Merry Christmas

We wish you a Merry Christmas. We wish you a Merry Christmas.

We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Santa Claus

Brenna & Cameron are snuggled up in bed, eagerly awaiting the return of Santa Claus to our home tonight.

Despite a late night out at Nana & Papa's, Brenna could not get ready for bed until she set out peanut brittle and milk for Santa. She even wrote him a note that says, "Sit down and eat Santa. P.S. Do not forget to put the presents down."

Catching up...

You know what's hard about blogging? On the All Things Kelly blog, I have to sort through 400 photographs, and I have to look at them and be choosy which ones to share. Because no one wants to look at every single photo (except me), and then I resize the photos and place them in the blog. And if you want to blog about all the cute things and events, then you have to make time... and we're so busy living it up that I'm too tired at night to blog each and every event!

Of course on the Sound Mind and Spirit blog, it's a different ballgame. That one is about the content. We have plenty to say, we just are busy with work and home life that it's difficult to find time to write what's in our head, review it, make corrections, rewrite, edit, etc.

For here, the events I've not reported include: Thanksgiving, Texas Rennaissance Festival, Brenna... being Brenna, the fact that it snowed (lightly) for a second year in a row, that Brenna and Cameron have both lost teeth, that Cameron did another altar serving at church (and was so adorable, I really want to write about it), we had a luncheon with Nana & all the girls for Christmas, we took our family Christmas photo, saw Santa Claus, and Cameron sang in her school choir concert.

So if I do get around to it, I'll post a few more photos before the end of the year. But it might not be tonight - because Cameron is having a sleepover and tomorrow is grocery store / baking, cooking day for Christmas Eve, and I promised Lisa that I would get my Christmas Eve blog post written and posted for Sound Mind and Spirit tomorrow and I mean to do it!!!

The Outlaws

Earlier this year, Bryan, Brian, and Leah signed up to run the San Antonio Rock-n-Roll Half-Marathon. Calling themselves The Outlaws, they trained and prepared to run 13.1 miles through downtown San Antonio on a cool November morning.

While the guys drove in early for the Expo, Lisa and I brought the kids up on Saturday evening and shared a hotel room. Five kids, cousins, can be a little hectic and very loud. We planned sleeping arrangements carefully, thinking that the kids would fight over who had to sleep on the floor. Instead, they fought over who got to sleep on the floor. In a moment of inspiration, I told them that whichever two behaved themselves best at dinner and after would get the honor of sleeping on the floor in sleeping bags. It worked better than I could have predicted. One word or look from me and any hint of misbehaving instantly corrected itself. In the end I couldn't honestly say that anyone had misbehaved, so I folded up the couch, stood the rollaway bed in the corner and announced that all five could sleep on the floor.

Understandably there was a little bit of excitement as everyone took their place and tried to settle down. I let them read and whisper for a little while, but when it was time for sleep, they would be quiet. I told them that the rollaway bed wasn't in the hallway, and if I came out from taking my shower and they weren't quiet and/or asleep, then I was going to make everyone get off the floor and crowd into the beds.

Lisa told me that they tried really hard, but kept getting excited while I was in the shower. However, the instant that the shower water cut off - BOOM - everyone immediately went still. Sure enough when I came out of the bathroom, Brenna, Daniel and Laurie were asleep while Cameron and Ashley just looked at me with silent big eyes.

The next morning by 7:20 a.m. we were in position at Alamo Plaza in front of the Menger Hotel waiting for the runners. The race officially began at 7:30 but it was after 8 a.m. before we received a text message that Bryan, Brian, and Leah had left their corral and crossed the starting line.

Brian and Leah passed us at mile 2 and a few minutes later, Bryan came running by. Despite the crowds lining the roads, I think we were pretty hard to miss.

We found Pat & Bob, who were there cheering for both of their sons, and also met up with David & Alex, who were cheering Leah & Sarah. We saw the runners again just after mile marker 8 and then made our way to the home stretch and the finish line. Lisa & David figured that Brian & Leah had already passed mile 12, so they went to the Alamodome. I took the girls and staked out a spot to wait along the street.

Bryan ran by about twenty minutes later and looked very happy to see us there. His hip, which would later be diagnosed with moderate osteoarthritis, was really bothering him. After he passed we walked over to the Alamodome, but couldn't see him cross the finish line. We could only gather in the family reunion area and wait for the runners to come to us.

Even though Leah crossed the finish line first, Brian found us before her. Leah followed shortly, and then Sarah.

Bryan came up and found us about twenty to thirty minutes after he crossed the finish line.

We were really proud of him for finishing his second half-marathon. Congratulations to all our our "Outlaws!"

Wings Over Houston

(Still updating)

Even though we can see the planes flying overhead, we decided that we just couldn't miss this year's Wings Over Houston airshow with the Blue Angels! The Blue Angels haven't flown in a Houston airshow since before 2001. Both girls love the airshow, they've been two or three times since we moved here. One of my favorite memories of Brenna is she was about 14 mos old holding onto those big ear protectors, big eyes and pointing at the planes. Cameron still hates the roar of the jet engines, but likes viewing the static displays.

We started with the most common aircraft seen over our house, not a commercial 737, but the NASA trainer T-38. You can see these planes flying overhead daily.

We walked around looking at various aircraft both on the ground and overhead. The P-38 from this years Heritage Flight is Glacier Gal, rescued in 1992 from the ice cap in Greenland where it crashed fifty years before.

We stood in line to tour the C-130 used by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, more commonly called the "Hurricane Hunters." Wouldn't you know that the Tora Tora Tora WWII bombing demonstration started (and ended) while we were inside the plane. Brenna and I darted outside twice to get a look at the Mustangs and the pryotechnics.

This particular plane flew into Hurricane Katrina. They had a list of all the storms they've flown printed inside by the weather station.

Brenna bought a small metal airplane toy with her own money and could be found during various parts of the show mimicking some of the aerial maneuvers.

The Blue Angels were amazing. I would say this was the first time we saw them fly, except we saw them from the highway the previous weekend when we were in Ft. Worth!

After the Blue Angels flew, we figured we could sit in the parking lot trying to get out for an hour, or we could walk around for another hour. We were able to see the Blue Angels land and the pilots come over to the fence line to sign autographs.

The pilots stayed in one place and let the people crush each other trying to get an autograph. We only did a few, because it was a bit crazy. I wonder if the pilots think the hardest part of the job is signing autographs and meeting people. They were such professionals. Over and over guests said Thank You, and many had stories to tell them "My dad was a pilot for such and such unit..." If the guest was a veteran, the pilot always made it a point to tell them Thank you for your service.

We were pretty tired at the end of the day, but really happy. The United States has one amazing and impressive cadre of airmen/women and aircraft!

Pumpkin Decorating

Both girls wanted to decorate pumpkins for the school contest this year. Last year, Brenna won first place with her incredibly simple design called "Mom didn't want to do anything." This year they both put a little more work and thought into their designs.

Cameron found this idea in a magazine. The original idea called for carving the larger pumpkin with an open mouth and skewering the smaller pumpkins. Unfortunately, no carving is allowed for the school display. So she had to improvise.

I don't remember where Brenna got the idea to do Peas in a Pod, but it came out really cute. Both girls did 90% of the work by themselves with minimal help from Bryan and I.

Neither of them won, but they had a lot of fun.

Dinosaur Valley State Park

I'm taking some time tonight to play catch-up on a few of our family events. Back in October after visiting family in McKinney & Ft. Worth, we drove over to Glen Rose, Texas before heading home. Brenna had been studying dinosaurs in her 2nd grade class, and I thought it would be neat to pop over to Dinosaur Valley State Park and see some actual dinosaur tracks.

However, when we arrived at the Park Entrance, a handwritten sign told us the tracks were not visible because of high water caused by recent heavy rains.

Bummer.

Since we had some leftovers for a picnic lunch, we decided to go ahead and enter the park, walk around for a bit, eat, and then hit the road for the six hour drive home. We really enjoyed our side trip. It turned out to be a beautiful, perfect day to walk around the Paluxy river.

We started in the Visitor Center looking at maps and replicas of the preserved tracks found in the riverbed. We all found it hard to believe that Glen Rose used to be the "beach" on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico.

We drove over to the river and got out to see if anything at all was visible. But all of the tracks were under about two or three feet of rushing water.

Since we couldn't see any of the tracks, we still enjoyed the beautiful day strolling along the river and following the trails up to an overlook.

After some walking, we ate our leftovers at the picnic area, let the girls play on the playground, and bought a souvenir. Before we left, we walked over to get a closer look at the two fiberglass dinosaur models built by the Sinclair Oil Company for the New York World's Fair 1964-65.

Altar Server

Cameron participated as an altar server for the first time this morning. Mom came over to attend Mass and witness her first grandchild (of hopefully many) in this role. Thanks Mom for taking the photos!

When there are four altar servers, two participate in the Liturgy of the Word while the other two take the responsibilities of the Liturgy of the Eucharist. They assist the priests receiving the gifts and they pour the water/hold the bowl as he washes his hands.

You can just see Cameron on the left holding the bowl and towel.

She did a wonderful job and I think she felt very proud of herself. I know I was beaming. Mom took them out for breakfast at Denny's. I had to also attend the 11 a.m. Mass for the Pastoral Council Installation. We were introduced and received our name badges. Fr. Bob invoked a Blessing. The whole experience was very humbling.

School report

School pictures have arrived alongside report cards. This is Brenna's first year to receive number/letter grades and she seemed very proud of herself for earning straight A's. She squeaked by in one subject, but came out very strong in Science. Cameron also earned straight A's, all high marks. Cameron's behavior grades were all E (excellent), while Brenna had a few S (satisfactory).

I had a parent-teacher meeting with Brenna's teacher about ten days ago. In second grade the teachers still encourage all parents to have a meeting once each long semester. Brenna's teacher expressed her concern that Brenna isn't being challenged enough in class. She dismisses the impulsive behavior conduct marks as "just Brenna;" however, she does see improvement and thinks as Brenna matures her conduct will continue to improve throughout the year.

Cameron really loves fifth grade and her teacher. She is singing with the school choir, serves as class representative in Student Council, and re-joined Yearbook Club. Her teacher says no conference is necessary; she's a great student. Cameron is really looking forward to her fifth grade class trip to Washington D.C. over Spring Break!

If you want to see the changes in the girls, check out last year's school photos post. It includes photos of the girls from 2006-2008.

Girl Power

Batgirl & Padme Amidala ready to tackle the streets in search of Halloween treats.

Home again, counting up their loot. Let the trading begin!

Visiting McKinney

Last weekend we ran up to McKinney to visit Uncle Brad & Aunt Amanda. Saturday morning, Amanda gave the girls their birthday presents.


Cameron especially loved her original painting to brighten her room. This photo doesn't do it justice; it's beautiful with bright color and little glass beads that catch the light.

Since the guys were doing brotherly things, like playing video games and fixing something on the washing machine, Amanda and I decided to take the girls on a walk to the park.

Since Aunt Debbie moved to Fort Worth, we drove over there on Saturday to spend one night with her. I was amazed how much Hwy 380 has changed and how the acres and acres of farmland have been developed. On our way down from Denton into Fort Worth, Bryan pointed at some planes that had just taken off from an airfield just ahead. As we watched, they buzzed very close to the highway.

Oh yeah, the US Navy's Blue Angels!!! Ironically the Blue Angels will be flying over our neighborhood this weekend for Wings Over Houston, but last weekend they were at a small Fort Worth airfield doing a show!

Traffic backed up on the highway as people pulled over to watch the display. We couldn't have timed it better if we had known in advance and planned it. What a show!

Sunday morning before we left, James brought Ian over to meet the girls.

I honestly don't know who was more delighted - the girls or three-month old Ian. He really socialized with them, "talking", smiling, and even gave an early laugh.

We can't wait for our Christmas visit!

Another Pumpkin Patch

On Sunday after the annual Messina Reunion, we took the girls to the local Pumpkin Patch for their annual photos.

We've been going to this pumpkin patch for at least the last 7 or 8 years. Look at last year to see how much the girls have grown!