Happy Birthday LANDRY!!!

This exciting, sweet, crazy little boy turned 5 today!!!

This little boy adds so much joy to our lives . . . can't imagine our lives without him!!!


He has always wanted to be FIVE and now he is!!!! Happy Birthday Landry!!!

How 'bout them Mavs???

This story just HAS to be shared because it's just that good!!

Our good friend Debbie has season tickets to the Mavs games and maybe once a year, if we're lucky, we get to have a girls night to go to the game. So, back in February, she told us the date she had and that we could have the tix. It was decided that Deneise, Emily, Debbie, and I would go to the game and we were sooo excited!!

Sadly, a few days before the game, Debbie's husband, Todd, realized that the night we were planning on going to the game was the night the Mavs would be playing the NBA Champion LA Lakers and that that would be a HUGE waste of tickets for just us girls to be going to see such a great team!!! So, Todd, drawing from his Indian heritage, basically snatched the tickets back from us!!! (as if we'd had them in the first place!!)

So, of course Deb felt terrible and immediately came up with another date for us to go just the next week. We were again all super excited and began to plan for the big night of watching the Mavs play a nobody team!! No matter ... it would still be fun!!

Finally, the night arrives and we decide to eat at Abuelo's. The problem with Abuelo's is that it is in an area of town with HORRIBLE traffic and, of course, we were going during rush hour on a Friday night.

Insert Deneise into the picture. If you know my good friend Deneise AT ALL, you know she has serious issues with carsickness. By the time we got to Abuelo's, Deneise was GREEN!! She looked horrible and felt horrible and I think she promptly went to the bathroom and got sick!!

She hardly ate at all while the rest of us chowed and felt sorry for her!!

We got back into the car to continue on and a little further down the road, Deneise quickly lets Deb know that she needs to pull over. So we pull over and watch and wait as Deneise loses her little bit of dinner on the side of the highway!!

Deneise says there's no way she can go the rest of the way and she decides to call Shane to come and get her. We inform her that we're not going to leave her at the Dollar Tree (her request) to wait for Shane. While debating what we should do, we go into the Dollar Tree so Deneise can buy a toothbrush and some Kleenex!!

After much debate and a walk through Albertsons for good measure, Debbie makes a phone call, gives the tickets away, and we all go home. It is now dark and the traffic is light and all is well again!!

Well, except that we didn't actually make it to the Mavs game for the second time in two weeks!! But . . . no matter!! It was a fun night anyway . . .well, maybe not for Deneise, but for the rest of us!!

The funnest part is we were all wearing our Mavs shirts so when we got back to Deneise's, we decided we should take a picture since it wasn't likely that we would be getting back to the Mavs game anytime soon!!


One of my favorite Emily sayings is . . . it doesn't matter what you do, it's who you're with . . . and that definitely applies to this night. While the plans didn't go anything like they were supposed to, it was a great night with a lot of great memories!!

Thanks a LOT Deneise!!!! :)

Happy 7th Birthday LUKE!!!

Ok ... seriously ... the blog?? Just haven't had the time ... blah, blah, blah!!

So, I'm going to try and catch up!!

I decided to use my camera as my guide to see which pics I hadn't uploaded and then I would know where I had stopped blogging.

And when did I stop blogging???


On Luke's 7th birthday . . . exactly 3 months ago from today!!!


Ironically, TODAY is Landry's birthday!! Crazy!!


Anyway, we went to Pump It Up and had a really great time!

The birthday boy . . .



The birthday friends . . .

Reagan beating Alex up with his amazing muscles!!

Ms. Estes and Emma . . .

Parker . . .
Even Nana got in on the fun with Landry . . .

Luke proudly showing off his new A&M shirt with Reagan . . .

This was a really great party for a really great boy!! Luke is such a sweet, kind boy. He has a softer side to him that none of the other boys have (at this point in their lives anyway!!). He is very sensitive and caring but can be as rough and tumble as anyone else! He loves any sports and plays hard at whatever he does!! He adds so much to our lives!!

There's been a blog hi-jacking!

Hello! I'm a friend of Kristy's and she entrusted me with her password to do a couple things to her blog. My little project is finished but I wanted to take a quick minute to say a few words about my amazing friend!! :)

The Top 10 Reasons Kristy is an amazing person and friend:

10. I have yet to meet anyone else who understands the importance of Diet Coke in one's life.

9. She delivers Diet Coke and other goodness to me at school.

8. She is so incredibly kind, caring, and thoughtful. See #9!

7. She's fun! Nobody tells a story like Kristy.

6. She lets me brainwash her kids into becoming Baylor fans! Sic 'em Bears! She even let me buy an u-g-l-y pair of green and yellow shoes for Landry's birthday (don't tell him). He'll probably only be allowed to wear them around the house. :)

5. She gets more done in a day than I could imagine doing in a month! Seriously.

4. She's an amazing mom and she takes such good care of her boys! This includes being a great cook! She has graciously allowed me to enjoy many meals at their house.

3. She's been one of my biggest fans. She's always supportive and encouraging. I'd probably be working at the Walmart if she hadn't come along when she did.

2. She's seen me at my best and my very worst, and as far as I can tell, loves me just the same.

1. She loves Jesus and does or says something daily that prompts me to love Him more myself!

Kristy, I could have listed a 100 things that make you an amazing person and friend!! I'm so incredibly blessed by you and your family, I could not even imagine doing life without you guys. Thanks for everything you do for me and for being all of these things and so much more! Love ya!

Ok, I'm finished, you can change your password now! :)

Sunrise

Did anyone see the beautiful sunrise this morning??

It was really amazing!

When Luke saw it, he said, "Wow...if I was God, I would have made a sunrise as pretty as that one too!!"

Psalm 19:1 -- The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

Praying this . . .

My Lord God
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following
your will does not mean
that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that my desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope that I have that desire
in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything
apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this
you will lead me by the right road
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always
though I may seem to be lost
and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear,
for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me
to face my perils alone.

- Thomas Merton (1915-1968)

More Snow???

For the third time this winter, it is SNOWING!! This is getting a little crazy!!

Today we woke up to snow, drove to school in the snow, worked in the snow, ran into Walmart in the snow, picked up the kids at noon in the snow, drove home in the snow, built snowmen in the snow, and now, late in the day, it is STILL snowing!!

Here's the latest measurement --

We went out after we got home and stayed out for 2 stinkin' hours!! I was seriously contemplating Googling the symptoms of frostbite when we came in!! It didn't seem that cold while we were out in it until the end.....then it was way cold!!

The boys had a blast and I was determined to make the best snowman ever. We strategized and planned and I quickly realized that my dream of the perfect snowman probably wasn't going to happen!! It was harder than it looked to make it just right!! The thought might have crossed my mind that I should have done a little research to figure out just the best way to make it work!! (I can take the fun out of just about anything!!!) :)

Anyway, here are our best attempts --

Me...trying to get the rolling action down!!

Landry is delighted at the progress we're making!!

And here are the finished products --

I've learned that we aren't a very crafty family (which I already knew) and that we were going to have to get creative with what to put on these guys! I ended up in the produce drawer of the fridge and used carrots for his eyes, a shriveling jalapeno for his nose, and some celery that was on its last legs for his smile. I'm guessing fresh celery wouldn't bend into a smile??!?

We then got a little over-ambitious and decided to make a snow family! From left to right, they are Scott, Alex, Parker, Luke, Landry, and me. Yes, I did make myself a little taller and thinner than I probably actually am, but I was the one creating!!

At first, the ideas for decorating were just a-flowing. You can't really tell, but Parker's guy has legos for his eyes and mouth because Parker loves Legos! My girl has blue marble eyes because my eyes are blue (which ironically, one of the marbles kept falling out....I'm sure that's a metaphor of my life in some weird way!!), and I'm holding a mini-back-scratcher which doubles as a broom!! How clever, I thought!! My mouth is actually a snake (which I hope is NOT a metaphor of my life!) that is from some Indiana Jones Lego thing!!

We went downhill after that!! Scott and Luke have pretzel eyes...no correlation at all....and out of sheer desperation, I grabbed some bark from the flower bed and made Alex and Landry's eyes!! Everyone has a carrot nose and we threw out some balls because we play a lot of ball!! This is the point where I cannot feel my fingers or toes!!

The saddest part of this little tale is that I looked out the window just a few minutes ago and our big snowman has already lost his top 2 layers!! WHAT???! All that work?? So much for the perfect snowman!! :(

A very little bit about Christmas!

Christmas of 2009 was a good one, though a different one!

It seems kinda weird now that it's mid-February to go back and post a pic of everything that got opened! So, here are a couple of highlights from the times when I actually had my camera. Of course, Christmas Day, the time spent with family that you only see once a year.....my camera decided not to make the journey!! :(

Christmas morning . . . . Santa actually came?? Impressive!!!

Apparently, that was the only official Christmas pic I uploaded!! Maybe I'll go back and revisit the pictures and add some more!

This is something that Parker got from Nana and Poppy. . . . the Lego Agents Command Center. This bad boy had over 1000 pieces in it and Parker pretty much sat down and got busy on it immediately. A couple days later, here are the results --

Parker is definitely a builder!! Yay!!

And a funny from Christmas. . . . when we got all the decorations down from the attic, we started to hang up the stockings and Luke's felt a little funny. I was a little nervous because of my issues with mice in the attic once, so I peeked into his stocking and found this - -

A little 3 Musketeer from last Christmas!! It's the gift that keeps on giving!!

Landry wanted to know if he could eat it!! :)

Alex is a ...... teenager????

Can it possibly be that my sweet, little, giant of a newborn baby is already 13 years old??

Sadly, it is possible!!

Alex turned 13 on December 16. He opted for a family party instead of a big, crazy party, so we went to Chili's to have the fun! Nana and Poppy, BigPa and Grandma, Reagan and Ms. Estes were on the guest list and here's how it happened:

The table ...

Opening up a gift....I have no idea what it is but Luke thinks it's hilarious!!

Reagan and Alex showing off a common 13-year-old gift this year....the ipod touch! Reagan had managed to score one of these for his birthday also!

Here are the goofy boys as they sang Happy Birthday! Alex was adamant that he did NOT want to be sung to but, of course, they knew we were celebrating a birthday. It worked out perfectly because we said it was Reagan's birthday too, which it pretty much was, and being embarrassed together is not nearly as bad as doing it alone!!

Reagan was totally getting into swinging his napkin until he saw me with my camera! He then covered up his eyes as though we wouldn't be able to tell who he was!!! Silly boy!!!

All in all, it was a very fun get-together and not having to clean up was an added bonus!!

Alex is an amazing young man with a deep, thoughtful side and a carefree, clueless side!! He is a huge help to me when I need him and can usually be counted on for a good laugh. Things have certainly changed since the doctor handed me that heavy baby over 13 years ago, but I wouldn't change any of it! Love you Alex!!

Thanksgiving 2009

Thanksgiving......let me think.....what were we thankful for???

We were thankful that Meagan and Lexie were here and we got to spend lots of quality time together!!! We took lots of pics of the kids together and my plan was to use something from those to send as Christmas cards. Since that didn't happen, here are the pics and just imagine them on a cute Christmas-y card with the words..... Merry Christmas .... from the Bagg Family .... Scott, Kristy, Alex, Parker, Luke, and Landry

This was our attempt at taking a picture while looking into the sun!! I think Lexie's face shows how that worked out!!

Happy Thanksgiving!!! :)

Our Loss....Heaven's Gain

Due to my very severe lack of blogging lately, I'm going to attempt to get semi-caught up.....starting back in November.

November 13, 2009

As I was dropping off Luke at school, I got a call from Scott , his voice heavy with emotion and the words, "My Mom died."

At first, I thought I must have misunderstood. Bernadine, though fighting gallbladder cancer, was doing well. She had done amazingly well. But I hadn't misunderstood. Bernadine had indeed, gone to Heaven and while it was sudden and unexpected for us, we know that it wasn't a surprise at all to the God of the universe.

Bernadine was an amazing person, wife, mom, and grandma. She juggled many hats throughout her life and managed them all well. It was a true honor to know her and to feel her love for our family.

Scott and I went to New York to spend time with the family and attend the services in her honor. The funeral was beautiful and was a really neat tribute to her life. It was a great time with the family and a huge shout-out to everyone that helped us out with the kids....my Mom and Dad, Emily, and the Rothenbergers. We could not have done it without you....thanks!!

Oh Happy Day!!

Today was an amazing day!!

We had the day off, thanks to the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. We had no plans, just a lot of laundry and a rented movie!!

Not long after I had gotten up, Luke came to me and said, "Mom...go get your Bible...I'm ready to ask Jesus into my heart!!" Have you ever heard better words??

We sat down on the couch and read some verses, talked about sin, and why Jesus came to die for him. He was so ready...knew the answers proudly!! (We have been talking about this for weeks, maybe months.)

I was reminded, yet again, of the simplicity of salvation. Through a child's eyes, it all makes perfect sense. May it always be so for Luke!!


Matthew 18:3 "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven."


Thank you Jesus, for the gift of salvation!!

Merry Christmas!!

It's been a fun, busy week but this song has been playing over and over in my mind and definitely reminds me of the real reason for this amazing season!!






Hope everyone has a great Christmas!!

Guess who??

I think even with the horrible quality of this picture of a picture, you can still see the obvious resemblance of a certain boy in this house and this little Scotty boy:

Them there's some strong genes!!

Happy Halloween 2009!!

Yes, the weather is freezing cold and we're listening to Christmas music, but here's our Halloween recap!!

This year we had a clown, 2 ninja's, and a Batman. The weather was perfect, the Harvest Festival was super fun, and a good time was had by all!!

This is the only pic I got of all of the boys, and our cousin, Justin the Jedi joined in. (wow...nice use of consonance/alliteration!)

Luke and Landry, aka Ninja and Batman -

Luke sliding -Reagan and Landry. . . Bacon and BatmanBatman -

And the bestest friends on the face of the earth!!

Future NFL star. . . . probably not!!

Seventh grade football . . . those words conjure up some amazing memories for me now!!

Haha!!

Alex played his first season of football this year when he entered the 7th grade. He had literally been waiting his whole life to do it! It was something he's always wanted to do! The excitement and anticipation was almost more than we could take!!

But, of course, that leveled off eventually!! And it finally took a nosedive!! :)

Seriously, he had a great season and and a lot of fun! Alex isn't what you would call an overly aggressive kid, so football gave me a bit of a challenge in that area. He really wanted to hit somebody really hard . . . but it just didn't happen that way much!! He really wanted to make a lot of really great tackles . . . but it just seemed a little more difficult when you were actually called on to do it!!

(Totally not trying to diss Alex AT ALL, but I want to document this next part for my horrible memory!!)

Alex kind of got a reputation with those of us in the stands as being a "last responder." He was really good at running up on a pile of players after the runner had already been safely tackled and he would often give someone a little push or a little slap on the helmet, as though it couldn't have happened without his final touch!! It was hilarious to watch!!

So, it is safe to conclude that Alex is a fairly non-aggressive football player!! Oxymoron?? Maybe!!

When asked if he'll play next year, he says no. But I wouldn't be surprised if he did! He had lots of fun and really enjoyed it, for the most part.

Here are Alex and Reagan at the last game . . . I asked them if they could smile and this is how they responded:

Never underestimate the power of #88 and #89!!

What makes you Gouchy??

From Luke --



Translation -


I was gouchy because I did not get enuf sleep.


He definitely comes by that naturally!!