Year In Review

January

January brought an ice day= day off from school.

February

Mavs game, I don't think this is actually in
February. I think it was January but if it
was then I don't have any pictures from
February so this one will have to do.

March

March brought us beautiful weather and a camping trip.

April

In April we attempted our first garden.
It grew really well but I think we put too
many seeds in, eventually it got overgrown.
This year we will do it again with a few
less seeds, I loved eating veges out of my garden.

May

In May our sweet boy turned 8 and
was baptized, it was a wonderful day!

June

Roadtrip to TN to see our sweet niece
Kendyl baptized.

July

My toothless Cub Scout.

August

1st day of 3rd grade

September

Jacob and Addyson on Addyson's baptism day.
This was actually in October but she turned
8 at the end of Sept. so I thought I could count
it for October, right?

October

Our scary pumpkin.

November

The day after Thanksgiving we put
up Christmas decorations, love it!

December

We had a white Christmas. By the time it was
done snowing we had almost 4 inches of snow.
Don't mind Kevin's pink gloves, he was borrowing
mine. I should have just let you think that he
likes to wear pink gloves.

2009 Was a great year and I'm sure that
2010 will be even better.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Two days before Christmas...I am so excited. I am most excited to watch Jacob open his gifts and Kevin too. Jacob is excited to look for Grandpa. Some of you reading may not know about Grandpa Quinn's Christmas Eve tradition. It started years ago when he didn't want to get out of bed to open gifts and has progressed into him hiding in crazy places. The only rules are we have until 9 am to find him or he wins and he has to hide on his property. We only look for a few hours and then go home to bed and my sisters continue the search. Jacob loves it and can't wait again for this year. My sisters (18,19, and 20) still love looking as well. The kids win every year this year should be no different.

Yesterday we went to the Ft Worth Museum of Science and History. We had so much fun we spent almost 4 hours there. They have re-done everything, it is really neat.

I wish I could twinkle my nose and all of my laundry would be folded and put away. I don't mind washing it, I just severly dislike putting it all away.

I am so thankful for this time of year, I can't believe it has come so fast. There is not a day that goes by that I don't think about Breanna especially this time of year. Jan. 10th it will be 3 years since we lost her. When we go places as a family I think about what it would be like if she was there with us. I thought about her at the museum yesterday and how fun it would be if Jacob had his sister with him.

Is it too much to ask for a white Christmas. OK I know I live in Texas but miracles can happen.

Can I just say that I am so excited that I don't have to do anymore shopping. Kevin has to finish up today. I already found out about one of my gifts. So I get on my email last night and there is a message from AT&T. It said that it was verifying my recent changes to my account. I asked Kev why they would send an email about that he just started laughing. Kevin has never been able to hide much from me. He always leaves receipts laying around and it is a big joke at our house. So he got me a new phone, needless to say I got it early and I LOVE IT!

I guess that is enough randomness for now.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Don't be shocked

Well it has been over 2 months since my last post, don't be shocked that I am actually posting again. I would say that I am committing to write on my blog more often but then I might disappoint myself if I don't do it. Life has been BUSY but so good. A little catch up in list style.
1. I found out that I have a herniated disk in my back...yucky!
2. I did the Nativity bulletins again at church, it was officially my last time doing it, I resigned.
3. Jacob has now lost 6 teeth and looks so cute.
4. Jacob is loving 3rd grade and has joined the chess club at school, we are now playing a lot of chess around here.
5. Kevin is still doing well at work. He has completed his necessary training to become a supervisor (he would be over 8 stores instead of one) so now it is just a waiting game until something is available.
6. The weather here has been extra cold and I love it!
7. I still love my job and the people I work with.
8. I can't think of anything else I'm sure there is much more but lets stop here. Maybe I should try to get to 10.
9. Halloween was fun Jacob was Yoda and got a ton of candy.
10. Thanksgiving was nice, we made dinner here for just the 3 of us and I loved it.

OK I made it. Well I'm off to church. Looking forward to the next 10 days Kevin is on vacation! I can't wait to spend so much family time together.

Rain

I cannot believe the amount of rain we have had in the last month! I love it! I am looking forward to some sunshine though. We are enjoying our weekend at home. I love conference weekend. Today will be filled with family time, yummy food, great speakers, and dessert with friends. Yesterday I cleaned and did laundry so that I can relax today. Saturday is the special day....
I love the feeling of every piece of clothing (except the ones we are wearing) being washed, dried, and put away! Ahhhhh.... I finally broke down and used my dryer for the first time in 6 months!!! With all the rain we have been having hanging my clothes out back has not been an easy task. Between rain and working I was so far behind so I broke down and used the dryer. 7 loads later it is all done, yay!!! I'm going to make pumpkin bread today I sure hope it turns out yummy. I'm going to use the Heartland receipe so it should be fabulous.

Saturdays With My Family Are The BEST!!!

I'm sitting here exhausted from a long but good day. I love Saturdays, there is nothing better then spending time with my family! We started the day with going to the Pecan Festival in Mansfield. It was so much fun. We called my mom and invited her along and we are glad she came. There were all kinds of company booths and games for Jacob to play. Of course they had yummy food, Kevin got a turkey leg and Jacob had a corn dog. They had a "car show" too. I put that in quotes because I think there might have been 10 cars, but it was still fun. The weather could of been cooler with it being autumn and all but it is Texas. Tomorrow it is supposed to be so hot and then cool off again, lets hope that happens. I'm a little sunburned from being outside for so many hours but I can't complain I like a good tan! After that we came home to make dinner before Kevin left for work. We had cheese, avocado, and bean quesadillas, they were yummy! The rest of the day was spent being lazy around the house with a little clean up by yours truly so that when I wake up in the morning my house is clean, love that feeling. My back in all of its glory was out this week. It started hurting Sunday and by Wednesday I could not walk which also meant I couldn't work. Kevin took the day off and cared for me (isn't he the best) with a call to the doctor for some serious drugs (pain meds, muscle relaxer, and steroids) I am feeling much better. I had my back checked out before and they always say they don't see anything, well I don't know what that exactly means so I think my doctor is going to do some more testing, we shall see, this is a really long run on sentence. Well like I have said in my last few posts I AM LOVING MY JOB!!! I am learning all kinds of stuff again that I have forgotten since I was in 6th grade. I go to a 6th grade classroom twice during the day for Social Studies and Science and I tell you what I must not remember half of what I was taught. I get to work with some amazing kiddos and some amazing teachers. I see Jacob a few times during the day, which I love and for now he does too. Well I am off to lay on the couch and watch some TV. I am looking forward to a hopefully relaxing Sunday, I don't think I have any meetings and I haven't been asked to sub yet.... yay!!!

Here are a few (OK maybe more) pictures from some of what we did this summer.

Fossil Rim was SO MUCH FUN!!! We loved it and we can't wait to go back again. You buy a bag of food at the beginning and you can drive through the park at your own pace. Halfway through there is a gift shop, restaurant, petting zoo, and hiking trail. We loved feeding all the animals and it was so neat to have them so close to you, especially the giraffes.

At the end of our trip he lost another tooth. He lost his fourth this past Tuesday, I'm thinking he will probably need braces if his teeth look anything like mine did.

Our trip to Medieval Times was also a lot of fun. They had a special Scout discount and day for all Cub and Boy Scouts. We took advantage of the discount and we are so glad that we did, Jacob loved it. He even got to go in the arena with all of the other scouts and learn how to sword fight and be knighted.

Our trip to the beach was great. While there we went to a place called Gator Country. It is home to the largest alligator in captivity. We also went to where one of the first oil wells was in Texas. They had a little "town" all set up like it would have been many years ago.

Jacob loved holding the baby alligator.

Sydney, Serene, Abbie, Melissa, Jacob, and I at the oil place. Sydney loved wearing Jacob's goggles, she didn't want to take them off.

Jacob and Sydney playing in the ocean. Jacob is so good with her and she LOVES Jacob. While they were visiting every time Sydney would see Jacob she would get so excited. She is seriously one of the cutest kids in the world and she has a great personality, we love her!

Now that Jacob is 8 he is having so much fun in Cub Scouts. Here is at the Pack Meeting where he received his Bobcat Award.

Jacob mowed the lawn for the first time a few weeks ago. I think Kevin is anxious to teach him so he can pass this job onto him.

First day of 3rd grade, how did my baby grow so fast?

Jacob and Daisy being lazy on the couch.

Well I guess that is probably enough pictures! All is well here with us. It has been raining for 2 days straight and I love it. We haven't had this much rain in a long time. I am LOVING my new job. I feel so blessed to have it. Kevin is still loving his job. He is going to Indiana for another business trip this week. This will complete his training for becoming a District Supervisor. Hopefully 2010 will bring him a promotion. Jacob is loving 3rd grade and he has a great teacher. Life is good.

Summer List

I know shock right? I'm actually posting it has been over 2 months. Blame it on Facebook I spend too much time on there and none blogging. Well I would be here for days trying to catch up on our summer so in no particular order here is a list of what we did this summer, I might add pictures later :)
1. Spent many days laying around the house watching TV and playing Wii.
2. I went to girls camp as a stake leader over the YCL's, had so much fun and made new friends.
3. Kevin took a weeks vacation and we stayed home. I really loved this!
4. Went to Medieval Times.
5. Jacob and I did Cub Scout Camp.
6. Went to Fossill Rim which is an animal park that you drive through and the animals (all kinds of deer, giraffes, ostriches, zebras, and much more) come right up to your window and you fee them.
7. Kevin went on a man trip with Grandpa Quinn, Brandon, and BJ. They headed down to South Padre and camped way out on the beach in the middle of no where.
8. Jacob and I went on a girls and kids trip with Grandma Quinn, Serene, Melissa, Sydney, and Abbie. We went to the beach, Gator Country, and visited one of the original oil rigs in Texas.
9. Kevin and Jacob went to Six Flags for a day.
10. Visited our family in McKinney and went swimming with cousins.
11. I started selling Pampered Chef again which I love!
12. I was hired to be a Teacher Assistant in Resource at Jacob's school.
13. Spent a lot of time with some of my amazing friends and their kiddos.
14. Racked up a huge electric bill...TX is HOT!!!

I'm sure there is more that I am forgetting. It truly was a great summer. We are now busy with school. I love my new job!!! I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to work with such great kids each day. I guess that is it for now, I really need to be better about blogging!!!

Camping

Last month we went camping to Dinosaur Valley State Park in Glen Rose, TX. We had so much fun!!! We went with our friends the Koenigs and the Boyers. Jacob loves camping and he loved it even more this time because he was not the only kid. The kids had so much fun playing and exploring. We only went for one night but we decided that next time we have to go for at least 2. All of the prep and setting up is a lot for only 1 night. I loved this park because even though it was Memorial Day weekend it was not too busy, they only have around 40 campsites. We roasted hot dogs and smores for dinner and breakfast was egg, cheese, bacon, and sausage omelets. The guys did a great job making breakfast. After we were all packed up we headed over to the river bed where you can walk around and look at dinosaur tracks and play in the water. My goal was to walk down the river with only getting my legs wet (it wasn't that deep) ya well not only did I fall in once but twice! It was so much fun and Jacob loved it! We will definitely be going there again.

Kevin and Scott setting up tents. Jacob loved playing with the fire.

Court, Hil, and I. I love these girls!!!

Scott and Courtney. Hilary and Bryan.

Kevin and I. The kids decided to make grilled watermelon. I was the lucky first customer of this great creation. I bit into a big crunch of dirt and so they decided to cook it on a skewer instead of a dirty stick. Luckily everyone else had dirt free watermelon.

Jordan and Camden...my friends sure do have cute kiddos.

Beckam, he was a little surprised by my picture taking.

The guys making breakfast...yummy!

Jacob loved hanging out in this tree.

All of us!!!

My sweet boy.

Dinosaur tracks. Walking in the river bed.

Playing in the river. Jacob, Cara, Brinley, and Ashlyn.

The kids and Daisy in front of a Dinosaur.

All of our T-Rex's.