Twins???

November 7 is my sister Regina's birthday. Happy Birthday, Sis!!! She and I lack exactly one week being one year apart. Her birthday falls a week before mine. When we were little we always said the week between our birthdays we were the same age, therefore making us TWINS!!! We always made a big deal out of being the same age for one week. So, to my "twin for the week," May you have a wonderful birthday despite your sadness over the loss of Grandpa. I miss you lots and wish we lived close enough to celebrate your day together! Be watching the mail for a special package from us. We love you!!!

Happy 37th Birthday, Regina!

We'll Miss You, Grandpa.

Marty and I were on our way to go walking when we got the dreaded phone call. I knew as soon as I answered and heard my mom's voice something was wrong, and knew before she said it that Grandpa was gone. Even though it was expected it's still hard. We've known for the past few years he didn't have long and I knew he was getting so weak recently. Despite that and even knowing the last time I saw him was probably the last, there was still hope I'd see him again the next time I go "back home." I knew that wasn't likely, but still I hoped. You're never quite ready to let go of a loved one. I have peace knowing without a doubt he is in Heaven rejoicing with Jesus and seeing Grandma again. Even so, a part of me wishes he was here with us again.

So, Grandpa, give Grandma a great big hug from all of us who miss her so much. Know you are dearly loved and will be missed by so many, especially your many many family members. Thank you, Grandpa for so many wonderful sweet memories and for always having time to spend with us. Thank you for making each of us feel so very cherished. Thank you that you are the one adult in my life who never, ever had a cross word for me. Thank you for teaching us by example to thank God, to work hard, to play often and to cherish family. We will all miss you so very much. We love you, Grandpa.

My grandpa and me several years ago.

Heather and Grandpa, Branson MO 2004

Retro Night?

Even though it was Halloween, Friday night still found us sitting in the stands of a stadium cheering on the Matadors football team. The Mats really got stomped again, but we still enjoyed our evening.

One of the band moms, Pam (who was also Heather's computer teacher in elementary school) went by Cathy's office today to pick up an old dance uniform from her days on the dance team. When the dancers found the old uniforms they asked Cathy if they could wear them since it was Halloween.

Heather in the uniform from the 80's.

The opposing team's dancers danced to "Thriller" and afterward one of the dancers asked me if that brought back memories. I told her as a matter of fact it did! Since when are the 80's old or retro anyway???

Heather in the stands in formation with the other dancers.

The half time show. Heather is in the center in the back row of dancers.

After half time Pam was visiting with the girls and even showed them how her dance team had to march. In honor of the girls wearing uniforms that Pam used to wear I told her I had to take a photo of her with the dancers. The girls were cracking me up with the constant fidgeting and adjusting of the uniforms. You can imagine the complaints Cathy was getting with the waists of these uniforms that sit much higher than these girls have probably ever worn any waistline, unfamiliar buttons and flaps, etc.

Heather and Pam

(Pam's son is Warren, one of the band's drum majors)









Cathy's assitant Ashley. I loved her sparkly mask!




For photos of Heather marching in the band during half time, check out my other blog.

Girls Night Out

Marty had a meeting at church along with several other men tonight so I suggested to a few of the other ladies we all go watch the final production of the high school play. Most were unable to go due to preparing Halloween costumes, etc. I knew Heather would want to attend to support her friends in the cast and crew. Lisa planned to attend with me but she became sick and stayed home to rest, but she let me take Chandler to see the play. Cheney stayed home with his mama because he'd already seen the play with his class at school. Thanks for loaning Chandler to me for the evening, Lisa! We had a great time!

I picked Chandler up from her Meme's house and we then headed into town to pick Heather up from band practice. While we waited in the car we could hear the band practicing and Chandler sang along with the band. The three of us then went to our favorite local hamburger joint, Kirby's, for dinner. During dinner Heather and I were able to convince Chandler to blow a kiss to my camera phone so we could text the photo to her parents and say that she was blowing them kisses.

After dinner we met my friend Reva (also Chandler's aunt) at the high school to watch the play together. Heather warned me some of the characters might frighten Chandler and she was right...some of them did. Chandler was very attentive throughout the play and was wonderful to have along. I felt bad for her though when some of the scenes scared her.

The play was "Jack and the Magic Beans." Heather's friend Ryan played a troll who ran in and out of scenes throughout the play, mostly chasing and trying to find the chicken the laid the golden egg. The chicken seemed to fascinate Chandler, but the troll definitely scared her.

Jack and the Chicken






Jack's Mom, the Chicken and Jack

The character who played the harp sang very beautifully! I was very impressed.

One of the girls Heather danced with several years ago played the queen (center of photo). To the right of her is Miss Priss, the cow Jack traded for magic beans. It's a toss up to me which stole the show...Miss Priss or the Troll.







Chandler in the auditorium with her Aunt Reva.







After the play we made Ryan pose for a picture with us when I know he really wanted to get out of that wig and makeup.

Reva, Ryan, Heather, Chandler. (Chandler would not go near Ryan as the troll!)






Ryan and Heather



Chandler and Me. Chandler you were awesome tonight. You can come hang out with me ANY time!

Boo!

I posted about our trip to the Pumpkin Patch on my other blog. Tonight Heather decided she was ready to carve her jack o lantern. We realized early on why she's never done this before. Daddy always does the pumpkin carving and tonight as she cleaned the mess out of the inside of her pumpkin we all remembered how much she hates that part. When Heather was little she was always very fussy about keeping herself and her clothes very clean. She would not play in the dirt or even the grass, only the concrete patio. If she got her clothes dirty, they must be changed right away. As she got older she did learn to enjoy the dirt and even got messy, but when it came to pumpkins she'd have no part of removing pumpkin and seeds from within. But tonight, she was on her own so to speak. Marty helped her get started but this was her project and therefore her job to finish cleaning it out and readying it for carving. She managed to get the job done so she could get on with the carving.

The planning...






Instructions from Daddy...














Ewwww this is messy!








Ick! Look at my hands!







Carving the details.








Boo!

She So Makes Me Laugh!

I just never know what Heather's going to say or do next. If you'll remember in my last post I mentioned she might get bored now that marching band is over and the contests are over and her life will slow down. When I picked her up from dance practice last night she told me she's decided to try out for Winter Guard (Winter Guard is an indoor competion color guard team--called winter guard because Color Guard is the team that performs with the marching band and Winter Guard works on routines strictly for contests). Heather said "I suddenly have an urge to twirl a flag." For some reason that statement struck me as very funny and I didn't object at all. We'll see where this new road takes us. Tryouts are Nov. 10 so keep your fingers crossed.

Marching Season's Almost Over

As Heather says, she will soon have a life again. The high school band has had a contest every Saturday in October, they have practice after school every Monday through Thursday, and football games every Friday. Although she gets worn out from it by the end of the month, she LOVES it. But she also says she and the other band kids always look forward to the end of marching season because "then they can have lives again." I know Heather though and I know how bored she gets at the end of marching season. This year may not be so bad since she works every weekend.

Saturday evening Marty and I met his family for dinner to celebrate my father in law's birthday. (Happy Belated Birthday Freddie!!!).

(Sitting from the left around the table: Freddie, Billie, Marty, Me, Marty, Mike, Debbie, Cheyenne)

After dinner they all followed us over to watch the USSBA State Band Contest. Our band did a great job and we stayed to watch other bands and then to hear the results and see the trophies awarded.

The Mellophones. Heather is in the lower right hand corner of the photo. I sure have a much harder time finding her when she's marching at contest than when she's marching at a football game!

Heather is in the lower right hand corner of this photo.


Here are the results of all the band contests:

USSBA Regionals - 3rd place 4a, Best Percussion, & Best Visual

Judson Rocket Review - 1st Place 4a, Grand Champions,
Best Percussion, Best Color Guard, & Best Visual

UIL Contest - Division 1 Rating

USSBA State Championships - 2nd Place 4A, and Best Percussion.



A big trophy was presented to our band's drum majors and color guard captain.




Great job, Matadors!!!!

We Got Charged

As is the norm for our Friday nights in the fall, we attended the high school football game. This one was an away game, in Boerne. My friend Pat invited us to ride with her and her family so we gobbled down quick sandwiches as soon as Marty got home from work and headed out.

Unfortunately the Matadors lost their game to the Chargers. I think the final score was 54 to 38. As has been the case in several of the past games we started out well but just couldn't keep it up througout the game. We have one more away game and one more home game. The last home game will also be the game where the dancers dance with their dads (or substitutes) for the half time show. It's known as the "Bob and Sue" dance and is a tradition of the dance team. They'll begin practicing with their dads this Sunday and it's always fun to go watch the dads as they learn their parts.

The dancers performed their pom routine last night, and were allowed to wear their uniform pants instead of the skirts since it was pretty nippy outside.

The Starsteppers

Heather

As soon as the dance was over Heather and 2 other dancers who are also in band ran to the 50-yard line to grab their instruments and take their places with the band.

I've been experimenting more with the manual settings on my camera and I think I'm much closer to finding setting that work for capturing shots of these moving kids under the lights of the stadiums.....and there are only 2 more games left in which to experiement!













My favorite mellophone player, of course.







She always looks so serious when performing with the band.





























Marty brother Mike, his wife Debbie and their daughter Cheyenne met us in Boerne to watch the game with us.
Mike, Marty and Debbie:



Me with my niece Cheyenne.




At the end of every game the band plays the school song and the cheerleaders, dancers and anyone else who knows the words, sing along. This row of dancers were cracking up through the entire song!





As you can see, Heather doesn't always look so serious when performing with the dance team! Once they get back into formation in the stands they sometimes cut up and goof off!
"Miss Innocent"....NOT! ha!

After the game Heather wanted Cheyenne to come down to where she was to say hi. Such cute cousins!

I Missed the Best Part of the Sunrise

I didn't have time to stop this morning to photograph the gorgeous sunrise I was seeing in my rearview mirror! I was so tempted but knew it would be impossible to do and get Heather to school on time, so I just kept driving. I dropped Heather off and decided rather than to go to the coffee shop for my morning coffee I'd run into McDonald's and check out their new coffees...and it was FREE!!! I didn't know it would be free when I decided to stop in so I was glad I chose to have my coffee there. It was pretty good, but I must say it's still not as good as my grande white chocolate mocha with caramel from the coffee shop!


With coffee in hand I headed back down the road to go to work. On the way this time I did have time to stop for some pictures, even though the sky wasn't near as spectacular as on the trip into town.

Although my evening didn't end as pretty as it started, I did have 2 white knights come to my rescue when a tire went flat on the suburban. Thanks Marty and Bill! Heather was sure impressed with how fast you two worked to get that taken care of!