Tailbone Breaker, Kidney Stone Maker, and Webbed Toes

Yesterday was Ethan's big 11Th birthday. He is such a funny kid. At midnight, he demanded his presents, and of course I caved in. He got the game that he has been waiting for for two months, a hard drive for his xbox, some Halo figures, and lots, and lots of money! He was one happy camper.

We were teasing him all day, telling him stories of when he was born. We told him that when I delivered him, he broke my tailbone, and not an hour after he was born, James ended up in the hospital next door with kidney stones, just before the nurses laughed at Ethan's webbed toes! His birth was not boring!

It was also the night of the ward Halloween "Trunk or Treat" Party. So the kids geared up in their Halloween garb and hit the party like the animals they are!

Once he came home and had his requested pumpkin pie, we sat down for his finally birthday wish. What was that wish? He wanted to watch Poltergeist, and that we did. We were extremely surprised to see that the kids all watched the entire movie, and they even chuckled at different parts. And by the way, they didn't sleep with us either! But don't worry, I won't be showing Paranormal Activity anytime soon. Happy Birthday "E ticket", we love you!

Dear Samantha

Dear Samantha,

October is such a fun month, your favorite month of the year. It's that special time when you would get out all of your favorite decorations and put them up in your adorable home. You loved everything Halloween. I love it too! I have loved putting up all the things that you loved. Ethan especially loves each thing. The day I put them up, he walked into the house and said "it's my time of the year!" Thank you for telling me that you wanted him to have them.

A funny thing happened a few weeks ago. Kevin and Tammy were over and as they were leaving, Kevin grabbed a handful of candy corn from your Cat Jar.....they were your candy corn. Heaven knows how old they are. I just didn't want to throw them away. Kevin immediately spit them out and told us how hard they were! I know you were probably laughing!

I had two dear friends that contacted me today. They both mentioned seeing Halloween decorations and thought of you, and wanted to know how I was doing. I haven't really responded to them yet because it is so difficult. I miss you and yet I am trying to enjoy this month. I wish you were here.

I posted a few pictures of your decorations. I have added a few new decorations, and have tried to make sure that they are up to your standards. Last year Mom, Dad, Tammy and I went to a store and were amazed to find a Haunted Village. Our thoughts immediately turned to you and how you would have loved it. We decided at that moment that I was to collect a piece of it each year in your honor. Tammy bought the first piece, and the rest of us have added to it. I wish you could see how Nora loves to look at it. For a little girl who doesn't sit much, she can stare at it for a solid 15 minutes. I can't wait to watch this village grow in the years to come!

Happy Halloween Samantha!

School Pictures 2010

Miss Olivia 3rd Grade
Mister Ethan 5Th GradeSir Elijah 7Th Grade

There getting big, and I am getting old. Love, love, love them, and don't know what I would do with out them!

Day 5...Outlet Shopping, and SUU!

James had a special surprise for me on our last day. We were able to go to our good friend's football game. Ed and Sarah were in San Marcos Texas and their team SUU was playing Texas State.

It was great to see Sarah. We didn't get to talk to Ed, he was coaching the game and slightly unavailable. We sat right in the middle of the student section and their were maybe 20 of us their supporting SUU. It was a little intimidating, but we made fast friends.

Earlier in the day we went to the LARGEST outdoor outlets I have ever been too. When they say Texans do it big, they are not kidding. This place was so big that we couldn't walk the whole thing. The humidity was partly to blame. I never thought I could sweat in certain places....but now I know.

Our trip was great. The best part of it was just being with our little family! LOVE THEM!!!

Day 4...A Real Mall, IMax, Swimming

Day four we went to not one, but two malls! REAL MALLS. It was like we couldn't get enough. And if that wasn't bad enough we hit all the cliche things in the mall like...Orange Julius, Cinnabon, Imax, etc,....

Our favorite stops...Old Navy, Crazy 8, Gap, Barnes and Nobel, Jamba Juice, and Red Mango...pretty sad huh.

In between malls, James took the kids swimming on the roof of our hotel...I should have taken better pictures. The hotel was 21 stories high, and the views were amazing!

Day 3...River, Alamo, and Dinos

We stayed in a hotel that overlooked part of the Riverwalk, and it was great. We were able to catch a taxi boat each day and go up the river. One of our taxi drivers took us from one end of the Riverwalk to the other. It was beautiful. It has many, many, many art sculptures, beautiful building and scenery.

We also went on a tour of the Alamo. The boys especially loved that. It was interesting to see where it all happened after watching movies and reading about it.

Then it was off to the mall...yes a REAL mall. This particular mall had a dinosaur exhibit that Ethan was thrilled to see. He must have spent two hours there.

Day 2...A Deep Dark Hole

This was probably one of my most favorite days of our trip...Carlsbad Caverns. It was amazingly beautiful and HUGE! I had had pretty low expectations (I thought I would be claustrophobic), but this place is so BIG, you just don't feel that way. The caverns are 753 feet below the ground, and cover an amazing 600,000 sq. ft.

After we got up to ground level, I texted my psychologist father and told him that I had been in a deep dark hole, his reply "Climb out as fast as you can, it only gets worse if you stay down there, stop digging it makes things worse!" Only my Dad.

The rest of the day was spent making the trek to San Antonio. After we checked into the hotel, we went down to the Riverwalk (which is beautiful), ate dinner at the Rainforest Cafe (huge discussion on the cost of the souvenir alligator cups, which to my great frustration...we bought), and then on to see the Alamo at night...AWESOME!