working mama

Not many of you know this, but I started a job today. It is a job that I didn't really see myself doing, but when the opportunity came to be able to bring in a little bit of income (other than kojo stuff) AND it worked with my scehdule - I took it! Say hello to (drum roll please)

Ace the Fox!

That's right friends, I am a part time mascot! (Laughed out loud now....)

Here's how it happened- Britt, one of my best friends, works for a food service company and they do the catering for the schools in Lubbock. One of their things is Ace; a Fox that eats healthy, exercises, get plenty of sleep and tries to inspire kids to do the same.  WELL- she called me to see if  Drew knew of any college guys that wanted to make a couple extra bucks dressing up as Ace for shows at different schools. She explained it as a job that will happen no more than a couple times a week, during lunch or breakfast hours AND you get $50 per an hour show. I said "ummm, I could do it." She might have thought I was joking, but I wasn't, and now I am Ace. (yes, you can keep laughing...)

I had my first show today and it was actually fun (other than having to be there at 6:30am). The kids LOVED it and I think I will have a good time doing it....and I will be making $50 an hour. :)

Here I am in my costume...kead was all about it, Sayla, well, hated it:

By the way you should check out my fan club by clicking on the picture above...it's awesome! It's like you know someone famous. 

"h" party

We had a wonderful halloween weekend full of parties, festivals, friends and fun! this post is dedicated to the first; the "h" party! We had a great time and had some CREATIVE costumes! Here's the invite:

We had a ton of "H" food like Hot dogs, Hummus, Haystack cookies, Harvest bread and Hogsmead butterbeer... but I only have pictures of the Hogwarts Potions Lab and the Honeyduke sweet shop:

(don't worry HP fans, there will be an entire post on these later...for the rest of you- you can skip that post when it comes.)

My favorite though was all the amazing costumes:

(from left) Hoopster, Hoax, Horse (his wife was a jockey) Hillbilly, Hen, Hemoglobin

Homemaker, Handyman, Hobbits (won overall best) Home schoolers* (won funniest)
*a note to kelli- I know you don't look like this. :)

Hoax (won most creative) Homecoming queen, Havasku Indian, Hicks, Harrison ford

H1N1, Hula girl, Hannah Montana, Habitual bridesmaid, Hagrid, Hot Pocket

another one of the Hicks and Hillbillies

Not shown: H1N1 vaccine, Hostage, Housewife, Hulk Hogan, Hippie, Hula Hoop girl, Hanyan (a friend), Heather (another friend), Hot dog, Hockey player. Aren't people so creative? We had so much fun! oh yeah- and we were:

Hagrid, Harry Potter, Hedwig (Harry's Owl) and Hermione!
(like I said, more on this to come later)

happy halloween!

LOTS of pictures to come, but here's a fun one of kead at our "H" party as- you guessed it- Harry Potter! Happy Halloween everyone!

drew lets out a "whoop"

It was funny sitting at the game in a sea of red and black with the lone maroon shirted guy. My favorite moment of the game? Drew yelling and jumping up and down when the aggies intercepted the ball and then looking two rows down to see a little girl (maybe 5 or 6) almost crying- just staring at him in disbelief. Sorry from my husband, little girl. I can't say I am too crushed by the aggies win over the red raiders tonight and that is because of one thing: my sweet husband. He loves his aggies so much and they haven't had much to celebrate lately. So from Drew: gig 'em all you aggie readers.

An added bonus for drew- in our house we have a tradition that whoever wins in the A&M v. Tech game gets to put their school's ornament higher on the Christmas tree. This will be the 2nd time in our marriage A&M is given this place of honor. Oh yeah, he's excited.

the coolest uncle....ever

Yesterday I came home to find a package on my front door step. I didn't order anything and wasn't expecting anything. It said it was from my aunt Chrissy. I opened it and saw a very securely bubble wrapped object and a note from my uncle. Remember this wedding? My uncle was the photographer and he did an amazing job (and also let me tag along for everything). WELL- turns out he just got a new lens and instead of selling his old one- he decided to give it to me!!!

I can't tell you what a blessing it is! I had already told Drew that I wanted to get money for Christmas and my birthday to get a lens with better zoom ability! I can't wait to get out and take some pictures with it. You saw the state of my house a couple posts ago...but maybe it can wait just one more day. :) THANK YOU Rich! I am so blessed to have such an amazing family!

juju shoes

I know I already told you about our giveaway on the kojo blog but now we are selling our shoes in the etsy shop as well! AND if you go check out this post then you can even get something free with it! go now.

real life

just thought I would post some pics of what life looks around here on a regular basis. It seems that packing and unpacking clothes to accommodate growing girls and changing seasons happens every other day. Every time I am sorting and packing I think "didn't I just do this?"

The nice thing though is that I just got rid of two huge bags of clothes that don't fit either girl anymore and that I didn't feel like keeping for maybe another baby sometime in the distant future. Every time I get rid of stuff I let out a huge sigh. It is a cleansing for the soul.

loving mr. noodle...and umbrellas

Kead's morning indulgence is sesame street. I love it, because we wake up slow and she learns a ton. Her favorite is Mr. Noodle. For those of you non-sesame people, Mr. Noodle is a mime that acts out silly scenarios on Elmo's World. She comes and finds me every morning to tell me the silly thing Mr. Noodle is doing (today it was pouring toothpaste on his head) but her FAVORITE Mr. Noodle skit is when he tries to use and umbrella and uses it upside down. She uses everything she can find as an umbrella and while we were in Albuquerque Brittany's mom had a real one (we live in a place where it rarely rains) and she let us use it. Kead thought it was the coolest thing and kept on saying "Silly Mr. Noodle" the whole time we played with it.

balloon fiesta

a wonderful day at the balloon fiesta in Albuquerque started before the sunrise:


Lita was fabulous with the girls while the balloons were rising:


It was great going with friends:


and family:


and the balloons were amazing... hundreds of beautiful balloons rising all around us:


by 8:30 am Sayla was done with balloon festival. She was cold, tired and hungry; a bad combo...but isn't she still so cute? her cry is so humorous because it is so dramatic- that is why lita is laughing:


but despite our 4:30 wake up time Kead was all about the balloons and LOVED it:


her favorite was the shapes and counting before the balloons took off:


what a beautiful day, what a fun weekend, what a great memory

wills collide

I love this picture of Keadryn and Roman. We have known Roman since he was Kead's age and so much of her personality reminds me of his. I have often called his mom, Amy, and asked "what did you do when Roman use to...." and she reassures me that some kids are just a little more difficult than others.

Anyway- I love this picture becuase this is how Roman and Keadryn's relationships go- He tries to boss her and she tries to boss him right back. They love each other though, and Roman is mostly liking that she can interact these days...and, let's be honest, she needs a little bossing every now and then.

happy birthday tricia

I love my sister-in-law. There are so many great things about her. She is perfect for my brother, she is a fabulous addition to our family, she is a wonderful aunt and she is a great friend. Happy birthday, Tricia. We love you and hope it is great!