Scotty's First Basketball Game of the Season

This has been a big day for us, beginning with the choir performance and then Scotty's first basketball game of the season. He loves basketball especially since Barrett is the coach.

Can you tell he is excited?

Pregame practice!

Not sure what he is doing her, but I do know that he couldn't wait for the game to start!

Rockwall Christmas Parade Presents.....

the Grace Hartman Honor Choir featuring Kylee Clark. Ok, not really! Yes, Kylee is in the Honor Choir, but all the kids were featured in the parade. This was so fun for Kylee and her friends (even though it was freezing and early in the morning).

Here is Kylee, before her big performance, with some of her friends from choir!

These boys love their sister so much!

Of course she is center stage! :)

Now it was time to watch the parade, with donuts and hot cocoa!

Scotty is 8!

I think that I'm still in shock over this one....Scotty is 8! He is such a special boy, those of you that know him know what I'm talking about. This last year has been such a big year for him in many ways. We have seen him blossom from a little boy into a young man. He had his tonsils out in August and has been a different boy since. He has told me that he thinks that having his surgery has made him happier. Bless his heart! He is in second grade....and LOVES it. He is learning so much, everyday he comes home and tells me what he learned that day. I have to give it to his teacher, Mrs. Cothran, she is smart. :)

Scotty's "Capture the Flag" Birthday Party

Tonight was Scotty's birthday party. Since our kids are only able to have a party every other year, this was even more exciting to Scotty. He decided he wanted to play capture the flag for his party. It was a blast, and having 17 kids come made the game even better. Grandma and Grandpa Clark were here to help, and Barrett recruited two friends (Greg and Jonathan) that were able to help with crowd control.

We began at our house with pizza, cake and ice cream. Then Scotty opened his presents, he got a lot of good stuff from his buddies. :)

Then it was time for the rules of the game! This was a little crazy trying to get 8 year olds who are hyped up on sugar to listen. But they did good. Then we loaded the kids into the cars and off to the park to play the game!


This is a shot of all of the kids right before we started to game! They were so excited!


Some of Scotty's buddies from school.


And of course, his favorite buddy and brother, Collin!

Uncle Linnie...The Best Uncle Ever!

If you know me then you know how important my family is to me. And many of you have heard me go on and on about how proud I am of my brother Vinnie (who is attending UCLA by the way). Well, this post is in honor of him. :) I remember the day that my mom found out she was pregnant with him and how I instantly knew that I was going to have a little brother. I always wanted a brother but thought that it would never happen. But God was awesome and blessed (and I mean blessed) our family with Spike (one of his many nicknames, some others are LV, Sniffer, or Uncle Linnie (Kylee's favorite). I could go on and on about how awesome he is and how he is the best brother anyone could have, but I will spare you. :) But I will share some pictures of him through the years.

How could you not love this boy....who is now a man! :)

Vinnie for President!

He had an incredible shot! Scotty has inherited it.

Here he is with his beautiful girlfriend, Jessi. How did he get so lucky. :)

Teach me your decrees, O Lord;

I will keep them until the end.

Give me understanding and I will obey your instructions;

I will put them into practice with all my heart.

Make me walk along the path of your commands,

for that is where my happiness is found.

Give me an eagerness for your laws rather than a love for money!

Turn my eyes from worthless things,

and give me life through your word.

Reassure me of your promise,

made to those who fear you.

Help me abandon my shameful ways;

for your regulations are good.

I long to obey your commandments!

Renew my life with your goodness.

Collin's Creativeness

Yesterday, I was downstairs while the kids were playing upstairs. I realized that I hadn't seen or heard Collin in a while so I went upstairs to check on him......this is what I found him doing. :)

He is so determined. While I was taking the picture, the darts started to fall off. That didn't stop him, he kept putting them back on. Notice the sweat on his face in this picture, he was working hard and long at it. I love this boy. :)

Fair Day

The Texas State Fair is a BIG deal in Texas. In fact, each school district gets a designated "Fair Day" where the kids get the day off from school and are given a ticket to the fair. So this year, we went and had a blast. It was a nice family day (which was really needed). Kylee is such a daredevil, she decided to go on one of the only rides that go upside down, and Scott and Collin went on the bumber cars and airplane ride. Then they all went in the bubble fun house with Barrett. And I got my funnel cake! :)

Collin's 4th Birthday

Collin is 4! I can't believe that my baby is 4! We started the day off with our traditional candle in dougnut for breakfast. Then we celebrated by taking Kylee and Scotty out of school early and going to lunch at Chuck E Cheese with grandma and grandpa. It was fun! And then to top it off, we had the best dinner ever.....breakfast for dinner. That is one of our all time favorites things to do (well maybe not Barrett's, but the kids and mine). :) Grandma and Grandpa got Collin a Nintendo DS and we got him a glow lightsaber. He was and is SO excited.

Collin's First "Official" Soccer Game

Last season Collin played soccer, but it was more of a soccertots idea. This season he actually has pratices and games. He had so much fun out there. He has watched Kylee and Scotty play for the last couple of years, so today was his turn.

Collin's First Day of Preschool

Wow, I can't believe my baby is now in preschool. It is such a bittersweet day! I have talked about this for so long but now that it's finally here, I'm a little sad. I have to be honest, when I walked out of the school after dropping him off, the tears started coming. I wasn't expecting to get sad, but I did. Don't worry, I know that this will pass and I know that he will love it! :)

My Favorite People in the World

For those of you that know me, you know how important my sister is to me! Her, my brother in law (Mike), my awesome nephew Brennan, and my beautiful niece Avery...they are such a huge part of my every day thoughts. So I was so blessed this summer when they decided to come out and visit....all the way from California. I had to remind them that they were leaving beautiful So Cal to come to HOT Texas. But they were up for it and we all had a blast. Here are a few pictures from their visit.