I absolutely HATE to be cold.

And winter makes me cold!

And as much as I WON'T miss the cold here in Kansas,

I am going to miss a good blizzard.

Last week we had about 15" of snow.

It was beautiful.  

And messy.  

And cold.

 But the best part is watching best friends/best cousins do this..... 

 And then it's all worth it.

We will miss you Jenessa!!!

Another life changing event?

Two years ago this summer I was in China for 24 days bringing home Sophie and Hudson.

Last summer my oldest, Wesley, married Kim.

And I remember saying I just wanted one summer without a life changing event.

Wesley and Kim moved to North Dakota for job opportunities.

We started homeschool with my sister helping me.  Yea!

All was back to normal day to day stuff.

Then Wesley and Kim came home for Thanksgiving and surprised me with this.

Yes.

Yes, I am.

A grandma.

Then in December Trent and I decided to make a huge move....... 

to TEXAS.

So in the next few weeks we will be making our way down to

Kerrville, Texas.

Home of Johnney Football.

Who beat out my Alma Mater Heisman candidate Colin Klein.

(I will still wear purple and fly my Wildcat flag!!)

All this to say......

another life changing summer is heading my way!!!

Ni Hao Cowboy

Little did I know that when this video was taken we would

soon be saying, "Ni Hao, Cowboy"

September 2012

Gotcha!!

Today is a GREAT day!
Every year on January 26th we celebrate one of the most important dates ever.
The day we got her.
Long XiaoHua.
My sweet little flower.

Three years ago we got the spunkiest, loudest, bravest, smartest, bossiest, most wonderful 5 1/2 year old ever.  And our lives have changed for the BETTER!  It chokes me up every time I think about how much I love her.

Although the first few hours were very rough for her on this day three years ago, this might be her favorite day of the year.  She LOVES Gotcha Day!  She puts it on her school calendar and counts down the days!  When she came down this morning she looked at me with wide eyes and a big grin just waiting for me to say, "Happy Gotcha Day!!"  She did the same to her dad.


Izzy then:

Izzy now:

What To Say

It's been almost two months since I last posted on here.  Where does the time go?

Life has been moving right along!  School is going strong, AWANA is going good, football season has come and gone (and it was fun!!) and Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here - like.....tomorrow!!!!

Lot's going on.

But todays news is all about this guy.........

Grandpa Garrett

This morning my step-dad received the Honorary American FFA Degree award at the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis  this morning.  He is a wonderful teacher and all of his students love him.

Not to mention all his kids and grandkids.  :  )

We are so proud of him.

I will be posting soon about the kids and how school is going.

I am also getting a mommy break next week and I can't wait!!!!

It's been quite crazy busy around here the last couple of weeks!

Football has started for Trey, school has started for us, birthdays, sleepovers at the farm, Awana, and football games to cheer at!!  We also did our LAST post placement report!!  Yea!!!

Wesley and Kim came home from a rainy honeymoon in Cabo and took a day to pack a trailer and head north!  They slept their first night in their new home last night!  Trent is on his way home from visiting and reported that they are so happy to finally be in their own place.

We just finished our second week of school and I have to say it's been a lot of work for everyone to adjust.  The great part about school this year is that we have added a new teacher!!
My sister, Olivia is here to help with the load and I KNOW FOR SURE I couldn't do this without her!
She is awesome!!

First day of school!!

I assure you.....I felt the same way.

I wonder how he would do at pubic school?  :  )

The Birthday Buddies!

On our way home from our last post placement report we stopped at the farm to check the minnow traps
and feed the fish.  All the kids love to go to the farm!!

Isabella attended Cheer Camp this year.

Last Friday at our first home FB game she got to do her thing!!

And yes.....she LOVED EVERY MINUTE of it!!

Izzy... break out into a dance all on her own?!!
Oh YA, BABY!!!!!

The highlight of my week was going to the first K-State FB game of the year!!

It's been a couple of years since I've been and it was SO fun!!

It was my niece, Johnnye's, birthday and she asked me to go!
She said I'm the only one who knows how to get around in Manhattan.   But I think she really wanted me to go
because she thinks I'm such a cool aunt.
Right, Johnnye?   :  )

This is how Jen and I looked after sitting in the bleachers sweating in the 90 degree weather.  Nice.

 Awana Games

Trey's first FB game is tomorrow.  I love football and can't wait to watch him score some touchdowns!!

No. 7 makes a touchdown!!