T-Day

What a way to spend Thanksgiving.

That is Mom and I in Costa Maya with the beautiful Splendour of the Seas in the background.

For her 60th birthday present, I took my mom on a cruise aboard the Splendour of the Seas for turkey day.

Here are a few photos.

Here we are on formal night.

Below is a photo of Mom and I cooking in Cozumel. We visited a beach resort and prepared a 4 course meal for ourselves. If you know my mom, you know that this was right up her alley.

More later.

Toothless

I have been neglecting the blog as I have been sewing for Oklahoma with all my free time.

I did want to take a moment to share Katie's big news.

She lost her first tooth today.

I don't think she has every been so excited about anything in her life.

You may also notice that she has her ears pierced last weekend.

She is really growing up.

Halloween Party

Monster Mash

The highlight of the weekend was Mama Josie's 6th annual Halloween party. It was great.

With some last minute alterations I finished the kids costumes just in the nick of time. There were so many fantastic photos from the party. I am posting a few. The dancing skeleton was a big hit with Kellen.

Above- Katie is training Kellen on the skills needed to be a good Vampire.

Kellen is dancing the Monster Mash.

As soon as he was caped, Kellen ran right for his bike. He is a cool dude low rider.

Pumpkin Carvers

Marshall and the Kids worked on the Jack-O-Lantern.

Mom's 60th

My mother turned 60 this week.

She has made so many friends in her 20 years of teaching a guest list was pretty easy to create for the surprise bash.

About 30 people turned out to eat fajitas and celebrate.

The crowd






Me and Mom and Kellen

Kellen Helps Nannie with her Hat- Grady Holding Kellen

ooo cary (a quote from Kellen)

Here are some photos of what I have been working on this weekend.


Katie wanted vampire costumes for herself and Kellen.

I'm a self taught seamstress, but I think I am really coming along.

I plan on adding the vests and the jabot.

I don't think I will make Katie the skirt or Kellen the pants.

For a look at another mom's Halloween preparations check out Kendell's Blog

AARRGH

Now that's a costume!

Pushing and Tongue Biting

Soccer Update-

Not the greatest day for the Cyclones.
We played a team with 2 girls that really pushed us around.
Katie was literally pushed to the ground.
At the break between quarters I to the chance to refresh my girl's memories on the body pushing technique. We have practiced body pushing (legally moving the opponent off the ball without using arms or elbows), and I needed to tell my girls to use the move. Turns out my team needs a little more practice with the technique so that they are body pushing and not body checking. The other team did not really appreciate it.

I had great difficulty biting my tongue as our girls were pushed around. Then I also had difficulty not cheering too loudly when they pushed back.

Multiple choice:

Choose your favorite thought for the day

A. Maybe nice people don't play soccer.
B. It is really just about having fun.. I hope you can have fun when other girls are pushing you around.
C. Body checks have their place in soccer... but maybe not in soccer for 6 year olds.
D. Oh-well, chalk this one up to a chance for the coach to grow as a person.. hopefully no 6 year olds will be scarred for life.

Ode to Black Out Shades

Marshall and I celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary (a little bit early) yesterday by spending the night at the Hotel Icon.

We stayed in the "premium guest room". Check out the photo of the bathroom in the gallery section of the webpage. It is the most fantastic design. It has a little shutter that slide open so you can soak in the fabulous tub while watching TV or chatting with dear husband in the bed. It also has a great glass shower.

What was most fabulous is the black out shades. I did not believe it possible, but I slept from midnight to 10AM.

Other highlights were dinner at Sambuca and lunch at Goode and Company Seafood.

Proud Coach

Great Job Cyclones!

Yesterday, after a week of rained out practices my team took the field.
They were fantastic.
I was so proud.
They passed the ball!
They communicated and moved the ball toward the goal.
My own child took the ball end to end (but missed the goal at the end).

Katie making a run for the goal. Her ball handling skills are really improving!

Here's a picture of me while I survey Katie playing defense. My crazy team loves to play defense. What ever happened to wanting to score goals?

Here's my team trying to get the ball in the goal.

Katie is running towards the ball.... this constitutes a huge improvement during the past 2 weeks!

Katie on defense, about to begin her run for the goal.

more blessings

I am also blessed to be able to enjoy the outdoor nearly year round.

Every time I get the chance to spend an evening at the beach or to go out for an evening in the boat I am amazed that I get to be such a lucky girl. I try to instill this in Katie as well. How many 6 year olds get to take the boat out with dad and have dolphins frolic behind the boat? How many 6 year olds can feel the sea breeze in their hair while riding through the bay country to meet a beautiful sunset. We are lucky people.

Above is a photo of my lucky children and their dad after a very successful fishing trip.