The Graveyard

We love Halloween! The kids and I have been working for the past several days to build headstones for a graveyard Halloween decoration for our front yard.

We started with some old foamcore conference posters that were going to be thrown away at work. Kayci and I drew the outlines of grave markers on the posters and I cut them out.

Then Kayci spray painted the cut posters gray and both she and I decorated them with marker. Noble got in on the act, too. He spray painted a gold glitter skull that we found in the dollar spot at Target and drew on the backs of the grave markers.

Then - under the cover of dusk - Kayci and I carefully built our graveyard on the hill in our front yard.  I dug up the ground in front of each grave, as if it were freshly opened (either by grave robbers or by the dead rising from their tombs - take your pick!). And the final piece was the skull - I partially buried it in front of one of the graves, and it looks pretty amazing.

But then the cool front blew in. I awoke this morning and looked out the window to see all but one of the graves laying down. So I went out and picked up the gravestones and will put them back in place when the wind dies down a bit. But luckily I got out last night and snapped some photos of the Stone Street graveyard before the wind kicked up.

So proud!!

I know that this is James' news to share, but I don't think he will.  And, I'm about to BURST with pride, so I'll go ahead and give you a hint:  someone's photograph is on page one of the new Texas Highways magazine.  It's a bittersweet honor, because of the subject, but I am so, so proud of my Boy!

It's that time again...fundraiser!

First of all, don't feel guilty if you read this and move on.  But...if you enjoy school fundraiser items, it's that time again.  :)  This year Kayci's school is selling Tracy Hamilton again--I can tell you for certain that the cookies are YUMMY.  People like the products, too, but I don't have personal experience with that.  I've seen a couple of things I like, though!

If you want to take a look at the "stuff", go to this site and click on VIEW BROCHURE:
http://www.fundraisingzone.com/brochure-fundraisers/holiday-collection/index.php

If you want to check out the cookies, here's a link to the brochure (same thing, click VIEW BROCHURE).  Now, with the cookies there's a cool option--you can spend $16 on a gift card which lets you choose 1 item and includes shipping & handling to ship directly to you.
http://www.fundraisingzone.com/brochure-fundraisers/cookie-dough/index.php

Unfortunately, there's no way to purchase directly online like in the past (bummer!).  If you want to buy something, just get in touch with me and we'll figure it out!

And if you really want to support Kayci's school but don't want to buy anything, you can send a plain ol' donation, or use your Target card and indicate you want a %age to go to Krause Elementary, or you can save BoxTops, or Coke lids, or Tyson A+, or Campbell's labels for education...there are lots of ways you can help support the Krause PTO.  (Yes, I'm biased!)

Thanks for reading this!  No guilt trip if you don't buy/do anything, promise.  :)

Conversation with Noble at the mall

Noble: Daddy, a pterranadon eats meat.

Me: they do? Are you a pterranadon?

Noble: no, I'm a Pharaon.

P.S.

...that's also what he wore to pick Kayci up from school.

And to Recycling, and Higgins Branch, and the animal shelter...

Greeted by Captain America

This is what I saw yesterday when I walked in after work: Noble sitting on the floor in the office in nothing but his Captain America underwear playing as happy as can be.  He was playing so happily, in fact, that he didn't even bother to get up.  He simply looked up and said "hi, daddy!" and went back to playing.

I love that kid.

First Day of School, 2011-12

 (okay, I was just going to let the pictures speak for themselves, but this was too funny--once she got into her classroom, she REFUSED to look up.  all of the kids did, and they ALWAYS say hi/bye to Noble.  It was funny!)

Noble's Tarantula

Noble and Daddy caught a tarantula ... then decided to take it inside to show Mommy...

Love for Sale...

...okay, it's free, and he's got lots of it to give.  If you're on our blog list, you know we're just not cat people anymore, as much as we love Otto.  It's too bad, too, since he's so much like Buddy and so fun.  We have left him alone overnight a couple of times and he's done great--he's well-behaved *but* he's a kitty, so he does kitty stuff, like climb.  And attack your ankles when you walk by.  And play with papers if you leave them on the floor.  You know, the cute stuff.

So, we need to find him a home with someone who will love this little guy and appreciate all of his kitty qualities.  :)  Anyone interested?  We'll deliver to Houston, Austin, San Antonio...

PS--if you decide to take him and if you ever change his middle name from "AND the Neverland Pirates," please don't ever tell Noble.

What's New With You?

I've noticed that the busier we are, the less we blog...sorry about that.  We are having a great summer, but we haven't taken many pictures.  Case in point:  the kids and I went to the Weseloh reunion a couple of weeks ago, and I didn't take. a. single. picture.  Crazy, right?

So what's new around here?  Nothing, and everything.

Daddy is working as usual, and he's wrapped up a ton of freelance work just in time to start a couple new projects.  Video editing takes up a huge chunk of his time, so he's almost literally been working around the clock.  I can't speak for him, but I'm glad that part of his summer is over.  I hope!  :)

As for me, the only thing different about summer is that I don't drive in to Houston to work each week and I only work one day for the school district.  It's nice to be able to fit that in around the kids' schedule.  I am enjoying the day-to-day stuff with my our family...August is going to be tough!

Kayci is still Kayci.  Last week was her first birthday outing, and she chose Chuck E. Cheese for lunch. It was a blast--I love the College Station Chuck E. Cheese, since it's usually pretty deserted.  (And the food is as good as it gets for...well, there.)  *Confused?  She chose 8 outings instead of a birthday party this year.*  Noble goes to school on Wednesdays, and even though the original plan was for Kayci and me to scrapbook on those days, they've turned into days when we get stuff done and do at least one Mommy & Kayci thing.  We've gotten pedicures, gone to the movies, and done whatever Kayci wants, generally.  Last week we met the Dallmeyers for lunch and a trip to Justice, which is at the top of her  favorite Wednesday list this summer.  Have I mentioned that she's growing like a WEED?  Seriously, we have gotten rid of almost her whole wardrobe.  I'm kind of worried she's going to shoot straight through 10s (shirts, at least...10 pants still aren't fitting, but the 8s are too short...arrgh.).  We'll see what size she is when school starts!  If she gets any taller, I think we're going to have to start layering tanks under her t-shirts to make up for length issues.  :)  Our Bitty is a young lady already.

Noble has changed so much this summer.  His speech is clearer, his vocabulary has exploded (he reminds us so much of little Kayci in that respect), and he's pretty well potty-trained.  Since May 24th, he's been doing #1 AND #2 in the potty, but we've kept him in Pull-Ups for convenience.  (I know.)  This weekend he was talking to Daddy and they decided it's time for him to wear just underpants.  So, he did it Saturday (even through a morning of running errands!) and yesterday (even through church, nap! and a 4-hour trip to a farm).  Pretty cool, huh?  This is what I woke up to yesterday morning--Daddy and Noble made a potty chart.  When Noble has 5 dry days in a row, he can get a Cars toy he's been wanting for a while.  Yep, we bribe.  But he's excited!  Did I mention that he, too, is growing fast?  Poor skinny guy can still wear shorts from 2 summers ago, but we had to go up to 3T jeans for length.  We're buying 4T shirts for length, but he just swims in them because he's getting taller, not thicker.  His face is changing, too...the baby roundness is gone.  Our baby is a little boy.




Otto is still a part of our family, but he is a foster child.  He will be going to a new (cat-loving) home soon.  We're just not built for it anymore.

We'll see what else the summer brings...right now, we're enjoying a slower pace and fresh food and family time.  That's what summer means around here.  Come out and visit sometime!