As Time Goes By

So much has happened since my last post.  I can't believe that July was my last post and it only feels like a month or two since I last posted. 

We went to Memphis in July and celebrated my parents 50th Wedding Anniversary (really in August) and had a great time catching up with my brother and his family and also taking in some the sights in Memphis that Alan and I always love to do.

School started up again and we are in our third year here at Kenedy.  Andrew is in 7th grade and Anna is in 4th grade.  Andrew started playing Football this year and he tackled a rather large kid who was about to make a touch down.  That was pretty exciting!  Now he is in basketball and he seems to like it too.  Andrew was also inducted into the National Junior Honor Society in September.

Anna has made a new friend and a new girl joined her class in October and Anna and Natalia took her under their wings and now they are the three musketeers...........or something like that.  Anna also enjoys writing stories, doing crafts, and shopping (Oh no!!! who did she get that from???). 

Claire, Anna and Natalia

Anna was Leo Lion of the week.

Anna's class learning to use their diaphragm by blowing bubbles with bubble gum.

Family Math Night at School

I took grades three, four and five (on separate days........I am not that crazy) to the Tobin performance center in October to see and hear the San Antonio Symphony.  The students actually enjoyed going and had a great time.

Alan is now busy with basketball season and the girls are finally starting play like  team.  We are planning a basketball party next week with them so this is something I am looking forward to.

Happy Anniverary to US

We spent our anniversary at Graduation and at a Wedding.  So we waited until Andrew and Anna went to Midland to see their Grandparents.  After we dropped them off in Abilene we headed to Fredericksburg for the night.  We stayed at a nice little hotel with a real room key and it was very comfortable.  The next morning I took Alan to the German Bakery for Breakfast.  He had a German Pancake and sausage and he really loved the place.  We then headed home and did projects around the house, enjoyed movies and just being together.

We ended up going back to Weatherford for an unexpected funeral and then decided that when we picked up the kids, we would take them back through Fredericksburg and let them get a taste of the town.  They were really small the last time they went.  We ate German food, shopped, went to church, and shopped some more.

At the German Bakery



A pretty old Church

Anna making a wish

A late lunch

Happy 12th Birthday Andrew!

Andrew wanted to go to Incredible Pizza and to the Lego store for his birthday.  He has been to incredible pizza in Memphis when my parents took us and then he went with his school again.  So we agreed to take him there and we spent from lunch until dinner there.  After an afternoon of games we went to the Lego store where we bought him a set and he used his birthday money to buy more.

 

 

 I came in SECOND place!  Yes I beat the rest of my family in laser tag!!!!

Anna's 9th Birthday Celebration

Anna has been saying all year that she wanted a birthday party on the beach.  Her birthday hit the Friday after the STAAR.  Unfortunately, we could not leave Friday or Saturday because I had the UIL Academic Regional Meet in Corpus on Saturday.  I am the High School UIL Coordinator and I could not get out of this.  So Anna did travel with me and the student that qualified for Regionals.  This college was on the beach and Anna and I thought that was really amazing. 

We had the following Monday off so we headed to the beach on Sunday and got to the Hotel about 2.  What Anna did not know was we had a room with a view of the bay.  I had originally planned to have her party right on the beach but our room had a balcony with table and chairs and she decided that was perfect.  So I set it up for her and we had her party.  Then Andrew and Anna went swimming and body surfing.  We walked to Joe's Crab shack and had Anna's Birthday dinner.  Afterwards, we walked back to our hotel and Alan watched the Spurs and Andrew was beat and went to bed.  Anna I sat out on the balcony for a while and then she wanted me to take her down on the beach and take a walk.  I took her down for a walk on the beach and enjoyed the breeze, waves and conversation with my daughter.  Once we got back to the room, I went right back on the balcony and Anna went to bed. 

I will say it was not my favorite beach in this area at all, but the room with the view was really special.  Before we headed home the next morning, we stopped at the Selena memorial and Anna got her picture made.  We all had a great time and the look on her face during this time was priceless.

Staar Wars Episode II

April 21 and 22 was STAAR Assessment for both Andrew and Anna.  This is Anna's first year for this and Andrew's second.  On the night before any big exam, test, or standardized assessment, I prepare a meal with some kind of seafood because it is suppose to be great brain food.  The morning of I prepared a big breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, fruit and an It Works! smoothie.  Andrew ordered a chocolate one and Anna wanted Strawberry. 

I pulled out the table linens, candle light, lavender oil, played soft music and dimmed the dinning room lights to keep them calm.  Alan said that I spoil them.  I say, if they have to go through this ridiculous assessment, then we have got to make at least part of it fun and give them something to look forward to.