Can you say AWESOME PARTY!

Sam and his friends loaded up in the limo to head to Cowboys Stadium for a tour! They were so excited! It was VERY loud in the limo with 7 little boys contained in a small space for the hour ride there and back! Sam and his special birthday ride! Could his smile be any bigger?!

Even the dads turned into little kids and couldn't wait to throw the ball around on the turf! Here they are making a game plan in the huddle! We split them up into teams and they played a football game- tackle and all!

Here they are in the end zone!

I even tried to kick a field goal! A few of the boys actually made it! I will spare you the video of it! How cool is that though- that we got to kick at Cowboy Stadium! I almost forgot to tell you the best/worst part- Sam actually kicked the football and it grazed a mans head and knocked his hat off! The man just laughed and asked if he could take a picture with Sam!

Hilarious! They were so ashamed to be in the cheerleaders locker room. There were two Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders signing autographs and they wanted out of there-FAST! I thought they would want their pictures taken but I forgot that 7 and 8 year olds think girls still have cooties! Poor Sam- hope I didnt embarrass him too much- he kept giving me that look!

Here they are running through the tunnel that da Boys run through to enter the field.

This was by far the best birthday party that we have ever done! I think Kirt and the other dads had just as much fun as the boys. If you ever get a chance to tour the stadium you definetly should do it! (And by the way if you bring a Diet Dr Pepper can you get $5 off the price of the tour)

Winter Recital

Emerson was so excited to ride in the limo to her recital

Caroline dancing (doing her fist pumps) on the way there

Dancing to Here Comes Santa Clause

Science Fair

Can you believe that they make 2nd graders do Science Fair!? And it is formal too- with a journal and a formal report, bibliography, research....exhausting for a mommy and 8 year old too! We have been working on this for the past 2 weeks and it will be turned in tomorrow! Makes me wonder why I was wanting to get him into the Math & Science school with projects like this in public school! He is very proud though!

Happy Birthday

Sam celebrated his 8th birthday yesterday! I can't believe it has been 8 years! He is such a sweet boy and great big brother! The day started with breakfast at Whataburger before school, and then Caroline and I took him lunch at school and his class had a little celebration for him. Then we met my sister and her kids at his favorite place, Yogurtland. We had dinner at his favorite restaurant last night- Texas Roadhouse and then we had cake with our familes at our house. It was a big day of celebrating! He said it was the best day ever!

Makeover- dining room edition

Updated: Here is the picture of the table & chairs- I think they turned out good!

My husband found a great deal on craigslist with 8 chairs and a table that we saw had potential. I have worked on it for about 3 weeks now- priming, painting, and finishing touches. The chairs are done and hopefully the table will be ready in the next week! I will post the final pictures- but for now the chairs will go around my old table- which I kinda like better than the new one so we will see- I may just sell the newly finished table on craigslist!

holiday traditions

This seems to be Emerson's favorite outfit- so chances are that you will see it a few more times this season! She LOVES to pick out her own clothes!

Caroline took the gloves off as fast as she could! She much preferred being held and putting her hands inside your coat-

One thing we do every year is go to to Holiday in the Park with my parents and my uncle. We have so much fun drinking hot chocolate, watching shows, and riding the rides, and you can't forget the snow hill!

It's beginning to look alot like....

The kid's tree upstairs with all of their ornaments and colored lights!

My favorite things- I put out all of our Christmas books in a basket so the kids reach them! Our tree- Emerson told me she didn't like the turkey on the top of the tree- I tried to tell her it was an angel and feathers- but she won't accept that answer! My Christmas china!

My dancing Santa & Mrs. Clause- these were my Grandma James' and they sat on her table every year!

Our mantle!

Gobble till you wobble

The kids love to do puzzles. Caroline loves all of Grandma James' little knick-knacks. We kept finding her holding very breakable things- I am not sure how long it will take Grandma to find everything that Caroline moved around!

Sweet little Max! Sam raked leaves and the other kids jumped in them!

Sam & Emerson

We went to the Ruby's house for dinner. It was tough getting a picture with all of the kids looking toward the camera!

Ladies who lunch

Carson Kressley- he was hilarious and very entertaining and good fashion advice- for example- leggings are not pants- you MUST wear something long over them! See below for the explanation!

Ladies who lunch....I was part of that group today (or I pretended to be). I was invited to a charity lunch for Voices for Children which is a charity for the protection of Child Abuse Victims. It was REALLY fun! It was in downtown Dallas, which proved to be quite a feat to get to on Veteran's day. There was a very long parade going on in the heart of downtown. It was going on when we got there and still going on when we left. The challenge was getting across the street to Union Station. We had to ask a police officer to stop the parade so we could run across the street. I am sure we looked funny- 5 ladies in high heels running across in front of the Marines and behind the Shriners. We had lunch provided by Wolfgang Puck which was delicious and then the celebrity speaker was Carson Kressley, a stylist and comedian that has did the tv show "How to look good naked" and "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy". It was so much fun and I am so lucky to be invited! I was a little stressed about what to wear- it is November BUT we are in Texas- so are open toe shoes ok? Sleeveless? I went ahead and wore the shoes but I did think about it for a while to see if was a major fashion faux-pau! It was definitely an event to be seen- the magazine Modern Luxury was there as well as D Magazine! Now back to reality- homework, one with a tummy ache, and one wearing only a diaper eating mac & cheese! I really do appreciate my family after going to something like that where everyone seems all about themselves! It makes me realize that my main purpose is to raise children who love the Lord and have servants hearts!

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from the Rubys! I am starting with a picture of the awesome pumpkins that the kids carved. Emerson wanted hers to have hearts for eyes! Halloween is my mom's birthday! We had dinner over at our house with my parents and Josh & Tracey. The kids love that Grandmas birthday is on Halloween!

My dad and Sam carving the pumpkin- my dad is very patient!

Emerson & I carving our girl pumpkin!

The only time I could get everyone in one place to stand for a moment for a picture!

The birthday girl with 2 grandkids!

Go KIRT

We are so proud of Kirt! He got awarded Team Member of the year at work! I have known for about 3 weeks and the kids and I made a video for him. I can't believe they kept the secret this long. I don't think they really knew what it was all about or they probably would have spilled the beans! Kirt was very suprised and deserves this honor! He is a very dedicated and loyal worker!