Our Track "Star"!!!!

Went to Dakota's first track meet that he participated in yesterday. It was fun to watch as I have never been to a track meet before. He competed in the 110 hurdles. I don't know who was more nervous him or me, but he did great!!! It was over in 20 seconds so the pictures aren't the best, but wanted to brag on him, here!!! We will see if he qualified for the district meet or not!

It's crazy how close together the hurdles are!!!

There are a total of 10 within the 100 yds!

Crazy!!!

He cleared them all, which is also crazy for me!

Those things are high!!

He came in 3rd in his heat, not sure overall where he placed,

but that doesn't really matter.

He really was stoked about it!!!

Big News from Texas!!!!!

First, and most important....

Dakota made the track team!!!

He will be running the hurtles.

(I think that is how you spell it)

CONGRATS!!!!! Dakota!

And second......

IT'S SNOWING!!!!!! AGAIN IN TEXAS!!!!

Everyone LOVES to play in the snow!!!

As soon as we arrived home from school...

extra pants, jackets, hats and gloves were on!!!

trampoline snow angels!!!

don't even think about it Dakota!!!!

Dakota's snowman!

Kru's snowman!

Kye "making" his snowman!

10-15 minutes later.....

all of the jackets, pants, hats, etc...

on the floor

and...

hot chocolate!

Snow here in Texas is supposedly rare.

However, out of the 4 1/2 years that we have

resided in Texas, it has snowed 3 of them!

Hmmmmmm!

Not complaining!

Actually, after watching the Olympics for the past week

I have been wanting to be somewhere with snow

and mountains and tall trees!!

For now, this will have to do!

VOTE FOR DARRIN!

Darrin is in the latest group of creative teams to make it into February's ZUDA COMICS lineup. Starting on the 1st February, his project, ALIENS VS NINJA VS SAMURAI, will be featured at www.zudacomics.com. If you're not familiar with ZUDA(which most people are not), it's DC COMICS' webcomic site-- a site where 10 new comic submissions are hosted and showcased for the better part of a month. Registered users on the site can vote, rate and comment on their favorite submissions. At the end of the month, one submission is picked to continue as an ongoing web series. There are lots of perks to winning but in the end... there's a regular paycheck.The creative team behind each month's winning submission gets paid to continue their series.

How exactly can you help us win? Well, you can get the ball rolling by registering at

1. Go to ZUDA.com (60 second process)
2. Reading ALIENS VS NINJA VS SAMURAI
3. Then VOTE for it (you must be logged in to vote)
4. RATE it.
5. Add it to your FAVORITES.
6. Leave a COMMENT on our ZUDA page.

This is a big deal, PLEASE vote and if you could go get 3 more people to do the same. :)

Thanks for your support

Christmas Card 2009

Merry Christmas!!!

2009

Hello Friends and Family,

Thank you for taking time to visit our blog and read our Christmas card. I hope that many of you have received our photo in the mail. Here are a few of our family highlights for the year!

Dakota's Highlights:

Sports:

* won spring soccer tournament

* first year playing tackle football - got an interception! and name in the local newspaper!!

School:

* taking advanced classes including Spanish

* is ready for keyboarding to be over!

Events:

* got a cell phone

* 7th grade at College Station Middle School

* turned 13 in October! finally a teenager!!!

Kye's Highlights:

Events:

* turned 7 in April

* 1st grade at Forest Ridge Elementary

* joined Cub Scouts and loves it!!!

* ate lunch with Shamu at Sea World during spring break

School:

* favorite class -

* favorite CAMPP -

* is enjoying reading, but not so enjoying homework

Kru's Highlights:

Events:

* started preschool!!

* turned 4 in June

* played soccer for the 1st time this fall

School Favorites:

* paint on the easel

* read in the loft

* making new friends

Darrin & Kari's Highlights:

* traveling to California to visit Kory & Shelley for a week--alone with no children!!! Thank you Kory & Shelley!!! And Miss Amanda!!

* celebrating 15 years of marriage on Friday!

* shock that we are still at the same address for 4 years now!

* Darrin - success with iPhone games!

* Kari - went back to work after 7 years--teaching 8th grade

We hope that this Christmas season finds you all well! We miss so many of you and wish we could all spend time with one another! May we always remember what Christmas is really about and be thankful for that Wonderful Gift that was given to us so long ago.

Love,

Darrin, Kari, Dakota, Kye and Kru

Football Comes to an End!

Football has ended,

actually it did a couple of weeks ago,

am just getting to posting this!

I know this first picture is fuzzy,

but Dakota is in the mess there making a tackle!

He's right there in front #17! Really!

He had a good season.

Played a little every game.

He got an interception in 1 game,

which got his name in the paper!!!

We were excited about that!

He enjoyed it! and I guess that's all that matters!

Kru's Soccer Season Finale

Yes, the Orange Tiger's 1st season is complete!

We had a great time! and most importantly

FUN!!!!!

Of course the hi-light for this U5 team was

the trophy!!!!

Throughout the season, Kru scored several goals!

He chased the ball!

and got in the action of the game!

He excelled at his throw-ins!

But most importantly...

still enjoyed it at the end of the season!

YAY! Kru-man!!!

You are a great little soccer player!!!

Until next season!

Kye's Fall Sing-a-Long - 70s Style

Friday, Kye's school had their Fall Sing-a-Long!

70's Style!!!

Kye was totally groovy and felt it 100%!!!

Between "I Will Survive", "Boogie Fever",

and "YMCA", it was a great show!

He looked super!

And as I said, was feelin' the beat!!!

If you know my Kye at all,

you know he loves to sing and dance!

Needless to say, this was a pretty good day for him!!

Love you, Kye-Kye!

You did a fabulous job!!!

P.S.

Thanks to Ms. Cindy for the groovy vest!

It accented the afro perfectly!! ;o)

Dakota Turns 13!!!!! Yes... I have a Teenager!!!

Back on the 19th, Dakota turned 13!!!

Crazy to think about, but it's true!

I have a teenager!

He decided that he was cool with no party this year,

and because Monday nights are HOPE group,

we just sang and ate the cake there instead.

We sang to 4 people that night who had birthdays that week!

After school, we let him open his gifts and cards.

He scored a lot of $$$ this birthday, which

was fine with him!!!

He also got a couple of games for the Wii!

Mario Cart that everyone can play was the big hit!

Even Dad!!!

Happy Birthday, Dakota!

You are so loved!!!

Dakota Plays Football!!!

Yup! Much to my chagrin, Dakota has begun

playing middle school tackle football.

He LOVES it, so I'm trying to stay quiet!

So far he has been playing defensive cornerback.

I have to tell you, he isn't the smallest on the team!

Last night, he broke up a pass right before

the game was called due to lightning.

So far B team has only lost 1 game.

Last week when Dakota had the swine flu,

he tried hard to convince me to let him go to school

so he could play in the game!

He is devoted! and for some reason enjoys it! :O)

Doesn't he look studdly??!! :o)

A pile of Cubs!!! Gooooo Cubs!

Hard to believe that in just a few days

he will be an official teenager!!! oy!!!!