Fantastic Gabe!

Here is Gabe walking with the assistance of his sister!

Gabe has become quite vocal these days. He likes to tell stories. LONG stories!! We could have recorded longer!

Gabe loves baths!

Gabe now likes bath time. It took him a bit, but now he smiles while taking a bath. He cries when I take him out though. At first I thought that it was because he was cold, but now I am beginning to believe that he doesn't want out! :) :) I kept telling him when I first gave him baths at home that he would one day like them! ha!

San Antonio Fun

The morning started off with Greg snapping photo's. Gabe was making all sorts of faces!

My smiley boy!

Still smiley.
Not sure here.. Maybe he was going to cry? Or stick his tounge out?
A concerned look.
A bit happier!
Kien was leaning on Brandy watching tv while she slept.
Jeremy had a rough night! He had to sleep next to Kien's sleep tent. Kien cried a couple times through out the night.
Our morning group. Greg couldn't be in the photo :(
DONALD DUCK!
Here was Jeremy on the River Walk while Greg took a photo. Brandy and I were at Starbucks.
The River Walk... There were MANY area's that were not very stroller friendly. Kien loved watching the ducks as we walked.
A cute waterfall.
Mommy's turn.
We stopped at the Hard Rock Cafe to eat. It was YUMMY!
My young man posing!
I love the person who invented this nifty "kid leash" It came in handy considering that all around the River Walk area the streets were busy and Kien couldn't stay couped up in the stroller the whole time.
Jeremy found a strange statue...
Brandy didn't want a statue pose, but of course by a painted picture of someone playing an instrument... hmmm... think she is a musical person?! But of course!
Here is Kien walking again.
Oh, proof that Kien does throw fits! Next time we will video tape them. heehee
We went to the IMAX to view the documentary on the Alamo. It was awesome that we didn't have to pay for the two littlest ones because it put Kien to sleep right away and Gabe pretty much cried at the loud bangs from the war sounds. I was pretty much standing up with him bouncing or walking. Not fun, but now I know that he wouldn't survive a kids movie at the theater.


Walking towards the AlamoThe Alamo. We were not allowed to take any photo's inside the historic building.

It was a nice little educational/family trip. Hopefully next time it will be Sea World! :) :)

UIL Comp Video

Here is the link to YouTube to watch the video. Our video would not upload to the blog. Also, our video is too on YouTube, however, the band boosters uploaded a much better view. Here is their upload of the competition. It is AMAZING!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYeTILxnrKg

Rock Star

Kien's rock rendition of "Jesus Loves Me" while driving home from San Antonio.

After UIL

I booked a hotel on Monday that was close to the Alamodome, but also close to the River Walk. We probably passed the same streets 5 times before we found our destination because there are so many one way streets.

Brandy said she was hungry for something with breakfast. We did manage to pass a Denny's by our hotel, which of course we stopped and had breakfast for dinner.

Brandy was not very happy that we were picking up her up after the competition and not heading straight back. She coped a bit of an attitude and had a little meltdown, but was fine once she realized it wasn't working. Now, when we were seated down by the waitress, we saw 2 other marching band students with their parents who had the same idea as we on staying the night and making a day of being in San Antonio. I put my hand over my heart as if I was in distress that other parents were keeping their kids from school the next day. (haha)

Brandy's 09 State UIL Marching Comp.

So Brandy's school has been open for 4 years now. The marching band has made it to state twice now. Brandy's school left for San Antonio on Monday, although they were not performing that day. They got to roam the River Walk for the day.

Tuesday was the big day. We left mid morning to make it to their performance.

In this first photo, Jeremy was standing in front of the buses. There were a total of 26 schools. This was just a glimpse of the total of buses. Brandy's school had 6 buses alone!

Here is our marching band super star!
Here was Greg taking photo's of us from an upstairs window.
This was AMAZING!!
For this many students, they sure do an awesome job with their formations!
The red semi truck is our school's instrument transportation. Notice the Alamodome sign in the background! Perfect shot! YAY me!
Unfortunately, Saginaw Band didn't make the top 10. They did however, make 19th place out of 26. They all did such a fabulous job!! They could even go next year!

Parent's Performance

Sunday, the day before the band was to leave for State UIL Marching Competition in San Antonio, was the parent's peformance! Brandy as well as the band looks great out there!! We came to see their show.

Jeremy was busy playing with his phone getting photo's and sending video.
WOW.. a semi truck to carry their band equipment!


We are very proud of her! She has worked so hard and has a great passion for marching band. I pray that if it be God's will for her, that she will never lose sight of that passion. Life can become distracting. LOVE YOU BRANDY!!! WE ARE PROUD OF YOU!!!

Trunk or Treat

Saturday, October 31, 2009.

The evening started off with evening church. Our pastor started his new series "End of the World" this week on Halloween night. Right after services we grabbed a snap shot of the kids (and the bigger kid) before heading out the doors to Trunk or Treat. Our church held this event including hot dogs and hamburgers for $1.00 each. The candy was free of course... :)

Brandy dressed as Queen Esther

Kien and Gabe were the Lion and the Lamb

Jeremy was the guard whom is found in Acts 16:16-35

Here is our little Lamb. I have to say he did very well considering. At first he really didn't like the lamb ears, but was fine after I took them off and put them on again. Maybe a new thing wasn't to be taken lightly! :)
And here is our little Lion. He was a hit! Everyone coo'd and awe'd when he walked by. He was so excited about candy that every time someone would put candy in, he would want to take it out and eat it!! He also was NOT very happy when we left. Candy Candy Candy was all we heard most of the way home.
There was a lot of people at the trunk or treat event. It was also still a bit warm out. So I had to keep checking Gabe to make sure he wasn't getting hot.
Our beautiful Queen and our Guard was very hungry!

There was a bounce house right in the front of the parking lot. We tried at all costs to keep Kien occupied from throwing a fit because of his desire to jump. It had bigger kids inside, so to keep from having an ER moment, Greg was able to distract him.
So cute!
Queen Esther and our Guard decided to carry Kien to a few trunks so I could get Gabe's diaper changed and Greg could grab a bite to eat.
Once we were done there, we drove to our friend Mercedes parent's house. They came to our wedding and have been ever so gracious to watch the kids for us when we went out of town. They just adored all 4 of the kids and gave them some popcorn balls and chocolate of course. They all passed Gabe around and Kien really like Zac (Mercedes dad) and Janet (Mercedes mom) kept saying it was her turn to hold the baby. :)
Before we headed to their house we picked up Dawson, our friends youngest so they could go to a a halloween party. We told them to let him keep his costume on so that the Stuart's could see him too. Dawson is the little dracula standing by Jeremy on the right.
So until Mercedes and Tristan are ready to provide grandchildren to their parents, Mercedes said we can share the babies to pacify them for a bit :):)
Brandy waited so patiently to hold her brother.
Kien LOVED running around the property. Jeremy and Dawson tortured him by stepping on the back of his tail and making him not be able to go forward. Cute!