IS THAT SUPPOSE TO BE A SODA BOX CAR?

For the last few weeks Nicholas has been asking to build a box car. I knew that I could figure out how to build one but felt like this would be a great opportunity for Adam to have some male bonding time with Nick:). This past Saturday, Adam and Nick set off on an interesting adventure that started at The Home Depot. 2 metal rods, 4 tires, a couple of bolts, a few screws and a piece of wood later, they returned to embark on what would end up being a disaster of a box car!

As most of us know it requires a bit more than a few rods of metal and some screws and bolts to make a box car. But Adam being the craftsman that he is thought that he could build one without a pattern or any previous woodworking experience.

Now most box cars have rails, a seat and definitely a steering wheel or some sort of rigged rope that allow the driver to steer the car. Needless to say, and you can tell by the pictures, Nicholas' box card had none of the above! His feet were his brakes if he need to suddenly stop. He was to drop them in between the first and second piece of wood and hope that he didn't break a ankle in the process.

A steering wheel would have come in handy to assist in guiding this one of a kind box car down the driveway. The car automatically veers to the left due to the fact that the front wheels are a slight bit wider than the back wheels. Measuring would have helped fix that, but that would have taken too much time:) Two of the neighborhood kids were over and advised Adam that their dad could soo make a better car than he did! What could Adam say to their honest comments. They were 100% right. He laughed about it and their Dad offered to help build Nick a actual box car.

What I love most about Nicholas is that even thought this box car didn't turn out like he dreamed it would(his exact words) he is proud of it regardless. He still thinks that it is awesome even though everyone who passes by probably wonders, "What on earth is that suppose to be?" As my brother put it so well, "He would be better off in a red wagon!" LOL. Hats off to Adam and for his attempt at his first, but definitely not his last, box car.

District All-Stars

Matthew recently had the opportunity to try out for the All-Star team for his league. There are two teams that are formed once the season comes to an end. There is the district team and the city team. The difference in the teams is that the city team stays at home while the district league travels to others cities trying to qualify for the Little League World Series. It is apparently a pretty big deal here in Texas(Pretty much all sports are a "BIG" deal in Texas) to make the All-Star team. Matthew did his best at the try-outs and then stressed the following days as to whether or not he made the team. His coach told me the following Monday that he was chosen for the District Team but didn't want to announce anything yet because he was the only player from his team to make it. We are awaiting our final game tomorrow and if we win we will clinch first place and our coach will be the all-star coach. He will then be able to take 3 players from our team along with Matthew to the district tournament. This especially means a lot to Matthew because he has had to prove himself over and over with new teams and coaches and his hard work and dedication has paid off! We are so proud of him! Way to go Son!!

Upper Expander$$ Lower Expander$$$Revese Headgear$$$$...

We recently embarked on an adventure to the Orthodontist. I have known for quite some time that this day would come. I knew that our sweet little Nick had a small mouth(by what comes out of it....who would of known!!:) but didn't realize how messed up it really is. Needless to say, there isn't any room for his permanent teeth to come in. These cool pictures can give you a glimpse at what the next 16 months of orthodontics will consist of for Nick.

The above picture allows you to see the crowding of the teeth and the lack of space for his eye teeth to come in. This poor kid has a double cross bite and an under bite. He will have an expander placed in the upper and lower sections of his mouth and he will be wearing headgear at night and while at home to pull his upper jaw forward to correct his under bite. You can imagine how fun that is gonna be for me trying to get him to wear it to bed. The conversation I had with Adam went a little like this, (Aimee) "Nick's mouth is messed up...he has to have an expander on the top and the bottom and he has to wear head gear!..giggle...(Adam)Does he have to wear it to school?" (Aimee) Oh no way!(you think I would allow that to happen?) "Only at night and while at home"(Adam) How much is it going to cost?" (Aimee) $$$$$$$$!!:)

The nice thing about the orthodontics is that Nick has a major sweet tooth so he no longer will be found at any given moment raiding the pantry eating sticky candy. His body is going to go through withdrawals for the first couple of days but our dental bill should improve. Lucky for us Matthews teeth look good so we can hold off on him for the meantime

11022 Yorkshire Lane

The front of our home

Swing driveway for basketball and skateboarding!

Kitchen from the family room

Family room from kitchen

Spiral staircase! Can't wait till Christmas

Yeah!!! We are finally settling into our new home in Frisco, Texas. After months of waiting for our home in Vegas to sell, it did and we bought an inventory home here in Texas. We signed the docs and were in three weeks later. Talk about a quick move. We love the fact that our boys can finally start planting their roots and making new friends in the neighborhood and at school. They have been real troopers with regards to this relocation. We've had our ups and downs but for the most part we have survived. The school that they attend is Pink Elementary and is within walking distance from our home. The Middle school is directly adjacent and the High School is just around the corner. Not to mention that a new church building should be ready by the new school year:)

I posted some pictures of our home due to the fact that my dear friends and family keep hounding me about it. So here is to all the castle and palace remarks!!:) You know who you are!

My Dad

I recently had the awesome opportunity to spend 6 days with my Dad here in Texas. He had been wanting to come and see the boys and watch some sporting events but more importantly wanted to spend some well needed quality time with me. For those that do not know, my dad was diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer a little over 2 years ago and was given 6 months to a year survival rate. He being the strong individual that he is has exceeded their expectancy and continues to fight the fight as he battles this illness. He has truly been an inspiration to me as he has faced this illness head on and has truly kept his spirits high. I can't even begin to imagine what the struggle and battle must be like for him as he faces this challenge.

Before my dad arrived I had joked with him about doing some of the things that we used to do when I was a teenager....a.k.a.....shopping and spending his money, but upon his arrival the only thing that I wanted from my dad was his time. I felt the need to just be in his presence, to talk with him, seek his guidance and advice on things of the present and of the future. We spent countless hours laughing looking back on the absolutely crazy and fascinating life that he has lived. I was so thankfull for his willingness to come and share those events of his life with me. Many people live their lives with out really living. My dad has definately lived a truly memorable life.

While driving one morning we happend to pass a doughnut shop on the corner(I have never seen so many doughnut shops in my entire life than here in Texas) and my dad mentioned how much he loved doughnuts. I never knew that he loved them, I had no idea. So we started discussing which types of doughnuts were his favorite, best doughnut shops and Krispy Kreme was mentioned. Now realize that he hasn't had a doughnut in over 2 years because he isn't suppose to eat sugar. So we didn't find the blue bonnetts nor the Texas longhorn that we had set out to see, but we did discover the local Krispy Kreme Doughnut Shop. I made dad swear to not tell my mom Connie that I had taken him there. Two jelly filled, one original and one chocolate glazed doughnut later we are in tears. We were laughing hysterically. There was the selfish part of me that just wanted to be the one to indulge with my dad as he enjoyed something that was so simple yet so memorable for the two of us. It will be a memory that I will always hold dear to my heart. So I dedicate this entry to him as I reflect on the things that he has taught me.

TEN THINGS I HAVE LEARNED FROM FATHER

He is proud of me

My greatest strength, in his eyes, is my heart

To truly live a life worth living

The direct telephone number to The White House

We talk too much when disciplining our children

The importance of laughter

To see things for what they truly are and not what they seem to be

To have conviction for the things that have meaning in my life

To not be afraid of failure

When all is said and done that the most important things in life are your relationship with God and your family

Best Day of the Boys Lives

Back over Thanksgiving of 2007 my parents came to visit and to spend the holiday with our family. Prior to their arrival, my Dad mentioned that he wanted to take the boys and Adam to the Thanksgiving Day game at Texas stadium. Thanks to Ebay and a gracious :) season ticket holder, Dad was able to purchase 4 tickets on the 40 yard line, 23 rows up, on the Cowboys side line. Matthew and Nicholas had no idea that this was even in the realm of possibility because tickets are not easy to come by here in Dallas. Needless to say Grandpa surprised them, they nearly passed out with joy and they could barely sleep that night. Now being the mother that I am...I made sure that my boys were decked out for their National Debut on the Jumbo Tron at Texas Stadium. They apparently were like royalty. Random people took their picture with them, they were high-fived everywhere and they made their way on to the Jumbo Tron. It will be a memory they will always cherish having spent that time with their Grandpa and Dad

I HAVE GIVEN INTO THE PRESSURE

After weeks and weeks of friends and family asking me start a blog I have finally decided to give in and hop on the "blog wagon". I have never been good about sending out updated pictures of my kids and keeping in contact with my distant friends, so I am hoping that this will perhaps help in my lack of being a good long-distance friend and family member! I'm still not sure what quite to do so I am gonna throw up some photos and videos and go from there....wish me luck!