Kate Turned 8 on April the 8th

That's the birthday girl! We had a great weekend in April when we went to Disney on Ice to celebrate Kate's birthday. It was a great time filled with family and friends and a couple of precious little friends of Kate's: Delaney and Kate!

Delaney, Kate & Kate

It only takes a short time spent with Kate to understand what a happy little girl she truly is! She is forever smiling, and talking, and skipping, and smiling, and talking, and helping, and talking, and smiling...

Birthday Bike!

...and dressing up...

50's Day in 2nd grade!

...and loving on all animals...

Easter bunnies...for real!

...and she likes going to the mall...

Got some glasses this year!

...and is crazy about going to school and reading...

Only A's the entire school year!

...totally enjoys being outdoors as well as helping others...

Planting Memaw's garden for Mother's Day!

 ...and loves her River.

Every girl needs her very own dog!

Christmas 2012

Since Jack & Kate were at their dad's for Christmas, Travis stayed in Canyon and the Webb kiddo's traditionally go to their grandparents, our gift exchange celebration of Christmas came a little later than normal. I know, we haven't been doing this long enough to know what normal is for our blended family...or if we even have a normal! However, we had a wonderful afternoon/evening together with the Webb side:

Cadden on his scooter; Mr. Happy - Jeremiah; Always moving Verna

Terry's folks: Meemaw & Grandpa -- Reese and his sweetie, Derien

Adam & Alyssa -- Jared, wiggleworm and Alysha

We had a blast opening gifts and watching the littles play with all their loot. We then feasted on homemade lasagna & chocolate crumble balls for dessert. For me especially, it was exciting & meaningful to have all of Terry's family together during this time.

Two days later, Jack & Kate came home. They had a fun time at their dad's, but I sure was happy to have them back home. So on New Year's Eve, we had our Christmas with them. 

A couple of days later, Travis came home for a very short visit...it was certainly better than no time together at all.

I sure hope you had a wonderful Christmas season and safe New Year's. It was good to get those Christmas cards from friends we don't get to see.

Our Little Get-A-Way

For the first time ever...yes, in our short 3 years together...don't laugh too hard...Terry and I were all by ourselves for Christmas. Actual Christmas Eve and Day! Terry's foresight, he did not want me sulking around the house missing Jack & Kate so he proposed a little trip "somewhere." I got to pick! So arrangements were made for 3 nights in the Chuckwagon Bed and Breakfast in Fredericksburg, Texas. (A little history: my Gran lived in Fredericksburg, as well as my only Aunt & Uncle on my dad's side, and there were many weeks in the summer and Thanksgivings spent there.) We arrived on December 22 and drove home Christmas Day.

 This was our little get-a-way retreat for the 3 nights there. Cozy, quaint, hospitable, quiet, tasty, relaxing and comfy...that about sums it up. Sam & Becky own the B&B and prepare a wonderful breakfast along with some interesting and entertaining conversation.

 We enjoyed a little shopping, good eats, more shopping, took in a show...no I mean live show...musical with some good ole laughs at the RockBox. Ok now, back to shopping... Poor Terry, my looking in each store allowed some time for him to explore and learn his new phone a little better! 

Drove to San Antonio thru route of Bourne (yes, for more shopping) and enjoyed lunch on the River Walk, the Alamo and the hub-ub of the area. Fun! Totally Relaxing! No Schedule! We could not have enjoyed it more...not to mention, we had so much to look forward to in celebrating Christmas with our kiddos back home a few days after Christmas.

2012 Hunting

Remember the blind Terry and Jack built this past summer? Well, it, along with 3 others have been getting some good use the last couple of months. Bow season opened back in October with guns opening the first weekend in November. Terry made a couple of bow trips with Adam in October. There was LOTS of evidence from the game cameras of pigs and deer coming to the feeders.

Unfortunately, when it came time to start hunting in October, very little was seen. Terry did manage to stick a young turkey...

Opening gun weekend was our first Family Hunt Weekend...can you say FUN? I know, not everyone is cut out for camping but we all had a blast! There are some "home comforts" along with campfires to make for very comfortable surroundings. Terry bought Kate her first BB gun. She totally got into target shooting...

Even had a celebration dance...

In between target practice and hunting, we all moved a new tripod into position for the lake-bottom feeder. Great view as long as you are not afraid of heights!

Jack broke in his blind that weekend several mornings and one evening...unfortunately, the only sighting was a skunk and pair of walking sticks.

The highlight of the weekend would have to be the bobcat that Terry stuck on Friday evening. We tracked her the next morning and found her only 40 yards from where Terry stuck her.

Just before Thanksgiving, Adam & Terry went again for a bow only weekend. Adam was thrilled to finally get a nice buck.

WTAMU 2012 Homecoming

In November, Jack, Kate, Terry and I went to Canyon for the WTAMU Homecoming game with Travis and his girl, Brooke. It was a knock-dead win for the Buffs!! Kate spent time with her long-time friend, Delany Case...hence the reason you don't see her in the pictures at the game. Special Friends!!

It was good to return to my former church home, Trinity Baptist Church. I realized on this visit, though, it is no longer my church home but rather a treasured place to visit, worship and see special, sweet friends that will always be dear to my heart.

Fall Sports

 Jack and Kate both played a sport this fall. Jack played Defensive Linebacker and Lineman on kick returns for his 8th grade football team, Roosevelt Eagles. For the better part of the season, Jack worked hard to overcome the fear of being hit...and still has some room to grow. Even through that challenge, Jack totally looked forward to, worked to improve and enjoyed this 7-3 football season!

As for Kate, she played soccer for the first time through Upwards...a Christ centered program for 1st-5th graders. Her team consisted of 8 second grade girls. Kate LOVED the running aspect...she surely does NOT take after her momma on this note! Temperatures varied from the low 80's to upper 30's...gotta love this Texas panhandle weather! She is eagerly looking forward to playing again next season!

SIT Graduation

Columbia, South Carolina...not too long of a trip when you fly. REAL long trip when you haven't seen your boy, or talked to him, in TEN WEEKS!! Finally, the day arrived to watch him graduate from Army SIT!! (Soldier in Training) Reese left back in June and on September 6th, 2012, he was officially announced as a soldier of the US Army. It was so good to hug him and just listen to him tell all the scenarios he experienced during those 10 weeks. (And WOW...he lost some weight but is probably the strongest his core has ever been. )Thank goodness for the battalion's page on Facebook, we did get some sneak peaks of Reese during his training.

The actual graduation ceremony was a spine-chilling, patriotic, beautiful event! So proud of Reese and all the soldiers that put their own lives at risk for those of us in this nation. I like this little saying that has been circulating...IF YOU CAN'T BACK OUR SOLDIERS, FEEL FREE TO STAND IN FRONT OF THEM!

We are especially excited that Reese is now posted at Goodfellow Air Force Base in SanAngelo, Texas. He will complete his AIT (Advanced Individual Training) sometime in April probably. Goodfellow trains soldiers in their Signals Intelligence Analyst School. We don't know where he will be posted after that but will surely enjoy having him close for the next few months.