Visit from Grandpa

Grandpa Nault stopped by for a visit this week. We were able to enjoy dinner - meat and potato pasties made by Mark - and share a few hours with him before he caught an early flight out Friday morning. The kids (OK, Lucas) were shy at first, but by the end of the night were showing off and throwing themselves at him for goodnight hugs. 

Sea World

Special thanks to our friend Sea World Suzanne for the five free passes! The day before New Year's Eve was a wonderful "Texas Winter" day ... sunny with highs in the 70s ... and the park was hoppin'. We spent a lot of time on the big Sesame Street playground, walking from show to show - dolphins, Shamu, Elmo - and enjoying a few rides and exhibits.

Kissing Asian otters...so cute!

 Rockin' River ride! Lucas barely made the height requirement, but he loved it! 

Shamu!

Jacob's favorite ... the SHARKS!

Last Post of the Year!

Last post of 2011!

Christmas vacation has been a blur. We went to a Spurs game on the 21st, hosted playgroup on the 23rd, and that night Mark took the kids to see the lights down on the Riverwalk while I stayed home and wrapped all the gifts. Nothing like waiting until the last minute! 

We enjoyed brunch with friends on Christmas Eve morning and dinner with our old neighbors on Christmas Eve night. Christmas Day, we were awakened by the big kids telling Lucas to "go wake up mom and dad and ask if we can open presents. DO IT!"

We hosted friends for a delicious prime rib dinner (gonna have to do that again before next Christmas!) and chocolate cake with peppermint buttercream (you know it!)

On the 26th we went to another Spurs game, and on the 29th, Mark brought home our very own popcorn machine (courtesy of NAPA). The kids went crazy for it! 

Yesterday, we spent the day at Sea World courtesy of a friend who works there and gave us five free passes (pictures later)! We closed out the year with one more Spurs game tonight! At least they win all the games we attend. Maybe we need to go to all of them to ensure another championship!

The weather has been terrific the past couple of days - highs in the 70s - and it feels like spring already. Jacob has knocked out his Webelos badge and two activity pins. One more to go before February for the Arrow of Light and bridge to Boy Scouts. 

Sarah starts volleyball next week. That's one thing we did NOT work on this week. Might have to get on that in 2012 ... tomorrow! 

Happy New Year!

Photo Catch Up

Jacob leading the flag ceremony before the PTA meeting last week. 

The cake balls Tori and I made for the PTA board...carrot cake, white cake with yellow coating (represents our hornet mascot), chocolate on chocolate and red velvet! Pretty easy to make but we learned a lot during the process to make them prettier next time.

Sarah's bracelets she made and sold at the Economics Fair.

Lucas and Caitlyn as Joseph and Mary in the KDO Christmas Program. He did great...and got a laugh from the crowd when he race-walked across the stage on his way to the inn, leaving Mary and the donkey in the dust. They caught up with him eventually and thankfully, he didn't drop Baby Jesus. We'll call it a success!

The new blog header photograph was taken by Betsy Herndon. She's an assistant director at Lucas' school and rescues me from the tortured poses of elementary school mass production Picture Day. I love the way they are cracking up in this picture!

The Week Before Christmas

Sarah had her First Reconciliation on Saturday. She had to do her first confession with a priest. She didn't seem nervous at all, although Jacob thought she would have a long list of things to talk about. Maybe it was the promise of frozen yogurt afterwards that pushed her through.

We ALMOST had a visit from Grandpa Nault who would have been in town for a night while on a consulting project. Unfortunately, the trip got canceled at the last minute.

We spent Sunday looking for a sofa to replace the hand-me-down, threadbare one we have in the playroom. In a game of furniture musical chairs, we ended up moving the leather sectional from the TV room to the playroom and got a sofa like this for the TV room. (Mom, I think it's the Alisa by Bernhardt because I know you'd want to know.) The chair and a half and an ottoman should give us enough seating and still enough room to play Just Dance 3 on the Wii. The best part is that it will be here tomorrow!

We have a busy week getting ready for lots of Holiday Parties, the 2nd grade Economics Fair (Sarah is making and selling bracelets), the PTA luncheon (I made Cake Balls for the first time), Lucas' performance as Joseph in his school's Christmas Program, the Cub Scout pack meeting (Jacob is close to earning both his Webelos badge and Arrow of Light badge), a cookie exchange, a white elephant gift exchange and a dinner party! We'll be ready for the relative calmness of next week!

It's A Major Award!

After my wildly successful evening on Saturday when I won a trip to Puerto Vallarta, I was certainly not expecting tonight to be anything special. The PTA President had a procedure done yesterday and wasn't feeling up to leading the meeting tonight, so as runner-up (I mean 1st VP) I was tapped for the job. I wasn't too concerned about leading the meeting...after all, we have a script, and I don't have a problem with public speaking. 

I was more nervous for Jacob who was going to be the speaker from the Cub Scout pack to lead the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance. He practiced and was totally ready, until he saw several hundred people in the cafeteria who were ultimately there for the 4th grade choir concert! He did well but was so quiet, Mark couldn't hear him in the back. Oh well. At least he'll earn his Webelos badge now. 

The meeting was short and sweet and we moved into presenting Honorary Life Memberships, "one of the highest honors that can be bestowed in the Texas PTA, awarded to individuals for outstanding service to children and youth.

Donna Allen started to read her speech first. I didn't know she was talking about me until she mentioned Jennifer Massey Designs! And then it just got funnier from there.

Hopefully all the parents and teachers in attendance will forget the part about me not liking kids by the time the election comes around in April. But then again...it might be my only way out of being president! 

So, thank you, thank you to Donna and Evette and anyone else who nominated me. I appreciate being recognized - especially when I least expected it! 

Feeling rather lucky now and might just have to jet off to Vegas! 

Holiday Party

Last night was the Holiday Party for NatureSweet (my tomato job). It was held at the Westin Hotel on the Riverwalk. The company provided car service to the party so we didn't have to drive and it was greatly appreciated! We went with our friends, Tonya and Mike, and got to sit at the Fun Table. 

The hotel even pureed NatureSweet tomatoes for the bloody Mary mix! At the end of the night, they had a drawing for some prizes; gift cards, coffee baskets, etc...and then came the Grand Prize. Guess who won? 

Me! A four-day, three-night stay at an all-inclusive five-star resort in Puerto Vallarta! I don't know any of the details yet, so more to come! Special thanks to Santa and his elf (Bobby and Kathryn, who were the people that interviewed me!)

You have boyfriend?

Why you no have? 

This will make so much more sense after you watch this: Nail Salon by Anjelah Johnson