Dallas in December

Our family is trying to make an annual trip to visit Lynn, Byron's dad, each December for a day to hang out and tour something new. This year we went to Fair Park and then went bowling.



We began our day EARLY by catching the 7:30 am Southwest flight out of Houston bound for Dallas, where we were to arrive by 8:30. Here are the kids on the van heading from the parking garage to the airport. Don't they look excited?



Once arriving in Dallas and Lynn picking the clan up at the airport, we stopped and had a wonderful breakfast at Mama's Daughter's Diner. All I can say is the service is beyond excellend and the food was delicious! Two thumbs up for this place and would reccomend it to anyone in the Dallas area! Anyway, once we finished stuffing ourselves full of the fabulous food, we headed back to Lynn's where he opened his Christmas presents early, as you can see by the picture!


Now it was time to work off our yummy breakfast. We all took off on foot from Lynn's place and headed to the bus stop so we could catch the 31 or 51 to the train station. Now, anyone who knows me, knows I am not a great public transportation rider, but...I was up for the adventure....for awhile! Once we reached the bus stop, several blocks later, we waited...and waited...and waited......until we finally called and it would be another 15 minutes or so until the next bus. I voted we walk back to Lynn's and get the car and just drive to the train station. And we did. So back we went and in the car we got and off we were...train station bound. Finally, we are on the train. Here are Byron and James enjoying the ride!

We now have arrived to Fair Park and it looks deserted!!! I'm thinking, "Oh no, now what. The kids are going to be so bored!" But, we took off on foot and looked around and Lynn found that the museums were open so it wasn't a loss...just not crowed, which was great! We took the time to go to the planetarium, which was not impressive at all, but the kids seemed to enjoy it enough to make it worth the time. We kinda just walked and looked and took a few snap shots here and there. Here is one of me and the kids with an elephant statue (I LOVE elephants).




After Fair Park, we rode the train back to the car and went and had a nice lunch at Cafe Express. From there we were off the bowl! Ok, now we haven't bowled in a bowling alley in YEARS! We usually only bowl on our Wii and we are Pros on that thing, so we are thinking we will kick some butt, right? Oh how wrong we were! It was hilarious! And the poor employees at the alley had to keep getting James' ball unstuck from the center of the lane because it just didn't have enough momentum to get to the pins. But, it was great fun. Here are a couple of pictures, one of the ONLY ball Lynn threw and one of James rolling the ball down the lane.













Once the bowling was done...and I won the game...we had to head back to Lynn's, gather our stuff, and head back to the airport to catch our 7:00 pm Southwest flight back to Houston. We got to the airport at 6:00 and managed to catch the 6:30 flight and arrive back to our house by 8:00! It was a wonderfully exhausting day and we all enjoyed to its fullest. We love Lynn and always enjoy the time we get to spend with him!

Lyndsey and Amanda

Here are Lyndsey and her BFF, Amanda, dressed and ready for the Jingle-Jam Dance that their school held this December. Both girls were eager to go and hangout with their friends and dance the night away...or at lease until Amanda's parents picked them up at 8:30!

James' Christmas Sing-Along

At James' pre-school they do a lot of singing. The classes did a "concert" for the church congregation one Sunday but James didn't do ANY singing. So.....when I actually caught him on video singing at his Christmas tea, I had to share it with you guys! Enjoy!

Houston Children's Museum

Yesterday my father-in-law and I took the kids to the Houston Children's Museum. We have never been there before and really didn't know what to expect. I didn't know if Lyndsey was too old or if James was too young, but as it turned out, it was a great place for both of them.





The picture to the right is pretty cool if I do say so myself. It was an example of a tornado within a tube that you could put your hand through and feel exactly what takes place inside of the twirling winds. There was no glass seperating me from the kids so I just walked around the tube and snapped this shot. Lots of fun!








Don't they look so cute together? Just makes you want to give them a big hug and kiss! I enjoyed my day with them immensely.


James is a motorcycle nut! So when there was a moped that he could sit on, man was he all for that! He really thought he was something else "driving" along the streets of Vietnam that was being shown on the screen in front of him.



All in a days work! Lyndsey was trying to see what is was like to actually do some manual labor! HA ~ that didn't last long. I kept hearing, "Wow, this is hard. I can't do this. This is hard. I can't do this." Hmmm....I wonder if she still thinks her chores are hard work????

James at his School Carnival

James' pre-school holds a Halloween Carnival for the kids each year. It is a fun time for the kids, and parents alike, to enjoy some fun games and time together. In this picture, James is sitting with his "girlfriend", Lauren, who he has had in his class for the past 3 years. They are best buds and she is a sweetie. When James is having a rough day, Lauren will mother him and take care of him. (And notice she is in a wedding dress!)

Our Tough Little Guy

James swears he is either Batman, Spiderman, the Incredible Hulk, or a boxer! He is getting into his "fighting" pose all the time wanting to battle. SO, when the camera came out..he was ready!

Trying on Costumes before the SPOOKY night!

This is James trying on his skeleton costume several weeks ago. He was so excited to be something scary this year. However, once the big night came, he wasn't so excited. He visited about 4 houses and was done and wanted to go home and pass out candy! Poor little guy.



Here is Lyndsey, with a bit of tween attitude coming out, in a portion of her costume. She was an Evil Fairy but looked absolutely beautiful on Halloween night.

A loving brother and sister act caught with the camera!

Although we know these two love each other endlessly, it is always nice to catch it in a picture. After Byron and I had left them for a little while to enjoy a nice dinner ALONE - we returned to finish the night with carving pumpkins with the kids. And even after all this, I got a great shot of them looking happy with each other --- a rare moment in the Hale household.

Pumpkin Carving 2009

Lyndsey and Byron working hard to get their pumkins looking just right to light on Halloween night! Lyndsey did her pumpkin with imagination - it was a mouth eating a piece of candy corn...her favorite candy! Byron took the easy way out and used a stensil that came with the carving set! Either way, they both looked great!!!

James excited to sit next to his pumkin that he designed all by himself (Mom carved). It was so funny, for being a tough and rough little boy he sure did hate getting his hands slimy from the pumkins seeds.

Trick-or-Treating 2009

This year Lyndsey and her friends, Alexis, Dorothy, Devin and Jonathan, all went trick-or-treating in our neighborhood. James and I tagged-along for the first block then returned home to help Byron handout candy. Lyndsey had a great time with her friends and felt "grown-up" being allowed to enjoy Halloween without Mom and Dad hanging around.

Lyndsey's Swimming

Here, Lyndsey has just won her first 1st place race, although she didn't know she had won yet!

I just downloaded this pics from my camera, so they are a little late. Lyndsey really enjoyed doing swim team this summer through our neighborhood pool (except for practicing 4 days a week). She is a great swimmer for not much practice and did excellent in her meets. She swam with some girls that had been doing swim teams for years and even beat them at some of the races. Lyndsey thrives in competition, but has a hard time is she doesn't do so well. Hopefully, she will learn the art of being a great competitor whether she wins or loses. Anyway, I am very proud of her.

Here, Lyndsey is coming down her lane doing her first lap in a two lap race doing one of her favorite stokes, breast.

School Began....

Off to another year of books, homework and running around! Lyndsey began the 7th grade last Tuesday and James began pre-school last Thursday. Lyndsey is taking art again this year and her teacher just entered one of her projects from 6th grade into an art contest! Cross your fingers for a win!! She is trying out for track, so hopefully we will have some meets to go. She is a quick runner so I feel she will do wonderfully. Lyndsey also would like to pursue her swimming (she was on a swim team this summer through our neighborhood pool). She did really well for her first time and loved the competition. So...looks like swim lesson and preparation for more swim team!

James' first day of school had a rough start but ended on a positive note. His teacher, Mrs Newman, said he had his ups and downs all day but once they were settled into their next task, he was fine. Thank goodness he also has all his friends from last year in his class. He has a little girl-friend, Lawren, who his a very mother-hen type girl, so she took care of him while he was upset. How cute! I would have loved to seen that. Now we will just have to see how Tuesday goes when I just drop him off with the teacher at the door...no more walking him in!

Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful summer! We are getting ready for the school year to begin. I cannot believe that Lyndsey will the an 8th grader! Today we did the school clothes shopping thing. It is much easier since Lyndsey's school has a dress code that requires polo type shirts and very plain pants, shorts or skirts. Of course, nearly being a teenager we HAD to get the coolest polos we could...Aeropostle! Thank goodness they were having a sale! Anyway, she is happy with her "uniform" and is as ready for school to begin as she can be.

James is starting pre-school this year. He will be at the same school as last, but now gets dropped off in a carpool lane. Big boy stuff, huh? We meet his teacher next week and hopefully James will get reacquainted with his old buddies! Although he is not excited about the new year, he will adjust just fine.

Byron is still with Southwest. He has been working a lot and getting ready for his check-ride that is coming up in September. He has been studying most of the time when he is home but still finds time to play with the family. He does a lot of practing with his kite boarding kite at the park gearing up for lessons. He LOVES it. I cannot wait to see him finally get out into the water...and don't worry, I'll have the video camera on hand.

Me, well I am activily looking for employment. After being out of work for 3+ years, it is a little more difficult. I have found several jobs that have really sparked my interest, so keep your fingers crossed! Other than that, I have been spending lots of time with the kids and sprucing up the house. Most of the painting is done, except for the kids rooms. Of course, theirs will be the fun ones...all the detail and "art" to be painting on the walls. Lyndsey has a clear vision for her room but I am still working on a plan for James'.

Well, it is late and we have early appointments to get to in the morning...dentist..YUCK (thank goodness it's for the kids and not me). Take care and I'll post another update soon.

Love,
Anne

Byron and James "Kite Boarding"

Byron has taken up a new hobby...well, sort of. He is dying to go kite surfing, and will be taking lesson very soon, but in the mean time he has been practing at the park. Since he has taken this practicing up, James has come to enjoy flying the kite as much as Byron. I couldn't resist taking the camera along to snap James being lifted up by the kite (ok, so Dad helps a little but James doesn't know that).

Mommy and James

I just had to share this pic of James and I. Isn't he adorable? Who does he look like (pick me, pick me)?

Fishin' in Helena

Lyndsey, James and I recently went to Helena for a visit. While Lyndsey was visiting the Privett's, we went fishing. James was the only one to catch a fish. Okay, so he was a little scared of the thing, but he did a great job. My only wish was that Byron would have been there to see it all take place!

It's Been Awhile!

Hello to All! I know I haven't kept up my blog recently, but I am here now to give an update.

First, it is HOT in Texas right now. I know, I know...it will get even hotter but even the kids don't want to be outside for any extended period of time.

Second, we have been doing some major projects on the house. Yes, it is a new house (only 2.5 yrs of age) but we still have to make it our home. So, I have been very busy painting as many rooms as possible, along with Byron and I furnishing some unfurnished spaces. The house is coming along nicely with only a few more things to do. Oh, we also tiled our back patio and now it is amazing. I swear it feels like an extra room!

The kids are doing wonderful. They are both out of school for the summer, with Lyndsey makes straight A's on her report card for the entire 6th grade! We are so proud of her..she is so smart (yes, I am bragging). Byron had told her if she made straight A's she would be generously rewarded..as was. She is one happy little girl, oh, I mean young lady. James begins pre-school next year, still only 2 days a week but in a more structured classroom setting. I know he will do great too.

Byron is still working hard at Southwest and is traveling quite often. I am hoping to hop on one of his flights this summer w/the kids. Wouldn't it be great to get a photo of him and the kids in his "office?" Besides his must-do work, Byron also manages many of his own projects around the house. We bought a "fishing camp" north of Houston so Byron is rebuilding it from the floor up. We currently have some hand made cabinets in our garage that he built. He has some more to do and hopes to get them finished soon.

Well, I think that is about it for now. I seriously hope to keep this blog up much more regularly now!

Have a wonderful day.

Love,
Anne