happy halloween!

This was Kendall's first halloween and we had a great one!

We started off the day with Daddy's final game of the season with his 3rd graders ... the Colts! And ended the day with 2 halloween parties! It was a busy, but fun 1st Halloween!

Here's our sweet litte ladybug ...

We went to Drew & Deanna's house for the first party ... Ashley works with Deanna and we both had baby girls around the same time ... they are a sweet family and our girls are already little friends ... they both reached out to hold hands a couple of times through out the night ... sooo cute!

Here are a couple of pictures of the girls and us at the party ... even the adults were told to "dress to impress". Ashley really got into the spirit and decided to be a hockey player ... he wore his authentic Team Canada hockey jersey and got out his old hockey stick, and borrowed the rest of the hockey gear from a friend (who truly plays hockey ... thank you, Don & Jolana!). He painted on a black eye and blacked out a tooth and looked pretty legit! I decided to coordinate with him and dressed up as a hockey referee, with a hockey helmet and all!

Brooke (7 months old - pumpkin) and Kendall (6 months old/adjusted age 3 1/2 months old - ladybug):

As the party was heading out to "trick or treat," we headed over to our second party of the night ... at Joe Don & Jamie Ridgell's house. We met up with several couples from RHCC ... and a house-full of kid-os! We arrived just in time for the trick or treat outing, but Kendall was past ready for a feeding, so she and I stayed inside with Chesley and her newborn daughter Emerson, who was also ready for a feeding ... Ches and I find ourselves feeding our girls together, often! This party included pumpkin painting, pizza, trick or treating, and the grand finale ... the pinata! We had a great time visiting with everyone ... a great 1st halloween with Kendall!

(Our camera ran out of battery by the time we arrived at the Ridgell's, so we are thrilled to have pictures of the night! Pictures provided by Chesley ... and her awesome camera ... thanks soooo much for sharing, Ches!)

Some of the older kids all dressed up ... they all looked sooo cute in their little costumes! There were quite a few more kids than this, but getting a picture of everyone was too much of a challenge!

Hungry and tired of being a cute little ladybug!

All of the Dads

All of the Moms

Amy and Ella Carder and Julia and Lila Russell

Jayci and Jillian Alverson

the Railsback family ... Chaz and Calista, Abbie and Charlie

the Walton family ... Cody and Chesley, Garrett, Ansley, and baby Emerson

Jamie and Andrew Ridgell

Joe Don and Anna Ridgell

Us ... at the end of the night ... the poor ladybug costume was short-lived, so here is Kendall in her cute little tights and under shirt!

It's also our sweet niece Kylie's 1st birthday ... Happy Birthday, Kylie Jayne!

end-of-the-season football party ...

This beautiful fall weekend was a bit busy ... with football, football, and more football!

We went to Ashley's football game (the 3rd graders that he coaches), and then threw our End-of-the-Season Football pizza party, and then headed back to the football fields for "the Coaches game" ... it was perfect weather outside (even for Kendall) and we had a great day with all of the kids and their families!

We've had another great season of football with the Upwards league and can't believe it's already nearly over ... this year the team has a total of 8 players ... 6 boys and 2 girls ... don't worry, these girls definitely hold their own and mean business!

At the party, we had a few games and relay races for everyone, and yes, the parents participated, too! We did the "football toss" (like the egg toss game) ... we also had an "Over, Under" relay race with kids and parents ... and, my personal favorite, "the Longest Throw" contest ... first between all the kids, then between all the Dads, and then between all the Moms! I'm happy to report that Kendall's Daddy won the "Dads" contest (just barely inching out Logan's Dad, Hodge) and that I (the reigning champion of the "Moms" last year) was de-throned by Jasmine's Mom, Vera ... (I came in 2nd place this year.)

The Coaches game went really well ... all of the coaches, a bunch of 30-something and 40-something year olds, running around playing football, while the wives are praying that no one gets hurt ... and no one did this year ... although there was one almost-incident when Ashley threw an amazing pass to one of his teammates ... the guy caught the ball and took 2 steps just before running out of bounds but couldn't stop himself ... there was a kid and a grandmother sitting right there on the sideline ... and the guy jumped over them (like he was doing a hurdle) ... he barely cleared them, but his shorts caught the grandmother's glasses and flung them off of her face as he landed on the ground just behind her chair! Amazingly enough, he, nor the grandmother, were injured ... there was quite a pause in the game, though, for everyone to assess them! It was quite a sight! After that play, they asked all the folks on the sidelines to move back away from the field a bit! The team Ashley was on won the game again this year ... he was the Quarterback during most of the game and did a great job ... I soooooo wish I could have seen him play back in his high school days or even at ACU in the intramural league ... he really is good ... we are really hoping that Kendall will get his athletic abilities, and NOT my lack-of-athletic abilities!

I really hate to have to mention that today, Sunday, there was more football to be had this afternoon as we cheered on the pros in the NFL (and hoped our players on our fantasy football teams were victorious this week) ... sad, I know! Today was the Upwards awards ceremony ... where all the teams in the league that Ashley coaches in get together and this year included a viewing of "Facing the Giants" movie ... yes, it's a football movie, but a great one! We didn't make it through the movie, as we had our Care Group meeting that evening as well ... a little break from all the football!

Here are some pictures of Ashley's team "the Colts" and our party (note: I told the team that their picture would be on our blog and they were excited about that, so there are quite a few pictures to scroll through here):

Erin and Leesa with Kendall at the football game

Erin holding Kendall ... we've known Erin since she was 3 ... she and I have watched her brother, Luke, play football, soccer, and basketball for 4 years now and she LOVES to help me with Cassie (when she used to come to the games) and now with Kendall ... and Kendall loves her holding her and helping her too ... she is always happy when Erin is talking to her or holding her ... Erin is sooo adorable and is such a great helper! She makes the games all the more exciting ... we always have such a fun time watching the games and cheering for her brother (and "Coach" - as she calls Ashley) and the rest of the team!

Luke eating pizza at the party ... Luke is a very talented and fast athlete and are happy to have him on all of our teams! It's been lots of fun to watch him grow over the past 4 years!


Logan's parents, Lisa & Hodge, and Louann, Brittany's mom eating pizza at the party


Brittany, Jasmine and Nathaniel enjoying their pizza ... This was the first season to play football for Brittany and Nathaniel ... and they did great! Brittany and Jasmine were our 2 girls on the team and they can hold their own, that is for sure! Ashley asked me if I would be okay with Kendall playing football when she is old enough ... I told him, yes, if SHE (not just HIM) wanted to (and if it was flag football, not tackle)! Jasmine's dad, Travis assisted Ashley in coaching again this year ... and filled in for Ashley for a couple of games while we were out of town ... he was a big help again this season!


Dylan and his Mom, Thuy ... this was Dylan's first year to play football and he did great! They are such a sweet family and he has been so much fun to have on the team.


Peyton and Logan (in the purple jerseys), Parker (Peyton's old brother) and Josh (in the back) in the white jerseys. This was Josh's first year to play football ... we had 5 out of 8 players on the team who had never played before this season. He did a great job and had a lot of fun! This was Logan's first year to play football, as well ... he did great playing different positions during the season!

We've had Peyton on a past football team and basketball team ... and we LOVE to call him Peyton Manning (which just happens to be a favorite football player of Alexis and the Quarterback of the team Colts ... Peyton also loves the Indi Colts and Peyton Manning himself, so it fits just perfectly) ... he is lots of fun to have on the team and is another great athlete with a great attitude ... he played quarterback for the team this year! Parker, his older brother, is our "adopted player" ... we just LOVE him, too ... he is such a sweet big brother and helper and plays on a 6th grade team ... he is a very talented athlete as well and being in 6th grade this year, Ashley really used him to help show the different plays he was teaching them.

Kelly (Peyton and Parker's mom) baked and decorated this great football cake ... it was so yummy and looked awesome! If you need a cake for any occasion, visit her website: http://www.kutiekakes.com/. Thanks, Kelly ... your cakes ROCK and so do your sweet sons!

Erin and Leesa at the party

Luke with "Coach" ... and his football trophy

The Colts with their football trophies ... thanks for a great season, Colts!

ACU Homecoming ... 10 year class reunion

October 16-18 ...

Our first trip out of town with Kendall ... we loaded up our entire house (including Cassie the dog) and headed to Abilene for my 10 year class reunion at ACU! (Ashley's 10 year was last year, but we didn't get any info about it in time for us to go ... but we will be there for his 15th year!) I still can't believe I've been out of school for 10 years now and have been living in DFW that long, too!

Kendall did great on our long journey to Abilene ... only needing to stop once to feed and then we were back on the road again. We got to my parents' house late Friday night and were welcomed with open arms ... we hadn't been out of town since February, so we were glad to get there!

I did a pretty pitiful job of taking pictures through out the weekend, so we really don't have that many. Luckily, Christi took some too, so we have a few more to remember the weekend by!

Saturday morning we joined the ACU Homecoming festivities on campus ... (I slept in and skipped club breakfast) the ACU Parade at 9:30a was our first event ... it was a true family event with everyone walking up to ACU for the big parade ... my parents, Grandmother, sister, bro-in-law and adorable 22month old nephew all made it with us! It was really fun getting to see so many old friends and meet their spouses and children!

Christi holding Kendall at my parents' house just before leaving for the parade ... I think this is a great picture of Christi ... Kendall was very tired and we were trying to keep her awake for the parade ... it didn't work because by the time we walked up to the campus, she was back asleep again! That's okay ... at least she was decked out in all her purple and white!

Sleeping during the parade ... that is, until the band came by ... I think it was the drums that got her!

Us at the parade


Naomi (Chowning) Encalade, Amy (Crittenden) McKissick and her daughter, Ginny; Abby and Avery Encalade (Naomi's daughters), me, Kendall, Danielle Mussellman, and Christi Norris ... in front of Bitsy's Florist on Campus Courts

Go Wildcats! (Kendall was giving the wildcat sign, so I joined her! It's great that she's already got the ACU spirit ... I really, really hope that she wants to go to ACU like we did!)


After the parade, we walked across campus to the Campus Center (I think that is what they still call it) ... the name may be the same, but everything else has certainly changed ... it's been totally redone and it looks great! The campus store was packed but we did have to go in to check it out. It's amazing how much has changed in 10 years ... sure wished it had been that nice when we were in school! (We skipped Chapel this time ... didn't really think Kendall would be too into it this year.) We saw lots of folks we knew and loved catching up with everyone!

We skipped out on the ACU football game, but headed to the Abilene Zoo for a special event ... Boo at the Zoo. Apparently, ALL of Abilene had the same idea we did, so the zoo was VERY busy ... we couldn't believe it was so packed! At least the kids looked adorable in their little Halloween costumes, but they didn't last long because the weather had turned from the 50's to the 80's! We made it around to the most important animals before having to leave to get ready for our reunion dinner.

Kendall hanging out with MawMaw

Boo at the Zoo ... me with our little ladybug and my sister, Rachel with Mason the monkey. It was so hot by the time we got to the zoo, we put Kendall in only part of her costume (we left off her little black & red tights) just to get a quick picture ... it's not a great picture, but there we are! (You can see how cute she really looks in her costume when we get her dressed up again, for Halloween ... so stay tuned.)

This is how Kendall spent the rest of our time at the zoo ... not wearing her costume ... but she was wearing her black under shirt that says "I Love My Mummy" ... ha!


For dinner, Ashley and I met up with the rest of the class of 1999 for our reunion dinner! (Notice that I didn't mention sweet Kendall ...) We left her with her first babysitter ... Grams and Pops (my parents)! She is 5 1/2 months old (3 months corrected age) and we have never, and I mean never, left her before, so I was really getting nervous about it ... not that I didn't have full confidence in my parents, but just being without her for the first time. I did better than I was fearing, but I really did miss her ... and we were only gone for 4 hours! She was asleep when we left and she was asleep when we got back, so I'm sure that made it a lot easier for me.

Laura (Marshall) Tippett, Courtney (Cash) Leach, me, Brooke (Stephens) Morrow, Danielle Mussellman and Christi Norris ... we had a great time catching up with everyone and reflecting on our old ACU days!

Randy & Courtney (Cash) Leach ... it was soooo great to get to see them again ... it had been a year since I'd gotten to see Courtney (at Laura Gilkey's wedding)

Best of friends ... Amy, Naomi and me at our class dinner

On Sunday, we praised & worshiped at a packed worship service at Southern Hills, where my family are members. It was great to see several folks who have been praying for Kendall since her early birth ... this was the first time she had been to Southern Hills. For lunch, my mom made a special birthday lunch for my brother-in-law, Michael, or as Kendall will call him "Uncle Mike" ... and as part of his birthday gift event, he and my sister announced they are expecting baby #2 ... wooo hooo! We are soooo excited! Rachel is due at the end of May, so the baby and Kendall will be a year apart ... and I think they will be wonderful friends!

Uncle Mike, Aunt Rach (and Baby #2), Kendall and cousin Mason

We had a busy weekend in Abilene, but it was a good one ... full of family, friends and traditions ... a good first out-of-town weekend!

our 1st Pumpkin patch ...

Saturday, October 10 ... We took Kendall to the Hall's Pumpkin Farm in Colleyville, TX ... it was our first pumpkin patch experience and it didn't last very long. We had already been outside for a (wonderfully) chilly football game earlier that morning (Kendall did not appreciate the wonderfully chilly part nearly as much as mommy did! ... But I keep telling her that she is part Canadian, so she'll need to get used to it ... ha!)

We walked around for about 10 minutes ... snapped 3 pictures and headed back to the car to warm Kendall up ... not exactly how I had pictured our first pumpkin patch experience, but there it was!

The Hall's Pumpkin Farm is really cool (and plenty busy) with lots to do ... a corn maze, hay rides, pumpkin pickin', farm tractors & swing sets, farm animals to see ... and plenty of photo opportunities ... here are the 3 pictures we got!

NICU Reunion ...

Saturday, October 3 ... We got to reunite with some very special people ... Kendall's NICU nurses and neonatal specialist, Dr. Kaplar from the Baylor Regional Medical Center of Grapevine! We spent 8 weeks in the NICU, so to see them everyday for 8 weeks and then having not seen them for 14 weeks, we were excited to see everyone again! It was also exciting to see a some of the babies that were in the NICU the same time Kendall was ... to see how they'd grown over the past 3 months and see their parents, too!

Leah (the NICU's awesome desk clerk/receptionist) holding Kendall


Christy (one of Kendall's night shift nurses) with Kendall and me


Debbie (one of our weekend night shift nurses), me & Kendall, and Gina (one of our weekday nurses)


Me with Kim (one of our weekday nurses) holding Kendall, and Susan (our Charge Nurse)


Cyndy (one of our weekday nurses) with me and Kendall


Us with Jena and Amy (Jena's mom) ... Jena was in the NICU with Kendall ... she was due mid-July like us, but was born at 32 weeks (while Kendall was born at 29 weeks) ... our girls were cubical friends and got moved into the "step up room" (the room you go to when you are nearly ready to go home) at the same time ... we were in the NICU together for about 4 weeks. Jena got to go home about 1 1/2 weeks before we did.

Us with Sheri and her daughter, Marley ... she was born very early but came after Kendall had been there for a few weeks ... Marley got to go home about 2 weeks before us. (Not sure what the girls are looking at, but something must have gotten both of their attentions at the time!)

Not that you want any other family to go through this, but it was nice to meet and talk with others who were going through the same or similar situation as you. Those were happy days for them to get to go home from the NICU, but we had wondered how they were all doing. It was really neat to see all of them again and see how much they had grown and changed, just like Kendall had!


Us with Brandon & Tiffani Spangler and their daughter Isabella ... Ashley and Brandon work together at Staff Care and Tiffani is the Abbott (Similac formula) Representative for the area (and Grapevine hospital) ... Isabella was born full-term in late June so we got to see her at the hospital once she was born since we were still up there. This was the first time they had seen Kendall ...
(It was funny ... we took 2 pictures with them and both times the girls are looking at each other or reaching for each other ... so cute ... in their little pink and brown outfits ... gotta love the pink and brown these days!)

We had a great time catching up with the nurses and doctors that were there, but missed a few of the ones that couldn't be there, including our "primary nurse" Kimbo ... she was on vacation in Hawaii at the time! Can't wait until the next annual NICU Reunion!