Welcoming 2009...

As the minutes tick away from 2008 and we prepare for a new year, I can't help but sit back and think about all of the memories that our family has made over the past 12 months. As I reminesced, I started thinking about what I'll miss most from 2008 and what I'm looking forward to in the coming year!

Top 5 things we'll cherish or miss about 2008:

1. Emmalie getting potty-trained. WHOO-HOO only one babe in diapers at this house!
2. Bethanie's firsts: Sitting, table food, crawling, talking, walking.... and even the TEETHING!
3. Devin completing his first attempt at writing a screenplay. It's a horror film though, so his sisters can't watch it any time in the next 14 yrs!
4. Dalton's LAST junior football season. I already miss it... and it's only been 6 weeks since his last game!
5. Monica's Daycare! Monica watched Emmalie as a baby (until she was 9-months-old). We returned to her and gave over Bethanie's infant care for the past year, too. She's now moving on to "bigger and better" things... but Tony & I will miss the great care she's given to the girls (not to mention our piece of mind, too). BUT.... we're friends and the Zoo is close!

Top 5 things we're looking forward to in 2009:

1. Bethanie getting off of her toddler formula and on regular milk. Oh, the savings we will grow!
2. Devin starting his Senior year of High School..... Wait! That thought almost makes me cry! We may have to move that to a "not looking forward to" item later in the year:(
3. Dalton's baseball season... and his first year of Middle School football. Okay, I know what you're thinking! Dalton does do things other than sports (just for the record here!).
4. Emmalie starting Pre-School.... Do you see a trend here? I think my year may be shaping up to be somewhat sad :(
5. Tony letting me quit my job to stay home with the kids. JUST KIDDING.... I'm too much of a work-a-holic in need of adult interaction to stay home. But I do admire those who can/do.
   

The real #1 thing we're looking forward to in 2009 is our family and friends! Thank you all so much for your love, support and sanity... or is that insanity, I never can remember! May God Bless you all and your families as you start on the journey that we'll later refer to as 2009.

HAPPY NEW YEAR from the land of ladybugs & bulldogs.

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

P.S. Did you all check out the colors here?! Yep! This would be the KU Crimson & Blue... to celebrate my college's football win in the Insyte Bowl tonight. ROCK CHALK JAYHAWK Baby!

Merry Christmas Everyone!

I hope you all have had a wonderful and very Merry Christmas. Our family has been blessed with so much thanks to the love and guidance of God above. Christmas is not only special to us because of the birth of Jesus... but also because it was during the Christmas holiday that we chose to baptize both Devin & Dalton. So our boys were "reborn" in their baptismal blessings at this time 16 and 12 years ago! (What special memories to have!).

We have compiled a little video clip for your enjoyment. (Listen closely to Emmalie's message at the end... her greeting is sooooo cute!).

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Merry Christmas from the land of ladybugs & bulldogs.

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

Christmas, Disco Style

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Celebrating Love at Christmas...

Tomorrow is a very special day for our family.... it is a day that has always made us think of Love and remember why we are here. On December 21st, our family celebrates two wonderful Anniversaries... Larry & Donna (my Mom & Dad) and Lisa & Johnny (my big sis & her beau).

Mom & Dad in the early 70's with Rick & Lisa

Mom & Dad some 30-yrs later

Though Mom passed away seven years ago now, Dad is still very sentimental about the day and the promises he made to her all those years ago. It remains a day to celebrate their love.

Lisa & Johnny (still smilin'!)- with the kiddos

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ALL!

In other news... I finally caught Bethanie trying to mess under the Christmas tree tonight. Actually, while Emmalie was helping me wrap gifts Bethanie stole the bag of bows and must have figured that hiding under the tree was a good idea!

Bethanie sitting under the tree with her bows

This was Bethanie under the tree last year at this time,
What a difference a year makes!

That's it from this little wonderland...! May you all find the heart of Christmas and never forget the true meaning behind the season. Remember those who cannot be with you and surround those who can with all the Love of Christmas!

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

And the Winner is...

Just a quick post to let the few of you who were brave enough to post your vote know that the winner is...

ANG

Both Ang & Kamie had the correct answers... However, Ang won the randomized drawing for the $10.00 gift card to Olive Garden. (Ang, email me to claim your prize).

More wonderful words of life from the land of ladybugs and bulldogs later...

Shelia

Time to Use Your NOODLE!

I'll start with a little update on Bethanie...

Bethie-Boo had her routine visit with the Pediatric Gastrointerologist today (or "belly doctor" as Emma calls her). Have I mentioned a dozen times before that our Peds GI doc is totally amazing? Bethanie is up to a whopping 17 lbs, 12 oz... which is still well below the 3rd percentile for a 14 1/2 month old. But it is a gain of about 7 oz a month, and we'll take that with her activity level these days! Both of her doctors have made the same comment: "Bethanie is following a curve... it's just not THE curve!" Evidently my youngest diva STILL has it in her head that she doesn't want to follow the crowd and likes moving to her own tune! The best news is that we are finally able, after nearly a solid year, to take her off of the Prevacid. NO MORE MEDICINES for her reflux... WHOO HOO! We are still not progressing her to actual cow's milk at this time, but rather moving her up one step at a time. So it will be toddler formula for another 2-3 months or so.

Alright... Now on to the main attraction...

As promised... Are you all ready to play a little guessing game!? I had a totally different game in mind, and actually started posting it when Emmalie decided we needed to do a MUSIC GAME instead. So here is an Emmalie-inspired music trivia game for you all!

Here are your Rules:

1. Watch the following montage... or more importantly, LISTEN to it!
2. Jot down the song title AND artist.
3. Click on the "comment" link to submit your guesses for all three songs. (Sorry all! No emails this time around... my mailbox is tooooo full the way it is).
4. You all have until 5:00 pm on Friday, December 19th to submit your answers/guesses.
5. All valid and correct submissions will be entered into a random drawing to determine the winner.
6. And, yes, the winner will receive a surprise!

Your only hint: Emmalie helped pick the songs... so think Disney! Happy guessing!

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

Basketball is Upon Us...

I want to start this post off by saying.... YES! My KU Jayhaws happened to lose a very close game this afternoon. However, it is NOT the end of basketball season at our house!

Actually, Dalton had a game late this morning. They won 35-16, of which Dalton happened to score nearly half of their total points. Devin has always been the "basketball player" in the family... I guess DJ has just picked up a few good pointers from his big brother (mainly rebounding focused). Dalton is getting soooo big and grown up looking all of a sudden...

Dalton tries to get away from his "defender"

For the avid sports fans in the family, here is a teasing little taste of what we were able to watch this morning. (Dalton is #15)

It has been a l-o-n-g day already.... the girls were both cranky last night (Emmalie had an ear ache and Bethanie had the sniffles). Tony & I were up until at least 2:00 am with them because, of course, they had to get up together and see who could out-do the other with loud whining! Funny thing though... they both woke up ALL FINE by 8:00 am this morning ready to run & play! Bethanie even decided to help rearrange gifts under the Christmas tree... to go with the few ornaments she moved on the tree last night!

Ohh.. I like this one better right HERE!

Uh-oh... caught by Mommy!
I'll just smile pretty and she won't get mad!

Those of you that have been following for a while remember the girls & my "Mother-Daughter Photo Shoot" back in mid-October. We now have a new picture for the wall as a result of that experience. They did a great job on the pictures we ordered... even though they tried to goat me into spending more money with their emotional photo/video display!

Mama & her girls

Wonderful things are coming.... I know, the guessing game is just about done and should be the next post you get from us! Until then, may your own wonderful words of life ressonate as the holiday approaches.

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

One Way to Spend a COLD Evening...

So how do you spend a snowed all day, cold, windy evening? Well, our little performer gave us a great show while taking a break from watching Christmas movies early this evening. TOO CUTE... so I had to share!

Photo and video editing at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

Don't Take MY Drink!

Well, Bethanie has learned how to drink from a straw... or, to put it more accurately, GULP from a straw. She starts and I have to sit back and wonder when she's going to come up for air! So this morning she eyeballed my drink and quickly took it over as being hers. It was so funny watching her "protect" the cup that I had to get a quick clip to share. Note that she has the whole female silent treatment thing down to get her point across (I don't know where she learned it?!)... Bethie was NOT going to share!

Life has been rather busy for the most part this week. We finally took the time to put up the Christmas tree and other holiday decorations though. Tony had done the outside weeks ago.. I just couldn't seem to find the time or get motivated enough to do the inside of the house. One more Holiday Party this evening, and then we should be able to have a schedule "slow down" until after the the first of the year... Yeah, right!? Something always seems to come up!

Hope you all are enjoying your weekend. It's a happy, sunny day in the heartland!

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

P.S. By popular demand... Another "guessing" opportunity is coming your way soon.

Goobers Anyone?!

Anyone up for a "goobery" hug and kiss?! Tony & I decided to let Bethanie eat from a bowl for the first time last night (instead of the whole high chair top thing). Mashed potatoes & salisbury steak. YEAH! Not the brightest bulbs in the house... but we had fun as we paid for our decision...

Daddy, these are really good potatoes (finger food... NOT!)

Mommy, I like this new HAT!

Surprisingly enough... Bethie managed to keep ALL of the food on either her or the high chair! It wasn't so bad having to do a bath without sweeping & mopping the floor too!

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

Giving Thanks... And Chaos, Too!

Sorry for the delay in posting our Thanksgiving note... but life has been rather chaotic around these parts. Better late than never, right?!

We had a nice and quiet start to our Thanksgiving Day. Tony made a wonderful turkey while Emmalie & I made some good ol' holiday pies. We ate, watched some college ball, and shared our thankfulness... which for all of us seemed to be the rather lazy and quiet day we were able to enjoy together... then, Tony saw the weather prediction and everything changed! Our early Friday trip to southwest Kansas for a weekend of weddings (yes, pleural) turned into a quick packing and late Thanksgiving Day road trip instead. But the girls managed to be good during the 3+ hour car ride and we made it in time for a late supper at Kamie & Roger's house. It turned out to be a good call by Tony to get us on the road earlier than planned. Needless to say, this Thanksgiving we were not too thankful for the weather. See what we awakened to Friday morning at 7:00 am...

I could've sworn there were more days between
Thanksgiving & Christmas!

Friday was a sisterly shopping day... though I'm happy to say Lisa & Kamie were able to out-spend me this time! Then there were the weddings on Saturday. My Uncle Leroy got married at 4:30 pm and my cousin Travis got married at 5:00 pm. Take my word for it: Bouncing around town, even in a small town, to share in two different couples' joy is REALLY tiring. Especially when everything is happening at the same time. The highlight of it all was getting some family pictures out of the ordeal and getting to see Emmalie strut her 3-yr-old stuff out on the dance floor. Just so those of you with kids under the age of three know, they DO catch on to line dancing almost as easily as to undesirable adult words. Only it's much funnier to enjoy the fumblings of line dancing! (I wish the video clip I took of Emma doing the "Cupid Shuffle" hadn't stopped mid-stream or I'd share it with you).

My cousin's daughter Macy & Emmalie...
What a couple of hams?!

Emmalie on the dance floor...
Not quite ready for "Dancing with the Stars" yet

Devin demonstrates what a 16-yr-old boy does at a family wedding (text)

Dad and his little girls (though not so little anymore)

Grandpa and some of his muchkins
(we're minus the California trio)

The "Great Eight" and Tow (Dad and his siblings... plus spouses)

Emmalie has been again asking for a new dressy dress like Sleeping Beauty's. The best thing about being in the Garden is that they do have some little girl's dress shops there with much better prices than here locally. So, Aunt Kamie & I picked up Emmalie a real "Princess" dress for her to shine in. It was supposed to be for Christmas... but have you ever tried to hide something in an SUV to where a wondering toddlers' eyes CANNOT find it? It's virtually impossible... so Emma found it and had to at least try it on.

Our Princess Emmalie

That is all the wonderful words of our busy past five days that I have the energy to share (as I'm sure you all can understand). If you don't hear from me in the next week... it's because I'm still recovering! Until then... Happy belated Thanksgiving from the land of ladybugs and bulldogs!


Shelia, Tony & the Gang

12 Years Later

I cried the day I went into the hospital to have Dalton.... I didn't want a girl. But 12 years ago today I was in the hospital delivering what the doctor had believed to be a little girl based on earlier sonograms. Boy was he wrong... and I couldn't have been happier! At 12:21 pm I delivered Dalton James. At 6 lbs 12 oz, he had dark brown hair, the biggest "tweety bird" blue eyes, and a traditional Murphy (big) head with forcep & vaccum marks to prove it!

Today, twelve wonderful years later, I am still glad that Doc B was wrong. Dalton now stands 5' 5 1/2" tall and weighs nearly 130 lbs. A far cry from the fragile baby boy I took home that Thanksgiving years ago. It has been such a joy to watch him grow up and experience life so far. Though I could share stories of DJ's onery nature through his early years of life (toilet paper incidents seem to top the list), I'll restrain myself and give you this instead...

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Happy 12th Birthday Dalton!

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

Funny Little Emmalie

The girls and I attended what Emmalie refers to as her "funnest birthday party" on Saturday... the Graf Quads turned one! They have to be some of the cutest babies I've seen. (Their blog link is to the left if you don't believe me!).

Miss Em provided her own funny entertainment for Tony & I this weekend. You know how retailers and the radio stations seem to think Thanksgiving has already passed and it's now Christmas time? Well, Emmalie paid attention and put her own little dance & skit together. Something about the holiday music, holiday dress and Halloween teeth somehow seemed to fit for her. Don't laugh too hard!

Well, that should tide you over until Dalton's clip tomorrow! More to come from the land of ladybugs & bulldogs...

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

What do you get....?

What do you get when you put nine pre-teen boys in the same home for 14+ hours? One heck of a LOUD group who won't sit still! And, who have more stories than a golfer!

Actually, I'm so utterly amazed at Dalton's friends for keeping his birthday party last night a surprise! Dalton didn't have any idea that he would be walking into a house filled with his closest friends. ALL of the boys kept it a secret... FOR TWO SOLID WEEKS! How tough that must have been for this crowd. And they actually quieted down at bedtime so the girls could sleep well. What a great group of kids!

I do have one suggestion to other mothers though... when planning a birthday party for 11 & 12 year old boys, prepare to be eaten out of house and home! I thought Dalton and Devin were eaters, but nine of them together is like the black hole of bottomless pits!

I do have pictures from Dalton's party. (YES! He actually let us snap a few this time without complaining). However, I'm saving those for his actual "birthday post" on Tuesday. Soooo, you'll just have to check back then....

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

P.S. Sorry to keep you hangin' my Denver Mamma!

All About the Dessert

My adoring older sister knows me sooooo well. She sent me this wonderful website full of dessert recipes... more importantly, CAKE recipes! There is nothing better than dessert in my eyes (and my pant size knows that fact all too well!). With the holidays coming, you'll have to try out this site. It has a recipe for any kind of cake you can imagine. Now to figure out which ones are the lowest in calories! Check it out at...

http://www.northpole.com/Kitchen/Cookbook/

Shelia

Never TOO Old to Learn...!

Well, today I learned that you really aren't too old to learn! It was a beautiful day outside, so I thought the kids & I would enjoy it by spending some time outdoors. We played in the yard, rode tricyles/bicycles, and I even got the bright idea to rake the leaves up into piles for the boys to bag up. YEAH! I know.... "bright idea" right!? I turned my head for a second and this is what I get...

Emmalie "hiding" her flip-flops in the leaves.

Emmalie trying to find her "hidden" flip-flops in the leaves.

So, needless to say, I have learned that no matter what orders you give a toddler... playing in the piles of leaves is much too tempting to resist! I also learned from this experience that a little girls can hide her flip-flops sooooo well in a pile of leaves that it takes an act of Congress to find them again! The neighbors even offered to help (after laughing at us, of course)! Too bad Tony had to work and miss our day of outdoor learning. But... how can you be mad at that face...

Emmalie's "I'm Sorry Mom!" look.

That ends my words on a lesson learned for today. Next news.... a Birthday event in the making!

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

OMG! How Aweful!

Okay, I have to tell you.... I was soooo very excited about Dalton's presumably last ever music concert event of his school career. WAS I WRONG!? This was the absolute most aweful one his teachers have ever put together! They were taking us around the world in 45-minutes of music. The musical choices were so "blah" that Dad offered to walk Bethanie a little and I started to nod off once or twice. They did sing a great rendition of "Circle of Life" that was good. But the highlight was Emmalie. She sat on my lap laughing out loud when they started to dance and sing 'Havah Nageela'. I tried to quiet her laughs & giggles, but she thought Dalton was doing this funny dance to make people laugh! By the time the song was over.... Emmalie's giggles had become contagious to those sitting around us.

Though it was a rather depressing experience that left much to desire, I did manage to get a couple of SHORT video clips... you'll get the drift!

Dalton playing a tamborine or mini drum or something of that nature! (Look close & you'll see him look at his buddies & smile).

It's nice to know that my little Mamma's boy still looks for me in the audience... even though he won't walk within three steps of me in public! (All you mothers of pre-teens/teens will understand that).

And for you, Grandma Teri, I did get one picture while they got set to sing. (Dalton is in the middle of the top row, just in case his handsome face doesn't POP OUT at you!).



That's it from our wonderful world. I'm sure I'll come up with more to share later....


Shelia, Tony & the Gang

All GOOD Things must come to and End:(

As with everything, there must be an end. It is sad to say that Dalton's football season has officially ended because it was such a fun year for him (and us!). Here's how it all played out...

The Eagles made it to the Championship Game on Sunday night (8:00 pm start time... YUCK!). It was a hard fought game on both sides of the ball. Definitely a defensive battle of the "big men" and, with 16-seconds left on the clock, it was a tie 0-0 game. The Eagles had the ball for a 4th and 10 from their own 40-yard line... Cole snapped the ball with 10-seconds left on the clock... and this is what happened next...

YEP! THEY WON! Dalton scored as the clock hit to 00:00 ... Final score 6-0. What a wonderful end to a very exciting final junior football year for ALL of the boys!


In other news....

I called to set our family portrait up... but they were "totally booked up" unless we could come in NOW (go figure!). So, we gathered up the kids and did the whole photo shoot thing. I have never seen two teenage boys so disgusted by the thought of a little picture. Dev & DJ pitched such fits over the entire thing... they both temporarily gave Emmalie a run for the "high-maintenance child" award of the day! Devin didn't want to shave at all... and Dalton just didn't see the need in getting a family picture when we "just took one three years ago" (which is two years before Bethanie came along!). After owing Tony more gratitude than ever before for his peace-keeping abilities, we made it through the ordeal unscaved!

That is the latest and greatest words of life from our end. We still have a busy remainder of November approaching. So more to come....

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

OH! And to all of my blog followers... Does anyone know where I can get Emmalie one of those cute little elastic hair-ties with the tiara on them? I saw a girl with them a few weeks ago and cannot seem to find them anywhere! THANK YOU!

OH Happy Day!

It has started out to be another busy weekend at the funny farm! It's cold outside and the winds are bitter... but all-in-all it has been a rather good and happy day.

• Dalton won his football game today and will be playing in the Championship Game tomorrow!


• Bethanie has reached the 17 lb. mark... So there is hope that we may actually be able to turn her carseat forward facing by the time she's two!


• Though I did have to work today, everyone was in good spirits with patience enough for things to move quickly AND smoothly. (I know, aren't you shocked to hear those words from a nurse!).


• My little Diva and I, along with Baby Boo, spent a nice quiet "girls night out" to supper and birthday shopping for Dalton. We had an absolute blast... and (best of all) the Diva ordered her own meal, ate it ALL, and didn't throw one fit the entire time we were out! I'm still in shock and amazement because this might mean that she's starting to realize her part in her own independence.

Well, that is the quick update some have asked for. Nothing too much... but I'll hopefully have some more wonderful WINNING words after football and Senior enrollment things pan out tomorrow! Until then...

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

Playin' Dress UP!

Another long weekend down... with one more football weekend left to go! Funny how fast this fourth year of little league football has gone. I could cry just thinking about how much I'm going to miss this.... That is, unless one of the girls decides to play football and I REALLY don't think Daddy's gonna let that happen! Dalton won his first tournament game yesterday (big!). They then lost a heartbreaker in the closing seconds of the second game. BUT... that's alright, because both teams are in another tournament together next weekend... We'll see if this meeting will go the other way! I just have to say "WAY TO GO EAGLES!" They played their hearts out, and I think they were all a little more upset at the loss because each one wanted to win for their 'fallen' teammate, Drake. (Who, by the way, was able to make it to the tournament to help motivate the boys!).

Drake getting some help onto the field

Dalton (#54) trying to find a gap to run with the ball

Like every Sunday morning, I went to dress Bethie-Boo in a frilly dress ... and it turned into a free-for-all dress up play date! Emmalie started going through my closet looking for something to wear as a new "princess dress" and, of course, she had to have some jewelry too! It was so much fun watching them play dress up just like Lisa, Kamie & I used to do. OH TO BE THAT YOUNG AGAIN!

Emma smiles while playing with Mom's pearls (while wearing Mom's sweater)

This is when the camera came out... Bethanie trying to put on Mom's pearls (with the sun coming through the window just so...)

In other news from the home front:

• Bethanie has her 4th tooth in... with her two top "eye" teeth soon to be following!
• Emmalie & Devin are at a tie to see who can sing and grab attention the best!
• Devin has decided to join back into "Public Policy Debate" next semester. Tony & I know what that means... THANK GOD the Presidential Election will be done by that time! We can only handle so much politics in this home!
• Bethanie has learned to say her brothers' names: Dalton comes out "Dah-unnn". And Devin comes out "Deb-unnnn". IT IS SO DARNED CUTE!
• Dalton has his first Middle School musical program next week... I'm so excited because this may be the last time we actually get to see him sing & dance (as he has vowed to take anything for his Fine Arts requirements that does NOT require music or dancing!).
• Emmalie has learned what will be her most valuable thing one day... The art of GAB! She talks on the phone like a 10-year-old and can really keep the conversation flowing. It's cute when she's playing with her own phone, but not so cute when she answers the home phone and runs away trying to keep you from catching her (and the phone)!
• A birthday is soon coming our way!
• NOBODY is sick right now.. and it's past November 1st!
  
  

Well, that is the latest from our humble abode. There is so much to do coming up... weekend work, final football tournament, birthday planning, a holiday photo shoot, weddings to attend, basketball starting, doctors appointments, and on and on! At this rate, you may not get an update from us until after Thanksgiving! Oh, well.... maybe there will be a miriad of wonderful words by that time!

From the land of ladybugs and bulldogs...

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

Happy Halloween!

Well, it has been a very long Halloween Friday at our house. I was beginning to think the girls' excitement was never going to end so they could wind down for bed... but that time has come! The boys were footballing... GO FIGURE, since it's playoff season! So it was just Tony & I with the girls for the night. This was Bethanie's first "real" Halloween (her being three weeks old this time last year doesn't count!). And she took it like a trooper. None of the kids with masks on seemed to scare her even the slightest bit and she talked to every kid that came up to the door. We only took Bethie to our immediate neighbors' homes because I wasn't sure how she'd handle the whole thing. Then Tony & Emmalie went off to see more people in the housing edition. Emmalie had the absolute biggest smile on her face when she returned with her Daddy... her basket was PACKED FULL! I guess I'll pack Tony a candy lunch tomorrow (ha!).

These are some pictures that I had taken of the girls in their costumes when we first got them a month or so ago. (Thank you, honey, for your photographic abilities!). YES! Tony took them and didn't do too bad of a job. I wanted to wait to post them until now...

Emmalie "goofing off" during the photo opp!

Bethanie... what a precious little bumblebee, huh?!

This ladybug is thinking about mischief! (Emmalie)

I have been able to put together a little montage of video snippits and photos from our Halloween fun tonight. Emmalie even talked me into dressing up with her. But I couldn't get Dev & DJ to remotely join the fun for a few pictures to post... so I'll have to sneak some at another time (sorry).

Make video montages at www.OneTrueMedia.com

We hope you all had a wonderful and safe Halloween full of goodies (and a few scares, too)! To think... the weekend is just starting and there is so much planned. Predominantly FOOTBALL!

GO EAGLES! and GO JAYHAWKS!

Until more wonderful words of life present themselves... HAPPY HALLOWEEN from the land of bulldogs & ladybugs.

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

7 and 1

Well, Dalton finished his regular football season with a final record of 7-1. It was a rough last game (both teams were 6-1 going into Saturday and we were FORCED to sit on the "home team" bleachers to keep the complex clean!). Dalton had a ton of carries to start off, but they caught on early and started watching for it with three plus guys coming to tackle him every time. Tony & Dad said right away... "if Dalton ever breaks free he's gone!". SOOOOOO TRUE! He broke free at the close of the first quarter and ran nearly 50-yards for the score! Then, he turned around and did it again to start the second half (this time over 50-yards on the run). What a wonderful way for him to end his final regular season of junior football! Now the test... two tournaments coming up in the next couple of weeks.... We wish the Eagles tons of luck!

Dalton putting some "weight" into his tackle!

Now THIS is what I call a "block"!

Dalton in the end zone (again)!

That is the latest and greatest news from the land of bulldogs and ladybugs. I'm hoping to have more to post after a goulish Halloween this week.... So keep checking back for monsters, bugs, and other crazy things!

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

Gotta Love A Little Song!

Okay... As I mentioned, the girls and I had a photo shoot last weekend. I had won a drawing and was given the opportunity for a free session with some free photos. And I thought, why not because that's a free Christmas gift for Tony (I know, I'm a cheap woman huh!?). So the girls and I get there first thing in the morning and have a great time taking pictures... then it's time for the "viewing and ordering" session. I almost laughed out loud when they offered me a box of kleenex and told me to sit back with the girls to relax and enjoy the "show". NO KIDDING!!! They literally took the pictures and put them into a video montage set to the Martina McBride song 'In My Daughters' Eyes'. I think she about choked on her gum when I told her I wasn't ordering her $750.00 complete package... I just wanted a couple of extra sheets of the girls individually! What people won't do to try to get you to buy something! If I was going to pay for pictures, I'd be going to Amanda or someone that really specializes in kids. But this was a fun experience, the photos were okay and Emmalie really enjoyed herself... You know that whole Diva, Princess, love to be center of attention thing (yes, Lisa, like I used to be)!

Speaking of our precious Emmalie, she has learned a new song... like totally memorized the first verse and everything. So Tony had her sing it to me last night with the camera rolling... ENJOY!

That's it from the home of ladybugs and bulldogs! We have a weekend full with Dalton's last regular season football game and other stuff planned. Keep checking back... I have a feeling that some monsters are soon to be visiting us! Until then...

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

MORE Pumpkins & Teeth

It took me a while to find some time to get this added piece of our Pumpkin Patch trip yesterday put together to post. (Today was definitely a MONDAY!) The lastest news at the "R-H Corral" today....

1. Bethanie has another tooth! Whoo hoo... 3 down and 3 more trying! Tony said she was a bear today so I'm glad she cut it while I was at work... SORRY HONEY!
2. Dalton's friend who was injured at Saturday's game (Drake) had surgery yesterday. Please keep him in your prayers... he could use them right now.
3. Bethanie is walking! She still has a great affinity for crawling since it's faster, but she can walk more than ten steps... and that's success in my book! I'm actually afraid she's trying to do like Devin did and go straight to running once she's figured out her feet can move that fast!

Enjoy the video clip. I'll try to post again later in the week to share the girls' and my photo shoot experience Saturday morning... it was a hoot!

Make photo slide shows at www.OneTrueMedia.com

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

A Fun Visit From Grandma!

As I eluded to in the earlier post... we had a special visit from Grandma Teri this weekend! We watched football (Dalton played another extremely good game), talked, ate way too much, visited PaPa at the VA, and took the girls on their first trip to the Pumpkin Patch! All-in-all I'd say we had a wonderful short weekend together... and it will be VERY SAD to say Good-Bye tomorrow morning to send her back home to Colorado!

Emmalie tries to show her "scary" side!

Emmalie loved the train ride! BIG girl- riding by herself!

Grandpa thought Bethanie should get in on the train riding fun, too!

Dalton found the cherry tree... Great for throwing? I think NOT!

Big brother Devin lending a helping hand with Bethanie.

A group picture foiled... Dalton didn't want his "mug" showing! (From Left: Bethanie, Shelia, Teri, Devin & Emmalie)

Bethanie & Grandpa Larry... Anyone else see the similarities in those smiles!

Playful Miss Emmalie & the pumpkins.

Smilin' Miss Bethanie & the pumpkins!

I didn't get any pictures of Emmalie going into (or coming out of) her first Haunted House... but rest assured that she had a very good time... and even asked to go back in again! (For those of you that are concerned, this was a special child-friendly Haunted House at the pumpkin patch just for the little ones).

That is about all of the wonderful words of our life to offer at this time. Until later...

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

And the answer is.....

Okay, since time is up and I'm now getting phone calls for the correct answer to the baby picture quiz... I figured I had better not let it stew and answer it!

BUT FIRST.... I just want to let you know that my final interpretation of the results has shown that my four little munchkins do in fact look alike! (Sorry, the researcher in me had to demonstrate some sort of final analysis for all of my efforts in sorting through the kids' baby pictures and putting the whole "quiz" thing together!).

Now, for the correct answer..... "D"!
Bethanie, Devin, Dalton & Emmalie

The two of you whom answered "D" (Kamie, I think you secretly cheated with Roger's help... and Mama Teri, no fair because you had Mom's inner voice helping you out!) were the correct ones. The five of you who did NOT answer "D", don't feel bad because there were more who were wrong and called me after the voting to see because they didn't want to go down as a loser! Not to mention the fact that I did do alot to try to deceive you (turning the pictures into black and white sketches, placed them out of any convenient order whatsoever, etc, etc).

That was actually fun! SOOOOOO... I'll have to come up with another game sometime soon!

Shelia, Tony & the Gang

Bethanie's Birthday Extravaganza: Part 2

Well, now that things have settled down a little bit around here... I'm holding true to my words and putting up some more pictures from Bethanie's first birthday party! Each has it's own little caption.... so read close.

Bethanie's "smash" cake... only she never smashed it!

Following the theme: Butterfly cookie bags complete with a "thank you" picture note for everyone from Bethanie.
Bethanie cuddlin' up to her new teddy bear (while holding a death grip on her ladybug toy so big sis couldn't get it!).

Bethanie loves the "crawl space" in her new learning kitchen.

Emmalie likes the kitchen, too!

Boys BEWARE! Bethanie inspecting her birthday cash to make sure it's real. Trying to get it away from her is darned near impossible!

Tony & I want to thank everyone for coming to share Bethanie's birthday celebration with us. It meant alot to us having you all near over the past year along with today... And, as Emmalie puts it, "lots of peoples love Bethanie, huh?!".

This has been one very long week for us all and we're not done yet. We have another special visitor coming down next weekend...! So stay tuned for more wonderful words.

Shelia, Tony & the Gang