahh, the joys of putting up the Christmas decorations. It was a huge help, and much more fun, to have help putting up the tree and decorations after a morning of shopping on Black Friday. Karmen and I made the most of our shopping trip, finding some real good deals and just enjoying time shopping alone!

Huy was an awesome help too as he worked at getting a few stands of lights working again on the tree. Albeit unsuccessful, turning the tree around so the dead spot was in the back was brilliant! Thanks sweetie!

By the weekends end, we had accomplished a lot. Christmas cards were done (now I've got to address them and get them in the mail), decorations were up, we saw Bolt and the new 007 movie, ate lots of yummy treats, got a jump start on some Christmas shopping, and had fun playing and doing it all together. Thanks guys for coming to hang with us!

Give thanks in everything!

Little Miss Jennifer Pilgrim came to Thanksgiving dinner and cooked the turkey and all the yummy fixins! It was such a delight to enjoy this "Tom the Turkey" with our good friends, the Simmons, at their home, and with the Mabeys. Everything was most enjoyable!

Huy enjoyed the electric knife as he helped cut the turkey.

And after that wonderful meal, the kids took a dip in the Giles hot tub (before their home sold, we got one last dip).
Thanks everyone for all the delicious foods and the great time!

My beautiful new haircut

"I love my haircut, but I don't want to smile and pose like a pretty, cute, obedient, little girl. I want to be grumpy!"

"But okay, Daddy makes me laugh so I guess I will let him make me laugh so my mother will be happy that I am finally smiling for the camera for you all to see my cute haircut that I have been asking for for weeks now."

H A P P Y T H A N K S G I V I N G!

from Pilgrim Kaylie and the rest of the family!

Kaylie enjoyed a Thanksgiving feast last week at her preschool with her pilgrim friends and indian friends. Daddy got to go visit and take a few pictures. This made Pilgrim Kaylie a very happy pilgrim.

They enjoyed some yummy fixins. It's a good thing Pilgrim Kaylie isn't as picky as her siblings and could enjoy "everything but the green beans. I don't really like those," said Pilgrim Kaylie with a squinched up nose, shaking her head no.

What did you love and not love so much on your Thanksgiving plate?



M I G H T Y H U N T E R S

Look what walked across our yard today? How odd, right? Well how odd is it that this crew hunted it down with fish nets and some bare hands to capture the poor guy and put him in a dog's crate for several hours as a pre-Thankgiving pet. Huy and the neighbors were trying to decide who should kill it and eat it for their Thanksgiving turkey, I mean, pheasant!

Killer Whales Rock

She is the cutest goalie on the fields!

Taylin had a great season with the Killer Whales. In her new age group, the field is bigger and they learn off-sides, and have a goalie. And that is what Taylin wanted to try and she practiced hard and learned to be a great one. She got good with her drop kicks and getting on the ground to stop those balls. She was still able to play forward some and she made several goals, and she was an awesome defender because she has a powerful kick.

The team played so well throughout the season that they took 2nd in their division and were invited to a tournament. That day was particularly cold day with a wind that chilled us all to the bones so I didn't get many pictures, but the following team ones. Although the team didn't advance to the finals, Taylin played her best ever!


These girls loved team hugs!

At the team party at Gattiland, the girls shared in a great celebration!

(Megan, Marisa, Gabby, Chloe, Grace, Taylin, Sydney, Olivia, and Daniela)

We are so proud of you Taylin! Keep with it and you will become an even better player!

Falling behind,

and catching up...

A quick one...

With no pictures... I'm not a fan of no pictures, but this time, I just had to do it without them...

• Taylin had her 3rd grade school musical, School House Rock. She was so cute up there on stage saying, "Math is great, now don't get me wrong, but what about science... perhaps the solar system" and singing Inner Space Janet Planet. (Hey Chelon, do you have a pictures of the girls you wouldn't mind sharing?)


• Tanner finished his "regular" flag football season, sad to say, losing in the Superbowl game against da Bears, ending the season with a 7-2 record. Not bad. (pics to come)


• Taylin finished her soccer season, placing 2nd in her division, which got the team an invitation to a BIG tournament in Georgetown. It was her first soccer tournament. They played three games, in the freezing cold wind (yes, even in Texas it gets cold), and although they didn't win, she played her best soccer of the season and she had a great time. (pics to come)


• The kids got their 1st nine week report cards with all A's, and a B or two. We are so proud of how hard they work and how smart they are!

And finally...

• Nike got his first report card. He went to an "evalutation" at a boarding/doggie day care. This is what it said... (it's too funny not to share it word-for-word)

"Daycare Report

Date: November 17, 2008

Name of Dog: Nike

I played with: Quinn, Travis, Magnum

My favorite thing is: Running around like crazy with the rest of the boys in my group! There was another lab puppy, named Quinn, who was just my size and he liked to play the same chase games that I love to play!

Nike is a very playful boy! He had no transition period at all, he was relaxed from the moment he first entered the playgroup! He loved to run around with Quinn and they played rough all day! Nike is a sweet boy and is welcome back anytime!"

Oh, that is good cuz he had to stay three nights over the weekend. (Emphasis added by me.)

Okay, one picture. This is Nike with his bestest friend, Ginger (the Clark's dog). I guess you could call her his "girlfriend" since I'm learning that dogs are considered humans to people who have dogs, love dogs, or care for dogs. I guess I am going to have to fit into this mold eventually, but not sure I'm there just yet. Anyway, the picture is to show you that Nike is definately getting big, but Ginger is small so that makes him look bigger than he really is.

Her first field trip

Here is Kaylie at the Pumpkin Patch. It was her first field trip with her preschool class,

AND,

it was her first time on a school bus. I think that was more fun for her than the pumpkin patch. At least she was more excited to be riding a bus and didn't seem to care much about the pumpkins.

The first steps.

She chose the very last seat. Odd?

My baby is growing up! Aaaaaaa!!

H A P P Y H A L L O W E E N . . .

from a crazed football fan, a sweet and beauitful little mermaid, and a playful, cute puppy!


Kaylie saw this costume in a magazine weeks before Halloween was even here. But, Mom delayed ordering it in hopes of finding something similar at a store. After not having any luck, Mom went to order it and, of course, her size wasn't available in the much coveted pink version so Kaylie was a good girl and consented to the blue one. She is a good sport that way. She loved wearing it and was the prettiest mermaid in all of Texas!


Taylin was our cute little puppy... again this year - three years running. She opted out of her Gabriella, High School Musical costume at the last minute so it was a good thing we still had everything for the puppy to return this year! She is definately getting better at the picture thing. I mean, look how cute! She wanted to bring Nike along, but Mom and Dad didn't want to have to deal with that. Maybe next year.

Tanner was too busy playing football with the neighbor boys to come for his picture. Maybe he thinks he's getting too old for that. I say not!

We, as a family, didn't have a chance to go to "the patch" this year, so we had to divide up the tasks to get our pumpkin. The girls and I picked out the pumpkin... at HEB (local grocery store). Not such a good selection, probably because we waited too long, but a good price. And then Huy helped the kids come up with our pumpkin design. Kaylie's requirement was a happy pumpkin, Taylin's requirement was crossed-eyes, and Tanner required teeth. Here is the result. Pretty darn cute.

And here is our family trademark!

Tanner was happy with his loot.

Taylin was exausted after collecting her loot. She couldn't even finish the candy in her hand. Ha!

"Happy Halloween" says Kaylie as she ditched the group early to get home to rest her feet!

On another note, we put a bowl of candy out at our front door. When returning home, we were expecting most of it to be gone, but I would venture a guess that only 5 pieces were gone. What to do with so much left-over candy?! My waistline surely doesn't need it.