Organizing "old" Stuff ~ 11-16-11

When my grandmother on my dad's side of the family passed away I accumulated quite a bit of stuff. Some of it was crafts, other stuff was nick-nacks, other was stuff I thought I might need when I set up house.

To be quite honest most of the stuff has just sat in boxes. Our neighborhood has a garage sale twice a year but it's finding the time in between garage sales to go through stuff while still having a place to put it that is out of the way and not in the middle of the garage that Michael desperately wants a "Man cave" built into.

At any rate, over Thanksgiving break I decided that I needed to check off some things on the proverbial to-do list. So, I tackled the craft stuff in my closet.

The sewing basket was Mama's basket. It held a variety of stuff from thread, sewing patters, zippers, pictures, receipts, and even a band medal from when I was in junior high!

It was therapeutic going through all the stuff. Brought back some memories and hopefully one day I will find the time to put some of the craft stuff to use.

 Cameron peeking into the sewing box, trying to stay out of the way. It was in a cardboard box because it's so old that it has rust on the bottom and who wants that to get anywhere?!?

Chicken and more chicken ~ 11-8-11

We found a great company, Zaycon. They sell chicken, ground beef, and a few other items that you can purchase in bulk. The chicken and beef come in 40 lb boxes. While it's a lot of chicken or beef, I have been splitting it with some friends and it is great. The food is delicious.

Now if I can just find time to cook it up!

The boys LOVE to help and they are always in the middle of things to "help."

Birthday Party Fun ~ 11-5-11

A friend's daughter had her birthday party at a nearby park. We dropped by and had a great time.

 

Braydon had a great time with his freedom at the 

park. He was acting like such a big boy.

 

 

Cameron acting silly and making Braydon laugh.

Braydon would NOT walk over this little rubber mat from the sidewalk to the play area. It was pretty funny.

The gravel pathway...Braydon walked just fine over the walkway as we hurried to take Cameron to the rather gross bathroom. BUT on the way back to the playground Braydon would NOT walk over the gravel pathway. Man that kid has some strange quirks. :)

Cameron enjoying the bounce house before it got too dark and we headed home.

Happy Halloween ~ 10-31-11

This year was the first year Cameron really got into Halloween. Cameron was a firefighter and Braydon was a football player. Not far fetched for either of them!

 Candy before we even got out of the house!

 First trick or treat of the evening!

 Trying to tackle the pumpkins after trick or treating.

 Checking out the loot.

 Braydon running away with some candy because we told him it was bed time.

 My beautiful boys!

So behind... ~ 4-26-12

Ever feel like you are so far behind that you will NEVER catch up? Well, that is how I feel right now. I've been swamped with work and my graduate school (more on that soon).

I've been having to write EVERYTHING down just so I remember I have to do them. It's pretty ridiculous, but necessary.

Well, until I can get caught up, know that we are busy with life and will get caught up...SOME DAY...Slowly but surely.

Pumpkin Carving ~ 10-29-11

With 2 days to go until Halloween we figured we better get to carving the pumpkins.

 Cameron usually wants no part of being dirty, especially his hands. But he was all for it with Daddy carving the pumpkins.

 Oooey, Gooey

 So intent on getting it done right.

 We researched and decided on a bat and a pumpkin with a bat.

Pumpkin Picking ~ 10-28-11

3 days before Halloween and we figured it was time to pick some pumpkins. So we went to the local nursery. It would have been more fun if we had a local pumpkin patch.

 Everyone

 playing

 and

 then

a booboo!

 Braydon fell on the concrete and hit his head. He didn't even hit it very hard, but an egg popped out on his head almost immediately! Poor thing.

 But that didn't slow him down at all.

Spooky Mummy ~ 10-23-11

 Uncle Matthew was nice to bring Halloween goodies to Cameron from him and Aunt Christa. When we got home we tried out the mummy among the other goodies.

Cowboys game, here the brothers come! ~ 10-23-11

After a late evening of waiting up for Taco Bell and the boys to get back with the goodies 

for their trip to the Cowboys game, the boys were ready for the day.

 We had a loft hotel room. While no one slept upstairs, the boys had a blast going up and down the stairs.

 Unfortunately, the boys had some snotty noses and runny eyes, but we made the 

most of it and they were in pretty good spirits.

We had some fun and spent some energy on the balcony. 

Isn't he cute?!? He looks like such a big boy. 

 Cameron holding his container he got from his crazy get-up with Papa.

 Braydon looking spiffy!

 We were in room 724, our anniversary date.

 And Nana and Papa were in 512, the area code for San Marcos & Austin where 

Michael and I started dating and spent a few important years of our life.

 Matthew practicing his throwing!

 The boys ready to head to the Cowboys game at the new stadium.

 The Payne's

The boys and I made our way home to get ready for the week. 
Meanwhile, the guys had a great time at the game. The shook hands with Jerry Jones and with several players in the tunnel before the game and at half-time. They hung out in the Miller Lite lounge which is right behind the Cowboys sidelines.

State Fair of Texas, Part 2 ~ 10-22-11

After lunch we  went to the Butterfly garden. Butterflies remind me of my mom and 

it was special to be able to visit the garden.

 On the grounds they had some beautiful flowers and relaxing spots.

 Then Gary gets the idea to pose with Cameron in a funny get-up.

 In the garden, Braydon was in awe of the butterflies.

 Cameron and Braydon sitting pretty.

 Braydon decided rather than walking up the stairs he would crawl up them.

Beautiful butterfly and frog art we saw after leaving the butterfly garden.

 Braydon couldn't take it any longer.

 Cameron trying out a truck.

 A trip to the State Fair wouldn't be complete without seeing Big Tex.

 Michael and Cameron trying out the remote control cars in the Toyota tent.

 Next we went to the Dodge area where Cameron tried his had at roping a calf.

 The guy operating the calf roping payed us the ultimate compliment as parents. He said that Cameron was the ONLY kid all day to be polite and say thank you. He said he had seen hundreds of kids. It made us proud and it is hopefully just the beginning of how far his manners take him.

 We just had to see this year's butter sculpture. Yep, I said butter. 

It was about 20 feet long and had life-size animals and people.

 We found this cool old phone booth and Michael had to have his fun with it.

 One of the last events of the evening was a pig show. 

Another big pig but had nothing on big momma from earlier in the day.

 And then there were the little piglets that raced around the track and squealed.

And then we had this piglet that started his bid imitation when he wanted something to eat 

that someone else had. Too funny that we all cracked up laughing.

To top off the evening Cameron got some old-fashioned rock candy. 

And or course he got his favorite color, purple!