KINDERGARTEN CHRISTMAS PARTY

SHOWING OFF THEIR PRESENTS!

DECORATING COOKIES (AND TASTING!)

GUS DID A GREAT JOB SINGING AT THE CHRISTMAS PROGRAM. HE WAS SO EXCITED TO WEAR A TIE. (THANKS REGINA) SAGE ENJOYED WATCHING AND OF COURSE SEEING SANTA CLAUS. GUS SAID HE DID NOT NEED TO TELL SANTA WHAT HE WANTED FOR CHRISTMAS BECAUSE HE HAD ALREADY TOLD THE REAL SANTA WHEN HE WENT TO SEE POLAR EXPRESS!!

YES, A RABBIT

THANK GOODNESS LANCE WAS WITH ME ON THE DRIVE HOME FROM AMARILLO YESTERDAY, OR HE NEVER WOULD HAVE BELIEVED THAT IT WAS JUST A RABBIT THAT DID $1000 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO OUR NEW CAR :(

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LANCE

LANCE'S BIRTHDAY IS TODAY!! HE OPENED THE PRESENT THAT GUS HAD BEEN DYING TO GIVE HIM (FOR CHRISTMAS) INSTEAD OF THE ONE I HAD GOTTEN FOR HIS BIRTHDAY. (THAT ONE WILL WAIT TIL CHRISTMAS) ANY WAY, HE GOT BOXING GLOVES. GUS WAS SO EXCITED. THEY HAD A LITTLE BOXING MATCH IMMEDIATELY. GUS WAS WANTING LANCE TO TAKE OFF HIS SHIRT AND PUT ON SHORTS (BECAUSE YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO DRESS THE PART!) I THINK THEY WILL ENJOY THE BOXING GLOVES FOR A LONG TIME.

SAGE'S NEW CARSEAT

SAGE GOT A NEW CARSEAT LAST WEEK. I KNOW THAT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE A BIG DEAL, BUT IT IS PINK!!! SHE WAS SO EXCITED, SHE TOLD ME "IT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE ANY BOY COLORS IN IT!" SHE ALSO TOLD HOLLY THAT GOD HAD MADE HER A BEAUTIFUL CARSEAT. THE CARSEAT DESIGN WAS APPROPRIATELY CALLED "THE ANNETTE."

IT SNOWED

SAGE WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT THE SNOW WHEN SHE WOKE UP THIS MORNING. SHE THOUGHT SINCE IT HAS SNOWED, IT MUST BE CHRISTMAS DAY. SHE THEN INSISTED THAT SHE WANTED TO GO OUT AND PLAY IN THE SNOW. EVEN THOUGH I TOLD HER IT WAS REALLY WINDING AND VERY COLD, SHE HAD TO GO OUTSIDE. SHE PUT HER COAT ON AND STEPPED OUT THE FRONT DOOR. IT DID NOT TAKE A SECOND UNTIL SHE WAS READY TO COME BACK IN. MAYBE THE WIND WILL STOP BLOWING IN A LITTLE WHILE AND SHE CAN GET FULLY DRESSED AND GO OUTSIDE.

SAGE'S OFFERING

SAGE MADE A LITTLE "COLLECTION BUCKET" FOR HER LOTTIE MOON CHRISTMAS OFFERING IN SUNDAY SCHOOL THIS WEEK. SHE WAS SO EXCITED AND TOLD ME ALL ABOUT IT ON SUNDAY. SHE WAS READY TO FILL IT UP AND TAKE IT BACK TO SUNDAY SCHOOL. YESTERDAY, SHE WAS ASKING HER DAD TO GIVE HER SOME MONEY FOR IT, AND HE DID. SHE CAME AND SHOWED ME, AND THEN SAID, "I AM GOING TO GET A PINK BARBIE WITH THIS MONEY!!" WE HAD TO TALK ABOUT WHERE IT WAS GOING AGAIN, AND WHY SHE WAS TAKING IT BACK TO CHURCH. I THINK SHE IS BACK ON TRACK!

GUS SAVES SAGE

IT WAS SO NICE YESTERDAY, SO GUS AND SAGE PLAYED OUTSIDE ALL AFTERNOON. I WENT TO THE GROCERY STORE ABOUT 4:00 AND LEFT THEM WITH THEIR DAD. AT SOME POINT SAGE GOT TANGLED UP IN THE SOCCER NET. LANCE HAD LET GUS CARRY ONE OF HIS KNIFES YESTERDAY, SO GUS WENT AND GOT IT AND TRIED TO CUT HER FREE. WHEN LANCE REALIZED WHAT WAS GOING ON HE HELPED FREE SAGE. HE SAID GUS HAD CUT THE NET ALL TO PIECES, BUT HAD NOT EVEN COME CLOSE TO GETTING SAGE OUT. THANK GOODNESS HE DID NOT CUT HER WITH THE KNIFE EITHER!!

WE SURVIVED

WE HAVE NOW SURVIVED TWO THANKSGIVINGS!! LAST SATURDAY WE WENT TO AMARILLO FOR THE MCCLOY THANKSGIVING/CHRISTMAS. WE ENJOYED A NICE MEAL, AND THEN THE KIDS SWAM FOR HOURS. GUS AND SAGE BOTH BECAME MORE BRAVE AS THE DAY WENT ON. SAGE WENT FROM SWIMMING WITH ARM FLOATIES AND A RING TO JUST A RING. GUS HAD FUN JUMPING IN AND GOING UNDER WATER, WHICH IS A BIG IMPROVEMENT FOR HIM! WE GOT HOME IN TIME TO WATCH THE TECH/OU GAME ON TV THAT NIGHT, EXCEPT WE DIDN'T HAVE ELECTRICITY. SO WE WENT TO THE PITTMAN'S TO WATCH AND THE KIDS HAD FUN PLAYING. TOO BAD THE GAME WAS TERRIBLE!



ON THANKSGIVING DAY WE WENT TO TEXHOMA TO SPEND THE DAY WITH LANCE'S FAMILY. WE HAD A NICE MEAL AND ENJOYED WATCHING THE COWBOYS WIN. WE LOOKED THROUGH ALL OF THE SALE ADS, AND SAGE FOUND THE PERFECT THING FOR HER CHRISTMAS PRESENT. IT IS A "MY SIZE BARBIE." SHE WAS SO EXCITED AND RAN AROUND THE ROOM CARRYING THE PAPER SAYING "MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!!" A CERTAIN GRANDMOTHER HAS ALREADY GONE THE WALMART AND PURCHASED THIS AND I THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A HIT. SAGE AND GUS STAYED IN TEXHOMA UNTIL SUNDAY. THEY HAD SO MUCH FUN AND GUS WAS EXCITED BECAUSE WILL GAVE HIM A OSU CAP. WILL CAN'T WAIT TO SEE WHAT PAPA (MARK) HAS TO SAY ABOUT THE CAP.

GUS LEAKED

I TOLD GUS WHAT HE WAS GOING TO GET HIS DAD FOR CHRISTMAS TODAY.

AS SOON AS WE GOT HOME. HE WENT AND PUT ON HIS BOXING GLOVES, AND SAID, "YOU ARE GOING TO BE GETTING SOME OF THESE SOON!"

HE IS PROMISING THAT HE DID NOT TELL HIM WHAT HE WAS GOING TO GET FOR CHRISTMAS.

GUS WILL NOT KNOW ANY MORE SECRETS THIS HOLIDAY SEASON!!

HARLEY DAVIDSON OR ALASKA

AS WE WERE DRIVING THROUGH AMARILLO THE OTHER DAY, GUS SAID, "LOOK MOM THERE'S A ALASKA SIGN." IT TOOK ME A MINUTE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT. ANNIE BROUGHT HIM A H-D SHIRT FROM ALASKA. HE THINKS THE HARLEY SYMBOL STANDS FOR ALASKA!

BAD WORDS

SAGE TOLD ON LANCE TODAY. LANCE HAD TAKEN GUS TO SCHOOL THIS MORNING AND HE FORGOT HIS BACKPACK AND WAS HAVING A FIT. LANCE SAID (I'M SURE CALMLY), "STOP CRYING OR I WILL BUST YOUR B--T." WHICH IS A BAD WORD IN OUR HOUSE. SAGE TOLD HIM SHE WAS GOING TO TELL MOMMY ON HIM.

AND SHE DID. FIRST THING WHEN I PICKED HER UP AT LUNCH. SHE TOLD ME THE WHOLE STORY, AND SAID HER DADDY NEEDED A BUSTING!

SHE IS THE BAD WORD POLICE!!

FUNNY STORIES

**SAGE AND I WERE IN WALMART ON FRIDAY AND SHE OF COURSE HAD TO GO TO THE BATHROOM. WHEN WE WERE WASHING OUR HANDS SHE STARTED TALKING ABOUT THE DIAPER CHANGING STATION. SHE TOLD ME, "I USED TO WEAR DIAPERS, BUT NOW I AM A GROWNUP!"

WE WERE WORKING CATTLE LAST NIGHT, AND GUS WAS DOING "PULL UPS." HE SAID, "LOOK MOM, I'M PUMPING MUSCLE!"

I COULD NOT MAKE THIS UP....

GUS AND I WERE TALKING THIS MORNING BEFORE THE BUS CAME, AND I ASKED WHAT CONNER WAS GOING TO BE FOR HALLOWEEN. HE SAID BUMBLEBEE. I KNEW IT WAS NOT THE INSECT, SO I SAID IS THAT A POWER RANGER. HE SAID NO MOM IT IS A TRANSFORMER (THEIR NEW FAVORITE THING.) I SAID OH, I DIDN'T KNOW. HE SAID HERE MOM I'LL SHOW YOU. NEXT THING I KNOW HE HAS PULLED DOWN HIS PANTS TO SHOW ME THE BACK OF HIS UNDERWEAR. THEY HAD BUMBLEBEE ON THEM!! HE ASSURED ME THAT HE WOULD NOT BE SHOWING THEM TO ANYONE AT SCHOOL.

HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL #1

WE WENT TO GRUVER'S HALLOWEEN CARNIVAL ON SATURDAY. SAGE DECIDED TO BE CINDERELLA INSTEAD OF BARBIE MARIPOSA. SHE IS GOING TO BE BARBIE ON THURSDAY AT MORSE. THE CARNIVAL HAD A MECHANICAL BULL WHICH MADE GUS SO HAPPY. SAGE HAD FUN JUMPING IN THE BOUNCER AND PLAYING WITH ALL OF HER FRIENDS.

PINK HAIR AND PUMPKIN DECORATING

GIGI GAVE THE KIDS SOME HALLOWEEN LOOT THIS WEEK. THEY HAVE HAD SO MUCH FUN WITH IT! THEY GOT THINGS YOU STICK IN YOUR PUMPKINS TO DECORATE THEM. IT IS BY FAR THE EASIEST WAY TO FIX UP A PUMPKIN. GUS DID HIS ALL BY HIMSELF!




SHE ALSO GAVE SAGE SOME PINK HAIRSPRAY. SHE HAS THOROUGHLY ENJOYED IT (AS HAS EVERYONE ELSE!) SHE HAS HAD PINK HAIR TWICE THIS WEEK. IT WASHES OUT EASILY, SO NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT THERE. SHE HAS WANTED PINK HAIR FOREVER, SO SHE WAS VERY EXCITED.

SOCCER IS OVER!

WE HAD OUR LAST SOCCER GAME LAST NIGHT. THE TEAM DID GREAT AND HAD A GOOD TIME. I THINK THEY WOULD ALL TELL YOU THAT GATORADE AND SNACKS ARE THE GREATEST PART OF SOCCER!

QUOTE OF THE DAY

GUS SAID, "YOU CAN'T MARRY YOUR SISTER, EVEN IF YOU LIKE HER!"

SHOULD WE BUILD AN ARK?

THIS IS ABOUT AS CLOSE AS WE EVER GET TO A FLOOD. WE HAVE HAD ALMOST 4 INCHES SO FAR, AND IT IS SUPPOSED TO RAIN THROUGH WEDNESDAY. HOORAY FOR THE WHEAT!!

PUMPKIN CARVING

HERE IS THE FINISHED PRODUCT!

PUMPKIN PATCH

WE HAD A BIG CREW GO TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH ON SATURDAY. THE RAIN WAS NOT SUPPOSED TO COME UNTIL NOON, BUT IT WAS A LITTLE EARLY. WE HAD A GREAT TIME, EVEN THOUGH WE GOT REALLY WET AND MUDDY!


THE CREW HEADS OUT!


SAGE FINDS THE PERFECT PUMPKIN!


GUS TELLS HOLLY THAT IS THE UGLIEST PUMPKIN HE HAS EVER SEEN.


SAGE GET BRAVE AND JUMPS.


MICHEAL THINKS ABOUT JUMPING (I HAD ABOUT 5 PICTURES IN A ROW THAT MICHEAL WAS STANDING IN THE SAME PLACE LOOKING JUST LIKE THAT. I DON'T REMEMBER HIM NOT WANTING TO JUMP!)


HOLDING HANDS.


MAKING CORN ANGELS.

CORN HARVEST

SAGE AND I HAVE BEEN BUSY THIS WEEK HELPING LANCE WITH CORN HARVEST. WE HAVE ONLY HAD TO GO TO TOWN FOR PARTS 1 TIME. THANKS GOODNESS!! WE HAVE BEEN TAKING LUNCH, TAKING CARE OF CATTLE, HELPING MOVE FIELDS, ETC.

IF THE RAIN HOLDS OFF UNTIL SUNDAY NIGHT WE COULD BE CLOSE TO BEING DONE WITH WHAT IS READY. WE REALLY WANT A GOOD RAIN, BUT WE REALLY WANT TO FINISH CUTTING TOO.

GUS GOT A NEW GRAIN CART AND TRACTOR AT JOHN DEERE YESTERDAY. HE IS ALREADY CUTTING THE CARPET IN THE LIVING ROOM THIS MORNING. HE EVEN MAKES THE NOISE THE COMBINE DOES WHEN IS IT FULL!!

PICKY EATERS

AT SUPPER TIME THIS EVENING GUS CAME ASKING "WHAT ARE WE HAVING?" HE SAW ONE SMALL RED SPOT IN IT (NOTE ARROW ABOVE.) THEY ENDED UP EATING OKAY. I TOOK THE NEXT PICTURE TO SHOW THAT GUS WILL EAT ANYTHING THAT IS SMOTHERED IN BBQ SAUCE. HE EVEN PUTS IT ON HIS MACARONI AND CHEESE! SAGE WILL EAT ANYTHING COVERED IN SOUR CREAM!

PRACTICE

WE HAD "DRESS REHEARSAL" FOR HALLOWEEN LAST NIGHT. GUS' NEW COSTUME CAME IN THE MAIL. HE EVEN SLEPT IN IT, MASK AND ALL! IF THERE WERE ANY MONSTERS LAST NIGHT, I'M SURE HE SCARED THEM AWAY.

OOPS!

GUS GOT A HAIRCUT ON SUNDAY. IT TURNED OUT TO BE ONE THAT WILL LAST A REALLY LONG TIME. THE CLIPPERS WERE NOT CUTTING GOOD, SO I TOOK THE GUARD OFF TO CLEAN AND OIL THEM. I GOT THAT DONE AND TOOK A SWIPE RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE---WITHOUT A GUARD. SO IT ALL HAD TO COME OFF TO MATCH. I REALLY THINK IT LOOKS GOOD, IT JUST WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE APROPRIATE FOR JUNE AND NOT OCTOBER. THEY ARE DOING CLASS AND INDIVIDUAL PICTURES THIS WEEK AT SCHOOL, SO I'M SURE WE WILL REMEMEBER THIS HAIRCUT FOR ETERNITY!

LANEY!!

LANEY CAME TO SPEND THE NIGHT LAST FRIDAY. THE KIDS BOTH HAD A GREAT TIME. WE PLAYED OUTSIDE AND ROASTED HOT DOGS AND MARSHMALLOWS FOR DINNER. WE WERE ALL EXHAUSTED THE NEXT DAY, BUT WE WENT TO WATCH THE HIGH SCHOOL RODEO IN GRUVER.
THEY WILL LOVE THESE SILLY FACE PICTURES WHEN THEY ARE OLDER

DOLLHOUSE

SAGE LOVES THIS DOLLHOUSE. SHE PLAYS WITH IT CONSTANTLY. ON SUNDAY I NOTICED A STRANGE SEEN INSIDE IT. TAKE A CLOSER LOOK.

ONE LAST NIGHT OF SUMMER FUN!

WE ENJOYED SATURDAYS GOOD WEATHER AND HAD ONE LAST SUMMER COOKOUT. EXCEPT SHANNON BROUGHT PIZZA FROM PIZZA HUT! WE DID ROAST SOME MARSHMALLOWS AND EAT SMORES. THE KIDS HAD A GREAT TIME. SAGE AND JAYLEE ENJOYED EACH OTHER AS USUAL. ANYTIME WE TELL THEM TO SMILE FOR A PICTURE, THE IMMEDIATELY GET IN THE "SORORITY GIRL" POSE. MUST JUST BE NATURAL.


GUS ROASTED ALL OF HIS MARSHMALLOWS TOO LONG AND EVERY ONE OF THEM ENDED UP ON THE GROUND. UNITL EVENTUALLY JAYLEE STEPPED IN
ONE!

SAGE'S NEW LOOK

I TOLD SAGE TO GET DRESSED FOR GYMNASTIC YESTERDAY. SHE CAME BACK IN DRESSED LIKE THIS. I LOVE THE SUIT, SOCKS, AND SHOES. I JUST DON'T THINK THEY GO TOGETHER. SHE THOUGHT SHE LOOKED LIKE A PRINCESS, OF COURSE!!

NEWS FLASH!!!!!!

GUS TIED HIS SHOES THIS MORNING!! WE ARE SO EXCITED!!

ALLERGIES

GUS AND SAGE HAVE TERRIBLE ALLERGIES RIGHT NOW. THEY HAVE BEEN TAKING ZYRTEC SO IT IS NOT TOO BAD. GUS THOUGHT HE COULD SLIP ONE BY US YESTERDAY. AT SUPPER HE COUGHED AND THEN SAID, "I WENT TO THE NURSE TODAY AND SHE TOLD ME NOT TO COME TO SCHOOL TOMORROW." I ASKED IF I COULD CALL THE NURSE AND TALK TO HER ABOUT HIM BEING SICK AND HE SAID SHE DIDN'T WANT TO TALK ABOUT IT ANYMORE, JUST NOT TO COME! THIS IS THE LATEST IN A LONG LINE OF EXCUSES NOT TO GO TO SCHOOL. HE HAS QUITE AN IMAGINATION!!

SOCCER

GUS HAD HIS FIRST SOCCER GAME LAST NIGHT. HE SCORED 2 GOALS AND HAD A GREAT TIME. I FORGOT TO TAKE MY CAMERA, BUT WE HAVE MANY MORE GAMES TO COME!!

SHE IS TOO SMART

SAGE THINKS SHE HAS GOT ME!! SHE TOLD ME THIS MORNING, "GOD TOLD ME YESTERDAY THAT YOU CAN'T SPANK LITTLE GIRLS ANYMORE!"

SAGE AND PRATT "TAKE A NAP"

SAGE AND PRATT WERE SUPPOSED TO BE TAKING A NAP TODAY. NEVER AGAIN WILL I LET THEM TAKE A NAP IN THE SAME ROOM. SAGE HAD COLORED ALL OVER HER FACE (AND SOME OF PRATT'S TOO.)

THEY ALSO MESSED UP A REALLY CLEAN ROOM. SAGE HAD SO MUCH FUN WITH PRATT TODAY. HALLE WAS AN ANGEL; SHE TOOK A 4 1/2 HOUR NAP THIS MORNING. SHE IS SUCH A GOOD BABY!

HE'S A LITTLE CONFUSED?!?

GUS HAS A NEW SAYING, "FIRST ONE HOME IS A ROTTEN EGG!"

HANDSOME

WE ARE ABOUT TO GO HELP LANCE PROCESS CATTLE. GUS IS SO EXCITED. HE GOT DRESSED ALL BY HIMSELP AND SAGE AND I TOLD HIM HOW HANDSOME HE LOOKED. HE SAID "TO BAD I WON'T BE HANDSOME ANYMORE AFTER I GET POOP ALL OVER ME!" PRAY THAT SAGE WON'T SCREAM THE WHOLE TIME WE ARE DOWN THERE TODAY LIKE SHE USUALLY DOES.

MY OWNER

AT LUNCH TODAY SAGE WAS ASKING ABOUT LANCE AND I. SHE ALWAYS THINKS THAT HE IS MY BROTHER, SO I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO TELL HER HE IS MY HUSBAND. TODAY SHE SAID, "IS DADDY YOUR OWNER?" LANCE TOLD HER HE WAS AND HE PAYS FOR ME EVERY DAY!

SAGE'S QUESTIONS

"MOM WHY DID GOD NOT GIVE ME PINK HAIR?"

FIRST DAY OF KINDERGARDEN

GUS STARTED KINDER TODAY. HE WAS SO EXCITED ABOUT IT. I HOPE HE IS STILL SO EXCITED ON FRIDAY!! HIS TEACHER IS MRS. ARCHER, AND THERE ARE NINE KIDS IN HIS CLASS. I THINK THERE ARE 5 GIRLS AND 4 BOYS. HE IS MOST EXCITED ABOUT RIDING THE BUS WITH CONNER. THERE IS ONLY ONE BOY IN HIS CLASS THAT WAS THERE LAST YEAR, BUT HE DID NOT SEEM TO MIND THIS MORNING. POOR SAGE SAID SHE DIDN'T WANT TO STAY HOME "ALL ALONE" WITH ME. TATUM CAME OVER TO PLAY TODAY, SO THAT HELPED WITH THE TRANSITION. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT SHE WILL BE GOING TO SCHOOL THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.

IS THIS A TURTLE?

WE SAW THIS CRAWLING ACROSS THE ROAD BY THE FEEDLOT SATURDAY. I WAS HUGE AND LOOK AT THE SPIKES ON ITS TAIL!!

ONLY A LITTLE SISTER....

....WOULD CRAWL AROUND ON THE FLOOR AND LET HER BROTHER TRY TO ROPE HER.

COUSINS

PRATT AND HALLE STAYED WITH US ON WEDNESDAY. GUS IS SO MUCH HELP WITH HALLE. I GOT A REALLY CUTE PICTURE OF 3 OF THEM.



PRATT JUST LAYED ON THE FLOOR AND SAID "CHEESE" AND THEN "LET ME SEE."