10 Years!!

Tomorrow it will be 10 years that I've been married to my best friend - Joe Dan Stanley. I guess time flies when you're havin fun, ha - it hasn't been all fun but there is no other person I would rather go through this life with than him. I had scanned a wedding picture of us to put on here, but I had trouble getting it done today - maybe Monday. I had wanted to plan a big trip somewhere for our 10 year, but since we took our Disney vacation this summer we thought it best to wait. I hope all of my readers have a wonder and blessed New Year!!!

Halloween - Last Minute Change

The weekend before Halloween, Jody left to set up at the Red Steagall Cowboy Gathering at the Fort Worth Stockyards. The kids and I went over Friday night after I got off work. This is the 19th year for this gathering and Jody's second year to set up. There was music, chuck wagons, poetry readings, a ranch rodeo and many booths selling a variety of different western products. The weather was perfect and we had a great time. It was funny because both of my sisters were in the area doing different things so I got to see them. Todd and Penni won tickets to see Tanya Tucker at Billy Bob's and Pam took her kids to Boo at the Zoo in Ft. Worth. I met up with her and Savanna and Shane were able to go. They had a blast and came back with sacks full of candy.



Our friend modeled his chaps that matched our saddle.


Now on to Halloween. I was so proud of myself and bought the kids costumes early this year (so unlike me - Mrs. Procrastination). Shane wanted to be Spiderman and I got Savanna a Cleopatra costume. They wore or dressed up in them periodically during the weeks up until Halloween. I was glad that they were getting some wear and fun out of them and looking forward to trick or treating in them. On Friday before Halloween, Mt. Vernon was having trick or treating up on the square and the businesses there had their doors open to pass out candy. I rushed home to get the kiddos ready in their costumes when Shane suddenly announced that he wanted to be a cowboy for Halloween. I quickly tried to talk him into putting his Spidy outfit on but he was standing firm on being a cowboy. I relented and decided that the dressing up was for kids and I wanted him to have fun being what he wanted to be. I just wished he would have revealed this desire sooner because I then had to scramble looking for all things cowboy. We got er done and off we went. I couldn't find my camera and had to borrow the office camera from Jody so I don't have any pictures to show from Friday on the square.

After the square, we went to watch the Mt. Vernon Tigers play some football and I just about froze to death. I don't think it was really that cold but I'm just not used to colder weather yet.

Saturday was Halloween and we went rural trick or treating this night. Rural trick or treating is when you have to load up in the car and travel to each of your neighbors homes who have their porch light on - no walking from door to door is involved, ha. We stopped by Grandma's house first who told us about the Halloween carnival in Bogata (10 miles up the road). They were having trunk or treating, a bounce house, games, face painting, a haunted house, free hot dogs - and all you had to do was bring a canned food item to participate. We met up with Aunt D and the cousins (Rody and BreAnna) and headed on over to good ol Bogata. We had a great time and the bounce house was a hit with our kids.

I just love Grandma's screen door. I wish I had one on my door.

The little cowpoke.

Cleopatra - The Queen of the Nile.

Bre was the Little Mermaid and Rody was a Star Wars character. Aren't they all so cute!

September News

September always starts the beginning of family birthdays for us. Between both sides of our families there is a total of 6 birthdays within the month. Jody is one of these and he turned 35 on the 17th. I didn't get a chance to wish him or any of the others birthday wishes so I am sending out belated ones to Mark, Randal, Grannie, Mom, DeAnna, and Joe Dan (Jody).



We celebrated Grannie's birthday on the 20th at the local Mexican food restaurant in Mt. V and had a great time catching up with all the family.


All the great grandkids helped blow out the candles. She doesn't look like a great grandmother, does she?

On the 25th, my sweet, beautiful, young mother turned 70. Something about saying that number sounds old, but I just don't see my mom that way. I think she looks great for her new age. Anyway, she is not one for having big ta doos or parties so we decided to keep the party numbers low and surprised her with a limo ride with all the daughters, son-n-laws, and excited grandkids to the Kyoto Japanese Steakhouse in Rowlett. We had the best time. The kids loved watching the chef cook right at the table. He kept them very entertained with all of his tricks.

(This video is of the limo arriving at Mom and Dad's house.)

Mom was really surprised! I'm so glad that we were able to keep it a secret.

On the ride home, the kids were pretty wound up. They received some neat star suckers at the restaurant and had a fun time eating them. The ride also found them singing to songs on the radio and eventually in the laps of Gran and PawPaw. A great time was had by all.

Elli Kate and Avery showing off their stars.

This video doesn't show anything because it was too dark, but you can hear them singing to Taylor Swift.

Our annual fall auction didn't actually happen as September news, but we sure did a lot of preparing for it within the month.

On Saturday, October 3rd, it was a great & beautiful day. The sun was shining and it was perfect weather for our equipment auction. It would also have been a perfect day for our horse sale on the 4th but no such luck. That night it rained and rained and rained and rained. Since our horse sale is all outdoors, it made for a muddy mess of a day. I had time to snap a few pictures from this day. We really thought we would have to cancel and reschedule but the rain became a drizzle and we went on with the show. Shane had a grand ol time riding the ponies in the ring while dad talked about them and tried to get some bids from the customers who braved the weather conditions. Savanna, on the other hand, was in dream land. She came in after lunch from a sleep over birthday party. She told about the fun she had and how they stayed up late. Soon after she was curled up with Socks and they were both asleep. I just couldn't resist the opportunity to get this shot - it was too cute.

Days Go By!

Jody and I were talking the other day about how time just seems to slip by so fast. For us, the months go by like weeks. In a nutshell.... we put on another horse sale in July / went to a ranch rodeo in Witchita Falls, celebrated Savanna's birthday, and started school in August / sold tack and saddles at the horse sale in Lufkin, started soccer practice, and are getting prepared for our fall horse sale in September. I have some pictures of these events to share.


Ok, first I have to say that these are not their hats. As I said we went to a ranch rodeo in Witchita Falls and on Saturday morning they had some of the neatest activities for the kids to do. They gave away hats to every child and these were the hats that were given - Jody was not a big fan of the shape of these hats. Anyway, one of the activities was making your own rope so below is a picture of them twisting and twisting the string to make their ropes - it was very interesting to see how it's done.

Next, we stood in line forever for them to ride the bull. They loved it, but Savanna wanted to make sure that I told the operator of the bull that she did NOT want to get bucked off.




There was a petting zoo but we skipped it to stand in line for our free hot dog.
Then I signed them up for the stick horse rodeo. They were fast but not fast enough, but they were so darn cute trying.






Gramps and MiMi were able to come in on Saturday and watch the rodeo with us that night.

Our setup at the trade show.


The weekend before school we celebrated Savanna's bithday (8-22-02). I cannot believe my baby girl is 7. I feel so blessed to have this sweet, but bossy, little lady to raise. Words canNOT express the love that I have for her. I was sitting in my office the other day at home and I have this shelf that is stacked with photo envelopes that I have not put away into photo boxes or albums yet (why o why can't I get organized) and I started going through them. They were of past vacations, birthday parties, and of our life in general. I don't know if I was hormonal or what but I just couldn't help myself - I cried and cried and cried. I don't get emotional very often but actually seeing how my kids have grown and changed just got to me. Anyway, we had a great time at the party and then we went bowling and played laser tag.




First day of school - Savanna went with the Tinker Bell backpack. I feel it was in honor of our Disney vacation.



She has Mrs. Bolin this year who is so great! After the first week of school, Savanna came home and announced that she had decided what she wants to be when she grows up - a teacher! I think Mrs. Bolin has had an influence.

Disneyland Finale

I had planned on breaking up the trip into more parts, but at the rate I'm going I might not be through until next year. So I have to decided to get it ALL out of the way so get ready for a lot of pictures. I last left off with our trip to Hollywood and our first day at Disneyland. In hindsight, we are so glad that we went to LA at the beginning of the week because later that week was when Michael Jackson died. When we would watch the footage in our room, you could see the crowds in the places we had been a few days earlier.



At the end of the first day, all the kids had picked out their souvenir hats so we snapped a few shots before we went in the next morning.





As I said before, we would get there at around 7:30 every morning and stand in line for the gates to open. Below is a picture of how crowded it gets before the gates open. With a 3 or 5 day hopper ticket you are allowed one morning to go in one hour early at 7:00 and we chose the next morning to do that.

According to Pam's schedule, we headed straight to the back of the park for the Winnie The Pooh ride. We were the first ones on the ride. No waiting! Yeah!

This was a safari boat ride that was so fun. The boat driver was a hoot. I thought it was a good picture of Penni and Todd.

Then we headed to Toon Town on the train that goes around the park.

Paw Paw and Shane in a Toon car. Shane had to drive, of course.

Where's Waldo, I mean, Jody.

Shane trying to drive Donald Duck's boat. At this point, going in and out these small opening is when I hit my head so hard that I thought I was going to pass out. I didn't, but I definitely had a headache.

These guys are silly!

Savanna loved this little roller coaster. They were able to ride it about 3 times in row because there wasn't a long line. We came back another day to visit Mickey and his house and this line was sooo long.

After you come out of Toon Town, there is a theatre up the hill and there is a wall out front with this huge line. By it is a concession stand and restrooms. We took a break in this area and Jody just had to go see what everyone was waiting for in line. Of course all of the girls knew this is where the princesses were. I took a picture this day but we went back later when the line was shorter. They have 3 princesses there at a time and they rotate them so you never know who will be there. If you look real close you can see Snow White is the first one - she waved at us looking over the hedge. When Pam and her family came 2 summers ago, the princesses were out and about like the other characters but they had to change it up because it got to where so many people would bombard them, so now you have to wait in line to see them - yuck.





Next, we rode the Auto Car ride. This was fun.

Randal and Anna

Penni and Elli Kate.

Jody and Shane (driving of course) He loved it.

At the end of one day, we went over to the California Disney side and got a feel for it. We spent most of our time here on Friday before we drove back up to LA and caught our flight out Saturday afternoon.

The next morning we used our one pass to get in at 7 am instead of at 8 when the park normally opens. We headed straight for the Finding Nemo Submarine ride. The line for it is always long but being one of the first ones in, we didn't have to wait as long. If you are claustrophobic, I don't recommend that you ride this - very close quarters.

Now we have come back to see the princesses. This was a hoot with our large crowd of kiddos.

Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty)

O look, she's with her Prince Charming. Ha!

Sorry for the blurry photos. Snow White. Ashlyn was so excited she was there. She is her favorite. I loved the little poses the princesses had.

Next we went over to an island (can't remember the name of it) and the kids had a blast! There were all kinds of caves and look outs for them to climb around on.

Back over at California Disney, they rode some kid friendly rides. The Woody one was the best. And the one where you are flying over California was my all time favorite ride. We rode it twice. If we ever do go back, I would love to spend more time in this park.

Ice cream break - I don't think you can tell but these ice cream sticks were in the shape of Mickey - so cute.

My fireworks pictures didn't turn out to well.

I have to interject this little story about the face painting. Savanna was just dying to have her face painted when we were at the San Diego Zoo, but it was really expensive and we were able to talk her out of it. But when we were at Disneyland we finally gave in on the last day and let her have her face painted. After Savanna had her face painted (which I thought turned out great), Shane proceeded to have a fit to have his face painted. Let's just say it wasn't within our budget to have paint on Shane's face so Jody had a great idea and asked Shane if he wanted him to draw a football on his face. Below is the picture of the pen drawn football (one lady said it looked like lips, oh well) - Shane thought it was the greatest thing ever. Jody saved the day and kept Shane from having a melt down.

Sorry about the goofy faced Jody. It was the only picture I had of Shane showing off his football.

The front of Mickey's house.

After we went through Mickey's house, you stood in line to meet Mickey. We lucked out and didn't have to wait long.

Then we went on to meet the fairies.

Silvermist & Tinkerbell - yeah!

By the end of the day, Shane was tuckered out. And at this point, I had wished that this stroller was big enough for both of us.

We would definitely love to go back - it was a wonderful trip!