What fun a tree and a little wood can be…

Allie has wanted a tree house or fort for as long as I can remember. She and David starting building one together on the first nice weekend we have had since New Year’s Eve!

Before

Allie makeing the first cut…

After - Pretty fancy hua?

The first of many days of pretend - No cell phones, no video games - The best kind of fun!

4th grade science fair

Allie and three of her classmates did a volcano science project for the 4th grade science fair. They did a great job, learned a lot and had fun doing it.

I really love Allie's new school - the kids do the traditional projects that we did each year at BHC, but here the kids do them at school and not at home. This is to ensure the kids are actually doing the work and not the parents. It worked really good for Allie as she had to work with her team to do the research and get the project done on time.

Great Job Allie!

Amanda's new ride

Amanda’s grand am was a great “starter car” but was really starting to have problems. Because I am an over protective (and a bit paranoid) Mom, I was getting worried about her driving it back and forth to college.

David spent days checking out every car dealership between Georgetown and San Marcos looking for the best deal. We wanted something she could afford that was safe and good on gas – he found her a Nissan Versa.

It is really cute and has some nice features that her grand am did not. And the best part is her payment is VERY LOW considering it is a brand new car.

Hopefully it will get her safely though college and into the work force before she even has to think about replacing it.

I will add photos of her actual car in a day or too - when it is not raining.

Congratulations Amanda - Drive Safe!!!

Puppy Breath

Don't you just love that smell??

We have the cutest addition to the family. His name is Aggro, short for aggravation and very Australian. He has a very playful personality and is very smart.

He is pretty photogenic too!

Go Bobcats!!!!!

Amanda received her official acceptance letter in the mail a few days ago. We are very excited that she will be attending Texas State University in San Marcos this fall.

San Marcos is far enough away for her to have her space but close enough she can come home often.

Senior Project

Amanda is working on her senior project and had to make a video as part of it. Her topic is adoption. Check out her video here...

You may see someone you know.

As Seen on TV

I am sure you have seen the infomercials’ for them. The blanket with Sleeves – The Snuggie.

When Markus turned 40 in late November Eric & Lisa gave him a snuggie. We all had a good laugh and that was the last I thought of it. That was until last week when I received a belated birthday gift from Eric & Lisa. You guessed it – a snuggie of my very own.
You laugh, but Amanda and Allie LOVE it. They have even been fighting over using it.

Thanks to everyone for all my birthday gifts, cards and wishes. You all have made my 40th a very special one.

Christmas & New Years

I have not been very good at keeping things up to date on the blog... Here is what we were up to over Christmas & New Years:

Christmas we spent the day opening gifts, playing with toys and eating good food. Constanze & Markus and Paul & Jenn spent the day with us.

We ate outside even in the cold weather.

Can't have Christmas dinner without Christmas Crackers!

New Years Eve Eric & Lisa and Markus & Constanze came out for a few days. It was a lot of fun but it was very cold and windy. We did get to know a lot about Lisa on New Year Eve though... You will need to ask Lisa about that one.

It was so cold and windy that we got creative trying to keep warm. We turned the BBQ into a fire pit and brought it into the new building we are building.

We even cooked dinner in the "bathroom" and they were the best burgers ever!

Eric set off some wonderful fireworks.

We all had fun riding on the dirt bike the girls got for Christmas.

Isn't she cute all bundled up!

A Nice Surprise

Thanks to a lot of hard work and planning from some sneaky folks I was given a great surprise party on Saturday. It was held at Markus & Contanze's home and was very nice. Eric & Lisa, Jared & Felisha and Paul & Jen were all there to wish me a Happy Birthday. Amanda and Emily were even in on it... tricking me to think Amanda was working etc...

It was so nice of all of you to do this for me. It really shows what great friends & family I have. I am truly blessed.

Now if my "wish" to win the lotto will only come true! :)

My 40th Birthday

Well today I turned 40 and surprisingly I don't feel different. Not even a little bit! I expected to feel something, but nope nothing! I guess that is really proof that you are only as old as you feel and age is just a number.

I got this beautiful Magnolia tree from David (which is not an easy find in December.) I can't wait to get it planted so it will bloom soon!

I had a great day filled with lots of relaxing, cards, gifts, text messages & phone calls all wishing me well. It was one of the best birthday's I have ever had.