SICK WEEK

IT'S BEEN A ROUGH WEEK AT OUR HOUSE. SAGE HAS HAD PINK EYE AND THE STOMACH FLU TWICE, AND GUS HAD STREP THROAT! EVERYONE IS BETTER NOW, EXCEPT FOR GUS'S HIP. IT IS REALLY SORE FROM HIS ROCEPHIN SHOT! YESTERDAY MORNING AFTER SAGE HAD HER SECOND BOUT WITH THE STOMACH FLU, SHE ASKED WHAT HAD HAPPENED. I TOLD HER THAT SHE JUST GOT ANOTHER BUG IN HER TUMMY! A FEW HOURS LATER SHE TOLD ME THAT EVERYTHING WOULD HAVE BEEN FINE IF SHE HADN'T SWALLOWED THAT FLY THE NIGHT BEFORE!

FRIENDS

JACE AND JAYLEE CAME OVER FOR A LITTLE BIT YESTERDAY TO PLAY. GUS AND JACE "RODE BULLS" ON THE TRAMPOLINE LIKE ALWAYS WHICH MADE GUS'S DAY!

SAGE AND JAYLEE PLAYED DRESS UP OF COURSE! JAYLEE CAME UPSTAIRS, AND WE COULD TELL SOMETHING WAS WRONG WITH HER DRESS. IT TOOK A MINUTE TO FIGURE OUT THAT SHE HAD IT ON UPSIDE DOWN! WE ALL HAD A GOOD LAUGH, AND SHE THOUGHT IT LOOKED GREAT!

CHRISTMAS PROGRAM 2009

WE HAD A GREAT CHRISTMAS PROGRAM AT SCHOOL ON THURSDAY. AS USUAL GUS SANG LOUDER THAN ANYONE ON STAGE AND SOUNDED GREAT.



SAGE WAS A LITTLE AHEAD OF THE MUSIC PART OF THE TIME, BUT DID GREAT FOR HER FIRST PERFORMANCE. SAGE'S CLASS SANG A SONG CALLED "HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS." SHE TOLD ME THE DAY BEFORE THAT IT WAS SO WONDERFUL, AND THAT IT WOULD MAKE ME CRY. I THINK SHE HAD BEEN LISTENING TO THE TEACHERS TALK ABOUT THE SONG. IT WAS SO CUTE.

A SPECIAL GUEST SHOWED UP AT THE END OF THE PROGRAM! I'M SURE THE KIDS HAD ANOTHER BIG LIST FOR HIM.

MCCLOY CHRISTMAS/THANKSGIVING

WE HAD A GREAT TIME THE DAY AFTER THANKSGIVING CELEBRATING WITH ALL THE MCCLOY'S. AGAIN THIS YEAR THE KIDS SPENT THE ENTIRE DAY IN THE SWIMMING POOL. I'M SO GLAD THE KIDS ARE ALL THE CLOSE AND ABLE TO ENJOY EACH OTHER SO MUCH! I KNOW THEY WILL BE FRIENDS AND ENJOY EACH OTHER FOR A LONG TIME!

DO NOT BUY......

......THE SUCTION CUP TOOTHBRUSHES! SAGE THOUGHT SHE WAS SO FUNNY THE OTHER DAY AND FIGURED OUT SHE COULD STICK IT TO HER HEAD. SHE RAN AROUND FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES LAUGHING AND WE TOOK IT OFF. THE NEXT DAY SHE HAD A HICKEY ON HER FOREHEAD!
THE NEXT DAY, SHE AND GUS WERE PLAYING IN HIS ROOM, AND SOME HOW SHE FELL (JUMPED) OFF THE BUNKBED AND LANDED ON HIS TEETH! THEY BOTH CAME TO ME CRYING, AND I TOLD THEM NOT TO JUMP OFF THE BEDS ANYMORE. HER NOSE GOT MORE SWOLLEN AND BLUE AS THE DAYS WENT ON, AND SHE COULD BREATH THROUGH HER NOSE FOR A FEW DAYS. IT IS BACK TO NORMAL NOW, BUT SHE LOOKED PRETTY ROUGH!

THE BLACK SKIRT

YESTERDAY I WORE AND OLD (AT LEAST 10 YEARS) LONG BLACK SKIRT TO CHURCH. WHEN SAGE CAME IN MY ROOM AND SAW IT SHE GASPED, AND SAID, "OH MOM, I LOVE THAT SKIRT! CAN I HAVE IT WHEN YOU DIE?"

TTU VS OU

WE ENJOYED THE TECH GAME ON SATURDAY! IT SURE WAS FUN TO SEE THEM BEAT OU!! I THINK THE KIDS HAD THE MOST FUN SEEING FRIENDS BEFORE THE GAME. GUS GOT TO SEE SAXIE AND PLAY FOOTBALL IN THE PARKING LOT. WE ALL ENJOYED THE GAME INCLUDING SPILLING THREE $5.00 COKES AND DROPPING A LARGE UNEATEN HOT DOG!! WE HAD A GREAT TIME. HALLE IS EVEN LEARNING TO "GET HER GUNS UP!"

POLAR EXPRESS 2009

LAST FRIDAY WE WENT TO LUBBOCK AND TOOK A QUICK RIDE TO THE NORTH POLE! THE KIDS HAD A GREAT TIME AND DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE THAT THE TRAIN ROCKED BACK AND FORTH LIKE WE WERE ON THE OCEAN!! (IT MADE MOM AND DAD FEEL A LITTLE QUEASY!) WE HAD COOKIES AND HOT CHOCOLATE ON THE WAY AND HEARD THE STORY OF THE POLAR EXPRESS. WHEN WE ARRIVED AT THE NORTH POLE (COMPLETE WITH SNOW (COTTON) AND ALL), SANTA AND HIS ELVES HOPPED ON THE TRAIN AND RODE BACK WITH US. GUS HAD WRITTEN A LETTER TO SANTA AND WAS ABLE TO HAND DELIVER IT, AND SAGE MADE SURE HE KNEW SHE WANTED A PURPLE BIKE!

SAGE HAS NOW DECIDED IN ADDITION TO WANTING TO BE A SHAMU TRAINER AND MERMAID, SHE ALSO WANTS TO BE ONE OF SANTA'S ELVES!

ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS.......

.....IS MY TWO FRONT TEETH!! (OR MAYBE NOT!)
GUS LOST HIS TWO FRONT TEETH IN THE PAST FEW WEEKS, AND I TOLD HIM NOW YOU CAN "SAY ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS MY TWO FRONT TEETH!" HE WAS PRETTY SURE THAT WAS NOT ALL HE WANTED.

FALL IS HERE

IT MUST HAVE GOTTEN REALLY COLD LAST THURSDAY NIGHT, BECAUSE THE LEAVES STARTED FALLING! WE HAD A BLANKET OF LEAVES IN THE BACKYARD BY FRIDAY AFTERNOON. THE KIDS WERE SO EXCITED WHEN THEY LOOKED OUTSIDE! I BRIBED THEM INTO RACKING UP A HUGE PILE SO THEY COULD PLAY IN THEM! THEY HAD A GREAT TIME RUNNING AND JUMPING.

THEY ALSO DECIDED THEY COULD MAKE "LEAVE ANGELS." THEY DID ALOT OF RACKING, BUT I COULDN'T CONVINCE EITHER OF THEM TO HELP ME HAUL THEM OFF!

FALL CARNIVAL

LAST THURSDAY WAS THE FALL CARNIVAL AT SCHOOL. THE KIDS WERE SO EXCITED TO WEAR THEIR COSTUMES AND PLAY GAMES! SAGE WAS TINKERBELL, AND GUS WAS OPTIMUS PRIME (TRANSFORMER.)

PUMPKINS

WE WENT TO THE PUMPKIN PATCH IN ETTER AGAIN THIS YEAR FOR PUMPKINS! I FORGOT MY CAMERA THAT DAY SO LOOK AT HOLLY'S BLOG FOR PICTURES. LANCE AND THE KIDS PUT THE DESIGN GUS CAME UP WITH ON THE BIG PUMPKIN. HE SAYS THEY ARE ALWAYS REALLY EXCITED UNTIL IT COMES TO GETTING THE INSIDES OUT AND THEN THEY ARE OUT! IT TURNED OUT REALLY WELL. TONIGHT IS THE FALL CARNIVAL AT SCHOOL! WE ARE SO EXCITED!!

TOY STORY

A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, WE MET WILL, SHAYLA, AND GIGI AT THE MOVIES IN GUYMON TO WATCH THE TOY STORY DOUBLE FEATURE IN 3D. THE KIDS AND I HAD NEVER BEEN TO A 3D MOVIE BEFORE, AND WE REALLY ENJOYED IT! THE GLASSES WERE WAY TO BIG FOR SAGE. EVERYTIME SHE WOULD SIT BACK IN HER CHAIR THEY WOULD FALL OFF! GUS LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT (ESPECIALLY THE POPCORN!) WE ARE ANXIOUSLY AWAITING THE RELEASE OF TOY STORY 3 NEXT YEAR!

SOCCER

WELL, SOCCER SEASON IS OVER, AND I AM FINALLY POSTING PICTURES! BOTH KIDS HAD A GREAT TIME PLAYING EVEN THOUGH THE WEATHER NEVER COOPERATED!

SAGE WAS MORE INTO THE SOCIALIZING THAN PLAYING. SHE REALLY ENJOYED HOLDING HANDS WITH THE OTHER LITTLE GIRL ON HER TEAM. SHE WAS USUALLY PRETTY FAR FROM THE BALL, BUT EVERY ONCE AND A WHILE THE BALL WOULD RUN INTO HER AND SHE WOULD GET A KICK. HOPEFULLY SHE WILL LEARN A LITTLE ABOUT BEING AGGRESSIVE WITHIN THE NEXT YEAR!

GUS MOVED UP TO A BIGGER FIELD AND BIGGER GOAL THIS YEAR. IT SEEMED LIKE EVERYTIME I LOOKED UP HE WAS TYING HIS SHOES, BUT HE HAD FUN AND DID WELL! IT IS HARD FOR HIM TO FOCUS ON SOCCER RIGHT NOW BECAUSE ALL HE CAN TALK ABOUT IS GETTING TO PLAY FOOTBALL WHEN HE IS IN 3RD GRADE!! HE MADE GREAT IMPROVEMENTS THROUGH THE SEASON AND HAD ALOT OF FUN.

SCHOOL GIRL CONTINUED.....

SAGE JUST GOT OFF THE BUS, AND I ASKED WHAT SHE LEARNED TODAY. OF COURSE THE ANSWER'"WAS "I DON'T 'BMEMBER.'"
SO I ASKED WHEN SHE WAS GOING TO START 'BMEMBERING'
SHE SAID, "WELL IN KINDERGARTEN OF COURSE!"

SCHOOL GIRL

SAGE THIS MORNING:

"MOM I'M SMARTER THAN YOU BECAUSE I AM IN SCHOOL AND YOU'RE NOT!"

PEACE

GUS AND SAGE ARE BOTH CONFUSED ABOUT THE PEACE SIGN. YESTERDAY GEORGE WAVED AT US WHEN WE WERE TAKING LANCE LUNCH WITH TWO FINGERS, AND SAGE SAID, "MOM, WHY DID GEORGE JUST GIVE US THE TWO SIGN?"

GUS HAS ALSO BEEN CONFUSED BY THIS. HE CALLS IT THE PEEWEE SIGN!

4 GOING ON 14

SAGE MISSED THE BUS THIS MORNING PROBABLY FOR THE FIRST OF MANY TIMES IN HER LOOOOOONG LIFE! SHE HAD PICKED OUT CLOTHES LAST NIGHT THAT DIDN'T MATCH, SO I PICKED OUT CLOTHES AFTERWARDS THAT DID MATCH. I DRESSED HER AND THEN THE FIT BEGAN! WE FINALLY AGREED ON DIFFERENT CLOTHES, AND SHE HAS AGREED TO WEAR THE CLOTHES I PICKED TOMORROW! HOPEFULLY THEY WILL GO OVER BETTER IN THE MORNING THAN THEY DID TODAY!

I DON'T KNOW IF I AM STRONG ENOUGH TO HAVE THESE FIGHTS FOR THE NEXT 15 YEARS!

RACE DOG

WELL, CORN HARVEST IS IN FULL SWING!! YEAH FOR IT GETTING STARTED, SO IT CAN END AT SOME POINT!! I JUST TOOK GUS OUT TO RIDE THE COMBINE WITH LANCE. WE DECIDED TO RIDE THE FOUR WHEELER BECAUSE THEY ARE CUTTING JUST BEHIND THE HOUSE. THE WHOLE WAY OUT THERE BEN (THE DOG) RAN RIGHT BESIDE THE FRONT TIRE. I WAS SCARED TO DEATH THAT HE WAS GOING TO DUCK UNDER THE TIRE AND GET RUN OVER! I KEPT YELLING FOR HIM TO MOVE, AND SAGE SAID, "MOM, I THINK HE WANTS TO FIND OUT WHAT HEAVEN LOOKS LIKE!"

FIESTA DAYS

WE SPENT THE WEEKEND IN TEXHOMA FOR FIESTA DAYS. THEY HAD A FOOTBALL GAME, PARADE, LUNCH IN THE PARK AND A BANQUET. LANCE'S BROTHER CLAY SPOKE AT THE BANQUET. WE ALL HAD A GREAT TIME. GUS RODE WITH WILL IN THE PARADE AND HAD A GREAT TIME, BUT HE WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTED NOT TO GET CANDY. SAGE AND JAXON GOT PLENTY FOR EVERYONE. SHAYLA IS A FLAG GIRL IN THE BAND, AND WE HAD A GREAT TIME WATCHING HER! WE WERE REALLY TIRED ON SUNDAY, BUT EVERYONE HAD A GREAT TIME!

LABOR DAY

WE TRAVELLED TO RUIDOSO OVER LABOR DAY WEEKEND. THE WEATHER WAS GREAT AND OF COURSE WE ENJOYED WATCHING THE RACES! WE DIDN'T STAY FOR THE BIG RACE ON MONDAY BECAUSE IT IS SUCH A LONG DRIVE BACK, BUT WE WATCHED THE BIG RACE ON SUNDAY. CHIP WOOLEY (TRAINER OF MINE THAT BIRD) HAD A HORSE RACING ON SUNDAY, AND HE WAS VERY EASY TO SPOT BECAUSE HE IS STILL ON CRUTCHES! THE KIDS GOT HIS AUTOGRAPH AND WERE VERY EXCITED! MINE THAT BIRD WAS IN RUIDOSO ALSO.

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

WELL, I'M A COUPLE OF WEEKS BEHIND, BUT WE HAVE SURVIVED SCHOOL SO FAR. GUS LOVES FIRST GRADE AND IS EXCITED TO GO EVERY DAY. HE IS READING SO WELL AND IS EXCITED TO READ EVERY BOOK IN HIS BACKPACK EVERY DAY. ONE DAY HE BROUGHT HOME SIX BOOKS!! WE HAVE BEEN BUSY GOING TO SOCCER AND FOOTBALL GAMES, SO WE HAVE DONE A LOT OF READING IN THE CAR.

SAGE IS ENJOYING SCHOOL ALSO. SHE WALKS IN THE DOOR EVERY DAY AT NOON AND SAYS, "I DON'T REMEMBER WHAT I LEARNED TODAY!" SHE HAS GOTTEN TIRED OF US ASKING, SO SHE JUST TELLS US. THROUGH THE DAY SHE GIVES A FEW HINTS OF WHAT WENT ON, BUT IT USUALLY JUST ENTAILS WHO SHE PLAYED WITH. SHE WILL ALSO SPOUT OFF THINGS THAT SHE DIDN'T KNOW BEFORE, AND IF YOU ASK WHERE SHE LEARNED IT SHE ALWAYS SAYS, "MRS. WILSON TAUGHT ME." SHE LOVES MRS. WILSON!

60TH ANNIVERSERY WEEKEND IN RUIDOSO

WE SPENT LAST WEEKEND CELEBRATING GRANNY AND GRANDADDY'S ANNIVERSERY IN RUIDOSO. WE HAD A GOOD TIME AND OF COURSE STAYED SUPER BUSY! WE WENT TO THE RACES FRIDAY AND SATURDAY. SATURDAY NIGHT WE HAD DINNER AT THE TEXAS CLUB AND SAT RIGHT NEXT TO THE DANCE FLOOR! SAGE AND GUS HAD A GREAT TIME DANCING! I THINK EVERY YEAR SHOULD BE A CELEBRATION AFTER 60! HOPEFULLY WE CAN DO IT AGAIN NEXT YEAR.

THE RIVERWALK

BEFORE WE RETURNED HOME FROM SAN ANTONIO, WE SPENT PART OF A MORNING AT THE RIVERWALK. THE DALLAS COWBOYS WERE IN TRAINING CAMP, AND WE HAPPENED TO BE BY THE THEIR HOTEL WHEN SOME BUSES WERE UNLOADING. THE ONLY PLAYER WE RECOGNIZED WAS JASON WITTEN. I REALLY WANTED GUS TO TRY TO GET AN AUTOGRAPH, BUT HE WOULD NOT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT. IT WAS REALLY CONCERNED BECAUSE HE WAS WEARING A TEXAS TECH SHIRT AND CAP THAT DAY AND NOT DALLAS COWBOY. HE THOUGHT THEY WOULD BE MAD AT HIM.

WE ALSO WALKED DOWN TO THE ALAMO. WHEN WE WERE ABOUT A BLOCK AWAY, SAGE SAID, "WHERE IS THIS ALAMALL MOM?" SHE NEVER DID QUITE FIGURE IT OUT! SHE WOULD NOT SMILE FOR A PICTURE THERE EITHER!

MORE MUTTON BUSTIN

HERE'S SOME MORE PICTURES

GUS AFTER GETTING HIS TROPHY TUESDAY NIGHT.

GUS AFTER THE ROLL WITH HIS SHEEP WEDNESDAY NIGHT, BEFORE WE GOT HIS FACED CLEANED AND A DRINK!!

MUTTON BUSTIN

GUS RODE AT THE LEA COUNTY FAIR IN LOVINGTON AGAIN THIS YEAR. HE DID GREAT! HE RODE ONE SHEEP ON TUESDAY NIGHT AND ANOTHER ON WEDNESDAY DURING THE RODEO. I TOLD HIM BEFORE THE WEDNESDAY NIGHT PERFORMANCE NOT TO LET GO UNTIL THE SHEEP WAS ROLLING ON TOP OF HIM, AND HE DIDN'T! HE CAME BACK TO THE CHUTE WITH A FACE AND MOUTHFUL OF DIRT, BUT WAS FINE AFTER GETTING HIS MOUTH WASHED OUT.

MOVIE AND SMORES

AFTER A LONG DAY AT SEAWORLD, WE HAD DINNER AND PLAYED AT THE POOL AT THE HOTEL. AFTER DARK THE HOTEL PLAYS A MOVIE OUTSIDE AND HAS FIREPITS TO ROAST SMORES. IT WAS A LONG DAY, BUT WE HAD ALOT OF FUN. AS YOU CAN SEE THE KIDS REALLY ENJOYED EACH OTHER! SINCE THEN WE HAVE GONE ON A COUPLE OF WEEKEND TRIPS, AND SAGE ALWAYS ASKS IF MICHEAL IS COMING TOO!