Lucky Number 7

My little guy turned seven today. Like every year, I think how can this be? He's no longer an baby, but he will always be my sweet little baby.

To my dearest Mark- you are my little angel. I love you so much! You can drive my crazy but when you are sweet, you are the sweetest. I am so proud of how precocious you are. I know that every mother thinks their child is smart, but you truly are so smart. You are doing division and multiplication in 1st grade! You understand concepts that most children older than you struggle with. You are quick-witted and have a great sense of humor.

You have a big personality - good and bad. You are quick to anger, but also quick to forgive. You can be stubborn and willful, but you are so loving and sometimes very sweet.

I am so lucky to have such a smart and lovable baby. I get comments from your teachers all the time on how bright you are and it makes me so proud.

Happy 7th birthday! I love you to Pluto and beyond.

Halloween 2018

We had our annual block party again on Halloween. I didn't get very many pictures. Mark dressed up as a an astronaut during the party and then changed to his trusty dragon costume to go trick-or- treating. I think he hit our neighbors at least 3 times each. That's the great thing about living in a small neighborhood that is a little removed from others - neighbors don't get that many trick-or-treaters so they are happy just to see any kids. Even if it's for the third time.

A couple of days before Halloween, the boys insisted on carving pumpkins. They are obsessed with roasting pumpkins seeds. That's all they wanted me to do. So I did. And they ate a couple of seeds and were done...But I do love that they still wanted to carve pumpkins.

My three little Jack-o-Lanterns. Love these three.

Grove Games & the Book Character Parade

This was another busy week. We started Monday off with the Grove Games to raise money for Mark's school. Our committee spent countless hours planning this event since the summer only to have it rained out on the day that we were suppose to have it. We were finally able to reschedule it and it was so much fun for the kids and the moms. This was my 2nd year on the committee and I'm so happy that it was such a great success!

Mark looking cool in his shades....

He loved the obstacle course and was really into it.

The next day, we celebrated my friend Jodie's birthday. She is one of my closet friends and is the 2nd nicest people I know. My friend Shelley takes first place in the "nicest people I know" category, but Jodie is a close second. As you can tell, she is loved by many people. I am glad we got to celebrate her!

That night, Matthew participated in the Dawson Haunted House fundraiser. He took part in scaring people in one of the creepy rooms with his friend Trey. These two have known each other since elementary school. Now they are about to go into high school. Wahhhh....

I was asked if I went through the haunted house to see Matthew. I said heck no. I wouldn't be able to get up to go to the bathroom at night if I did. I don't like horror movies and I certainly am not going to walk through a haunted house - even if it is fake. I helped to sell tickets instead.

On Friday, Mark had his Book Character parade at school. It was such a beautiful day for a parade. Here's my little dragon.

I love that big smile!

That night, we headed over to the Langston's Halloween party. They are famous for their parties and this year, they did not disappoint.

My little funny man....

There were lots of bounce houses to keep all the kids entertained.

And Mark was definitely entertained......

40 + 2 = Celebration Time

This was the first year in a long time where we really celebrated my birthday for a couple of weeks. It was not intended to be like that, but because it has been such a busy month, we've had to find time for the birthday lunches and dinners.  Happy birthday to me!

We kicked off my birthday weekend with dinner at Del Frisco's with these handsome guys on Friday.

My only request to M for my birthday was that I get a good family picture. It almost did not happen. We managed to get one after I threw a hissy fit. Whatever it takes....

M had a taste of the oysters when we went out to celebrate our anniversary and know he is obsessed with oysters. So of course we had to order these.

A special birthday treat. So good!

On Saturday, Mark and I went shopping for flowers at Lowe's. We needed to get some mums for the front entrance of our house. While we were there, we saw so many monarch butterflies. I guess it's the time of the year they are migrating south.

On Sunday, I got to spend some time with Michael for his YMSL meeting. This one was at the Municipal Courthouse and he had to dress up. They were doing a mock court hearing and I felt that the got a lot of good information if they had paid attention to the judge. Most of the boys were not...

Michael and Michael all dressed up.

On Tuesday, Corie and Jennie took me out to celebrate with a birthday lunch in Roanoke at a place called Classic Cafe. Such a cute restaurant with rocking chairs on the front porch. They serve all local ingredients and it was very nice. These ladies made me feel so special.

Another birthday treat. Haha.

Then the next day, I had lunch with my little tribe. I am so thankful for them.

Aren't these flowers pretty? I got these from the ladies of Southlake Women's Club.

I am very grateful to be part of this group of ladies. I'm having so much fun. being on the board and getting to know these very accomplished women. That's officer Upton in the picture. He's the guys who is famous for the hilarious SPD social media posts.

I had a great birthday and a great 41st year and cheers to another great year!

1st Grade Field Trip

Mark and his class went on their first field trip of the year yesterday to University of North Texas. It was one of the coldest day of the year so far and it rained the whole time. Luckily, most of the activities were indoors or were brought indoors.

My little group. They were so well-behaved.

Mark digging for prehistoric horse bones. It took him and Ryleigh a long time to find one. It was so cold outside in the sand pit.

These two are so darn cute.

Ryleigh wanted to hold Mark's hand during the planetarium show. I

Being a scientist and drawing what they observe. I love that smile on Cole's face.

Mark creating some kinetic energy from pedaling a bike.

Watching himself as a weather man.

My sweet baby!

He also got to pet something dead. Yuck!

It was a great field trip and I was really fortunate to be able to chaperone. Mark said that when they were drawing for chaperones, he pray to God that I would get picked. He told Phoebe and Phoebe told her mom that she should have prayed too. Haha!