Dixie Stampede - Loads of Fun!

We went to the Dixie Stampede today and I highly recommend this if you are ever in a place to go. First you eat with your hands, no silverware, Austin LOVED LOVED LOVED this!!! It was a great show that lasts about 1 1/2 hours. Had longhorns, lots of horses, ostriches that were being rode on, chickens, and more. It was really a neat show and you are being fed great food the whole time. The kids favorite part was being brought an entire mini-chicken for each of us.

Jon was picked out of the audience to go down and play a part in the show. We were the North Side and played against the South. Jon representing the north was to play against a guy from the South in a game of horseshoes. The catch: The horseshoes were toilet seats. It was too funny!! Jon was really embarrased I think but he enjoyed it as well. He lost but not by much. We were cracking up and the kids LOVED having their daddy in the show. Mattie was beaming from ear to ear, Austin was amused, Alison was like "I can't believe he is doing this to me" embarassed. I thought it was great. We weren't allowed to take any pictures, bummer.

June - No Posts?!?!

What is up with that? and most of July too? I was trying to figure out why and it only took a second. I WAS INSANE!!! YES, INSANE!!! Jon left June 3rd and travelled to China, Indonesia, and Vietnam for almost 3 weeks. Poor, poor timing on his part. Never again is he allowed to plan a trip like that during the summer. Are you kidding me?!?! and at the beginning of summer to boot! However, we were very very proud of him for having the courage to step out of his ever faithful box and take this trip. I really think he enjoyed it and broadened his perspectives on things. YEAH DADDY!!! Now really, it was way to long for him to be gone and the longest we have ever been apart in 18 years. Not that I was worried about me mind you but these kids. Mattie cried every night for her daddy for two solid weeks. It was pitiful.

We kept busy. We still had dance and taekwondo the entire time as recital was late this year. Lots of activities with VBS, etc. We went to Oklahoma for the weekend and stopped at the Great Wolf Lodge for one night. Kids loved this and we can't wait to take daddy back there. We brought Grandma Janet back with us for the final week. WHICH WAS AWESOME!!! We got so much done and cleaned out around it here it wasn't even funny. We repainted Ali's entire room, bought her a new queen size bed, she loves (can't believe she is big enough for this) redecorated. And most of all Grma and Ali cleaned out every nook, corner, and crevice of her pig sty and I didn't even have to fight with her once about it. YAHOO!! Then July well it took me several weeks to recover!

Here is Jon Golfing (BUT OF COURSE) in Indonesia (I think, maybe Vietnam) and here he is at the Great Wall of China.

Home Alone!

Okay, not really but 1/2 way alone and not sure what to do with myself. I have lots of things I need to do but nothing I want to do! The kids received the Home Alone movie for Christmas from a friend so Austin and Mattie are getting ready to watch it. Alison is away for the night. She is having a night at the museum with her Brownie Troop. They arrive about 7 pm tonight and do different things until 11 p.m. at the Museum of Natural Science. Then they all get to sleep among the exhibits, I think the gem room is their room but she is hoping for the dinosaurs so they can all be scared all night. I am just glad they didn't need any more moms to volunteer for this occasion. I would put in overtime elsewhere to get out of going to this and sleeping on a hard floor, in my clothes. Heck, I wouldn't have made it to 9:30 pm let alone after 11 pm. She will return tomorrow about 10 a.m. and promptly have to go cheer at a basketball game 11-12 and they called a dance practice from 12:15-2:15. They are getting ready for a dance at the Houston Rockets so it is a mandatory practice. I think I will let Jon get her around everywhere because she is highly likely to be tired and cranky! Austin has a basketball game from 9-10 and a birthday party he is being picked up for at 12:20 so it gives me another place to be. Yippee! Jon is out with the boys at the Verizon Theatre. They went to see Larry the Cable Guy. I don't get the draw of the event BUT I guess that is why I am not a guy. There are 6 of them going so they should have fun. It is cold and rainy so I am glad I am not going out of my house! Austin's friend James was just picked up from their playdate so I am off to convince them to get in pj's early and bed to watch a movie. Then I will be sort of alone!