Devilishly Good Halloween

Happy Halloween!!!!

You have the right to remain silent, Pablo!

No worries, he wasn't smuggling any drugs. Just here to reroof your house.

We're such nerds.

She was trying so hard to be evil.

Sweet little devil.

She probably ran 1 mile stopping briefly at each house for candy.

Our little gobblin.

Happy Halloween!!!

H is for Horrible Hair Day

Kindergarten is full of wonderful activities that allow the kids to express themselves and act silly. Friday was Horrible Hair Day after learning the letter H. We had to do our prep work the night before by sleeping in sponge rollers and picking out as many large colorful bows as we could find.

The kids were a sight to see as they came down the hallway each with a different signature look. The principal even made a surprise appearance in each classroom (even mine) wearing a rocker black and red wig that I loaned her.

Sorry the pictures are grainy. I am still learning to shoot pictures in manual mode so I don't have to use the harsh flash. Apparently, I still have some learning to do.

quiet moments

Every afternoon Cameron and I come home from school and she spends a little time playing before Dad comes home gets her all riled up. Here is one of those peaceful moments before the squealing and chasing ensues.

trying to learn better photography

I have been reading a photography blog written by a girl I worked with years ago in Abilene. My goal is to make myself a better amateur photographer. I obviously won't be quitting my day job anytime soon. Her lesson this week has been changing the focal point while shooting in manual mode. Here are my few attempts that were worthy of publishing.

First Goal

Cameron scored her first soccer goal. You can tell by her reaction that she isn't quite sure it really happened.

More Soccer Pictures

Ball handling drills

Dribbling practice

offense/defense drill

pretending to be a deer before the game

team huddle

getting in there to get the ball

a very tired little girl after the game.

World Cup? Not yet!

I am officially a soccer mom! I really kind of hoped that it would never happen to me seeing as I think soccer is tremendously boring, but I am now a changed woman. Soccer being played by inexperienced 5 year olds is over-the-top entertaining. Down right hysterical! Cameron and The Wildthings (how appropriate) are 1-0. I wasn't really sure how she'd take to this sport since she is timid about things, but I forgot how competative she is. She hates to be beat at anything! And for this sport it is a good character trait to have. Cameron was a hustling machine out there on the field. She wasn't afraid to dig in there and try to steal the ball from the other team. She even managed to knock down some big red headed kid. The coach seems to think she may have some pretty natural abilities. Guess only time will tell. As for now, we will be spending every Saturday being entertained by our mini Pele.

Check out the hustle of #2

1st Day of Kindergarten

Packed up & ready for the 1st day



Cameron & her Bestie Hannah.

A family picture before we all start our first day of the new school year.

Sweet Summertime!

Our last hoorah of the summer was an overnight trip to Possum Kingdom Lake. It was the best overnight mini-vacation our family could have asked for. We all spent the entire day in the water playing on floats and jumping over the big waves made by the enormous boats out on the lake. Cameron and Goldie played until the sun went down. We were treated to a fireworks show that was going on at the marina. Afterwards we laid on the pier and stared at the vast number of stars that we don't get to see here in the city. What a relaxing weekend with the ones we love.

Waterbug

We saw a hummingbird sitting on her eggs. Amazing!

Girl power!

The best friend a girl could ever have.

Swimming with Daddy

Fearlessly jumping off of dock.

Tubing behind sharkboat.

She loved tubing!

Out on the pier until the sun went down.

She did it!!!

Swimming lessons went fantastic this year. Cameron actually learned how to swim. Last summer was a cry-fest, but something magical happened in just a few short weeks. I think the water fairy came and sprinkled her with brave dust because the girl is swimming (full fledged, face-in-the-water swimming).

Cameron & Hannah BFFs

It's time for the girls annual picture to commemorate how they've grown and changed since they first became friends in the summer of 2005. They were each only about 8 months old when they met but they've been great friends ever since. This year the girls will be starting kindergarten together at Chisholm Ridge Elementary. Oh, how quickly the time has passed. I can only imagine what this picture will look like in 2024 when the girls are graduating from high school.

Hannah & Cameron - Summer 2005

Hannah & Cameron - Summer 2010

Feeling Crafty

Cameron and I decided to be a little crafty today. We took an empty paint can from Home Depot and used Mod Podge to adhere scrapbook paper. We decorated it with craft flowers and letter stickers for a personal touch. It is for her Kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Sandoval who happens to be a dear friend of mine. She's wild about animal print so we hope she will love it. We are planning to fill it with chocolate and other treats to help her survive the long 7 hour days with a room full of 5 year olds. I'd need mine full of booze if I was going to make it as a kindergarten teacher. By the way, it was super easy. We started it and finished it in a matter of about an hour. I bought an extra paint can so I may be making another soon!!!

Zucchini Chocolate Chip Muffins

Grating zucchini

Oooooh-La-La

Our finished product.

We thought this would be a good way to get some extra servings of veggies!!!

1 1/2 c. All Purpose Flour

3/4 c. Sugar

1 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1 egg slightly beaten

1/2 c. veg. oil

1/4 c. milk

1 Tbsp. lemon juice

1 tsp. vanilla

1 c. shredded zucchini

1/4 c. mini chocolate chips (we used 1/2 c.)

Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Combine egg, oil, milk, lemon juice & vanilla. Stir dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in zucchini and chocolate chips. Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 350 for 20 - 25 minutes.

Carnival

Cameron has discovered her inner dare-devil. We decided to try out the traveling carnival that came to town & what do ya know, she loved it. I think she would have gone on every ride if we hadn't run out of tickets. Which is a total rip off, by the way! Daddy has found him a rollercoaster buddy.

Mad because we didn't ride in the front of the roller coaster.

Riding in the twisty Jeff Gordon bear w/Daddy.

This one looked scary, but she said it was so cool.

Hard to tell, but that is Cameron.