Thursday, November 18, 2010

The Black Diamonds visit BU!

One of the things I love about Waco is that it's a college town so Ryan gets to do some very cool stuff at Baylor University. For his last game of flag football, he got to play at Baylor Stadium--how cool is that?! He was VERY excited!! Look closely in this picture and you can see Ryan (#7) playing quarterback and doing a mean hand off. Way to go #7!!

A proud papa

And a typical non-smiling Ryan. Geez, brother help me out once in a while!

This girl always gives me a great little smile! She was really happy to go down on the field after the game.


Great season Black Diamonds!

Tuesday, November 16, 2010

Two little Tinkerbells

I think I'll let these pictures speak for themselves




;-)

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

Halloween Week of FUN

Oh Halloween, why are you so crazy? Don't you know this time of year is insane? My kids adore you but honestly this momma is always a little relieved when you're over. I blame MONO. Mono has took a lot of blame the last three weeks, and rightfully so if you ask me (or my poor husband!) Now...I do adore seeing kids dressed up in costumes, especially my two, and of course I could eat my weight in bite size Twix but overall I was happy to see you go.

We started off the week-long festivities by attending a pumpkin-polloza party, which my family loved! Thanks so much Bakers for throwing such a great party. Of course the mono prevented me from leaving my bedroom...but I hear it was a fun night. Mark got to watch game 5 of the World Series with his friends, Ryan had an awesome time playing football and ripping up his costume, and Ally ate her favorite dinner...a cupcake followed by cookies and a donut. Basically a home run for everyone! Here are Jango Fett and Sleeping Beauty on their way to the party. This picture pretty much sums up my children and their polar personalities. HA!



Later that week Kacey was gracious enough to take Ally to dance for me. Guess who also got to go?--- 'my cousin Lila'! Ally said she wished Lila could be in class with her every week. aahhhh so stinkin' sweet!

A wonderful break during the craziness was the evening we got to honor my sister Kacey and new niece-to-be Caroline!! I was supposed to host it at my house but obviously the mono had other plans (have I mentioned that I had mono...just wanted to make sure you all knew). I honestly cannot thank Mrs. Katherine Svoboda enough for offering her home last minute to host this shower. Katy girl, you blessed me and my sisters more than you know--you rock! We ended up having one of the cutest baby showers yet.
Isn't Kacey stunning preggers? She and Caryn both are just gorgeous.

Shower table and decorations. Caryn outdid herself on this precious theme. Everything was perfectly "knit together".

A pregnant sandwich

The next morning bright and early I was in charge of Ally's preschool fall party. I didn't get any pictures of the party (another costumed event) but here she is praying one day in her sweet little class. Her class just melts my heart. They are SO cute.

After the school party we got to enjoy the inflatables that were already set up for the FBCW Fall Fest. They had free reign on 10 different inflatables and it was awesome!

Check out Honey getting in on the action

That night my awesome family took this crew up to the Fall Fest. Ally had worn her sleeping beauty costume all day and decided to change last minute. The Smith pirates, Minnie Mouse, a Ladybug and Jango Fett headed up to church to play some serious games.


The next day Ryan had a flag football game, Erica and I hosted a super fun Zumba birthday party (pics on that later), then Sunday it was a 80's College Zumba party and finally...wait for it...it was time to Trick-or Treat!! Can't you feel the excitement?

Every year we go trick-or-treating in our neighborhood with the Weavers. Jenn and I have been friends since Jr. High and Jake and Ryan are great friends so it's always a very fun night. She and Steve just had their 4th baby, so this year was extra special. I think Madelyn had the best costume I've EVER seen. If you knew her feisty personality this bird fit her perfectly!

What a world wind of fun. Maybe you're not all that bad Halloween...I'm just glad you're only once a year!

Tuesday, November 2, 2010

Zumba One Year Party!

What a crazy year it's been! Erica started teaching Zumba at the MAC last October so when her First Anniversary rolled around, we knew we had to celebrate in a BIG way. I was there for her very first class---not knowing that I would soon be instructing!! God's timing on my certification makes me chuckle. I originally signed up to sub for Erica just in case if they ever needed one. I didn't even tell her I'd done it and that very next day the girl she instructed with quit. I taught classes the next week and a month later I was certified to teach both adults and kids. We now have 4 adult classes a week, 2 kids classes a week and birthday parties on the side...whew!!!! All I can say is that it's probably a good thing I didn't know all the work and hours a week it would take or I might never have done it :-). I always laugh when people ask if I work outside the home, because this little 'part-time job' has become a HUGE part of my life! I have more wild zumba clothes than actual clothes, which is just plain sad! I am extremely thankful for this opportunity and I cherish the fact that I get to teach with one of my very best friends, and minister to women of all ages, shapes and sizes. Zumba is an absolute blast and no matter what kind of day I've had as soon as the music starts it all melts away. On to the party...
Even though I've just been teaching 7 months we both celebrated a year. We found out later we BOTH had mono in this picture, which explained a lot!

Tatoos too

Party people

we had 174 people show up that night which is AWESOME~

We also had several local instructors come which was SO FUN!


Thanks so much girls for coming and celebrating with us. We had a wonderful time celebrating all that the Lord has done this year through ZUMBA. It'll be hard to outdo this party next year!

Preschool trip to the zoo!

I have been to the Cameron Park Zoo many, many times, but going with Ally's preschool class this year was a wonderful way to spend the day. They all love the animals and it's so fun getting to experience the zoo through their little eyes :-). And of course I absolutely LOVE getting to spend time with this beautiful girl!

Creighton, Ella and Ally. I'm so thankful that she has such great friends in her class this year.

Looking for swinging monkeys. I think Mrs. Conner gets to see swinging monkeys every day in her class!!

Ally was not too sure about the Tiger

Ally and Aubrey


The sweetest class ever!

I want to be sure I cherish these little moments. Going to the zoo is not on MY top ten list but it sure did make Ally's day. It seems like yesterday I was here with Ryan's three year old class...time is FLYING by!! I have to remember that these moments are fleeting and to stop and enjoy each and every one of them :-).