Emily's Birthday Events

Emily is one of those lucky enough to have a birthday so close to the holidays. It is hard to make the day special...but I think we succeeded. Charles took Emily out to dinner for some daddy daughter time. I enjoyed dinner with Miss Abigail. We then all met up for some yummy Sweet Sammies ice cream sandwiches and an excursion to Sundance Square.

 Emily celebrating her 11th birthday

 Sweet Miss Abbey

 Charles' sweet girls and woman

 The Thomason clan

 Love this holiday picture

 Picture says it all

 this young lady ate a double double

Christmas

 I was lucky enough to be off work the weekend before Christmas and both Christmas Eve and day. I joined Charles and the girls at his parents ranch on the weekend where we attended Christmas service at the local Presbyterian Church...and they joined my family for Christmas.

 A rare picture of both me and my mom. Love her!!!

 me with the Thomason clan

 Christmas service picture

 goofing around

 not our best picture...but a happy memory

 bright and 4AM early for Santa Claus and gifts

 My parents and their new kids

A family picture that is missing eight of us

Soaking Up Axel Ryan Time

My old Friday pal is leaving me soon as he and his parents are relocating to North Dakota. I have been trying to spend lots of time with this little guy...and we have chalked up a few more memories.

 The armbands once belonged to Nathaniel J.. I think it is fun to see someone sport them around.

 I was invited to little mans Lego birthday party...and of course we had to do a selfie

Who is the kid behind the mask?

 Thinking this is pre-party goofiness

 I was invited to fill in for grandparents day at Axel's school

 Charles and Axel being creative with Lego's

I am totally afraid that Axel Ryan will forget me and we will lose our special connection. Stephanie assures me that this won't happen. I created a special gift for him which will hopefully help. I am so grateful that Brody and Stephanie have trusted me to be an active part of Axels life thus far.

Thanksgiving at home

Thanksgiving in Kelly's life usually consists of working, going out to eat with The Thomas Family or going to Georgia. This year I spent the day with my family....and I forgot to take a picture of all of us.  I really did enjoy the time spent with my parents and eating their delicious food! I also really enjoyed time with Sally, Joel (her fiancé), Hunter and the boys. This is also the first Thanksgiving that Charles and I spent together...however...his second Thanksgiving with my parents.

 Love me some turkey...well my moms turkey soup from leftovers

 I love this picture

Next year the day will be spent in the ED again....

Fall Spirit, Plants and Pumpkins

Since the weather has started cooling off...I have had a great desire to be outside more...and with my old Friday pal Axel Ryan getting close to moving.... I have wanted to hang out with this little man.  I needed to find a way to combine both of these and the answer was The Dallas Arboretum.

I have an awesome brother and sister-in-law that let me have this little man over the years. I am very close with Axel Ryan. 

 Axel happens to like Charles and has named him "Lobster"

I was excited to go and see the pumpkin village. I always like seasonal and holiday festivities

A visit to the son and UH

It was family weekend at the University of Houston this past weekend. I was so excited to go see my college boy. Nathan has totally adapted to college life and his studies...and I do not think it is on his mind to come home and see his mother any time soon. Damon and I made the drive Friday morning and arrived after Nathan was done with class. Damon had never stayed in a hotel before and was totally thrilled. Friday we attended the BBQ and then watched Damon climb the rock wall. The evening was ended at the House of Pies.

That spec of a human is Damon conquering the wall

Saturday we arrived to get Nathan around his new time of functioning....noon. We participated in a text-message scavenger hunt. It was a neat way to see the whole campus....but I must say that Houstonis HUMID. We spent some time in the billiards hall and then made our way to the tailgate party. Totally crazy with people...Damon's name was drawn in a raffle...there were so many great prizes with quite a bit....and Damon won a girly picture frame and photo album. It was really quite funny. We ended the day at the first college football game for all of us. All I have to say is that I would go to one again. Nate...well he was bored stiff for the most part.  A late night dinner and we dropped the kiddo off to work on a paper.

Sunday Steve had to convince a RA to let him into the dorm so he could wake up our son. An odd thing as Nathan never used to sleep all day. Chilis for lunch and a drive to find a Super Cuts for Nathan and the weekend was over. I was sad to leave him once again....However...I do not think that Nathan could get rid of us quick enough. He is truly getting along well with this independence.



It was a hard down pour of rain all the way home. But a fun drive that will be filled with a few inside jokes. Damon was a very fun traveling partner...and well...he and Steve were quite a hoot.

California family

   Part of my reasoning for my impromptu trip to California was just to hide from life. Well, I guess that is only somewhat possible when you have a tendency to post on facebook. 

My Aunt Kandy had seen one of my posts while I was on the sand and contacted me asking if we could have a visit. Not a real easy thing to arrange on such a short stay. After working out the details, we were able to spend the evening together. We had a nice drive along PCH (Pacific Coast Highway) in her convertible.....LOVED IT! We then picked up my cousin Becky and her little Libby and headed for a very tasty dinner at Pickup Stix. We finished the evening off at her house with a nice visit with my Uncle Terry. The conversation seemed so one-sided {all about me and my family} plus a nice quick version from Becky's husband Brad. 

I really enjoyed being able to spend the evening with good food, conversation and family that I don't see nearly enough.

Sweet Sixteen

Blowing out her 16 candles

Dominique, Raven, Hunter and Ashley
The family gathered at moms house today (a day early) to celebrate Hunter turning sixteen. A few of her friends came also came over and the girls were all pleasant. Mom made lasagna and salad. Sally bought a yummy chocolate cake (a rare moment as she always bakes them). Hunter blew out all the candles in one breath...better than my lungs will allow. She opened her gifts....and I am not sure what she got from everyone else. I do know that Hunter did not seem impressed with my gift {tear}. I bought her sixteen different items....everything from a cool cup, cutesy note pads, picture frames and a matchbox car.  Either way...my intent was good....and I still love her.

Happy birthday Hunter!

May you survive this next year with some lovely memories.

Mothers Day

Today

Mothers Day 2007 with our sweet little Miranda

Mothers Day is always a day that is bittersweet to me. A day to reflect over my life plan that was not fulfilled. Also a day to be joyous for the blessing that I did receive. I try to keep my thoughts of Miranda to myself. But it is very sad to me knowing that my once little girl will never even know that I was apart of her life. This year, again, was especially happy and sad all in one. I awoke realizing that this was my last official mothers day that Nathaniel would still be all mine. This is so selfish sounding I know....but this year....I wanted him all to myself. Steve even offered to come home early from his study session and go eat with us. Normally I would have been thrilled. Not this year...I didn't say no...I just didn't say yes. But secretly I did not want to share our son. Steve must have sensed something as he opted to not come home. In a few short months, I will have to start sharing Nathaniel... with life... and the activities/commitments that come with it.

our chocolate mousse cheesecake
a little blurry as Nathan didn't have the i phone focused.

So today, it was me and my child, together at our two people table at the Cheesecake Factory. And it was meant to be....front row parking and no wait for a party of two. A wine crusted chicken plate for Nate and a jumbalaya shrimp dish for me. Followed by a very tasty cheesecake shared by the two of us. All this equaled a very lovely evening.