Another year older.......

I am another year older.....wiser....bolder.....definitly stronger. Through out the past year I have learned to appreciate again...I have learned to hope....to wish....to have faith in the unseen.... I am thankful for the opportunity to grow....to watch my family grow...... I do not believe that growing older is a curse...just a fun path to travel and learn.....while trying not to trip...and if you do....learning how to fall gracefully..... I was given some extra luck this year by my daddy..... and a lot of encouragement from my mommy..... ;-) I look forward to seeing how it all turns out....
I am thankful for sharing this wonderful day with my mom.....what a great present....ME.... Just kidding....but it is nice to know that every year someone loves this day too......

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM

Well.... the photo didn't turn out as well as i would have liked.... it was cute and wanted it here...... Happy Birthday Mom!!! Even though we are miles apart we are spending the day together in our hearts..... I am lucky and get to share my birthday with my mom!

Samantha's Art Project

Though the weather wasn't the greatest....it was neither raining nor snowing...... Samantha set out with her school to Arlington to compete in the UIL Art competition..... there were several highly talented competitors against her piece.

Not only did her talent have to shine with her art work, she also had to defend her piece to the judges. She did a fabulous job and received the highest score on her piece..... I am extremely proud of her..... She said that one of the greatest things she was able to do on Saturday was experience the talent and artwork of others..... the sign of a true artist!

Saturday also brought Baseball tryouts...... My little man was nervous as could be.... as was I. He had talked himself out of batting before we even arrived at the fields.....figures! However, saving grace, no one could hit off the batting machine.... it was High and slow.... he fielded the ball the way I knew he could.....nothing got past him and his throws from third to first were fast and accurate..... he is such the little stud! I can't wait to have baseball in full swing...... the smell of fresh cut grass..... the hot sun shining down.....the sound of the ball hitting the bat.....

It was absolutely beautiful! Starting the Thursday before Valentines day....school was cancelled. Of course our schools decided to send the kids on the Thursday, long enough to call it a full day....so they sent the kids home starting at 9:30 am..... We ended up with record snowfall here in this one storm.....12 and 1/2 inches..... the heavy snowman snow broke power lines leaving 100,000's of people with out power.....closing roads and schools and leaving Texas under a beautiful blanket of white......

Actually this was bigger than most of the storms we left behind in Idaho..... The kids were elated.... So was I! It was wonderful to see the beautiful sight...... even if it was cold and nearly impossible to get around. Heck...Sami was snowed in at her Boyfriends......but wanted us to put it in 4 wheel drive and bring her home.....Thank goodness for 4X4's........

Sami is an artist....

It is amazing to me watch the art work that Sami is creating unfold into the masterpiece it is becoming. I always knew she was talented.... but I just never realized how talented she was until she was asked to represent her school in the state wide art competition. SO then her normal style of cartoon sketching turned into these amazing protraits. Above is the amazing collage of faces she is putting together......Carly is on there.....Hailey.....Tabi.....Angelo.....and Tony.....Natalie and I will be on there too.....and I think Cody....

This is Carley......and looks just like her......FYI.

This is the beginning of Angelo.......what I actually saw of it this morning is almost complete and looks just like the handsome little stinker.

This is Tabi.......and is looking more and more like the beauty she is......

This is going to be a part of the puzzle pieces that will go over the other face from her life.....this is my sami's smile.......... I am so proud of her ability and the desire she has put into her accomplishments. Though art is a touchy career.....I believe she will put her talents to good use through out her life.....