Round Up on the Range

Feeling a little too much Cowboy spirit...Mack close you legs Tepee's, where Jesus lives

The Cox Family in the stagecoach...heading to the wild, wild west.

We tried to convince him to get a handle bar mustache...he wanted a boot.

Paxton looks like a professional, he thought his horse was awesome she/he had glitter in his hair

Mackey and her horse, no help...too bad horse back riding is so expensive

She is going to be my little vet, she loves animals...

The brave cowboys...they actually got this pic into the McKinney newspaper

Watching the Rodeo

This last weekend we headed over to Round Up on the Range in McKinney. There was face painting, horse back riding, and Real live Indians. The kids had so much fun wearing their cowboy boots and riding the horses. I got so tickled at the Tepee because I asked Paxton if he knew who lived in Tepees and he said, "Jesus". Either he has already learned that the answer is always Jesus or he is super smart and knows that he lives everywhere. We went to the Rodeo with the Williams family and topped the afternoon off with some good Hutchin's BBQ.

Fall at the Arboretum

This pic is so sweet...Paxton was telling her to be good in the picture because this one would go in daddy's office

The Group minus the Court Family

Mother and Daughter...Yes of course I am tickling her she is not normally that happy to be held Big Beautiful Pumpkins...Makes me hungry for Turkey Paxton at the end of a long day of Running Our Doodlebop We are missing Rusty in this pic... Miss Priss

The Besties also know as "Trouble" Baby Carter lookin' so cute in his pumpkin outfit!! Miss Addi...Wendy and her had been working on smiling. Isn't she cute???

This Friday we took Sheaffer and Baby Carter on their first "Mom" adventure. She kept saying she wished she was making money for all the strollers she saw. The Arboretum is the place to go for beauty, great pics, and LOTS of room for wild children to roam. We ventured their with the Williams and the Courts too!! It was amazing the amount of pumpkins everywhere!!! We enjoyed lunch on the patio...it was so nice, luckily someone had turned the "DO NOT CLIMB ON TREE" sign around so Angela and I played dumb (since it was turned we could not see it) while the kids climbed all over the tree for an hour and we enjoyed a great garden cafe brunch. When does that ever happen??? Baby Carter was perfect, barely made a peep:) We picked the perfect day for the Arboretum.

Haircut

Mackey had her first official haircut. Me shaving the red thick patch off when she was 2 months doesn't count. I was told that in order for the hair to really start growing I had to cut the baby hair a bit. I was nervous that if I cut the curls they would go...BUT they are out and curlier than ever. It wasn't a big hair cut or anything but it counts as the first.

Kensington

Kensington Kate Shull Sip N See Cake The Hostess...we are so blessed to have such great friends in Sunday School

We were able to welcome Precious Kensington Kate Shull with a Sip N' See. I have already arranged the marriage between Paxton and Kensington. It's the perfect set-up. She's cute, she has great parents, and everybody lives in McKinney.

Fun with the Greats!!

The group before the "Oinking" and the giant kitchen mess Notice the bottle of sprinkles...None of them, not even GG was responsible. They used the entire 4 bottles of sprinkles on 2 dozen cookies. I think Mackey did more eating. A few weeks ago we were blessed by the presence of GG and Whitey two separate days. GG came over and we made homemade Halloween cookies, played GG and Paxton's version of hide and seek, and also read LOTS of books. We discovered on this day what a GREAT oink GG has. She sounds like a big hog and was able to do it several times. I wish I had recorded the laughter coming from my children. The next day we ventured to Walls of Clay with Whitey. We made Christmas plates of the children and painted them...I was so glad that I paid $12/piece for the crap that Mackey painted. It was a plate of poop colored paint. Of course we can't go downtown without a trip to Spoons. The kids were really well behaved and we had a blast. We are so lucky to get to spend time with Great Grandmas...they are of course the grandest people we know.

Fall

First of all...you are about to experience our new camera. Sippee cup+camera+in purse= Ruined camera, hence why we have a new super camera that everyone will get tired of seeing me taking pics. Friday we headed up to Canton for some shopping and then to Liberty City we went. We had a great time hanging out, going to the Pumpkin patch, and even getting some resale shopping in.

Avoiding Collin Creek Mall and Charlie Gibson

This week two things made me VERY mad: 1) Angela and I went to Collin Creek Mall (the mall that no one goes to because it is gross but we were only going to let the kids play.) After we ate we went to the play area. You know that I would be the first to say that my kids acted a fool. After about 5 minutes of playing (there was a total of 5 kids in the play area) a security guard came over and only told Angela and I that he had had two complaints of noise and that if it happened again he would have to ask us to leave the play area. Of course...I was incredulous and just kept saying how ridiculous this was, not to mention that in all the stores surrounding the play area there was not one customer. 5 minutes later he was back and stated that we were on our third warning which meant.... Well, you don't have a play area at the mall and not expect noise. We then loaded up the kids headed up the elevator through the food court and down a long hall to the Management Office. There we were meat by "Heather" ( no names have been changed) who we explained the situation. She stated, "I could hear the noise from the play area all the way up here." Well, sarcastic Whitney stated first Heather the costumer is always right and we would like to talk to the manager (I refrained from stating that an answer from her was not adequate) and I found it very hard to believe that she could hear from the first floor, through the food court, and down a 40ft hall way. The Manager "Kent" was very nice but very political. He never stated that it should not have happened just that he hoped we would still shop here with friends. I think through Angela and I he got the point that neither of us would ever shop there again and I vowed to let everyone know that while shopping there with kids you must remain on high alert and make sure that your kids are on their best behavior or face being rejected by the worst mall in DFW. 2) The other thing that REALLY ticked me off happened last night. I watched only a small portion of Charlie Gibson's interview with Sarah Palin. I will be watching the rest on 20/20 tonight. I thought that he was very RUDE and kept trying to trap her in his questions. I really like Sarah Palin, I feel she is relate able and seems to have a strong Christian stance which is reflected in her desire to really do what she feels is right. I thought Charlie's game of asking the same question over and over again to see if she answered one word different was absurd. What makes me more frustrated is that have any of these HARD questions been asked to Obama or do we just let him off because the media is democratic and they are mesmerized by his eloquent speeches. Has Obama ever resolved anything through meeting with a foreign leader? Hasn't Obama's opinions on drilling and oil changed since running for the president. Let's stop talking about Sarah's lack of experince and talk about Obama's, he's the one that will be the president. But of course this will never happen because we live in a society that democratic. Sorry to use this blog as a way to vent...noramlly is a way to cherish the precious moments in my life but this week I was frustrated.

First Day of School 2008

Big Boy is very excited...amazing what a difference a year makes. Making our way to the room 3A My girlfriends and I after dropping the kids off went for coffee and breakfast at Spoons. Mackey is there she is just hiding behind Tammy. It was a great way to start off the school year. Paxton is really excited about school this year. One of his greatest friends Micah is in his class. He was so excited he has been pointing to it everyday as we pass it on the highway for about 2 months. We are so excited about this school. It is at a church that has a private school that is really focused on Jesus. He made sweet artwork, played outside, and slept. When we came to get him he was so asleep, he did not want to wake up. He loved Mrs. Joni and gave her a sweet hug before we left. I am so excited for Paxton and for me...although I still have my biggest mess at my right side.

Tan Man Friends...We are looking forward to Baby Brewer Standing on the Sidelines...the view doesn't get any better.

Eat at Layne's Waiting for the Game to Start Can't you just hear the Music We headed down to College Station for what we thought would be a victory...of course those Aggies, who we love found a way to start the season off on the wrong foot. Of course our ASU Alum football player friend (Tab) was REALLY excited. He did a really good job of being humble...really!!! We had a good time meeting up with old friends and introducing them to new friends. And of course we had to have lunch at Layne's, buy some new Aggie shirts for the kids, and watch the corp march in. Tanner Searight joined the Corp at Texas A&M Galveston and is looking to transfer to College Station next year. He had his head shaved and was already being recruited by outfits for next year...We are really proud of him:)

I know that drama follows me...most of the time it is funny and random.... But can I just get a normal, non- dramatic pregnancy here!?!?! That's right we are officially 11 weeks pregnant and it has been plagued by DRAMA. At five weeks we had some problems then at 8 weeks more of the same problems. Can I get a placenta that can not be torn. Can I get a placenta that has no clots. And finally official diagnosis...a marginal placenta previa. A irritated placenta has caused all the problems. No working (thus very poor), cleaning (which I really love to do, and no maid meets my standards), No walking long distances, No picking up your children (yeah right my kids are barely 3 and 1). So needless to say just a pain!!! I have already had 5 sonograms for this child of God. This precious little thing has had a heartbeat of 175 every time and the doctor stated it was perfect and had no idea of this was even going on...just enjoying life in a jacked up placenta. I am currently on the hunt for a not so stressful ICU position so that I won't be ever poorer after this child is born. I am currently nauseous ALL the time from all the extra progesterone that I am taking. I also am currently so stinking tired that I am having to re-wash two loads of clothes because they sat on the floor so long. The prayer for this baby is that the placenta will stop being irritated within 8 weeks and become not placenta previa or else I go on strict bed rest for 17 weeks and deliver by c-section at 37 weeks. I think there is only like a 5-10% chance of the previa not correcting itself by 20 weeks but going on track record I am a little nervous...not such good luck with the pregnancy nurse curse. So we are going to pray for a normal placenta and a healthy baby and thank God everyday for this third child.

However I did get clearance from Dr. Riegel to go to the Texas A&M and ASU Game this weekend with good friends from McKinney and from college. Can't wait. I will however get the special privilege of riding the elevator to my seat....one nice advantage of jacked up placenta.

Our Big Girl

Her own kitchen...do not mention the passy. It seems the more we try to take it away the more she wants one. New Room...I wonder how long it will be before she messes with the plates on the wall. It is so fun to see her getting into dress up clothes

Old Room Nursery Big Girl is proud of her bed

We officially have no cribs in the house. Mackey graduated to her big girl room and bed this last week. She is doing well and enjoys her kitchen all to herself. Thank you Whitey for the antique dream bed and the sweet rabbit bedside light. I appreciate you furnishing her room:) I love listening on the monitor to Paxton waking her up every morning, he is very abrupt and states that her mom wants her right now.