Santa Letters.....

Brett and Zach got their letters from Santa again this year. Both on the good list again. Go figure. That Santa is one understanding and forgiving kinda guy. He even knew that Brett had his birthday just yesterday. He told Zach he was proud of how good he is reading and noticed him and Cole were great friends. That Santa doen't miss a thing!

Happy Birthday Brett!

Hard to believe: Brett is now 11! Officially a "tween". Brett decided to have a friend over on his birthday. He wanted to go to my company Christmas party, then have a sleep over. Then, Sat. he took a small group of friend ice skating with Santa, then dinner at IHOP. Matthew, Brett, Jared, Kenny, and Josh.

After a few hours of skating, more time sitting on the ice, it was time for some hot chocolate. We actually had people ask if all of them where ours.....

Christmas Card: 2009

Our Very Own Elf on the Shelf: Dobby

This year we received our very own Elf on the Shelf, from Santa himself! We named him Dobby. (If you don't read Harry Potter, that is where the name came from. Dobby was the house elf in the books) Dobby was sent to watch us and report back to Santa each night on how we are doing. Doug and I are thinking that with the extra "eyes" watching, maybe there will be less fussing and fighting till the holidays :) Dobby appeared once we had decorated our house. Santa even wrote a personal letter to the boys. We all love Dobby and hope to make this a real special addition to our holiday traditions! Brett, Zach and Dobby.

School Picture

2009-10 School Pictures. Brett 5th grade/ Zach 2nd grade

Trick or Treat

We had a wonderful Halloween. You can't tell in the pictures, but we were able to all enjoy Halloween together for the first time ever! We started at friend's house for coctails and dinner, then off to trick or treat at a few houses, another party, few more houses, then one last party! Brett wanted to trick or treat with a friend, so he was with them, Zach enjoyed getting all his favorite candy! My adorable spaceman!

After a great night of parties and trick or treating, Zach and Brett were ready to go through their candy to leave out for the "Good Witch" and then could not wait to wake up to see what she left.

Halloween Party 2009

This year we were able to attend to fun "Adult" Halloween Party! We had a blast. It is so fun to see everyone use their imaginations and play dress up. I don't have Doug in the pic, but we are a Pimp and a "Working Girl". This is me and Connie. A great friend. She was an 80's work-out girl. I was able to supply her outfit with all my drill team uniforms!

Me, Connie, and Ginny. What fun!

Fun Family Halloween Party

We got together with a bunch of friends for a spooky good time. The kids, and parents, dressed up and got to party down. There were bounce jump houses great food! Zach wanted to go as a skeleton.

Brett as Jeff Dunham!

Me rocking out again (my kid-friendly costume) with my boys!

Baseball!

Baseball, Baseball, Baseball.....did I mention Baseball? Mon/Tues/Wed/Thurs if you want to find us, we are at Baseball! Zach has joined in. He is playing baseball now. Loving it! He is with some really great friends. He plays Mon/Wed and Brett plays Tues/Thurs. We are all Baseball all the time. Zach is geared up and ready for his first game!

Zach and great friend Cole. Zach just scored. He is doing really well at bat. Even better and running the bases! His smile says it all. He was so proud of himself! Of course that make mom and dad even more proud! We are loving watching him play!

1989 Class Reunion

Ok, I know time marches on...but really, 20yr high school reunion? Wow. Doug helped organize his 20 yr reunion. They had it Sept. 26, homecoming/fair weekend. We had a blast. Doug had an even better time. He enjoyed seeing some classmates while planning the event, but really loved seeing everyone that weekend. First they gathered to make a float, had a float in the parade on Friday. Then, Friday night, some classmates got together at the fair for a small gathering just catching up. Saturday, we got a tour of the school. It was great to see the school and all the changes/growth that has gone on. The homecoming game was at 3pm Saturday. Some went to the game. Then the big party! Saturday night! What fun. We had a great time dancing, catching up with friends, good food, and looking at old pics. and laughing at the way we were! During the tour, it was not hard to notice that the rotunda has been changed. All the new paint looks good, but still not the same as those old green and white tile walls!

James Lane and me dancing!

Doug with classmate Ruben Cantu.

Great friends, great neighbors! Doug with Wendy and Kathy!

Doug with Danel, and Denise. Doug and Denise have a great history. Denise was always right behind Doug in class. Alphabetical order.......Doug even joked that he would send her a pic of the back of his head so she would recognize him. It was great to catch up with old friends!

Look-a-Like

I have been told how Brett looks like Doug. Some of the same people then said that Zach also looks like Doug. However, Brett and Zach could not look more different! I do see both traits of me and Doug in both boys, however have always felt they each strongly favor one of us. Brett favors Doug, especially the Socha side....while Zach favors me! Proof below! A picture is worth a thousand words............I have keep silent long enough, now I speak through the pic below. Laurie at 2yrs old: Zach at 2yrs old.

First Day of School!

The big second grader!

Off to intermediate school for Brett.

Waiting for the bus!

Our New Home!!!

Schliterbahn 2009

Every year we go to Schliterbahn. This year in no exception. So when Brett asked to visit the Alamo, we just added that onto our usual Schliterbahn trip. Hard to have pics when you are at a water park. They have started taking your picture throughout the park for you and you can get them as you leave. Great, now we can have photos of our trips there.

Dinner with Shamu

At Sea World we had a very special dinner. We at with Shamu. We got to go back to her swimming pool behind the arena and have a wonderful dinner. After eating, we got to get up close and personal with the whales. We even got to spend some time with the trainers asking all kinds of questions. What a great memory.

Sea World

Mom with the Pirates from the show.

Finally, we found a turtle for Brett!

Wax Museum

Love Gone with the Wind!

You never knew there was a 8th dwarf did you?

The boys with Jonny Deep

We got our letter to Hogwarts too.

The Alamo

We took a small, Texas family vacation this summer. Brett studied Texas history in 4th grade and he wanted to see the Alamo. So, we went! We visited the Alamo, the wax museum, and the Ripley's Believe It or Not museum. Boys had a blast. The really got into the history of the Alamo battle! Bridge on the river walk.

At the Alamo in the courtyard.

Mother-Son night at the Ball Park

The Children's Museum of the Brazos Valley had a Mother-Son night. They always have a daddy/daughter dance, so now they offered a mother/son night. We went to a Bomers baseball game, had dinner, and the boys got to play on different rides/game before the game. No real dress up here, we are headed out to the ball park, but ready for our Mother/son date. Zach with the Chik-Fil-A cow. They provided dinner for us. Brett and Matthew A. participated in one of the end of inning activities. They competed in a Broom-stick game. They had to shoot the ball pass the mascot. Brett won. Zach did the pick a pizza. He had to pick a pizza box and either got a slice of pizza or a whole pizza. He chose the slice. Thank goodness he is always hungry. He got his slice right then and was able to have a 7th inning snack. The foul ball buddies. Laura and I found Bradley praying for a foul ball. He has signed up to win a prize if a train passed by during the game. We saw him across the field praying for either a foul ball or a train. Prayer answered. He got a foul ball. The the 8th inning, Matthew and Brett also found one too. They named themselves the Foul Ball Buddies.