Charlotte's Web Party

We had a Charlotte's Web "Party" after months of reading the book because we took so long! So we ended up at the perfect time of year with all sorts of spider paraphanelia at the stores! We had Wilbur cookies and Charlotte candy, popcorn bags, and even decorated the mantle with her web, complete with gummy flies and spiders! It was fun and Mommy almost made it through the whole movie awake. . . (it was a long weekend at opera!)

Evidently the Cowboys had played (and lost) that day because I came home to Blake dressed in his jersey! He even got his own popcorn bowl and thought he was big stuff!

My handsome boys!

Birthday Parties Galore!

Briley's party was a Princess Party and we had 11 princesses dressing up, putting on make-up, making crafts, eating, and having a blast! Mommy made the cake, and it was not too shabby, if I do say so myself! Anything for the Princess. . . (not!). You are only 6 once though! Oh, those were the days.

Braden had a Hot Wheels party at the park and we had so much fun. We raced in little coupes, played Red Light Green Light, had lunch, cake and ice cream, and played with hot wheels of course! What more could a 4 year old want?! And no, I did not make his cake (as if you had to ask. . .).

Happy Birthdays and Scary Storms

Well, the Waddills weathered Hurricane Ike and aren't too much worse for the wear. Unfortunately, for the Houston area, that is an uncommon story. Seeing and hearing of lines for gas, food, and water everywhere around is really humbling. Because the storm hit Galveston and headed north, we were on the "clean" side of the storm. Stories of neighborhoods less than 20 miles more towards the east were so much worse. We were literally spared by a few miles. And the night was horrible. I can't imagine those closer in. It was very scary. Lots of downed trees and fences, but our neighborhood has power and is doing well. The grocery stores have limited resources and we can't find milk, etc, but otherwise, we are fine. Since Doug is working in Brenham, he was able to get gas today and will hopefully get milk after work.

Anyway, Wednesday was Doug's 32nd birthday and Friday was Briley's 6th birthday.

We had scheduled her party for Saturday but Ike made us postpone. However, since we had no school that day, we celebrated at home with donuts for breakfast and presents and cupcakes after lunch.

That evening we let the kids "camp out" in the closet under the stairs and after Braden climbed in, he said, "You know what would make this really like a camp out? A fire and those white things!" Well, since we were not about to "roast" marshmellows in the closet, we opted to let them eat them room temperature in bed while they read books by flashlight (we had lost power by 9pm). They finally went to sleep and Doug and I listened all night to howling winds and sheets of rain pound our house. It was crazy. The pictures you see of the sunset are of the sky in front of our house that evening as the sun was going down. At this point it was already windy but the sky was eerily beautiful. A sign of what was to come.

Sunday we had some neighborhood friends who had been without power over for dinner and Blake snuck up on their plates while they were playing. . .

Busted!!!

Yeah, I did it, so what?!!

We Made It!!!

Well, we have finally arrived. . .into the school years! Briley started Kindergarten yesterday and has been having a BLAST! Doug and I were talking tonight about how we always knew this girl was going to love school, and boy were we right. She is giddy with excitement. It really jazzes her and she bounces out of bed each morning eager to get dressed and get going. Today she had "homework" that was voluntary - more like some papers that if they wanted to take home and finish, they could. She went upstairs after school and spent an hour doing them and then put them back in her folder in her backpack and even made some crafts for her new friends. At first she told me she wanted to make 9 presents for the 9 people in her class, but I said maybe she could just do a few for now! Anyway, we are just so thrilled that she is able to go to Cornerstone Christian Academy. If you didn't know, this past week we were given this wonderful opportunity and feel so blessed to be able to have Briley in such a wonderful environment. Everyone there is so wonderful and has been so helpful - they have even helped me by hooking us up with uniforms that their kids have outgrown. This was nice since we just found out a few days ago that she would be going there! Anyway, we just want to say YEA GOD! Thanks to Him for making this all happen and we are so thrilled for Briley. Her teacher is wonderful too! I titled this "We Made It" because, although she is a wonderfully sweet kid, Briley has been an intense kid as well. Now that she is finally getting the social and educational stimulation she has always desired, our day seems a little more manageable. We do miss her, but the good thing is that I am teaching part-time at that school so I get to see her on Tuesdays and even teach her! Our good friends the Martins gave Briley a sweet book called, "T'was the Night before Kindergarten" and we read it Sunday a few times. In the video, that is what she is talking about. Thanks Kelly and Chris - for the book and for lunch too! The video is a bit lengthy but you'll get a sweet smile at the end if you can make it that long!