first day of school 2020-2021
7th and 1st....WOW! This first day of school looks a lot different than every other school year we've ever had. This year you'll be starting school from home. So, in honor of that....we did EXPECTATION vs REALITY pictures for your first day of school.
Bells,
7th Grade...WOW! I know that the fear of the unknown gets to you and stresses you out. But, I know that you're gonna do GREAT this year and kill it just like you do every year.
Ellie,
1st Grade, baby! I know that this isn't the way you wanted to go back. You're such a social person and I know that not being able to be in school with your friends isn't your ideal situation. But, we will make do and get through this. You're resilient and tough as hell. You're gonna do great!
Good luck babies. We love you!
twelve
I can NOT believe another year has gone by! This year has been absolutely crazy, and I feel like time is really creeping up on us. You're blossoming into such a beautiful young lady, and I am so honored to call you mine. This past year you have really become sort of the rock and the glue keeping all of us sane and holding us together. Last fall I returned to school, and you have been such a ROCKSTAR through this whole transition. You help me out way more than any 12-year-old should have to, and I can not thank you enough for everything you do for this family. I honestly do not know what we did to deserve such an amazing young lady in our lives. I love you. Forever.
robotics
It feels so good to see you being a KID and just enjoying the moment. This year, you joined the Robotics club at your school. It was so nice to see you fully immerse yourself into something, you're usually so reserved so it was a nice change to see how you nerded out about something. Your team worked so hard this year, practicing 3-4 days a week and it paid off!
At your first competition, (where you competed with teams from all over the area) your team won 2nd place in Core Values and 2nd place in Robot Design.
At your first competition, (where you competed with teams from all over the area) your team won 2nd place in Core Values and 2nd place in Robot Design.
You guys even advanced to Regionals!
At the FIRST LEGO League East Area Championship - City Tournament you guys won 1st Place for Robot Programming, and y'all got the first-ever school trophy for Robotics!
I'm so proud of you, baby! Not because you guys won, but because this it's so refreshing to just see you be a KID and not putting the entire weight of the world on your shoulders. I can't wait to see what you guys do this upcoming year!
six
Happy 6th Birthday, Ellie! I can't believe how fast these 6 years have gone by! But, lemme tell you...they have NOT been boring! You are a mini hurricane and always the life of the party!
This year you started your official countdown on February 1st and every day said how excited you were for your birthday. You wanted a class party, so Ash and I brought pizza and cupcakes to share with all your friends.
winter recital 2019
I am SO STINKIN' PROUD of you! You absolutely killed this recital.
You made mistakes, yes. But the way you handled them made me SO PROUD. You played absolutely beautifully. We love you so much kiddo.
You made mistakes, yes. But the way you handled them made me SO PROUD. You played absolutely beautifully. We love you so much kiddo.
For winter recital you played Yesterday and We Wish You a Merry Christmas.
2019 holidays
I can't believe another holiday season has passed, babies. Some days it feels like the days drag...until I stop and look around and realize, they're not. A whole other year has passed. We've made a whole year of memories, and are anxiously waiting for the next year's set of new ones. This holiday season was more low-key than others. Dad and I have big big plans for us, but along those plans naturally come some sacrifices. Nevertheless, we tried to make it as memorable for you two.
Your last week of school before the break was full of fun things. B, you went skating with your friends. You did so well for it being your second time ever! Never stop being afraid of trying new things. I had a discussion with your teacher and she said that she was SO proud of how determined you were even after falling. She said most kids who fell once refused to go back out there, but not you. You certainly have more grit than I ever did. My butt would NOT have gotten up. So...GO YOU!
Ellie, you had spirit week and had so much fun dressing up!
"Dress Like a Present Day"
"Christmas Sweater Day"
"Cookies with Santa"
B, you started off the break by baking your largest order of empanadas to date.
You sold 24 dozen....determined to save money for our vacation.
After school let out, Dad and I got pretty busy so we just hung out for most of the break. Sorry kiddos, we know we're not much fun sometimes. But, I promise....the sacrifices we're all making now are going to be worth it one day :)
Christmas
We didn't want to not NOT do anything with you guys, so the weekend before New Year's we took you guys to Santa's Wonderland in College Station. I LOVED seeing how happy you guys were!
New Year's Eve
Then to celebrate Isa's 1st birthday :)
I can't wait to see what 2020 will bring our way!
the force
Ok, so this is how we will spend the last 6 weeks of 2015, and how we will welcome (Dad) and 2016. One of the first things that me and your dad bonded over when we first started dating was Star Wars. I'd never seen them, and when I mentioned this to him, he thought that it needed to be rectified immediately. We went out and rented (back when you actually had to leave your house, drive to the movie rental store, and rent the actual DVDs) all 6 movies. We did nothing that entire weekend but veg out, eat junk food, sleep and watch these movies. It's one of the absolute best memories we have together. Of course, I immediately LOVED them, and we've shared in this love for movies ever since.
This year, a new movie is coming out and although he won't be here when it comes out, we plan on watching it together when he gets home. So imagine our joy when you decided you wanted to be Leia for Halloween. What better little treat for both of us to get to share our love for this very cheesy thing with you. So in honor of that, we will watch an episode (because of course they can't be called parts, or movies) a week, every week until your dad comes home. We will then all make a date out of it and watch Episode 7 together.
Of course we had to do it up right, with junk food, and a slumber party. Have you ever seen anyone so happy to be drinking Arizona?!
Look who made an appearance for Episode 3! (Ellie, you lasted all but 5 minutes after I took this pic. You got bored and walked right over to your room so I could put you to bed). You also said 3 is your favorite so far, just wait until you see 4-6!
You said this was your new favorite set of pajamas, haha!
At this point, you proceeded to pick up Ellie's broom and pretend it was a lightsaber. You'll probably be embarassed by this picture in years to come, but guess what, I don't care!
In continuing with one of our best traditions, we went to the movies over the holidays. This is our 4th year going to the movies on Christmas (with last year being the exception, since dad wasn't here...but, that got moved to New Year's), and it's one of the things we look forward to the most during the holiday season. We start planning out what movie we're going to see months in advance, and this year we were all pretty excited it was another Star Wars.
This year, a new movie is coming out and although he won't be here when it comes out, we plan on watching it together when he gets home. So imagine our joy when you decided you wanted to be Leia for Halloween. What better little treat for both of us to get to share our love for this very cheesy thing with you. So in honor of that, we will watch an episode (because of course they can't be called parts, or movies) a week, every week until your dad comes home. We will then all make a date out of it and watch Episode 7 together.
Of course we had to do it up right, with junk food, and a slumber party. Have you ever seen anyone so happy to be drinking Arizona?!
We made our own Light Sabers out of pipe cleaners and put on our SW gear.
I know we said we'd wait to do this every Friday, but imagine my excitement when you wanted to watch it on your own.
You said this was your new favorite set of pajamas, haha!
At this point, you proceeded to pick up Ellie's broom and pretend it was a lightsaber. You'll probably be embarassed by this picture in years to come, but guess what, I don't care!
We're done, caught up, and ready for Episode 7!
Update: New Year's came, and off we went to the movies.
(Yes, you wore your Leia costume to the movie theater)
Update 2016:
There's about 78 more SW's coming out, so I can't wait to continue this tradition for years to come.
Update 2018:
Update 2020:
Last one. WHOA!
