Polar Express

This year we decided to visit the North Pole on the Texas Railroad Polar Express. The kids had so much fun! We got to get on a real train, drink hot chocolate and eat cookies, see Santa and sing Christmas Carols!

Ward Christmas Party

Last night we had a wonderful time at our church Christmas party. Jason was even nice enough to take a short break from studying to come with us. The food was really good! And after a wonderful Christmas dinner we were entertained by some very talented singing. Sara was asked to sing a christmas song for everyone and she gladly accepted the invitation choosing Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer for her performance. Sorry the video is not all that great, I was trying to record and help Sara since Jason was busy getting more food to eat.

The Curse of Law School Finals

So for the last two and a half years Jason and I have endured law school exams. Fortunately they only occur twice each year, and we are on our last year. We figured out very early on that not only was this an extremely high stressful time for both of us, but it is also a cursed time. His very first semester at SMU one week before his first final in law school he woke up one morning got ready for school and left only to come right back in the house with this completely defeated look on his face to tell me that someone had broken the window in his car and taken his radio and his back pack, which contained all of his notes from that semester. After that we would notice that every time finals came around something catastrophic would occur. Each time we would hope that we would escape the curse and each time we were proven wrong. So this year being the brilliant person that I am I anticipated this occurrence and tried to outsmart the curse. I knew that it would be especially hard for me because I am working during finals for the first time in retail around the holidays. So since most of our curse seems to revolve around my car leaving the kids and I stranded on the side of the highway somewhere while Jason is just beginning to take a five hour test I made sure my car was healthy. Two weeks ago I noticed it was taking a little more time to start so all on my own Clayton and I made a trip to Auto Zone. We had them test our battery and alternator and sure enough it showed we had a bad battery so I exchanged the battery and had the very nice mechanic in their parking lot change it out for me certain I would avoid disaster. So last night since my wonderful mother had the kids all weekend so I could work and Jason could study Jason and I thought we would grab a late dinner once he got home from the library. Just as we were approaching the restaurant my car started flashing all sorts of random warning lights so we immediately headed straight home only to become stranded in Dallas at 10:00 at night. Luckily we have really awesome friends and we were able to get a ride home and slowly work towards getting my car back to the garage. It turns out we will have to replace the alternator, but since it has to be ordered and Jason has a final exam Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, my car will be parked in the garage for the next week. Luckily we are able to barrow a vehicle from Jason's dad to get us through. And on the bright side at least this time I wasn't stranded on the side of the road by myself with the kids. But it makes me wonder what does the BAR Exam have in store for us. If final exams for law school are cursed does that include the biggest test Jason will ever take in his life that decides whether or not he can pursue his career goals? Is the curse going to get worse the worse the test? Only time will tell. I am very grateful we are in Dallas surrounded by wonderful family instead of Lubbock hundreds of miles away from help like we had originally planned. So if you happen to remember this and notice that it is either December or May or June July or August don't bother praying for us, but please consider sending us an email or giving us a call to see if we are in desperate need of assistance.

Family Pictures Continues

 

 

 

 

I never had any idea how hard it was to have quality family pictures until I had children. I love my kids and most of the time they love being in front of a camera, but you put them in a group and try to take their picture and they will try everything they possibly can imagine to stand out! I hope for the sake of my sanity that they grow out of this.

Family Pictures

 

 

 

 

Child Labor

Catching Up

We have had a little bit of a busy week. Last Sunday we got to go out to Jason's Grandmother's ranch where the kids got to ride horses, sit on tractors and roll around in the dirt.

 

Durring the week Clayton had a super fun lunch date with his best friend Grey. They had so much fun going through all the tunnels and slides. Oh, and yes in one picture Clayton is wearing a princess dress. This is his Belle dress he found in Sara's room that he loves to wear all the time even though we tell him boys don't wear dresses.

 

 

Sara was given the opportunity to sing by herself as part of the primary program. She was the very first song of the entire program and she did wonderful. This was a video from right before church began while she was practicing singing into a mic. She did just as good when there was over a hundred people watching her.

And just as and ending note I have to also highlight Clayton's singing talent as he sings Old McDonald while riding his horse.

Trick or Treat 09

 

 

 

Family Night @ the Arboretum

 

Best Friends!!!

 

 

 

Clayton found a caterpillar on a pumpkin, and though he would not touch it, he studied it very intently.

The YMCA provided free passes to the Arboretum this evening. We took advantage of the great scenery and let the kids wear thier costumes and run around with thier best friends Lucy and Grey. After the kids ran wild for a while and I got tired of chasing them trying to get cute pictures, we had a nice little picnic then headed home.

Out of the House

So after 5 years of doing nothing but taking care of things in our own home I am attempting a part time job. I never would have imagined I would have anything to offer an employer with two kids under 5, no college diploma, and a husband in law school. Several weeks ago I dropped Clayton off at Mother's Day Out, and decided to go window shop at the mall instead of going straight home to clean. I walked into my favorite kids shop and was asked if I was looking for a part time job. Shocked I stuttered that I could only work Mondays and Wednesdays while my kids were both in school. Perfect she said just fill out this application. The next thing I new I was working. It isn't much, but just getting to accomplish something outside the home is a blast. It has been a little hard to adjust to the new responsibility, but Jason and the kids have been wonderfully supportive. Hopefully soon I will figure out how to get everything at home done in less time than I used to have. In the mean time I am enjoying the new experience even if it means that our home is a little disheveled. Who new something I once dreaded, going to work in a clothing store, could be so wonderful.

Family Pictures

 

 

 

 

Katherine is amazing at taking pictures! She has raw talent that is hard to find these days. We had so much fun shooting these pictures, and I am so glad they captured the kids' personalities.