Grandaddy's Birthday!

This is my Dad! Today is his birthday. I have to say-- The Lord couldn't have blessed me more then by sending me to be his daughter! He is such a man of character and values. He is hard working and intelligent! He has a dry witty sense of humor! My Dad is a man of many talents-- he can fix things, recall facts from history, and make people feel at ease with his gentle nature. I have so many happy memories of him in my childhood! I always felt so secure and content. I love him so! I wish that he and I could have gone to "El Fenix" today for lunch to celebrate his birthday! BUT instead...across the miles--the kids and I called to sing "Happy Birthday"! We miss "Grandaddy" so much-- not just today -- I just grieve as my Dad is such an awesome loving man and my children don't get to experience him as I know him as our time with him is so limited!
The kids picked out some special birthday wishes for Grandaddy!

From Josh...

From Jillian

From Jordan

Black Friday

WHAT WAS I THINKING???

Thanksgiving afternoon...I sat down with the big Dallas Morning News paper and scoured the ads! There was a few things that caught my eye but nothing really screamed--- "DEBBIE you must wake up at the crack of dawn to HAVE THAT!" Well, I woke up around 6AM for my usual bathroom awakening and couldn't go back to sleep-- It was so dang COLD in my house! SO, I decided... "What the heck-go shopping!" The crowds were comical to me-- People coming out the stores with shopping carts overflowing!! I found my treasure at Target (got the last one too!) and then went off to Wally World where the chaotic cart traffic jams and unhelpful employees and all the unavailable 'doorbusters' were too frustrating!! SO what do I do??? I'm such a sucker for the $5.88 board games--I drive to yet another Wal-Mart to see if they have any left!! The answer was NO!! SO, sorry kids-- no Connect Four or Life or Clue for y'all this year! LOL
Well my Black Friday improved as the day went on!! Dave and Jilly made Pancakes for everyone!! We relaxed all afternoon and then Tisha called to say that they were going to be at the Football Stadium right by our house during the evening--- She wanted to know if her little ones could come hang out and play while they went to the game to see her niece (The Drum Major) at the game!! SO, We had 3 friends help us put up our Christmas Tree!

Lft-Rt Casie, Josh, Tasha, Katana, Jillian, Jordan

Jillian was the most excited about the Tree and hanging Ornaments!!!

This is a Jillian "Row"!

Josh was excited to see "his" ornaments again--
He commented that he wants to keep "his" 4ever!

Our 11 year old Jordan with our 14 year old Santa Face decoration!

So, Black Friday rounded out to be a great day! Josh ended up sleeping on the couch to be near the tree! Jillian and I put a nativity scene under the Tree!
So...from Crazy Shopping to placing baby Jesus under our Tree with my innocent wide-eyed 4 year old-- It was a good day!!

An Enchanted Happy Birthday!

It's Jordan's birthday! -- It's been a busy day for me as I've run around getting "stuff" for the party. It was all worth it--- Jordan and a few friends hung out at Sonic and then went to see the new movie "ENCHANTED" that came out today! It was so much fun-- The movie was really cute and the girls all had so much fun! Here are some pics of the occasion...

The Girls, Karley, Jordan, LeAndra, Angelina, and Casie!

Eating 5 layer Chocolate Cheesecake! It was really rich and too good!

It's a fun case with lots of nail accessories-- including big ole long fake nails to glue on!! (THANKS ALOT TISHA!) LOL actually-- She LOVES it!

American Girl STUFF-- It's hair care stuff for her doll!

Fancy cute hip little purse-- she told LeAndra that's what she wanted!

Beautiful cozy gloves with some matching hair accessories-- It was freezing sitting at the Sonic table this afternoon and those gloves were coveted by ALL! LOL

LeAndra

Karley and Jordan and Casie

Casie eating her 5 layer cheescake!

Angelina was loving the chili cheese tator tots and fried cheese! LOL

Jordan is already planning out her NEXT birthday party!! It was a great day!

Jordan's Choir

Tonite the GISD 5th Grade Children's Chorus sang their hearts out --
My favorite was a Christmas song I had never heard before... "Come and See"!
"Come and see......The Baby in the Manger!"
"Come and hear....The Story of his Birth!"
"Come and know....The Way of Salvation!:
"God the Creator has come to Earth!"
"God the Creator has come to Earth!"
It is a powerful song with a penetrating message that filled the room with the Holy Spirit!
It was another wonderful performance tonight! We are so proud of Jordan and her talents!

Little Indians

Lots of little Indians this week at Mother's day out! These sweet kiddos had a "finger food feast"! I personally was the planner/hostess to 3 Thanksgiving feasts last week! LOL It has been busy busy- But it was really fun even though it was a bit stressful!

Here is little Indian Princess Jillian!

I got carried away taking pictures of her in her Indian vest that she and I made together!!

Isn't it lovely???? :)

She wore it all weekend-- everywhere we went she got smiles! She is so proud of her vest!

Someone "Famous"

The other day Dave came home from work and said... "Guess who I met today?" He was so giddy and beaming as he told me who he met-- the Detective who was handcuffed to Lee Harvey Oswald.
Dave said that the Detective told Oswald, "If someone shoots at you, I hope they are as good a shot as you are Lee!"
The following is an excerpt from an email Dave sent me with the above pictures attached. Just thought I'd share--

This is a photo of me and the Dallas P.D. Detective
that investigated the JFK assassination and was
handcuffed to Oswald when Jack Ruby shot him. His
name is Det. Jim Leavelle ret. Homicide DPD. I got to
speak with him at length, he's the most knowledgeable
person I have ever met regarding the JFK assassination.
He is in his 80's but still sharp as a tack. He's
the Detective in that Pulitzer prize winning photo of
Oswald being shot. He's wearing a light colored suit
and a cowboy hat.

Weekend movie time

We went to see the latest "kid" movie yesterday-- I would give this movie a "B"! LOL It was cute and Josh and Jilly laughed (Jordan is at the Miller's for the weekend). I think I'm just in the mood for something more adult! Maybe like a good Drama or even a chick flick! Anyhow, going to the movies is always relaxing for our family. It's just fun to be together. I love "watching" the kids "watch" the movie--seeing their reactions-- It's funny to see Jillian laugh at a "lawyer" joke because all the adults laughed and I'm quite certain she was just laughing because others were. LOL Tonite we head over to Flower Mound to pick up Jor Jor- not looking forward to the $2.89 gallons of gas we will spend as we trek it there and back. Ce La Vie- I guess!

Halloween 2007

For several years we have spent our Halloween with our longtime friends-- The Boyd's and The Miller's! We usually eat Pizza and then some parents take the kiddos out in groups according to age or stay back to pass out candy etc... WELL-- This year we added to the CRAZY FUN with a "Haunted Maze" made out of black plastic, a tent for the entrance, lots of creative things hanging from the tree branches, dummies laying in the tent, real kids hiding inside the maze to SCARE--- Fog machine, scary music etc...

Here is the Master Mind behind the Maze-- Shay!

Here is Dawn during the LONG "set-up" phase of the night!

Tisha placing the "Dummy" in the Tent!
(at one point--I layed down with the dummy to "scare" ! )

Jordan and Casie helping out!
Entrance to the Haunted Maze--
Jeff coming out of the tent and Haley ahead of him.
Getting ready to go Trick or Treating!

The Kiddos ready to go with their Dads! Shay is actually in between Savannah in Pink of the top row and Jordan with the pig tails-- He has on a scary black face hood! LOL

Jordan changed her costume at the last minute and decided to be Zenon!
I have no idea who that is!
She was going to be Miss Texas- She did dress up as Miss TX at a Party over the weekend!

Here is beautiful Amanda-- She yelled out "Little" if young kids were going thru the Maze--
If it was bigger kids then the code word was "JACK!!" LOL

Here is Haley in the tree--
She sometimes would bang sheet metal to make an eerie sound-
She could raise and lower a giant spider-
At the end of the night she actually hung upside down like she was DEAD! LOL

The cutie pie trick or treaters!

Left to Right,

Jillian/Pumpkin Witch, Sammy/Karate Girl, Katana/cheerleader, Natasha/Dancer, Josh/Marine but later turned into "Major Payne", Riley/Blue Power Ranger

The Mimes--Brittney and her friend!

Sweet Katana

Best Buds--Natasha & Jillian (Jillian LOVES Tasha & wants to be just like her!)

Happy Josh with his bucket full of Candy!