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.....

Snow in Texas???

Come on already winter...... Snow in Texas? Don't get me wrong, I adore a wonderful winter wonderland....and if we had 20 feet of the powdery cold....I wouldn't complain. However, when we moved here.......I had been told of how warm it was......actually how hot it got......and how the winters were nice and mild....there was a week with some ick for weather......BUT this is ridiculous! We have had several weeks of this weird weather.......Xmas we got snow....that was a blessing for the kids sake and needing a white Christmas......then it FINALLY warmed up and we were in the mid 60's to 70's......Yesterday we received 3 1/2 inches of rain....I was thinking we were going to need a boat.....now we have snow.......I suppose we are lucky that the tornadoes missed us....YES VERY LUCKY!!!!!!!!!! "Toetoe, I don't think we are in Idaho anymore......

Another year older....

Monday was Sami's 17th birthday! It is hard to imagine that she is another year older......I can believe she is another year wiser, more beautiful......where does the time go?

It was a fun and entertaining day! After the kids got home from school we ran into Fort Worth for Jamba Juice....which is her favorite. (We took Cody.....who is also a favorite!)

After she blew out her candles all the kids played rockband.....in my room. Weird!

Hopefully she gets her birthday wish. It took her long enough to make it....then she scared the heck out of us all when she.....all of a sudden blew up......and blew out all the candles! Funny!

Tabi's friend Jack joined us for the birthday fun too! What would life be like with out a few extra kids?

My Texas life.....

So for those of you who don't know....we moved to Texas though I think I said that in previous posts. We have been here for just over half a year. I can't say as to whether or not I love it or not. It's beautiful here.....it was beautiful in Idaho as well.....so its a different beautiful. I love the fact that there are a million leafy trees here, and lakes everywhere.....i know that not all of Texas is that way......I miss the mountains.......We have wild life in our back yard....deer, armadilos......humm.....raccoons possums.......its fun.
The kids are in the smallest school district here. I love that.....there are only about 500 kids in all. We are getting to know so many people in the schools....its nice. Sami and Nat have been voted the friendliest kids in there grades, and Angelo has been made class rep for the 4th grade.....along with these honors comes a dinner and award ceremony along with a red carpet walk. This should be cool! Tabi was disappointed not to have won anything. She is still fabulous to me....and has been so invovled with school it is okay......not everyone can win everything all the time.
I have been subbing.....that is fun! Junior high rocks! I love the kids and it helps being in a new place being able to be close to my own kids! Its funny to have kids come up to me and hug me....that aren't my own.....and say Mrs. L who's class are you in today......and then to see either the excitment or disappointment when I tell them.......I love being loved!!!
I miss my friends and family....it's so hard not knowing people my own age here. I wish I had a friend. Sounds pathetic and perhaps if I tried harder i would meet some people.....other mom's to hang out with? But if you know me you know that I just am not like that......SO I would have more luck moving a friend out here.......LOL
I can't get over the "Texas Pledge" or the fact that so many people are so strongly oppinionated over it. Oh well......I can't bring myself to say it.....I am an Idaho girl at heart.......

My new life....