A Busy December

December has been so busy with sports, Christmas activities and more running for me. Chandler and the Titans have been playing in some very cold games. They have two more games this season. Cydney is on break from gymnastics now until January. I ran my 2nd Half Marathon this morning. Last month, I finished my first half in 2 hours 26 minutes. I was hoping to finish todays in 2'20'' but actually was able to finish in 2 hours 9 minutes. I am very sore and tired tonight!

Chandler prepares to kick a field goal at the TCU practice field.

Cydney puts the finishing touches on the gingerbread train

Chandler getting his guns up at a TCU vs Tech basketball game. He loves TCU but his Red Raider roots run deep. He cheered for Tech when they were down and even more so when Tech came from behind to win.

Chandler and Cydney visit Santa.

Cydney's School Program

Thanks to Gran for scanning Chandler's and Cydney's school pictures!

Chandler - 8 yrs, 2nd grade

Cydney - right before her 4th birthday

Cydney's school had their annual fall program. The "Blessed Three's" class sang "Sing and Read Benjamin Bunny," "God Loves Me," and "Sing and Read Five."

Cydney did not actually sing with the rest of the kids - but doesn't she look pretty!

Cydney taking the stage - she told us later she was "nervous"

Chandler congratulates Cydney after her performance.

The Red Sox finished their season last Thursday night. Chandler was the last pitcher of the last inning of the season. He started the season and ended the season. His last inning was awesome. He struck out 4 batters. Yes 4! On the 3rd strike out, the catcher missed the ball so the kid got to run to 1st and made it! No worries... he struck out the next batter!

Baseball ended Thursday and Football started Friday. The Titans are back! Our 8 and 9 year old boys played "really big" 10 year old boys under the "Friday Night Lights." (Our boys were in Red) While they did not win, they played really well and pulled alot of flags. Nine of the Red Sox are now Titans and we had a few Titans returning from last year. We are looking to a really fun season!

Halloween and a Half-Marathon All In One Weekend!

Another successful Halloween! Chandler (aka "injured SWAT guy") and Cydney (aka "Candy Corn Witch") took the neighborhood by storm. We went to almost every house, which took about an hour and a half. Chandler's bucket was so full, he also got a grocery bag from one neighbor so he could finish Trick-or-Treating. Cydney really got into it this year. She ran up to every house to be the first to ring the doorbell, at least until a neighbor in the "Halloween Spirit" scared her!

Ready for Trick-or-Treating

A Very Sweet Witch

A Very Tough Guy

What a haul! The candy barely made it out of the bucket before Chandler had to have some.

The next day I was up VERY early for my first 1/2 Marathon. Thanks goodness for the time change.

This was the AFTER picture. I am smiling but still not feeling well after 13.3 miles. I did start feeling much better later in the day.

Chandler and Cydney were very proud of their mom. They thought I won because I came home with a medal. They don't have to know everyone who finished got one.

My Beautiful Mother

My Beautiful Mother Beverly

1944-2006

I cannot believe it has been 3 years since she left us. We still miss her and think of her everyday. While the pictures are fading, the memories are not...

She was a beautiful baby too.

I always thought this was a stunning picture.



Glamourous!


Chandler and Cydney on Ohau off the Pali Hwy.

Mother and I at the same place when I was a baby.

Mother in her famous purple muumuu in our backyard on Hooper Place.

Mother and Daughter

Beverly and her girls.

The Martha Stewart of Hawaii!

Mother at her 60th birthday party.

Mother and all of her children.

WE LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU!

The State Fair

The air is finally cooler and it feels like fall! This week we took the train to the State Fair. The train was an adventure itself but the kids had a ball. Most importantly though, it was their first time to the State Fair. They loved looking (or should I say sitting) in the new cars. Chandler is partial to the Corvettes. They loved looking at the tractors and animals. But, what they enjoyed the most was the Foot-Long State Fair Corn Dog!

Chandler likes to start at the very top and work his way down.

Cydney would rather start at the crunchy part at the end!

Just one more ride?

We are halfway through the fall baseball season however most of our games have been rained out. We are adjusting to kid-pitch and the boys are doing really well for their first season. Chandler loves pitching. He was the starting pitcher for their first kid-pitch game.

Doesn't he look professional?

What an arm!

We are supposed to be wrapping up baseball in the next couple of weeks but I looks like we will have to make up alot of games. Flag Football starts soon - We are awaiting the return of the Titans!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CYDNEY!

Cydney is 4 today! What an exciting day. She had her birthday party at a jump play center in town with lots of friends and family. After much discussion and changing her mind, she decided she wanted a Tinkerbell cake. I had a lot of fun making this cake! I thought the cake was a good idea since she joined the Peter Pan Gift club through the children's hospital. Instead of gifts her friends brought contribution for us to take to the sick kids at the hospital. Cydney still got lots of gifts though!

Cydney ready for picture day at school.

Cydney admires her Tinkerbell cake!

"I can't wait to eat my cake!"

Cydney with Stratton, Timothy and Chandler

(The Red Sox and their cheerleader!)

Cydney with Lindsey and Lanie

Cydney with Meg

Cydney with Sophia

Cydney with Jake

Cydney reading cards and opening gifts

Cydney's new big girl bike!

Everyone had such a great time and we collected a big bag of coloring books, crayons and hot wheel cars for the children's hospital!

Mike also celebrated his birthday this month but without the big jump party. We spent a quite family weekend together (in the rain!).

Chandler has started back in a new baseball season. His first kid-pitch game was this week (the first 3 games were rained out). He was the starting pitcher for his first kid-pitch game. He did really well and had a great time. The Red Sox have won their first two games with alot more to go.

Back to Reality!

Hawaii is now a memory and we are back to the day to day grind. Both kids are now in school and both love their teachers. We are looking forward to this weekend which brings Chandler's first basball game of the season (his team has moved up to the next age bracket so they are now a kid-pitch team) and Mike's birthday.

Chandler is so big now and in the 2nd Grade! His first day was August 24th.

Cydney started school today (FINALLY!). She is so happy to be in the "big 3's" class.

Chandler and Cydney with Granny. She is 99 years old and still going strong!

Mike, Chandler and Papa visited the Cowboy Stadium over the Labor Day holiday.

Papa and Chandler in the dugout at the Ballpark.

September is a big birthday month for us. Mike's is this weekend and Cydney's is later this month. We look foward to sharing birthday pictures!