So Simple

This lamp has been in our family room for the last 7 years. Not very attractive.

For $7 and no time at all, I turned it into this!

Amazing how one little piece can change the look of a room.

Destination Imagination 2012

This is Jackson as the mean monkey jungle king.

He designed, shopped, and made this costume himself.

Last year was a hard year to beat so this year did not quite live up to Jackson's expectations.

He loved going every week and helping lead the team. They just were not as organized this year and I tried to step in at the end but it was too late. They did not place at the competition. Jackson was able to stay very positive and is now looking even more forward to next years competition.

He wants a comeback!

Jordan Improving Her Cooking Skills

Jordan was working on a personal progress value that had her plan and cook dinners for 2 weeks.

We got on a website that was recommended and she started making a menu.

She made some great dinners.

Some of the favorites were chicken and bacon puff pastries, bacon wrapped green beans,

mango and chicken kabobs, cilantro lime rice, and baked Parmesan zucchini.

I actually loved having her in the kitchen. I didn't feel like I was all alone on this never ending food production for the Roberts household.

She really did learn a lot and she did make some typical normal foods that she would need to know how to do since every meal is not gourmet.

There was one uneatable that she made. Sweet potato fries went right to the garbage. The seasoning that they bake in had an entire tablespoon of salt in it. yes, that was not suppose to be added. They looked great and Tom said oh I will eat them. After trying one, even Tom did not eat them.

She loves making the treats of course. This was a peanut butter cake. I would have to run 20 miles to burn off the calories in this one!

Super Bowl

Not sure how much of the super bowl I actually watched but I do know how much food we had.

The Hansons joined us and they brought even more food.

The kids love the chocolate fountain!

superbowl ring cupcakes

This concluded our super bowl.

Kiss Me Kate

The cast of Kiss Me Kate

Vandegrift High School first musical

Jordan auditioned as a Freshman and got called to be part of the ensemble.

Cast headshot

This was the best part of the entire show. They opened up the 2nd half with "Too Darn Hot".

Jordan's renaissance costume for the Shakespeare play within the musical.

My favorite parts of the musical were the ensemble numbers that just happened to have my daughter in them. The dancing and sets were very impressive for the first time around.

They had music, theatre, and production directors.

Alyssa Muir was the lead female and she has her pick of colleges to go to with full Theatre scholarship. It will be exciting to watch her future!

curtain calls

Jordan loves this more than anything else that she does. She doesn't care that she did not have a huge part. She happily showed up for every long rehearsal that they had. The last 2 weeks she would leave the house at 6am and not get home until after 10:00 and then stay up to do homework.

Mr. Feris

Jordan's most awesome choir director

Jordan had a little fan club this night. It was so sweet of the Kellys, Becky, and Tracey to attend.

Closing night. She had a few flowers to bring home.

So proud of Jordan and love seeing her be so happy

Baby Shower for Tracey

From the moment that I met Tracey I just knew we would be great friends. The first conversation that we had was her asking me on the spot if I wanted to play a small part on the piano with her for the Christmas program. Tracey was playing right beside me doing her thing and laughing with me as I stumbled through the few little notes that I had to play. A girl that could get the job done and be laughing at me or with me at the same time was my kind of girl.

I knew the moment that I found out Tracey was pregnant, I would be able to throw her a baby shower.

Dannelly Lynn Hanson

Dannelly is Traceys maiden name and Lynn will be the middle name in honor of Tracey Graff and myself.

Poor Tracey, very pregnant and being able to spend precious time with her best friend Kara who flew in from Colorado. I had candles everywhere and they needed to be lit. Kara and Tracey worked far too hard before and after the party. I was so thankful for their help. Thats just what good friends do for each other.

The house and food was ready. Minda brought the chocolate fountain which was so much fun to have there. The theme for the shower was: She's Going to Melt Our Hearts!

Tracey's only request.

Store bought cake from HEB

Yes, Tracey and I were at a very nice Christmas party and we had a little taste of this cake. Then I had another piece of this cake. Did we dare ask for the recipe because I know I couldnt replicate it.

Well, we love Kristy Wilkins and she told us just where we could get this little number.

HEB, a great Texas Tradition.

Minda, told me that she would bring her punch bowl. I told her that I had one. Well, when I saw her royal punch bowl I put my little glass one away.

Where do I get one of these?

Tracey was showered with so many cute little girl things. My favorites were the unbelievably cute shoes this girl will be sporting. I wanted some of them in a size 6 1/2.

The reason Tracey is laughing here is due to the game we played. I said a phrase and they just simply had to yell out the candy bar that went with it. Such as:

Sex before the baby: Good N Plenty

Day of conception: Score Bar

Sex after the baby: Zero Bar

I thought this was cute and clever and even really funny. Thank goodness that Tracey thought it was funny with me because I think that I traumatized some of the ladies with apparently my PG-13 game.

Yes, made all these beautiful heart cookies for friends to take home and I forgot to mention that they were on the bar around the corner. Last few guest were given a few to go and the kids teachers benefited the next day.

The scavengers arrived around 9

They were very happy to see the chocolate fountain still running.

Tracey and Jordan (Jordan is practically Dannellys big sister as Jordan will tell you)

Tracey was so sweet to wait and wait and wait for our girl to get home after 10:00 from rehearsal. Yes, we left the chocolate fountain on for her. We were so sad that she could not be at the shower with us.

I was so happy that I could have this shower for Tracey. It was so easy to put the time and effort into such an event when it was for someone that I care for and love very much.

Tracey has brought so much to my life since knowing her the last year. She has added so much laughter, shown so much love to my family, has given Logan his best friend, has helped me more times than I want to mention, has given me my very own tech support through her husband Ben, took the most fabulous photos of my family that we have ever had, and has listened to me as a great friend.

No matter where this cute little family may go in life, I feel so thankful that we crossed paths and will remain friends forever.

Happy 4th Birthday Logan

Our baby is 4 years old!

Logan gets our traditional family party

Looking at this picture I realize our kids are all getting much bigger

Hot Wheels is the theme.

We went to HEB and he started by looking at the cakes.

First he saw Strawberry Shortcake and he yells I want this one!

Then he sees Disney Princess and yells I want this one!

Then he saw Ninja Turtles and he yells I want this one!

I started to see a trend that he wanted every and any cake that he saw!

Once he saw the Hot Wheels, he said I want cars! I asked him if he wanted Mater and Lightening and he said no, Hot Wheels!

Hot wheels won

There is no shortage of hot wheels in this house.

Logan counted down the sleeps until he was going to see Colby

Easy decorations and even the wall paint color matched

Larson was in charge of games

Boy, thats a surprise.

This is Jordan's Madonna outfit.

We had Grandma Pat on skype so she could be with us at the party.

Cake

and ice cream

Logan was very excited to blow out the candles.

We are starting to see some of Larsons energetic personality in Logan

Oh, so many presents! The next day he was so cute taking each one and playing so nicely with them all. Uncle Chris went a little crazy with the play dough and art supplies but thats what he likes and has been using them every day.

Logan ran up stairs and came back down with his hat on.

Photo Booth shots!

We ended the night with his pinata. I sometimes really love the string pull ones but I think it bums the kids out. So more candy has arrived at our house. I dont think our home is ever candy free.

Logan had a great night. So blessed to have family here and our good friends the Hansons. Sam and Logan pretty much do most things together!

Logan at 4 may be registering at the age of 8! You cant contain him or stop him from doing what the other kids do. Its cool in most ways but I do feel like you miss out on a lot of the little toddler events. Thats just the pecking order of being the baby in the family.

Logan does well in speech, school, and church classes.

Like I said, we are really starting to see a very outgoing personality and very excitable about almost anything.

I cant help the fact that my 4 year old talks about hunting and killing deer. I swear I went to get him out of bed and he had a flashlight and a deer and hunting magazine in bed with him. Isnt he suppose to be into the Mickey Mouse Club House???

He is definitely the baby of the family and gets the most attention from all of us. He is cute and we love him even if he does not realize he is only 4!