Things to be thankful for in 2008
1. Watching the wonder, awe & discovery of Patrick in pre-K
2. Patrick insisting on writing his own name and knowing how to spell mine
3. Patrick’s first seasons in soccer & tee ball
4. Coaching a game of Patrick’s tee ball and getting pictures
5. Discovering that I am a RUNNER
6. Finishing 3rd in the Turkey Trot
7. Year end workout totals – over 700 miles
8. Finally reaching single digit sizes - totally skipping size 8 – hello size 6!!!
9. Cleaning out my closet and giving away double-digit clothes
10. Being a bridesmaid in Jennifer and Eric’s wedding
11. Being nominated sassiest bridesmaid
12. Pink zebra print shoes
13. Being a bridesmaid in Stacy & Champ’s wedding
14. Pink leopard print wine glass hostess gift from Stacy
15. Tech win over #1 Texas – Triumphant "I Hate Eric Fisher" Day
16. Amazing family pictures (Thanks Jamie!)
17. Becoming a full-fledged “texter”
18. Getting an iPod
19. Strengthening friendships
20. Rekindling old friendships
21. Beginning new friendships
22. Taking the FaceBook plunge
23. Learning how to enjoy “alone time”
24. Re-discovering Dr. Seuss & sharing his rhymes with Paddy
25. Asking Coach Leach to be my Valentine
26. Being there when Coach Hays announced his retirement
27. Spending special moments with Mammy before she “made her date”
28. Completing the annulment process, it being affirmed in the Lubbock Diocese
and sent on to San Antonio Archdiocese
29. Michael Crabtree, Graham Harrell, Baron Batch and Stephen Hamby
30. My homemade Tech tshirt dress with the skull and cross bones ruffle made by my mom
31. Listening to Patrick’s versions of “Crank that Crabtree” and “The Matador Song”
32. My Trailblazer being paid off!!!
33. Sunday “dinners” with Grandpa/Great Papa/Daddy/Walter

I'm sure there are plenty more blessings I have to be thankful for. . .know they are in my heart, as are you.
MAY THE BLESSING OF THE LORD BE UPON YOU!!!!

All aboard The Polar Express!

The Ploar Express came to Lubbock this year! So Mom and Dad treated us all to the trip. Patrick reading the book before we left.
Us with the conductor. Patrick now wants to be a conductor when he grows up. And a fireman.
He was most psyched about the hot chocolate.
The chocolatiers and the elves encouraged dancing in the aisles. They didn't have to encourage Patrick much. He danced all up and down the aisle. And played air guitar.
Watching Patrick talk to Santa was the best moment of the night. His TRUE BELIEF and innocence brought tears to my eyes. Then I laughed because P was convinced that we went through Africa to get to the North Pole - and he told Santa this.

My next favorite moment of the night was when Doodah made up her own version of the 12 Days of Christmas 8th day. She sang - loudly - "8 Lords a-milking." Uh, okay Doodah. So we sang the rest of the verses like that. She also had her own version of "Up on the Housetop." Apparently the reindeer in her version were Nixon and Dixon instead of Vixen and Blitzen. Love the holiday Marsha-isms.

Random pictures from the Fall

Patrick as the "keeper of the keg" at the Baylor game. He makes me proud.
Me, my folks, Josh and Patrick (with his eyes closed) at the Will Rogers statue before Baylor.
Me, Josh, Meghan and Patrick (again covering his eyes - he hates being in pictures these days) at Will for Baylor.
Meghan decided to wear shoulder pads to the game (she was Crabtree for Halloween and had them). Before the game she decided to take them off, and this was her attempt at doing it on her own. She was all flailing around the tailgate looking like the Headless Raider Fan. We laughed HARD!
The Tyes and the Kittens post game.
Me and Patrick at Halloween. Me in the Darth Momma shirt.
Luke, I am your Mother.
I LOVE this SMILE! So him!
Who needs blocks or legos when you have grapes and toothpicks! Patrick made about 6 "airplanes" with toothpicks and grapes at the Homecoming tailgate party.
Look at those sticky fingers!

Turkey Day with My Turkey

Patrick started "hunting turkeys" on Tuesday evening. His catch is in the pickle jar.

He forgot his apron, so he had to put it on to cook them. Then he decided that chefs don't wear shirts when they cook. I told him Uncle Josh was probably the only chef who cooked without a shirt. But he had to wear his turkey hat he made at school.

Then we needed more turkeys - the stuffed beanie baby-sized one wasn't enough. So he colored and cut out more.
And then grilled them. This was Tuesday night. We had to take the (water)gun he used to hunt, his "turkey finder," grill, apron and jar of turkeys to Doodah & Papa J's to help cook Thanksgiving Day dinner.

This was all going on while I put together the Christmas trees - without directions. The branches are color-coded and the directions weren't in the box, so it was pretty much a guessing game. Yes, I tried going by length, but they were all very similar. It seriously took me 2 hours to put 6 layers of branches together. Once I got the branches where I thought they went, the plugs didn't line up. Two hours and several glasses of wine later, I came to the conclusion that Christmas tree decorating and PMS aren't a good mix.