These Two

This kid was awarded with the all-A honor roll this afternoon, and scored 8 points at his basketball game last night.  

This kid made all A's and B's and does the most beautiful back 1 1/2 I've ever seen. 

Houston 1/2 Marathon

This time last week I was recovering from running the Houston half marathon without really training.

They make you get to the convention center way earlier than the 7:00 AM start time because they close all the surrounding roads.  Most people were stretching and running around to warm up.  I just made myself as comfy as possible. 

We took this exact picture last year too.

Since April and I didn't train, our plan was to run a mile walk a mile.  We actually wound up walking about a quarter of a mile and running the rest of it for each mile. 

Here we are happy the end was in site!

I honestly don't even remember us high fiving each other.  My back and calves hurt so bad after we crossed the finish line (from not properly training) I would have jumped in a wheel chair if someone had offered me one. 

We were only 20 minutes slower than we were last year when we had trained, so we were totally happy with that. 

That evening I went and had a massage which I think really helped.  I was worried I wouldn't be able to walk on Monday, but it wasn't that bad.  And by Tuesday I was fine. I'm not sure we'll do it again next year, but it's always a fun race. 

Good Morning

There have been some great pictures coming out of rehearsals.

Here's Reed hanging with the older kids.  He's excited to play "young JR".

I'm not sure there are 2 kids that love to be the center of attention more than these. 

JR has a huge song and dance solo. 

And these 3 have been coming during their lunch to have extra practices for the iconic Good Morning number to make sure they do it justice. 

Techincal Skills

Singin' in the Rain is a little over a week away and I took Jason up to a work day a few weekends back since he's always "bragging" about being in theater tech when he was in middle school.

I also figured the technical theater teacher would appreciate having a degreed engineer around to help.

They put Jason to work hanging chandlers and sconces. 

They put Reed to work painting. 

There's no pictures of JR or me because we tend to avoid working.  We prefer to walk around looking busy while we talk to everybody. 

 I've taught him well. 

Basketball

Reed's basketball season is in full swing.  They haven't won a game (which is a change for him since he's been on a winning team the last 2 years) but Reed is playing well.

He had 4 points and 5 steals at his first game, and 3 steals and 6 points at his next game. (3 of those points were from a 3 pointer he hit!) 

If you have the ball, Reed will be in your way! 

Birthday Party

Kyle and Reed celebrated their 12th birthday at Benihana's with their friends.  

Say what you will about Kyle and Reed but they are loyal.  They have lots of friends, but their best friend circle doesn't really change. 

 I had to laugh when every single one of them got out their phones to video the onion volcano.

Always that Foot

Kyle hurt his foot at dry land diving right after we got back from Colorado.  (Something about twisting and landing on it).  He came out hobbling and I tried to "fix" it by taking him for a mall foot massage.

A week later he was still limping and complaining about it so I took him for an X-ray...at the same place he always gets his X-rays. 

 I really need them to start a punch card or frequent flyer program.

We brought our own crutches with us, and he hobbled out with a new boot.  Luckily his foot isn't broken so he's staying off of it until it feels better. 

12

My little teeny tiny babies are 12 today.

I don't call them "the babies" or "the littles" anymore, but they are definitely still my babies.

I say it all the time, but these two are unbelievable. 

They can do everything. 

 They are totally capable of raising themselves...and have been since they could walk. 

All they need from me is a ride.

and some hugs and kisses since they are both just about the sweetest things in the world too. 

Here's to my favorite 12 year olds!

All the Skiing

When we got to Breckenridge the weather was so warm and perfect that we got totally spoiled. 

Then Christmas day it started snowing. 

The snow didn't keep me from wearing JR's Santa top. 

After Christmas it turned cold, but Kyle was still able to wear his flying squirrel onesie.

And Jason and I were more selective on the days we decided to ski

Especially when Kyle and Reed were sending us pictures like this

JR skied with us exactly zero days.

When I did see him he was usually headed out or back to the house.

Although he did send me some pictures of himself. 

And with other costumed people he meets at the very top of the mountain. 

2019 Year in Review

January

Kyle, Reed, and I went on a Disney Cruise

February

Reed's basketball team made it to the championship (but lost).

March

I held hands with Tim McGraw

And we made JR buy his own ticket to George Strait...but at least we gave him a ride. 

April 

We went to lots of Reed's baseball games, and a bunch of them were cold! 

May

JR got his driver's license (and a jeep)

And I got to see Donnie Wahlberg up close! 

June

We got to go to Dollywood

And Kyle placed 10th at zones in Atlanta qualifying him for USA nationals! 

July

Jason and I went on a cruise

JR went on Beach Retreat

Kyle went to Camp Olympia

and Reed went to Maw-Maw and Paw-Paw's

August

I spent 2 weeks in Breckenridge. 

With friends

and with Jason.

September

We had an unexpected tropical depression we didn't even know was coming.

and Smarty Pants started attending the Ivy League at Wharton.

October

One weekend JR was the star of the fall musical

And the next he went to homecoming

November

Kyle became the first of the kids to get braces

And we all held a sloth

December

And here's a picture of Chloe taken in December so she doesn't get mad at me for not including her in the year in review.