Forgot to Blog this!

How could I forget to blog the first day of school! Since we moved this was not just Claira's first day of School but also William. I was nervous for both of them, but we did everything we could to make the transition smoothly. We went to 'meet the teacher' day and explored the classrooms,

the playground

and left with high hopes for the first day of school.

There was all smiles when we left the house but as it neared the time for devotion to end and for the kids to leave the commons alone with the teachers the two year olds started to cry. Claira didn't cry but she was obviously nervous to see her new friends crying.

She had watched William go to school now for two years and she knew this was going to be fun...and fun she had!
William never even took a look back...he was excited and ready to start school.

Busy, Busy, Birthdays!

My birthday was Sept. 15 and it was so fun.  My Sister, Dad & Mom all came over for a long weekend visit.  It was the first time they have been here to Texas and I wish it could have been longer.  I had a great day, that started with a smiling kids and ended with great gifts, a yummy carrot cake that my Mom and Sister made, and the best Linguine and Clams made by my wonderful Hubby!  What a wonderful surprise that dinner was, he made such a mess!  but it was so delicious nobody minded and the kids enjoyed their first experience with clams.  
During Nana & Papa's visit we were able to visit The Houston Museum of Natural Science.

It was so much fun.  We visited the bug exhibit and butterflies, a must attraction for anyone visiting with with kids.  My dad went into the main exhibit hall and learned about the Terra Cotta Warriors, he said it was very interesting.

We also spend lots of time just hanging out and playing...

Claira learned to roller skate.

and check out William, NO TRAINING WHEELS!!!  

As you can see we have been so busy growing up...I can't believe this is my last year to enjoy my 20's!!

Successful Walk

Thank you to all who supported the girls and I in our walk.  Originally it was to be a family event but life can be crazy sometimes and turns out Wil had a soccer game at 9am.  Daddy took him and the girls and I walked the 5k event.  I would have loved to have some company on my walk but I was blessed with two happy little girls, one of which sang to me most of the time!  AbyKate was so cute, every time I passed someone and picked up my pace to a jog she started clapping for me.  I was able to find some quite time to remember Grandme and all the fun times we had.  Like all the nature walks she and Grandpa would take us on down 'Bunny Trail'.  How she taught me to pick the perfect walking stick and tell my kids to "get out of the kitchen!"  

We finished in under 45 min, making it to soccer game in time for the second half.  We had a great day!  Thank you again for your support, maybe next year we can make it a group event.

Happy 1st Birthday

Time goes by so faster and faster as we get older. Not only am I getting older faster but my babies are becoming little indepentent people before my eyes. The days turn into weeks, the weeks zoom into months and before I realize it a year has come and gone. This year our little AbyKate has grown from a little bundle in our arms that we worried about every moment to a climbing exploring toddler. She is the most social of the three kids and has grown to love the world around her. Some of her favorite things are toothbrushes, her blanket

the park,

chasing the cat, Cleo and petting/screaming at the dog, Merlin.

She gets into everything

climbs out of everything

and I have to say puts her whole self into everything she attempts.

She seems to love her new life here in Texas. Some of favorite times are when we are lucky enough to spend the weekend with with Grandma

and Grandpa

She/we were lucky enough to spend her special day with them in Austin along with Auntie Lynne, Uncle Don and Cousin Bernie. After a confusing "Happy Birthday" (I think it was the candle that was confusing and interesting to her)

she dug in, giving it her all in typical AbyKate form.

It was quite amusing to company.

We love our little AbyKate more and more as the time flys by.

William is Reading!

We are so proud of William.  He has decided to learn to read. 

Last week we were shopping for a gift and I heard William behind me sounding something out.  "O-N, O-N ON!...O-F-F, O-F-F OFF!!!  Claira you move the switch this way to turn it ON."  I turned around and gave him a big kiss :)

One of our friends kids, Brodie age 6, once told me "its only childproof till you learn to read" Isn't that the truth!  Reading is the key to knowledge/power and truly a gift to explore.  I am so excited for William, his world is about to get bigger.

DreamCatcher

One of the first nights here in our new house Claira told us, "I love my new room." Well isn't that wonderful, but why? She not only told us why but proceeded to explain something that had puzzled us for a long time.
Last October she and William borrowed a Dora movie from the library. It looked like just the kind of video they would love; Dora as a princess and as it being close to Halloween it even had a witch. Shortly after we turned it on she ran out of the room screaming, but could not tell me what was so scary. So we just turned it off and returned it without another thought. Looking back this is about the same time her night terrors started. She would wake screaming and shaking in fear completely afraid of her room looking up and out the window like there were monsters.
She explained that the best part of her new room is there is no ceiling fan! Apparently she dreamed that a witch popped out of the ceiling fan and "fffewt" (you have go to hear her do the noise, too cute) out the window, broom and all. The dream is so vivid that when she wakes in the middle of the night she has a hard time walking through our living room because there is a ceiling fan.
Now what do you do? We live in the south, no ceiling fans would be a bit crazy! We decided to bring out the trusty Dream Catcher given to me when I was younger and having bad dreams. I had completely forgotten that it was near Williams bed because he had some bad dreams a while back and it fixed him up good. Sure enough after William sweetly explained how it worked Daddy helped them agree on a place in the room where it could 'filter' everyone dreams.

Thank goodness it seems to be working. With all the lack of sleep around here I was actually not opposed to the idea of taking out all the ceiling fans...loss of sleep makes you desperate and a bit crazy.

Support Us In The Memory Walk

     As a teenager and young adult I was a witness to the slow loss of my Grandmother.  Over the course of about ten years each of her loved ones stood by, only to be forgotten.  The light in her eyes slowly faded as, as one by one, memories of us regressed to the point we didn't exist.  But I still have memories that I can smile and laugh at. 

     One summer she was visiting and like all her visits she complained that in all her 30 years of living in San Pedro she never set foot on Catalina Island.  So my mom packed us up for the day and onto the boat we went.  We rented our golf cart, visited all the sites, ate good food, took lots of pictures and headed back.

That evening at dinner Dad asked, "Mom, how was your day?"

To which she replied, "Fine, we didn't do much."  Shocked and a little disappointed my mom and I just stared at her.

Dad then said, "Mom didn't you go to Catalina today?"

"I lived in San Pedro for 30 years and never went to the island." 

We showed her the pictures only to see her get confused.

     Years passed and living arrangements went from daytime 'friends' to live-in 'friends', until it was time to say goodbye to her own home and move her closer to family and into the Friendship House.

     Eventually the feelings of sadness and anger faded into acceptance.  This was our Gramie and we kept her company when we could.  It didn't matter if she didn't recognize us.  I know she could feel our love for her and usually we got a smile or two.  Maybe that smile was from the mints my dad always brought her.

     Currently more then 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's.  The Alzheimer's association offers care, education, support and resources in communities nationwide.  My Grandmother was lucky enough to have supportive sons both emotionally and financially to help her down the dark path of this disease.  But 78 million baby boomers are at risk.  I want to do my part to fight this disease and raise awareness.  Please make a donation to help the Alzheimer's association advance research into prevention, treatments and a cure so William, Claira and AbyKate don't have to watch their loved ones loose the light in their eyes.

     By participating in the 2009 Alzheimer's Association Memory Walk, the kids and I are committed to raising awareness and funds for Alzheimer research, care and support.

Thank you, 

Kelly, Andy & the Kids

http://memorywalk09.kintera.org/katy/gramielucy