Snow Day!!!

December 4th, 2009

School Cancelled!

It took 45 minutes to get all three dressed, they played outside for about 30 minutes and it took the rest of the day to get everything cleaned, dried and put back up! Most of the snow was all gone by late afternoon, but they had lots of fun while it lasted. Also, note the green grass under the trampoline and the green leaves still on the trees!

Thanksgiving in Sonora

We had the whole week off this year, so the kids and I got to spend a lot of time with family in Sonora. Tracy had to work, then had an emergency root-canal, but made it in time for the big day. His favorite holiday was almost ruined, but with enough pain medication he managed to enjoy his mother's famous turkey and dressing.

The girls spent several hours making Indian headbands for everyone to wear at the two feasts. This is the only picture I have, but everyone did wear them. Uncle Kenny even added more feathers to his so he could be the "Chief", but Baylen quickly told him that only made him the biggest "Turkey!" Baylen used my head as a template so everyone's headband was a little big. Apparently it takes a big skull to house such a large and knowledgeable brain!

At the Barker feast we had a non-traditional German meal of beirocks, apple-jacks, fluffy dumplings, and fixin's. Turns out not all my kids are super picky eaters. Dravyn loved the beirocks and ate one and a half the first night when we snuck some fresh out of the oven.

The girls also brought their artwork from school and a couple they made at home to decorate MayMay and Papa John's house.

This is the poem Sayer learned for school and recited at each of our special feasts.

I think of sunshine, clear and bright.

I think of stars twinkling at night.

I think of friends family and more.

I have so much to be thankful for.

AMEN!

Sayer's Thanksgiving Program

This is how Sayer, the shortest girl in 1st grade, spent most of the program, peeking from out behind Mackenzie, the tallest girl in 1st grade. Ironically, she is also in Sayer's dance class and was also in front of her during last year's recital!

Mackenzie had a speaking part and left for 30 seconds. Yeah! Now I can see Sayer!

Sayer started off with a speaking part, but gave it away because she got nervous. Then she decided she wanted it back and begged every day for another part. We thought her hopes would be crushed but low and behold a Thanksgiving miracle occurred and Ceiley was absent. Sayer learned her lines that morning and helped close out the show.

Kenzie, Sayer and Kylie

Best Buds

Only in West Texas...

can you rake the leaves while wearing shorts and still see green grass!

Baylen's Groovy Birthday Shindig

October 31st, 2009

Nine years ago, I went through great pains to not have a baby on Halloween. I really don't know why I bothered waiting a day, as we almost always have her party on Halloween anyway. She has thus come to believe that we should all dress up for her birthday, so we did. This was the first year she chose a party theme not related to her Halloween costume so we actually had a costume change afterward to go trick-or-treating. She gave peace a chance, and we threw on our grooviest threads and went far out man!

School Fall Festival

October 25th, 2009

Tracy told me to get Dravyn some pirate clothes since Baylen keeps dressing him up as a princess. Does this really make him look more masculine?

Since it was so hot, Sayer had to trade in her full length velvet fur suit for a leotard and tights. We decided she was a witchitty, part witch part kitty!

Baylen was a vampirate. She couldn't make up her mind so she was both! She really got into character.

Duck, Duck, GOOSE!!!!!

Dravyn and I have been going to the duck pond since the girls went back to school for a little mommy and me time. I thought a nice leisurely stroll and feeding the ducks would help keep his mind off missing his sisters.

Not so much. Moments after I took this picture, the goose closest to him, bit him right on his upper thigh. A delivery truck drove by and the driver yelled, "run little boy, run!" I'm just glad no one turned me in for allowing my child to be eaten by wild animals while I stood around and took pictures!

Soon he was fine, although the bite did leave a bruise. This is how he walks around the duck pond now, always looking over his shoulder. When we ask him "what does a duck do?", his quick response is "BITE YOU!"