Jack, Jack, Jack...

His latest request for Christmas...sneakers with jets on them and a neck helmet to protect him as he rockets through the air. (Think Incredibles...Buddy)

Orthodonture

Madi has begun the long odyssey towards straight teeth. She has a crossbite (the top tooth is hitting the tooth on the bottom and rubbing) that has to be corrected before either of the teeth is ruined from all the grinding. So, we had many, many mouth molds made and lots of X-rays taken. Last week she was fit with a custom-made palette expander. It will gradually pull her upper palette apart, thus widening it. Because she is still young the tissues in-between will fill in as if there never was a space. This added space will make room for the tooth that is sideways (the one in crossbite) to be turned and straightened. She'll most likely be getting the 4 top teeth braces around Christmas and will wear them until the end of the year...maybe into the summer. We've been told that after all her baby teeth are out, she'll need a full set of top and bottom braces to correct a bite issue. So, lucky her...she gets to do the braces-thing twice.

Right now it's a novelty and b/c so few kids have anything orthodontic related...it's "cool". She is being very brave and accepting each new thing with courage and grace.

Here is a pic of the palette expander.

The Pikes Peak Ascent

Just a little shout out that Andy completed the Ascent on August 15th. After limping around for a few weeks he threw caution to the wind and decided to give it a go. He climbed over 7,ooo ft in elevation in less than 6 hrs. What an amazing feat!!!!!! And...his leg hasn't felt so good in weeks!

The kids

Well, seems like Christmas has come early here. The kids are obsessed with what they are going to ask Santa for. Drew is pretty stuck on the idea of a very big parking garage...he carries the toy magazine around everywhere and likes to tell everyone and show everyone. Madi isn't completely sure, but thinks maybe a digital camera or Polly Pockets or Littlest Pet Shop (aw...these in-between adoloscent years...big girl stuff or little girl stuff!). Jack has bounced back and forth between Lego sets, guns and knives and swords (we quickly put an end to the weapon ideas) and today he is certain he wants a jet pack with a helmet. Not just any jet pack mind you...one that has light up fingers (like Iron Man) and operates on voice control. "Wings Out!", "Up", etc... Is there anything cuter than a 5 yr old boy???

Happy 15th Anniversary to us! (Belatedly)

This past Aug 20th was 15 yrs for us! We celebrated the following weekend with a chick-flick! (Thank you honey!)

First Day of School!!!

What a great first day! After a long 8 month wait (since kinder registration) Jack got to go to school! He was absolutely giddy with excitement last night and then got up at 5:30 this morning.

After a yummy hot breakfast of eggs and toast, it was time to get dressed and make sure the lunches were just right. We took lots of pics...so many that without Andy's sense of time and urging...we would've been late. We walked to school. It was 55 degrees and sunny! Glorious. Jack ran ahead most of the time...too excited to lolligag. We walked Madi over to her teacher, Mrs. Sides and she merged into the line right next to her BFF, Ashlyn. Ashlyn saw her new backpack (the same style as her's only a different fabric) and said with emotion, "Oh, it's beautiful!" Little girls are so adorable! The kindergarteners and their parents were to meet in the gym. So, we headed there next. The principals introduced themselves and then read The Kissing Hand. We kissed his had and then he kissed our hand. (It was all I could do not to actually cry.) After that, the kids went over to their teachers (Jack's is Mrs. Barr) and left the gym to begin their school day. Jack never looked back after he gave us hugs. He was ready! Andy went up to school to sit with him during lunch. The cheese and crackers were a bomb...soggy by lunchtime. He didn't seem to mind and had some friends to run around with at recess. Great, great, great! At the end of the day he came charging out happy and excited....and tired. Madilyn commented that it was so fun to actually look around and know everyone...a first for her. She was completely fascinated by the multitude of allergies suffered by classmates. She must have listed off 15 things! We are so blessed to not have ANY! She loves her planner book (3rd graders use planners to record their homework) and is super excited about the year.

The BIG kindergartener!

The 3rd grader!!!

New backbacks! (Thank you Gee Gee and Granddad!)

The whole gang!

Running ahead...

Jack and his buddies...our neighbors.

The "Jack Just Left" Cuddle...(Mommy is trying very hard not to cry)

Dismissal...

Yes, he made friends, but cannot remember their names...

Picking our afterschool meeting spot

Walking home...

Summer 2009 "Hot"-cation to Texas

We're back from two weeks in Texas. It was hot and fun filled with family and lots of great food!!!!!

In Cleburne, we went to Fossil Rim and fed the animals. During the first minute of our almost 2 hr drive, the ostrich tried to take the entire bag of food right out of the bed of the truck. Thankfully, Zuza snatched it back at the last possible moment.

Madi fed deer, ostrich, giraffe, zebra and much more...

Tired and hot kids...

Mmmmm.... ice cold ice cream!

Riding the train in Fort Worth.




Swimming...

Sidewalk Art...compliments of Uncle Ben and Miss Megan.

More swimming...

Drew's Cold Face...too funny!


Water Balloon Fight!!

Drew's favorite thing to do...RUN!

Dinner at Joe T. Garcia's...Yum, yum, yum!!!

Drew picked me flowers!!!

Saying good-byes...

(Megan gives THE BEST hugs!!!)

In San Antonio, cuddling with Gee Gee...

Floor picnic with all the 2nd cousins...

All the kids got to take a turn riding in the Go-Kart...Cousin Tony is a great driver!

Karson and Drew counting jellybeans with Aunt Sally.

Saturday Morning...Dallas Cowboys Training Camp...

The kids with Gee Mom...93 yrs old!

Hanging out with Gee Gee during lunch!

Uncle Tom's new toy...

Too tired to go out to eat...Chili's picnic in the hotel room!

Sea World!!!

Drew's First Roller Coaster!

Shamu show!

Daddy was the hero...taking Madi to sit in the Splash Zone!

Waiting in the shade with Drew while the others were in line for a ride. The rollercoaster nearby was loud and everytime it went by...Drew covered his ears.

Cooling off in the Air-Conditioned Arcade...

Daddy won Madi a Care Bear. Her hero!

In Houston...taking a rest...

Lunch with the cousins...

Chillin' in the pool...

We played Lego Star Wars on Wii...with light saber controllers...COOL!

We went to TAMU one day to show the kids where it all began...

Chicken Oil for burgers and Tijuana fries. Big questions: Why were there letters carved into the table? Why was it okay to carve into the tables?" How to explain that one....

Madi said she could babysit Anne when she is older...

Double Dave's....two peas in a pod!

A little DS lesson...

More swimming...see Madi's new purple Speedo...

Learning to dive...

Dinner out with Corp Buddies... the adults were outnumbered by the kids.

Did I mention that Drew loves to run!!!!!

Back home...Sadie was zonked after 2 wks in a noisy kennel.