Year in Review

Wow... this post took me about 20 hours to get through. Once I started looking back through old pictures I just got buried in photos and memories. What an amazingly blessed year. Thought I'd share a few...

JANUARY: the month of new haircuts. Grace went short:

Finn went for a mohawk (guess who's idea that was???)...

FEBRUARY: We have a Valentine's tradition that started when Grace was born. Kev takes Grace out on a date and my "Valentine gift" was take-out, a good book, and a night alone. Now it's even better and I get my very own Valentine date with Finn! In the past Kev's dressed up in a suit (big deal if you know Kev), rang the front doorbell to pick up Grace and presented her with a corsage. He then has taken her to a "date restaurant" as she calls it. The idea has always been to set the standard high for when she goes out with a real boy for Valentine's Day (when she reaches the age of 30 if it's up to Kev). This year however, the Jonas Brothers were here on Valentine's night so he surprised her with tickets. Rock on Dad!

Here I am with my man on Valentine's.

Thanks to Gogi & How the entire clan headed to Great Wolf Lodge for a family vacation in February. I would post a pic of me in my swimsuit at Great Wolf Lodge but somehow those got deleted off the computer. Darn...

Grace, Finn & Allie (the best babysitter in the world)

MARCH: Our little bunnies at Easter

March also included lots of cheering for the Wildcats (ahem... notice reference to High School Musical) volleyball team.

APRIL: Happy 1st Birthday sweet buddy.

Finn's first guitar lesson. Starting them young....

MAY: Still wondering where this kid comes from... Grace rocked it at swim team this year. Go Whitesharks!

JUNE: Golf camp with cousins. Unlike her mother, Grace knows the difference between all those clubs in the bag and actually knows how to use them.

We changed our mailing address to the pool this summer. That's pretty much where we lived.

JULY: Finn was quite the patriotic dude at the parade.

Not to be outdone, Grace pulled out the 'fro

AUGUST: The kids start a new adventure at CCS.

Headed to school on the first day. Why does this picture make me want to cry?

After summer was over and Grace would walk out the door to school, Finn would stand at the door and look for her. Poor buddy was a little lost with GaGa gone.

SEPTEMBER: Grace got her first electric guitar (and mom got her first ear plugs). Great idea Kev!

Finn's first day of school. *sniff-sniff*

OCTOBER: the gratuitous pumpkin pictures...

Our sweet candy corn and candy corn fairy.

NOVEMBER: Grace turned 8 at her fun & chaotic Bolt birthday party.

Little Indian at his Thanksgiving Feast...

Thanksgiving at NaNa & PaPa's

DECEMBER: Christmas with the clan. The only time all day that any of them sat still.

Christmas in Texarkana. The sock monkey has become a permanent part of our lives as has the "Pop Goes the Weasel" tune become a permanent part of my brain. Thanks NaNa!

What a beautiful and blessed 2008.

Thank you all for being a part of it.

Here's to 2009...

The Sweetest Story Ever Told

Grace brought home a large envelope in her backpack on Thursday. It had this message on the front:

On December 15, 2008 I retold the story of Jesus' birth in my second grade writing class. The story that I wrote is in this envelope. I'd like to store the envelope with our family's Christmas decorations. Then each year I can read the story and be encouraged by God's faithfulness as I grow in His ways and for His glory. - Grace Howren

So... here's the story of Jesus' birth as told by Grace...

One day in the Bible times, there was a girl named Mary. Mary liked a guy named Joseph. Mary and Joseph were engaged to get married (hearts all around it). Mary was asleep. When God woke up Mary she was scared. Mary was so scared to tell Joseph that the baby's name was Jesus.


So that night the angel told Joseph that they need to go get counted and so Joseph got all the supplies so Mary was asleep. Joseph let Mary sleep. Joseph got ready. Joseph was in the carpenter stable. Mary was so scared to tell Joseph but she did and the angel came to him. They loved the name Jesus.

Joseph and Mary got dressed and in Mary's heart she was excited. Joseph told her that he got it all ready so they got on the donkey and brought stuff with them. All of a sudden Mary said, "I feel like it is going to come out Joseph". They got there and there was no room. A kind man gave them a fine place so they got to sleep.


Joseph woke up and the baby was here. Mary woke up and put him in a little cradle. But not exactly a cradle. The wisemen always studied the stars. They finally got there. They came in the stable very honored! A day after that the shepherds came in. When King Herod heard about it he was not happy!!!!! They saw the Christ star and they were pleased and so it was a good moment!


And they had a good Christmas!


We hope you have a good Christmas too ~ Kev, Beck, Grace & Finn

Dear Santa,

I've had a hard time shopping for Grace this year.

Her original "requests" were a cell phone (um... no), laptop (um... no again), and flat screen TV. A TV would be nice - I just have a problem with the fact that the only flat screen TV in our entire house would be in my eight-year-old daughter's room. Doesn't seem right.

So, I had her sit down and make her Santa list. Since our only "B" right now is in handwriting I'll translate for you.

Title - "Rock and Roll Santa" (nice beginning... way to set the mood)

Wii Band

Mario Cart Wii game

Ok... so we're off to a good start but here's where it gets interesting...

A little baby dog - I don't care what it looks like

Some of those Sonic tots or the tiny ones.

And a box of the Burger King Mario toys

And a whole box for the Sonic tots too (the girl loves her Sonic!)

And a autograph from you or a bell!

And a backstage pass to the Jonas Brothers concert or any rock and roll star!

And some money or a ornament from you.

And a page that says when your birthday is and when you started being Santa.

And some red prols (????)

And some magic for your reindeers. I promise you I will not put it on or tell anyone!

Needless to say Grace doesn't have many presents under the tree right now.

I think it's been difficult because this is the year she officially grew out of the toy stage. I went to Target the other day (for the 133,897th time this month) and walked down the Barbie aisle and my heart grew sad. I stood and stared at the new Barbie Diamond Castle and almost cried. Where have those days gone? When did a cell phone become more exciting than the new Little Pet Shop Vet Clinic? How come when I pointed out a Polly Pocket set did she tell me she would rather have a sweater from Abercromie... or a new scarf... or some Ugg boots (knock offs of course!)?

It does make my heart a little happier when she then asks, "does Santa even know how to make Abercrombie sweaters?". Makes me feel like my little baby girl is still in there.

So after my private moment with the Barbie Diamond Castle I hopped over to the Fisher Price aisle and loaded Finn up on all the Little People this house can hold. At least I still have one baby in the house (who isn't asking for pierced ears!).

I had a girls night the other night and when I got home Kev told me I had a "present" in my bed. Here's what I found... knocked out cold... but still showing her Christmas spirit.

Merry Christmas!

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

Ok... I copied that title from Sarah's Blog maybe because I'm insanely jealous that she's been away in New York enjoying the snow. I figure she at least owes me a catchy blog title.

In case you haven't heard, it snowed in HOUSTON today! If our friends Dave & Janet who live in Colorado are reading this I know they are laughing at us. A few flurries fall and all of Houston goes nuts (and I do mean NUTS!). I went by Academy to buy hand warmers for Grace's field trip tomorrow and they were all sold out by the registers. They said as soon as the snow started this afternoon the masses invaded to take all the warming equipment. I had to venture off into "hunting land" to buy real official hunting warmers. Once I found the "warmer" section I had a choice of hand/foot warmers or actual BODY warmers. In my wimpy opinion if you're having to use a total body warmer it isn't worth going wherever you're going. Just stay inside.

Back to the snow. It all started when Grace was in her swim suit headed to swim lessons after school. Julie was a gem and took her for me and she said the kids were precious running around in their swim suits yelling, "it's snowing!". I'd give anything for a picture.

Tonight the entire family had dinner at Steak 'N Shake (that's fine living for you!) and headed to Target to shop for our adopted family. Let me tell you, Target + 8 kids + one shopping list + multiple toy aisles + snow = complete and total chaos. I loved every minute of it.

Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me but when we got home I took some pictures of our car just to prove it really does snow in Houston.

Yes, those are those goofy reindeer antlers and nose that goofy people stick on their cars. I got them from Leigh Ann for my birthday. Grace thinks they're the greatest because now she's "the totally coolest kid in car-rider line". I guess it doesn't take much to earn that title these days.

Just because it makes me happy I included a picture of the last time it snowed in Houston. It was Christmas Eve 2004. Grace was just four (she actually has roller skates on in this picture). I can remember her in full princess gear skating around in the snow making us all laugh and realizing just how special these moments are. Geez... that seems like yesterday.

The Great Mystery...

So... here are the facts:

1. Took Grace to school last Tuesday. Get the call she's thrown up. She's great once I get her home. By the end of the day the craft bucket is empty and house is overflowing with paperchains, snowflakes and Christmas banners. The kid is not sick (but quite crafty!).
2. Kept her home Wednesday (a "just in case" day - and so the other moms wouldn't talk about me).
3. She goes back Thursday after feeling GREAT the last two days and I get the call again. BLECH! Once she gets home she's perfectly fine. She moves on from crafts to baking...
4. Keep her home on Friday (since she had thrown up at the theater in front of three grades I was still a little paranoid to be tagged as "the mom who sends her kid to school sick"). Lee Lee takes pity on me (and the kitchen) and takes her to run errands all day.
5. Survives three birthday parties and tons of holiday activities over the weekend with no yakking or upset stomach.
6. Get the call AGAIN yesterday. More puke. The school nurse informs me this is "the third time Grace Howren has thrown up at school in a week." REALLY? Thanks for counting. I know I wasn't (*insert eye-roll*)...

So... what in the world is going on with this kid? We spent most of the day yesterday at the pediatricians office and the lab having tests run. They've put her on a special diet to "cleanse her system". Grace, exhibiting how she really was switched at birth and really isn't my child, is loving it. Who doesn't love plain boiled chicken breasts and bananas?

The coolest part of this whole thing is that they've given her some magical pill. It dissolves on her tongue and she WILL NOT throw up for 8 hours. My question is why the heck did someone not introduce us to this pill a long time ago? Last virus I had I would have gladly given handed over my first born to have gotten my hands on one of those pills.

Last night Grace had her BIG Christmas program with her BIG part she scored. After much pleading and many tears (and a pill on her tongue) we decided to let her go. She performed all one lines like the actress that she is -and best news was NO PUKE on the microphone (this had been her fear the last 24 hours). Thank goodness for those little pills. I wonder if it's too late to add those to my Christmas list?

So, please say a prayer for Grace. We're not sure what's going on in that stomach of hers. I still think there's some sort of conspiracy here to never allow me to have my Tuesday/Thursday "alone day".

These shoes were made for (bleccchhhh.....)

Today was a big day. Grace had her highly anticipated field trip at school. These last couple days she's been more concerned about missing THE field trip than puking on the floor in computer class if front of all of her friends (reference Tuesday's post). If I've answered the question, "mom, will I be able to go Thursday?" once, I've answered it a million times.

What's so exciting about the field trip you wonder? HIGH HEELS. That's right, nothing exciting happens in Grace's life that doesn't involve fashion. Her class went to the theater downtown to watch a Christmas play and were instructed to wear their "holiday best". You know what that means... new shoes! Grace begged and begged and since I feel sorry for her because she's losing the ongoing debate with Kevin over pierced ears I gave in and bought her the highly awaited first-ever-pair of high heels. We even had a "practice walking runway" in our den to make sure she could handle them.

So, this morning she wobbled out the door and I got Finn ready for school (yet another attempt for a day alone). Here's where I bet you can guess the rest of the story... I got THE phone call.

Grace hadn't thrown up for over 36 hours (we've even had Rudy's BBQ and Santa's Wonderland thrown in there), then she heads back to school and what does she do in the back of the theater? BBBLLLLEEECCCCHHH....

So, the beautiful day with the beautiful high heels was ruined.

Thought I'd share a pic of the infamous shoes. I guess if you're yacking in the back of the theater you might as well have some "kickin" shoes on!

Wah Wah Wah

Yesterday was my birthday. I'm not big on celebrating my birthday, but it's hard not to with an eight-year-old party planner living in the house. Thanks to Grace (and the chauffeuring of Kev), I was treated to a super-fun day with lots of surprises. I know there was a lot of love poured into my pink cookie cake, new Webkinz mouse, and handmade (by Grace) t-shirt. I ended the day feeling both loved and blessed.

My gift to myself was coming today.

As most of you know, Kev works from home. That means he's HERE all the time... with me. Not that I don't love Kevo, but I love my alone time too... and I've missed it lately.

Kev let me know a few days ago that he was going out of town for the day to visit with David in Waco. Here's where my present comes: Finn's in school.... Grace is in school... Kev's in Waco... and I'm home... ALONE!!! I had my beautiful, perfect day all planned. I'd drop Finn off at 9:00, run a few errands, work just a little (so I wouldn't feel guilty the rest of the day), and catch up on blogging about our fun Thanksgiving. I was most excited about the appointment I had with a trashy Julie Garwood mystery/romance, the couch and a pair of fuzzy jammies. Oh the thrill... the excitement... it has gotten me through the last few hectic days to know I'd have an entire day alone.

So I headed to the bank and then to Hobby Lobby. As I'm on my way to my third and final errand (Julie Garwood here I come!) I get THE CALL (at approximately 9:35 a.m. - that's right, a tease of 35 minutes of freedom). Grace was throwing up at school.

My beautiful, perfect day was suddenly gone.

Julie Garwood lost out to chicken noodle soup and laundry. The couch was turned into a "sick bed" with a large bowl on the side for the patient to toss her goods into. It's 9:00 p.m. and I still haven't had time to change into those fuzzy jammies.

I guess in 17 years when Finn heads off to college Ms. Garwood and I will make up for lost time. Truth is, when those days come I'll probably be wishing for a day when I could to hold both my kids in my arms and know that all they wanted was their Mama.

Here are a couple pics of my "made with love by Grace" shirt. I guess all that Project Runway watching really is paying off...