October 2013

Apparently, Kennedy and Connor are getting married at 16. I asked Kennedy about it and she just smirked. I said “so where are you guys going to live?” She said at our house because Connor loves Barbies. She said that is every girls dream to have a boy that loves Barbies. She later said he would change his last name to Dodson so I would have four children to take care of. 

The girls and I went to Mel’s house to sort through all of mom’s pictures, her Christmas stuff that we could find, all of Jim’s papers, and one container of photos. It took us at least 8 hours to separate and organize all of her jewelry. This month I have been trying to wear her jewelry with an outfit every time I go to work. IT really makes a different with the outfits.  Dad and Robin came over and helped us sort through some of mom’s old Memorabilia.  Fortunately, Dad knew the history behind some of the stuff, like mom’s band uniform.  Dad was kind enough to take the stack of photos that we gave him of mom and us to scan in so I can eventually make a photo book so hopefully the kids can know and remember what a great Nana she was.  There is still another big box to go through, hopefully, we will tackle it soon.  We had found this letter she sent out for Christmas one year....the girls enjoyed dressing up and playing with the boys:

 

Tyler got his driving licenses. He was more than happy to go and get Mel and I Starbucks. He did have his first fender bender, but he was o.k.

We went to Sara Pfeiffer’s Halloween party with the kids. They did such an awesome job as a community all coming together. There was a haunted hayride in which we rode on a hay trailer down to the river bottom. There, they had set up people in costumes and a fake cemetery.  The teenage boys sitting in front of us were throwing out their glow sticks. Kennedy looked at Trey and said “daddy, they are littering, that is just not right!” The teenage boys got squirted with silly string and were called a rude name because they were shining a laser in the people in the cemetery. One of the boys kept saying “ I need to get their number.” August goes “I’ve got their number”.   They had hot chocolate, bobbing for apples, a piñata, and Mad Science has set up a little booth. Overall, it was a great way to start getting ready for Halloween.

It was “Share day” at school. Kennedy was bringing one of the angels and Trey grabbed one for August. August said “No, daddy, I need a breakable one”. So he handed her a little statue of the Virgin Mary that was already broken.

Trey and I went to the Lone Star Cattlemen’s Sportsman Soiree. We had a nice time…our hopes is one day to come in as one of the bidders that trumps everyone’s bid and can raise more money for the kids, just because.  We purchased enough raffle tickets so we could get a bull nose pin. Trey wanted me to wear the necklace but I thought he looked better in it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The girls got some sticky pumpkins stickers they enjoyed putting on the sliding glass door. Then it was time to decorate our pumpkins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Trey turned 38 this year. The girls and I made him brownies for the occasion. Of course we had to eat them a day early because who can resists brownies sitting on the counter. We had gotten his some new pants and shirts. Kennedy had said that is what we needed to get him because “all of his pants have holes in them”.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once I hit the 14 week mark, Trey and I decided to tell the girls we are expecting a little baby. We bought of them “I’m going to be a big sister” shirt.  Both of them were very excited.  The next day at school both of them brought their shirts for share. It didn’t take long for people to start congratulating us after that.  August says she has a baby in her belly too. Kennedy has been asking how the baby got there. They both kiss my belly and have started talking to the little being. Kennedy is hoping for a boy “because daddy is outnumbered” and August is hoping for a little girl.  Both agree, that if it’s not the sex they want that they will be great big sisters.

 

 

John had a 5^th birthday costume party. The girls and I rode with Kirk and Mimi to the event. It took awhile for Kennedy to participate because she was upset about not getting to go to her friend’s from school party, Kennedy Roland. She asked me “why do we always have to go to family things, Kennedy Roland asked us first? “ I had to correct her and tell her “No, Aunt Aimee invited us first”.

 

 

 

No school uniform day....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 2013

Uncle Tim has been traveling to Bastrop to help out at one of the ranches he manages. We went up to visit and to play in the pool . The girls also enjoy visiting the quails. Trey took some of the quail eggs and made picked quail eggs. The girls love them, however, I haven't taken a bite of one.

 

We headed to San Antonio for a surprise birthday lunch for Frank, and then headed over to Papaw’s for a surprise 90^th birthday party.  Several family members attended that I had not met. One of Papaw’s cousins told stories from them being children. She said one time, her mother was giving Papaw licks for something he had done and caught his rear on fire because he had put matches in his back pocket. Another funny story is how Papaw grounded up chili patens and put them in water, then had her brother drink it. His mouth was on fire.  We left the party early so we could head to College Station to watch the Aggies play Sam Houston.  

 

We took the girls to their first A&M game. They had a great time. It was raining, which didn’t bother them a bit. We had stopped off at Trey’s Captain’s tent to say hello. On our way to the field, August found a “pet stick”. I told her I didn’t think security would let her bring the stick into the ball game. So , she slowly started walking behind us so that she could put the stick in her shirt to hide it. Trey and I just giggled. Once we passed security, she pulled it out and said “ I still have my pet stick”.  She’s a sneaky little thing! The girls enjoyed all of the cheers that the students do throughout the game.  Each time we scored each of us kissed –per Aggie tradition. They also enjoyed doing the Hullabaloo and swaying back and forth. Of course, we had drinks, hot dogs, nachos, and dipping dots in a aggie helmet.

Robin and Dad stopped by on their way back from the coast. It was Robin's birthday, so the girls and I made her a cake that we could all enjoy.

 

We had a parent teacher conference with Mrs. Zea regarding August’s progress since the start of school. She is doing well, starting to write her name out, and asking for lessons from Mrs. Zea. Apparently, she is left handed when she writes or paints. She started Speech and that is going well. The other day, Trey was showing her a picture of when we were in Corpus and he was in one of those pirate arm holds like he was in prison. Well , August said “ you suck dad. “ Trey immediately sent me a text and said his daughter told him he sucked. I asked what he was showing her and when he explained I opened his eyes by saying she was saying “stuck” not “suck”.

 We also had a parent teacher conference with Mrs. Mathis, Kennedy's teacher. She said she is an excellent student. She is currently reading at a second grade level(she's in first). She is doing well in all of her subjects and gets along well with all the kiddos.

 

Kennedy went to the Optometrist to have her eyes checked out because the testing at the school said she was 20/30 vision. However, her vision was actually 20/20. She does have a freckle in her eye. They took a photo of it and will keep a watch to make sure it doesn’t grow. She’s supposed to wear sunglasses in the sun.



Mom's birthday fell on a Saturday. To celebrate mom's birthday, we all got together at Daddo's and visited. IT was great spending time with the family, just like mom would of liked.  It was a wonderful surprise when I walked outside and found a box with my name and a dragonfly wind chime in it. It was from the Zea family saying how they knew this would be a hard day. I hadn’t cried that morning, but then did. I hung the dragonfly outside the kitchen window on the back porch where I can hear it chime in the wind. I think of mom.  The next day, after handing the wind chime, I was sweeping the back porch when out of nowhere this huge Dragonfly appeared.  It fluttered around a bit and I sat in amazement. I spoke allowed and said “Mom, I know your with me”. The dragonfly fell to the ground and I thought it was dead. When I went back outside it was gone. Every since I read the Water bugs and Dragonfly story I see Dragonfly’s often. I’d like to think they are mom reminding me she’s watching over us.