Anne dressing up

Anne loves her new dress up trunk full of tutus and princess dresses and so do I. She also has slippers and crowns and a mirror. Makes my heart so happy!

Blue Tile

James wanted to surprise me with new blue tile that I have been wanting since we moved in 3 years ago. They didn't come in before we got back from vacation but he has worked on it steadily every weekend. Yesterday he worked 10 hours. The kitchen is the largest area and will take awhile. Next Jamie and I want to paint the house blue, but James said wait until I finish this project first.

Perm crazy

Michelle permed my hair the first Saturday in January and gave me a family discount. It is crazy big hair now. I laugh every time I look in the mirror. Anne has been giving me crowns and flowers to wear in it. Why not?!

Michelle and Macaroni Grill

My niece Michelle, her fiance' Andre, Jamie and I went to eat at Macaroni Grill last Saturday. Jamie drew pictures and we talked about the upcoming wedding. My sisters are coming March 3rd - 11th. We are very excited.

Austin Park and Pizza

James wanted to have a family night the first Friday we were home. He picked Austin Park and Pizza in Round Rock. He didn't go in the summer. He saw the neighbors walking by and asked them to join us. Their preschooler Kayla and Anne had fun in toddler town - riding the merry go round over and over again - glad it was free. Then jumping in the bouncy house and finally driving a race car with Kayla's dad. They are moving soon to the Dallas area and we will miss them. Kayla's birthday party is next Saturday - one more playdate.

Maria and Main Event

The night before school started in January, Maria called and invited Jamie to meet her at Main Event where they said goodbye last December when she moved to Mexico. She has been great about calling and touching base monthly. Here is picture of her new little sister.

Special Christmas gifts

I got sick on Christmas evening and couldn't make it to Marilyn's crazy Christmas game but she came over the Thursday night after we got back and brought a large stack of gifts for me and the girls. Presentation - the bow was a big hit and we all wore one while unwrapping. She had awesome wooden dolls and finger puppets for Anne. Horses, horse calendars, horse necklace, horse bookmark, lotion, makeup, etc. for Jamie. Crystal dish, decorative crystal candle holders, and a cross for me. Jamie shared her lotion with us and Anne has been covering me with it daily since - ahh pampering. Marilyn made Christmas special for me! Thank you. Most of the pictures of Jamie had a lot of red eye but here are the stack of gifts.

Square dancing is coming to an end

Jamie brought home a new outfit that is so beautiful and makes her look like a lady. Sad she won't be wearing it long though - square dancing with the Bluebonnets is coming to an end soon - the last Saturday in January. It was fun while it lasted.

Baptism - Joshua David Haunsperger

Baptism - Joshua Sunday, January 8, 2012

January 2nd

Jan 2nd - cousins playdate Jamie was busy all day with friends and family. Aidan gave her an ornament with her name on it and an art doodle diary. Then she went to Maddy's house for an all girls adventure. Found out later it was Maddy's 13th birthday hangout. Then the boy cousins came over to play Wii, Uno, and eat chocolate cake and ice cream! James bought us a huge cake saying "Welcome Home" that we needed to share. Ended the night hanging out at Half Price books and using gift cards from the grandparents.

Botanical Gardens - Dec 31, 2011

Botanical Gardens - Dec 31, 2011 Last day of vacation, New Year's Eve, we went to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens in Richmond with my sisters. Anne loved the sand box. Jamie liked the smores fire pit. The kids rolled in the New Year by rolling down the hill. There was a band and small parade. The lights were beautiful as well. Great memory! Oh I forgot to mention the awesome collection of fairy houses. So cool!

Busch Gardens - Christmas Town - Dec 30, 2011

Busch Gardens - Christmas Town - Dec 30, 2011 Finally got our pictures of Busch Gardens posted. Lori and I took the kids on Friday; she got a pass and got us a discount. Marti wanted to go but she had to work. We decided to stay closer to home on New Years Eve. It was beautiful - the pictures don't do it justice. We got there right on time at 3pm and saw Big Ben. We went right into the first show Sesame Street Christmas. We saw tons of lights. The countries were each decorated with colorful trees. England was blue; Ireland was green, one was purple, Italy was silver and gold. Ballerinas danced in Italy while we dined on delicious food. Germany had the largest tree - O'Tannebaum and great costume show with singers and dancers. Jamie and Anne's favorite part was the bumper cars. Ended the night taking the skyride over the whole park. Took videos. Long hour and a half wait holding a sleeping toddler. But Jamie really wanted to do it.

Christmas cards

I decided to cheat and take photos of my friends Christmas cards so you can see better photos then mine. The Councills, the Dicks, and the Grants. Also an extra note about Beth she was a big part of my scrapbooking adventures too and became a Creative Memory consultant for awhile. We used to get together monthly and even though my albums are not works of art except for a few pages - ideas I copied - they are done. All of Anne's life is digital on the blog.

Day 4 "Grandma" Vivian

We stopped by to see "Grandma" Vivian and Bobby on our way home. Vivian and I were coworkers during my first job with Portsmouth School Board. I was about 18 at the time. She has always been a good friend and helped me through the years. She took the girls shopping at Macy's and Anne got a yellow outfit. She also got Jamie a mini brownie maker and they made the brownies before we left to go to the Cracker Barrel for dinner. (Note: We stopped at every Cracker Barrel on the drive from VA to TX one time we traveled across country with Sha to visit when cousin Lucas was a baby.) She decorates her yard so beautifully every year and the reindeer are a big hit. Bobby smokes a pipe and the smell reminded me of my Great Uncle Donnie who smoked one too when I was young and visited him and Aunt Bee in West VA in the summers. Most of the family I knew and loved are now in heaven.

Day 4 lunch

Tommy and Jamie were in Mission Friends with Ms. Edna when they were young.

We met Colleen and her new baby at Chickfila for lunch along with the Councills - Stephanie, Clyde, Tommy and her little girl Gracie who is now 3 also. I didn't get very good pics. Please share when you can. It was good to see everyone. We met Colleen through Jim our lifeguard at the 1st apts we lived in at VA when Jamie was a baby. We went to their wedding at the Botanical Gardens. Stephanie was the children's director at our church in VA for many years - VBS songs and Veggie Tales movies are the best memories. We formed lots of good friendships and even had a scrapbook devotional club back then. She was the great leader that held us all together.

Day 4 Angel

I caught Angel at home and got to see Aidan who is now in Kindergarten. Her daughter Gabby was also visiting this week. Gavin and Ashton are both in middle school now. It was good to talk and catch up. Angel and I used to be involved in the book fair and PTA. We are both glad those endless days of volunteering are over now though. Now we both have paying jobs.

Day 3 with the Manns

Day 3 Manns The Manns used to be our next door neighbors at our 1st house. They moved after we did. The boys are growing up fast. Anne liked their dog Max. They took us to eat at YNot Pizza and the kids had fun rolling the dough into shapes. They watched the movie Rango. They let us spend the night before our next adventure.

Day 3 Virginia Beach

Day 3 Virginia Beach We stopped by to see my friend Angie Miller and her kids for lunch. Angie and I used to pray together for Moms in Touch and that evolved into Good News Club at public school. The kids played great with each other. She offered to lead us to the beach. It was a beautiful day. My mom and sister's ashes are in the ocean and I felt them with us the whole day even at the museum. Side Note: The red coat is borrowed from my sister since everyone knows I am a blue person.

Day 3 Portsmouth, VA My hometown

Day 3 Portsmouth VA We drove to Portsmouth and went straight to Winter Wonderland at Courthouse Galleries. Click on album to see photos. There are many figures from Coleman's Nursery from when I was a kid including the Wishing well where Dee Dee and Jamie threw pennies and made wishes. Some had been moved to the Children's Museum. Dolls from around the world. We loved the new look of the museum which has been closed for 2 years to renovate it. Lots of old familiar things like the big chair, grocery store, bubble room, and fire truck but many new things like the carnival on the 2nd floor with a giant elephant. And the tugboat where you can go "fishing". And the pretend cow that you can milk. They also had a new section called the Sound and the City. My mom used to open her window and tell Jamie to listen to the sounds of the city every time she spent the night. It was a great memory for me and the kids.

Day 2 in VA with Grants

Day 2-Dec 27, 2011 with Grants Beth Grant (friend from high school) took us bowling at Spare Times. We had fun high fiving each other even when only one pin fell down. We all used bumpers and I let Anne bowl during my turn. Beth is a good cook and made us noodles (special request) for dinner and awesome buttermilk pancakes for breakfast; Jamie wants the recipe. She also made the thickest bacon I have ever seen or tasted. The girls did Wii dance and then watched Secretariat the horse movie. Anne watched Pooh bear. Beth and I talked for a long time. It was great. Ruth took a photo of Beth and I the next morning before we left which I hope to get a copy of soon. Jamie is always posing - here she is her new (80s looking) sweater. She got 3 different colors.

Day 1 of VA adventure with Aunt Marti and Aunt Lori

Day 1 with Aunt Marti and Lori Marti and Jamie wanted to go to the mall 1st thing so off we went. Lori and I sat in overstuffed chairs with Anne asleep on my shoulder for 2 hours. When she woke up Anne rode the horse and a few cars in the food court area. Jamie got a bunch of new shirts and sweaters. Then we went to the doll house and saw Christmas lights. Jamie and I got hot cocoa. Marti's new word for the year is JOY so we took photos of the word when we found it this week. Aunt Lori showed Anne all the dolls and fun lights. Then we went to Ruby Tuesdays - Aunt Marti's favorite place to eat.

Anne's first flight(s) to VA

Anne had gummy bears to help pop her ears. We took books and color wonder but it wasn't enough. She did not like sitting for that long. We had an early flight at 6am so James could drop us off before work at 5 meaning we had to be there at 4am. UGH! On the flights home, she slept some and played some with the window shade. I am glad that part is over. There was an angel in front of us who popped up and sang to her at the end of one flight.

Christmas morning at our house

Christmas morning 2011 James got puzzles and a sweatshirt with DADD - Dads against Daughters Dating. Jamie got a full stocking. Plus a calendar she picked out, Cds by Francesa B., a purple headband with a feather - might wear it to the wedding. Anne got the Fisher Price record player. I got a camera from James and a blue cross with seashells Jamie picked out from the craft show for me. I bought other small gifts to open. Charles got a crockpot to take to his new house. Sha slept thru it all. We had celebrated with her earlier in the month. But we left a stocking full of goodies on her bed. James gave each of the girls a coupon book for an hour of Daddy time per month. I wasn't sure about that at first but I know it is important.

Christmas 2011album with Watkins family

Christmas 2011