Winter Update

Well, I've realized that if I continue to wait until I find time (or I guess make time) to upload photos I may miss a lot of blog worthy info. So here goes a post-Christmas update without pics. The biggest and saddest news is that we lost our beloved Stoey. Stoey (short for stow-away - from my college no-pets allowed apartment days) has been a part of our family since our family began! Marty and I found her as a kitten in the parking lot of my apartments off Riverside in Austin in college (we weren't even married yet). Anyway, she was our kitty from day one and welcomed each one of the boys into our family. They've never known life without her. She was an old girl at 17 and finally decided it was time to go. She just refused to eat so after a trip to the vet we decided to let her have it her way. She died last Saturday night. We buried her in the backyard and planted bulbs there to always remind us of her. She was our good girl. We do still have our Lucky (the stray we picked up about a year ago). He is still a little confused as to why I am letting him eat out of Stoey's food and water bowls.

A Funny Boy Story
I just love having three amazing boys. Thursday Nolan, Colin, and some neighbor boys were out playing in the backyard. Colin came running in to notify me that "Lucky caught a mouse but it isn't dead and Nolan is trying to catch it." I ran outside knowing that Nolan would indeed catch the mouse if I didn't intervene. I found the boys (3 of them I think) under the neighbor's deck with the mouse cornered under a wheelbarrow. Nolan had his bug-catcher jug (big enough for a mouse) open and ready to capture the creature. Worms, bugs, snails I can handle (he brings them inside in containers all the time) but I had to draw the line at a mouse. I had to explain to them that mice have diseases that we don't want to catch! I wish I'd had my camera.

Other News
We are off to sign-up yet again for baseball - this time only Matthew (whew). Nolan and Colin want to continue with swim lessons which is great with me.

We are in a bad allergy season here with the cedar (all over our backyard). I had Nolan allergy-tested (which was an ordeal - poor guy) and he showed up highly allergic to cedar, dustmites, and of all things cats. This came about 4 days after Stoey was gone (she's slept in his room everynight since he was out of the crib). Poor Nolan. We are working on clearing some allergens in this house to get him feeling better.

Marty has been working lots and doing jobs around the houses. We got the boys' room painted and it looks great. I have been cooking alot and really enjoying that. I'll post some recipes soon.
I guess that's all for now.

A Few More Things

Forgot also to mention Nolan had his first field trip in kindergarten. They visisted a pumpkin patch and learned all kinds of things. Also Colin sang his heart out in his Thanksgiving Program at school. Finally, here is a picture of a wild fox the boys spotted in our back yard a few weeks ago. Oh also a picture of Grandpa and Aunt Cara with all the grandkids at the beach in October.

Catching Up

Lots of catching up to do here. We had a great Halloween. Matthew actually dressed up which is HIGHLY unusual. I sat out with the neighbors passing out candy while Marty took the boys around the neighborhood. Afterwards, their friends, the Greely boys (also 3 boys) came by for a visit.

We went camping the next day (Nov 1st) to Palmetto State Park near Seguin. What a great time. They boys fished, kayaked, geocached with GPS units, hiked, etc. We will definitely need to do this again.

Baseball is finally over (for now) - thank goodness. Matthew's team won the championship!!! It was so wonderful because they lost many of the regular season games but won out in the tournament. Nolan enjoyed t-ball but says he wants to play soccer next. That should be fun.

We are off to Ft. Worth today for Thanksgiving with the cousins. We are praying that we won't trade viruses because all 3 cousins have been running fever, etc, and Colin has a bad cold. That's about all for now - I need to get packing!

Oh - one more important event. Cara and Marty ran the Inaugural Rock N Roll Marathon here in San Antonio!! Marty ran the whole thing (26 miles) and Cara ran half. They both did great. Marty limped for about a week after but seems recovered now. Great Job!

Obama Wins

I know you know by now but I had to add this entry. I will so enjoy going back and looking at this in the months to come. I am so excited and so relieved. Praise God. As one of my dearest friends, Jenny, put it in a text to me last night "America has been redeemed."

Fall Ball

In the fall, the little league calls baseball "fall ball." I am beginning to really like fall ball. It is not nearly as competitve as spring ball and more of a learning experience for the boys. Marty is coaching Nolan's t-ball and Matthew is playing coach-pitch with a great team. Matthew has played most positions but likes 2nd base and left field best. He is hitting well and we are proud of him. Nolan is doing a great job as well. He listens, hits hard, and pays attention in the outfield.

10 Things I Love About Austin

1. There they are, just as you almost hit the city limits - slowly you start to see them... OBAMA bumper stickers!! They're everywhere and I am reminded yet again how I miss Austin.
2. The Longhorns
3. UT (yes this is different from the Longhorns - the University itself, not the sports)
4. Zilker Park and the Zilker Zephyr
5. Barton Springs
6. City Parks around every corner
7. Town Lake (I think they've renamed it which is probably a good thing)
8. Runners
9. Recycling containers readily available
10. Only 70 miles from San Antonio!