Fred the Dog

Several weeks ago, Camden came home from school with a piece of paper informing us that he had a poetry project due in 3 weeks which included him reciting a poem by memory in front of his class as well as have a prop for the poem. There was a grading rubric for the poem which included his preparedness, his prop, eye contact with his audience, proper uses of pauses in the poem, and several others. He chose the poem entitled, 'My Dog Fred'. We worked memorizing the poem almost daily until he had it down. Once he had it memorized we worked on his delivery of the poem and I gave him tips on how not to be nervous, as him getting up in front of the class and being the center of attention was going to be a struggle for him.

When asked what kind of prop he wanted, he knew he wanted to make a dog of some sort, but he wasn't completely sure as to how he was going to go about that. So we searched Pinterest and looked at different ideas. There was the paper bag puppet dog we could make, or a dog out of a wash cloth, or we could be a bit more artsy and make a paper mache dog. So after looking at all of his choices, he chose the project that would take the longest, but struck his fancy due to the artsy aspect of it. He, of course, went with a paper mache dog.

After several weekend of piecing the dog together we finally have a finished product today. Meet Fred.

Growing Up

Today, this happened and I just can't get used to it.

Camden has been asking us when he no longer had to sit in a booster seat, and truth be known, due to his height and weight, he could have been out of the seat sooner than today, But he has these things, called over protective parents, who just couldn't seem to let it go. Can I tell you, he is one happy boy!!

Snow Day - Take 2

We hardly ever get snow in our parts so we were quite shocked when we got snow, yet again - the second time in over a month. Craziness!!! School was called this time as there was ice on the roads, and as the past has proven, we Texans don't know how to drive on ice!!! So we spent the majority of our day inside trying to stay warm while watching ice and snow fall through out the day.

Once a small amount of snow stuck to the ground, the boys were begging to go outside. As much as I hate to freeze, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to let them play in what little snow there was.
 

"Mom, take a picture of me with snow on my face!"
Obviously he had been eating snow, but then realized
just how cold it was on his face. 

Basketball Has Begun

Basketball season is upon us and this year we have TWO basketball players in the house. The boys actually had their first game the day we celebrated Grandma's 100th birthday, so while it was game #2 of their season, for them it was their first game.

Casen played first and what an enjoyable game to watch. Let me tell you, that boy is focused when he plays. It is so fun watching him and the determination on his face. And when it comes to defending - let me tell you, he can defend. He puffs out his chest and gets all up in his opponents face. It is sooo much fun watching him!

This was Camden's third year to play and OH MY GOSH, can I tell you, he has changed soooooo much since last year!!! In the past, Camden has played a bit timid and not very aggressive at all. It was obvious to us (as his parents) that in the past he was nervous/anxious by the way he carried himself. Unfortunately, he was letting his anxiety define how he played. Today was a completely different story. He was on his opponent while playing defense, made baskets and looked like he belonged on the court. I loved watching every minute of him playing because it appeared to me that his anxiety was finally under control, something both he and I have been praying for for him. What a blessing!!!!

Once we got home, Shane was loving on Camden and telling him what an awesome job he had done and he asked Camden what had changed for him. Camden's response was, "I told myself I was going to go out there and own that court!!!" And own it, he did! I am sooooo grateful that something has finally clicked in him to help him keep his anxiety under control while doing something he loves.

Christmas Break

This year, our Christmas break started on December 23rd, which meant Christmas was right at the beginning of our break. While a lot of people were not excited with the way our school calendar fell, we welcomed the time we would have after all the Christmas celebrations. We started out our Christmas by celebrating with the Hood side of the family at Shane's sister's house on Christmas eve.

After celebrating in Sugarland, we headed back home and got ready for Santa and his Reindeer to visit our house. Of course nicely decorated sugar cookies and milk for Santa and Reindeer food for his sled pullers.

I guess everyone was good this year because Santa ended up stopping at our house on Christmas morning and brought the boys exactly what they asked for.

Headed down to see what
Santa brought them

Wow!!!!

Someone was really excited about his yellow
watch

Camden has been asking for a
'big boy towel' since (I am embarrassed
to say) they still use hooded towels

A pencil sharpener to put on his new desk

Mollie had to be in the middle
of it all

Casen's gifts he made at school which I treasure so much!

Camden's awesome gifts he made for us.

Camden now has his 'office' in his closet

We had fun putting together Legos in his 'office'

Obligatory family photo on Christmas

My parents went and visited Grandma Christmas morning to celebrate her 100th birthday and Christmas with her prior to arriving at our home sometime after lunch. I absolutely love this picture my mom took of Grandma and two of her boys. Can I tell you, I just love my family!!!! And Grandma looks as beautiful as ever, and in my opinion does not look 100 at all!! I hope her aging genes were passed on to me!

We celebrated with the Key side of the family on the 26th, but unfortunately my sister came down with the flu on Christmas Eve so was in bed for all of the Christmas celebrations. We were supposed to have Christmas at her house, but since we were all trying to avoid her like the plague (sorry Melissa) we had Christmas here at our house. We had a great meal that was group effort between Shawn and my mom.

Dad getting beat my Casen in Connect Four

It is a tradition that Melissa and I both give our nephews a 'nice' Christmas ornament each year as our great Aunt Maxine did for us growing up. We both decorate our trees with the ornaments we received each year and treasure them. Our hope is that our boys (or their wives) will also treasure the ornaments they receive throughout their child hood.

Yes, it is crazy, but I asked for logs for Christmas. They were EXACTLY what I wanted!

Just as my sister and I received an ornament from our great Aunt Maxine each year, my mother also received an ornament from her. For years, it was a candy cane from the Wallace collection that she received since they started (back in the 80's). After my Aunt Maxine's death, Melissa and I made sure mom continued to receive the candy cane ornament. There was one year my mom did not receive the ornament as Aunt Maxine's husband, Uncle Johnny, had passed around the holidays and she never made it out to buy the ornaments.  This year I was able to track down the ornament from 1986 that mom never received. Now her candy cane tree will be complete. 

I asked my sister for pictures from her camera that Mason took for her since she was unable to celebrate with us. I found these two gems. :)

Mason's beautiful girlfriend, Kelsi

Mason's GQ pose 

While we were out on Christmas break, we took the boys to see the new Star Wars movie, The Last Jedi. It was the boys fist time to see a movie in 3D.

Every year it is a tradition for us to decorate a gingerbread house. This year, between sports and Christmas being at the very beginning of our break, we did not get our gingerbread house decorated until after Christmas. Regardless, we still had fun and it is fun watching the boys creativity at work.

  

The finished project

 We had a great Christmas break and enjoyed all our time together.