Basketball Spring 2010

Bristol with Coach Monica
Me in action
Bristol taking time to wave
Bristol in action
Beck and Brendan strategizing for their game


It's one of my favorite times of year! Basketball season started at the San Marcos Recreation Center. We done it for so many seasons I can't even count at this point, but I love it. I love the kids and being around all of that kid energy. I just keep hoping that it will rub off on me. It's Bristol's first time to play, and I'm coaching his team. Jeff is taking over for Beck's team and I'm hanging on to Madalyn's team. We have some really good girls that I've coached for awhile, and honestly they are my favorite. They don't keep score at the boy's games and the girl's team won by 2. It was very exciting! Madalyn and Beck played at the same time, so we didn't get any pictures of them since we were both coaching - we'ff get more in the next five weeks though for sure. Go Bucks, Heat and Fever!

Beck turns 6!

Sometimes it's a little overwhelming to make each child's birthday extra special when they're so close together. We had a sleepover for Beck's birthday with three of his friends- Brendan, Aidan and Miles. The were awesome: they played air hockey, video games, wrestled each other, and had lots of light sabre fights (I wondered if they were a good idea when I bought those). They played Lego Indiana Jones until 2 am and were still up at 7 for breakfast. We'll definitely be doing it again, but wow - that was way different than any of the sleepovers Madalyn has had!

Madalyn turns 10!

I woke up and couldn't believe that my baby girl was suddenly ten years old. It seems like yesterday when everyone was up at the hospital lined up against the wall listening for her for to come in to the world. She is such a beautiful, smart, talented, fun and amazing girl. We are so blessed to have her in our lives.

We did everything to make her day special including Jeff and I waking her up together with a cupcake and singing Happy Birthday to her. (We started doing this years ago and I have no idea why, but she loves it so we keep doing it.) Madalyn had planned her birthday outfit for at least a month and I love her fashionista senses. Well, I love her confidence to pull that off! She went to school where I brought both Dual Language classes cupcakes, so she got sang to two more times. She got her report card and made all A's. Then she and Anna tried out for Showcats and made the team for the performance group at school. We got a Chillabration cake from Dairy Queen, which they are obsessed with for some reason, and headed home. She did her homework and had to ride her bike since the weather was decent. We ate dinner with Mom, Dad, Cody and Marcia then opened gifts. She got a cool HSM book, cash, a look-alike Belle dress for her American Girl doll made by my mom, the Fame DVD, and Taylor Swift tickets that brought on the tears in picture above. We played some Wii, ate the cake, sang again, and then it was off to bed. She was sad for the day to be over, but as happy as can be.

UT Heartbreak.

Here's a picture from our fun party to watch the UT National Championship game. Unfortunately, the game wasn't as fun after Colt got knocked out in the first series. It was fairly painful after that, but the amazing food and company almost made it bearable.

American Girl Sleepover

Madalyn followed up her American Girl present with a sleepover that included all of her friends that have a doll. The sleepover included miniture pizzas for the dolls while the girls had regular pizza and mini-muffins in the morning for breakfast. they watched two of the American Girl movies, roasted marshmallows in the fireplace and ate what was left of the gingerbread house. The girls also did a fashion show with the dolls and stayed up until 3 am. Ah, sleepovers are so much fun.

American Girl Adventure

Santa sent Madalyn a letter on Christmas morning that he wanted her to go to the American Girl store in Dallas to pick out her doll and have the whole experience instead of just giving her the doll. That didn't go over so well, there were lots of tears, but it ended up being okay. Tara and I took her to the store first thing this morning to get the party started. She picked out one of the 'Just Like You' girls where you pick out the one that looks the most like you (duh) versus one of the character girls from the books. She picked Kylie Claire out pretty quickly and then she chose outfits, hair accessory kit, and a matching shirt with her doll. (Kylie was our other choice for her name, Claire is her great-grandmother's middle name). Santa had a gift card delivered to her by one of the employees and she was ready to go. Here are some pictures of the fashion show that ensued later. Needless to say, she is thrilled and is hosting her first American Girl sleepover tomorrow night.

Burleson Christmas

We headed to Burleson on Sunday, the 27th and celebrated Christmas with Jeff's family. They had some ice left in the front yard from the snow they received on Christmas Eve. So after a quick snow ball fight, we are and then did gifts. Bristol loved the sweater/hat/penguin set from MeMe Pat and Paw Paw got him, Beck has been a bit obsessed with the Nerf gun set from Aunt Gay Lynn and Madalyn liked her new sequin phone and fuzzy chair for her room. They played a mean game of Canasta and the kids helped Lea decorate the rice krispy house.

Christmas Day

After a nap from the morning festivities everyone came back over and we added Brandy, Beau and Brenah into the mix. We ate a turducken, ham, and all kinds of stuff. We then did the second round of gifts which was capped off with new bikes from my parents for the kids. They were beyond excited, but the best reaction was Beck's who exclaimed, "Whoever did this, very thanks!" Funny kid, but I agree very thanks!!

Christmas Morning

Mom, Dad, Cody and Marcia came over for Christmas morning and watched the kids open their presents. It was a very fun morning since Santa redecorated and put up stockings at the fireplace. Most importantly he found us in the new house- a huge worry for the kids although Elfonso (our elf on the shelf) had been updating him daily. We had some drama with Madalyn because Santa left her a letter that she should was going to get to go to the American Girl store to pick out her doll and accessories. Well, that didn't go over so well - note the tears in the top pic. It all worked out eventually, but I have to remember the drama factor with that one. Wow. Beck got Lego Indiana Jones for the PS3 and Bristol got a monster truck track.

Christmas Eve in Uhland

As is our family tradition, we rented the Uhland Community Center for Christmas Eve and had a big celebration with the Nelson family (my maternal grandmother's side). It was awesome. The food was great, almost everyone was there and it's so much fun to see the new additions. This year Ace and Elliot joined us and we're looking forward to another new addition next year. Santa came to visit and give the kids gifts, we did a White Elephant gift exchange (Larry got a purse hook- classic), and one of the cousins made it very clear that my ham wasn't to her liking. Again, classic. I love the holidays and am so thankful that we all got to spend it together.