So far behind…

I am really behind in posting pictures. I realize I need to step up my game. I can blame half of my tardiness on Brynn. I can NOT leave the laptop open at all during the day, and I can NOT use the computer while’s she awake. AND if you saw what our keyboard looked like you’d understand the other reason for my delayed posting. Brynn has peeled off the letters, p, u, j, h and as you can imagine it’s not easy to type when those letters are missing. I didn’t think I used those letters often, but I use them A LOT.

In the middle of October, it was Red Ribbon Week. The kids spent the week at school learning to say NO to drugs. Reese made a sign and learned a chant to sing while they marched through the neighborhood. That Monday, the school kicked off Red Ribbon Week with a parade through our subdivision. They had a police and fire truck escort. Brynn and I went to watch the whole school march. Brynn enjoyed waving at all the kids from her red wagon.

Reese in the blue shirt, her teacher Ms. Moore behind her

We also had Reese’s first parent teacher conference where we got a great report about her work at school. She’s got a few things she needs to continue to work on, but Ms. Moore told us she was very close to being ready to read. She also gushed about what a helpful and friendly girl Reese was. She said Reese knows everyone’s name and is very accommodating to all students in the class. “She’s a friend to everyone”, she also told us Reese has made up games to play during centers which all the other children enjoy as well.

We of course hit up the pumpkin patch, it’s just not the same when it’s 80+ degrees. BOOOO!

My silly girls!

Our Church had a fall festival with a costume contest. Reese won first place in her age group and was SUPER excited!

Goofy smile!

Halloween 2013.

Tinkerbell and the MinonMummy Dogs for dinner (the “Mummy” made them)Forget the pictures, she wants the cat

Daddy trick or treating with the girls for the first time. (He always stays home to hand out candy)

Brynn had a BLAST!

On Nov. 1, Reese danced at the HS game with the dance team. Ryan requested to work that game and was lucky be having that be his game assignment. So he was able to sneak on the field at halftime and watch her dance. I was lucky to get to leave Brynn with our great neighbors the Ferguson’s during the game.

Ryan is in the white hatReese is in the pink skirt

We got up early on the 2nd and headed to College Station for Aggie game day. I even got to go to the game with Ryan while Mom watched the girls. They were BOTH up very late, poor Meems…

Kathy and Luetta came down from Dallas. Reese was excited to see her “fairy godmother”

Ryan, Brian and TimBrynn had a blast “running fast” all around Reed Arena.

We also went to step-off so the girls could see the band. Brynn and Reese both LOVED it!

Is is how Brynn rolls….gardening in undies

Swinging in pjs

Junie knows how to drive Thurman NUTS. She sits on the roof right where he can see her, he barks incessantly.

Nov 10, we headed to Wurstfest in New Braunfels. Polka Music, sausage and beer. Ryan’s heaven. Brynn loves sausage so she was happy too.

Dancing to the Jimmy Sturr Orchestra with Oma

having fun riding the carousel

Chicken Dance!

We’re getting ready for Thanksgiving. I will have more pictures to post soon!

Newspaper

As we arrived at the race yesterday we had our picture taken by the Corpus Christi Caller Times…

October!

Well October is halfway over but it’s been busy! We had a BIG birthday for Reese on the 1st when she turned 6. I can’t believe I am old enough to have a 6 year old. Reese has been having a BLAST at school, and we’re looking forward to getting her first report card this week. Ryan volunteered at school on Friday and the teacher told him she’s an excellent listener but that she stacks chairs like a champ. We figure if all else fails she has a career as a janitor to fall back on (we do have higher hopes though).

Ryan spent time at Wood River this week as a Watch D.O.G. (Dads of Great Students). They help with getting kids into school each day, they do perimeter checks throughout the day, volunteer in classrooms, have lunch room duty and are a male presence in the school. Reese was thrilled as his name was announced during announcements as Reese’s dad, and she got to take her picture with him for the Watch D.O.G. Wall of Fame. He had a great time and will definitely do it again.

Brynn and I have been keeping busy with story-time at the library (which she loves) and with a new group that meets once a week at the Church near our house for toddler time. She enjoys both and loves seeing her “frennies” (friends) as she calls them. She also has been LOVING the cooler weather we’ve been having. We have hit the park up a few afternoons already with many more to come.

Reese lost her second tooth the night before her birthday.

Last week she got a great report from the dentist as well!

Brynn in her hand me down fall clothes from Reese

Reese in the same outfit

Today we all got up REALLY early and headed out for a cool fall morning of hard work. Monsanto volunteered for the Harbor Half Marathon and I ran the half. The girls got to help out filling water cups and coolers before they headed out with Ryan to find me on the course. Brynn popped right up when we asked her at 5:30 a.m. if she wanted to go help Mommy and Daddy. Reese felt the need to complain about her clothes first, but what else is new.

The girls helped out, Reese more than Brynn, who spent her time, eating pizza and sipping water and then pouring the rest out of the cups. After the race they got to ride in the gators to drop off coolers and other items using during the race.

It was great seeing Ryan and the girls at two stops along the race, while they yelled “Go Mommy Go”. What was even better was kicking some tail and placing second in my age group. I was only a few minutes slower than the overall Masters winner (masters is someone over the age of 30). I finished in 1 hour 48 minutes and 17 seconds.  For those of you keeping track that is 33 minutes faster than when I ran the same race in 2010.

Around mile 7mile 10coming in strong in the back to the left, in a HARD sprint to the finish

 Finish (my time was 1:48.17 based on when I started which was a few seconds after the gun was shot)

Pizza…YUM2nd place!

We also had a GREAT time watching the Aggie game yesterday even though we lost. Brynn loves yelling “Go Johnny Go” at the top of her lungs!

Soon pictures of the pumpkin patch!

End of September

It’s been a busy month of school and activities. Reese has been having a great time at school, is meeting all kinds of new friends and doing a good job on all her school work. Brynn and I have been having fun at home, enjoying storytime at the library, running errands together and playing. Brynn’s favorite time of day is when Reese comes home. Reese joined Daisy’s the youngest division of Girl Scouts. So in the spring please let me know if you’d like to order cookies!

Brynn waking up from her nap. I had snuck in there to wake her up since it was time to get Reese and she looked so sweet. I went to get the camera but when I got back she was already up. Brynn is usually a great napper.  She skipped it on Saturday and both yesterday and today has cut her nap time down to 1 hour instead of 2…this Mom is NOT ready for a short nap time. I’m hoping it’s just a fluke. If not I am in trouble.

Reese was able to attend a cheer camp at the local high school on the 21st and learned some cheers and a dance. Last Friday night she preformed at half time and cheered with the cheerleaders. I handled Brynn in the stands on my own, since Ryan was officiating a game elsewhere. I vow never to take Brynn to a high school game alone again. To say my entire body was sore from dealing with her in an understatement. I was a broken person on Saturday. It hurt to sit down. From holding her, to the metal bleachers, chasing her up and down stairs and wrestling with her in my arms my back felt like it was in a million pieces. She’s wild!

Saturday we celebrated Reese’s birthday with Oma and Opa. They came for the day, we went to lunch at Cici’s (Reese’s pick) and they played with the girls. Fun was had by all. I attempted a funfetti cake from scratch. Our oven is horrible and never cooks evenly…so in an attempt to get the center of the cake to cook the rest of the cake dried out…it was horrible. Reese told me she hated it. Epic Fail.

Last night for dinner we used curry powder. I had JUST opened a new jar. After Brynn was done eating we let her out of her seat while the rest of us finished eating. She came running over to Ryan and I saying “big mess right there”, and pointed to her handy work. The entire bottle of curry on the floor. Kong strikes again. Today while grocery shopping, I got to have the discussion with Brynn about why we wear clothes in the store. She got herself out of her shirt twice. I often think how calm Reese was a a child. Brynn is making up for it. Yeah.