Halloween 2009

We had a wonderful Halloween!!!!!!! The weather was perfect, the food and drinks were great, and the friends were the best! We spent Halloween at the Straughan's again this year. The kids and adults all had a blast. I had drawn a patch on Cole's eye with makeup, but he rubbed most of it off before he started trick or treating.
My favorite pirate and power ranger ready to fill their bags with candy.

Jake (a blues brother), power ranger, pirate, and 60s chick.

All the kids before the sugar high. Sam (power ranger), Mace (mad scientist), Cole (pirate), Callie(hula girl... took off grass skirt because it itched), and Jake (scary potter.)

Our host the Straughan's... We are really going to miss these folk when we leave, but lets not talk about that yet!

Great friends! Jamie (Flo -progressive insurance girl), Chad (Elwood), Bran (Jake), and me (60s chick.)

What a duo... The Blues Brothers!!!

Mace... the mad scientist!!!!

"Look! Mommy! I HAVE CANDY!!!!!!!!!!" He told me this morning that Halloween was his favorite, but I think he says that about every holiday. His favorite is the is one we are celebrating on a given day.

Heading out to get their treats. They were over the moon to have Daddy home for the weekend. We are ready for next weekend to hurry up so we can see him again.

The girls! These are most of the girls in our support group.

October Fun

We have had some beautiful weekend weather, and have been enjoying it as much as possible. We have been to "Scream on the Green" at church, a fall festival of the school where Jamie teachers, a Saints party, and even more that I didn't bring the camera to for some reason.
Harrison, Mason, Jake, Sam, and Callie entering the hay maze.

Sam, Ryley, and Callie eating their Texas BBQ dinner.

Cole learning the Thriller dance.

Callie and Samantha being Thriller zombies.

At the Fall Festival at Collins. This was Cole favorite part... going down the blowup slide.

Callie and Samantha enjoying their cotton candy.

Cole attacking his cotton candy.

Maggie, McKena, Callie, Little Jesse, Sam, and Harrison at the Cochran's house to watch the Saints play.

Finally Back to Update

I am finally back to the wonderful world of blogging. We have been very busy over the last several months. Well, as you all know Brandon has started his new job in Louisiana. And the kids and I are staying here until the house sells. We miss, but we know this is just temporary. The kids and I have stayed very busy while Bran is way. And when he comes for a visit the time always go by so fast!
Cole came downstairs one day dressed this way and announced that he was a wizard. He wearing Samantha's blanket as a cape, the top to a puzzle box, and his magic wand.

We love it when Brandon comes home for a visit. We are all doing pretty good with the long distance Daddy, but some days are easier than others. These two kids adore their Daddy, and I adore him too.

My two favorite guys... Cole was thrilled to have his Daddy have a play-date with him.

What is the face all about?

Lost the Camera

Well... I lost the camera when we were at NASA Space Center last week. So, it will be a while before I get to post pictures. With both kids having birthdays this month I won't be getting a camera anytime soon. Hopefully in September.

Hope all is well with you everyone. We love you and miss you all.

Crazy May

I know, I know... It has been a while since I have posted anything. So here is an update on what we have been up too... May was a very busy month. Samantha finished up her first season of softball. She also had her school carnival and end of school awards. Cole had his last day of school activities and we spent some time on Brad and Bethany's boat. Here are a few pictures from our adventures.
This is a picture of Team USA at their team party. We all met at Fudruckers for dinner and celebrating. The girls got their own softball signed by everyone on the team and a case to keep it in.

The following Thursday the softball league had Rumble in the Park. The teams competed in relays with in the division. Here is Cole cheering on team USA.

Samantha ran in the sprint relay. Look at the facial expression... looks just like Brandon.

Cole loves to wear Sam's batting helmet. He prefers it backwards.

Samantha's team trophy. Her team also got first place at the Rumble. She received a medal for first place too.

Here are the parents and kids that make up Team USA. We had such a great time with everyone this spring.

As most of you know, on our way out of the park Samantha hit Cole's eye with her sun visor (an accident). Cole's actual eye was cut. I ended up bringing him to the hospital that night. Everything turned out okay. Here is Cole sleeping in the ER.

Cole had a luau for celebrating the last day of school. They made these hula skirts. Cole loved it and wanted to wear it the entire day.

Memorial Day weekend Timothy came in for a visit. We all went bowling on Saturday. Well Brandon, Timothy, and Samantha bowled while Cole and I cheered on.

This little girl adores her Uncle Tim!!!!

Sunday, we went to NASA. We had a BLAST!!

Our future astronaut....

Then Samantha and I went to Maggie's recital. Maggie did a WONDERFUL job.

Samantha's school had an end of the year carnival. They had face painting, snow cones, spray painting hair, finger nail painting, dancing, and a dunking booth that teachers sat in and the students threw the balls. I volunteered to help. I worked at the finger nail painting station. Can I just say I painted just as many boy nails as I did girl nails. I thought it was so funny... all the boys wanted to paint their nails multiple colors mostly of their favorite teams.

Samantha and her teacher Ms. Torres. Her hair was blue and green. And her mouth is green from her green snow cone.

The weekend before we went to the beach Bethany and Brad invited us to go out on their boat. As usual we had a wonderful time! All four kids love to sit like this as we are driving. The faster we go the more they like it.

Cole sporting his new shades.

We anchored in a cove and went swimming. Here is Samantha before she jumped in the water again.

The after picture! All four kids fell asleep on the way back in... mission accomplished! Cole is under the white towel on my lap.

Finally the last day of kindergarten!!!! Samantha loved her first year at real school. She had a wonderful teacher and mad some great friends. She is looking forward to next year and is very excited that she can now call herself a first grader.

A Perfect Weekend

We had a wonderful weekend. It started with "muffins with Mom" at Cole school. Brandon's Dad and Step Mom came in town for a visit. Samantha had her last softball game for the season. And the weekend ended with a day at Conroe Lake on Bethany and Brad's boat.
Cole was very excited to share his morning with me eating breakfast in his class.

Friday, we (Brandon, Terri, Mimi, Papaw, Cole and Harrison) went to the Houston Zoo. It was a great day. We saw the baby elephant and baby giraffe. The boys loved the tiger and lions.

Here are all the boys on the carousel.

Samantha had her last softball game of the season on Saturday. And she had quite the crowd cheering her on. Mimi, Papaw, Maggie, Harrison, Jaime, Chad, Mason, Jacob, and Callie were her own personal cheering section. Sam did great. She got a girl out at third, stopped a girl at second, and hit off the coach 3 times. It was the best she played all year. This week we have her team party.

Sunday, Bethany and Brad invited us on their boat to celebrate Mother's Day. What a good looking family.

Our gang on the boat. Cole wouldn't smile because all he wanted to do was get in the water!

After we swam for a little while everyone decided it was time to get on the tube. Here is Samantha and Brandon having a ride. She loved it!

Next up we have Brad and Maggie. Maggie had a huge smile on her face the entire time.

Then Cole wanted his turn. Chad was kind enough to take him for a ride. Here are all the kids, including Brandon, cheering him on.

Cole loved it! Thank you Chad for riding with Cole Man.

Since it was Mother's Day we thought a Mom/Kid picturewas in order. So here we are... Mason, Jaime, Callie, Cole, Me, Samantha, Bethany, Maggie, Jacob, and Harrison. What a great way to spend a beautiful day. Boat ride, great friends, and wonderful family.... perfect!!!!!