10.6.2009

wishing you a happy birthday hon.

may your day be filled with a winning bills game,

a season filled with the office and pork chops & three cheese

twice baked potatoes.

heres to birthdays celebrated at jimmy macs, third base,

creekside and brennans.

love ya now more than ever -

especially now that we are the same age again!

10.5.2009

{nathan & colin - crescent beach - july 2009}

monday randomness.

i'm getting better at chess.

joining chess club seems to be a big motivator.

cleaning closets.

moving bathing suits to the bottom drawers.

digging out the long sleeves.

trying on the jeans.

still too warm to turn off the a/c.

another issue of the teravista school newsletter is done.

loving this new series - the good wife.

loving the season finale last night - entourage.

favorite chick flick this week -

ghosts of girlfriends past.

musical tables at third base yesterday -

just hanging with the hudsons

and watched the bills.

signed colin & nathan up for locked in at

church this weekend -

11pm friday nite till 7am saturday morning

at gattiland.

this will be interesting.

anxiously awaiting a delivery from restoration hardware.

who is this kate + eight chick?

justin is practicing away at the baritone.

we actually recognize the songs.

colin loves 'nate the great' books.

nathan is reading his way thru the newberry

award winning books of the 60's.

starting to work on mom & dads anniversary celebration.

looking forward to the newest addition to the family soon.

sandra has our kris kringles all delivered.

munching on quesadillas & jalapenos.

i am an ipod junkie at 3am -

perfect time to download an episode of greys anatomy.

off to bake a cake for my birthday boy.

10.3.2009

saturday morning clouds.

the lions were awake & roaring.

looking good in their away color shorts & headbands.

they were dressed to win.

and won!

the afternoon clouds gave way to rain

for almost the entire game.

the teams were definitely not used to these conditions.
wet field & slippery ball were just obstacles

for the patriot team.

they were up for the challenge.

and won!

rain or shine.
saturday football is filled with great friends,
great teams & great memories! off to sonic for winning players.
nothing like a double cheeseburger and a
chocolate shake to celebrate.

10.2.2009

school cookout today.

doesn't get any better than hamburgers, ice cream &

outside for lunch time.

thank goodness

the ice cream didn't melt as fast this year.

10.2.2009

today was nathans last day of safety patrol.

not easy working the line.

lots of car doors to open.

lots of kids to load into cars.

lots of cones to line up and retrieve.

lots of flags to lower & fold.

lots of newbies to train today.

lots of commitment on nates part.

nice job nathan!

10.1.2009

{colin - game one - saturday 9/26/2009}

football is in full swing...

cleats & flags...

mud & grass...

touchdowns & celebrations...

teamwork & practice...

go lions!

9.30.2009

now.

here.

homework at school today:

what do you want to be when you grow up?

easy question for this boy....

list the clues first...
1) I go to collige.
2) These thing snap togher.
3) They are culerful.
-
{Please note the capital letters and punctuation.
Please disregard the spelling.}
-
Answer: A Lego engineer.
There are legos everywhere inside this house & car.
I can hear the legos moving around early in the morning
as a search for the perfect piece is occurring.
I find pieces everywhere.
In my purse.
In the car.
In the lunchbox.
On the floor.
In the vacuum.
There is not a day when the legos go untouched.
We build.
We create.
We sort.
We love.

9.30.2009

when i saw that these were on sale on the internet for 1.25 each,

i almost bought one.

talk about memory lane.

they came flooding back.

in the form of green sticky stamps.

piecing them together like tetris blocks.

the pages growing stiff as the layers were added.

mom let me lick them myself.

whenever i found one or two.

sometimes i'd find one in the bottom of a purse.

or the back of the drawer in the kitchen.

and in the book they went.

grandma had a slightly moistened sponge that had to be used.

green stamps only on fridays.

only in the upstairs bathroom.

on the sink ledge.

stamps lived in a plastic bag until they moved to their

permanent home.

(just in case i decided to wallpaper the bathroom with them?)

-

i don't ever recall 'spending' the hard earned filled

green stamp books.

was this the 'stay at home' moms guiltless pleasure.

what exactly could you buy with these stamps?

lots of unanswered questions.

lots of memories from a photo.

good stuff.

am i the only one who remembers these?

worth 1.25 each!

9.29.2009

this is how we spend our tuesday afternoons.

with 42 of our school mates, kings & queens.

check & checkmate.

pawns & knights.

chess & kids.

can't think of a better way to spend the afternoon!

9.26.2009

go here to watch todays game.

the patriots lost.

but justin was a true winner.

the teammates noticed.

the parents noticed.

the coaches noticed.

the league noticed.

you made us so proud.

you handled yourself in a way

that speaks volumes.

of you.

-

9.25.2009

happy birthday leah!

just yesterday you were taking your walker down the back stairs

on dorcester and now your cruz'n the country for colleges.

enjoy your special day!

9.25.2009

{football practice tonight - patriots team - behrens ranch club}

friday night lights.

justin & nathan are back in the same division this season.

and on the same team.

selfish reasons to put them together.

as if they need more bonding time together.

they actually compliment each other on the team.

amazing how different these two boys are.

amazing how well they get along.

amazing football season starts again tomorrow!

sunny. hot & 93.

perfect football weather?!

9.24.2009

one week ago i was here.

no laptop.

no email.

no work. no meetings.

no laundry. no lunches to pack.

no homework to do.

no football practice. no chess club.

no math club.

no beds to make. no meals to cook.

no dishwasher to empty.

just sunny skies to doze under.

just swim up bars with fruity cocktails.

just a good book & a stack of magazines.

just a new bottle of panama jack sun tan lotion.

just a couple days on an island.

just the perfect vacation.

just a big thanks to mom for making it all happen!

9.22.2009

hi hannah.

don't worry.

nans not lost.

shes hanging in austin with your cousins.

see you soon.

i have a surprise for you!

love,

nan

9.20.2009

{number one cheerleader!}

congrats to ryan & the swim.run.bike sunday morning event!

looks nice & warm there too.

cheering you from afar.

nice job.

talk about challenge.

good stuff.

where's nan?

sorry i stole her away from the action!

9.19.2009

its wonderful to go away on vacation

but

its great to come home!

bye bye islands.

hello path.

we missed y'all.

love the sign.

fun circle stuff going around.
i bet theres jiff and fruit loops in the pantry.

9.12.2009

happy 2nd birthday hannah!

may your day be filled with tinkerbell magic,

watermelon smiles and pink cupcakes!
we miss you.

9.8.2009

fun printing on the internet:

lunch box notes here.

lunch survey here - pictured above.

this belongs to stickers here.

thumb wrestling fun here.

moms got a latte to do today list here.

heres to ordering a new ink cartridge today.

9.7.2009

labor day.
no labor here.
rudys breakfast tacos.
restoration hardware.
sprouts.
yogo yougert.
cheeseburgers on the grill.
doesn't get any better.
no schedule.
no clocks.
just hanging together.

9.6.2009

don't freak out.

the boys are taking a break.

don't freak out.

there's only 21 candles on that cake.
don't freak out.
its only 95 today.
we went to church.
we went swimming.
we ate pizza.
we drew the usa with chalk in the street.
we just "live simply".
we enJoyed today.
happy day.

9.5.2009

saturday party.

season opener.

burnt orange.

hook'm horns.

101,098 fans.

in one stadium.

we were not there.

we were next to the stadium.

at scholzs garten.

watching the game.
on pay-for-view screens.

hanging with the college students.

and cowboy boots.

and college graduates.

and college parents.

counting the years till the boys will be here.

go longhorns.

go colt.

hit 6th street for dinner on the patio at opels.

walking the downtown streets.

go lsu.

sorry ou about that shoulder injury.

yikes - i'm talking college ball.

nathan keeps me informed.

9.4.2009

reading the help...
watching greys anatomy still...
drinking metropolitans...
listening to christina courtin...
picking up legos...
catching geckos...
printing college football stats...
friday thoughts...

9.3.2009

{31 sippels on the crescent stairs - july 2009 - picture from sil debbie}

summer fun.

summer memories.

where did the summer go to?

love looking back at the photos.

love those summer days without schedules.

seems like just yesterday.

9.2.2009

3 meetings at work.
3 backbacks filled with homework.
3 loads of laundry awaiting.
3 alarm clocks set.
3 lunches packed.

9.1.2009

{our backyard on 1430}

something about opening the front door at 7am and its 75 degrees.
something about fall in the air.
something about the first day of september.
something about a clean calendar in front of me.
something about the morning sun sitting just a bit lower.
something about the beginning of school that sets me in a new direction.
something about reorganizing. cleaning. simplifying.
something about today.
something about now.
-
something. today. now.
something. new. simple.
something. less. free.
something. daily.
something. good.

8.31.2009

randomness.
nathans detailed explaination of sarah palin.
had to pay him $ 2.00.
justin lost his id card after 4 days.
later found.
cricket season.
longhorn bud light cans.
jalapenos.
taco shack drive thru.
really?
arriving at school b4 it even opens just to avoid the traffic.
new doorbell.
free starbucks vivanno smoothies.
weekend snow days.
chipotle chips.

8.29.2009

snow day.

love it when the phone rings at 5am.

hasn't happened in a long, long time.

got so many things on the to-do list done.

early morning walks & runs.

new glasses. haircuts. music pieces.

afternoon swims. 3 inch binders.

relaxing & hanging.

a bonus day.

a treat.

the simple things.

8.28.2009

we survived week one.

we made it to school on time everyday.

we lived thru teravista gridlock.

we signed hundreds of forms.

we packed lunches & backpacks.

we started & finished homework.

we are in a new routine.

we are falling into it.

-

guess who has the portable classroom this year?

he's in the club now.

8.25.2009

first day of school.

long hair. short hair. curly hair.

3 boys so alike.

3 boys so different.

3 boys off to start another year.

6th/5th/2nd grade awaits.

heres to an exciting year ahead!

i can't wait to hear how the first day was.

8.24.2009

happy birthday victoria!

may your day be filled with ice skates, hula hoops and

american dolls!

smile!

8.24.2009

one year ago.

last day of summer vacation ice cream.

today.

last day of summer vacation ice cream. traditions. memories. smiles.
frozen treats and chocolate mustaches.
good stuff.
happy 13 years to deanne & kevin today.

3 handsome boys & a picket fence later.

more good stuff to celebrate.

8.23.2009

take one sunny sunday + 105 degrees.

add a church service + brunch.

add a real train + a railroad crossing.

mix in 5 kids + 4 parents.

mix in 1 upgrade + a/c.
and you get one great end of the summer memory!
something new.
something different.
something about the last summer weekend !

8.22.2009

one birthday boy

with many target gift cards in his wallet

decided to buy a little something for his room

and after three different target stores

he found the one he wanted

in stock

on sale

saved 80.00

complete with dvd player, flat screen and remote.

we are so proud that nathan actually spent

his gift cards before his 12th birthday!

finished middle school registration with justin

found his locker

and got his student id card

figured out were all his classes are

only one in a portable

exciting stuff!

an afternoon trip downtown to explore

and people watch and cocktail wait. haha.

papa murphy pizza dinner.

hanging outside.

warm and breezy.

great days are the best when

they just happen!

summer vacation is coming to an end.

enJoy the last couple days without watches,

filofaxs and homework schedules.

8.21.2009

happy birthday nathan!

the big double one today.

can't think of a better way to start your day

than with a texas size donut at round rocks -

complete with candles & chocolate milk.

a couple birthday errands,

an afternoon movie with soda & popcorn,

then off to the pool to cool down.

open house at school

meet your teacher & drop off your supplies

with 1000 other students.

no crowds there!

dinner at a restaurant of your choice.

you picked third base & the cowboys

were playing on the big screen just for you!

back home for cake & ice cream.
presents and cards.
"this was the best birthday ever!"

go figure - it wasn't even your party year!
happy day nathan!
heres to a year of fun & excitement ahead of you.

8.20.2009

lunchbox thoughts here.
back to school stickers here.
school printables here.
bookplates here.
lined paper here.
blank september calendar here.
personalized star war tags here.
cowboys folder stickers here.
time to organize.
time to make mornings just a little easier.
time to get into school mode.
time to sharpen those pencils.
here we go.

8.19.2009

another sign that summer is coming to an end.
barnes & nobles summer reading club.
each boy read 8 books.
each boy received a free book.
nice choices guys.
we're proud of y'all.
we loved finding you curled up in a big
chair reading just because.
we loved having quiet time were
everyone read together in the great room.
we loved all our quick trips to the library
because the book you reserved finally was available.
we loved when you compared books to the
movie version.
we loved that you realized that award
winning books are truly good books.
we loved that you ventured out of your
regular authors and tried some new ones.
we loved that you asked to reserve
wimpy kid #4 already even though
its not due out for months.
we loved that you can spend hours walking around
a library/a book store just looking.
we loved that you realize reading comes in
other forms like the daily newspaper
and magazines.
(yes, we check magazines out of the library - very green)
we hope we have given you one of the
best tools to live/learn/enjoy by -
the joy of reading!

8.18.2009

we are getting ready for school.

first day is next tuesday.

looking forward to routine again.

not looking forward to routine again.
the weather has ever so slightly changed,
one more sign of impending change.

highs 102 -104.
lows 76-78.

it feels heavenly.
sat outside till 11pm.
felt like a florida breeze tonight.
any tropical storms in the gulf?
enjoying the last couple days without
looking at the time & watching the clock all day.
simple stuff.
good stuff.
daily stuff.

8.17.2009

sleeping in.
water parks.
finally being tall enough.
picnic lunches.
lazy river.
wandering thru ikea.
monday night football.
dads world famous cheeseburgers.
monday memories.

8.14.2009

$20.00 friday.

nathan planned the day.

we had a schedule.

which included 7 new goldfish

purchased at petsmart

for 1.44.

and lunch from mcdonalds 6.48
and soda from the gas station 2.54

(because 44 oz only costs 79 cents + tax

and you can serve yourself - so theres no ice in
the cup taking up all the room!)

we also had donuts from round rock 1.65
redbox dvd 1.08
a trip to the dollar store 3.24
spent 1 hour in toys r us 0.00 (honest)
one swim in the pool 0.00
loved how he had scheduled relax time
3.57 leftover
fun memories.

8.13.2009

happy anniversary ryan & julie!

heres to five years, spaghetti filled

pools & baby makes four!

miss ya.

enJoy!

8.13.2009

i had copies of colins disposable camera

wedding pictures made because

he did such a great job.

i had to scrap them before i forgot

the story behind the story.

i had to get this one done.

i had to pick these up from

walgreens today.

-

heres to all the stories
sitting in a shoebox overflowing with pictures.