Sophie and Rhys Quirks

"Ha-Bee-Lo-pa" is the phrase Rhys has sung repeatedly.  He can't tell me what it means; nor can his sister. He loves singing it.  Changes the tempo and mood of the song but never the "words".  He used the phrase for months but recently is making up his own songs with real words.

"I trick you mommy!" What Rhys says when something doesn't turn out how he expected. Example: "Rhys, where are your shoes? Are they in they in your room?" R: "I don't know. I think so."  Me: "No here they are in the playroom." R: "Oh, I trick you mommy!" 

Sophie and Rhys love to run out and get in the car (parked in the garage) before me, when getting ready to go out.  This is so they can have a "Dark Party" in which they hang out in the car in the dark of the garage.  They are irritated if I am close behind them and open the garage door permitting beams of light to penetrate their "Dark Party".

Naked Party.  Rhys enjoying his nakedness. If they need to be ready for a bath sometimes he has time to run around his room having a "Naked Party". His words. 

Something that worked momentarily for Neal and I was to have Sophie pay us a nickel every time she used lame nonsense words, "blah, blah" and so forth.  She then said, "Oh, I can just pay you." and our new source of income ended.

I asked Sophie what she was doing with they eggs because she was shaking them.  "I'm scrambling them."

During the past summer Sophie was most often seen outdoors in two different colored flip flops.

Fun phrases she picked up from school last year: "How Dare You!" and "Silence or you go in dungeon!"

Sophie wants to marry every boy friend or acquaintance she knows. She come up to me and tell me she's trying to figure out which one to marry. I tell her she's got loads of time.  She has boys to marry her and they have told her flat out "no."  This does not stop her from chasing them to kiss them (on the arms usually).

Sophie is very creative and thoughtful.  She is often wrapping up rocks or homemade notes to give to her friends.  She also creates gifts out of our garbage or recyclables.  I'm sure their mom's love that our improved trash is making its way into their homes.

Since Rhys' language skills improved greatly this past summer, I can no longer just enjoy his prattling from the backseat.  Now I get questions like, "Is that weird, mommy?" to which I have usually gone along with, "Yep, that's weird."  But know he follows up with, "Why mommy?"  Oh man, I don't know why it was weird!  I don't even know what "it" was!  So know I really have to listen and I am truly enjoying it.  I also told him it is hard for me to hear him in the car, which is true.  I told him he really needs to get my attention before he tells me something.  So now he prefaces many long prattles with, "Mommy, I am going to tell you a story!"  sometimes followed by "No, TWO stories".   He's mixing it up a bit more but initially his stories almost always included animals being chased and getting eaten. And if there is a bad guy, he will not live.  Bad guys must die. Jail time or natural consequences or no one wanting to play with them is not sufficient punishment in his mind.

Veterans Day

To celebrate Veterans Day this year we had the opportunity to honor Neal's Uncle Keith as a hero at the children's school.  Although he lives out of state, he was kind enough to send us pictures that we requested.  He was proudly recognized on the Hero's Wall among other military officers.

Our family was able to share our gratitude while the honored guests participated in a parade around the halls of the school. Rhys was a cutie waving his flag.

Below is Keith's military, in his own words. We love you, Uncle Keith. Thank you for your service to our country and your continued love for our family.  Happy Veterans Day!

"In June of 1967 at the age of 19 I enlisted in the U.S. Navy and went off to boot camp in San Diego, CA. After that I had fallow on training at Coronado, CA on small boats, and Camp Pendleton, CA for weapons/explosive training.

After training We were off to DaNang, South Vietnam arriving Christmas Eve 1967. We were assigned to patrolling the rivers and coast areas in the northern part of the country on what is known as River Patrol Boats (PBR’s). They are a 28 foot boat with a crew of 4, and very heavily armed, with very little armor for our own protection.

My first 12 months I never received any wounds from enemy fire. Feb 1969 I received minor wounds but was back with my unit in about a week. Then in July 1969 I was wounded a lot more serious in a fire fight with the enemy. For this action L was awarded my 2nd Purple Heart and a Bronze Star but I was also sent to San Diego Naval Hospital for surgeries and to heal from my wounds. In Dec. 1969, after healing I was released from the Hospital and reported to my First Ship for duty as a Gunners Mate (The person who takes care and fires all the small arms, big naval guns, and guided missiles.)

For the next Twenty Years I served on 5 ships, All Guided Missile Cruiser, which are 520 feet long and have 400 men on them. I was also assigned to 4 different shore duty stations, and a tour as an instructor for weapons, ordnance, and gunnery.

After many national crises and various missions to protect American interest around the world I was getting ready to retire when Iraq invaded Kuwait in Aug. 1990 and my retirement was put off for awhile. I was on a ship home ported in Charleston S.C., and in Oct 1990 and off we went to the Persian Gulf with the USS Wisconsin battle group.

After the war was quickly over, we returned to Charleston where I did retire in 1991. I started my career In a war in Vietnam and ended it with a war in the Middle East. It was a good career for me. I served this country for 24 years and retired as A Senior Chief Gunners Mate (E8).

I have been totally around the world on the water and been through both the major cannels in the world. I cannot begin to remember all the places and countries I have been to, but it has been a lot.

I was Proud to serve this country."

Keith Barnette

Dallas Arts District with Grandma

With Grandma in town and perfect weather, we headed to the Dallas Arts District.  Which one was  NOT true that Saturday?  Traveled back in time, were knighted, crossed a protest line, created works of art, or had pizza for dinner?

We took a 1926 McKinney trolley cars into Dallas to Klyde Warren Park , while there Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament knights were there demonstrating the use of weapons. After teaching us how to use a sword we were knighted by the king. Protesters were out peacefully shouting out there disgust of corrupt politicians. We crossed through them to the Dallas Art Museum where we created art out of tape, buttons, ribbons, paper, and what not. We took a 1913 trolley car back. Because we missed lunch we had dinner early at a barbecue restaurant on the way home . No pizza.

 

Cattle Drive

Mom was in town to witness our town's Texas Stampede Cattle Drive kickoff.  Short-lived but fun.

Gouls and Grandma

Judy, Keri's mom came into town to spend about a week and a half with us.  We got rolling right away with holiday fun.
Our ward's chili cookoff and trunk or treat...



Clara is a little cutie who is plotting to marry Rhys. Rhys unknowingly goes along with whatever Clara says.  If this keeps up, they will likely do quite well.

Our traditional group photo in terrible light.

 Carving pumpkins...

 Neighborhood trick or treating...

Seriously Super Siblings!

This year the Switch Witch swooped up our candy and left Nerf guns and darts! Woohoo!