Suckers from Grandad

Only in Texas will you find a cow sucker on a stick. Thank you Grandad. haha! A Hereford Whiteface cow to be exact. Go Herd! Yes, that was my High school mascot. I was a Drill Team officer for the Hereford Heifers (As we were called. Nothing to do with how the dance team was but more less at how funny the football players thought it would be to call us......boys!) Oh the memories of growing up in a cattle town. haha! "Smell the money" as they say. eww..... Back to the suckers.....the kids thought they were funny and tasted pretty good. eww.......

What is up with Halloween these days?

(Just a fun picture)

Is it just me or is Halloween getting scarier in the stores? I am not one to really get scared of spooky things but lately I feel like I am walking right into a horror movie just going down the Halloween isle. I can't even take my kids down one now for fear of them seeing something that will give them nightmares. Is the blood and guts really necessary? I hate to sound like an old person but "back in my time" we just had sweet mask. Remember Holly Hobby? Smurfs? and if I remember right the scariest thing they had was a green witch mask with a wart on her nose. I thought that was a big deal then. ........but now?? Not trying to sound like a Debbie Downer but I am really not enjoying going to the grocery store lately for fear of my 9 year old will start crying because of the shaking skeleton with glowing eyes yelling at her. Yuk!

In our neighborhood we get a TON of kids (I do mean they bus them in!) mainly because of a nice preacher that lives down the street. He throws a Halloween party (blow ups, games, candy) at his house. This makes it a little crazy and hard on the other neighbors because we quickly run out of candy. My kids almost like giving out candy more than trick or treating because they get to see all of the costumes.......but the past two years it has not been as fun for them because of bloody costumes that some kids like to wear. Casey has even stopped them halfway up the sidewalk to tell them to go to another house with that on.

Call me old I guess......Halloween just isn't what it used to be!

Luke's Invention

At 5 years old, Luke has created the "Vacuum sucker" with a bungie cord, skateboard, small air compressor that is used to blow up a blow up travel mattress, and a small part from a broken weed-eater. We were amazed! This kid has always been very meticulous. I think we have a future engineer on our hands. (turn off the Mp3 player to hear him on the video). Silly boy!

I have a new respect......

for photographers! This weekend we tried to get a few pictures of Lauren, Luke, Landry, and cousin Zoe. We took them to a beautiful place and just let them play. I could get a nice shot of each child having fun but when it came to a group picture....look out!

This is when it all started to go down hill. I will spare you all of the 125 group pictures that I took. It really is a chore to take a bunch of kids pictures! Now I know why photographers cost so much dang money. haha. I even tried bribing them with suckers! (a brave thing to do when they are all wearing white I might add. I was desperate) Still no luck. If my friends saw me they would have thought I had lost my mind. I was trying anything and everything to get them to ALL look at me and SMILE. How in the world does a professional do this? I guess I just answered my own question. That is why THEY are a professional! haha

You ask sweet Zoe to give Landry a hug and she gives him a tackle!
Here are the only 2 that might work.

I have to say as silly, nutty, frustrated, and a chicken with my head cut off (a Texas saying) it was still fun to watch them giggle and run around. I guess sometimes you just have to give it your best shot and just let a kid be a kid..........or hire a PROFESSIONAL! haha.

Happy 2nd Birthday Zoe!

This weekend we got to celebrate Zoe Kate's 2nd birthday at our house. It is hard to believe this little girl was once 3 pounds when she was born. This really is a special day for us to help celebrate how far she has come. She is simply perfect in every way!
We had hot dogs and enjoyed the pool. Zoe and Lanny (as she calls him) were like two peas in a pod. They had so much fun together. I love this picture of these two until I noticed all the icing on Landry's face. ha!
Landry, Uncle Coby (Casey's brother), and Zoe
Happy Birthday Zoe Zoe! Uncle Casey, Aunt Robin, Lala, Wuke, and Lanny love you sooo much!