Sophie

While listening to the Bee Gees, Sophie asks, "Is this just a band of awkward singers?"

My daughter rocks! Now ever time I look in the mirror I magically become scantily clad sea nymph!

Pinkwood Derby:

When all was said and done, her car had a lot of sparkle but not a lot of speed. Had a good time though. Her friend got sick and couldn't go so Sophie picked up her car and made sure it raced. That's how awesome the father/daughter team are!

Presidential Election

We voted early and then we vomited. Then we tried to stay up and see how things played out but ended up going to be and finding out in the morning.

Earlier that evening:
Keri: I'm scared.
Neal: Of what?
Keri: That someone's going to win.

Halloween

Friday, Oct 29: Today was a great day. I carved an award winning Star Wars pumpkin. Sophie and I went to my friend, Tyler's house where Sophie learned to use a band saw and cut her own pinkwood derby car (pinewood derby car but for girls) and we went to an awesome church chili cook-off and trunk or treat with a ton of amazing friends. -Neal

On Halloween:

Cauliflower Pizza Casserole

Allen Americans Hockey Game

Neal always takes them down to help collect the plastic pucks randomly tossed for charities. He's a very good dad.

Neal's Oma Passes Away

Neal's Oma, Marie, passed away on Aug 23, 2016. She was a smart, ambitious, funny, positive, and loving woman and had great impact on her children and grandchildren.  We celebrated her life in September with so many that loved and appreciated her.  Her husband's ashes were buried with her. They are together now. Rudy, Neal's dad, provided the eulogy and other kind words were shared by others.

While in CA for the funeral we enjoyed seeing family and catching up. It was great just sitting around and talking and celebrating the good in our lives. We got out a bit too. 

Keri visited the home she grew up in and got photos of the hand prints she, her sister, and their dog, Dusty, left in a cement slab. Place looks a lot nicer than when she lived there.

Spent time at the tide pools at Little Corona and eating with family a Ruby's at the end of the HB pier and then enjoying the waves with the kids.

Keri Takes on Part-Time Work

Keri was asked to work a support job (steady work) for 2-3 days a week. After much discussion and prayer, we decided to go ahead and see how that would go for our family. The support roll was conveniently located at our children's school and that made transportation easy. Once we knew it was working for us, other sub jobs that popped up made it so she was working on average 4 days a week with the goal of paying off the minivan before Christmas.

Rhys

Things my son has said over the last several months:

R: If there is a tornado, I will run all the way to Washington and run in the water.
Me: Are you just going to abandon your family?!
R: No, my family will go with me and the baby will wear floaties.

"I hope I will become old like a grandpa. Like 100 years old! And Mom, I hope you become a grandma so then you won't die and I won't be sad."

"I am going to live in Texas because there are no volcanoes."

"Mom, when I have a bad dream or am sad, my Fuzzy (teddy bear) make me feel better.  That's why God made stuffed animals."

Back to School Festivities

Our elementary school's back to school parade kicked things off! Sophie has a brand new to teaching teacher that we are happy for and Rhys finally got the teacher he has hugged every day for two years!
We made our signs and joined other friends at the Street's home across form Story Park as the teachers rolled by!

 That afternoon we headed to the sprayground, and knowing I only had them one more day, I decided to chase them through the water much to their surprise.

First day of 4th and 2nd

 Mother's Rejoicing Party! Donuts, giddy squeals of joy, tears, and a whole lot of chatting!

Summer Service Project 2

For our second service project we invited friends and members of our community to donate cleaning supplies to Refugee Services of North Texas. They set up apartments for arriving families. We had enough for 5 families to be blessed thanks to everyone's generosity.

Up Close and Personal with Nature

Aunt Kira and Uncle David gifted Sophie with a butterfly atrium for her birthday. Over days we saw them create cocoons, wiggle in their cocoons, come out and spill their leftover body juice (ick), and in time their release. Really cool experience.

From Little Girl's Room to Terrific Tween Room

This summer we decided to give Sophie's room an updated look that was pre-teen approriate. Down came the butterflies and lace edged curtains. We had a good time shopping for decor and painting her room a new shade. Though there are no "after" pictures here we went with a chevron print comforter, added a desk and over the door mirror, and popped some color!
Shopping for decor ideas:

Getting to work together:

This set of drawers was rescued from the curb, it just needed some a squirrel nest removed and some fresh paint. We blinged it up with new pulls.

I Heart U message painted for her mom

July 4th

Top of The Village parking structure.

Time with Aunt Kira and Uncle David

We headed down to Waco while Kira and David were in town to go to Magnolia, famous because of the Fixer Upper show. We were greeted with cupcakes from their soon-to-open bakery and spent time in the store and out in the open area. It is a cute place in the middle of a run down section of town. After that we headed over to the Waco Mammoth National Monument to see mammoth remains.

Aunt Kira telling the kids to tickle his armpits.

The next day's outing was taking the train down to the Dallas World Aquarium and back and the adults enjoying dinner at a nice Brazilian Bar-B-Q restaurant to cap off Neal's birthday celebrations.