MVP

T-Ball season is coming to a close this weekend. It has actually been REALLY fun! I have enjoyed the games, and lately the weather has been perfect, making a good excuse to spend time outside. We will definitely try T-ball or baseball again.

Tyler has learned a lot, most importantly, just to have fun. I loved his coaches style, they complimented him whenever they could, which was a huge boost to his confidence. I could use a lesson from that, praise the good whenever I see it, (and then some, I don't think kids can get too much praise...) and look the other way when it's not so good. Those are some of my favorite shots! courtesy of Papa :)

Fun at the Arboretum

Lily is making Grandma's hair "Very Beautiful!"


That's 3 generations of girls right there, too bad Grandma Phillips isn't in the picture to make it 4. WOW!

Grandma and Papa came to visit this weekend and we had so much fun!!! We took them to the Arboretum. The Arboretum is especially fun to do in the fall, because all of the volunteers make a themed scarecrow.

I was a little bit worried as we entered the parking lot and every space was full. I had never seen it that crowded!!! Looked like a big wedding or something... worse, it was Homecoming. It looked like every couple that went to Humble High School was there taking pictures. I didn't know pictures before Homecoming was such a big deal. When I was in high school, we pretty much covered that in our front yard, then got a package of pictures at the dance. Things have changed I guess. If we're talking about things that have changed, those girls were wearing dresses that looked like they came off Hollywood stars. They looked like they were custom made! Maybe it was just that I went to high school in a much smaller town? Who knows.

Anyway, we had fun walking around the trails and playing in the fountains. Thanks for taking all the fun shots Dad!!!

Carnivals and Candy, and candy, and candy...

(Notice the purple hair, this is the same purple hair gel I experimented with the week I was having a mid-life crisis...)
Tyler and his best buddy Heath, funny thing is, this doesn't look too unusual, they're always playing dress up with pirate stuff.


Two little witches, aren't they cute?



The Texas cousins!




So, as if trick-or-treating wasn't enough candy to ruin my kids appetites for the next 2 weeks... now we are adding trunk-or-treat to the mix too!

Don't get me wrong, I love all of the fun, especially getting to see everyone in costume, but I'm just not a fan of all the candy. Candy is not really my thing. I'd rather have a decadent dessert than a piece of candy bar, but as soon as that bag of Halloween candy is opened... I'm all over. And all of my hard work at the gym is out the door. I think instead of buying candy I actually want to eat, I should buy the nasty fruiti-tuitti kind I don't like.

Anyway, so aside from all of the candy, we had a fabulous time at the carnival! Lots of carnival games, plenty of candy, trinket toys, good friends, fun face-paints, cousins... what else could you possibly ask for?

These are a few of my favorite things...

Ok, It's been a little while since I've indulged myself in a little extra computer time... getting the house ready to list has kept all of us extremely busy. Tyler has been playing outside a lot, Lily has been enjoying chocolate like any girl would, and Brooklyn has have 2 visits from the toothfairy since I last wrote. But lately, I have just been enjoying life and here's why:

1. Good Family- Having Jeff's mom and sister, Katie, come for the weekend was such a special treat, I love them soooo much! They are so fun to be around and I never laugh more that when we're all together. That makes me happy!
Along the same lines, my brother just had a birthday and we got to have a 3 way conversation with my parents and him. I love my family, they are always such good examples to me, even my little brother amazes me, and they just announced to us that they are expecting their third... so excited for them!!! (maybe a girl, or 3 boys...both would be fun!)

2. Fabulous Fall Weather- In Seattle, I got excited when it was sunny,beautiful, clear and you could see the mountains and the city. In Houston, I get excited when I can finally put the shorts away. This weather just puts a big smile on my face. Nothing is better than a brisk, windy sunny fall day! The weather brings us outside when it's perfect, and the past few days I have seen so many exquisite monarch butterflies. Seeing a butterfly with such gorgeous colors, and no inhibition as it flutters around makes me smile. (Especially when the kids see it.) I love it, love it, love it!

3. Cooking for the season- I get so excited to make the fall treats, which now the weather warrants! I love the pumpkin desserts (I don't think there is a better combination than pumpkin and cream cheese), the soft ginger snaps that are to die for, the Halloween decorated sugar cookies, and hot chocolate. (This list could go on forever!)

Brooklyn will not remember me giving her that special fruit roll-up thing that she begged for in the store, in her lunch box, but she might remember making cookies and rolling them in sugar---then watching them through the oven door until we took them out, then eating them together while they're still warm and falling apart in our hands. These are the things memories are made of!

4. Good music- I love beautiful music! Probably the reason I play two instruments and love to listen to almost any kind of music. We got to go to a Houston Symphony performance this past weekend and I had forgotten what that does to me. I just connect with music. I appreciate it on all levels. I see the musicians who have practiced countless hours for this. The conductor who is full of passion as he crazily waves his stick around. And I close my eyes and absorb the beauty of it all.

5. Good things-Ok, so this is a conglomeration of a few things... Since we got a new gym membership I have been apprehensive about getting too excited. The last time we had a membership, I stopped because I tore the meniscus in my knee and it was extremely painful every time I worked out. This time I have tried doing some different exercises that don't put too much pressure on my knee. So far so good, and I had forgotten how addicting it is to work out. I love the rush!

Secondly, I got some new shoes, this was much needed and needs no explaining, but still definitely a GOOD thing!

Lastly, Tyler rode his bike so fast to school today I could hardly keep up, I am SO proud of him!

and if we're talking about kids, I just love all of mine. In fact, as I type this, Brooklyn is using her "older sister persuasion" to help the other kids eat their dinner that they absolutely, positively refused to eat. So, I said, "Fine, you're going to bed hungry like Max."(Where the Wild Things Are.) and I came up here to download the pictures... and I hear her talking to them, and she is counting the bites they eat. What does she have that I don't? I do not know, but I am grateful for such an amazing kid!

Ok, one more. eggnog. Yes, I LOVE eggnog and I would be a much skinnier girl without it, but it's just soooo good! I'm finally glad eggnog is back is the grocery store, it's been awhile and if it were up to me, I'd buy it all year, but then again, back to the skinny thing, that wouldn't be so good...