Dinosaur Valley State Park

Back in July we went to Dinosaur Valley State Park and had a blast!!  We didn't have enough time to take everything in and are definetly planning on returning again.  There was so much to do and see that we can't list everything.   Tristan even got to come along with us.  It was so much fun having him along!  Here is a slideshow of all the fun!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

 

We did visit the nearby Creation Evidence Museum and we even got to hear a lecture on Intelligent Design about "Horses". This was right up my kids alley as Brogan and Christian love horses. It was a very interesting place with lots of great displays. It rained on us most of the time we were there. The first day we didn't find many tracks and had planned on going to look again in the following days but the rain started and when it did it didn't let up. The next few days we couldn't see any tracks because the river was flowing like mad. We went to a talk about the dinosaurs that are thought to have travelled across Texas and that was really neat for the kids since they could link the tracks they were seeing to actual dinosaurs that walked through here.  We can't wait to go back to see more!

 

{Yes, I am just now getting this one up.  It took me forever to get it downloaded then uploaded because of our internet connection but I promised myself I would get it done before the end of the year and I did.  Yeah ME!!}

Happy 36th Anniversary!

Today is my parent's 36th wedding anniversary.  They dated for four years before they married and are still the perfect couple.  They are even better parents.  We love you Mom and miss you so much Dad! 

We know that Dad would have taken her to Whataburger for dinner so that is the plan. We have 3 dozen roses being delivered and are going to surprise her by coming down and taking her to Whataburger.

(Mom, hope you are not checking this today or the surprise is a bust.)

Caddo Lake State Park

We went to Caddo Lake State Park back in August and had a great time.  There wasn't a whole lot to do there but we had fun just hanging out and taking in the town.  We also learned a lot about bats, the kids had a blast riding their bikes around the circle that we were on and we took an hour long tour of the lake which was very neat.  I am just now getting the pictures up but they are well worth the wait!

 

Make a Smilebox photobook

Dad's Bench

A bench was placed on the Kemah Boardwalk in Kemah, Texas in honor of my dad.  We were very surprised and overwhelmed as we never expected something like this.  My dad was a great man and this is just a small rememberance of him by just some of those that knew him and worked with him.  We love you Daddy.  And we miss you greatly.

Thanks Jennifer and Aunt Tina for the idea and getting the bowl rolling for this.  You gals are great!  We love you!

Duck Hunting

While Joshua and Jeremy were down in Matagorda they did some duck hunting along with fishing.  Here are the pictures from the duck hunting that they did.  It was Joshua's first time to duck hunt and he is ready to go back again!

Make a Smilebox collage

Christian's Birthday Party

Christian had his first birthday party with friends and had a blast.  Even though I am just now getting around to posting them, here are some random pictures...

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Make a Smilebox photobook

Bike Party

Christian went to a friend's party and the theme was a "Bike Party".  This was such a great idea!  The kids had a blast simply riding their bikes around the parking lot of the church and through a simple obstacle course that the parent's made.  It was so much fun and no hassle or preparation.  Did I already say that it was a great idea?!! 

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Christian decorated his bike for the party and he wanted a Star Wars theme.  By the time his bike was finished it had more of an alien appeal but he loved it and it got rave reviews at the party.  Everyone got in on the decorating so it turned out to be a family affair which was quite cool!

Winterfest

Christian went with his friend, AJ, and his family to the Winterfest that was put on by the city of Huntsville this year.  It was the first year for it and they had a great turnout.  There was real snow, a train to ride around the square, arts and crafts and food and they showed the movie "The Polar Express".  AJ's mom was nice enough to take some pictures for me since Christian didn't want me to tag along.  Thanks Cristy!

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Great Homeschool Savings

For those of you Homeschoolers out there I wanted to share one of my favorite resources: 

The Homeschool Store and Old Schoolhouse Magazine

The articles in the magazine are both encouraging and informative and the Homeschool Store has some great buys.  I love their Ebooks and Unit Studies and have found some great Literature sources that work for Bible as well.  I have used them for all ages and highly encourage you to check them out.  They have some great deals going on right now until the end of the year so read below for more information...

Going . . . going . . . almost gone!

(link: http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=175)

The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine is saying good-bye to their $7.95 subscription price (one year, U.S.) and international sale prices of 40% off at midnight on December 31, 2009. There is still time to treat yourself or share the gift of homeschool encouragement with your family and friends.

Receive 4 issues of The Old Schoolhouse® Magazine RIGHT NOW for only $7.95 (U.S.)! That is less than $2 per issue. Canadian and international subscribers save 40%! Your subscription will start with the Spring 2010 issue. This includes one-year gift subscriptions!

Order the one-year plus current issue option and enjoy the Winter issue in January 2010 for only $12.95 (U.S.)!

Plus, new and renewing U.S. subscribers receive bonus gifts!

Get all of the details here.

link: http://www.thehomeschoolmagazine.com/Homeschooling/Almost-Gone.htm

Hurry! December 31 is the deadline for the sale prices!

(link: http://www.theoldschoolhousestore.com/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=175)

Hurry and check them out today!  I'm glad I did!!

Christian and His Buddies

Christian has gotten to the age where he loves having friends come over to play and spend the night.  Here are a few pictures of him and his friends...

AJ and Christian

AJ, Christian and Zach

Christian and Matthew

Goliath: By Codey

...Codey took some pictures of Goliath so here they are...

Christmas Cookie Class

Brogan took another cookie class at The Wynne Home this month.  This time it was a holiday theme and they made cookies, cards and simple gifts.  Here are a few of the things she came home with.  She had so much fun! 

Rylen

As I was organizing pictures I found these cute ones of Rylen so I thought I would share them.  He is such a ham and loves helping out and having his picture taken.

Here he is helping sweep the patio.

Here he is on his Christmas present from his Grandma.  She sent the kids money and he actually picked this out as we were going by it.  He said "I want that!" and pointed to it.  When I asked him if this is what he wanted he said "YES, MOM!"

Friday Fun

A few Fridays each month we get together with some friends so the kids can play.  Here are some pictures of the last couple of times that they have been over to our house.  The kids have so much fun!

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Oysters

While we were down in Kemah to see my dad's bench we ate at Landry's Seafood.  My brother ordered raw oysters and Brogan said she wanted to try one.  She actually ate one!  Would have never thought I would see that happen but here she is...

Make a Smilebox collage

Christmas Eve...A Day Of Service

Over the past couple of years we have tried to talk with our kids about the need to serve and give to others daily and with an extra emphasis at Christmas.  This is of course, the time of year when God sent his only Son to Earth, and he came in an act of service, to serve...you and me!  While we try to make this a part of our everyday routine it can sometimes be hard, especially in this day and age when everything is "me, me, me" and instantaneous.  Every year we make shoebox gifts for Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child.  While this has been fun and the kids enjoy doing it we want to make sure we are putting ourselves out there to experience service in many diefferent aspects.  The past few years we have done different things in passive forms for others during this time of year.  This year we thought we would step out a little and actually serve in some way.  With a little help from our friends we were able to do just that...step out and serve others.  This year on Christmas Eve we went to downtown Houston to serve homeless men and women breakfast and spread a little Christmas cheer.  We made snacks to hand out and gave out Bibles to those that wanted one.  There were about 250 men and women that came through and we handed out all 150 of our Bibles and had snacks leftover to give to others on Christmas Day.  Our kids were real troopers as they were woken up at 4:45 am for the day's activities and drive down to Houston. They jumped in and helped in any area that they were asked to.  It was very rewarding for us all!  We can't wait to see how we can serve in the upcoming year!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Snoozing

I caught Christian snoozing the other day and couldn't resist grabbing a shot.  He was so tuckered out that one minute he was talking and the next he was...

Merry Christmas From Winston Manor!!

Merry Christmas to all of our family and friends!  We love each of you!

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Christmas Eve Pajamas

Every Christmas Eve as a kid since I can remember my brother, sister and I got to open one present on Christmas Eve.  We were always so excited to open that one present and it never failed that one present was always a new pair of pajamas.  My mom wanted us to look nice and neat for pictures the next morning and what better way then to make sure we had new pjs to fit the bill.  I have continued that tradition on with my kids and like me, even though they know what their present is going to be, they are always excited to open their new pjs on Christmas Eve.  It is so funny now because for weeks leading up to that night they will ask a series of questions to see if they can figure out what kind they are going to get.  They have yet to guess!

Here are their new pajamas!

Yes, they coordinate this year...

we are having family pictures taken in our pajamas next week!

Christmas Eve Crown Cake

Most people leave Santa milk and cookies on Christmas Eve and we have done that too but, last year we started a new tradition by making Santa a cake that resembled a King's crown.  We thought that it would be a good idea to remind Santa about the true meaning of CHRISTmas by leaving a him a cake meant for a King.  Now, each year we make a cake and the kids decorate it with icing, ice cream cones and candy.  Santa gets a reminder of what the holiday is all about as well as some yummy cake and milk, and the kids get a yummy breakfast of leftover cake the next morning as we celebrate Jesus' birthday.

New Tradition...Ornaments

I was shopping for an ornament for two different Ornament Exchanges that I participated in this year and while we were there the kids and I decided that we would start a new tradition this year of painting a different ornament each year for our tree.  What helped to prompt this was when Brogan was decorating the tree this year and noticed that Christian, Rylen and herself had far fewer ornamnets than Joshua and Codey did.  Codey chalked it up to they were just older and had done more while they were in preschool.  And, while this is partly true, the whole story is that when Joshua and Codey were bron I decided I would buy them each an ornament every year and this way when they left the house to go out on their own they would have ornaments for their own tree.  While this is a great idea, as we had more children I didn't have the time or the funds always to purchase ornaments for ech of them so the tradition came to a hault.  This year it was revitalized!  We decided at the store we would purchase one type of ceramic ornament each year and paint them together.  This way every year was commemorated with the same ornament but everyone would decorate it to represent themselves.  This was a great idea so here are our bells to start our new tradition...

I can't wait to see what the years bring with this new tradition!

Gingerbread Houses

Every year a good friend of ours hosts a Gingerbread House Decorating Party.  Last year we all did one together but this year each child got their own gingerbread house to decorate and take home with them.  This year Christian, Brogan and Codey decorated houses and each had their own unique techniques and style.  They had so much fun!  Thanks Mrs. Shannon!!

Christian and his finished house...

Christian and his "Best Buddy", Mrs. Shannon...

Codey at work on his house...

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And with his finished project...

Brogan at work on her house with her friend Mallory...

and with her Daddy helping also.

Brogan and her finished house...