Happy Halloween!

This year Halloween was really fun because they were both old enough to dress up, and Robby was definitely big enough to get in the spirit of things. We got to go trick-or-treating twice--once with the school on Friday morning and once this evening at our church.


Here are some pics from the events:

(We totally bribed him with a piece of candy to get him to smile for this one :)

Not all ballerinas can suck their thumb and perform their moves at the same time.

Robby was thrilled to get to trick-or-treat with Aiden. This was their first year not to have matching costumes, though we moms never actually planned it the first three years.

Robby and Brodie are ready to take this joint for all the candy they can get!

If I play my cards right, that banana will be mine!

And a Happy Halloween it was :)

A Real Texan Now!?

I moved to Texas in 1990 at the ripe age of 9 after being born and raised in Fort Collins, CO. My dad is a born and bred Texan, and even though my mom didn't grow up in Texas, she was born here and graduated from high school here. So, I consider myself to be of Texan heritage. After 20 years here, after marrying a Texan, and after giving birth to two Texan babies, I think I have the right to call myself a true Texan.

But, there was a missing key ingredient. After years of trying to figure out the missing link, I finally hit upon it. How can I be a true Texas girl if I've never owned a pair of cowboy boots? (And, no, the red lace up ropers from 5th grade DEFINITELY don't count.). Last week though, my sweet husband bought me my very first (and let's be straight here--very likely my only) pair of boots.

So, here I am. 29 and finally a true Texan. What a good day. Let's hope the Rangers do me proud.

One of These Things is Not Like the Other

We have a very set nighttime routine with Robby in terms of getting ready for bed. The routine is as follows, with very rare deviations:

1. Mommy/Daddy announce that it is time to start getting ready for bed.

2. Robby suddenly remembers 14 or 15 urgent tasks that must be completed before bedtime preparations can begin. Much bargaining ensues.

3. PJ/teeth brushing time

4. Last minute wrestling and/or chase games are held between Robby and Daddy

5. One last potty break

6. Story time. Always a Curious George book, though we do vary on which one will be chosen

7. Prayer time and song time. Robby normally requests a minimum of five songs. We bargain this down to three. The following three songs are always chosen of late and in this exact order:

A. Jesus Loves Me --the standard

B. Jesus Loves the Little Children --a true classic

C. Life is a Highway (as prominently featured in Cars) -- recently featured in Parents magazine as one of the top lullabies of all time. .....or not.

Happy 1st Birthday Juliet!!

Juliet, you have finally made it. You are officially one year old. This year has been a huge blessing, and I cannot tell you how happy you have made us.

I love you so much.

I love your beautiful smile more than I love my first cup of hot tea in the morning.

I love your sweet snuggles more than I love homemade chocolate chip cookies OR brownies.

I love your infectious laugh more than I love sleeping in as late as I want.

I love your slightly mischevious nature more than I love shopping for a new pair of shoes.

I love your inquisitive personality more than I love curling up with a good book.

I love your modest drama queen tendencies more than I love watching Grey's Anatomy.

I love your wonderful (and not picky!) appetite more than I love even the best Mexican food.

I love your tenacity more than I love solving even the hardest word puzzle.

I love your warm greetings more than I love getting long emails or real mail.

And, it's not just me. You have made our family more complete. Daddy and Robby both love you so much also. We can't wait to see how you will grow over the next year!

Like Father, Like Son

Recent breakfast conversation with Bryan:

Bryan: The key to successful entrepreneurship is finding a product or service that you can offer that costs you less than what other people are willing to pay.

Amy: Mmmm hmmmm. What's amazing is your ability to find those things.

Bryan: Are you kidding me? It's simple--you just always have to be on the look out and to be ready to jump on ideas when you have them. Of course, it's always very important to carefully research the idea and put facts and figures on paper before you start something.

Amy: Oh, completely. Yeah. Man, this Chick-fil-A chicken biscuit is awesome.

Bryan: I guess. Sometimes eating is such a chore though.

Amy simply makes a face that is a mixture of disbelief and resignation.

-- End scene --

Recent dinner experience with Robby:

Mommy: Robby, you simply have to eat something. Food is what gives us energy and helps us to grow big. And, pizza is yummy.

Robby: Noooooooo. I don't want to.

Mommy: Just a few bites. You got to make the pizza all by yourself. So fun!

Robby: I don't wanna eat.

Before Mommy knows it, Robby has sprinted from the table and comes back with a calculator and proceeds to just crunch some numbers. While she doesn't read three year old writing very well, she's pretty sure it's a basic workup of the numbers for Robby's first venture--a pizza stand at the daycare.

Robby, thinking to himself: Let's see, average food haul per day would be one poptart, three pizzas, and six chicken nuggets.... that should be good for at least three or four glasses of milk, a dump truck, and some sweet markers. Now, I just have to figure out how to smuggle the food into school without the parentals noticing that I'm not eating it.

A Family Portrait