Our drive home from Colorado

As we drove home and looked at the snow and listened to Christmas music I felt like it really was the holiday season. It was so pretty.

Our Thanksgiving trip to Colorado

The first 2 pics are of my cute little grandma. I enjoyed getting to talk to her and hugging her. There is something about only having one grandparent left. I can't explain it.
The next one is of Josh and Christina. I don't know if I am spelling it right. We had so much fun getting to know her. She is so sweet and fun. I've kinda nicked named her Tiger and secretly Josh is Eyore. Hopefully the Tiger in her will rub off on Josh. I am excited about a new addition to our family. Well, make that two. My other brother Bryan and his wife Lisa are expecting their 4th in June. SHhhhhhh
The one with the kids on the bed is in the hotel. I have a rule No Jumping on beds at my house!!!! BUT at a hotel you can jump all you want. They had a blast. They went swimming everyday and enjoyed breakfast 10 steps from our room.
The last one is just cute Claire.

Thankful for you

I often think of things I am thankful for but, keep it to myself. Its during Thanksgiving holiday that I might say it out loud. I am so grateful for so many things. I am thankful for the gospel. It paves the way for my everyday. Things that my Heavenly Father has given me. Air, water, flowers, animals, and soooo much more. I am truly grateful for family. I have the most interesting and amazing family. I so appreciate those that help me with my children and make them feel extra special. Sometimes I (mom) only has so much in her. I also am grateful for friends. Friends that have been there for me when I've really needed one. I couldn't make it with out you. Some days just your phone call means the world to me. I am thankful for our jobs, the cars we drive, and the house we live in. Running water, air conditioning, heater, lights, computers so I can blog, and pictures!!!!! I am thankful for our health. We have been very blessed. I witnessed this year working very closely to a friend with breast cancer. She went through chemo and radiation. I watched her body be attacked by this horrible disease. I stepped back many times and thanked God for my healthy body and my families. I became more familiar with my self this year. You could say it was because my husband is going to school to be a physcologist, but I think age and wisdom had more to do with it. I am still working on things, it might take forever. LOL. I am thankful for my husband and his kindness and love he has for our family. His desire to learn more about EVERYTHING. I am grateful for three beautiful children. They teach me things everyday. Patience is a big one. They teach me to slow down and take time to watch them grow and learn. They teach me to think as they do and to be innocent like them. They teach me that THINGS are not what matters most; it is the time spent with them that does. I am thankful to have one grandma left. I miss my grandparents so much. Having her to talk to and still see is a blessing. If you are reading this know that I am thankful for you and the way that you have touched my life. Some more than others. Some more my kids than me, but nevertheless I am thankful for you.

Happy Thanksgiving!!
We are driving to Colorado to see my Aunt Liz, Uncle Rick, Cousins Alicia,Cami, Grandma Eldora, my little brother Josh and his bride to be Christina and her parents. How much fun can that be!!! I will report when I return next week.

Not Yet -Mommys not ready!!!

I was folding clothes in my room tonight and Claire was playing in the tub. I heard her in singing "Meam Up" song and then I heard, "go pee pee" I ran in the bathroom and grabbed my camera (which by chance was in my bathroom) and took this picture. Ok, I have heard some moms say, Yes my child was potty trained at 18 months. I would say to myself, yea thats a bunch of hooey too. So heres Claire at 18 months telling ME that SHE need to go potty. So far we have pooped and pee peed on the potty. So I have to say this could be a fluke and I kind of hope so because she is still my baby. Oh, and I also just bought a huge box of diapers at Costco. We WILL use all of them. I guess we'll see what happens. Sorry about the nudy photo. Jimmy said I should crop it down but, you wouldn't get the whole effect. (I think she looks like a bear)

Pumpkins

This year I suggested we not carve out pumpkins. So we got out the good ole Sharpie and did some serious decorating. Hannah didn't really do anything which was surprising. I think we were too bogged down with homework and a project. Porter got Sharpie happy as you can see. Maybe next year I will bring out the knives.

Fall Season comes to an end

We had a another great season with t-ball. We had the same coach as last spring, Coach Bill. He is so good with the kids. You can tell he loves the sport and wants to teach the boys how to play. His patience level is pretty high too. Porter improved this fall. He can hit a little farther. He got more outs this season that last which to me means he is gettting the idea of the game. Way to go Porter.

One of my most favorite things to do.

I go and read to Porter's kindergarten class once a month. The night before I let Porter choose 3 books from our public library stack. Porter has to sit in the back of the class while they sit on the mat because he is so tall. Because of that he can't sit up close to me while I read. He does not like that. They are so cute. I get lots of hugs and "whose mom are you?" I look forward to it every month , so I guess that is why it is one of my most favorite things to do.

Happy Birthday to Grandma Griffin

We went to Plano to celebrate Grandma Griffin's 83rd birthday. We went out to eat at El Fenix and she was a good sport and wore this HUGE sombrero and we all sang to her. We then ate THE best pie ever,icebox lemon pie. To die for!!! Then we went back to her place and talked and looked at pictures. It was a fun evening.

Go Pink Panthers!!!!

Hannah started another season of volleyball. We now play 6 instead of 4. They are actually playing the ball back and forth. It is fun to watch. Hannah is probably one of the best servers. She gets it over about 90% of the time. Now if we can get her to a bit more agressive then we will have a pretty good player on our hands.

"Meam Up"

This is Clair singing the Clean up song. She takes everything out of cupboards, drawers, toy boxes, and bags. While doing this she sings "Meam up, Meam up" SO CUTE. You should see my silverware drawer. Its hunt for what ever you need. Oh, and by the way she can count to 10 with a little help. We say, one and she says, "two" and we say "three" and she says, "fora" and we say "five" and she also skips fora and goes onto fia. Then we say "six" and she says, "seben" and we say "eight" and she says "nia" and finally ten. We are having so much fun watching another one learn and grow. I think this is my favorite age.

Great News

My little brother got engaged. I was so excited. I have only talked to Christina a few times on the phone but I already know I like her. Not that my approval counts. Ha Ha. I only have one picture of them and I got it off of my phone and you know me and technology, so theres no way for me to get from there to here. So lets say as soon as I get a picture on my camera I will blog it. I am so happy for both of them and I think the wedding is in March of next year. Congratulations Josh and Christina

Happy Halloween 2007

The first pic is the whole motley crew!!! Two Hannah Montanas
The second pic of course is Harry and his friend Ron. Pretty cute.
The third pic is Claire's second costume(who knows what it is/ it came out of the dress up box) and Super Girl.
The fourth pic is Bella the black cat.
The fifth pic is the motley crew again. ( and a Mavs cheerleader)

Happy October

This is one of the best pics I have been able to get of Claire. She is so hard to catch and make smile all at the same time.

The next one is where you could find Claire during the Trunk-or-Treat at church. We found random pieces of candy with bite marks in them.

This is the orginal costume I had for Claire. I made it for Hannah 9 years ago. As I was stuffing it on her head, Jimmy said, " I recall another little girl you did this to 9 years ago." So then I felt bad and let her run around in her regular clothes. Can you tell shes the third child?

This last one is my treat for all the kids at Nana's house on Halloween night. I thought they turned out kind of cute.

Miss you everyday

October 30,2005 is that sad day that my Grandpa Freddie slipped away. I want to celebrate him. He was a great man. Tons of integrity, patience, stubborness, forgiveness, gentleness, and a very simple man. Grandpa didn't care for the frilly things in life. He always saw the good in everyone. He treated Grandma with love, kindness, and patience. He would have given his shirt off his back to anyone in need. I always wanted to marry him because I knew he would not break my heart. (like all the others did). He just represented qualities that we all would like to have or be told we had them after we've gone. I sure miss him and his voice when I called. He used to say I always can tell when my Nickie calls by her laugh. I love you and miss you grandpa

What a weekend!!!

Stephanie and I went to see Maroon 5 Sat. night. Oh my gosh was it good. Our seats were 8 rows from the front and right in front of one of the side stages. I haven't been to a concert in soooooo long I didn't know how to act. I felt young again. (since those of you that know how the age thing is with me) this was great thearpy!!! I also enjoyed getting out of the house and without kids. Dinner-fun
Maroon5- Huge fun
spending the evening with Stephanie- PRICELESS Thanks Stephanie for everything.

Humble has a whole new meaning.

I got this in an e-mail again. I saw it several months ago and it made me have goose bumps and tears in my eyes. Someone so simple and humble had so much hidden. All because of afraid of failing. No confidence. I could relate. He stepped out of his comfort zone and look what happened. He wowed people all over the world. I think this man is amazing. Enjoy!!

Quote I found

" I embrace my mistakes or (learning expierences). They put me in the right direction."

I have really been hard on myself lately about everything. I don't know why. So when I found this quote I loved it. I will embrace what I am given and if I make a mistake I will learn from it and hopefully it will put me in the right direction. I feel like there is always so much for me to learn, but deep inside there is this "thing" that says you can't. Why I listen to it I don't know. So I am working on realizing when I make a mistake just make it right and move on and quit listening to the "thing". Hopefully the day will come and I WILL know that I can do it with great assurance. I'm sure this makes no sense but it did help to get it off my chest.

Girls Night Out

My mom invited Hannah and I to go to The Childrens Theater in Dallas. One of the teachers at her school was taking her students and invited us to go. It was so cute and we had a lot of fun. Dinner and a play, who could beat that. (especially since mom Nicole hasn't done anything for herself in a looooooong time)

A whole new world opens up for Porter.

Porter has started to read books he has made in kindergarten. I love to see the excitement in his eyes as he spells things around him and reads words in books that go with pictures hes colored. He reads to me once a week and we read together every night. I love this age. The world becomes more facinating to him (through words, letters, and sounds)

Love those cute sayings

The other day we were in Jo-ANN s store and we were looking at all the Halloween stuff. We were by the scary masks and Porter was really checking them out. So as we are walking away he says, "Mom, I've always wondered what Satan looked like and now I know." I replied, "Yes, Porter, Ugly and scary."

Gotta love that boy!!!

Nanny's garden

I caught Claire sitting on the bench in Nana's garden and thought she looked so cute with the little statue. I think she found a new friend.

Work equals $$$

For the past several grass cutting seasons Hannah has either mowed Nana and Papa's lawn or edged it. No matter what she gets paid $20.00 for her hard work. She is very eager to make $20.00. Money and Hannah go together. How she turned out this way I don't know. She was born into the wrong family. She does pay her tithing first and saves a little in the bank. She loves to spend it almost as quickly as she gets it. I will tell you this its not only on herself. Tonight she bought Porter something and all of us Frostys at Wendys. So sometimes we score for her hard work. I think it teaches her money doesn't grow on trees and to appreciate it because it may not always be there. So I think the smiles says it all.

The one who never gets talked about..

I was reading in my Creating Keepsakes magazine this morning and I found something that really hit me. It was an article on scrapbooking those that are left out of pictures, such as your husband or yourself ect. Well, in our family guess who that is?? Our dad Jimmy. He is always at work, school (by the way he is in the doctorate program now, and I don't seem to get very many pics of him. He IS such a big part of our life and how could I let our life go without letting my children know or their children know how wonderful dad, husband, son, brother, uncle ect.. he is. So here's to my husband and Hannah, Porter and Claire's dad. We love you and all that you do for us.

This is my daytime buddy now.

I am having so much fun spending the day with Claire. We take the kids to school and go back home. We then eat cheerios and watch "um babies" as Claire calls it. Then we play on the floor and look at books for a while. I love watching all the changes she makes. She now says "I Yuv You" or "I Wuv hoo". She can say "Tan Tu" and "Peas". She does this hopping thing and turning in circles that is so cute. I am just enjoying every moment. She is my last child and I don't want it to go away. So I guess my way of handling it is is to be apart of her as much as I can. I am so grateful that I can stay home part time and be so close to her.