Our Sweet Boys: 2009

Time With Dad

Reading Bedtime Books

The "Raisin Man" is serving chocolate covered raisins to dad for an afternoon snack.

(Notice the lid on his head)

Attempting to pull dad of the couch with a rope:)

Hillcrest Baptist Church Children's Choirs

On Wednesday nights during the school year you can find us at church involved in choir. The twins sang several Christmas songs one Sunday night and then Connor's 1st-2nd grade choir put on a mini-musical. It had a cowboy theme and turned out really cute. Connor had a few speaking parts and did really well. I think he had a good time plus he got a new pair of boots that he was really excited about:)

Connor...3rd person from the left.

Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow

The one day it snowed in Texas the boys were glued to the couch peering out looking at the snow fall from the sky. It only lasted an hour or less, but now they can at least say they saw snow this year!

5 Hunters

Thanksgiving weekend Doug and Connor were planning on going to the deer lease by themselves until they got a wild hair that maybe the entire family should go! What had I gotten myself into? The twins were so excited to finally be accepted as big enough to go to the deer lease. I put my foot down and said I would only go if I got to do a little shopping on Black Friday morning and we would be driving the suburban to the Abilene area. Doug happily obliged and so it was set and off we went. As soon as we arrived it was time for the evening hunt. Our friends from church, the Meek family, was there so Grant decided to hang out with them while the rest of us went to Doug's part of the lease. I sat in the stand for hours and didn't see a darn thing! Doug sat back playing games on his phone and Connor and Preston watched movies on their new portable DVD players. I asked Doug if this was really all it was cracked up to be and he just laughed at me. Before we went to bed we all climbed into Jason's truck (the kids filled up the back) and went spot lighting and animal calling. We saw about 7 deer and that was it. I quess that explains why Doug is shooting anything! Overall, we had a great time other than the last day Preston realized that there wasn't a "Flusher" in the bathroom. The bathroom consists of a box with a hole in the side that you walk into and it has a bucket underneath a handicap potty chair. Jason Meek was so surprised that I would actually use the thing and not complain, but I do have another side to me that not many people know about.

Doug and I looking for anything to shoot.

Preston sat there for 2+ hours and didn't make a peep. Doug and I wouldn't have believed it had we not been there.

Hunting is hard work. The twins slept together in the queen size bed in our trailer while I slept on the floor...I still don't know how that happened!

Before we left everyone did some target practice...even the lil' boys!
Grant is getting help from Shelby Meek.

Hannah Meek shot a deer before we arrived. This was the head of the deer that she was going to take home to prove what she shot in case they were stopped on the way home. The twins were fascinated by this so much that they couldn't keep their hands off the thing. They poked its eyes with their fingers and we had an anatomy lesson of the cut neck.

Hunter Meek and Connor

Connor shooting a 22.

Preston with his earmuffs to silence the noise of the guns and his big wad of gum!

I got a lesson by officer Meek on how to hold Doug's gun we keep around the house. This is the gun that I am suppose to shoot if Doug is gone and I need to protect the family...nice thought:) They were all so surprised that I could hit a small can about 50 feet away without a problem. Jason kept telling Doug, "Do you see this!"

Preston getting a lesson from daddy.

Grant's turn

I am ready to go back...just as long as it is warm!

The Changing Of Hangers

Who thought that changing out hangers from toddler to grown-up ones would be such a big deal, but...IT IS! Connor has officially hit the point that his clothes won't stay on the hangers that well unless it is a big person hanger. I guess it makes me so sad just because it is making me realize he is growing up whether I like it or not.

Thanksgving With The Kearney's

On Thanksgiving Day we went to my Grandmother's house to celebrate with my mom's family. This was the first year to celebrate without my Granddaddy. The only tough part of the entire day was standing around waiting for the prayer to be said. Granddaddy ALWAYS said the prayer and so as we waited my dad was given the go ahead to pray. By the time the prayer was completed multiple people were sobbing...all I did was go straight to my Grandmother and give her a big hug. The boys had a blast playing with the neighbor kids in the leaves out front. Typically I wouldn't let them play in that neighborhood in the front yard, but that was the only place with all the leaves. After playing we laid down to rest for an hour while the adults watched the Cowboys play on TV and then the kids rounded out the day decorating turkey cupcakes.

Preston

Grant

Connor trying to rake up another pile of leaves for the boys to jump into.

Connor

I looked out the door and Connor was sharing cookies with the two (black) neighbor boys. I hate to call out their color, but it just explains the pic.

Preston sneaking cool whip before I called him out:)

Uh-oh...

Making turkeys

Honey helping Grant pipe some icing.

He worked so hard on that lil' turkey.

Preston counting out his candy corns.

A finished product:)

Thanks Honey for the sweet treats!

Thanksgiving With The Black Family

This year we celebrated Thanksgiving with Doug's family on the Wednesday afternoon/evening before the big day. We didn't do the traditional meal because everyone always seems to be tired of turkey or ham so we had taco soup. It was so yummy and we finished it off with pumpkin roll and sopapilla cheesecake:) This year we had our celebration at Uncle Philip and Aunt Kristie's house. They were running last minute errands so when we got there we couldn't get in...until Uncle Doug broke into the house! The first pic is Doug letting all the kids crawl through the window to go unlock the door for me.

Cousins...Anna and Preston

Preston and Doug were getting some cuddle time with "Sweet Garin."

When it came time to leave it was amazing how we couldn't find any kids....hehe. They were hiding under Anna's bunk bed giggling away.

I told Preston to put his shoes on and he came out in Anna's dress-up high heels!

We all headed to the car...even the dog that Doug loves...I had no where to sit until we convinced the dog she was staying at Uncle Phil's house.

Two Sweet Brothers

One sleepy Preston + One loving Connor = Two of the sweetest brothers:)

Our Fairly Nerdy Son

Connor was awarded the second six weeks of school with the "Fairness" Award for his class. Apparently he was picked by his teacher for this recognition and was honored with cookies by the assistant principal. One person was picked from each class...GO CONNOR!

A different day the entire school dressed up like nerds for a day devoted to science experiments. This is the only pic Connor would let me take of him before he left for school. By the end of the day the hat and goggles were off and he wouldn't even let his Honey see him.

Luke Zebreski's Birthday Party

Our friends middle child celebrated his birthday recently with a military theme. Upon arrival the boys were decked out in camo bandannas and face make-up if they wanted it. We had 2 out of 3 takers on the make-up. We were served hot dogs and cake and the boys played capture the flag for probably a good hour.

Getting ready to take off for capture the flag.

Doug and Mr. Martin were the leaders of each team. Martin's team was chasing Doug:)

Grant wasn't so excited about playing because he couldn't be on Preston's team.

He had us cracking up because he was being so dramatic.

Connor showing off his war paint.

Grant took a pic of Doug and I.

Before we left for the night this is where we found Preston. He loves playing dolls with his friend, Olivia. We visit them often and this is where he always ends up. I think it makes Olivia's day too:)

Mt. Lebanon Baptist Encampment

Mt. Lebanon is home away from home for Doug and I. That is the place that we met in the summer of 1993. We both have spent many years out there working on summer staff as a lifeguard, food server, craft person, and nurse. My Sunday School class has a yearly camp out for anyone that is willing to go pitch a tent and rough it for one night. We were able to get an area of camp that was right next to a "flushable commode" which surprisingly isn't so important to me, but for the boys:) We had the time of our life! We arrived right before sunset on a Friday and got our tent up before it got to dark. The boys checked in periodically, but for the most part were totally on their own. We cooked out on propane hot plates and had a campfire to cook s'mores! We took a hike to Inspiration Point which is an area of camp that looks out over Dallas and Tarrant county and at night it is breathtaking. On the 1+ mile hike to the point the "Old Doug" came out...hehe. He took a shortcut along with two other men, Grant, and myself in order to scare the rest of the group when they got around a bend in the road. It didn't work as we had planned because someone spot lighted Grant hiding behind a tree and he totally acted like the light had taken him in and walked away from us and never looked back. We were trying to control the laughter. On the way back down Grant road my back and fell asleep...he slowly slid down my back which made it even harder to walk. Preston was carried down by Ms. Keri and at the end of the walk complained that his legs that he wasn't even using hurt so that is when Keri got tickled and put him down to walk the last 50 feet by himself. That is just one of many storied that I could go on and on about. We can't wait to go back next year!

Grant helping dad drive from the cafeteria to get ice back to camp.

These are the steps around the hotel at camp where Doug first kissed me in 1993:)

Connor cooking a marshmallow for Grant.

I don't think he liked his marshmallow at all!

Part of the group around the eating area.

The 30? something kids around the campfire at Inspiration Point.

My 3 sons at Inspiration Point

This is where Preston collapsed after the hike (on the dirt path in Doug's coat) and decided that he was fine sleeping there all night. Needless to say, He went to bed right after this pic!