Hanna Grace is 11!

Oh, is it really possible? I know, this is every mother's lament! How does time fly by so quickly? I remember Hanna as a baby. She was my best child! An angel! She has always been so fun and easy-going. Even as an ornery 2 year old, who would escape our house many days....to be found next door at Mrs. Warkentin's, just playing in the floor. Many times, she never knew she'd come in. Hanna has always found a friend in everyone.....and everyone has been fond of her very quickly. She is my sunshine! My bright spot in each and every day. She brings us up when we are down and makes us laugh till our sides hurt. She's caring and kind and loves deeply. I love seeing my children bloom where God has planted them......and Hanna is one of my most glorious flowers! I can see God shaping and molding her into who He wants her to be. Happy Birthday, Hanna Grace! Shine on!

Trick or Treat.....Smell my feet.....give me something good to eat!

Well, that is what we always said. Why, I'll never know. And, for some reason my kids don't believe me and won't say it!

We had a fun and hectic Halloween this year. We went to Dalhart to be with my sister and her family (as we were helping them move to a different house...just down the block) and because Daddy was working the monthly Dalhart weekend. This year snuck up on me as we have been so busy. Glad my kids were prepared. I always love to hear what they want to be every year! It changes with their ever-changing personalities (and seems to fall in line with their b-day themes for that year). I really thought Sethy would don the beloved Spiderman costume AGAIN (since Spidey made it for two birthdays in a row....why not two Halloween's?!)....but, he said he wanted to be a SPIDER! Go figure! We checked and double checked and he assured us he wanted to be a "big, black spider with many legs"! Ok! Got it! (and, Quinn was Spiderman, so that was perfect!)

Lily was no surprise......Hannah Montana! (duh, Mom!) Easy enough. The girl owns half of Hannah Montana's wardrobe. Really!

My Hanna decided to go as a softball player, which was fitting, since she was missing her last softball tournament of the year to be with her family in Dalhart! What a punkin she is! So, that was an easy one, too! We had all of the stuff. She said, "I feel like I'm getting ready for a game!" Of course she did! That is the norm for her! :)

Now, Emma, I didn't know about. (Really, when do they stop wanting to dress up?) She decided on her own that she was going to go trick or treating with her siblings and she had to dress up to do that! She was a punk-rock ballerina. That is her norm, too! It was a fun evening. It was fun to be with the Hales for Halloween again, too. It has been a few years! I miss being close to them! We also had fun watching our Dalhart friend's faces as they opened their doors and then realized who we were! I wish I had my camera ready each time! I think I had the most fun with that. :)







Hannah Montana (AKA, Lily) before the wig came off! It didn't take long!




















I love this one! One day, he'll appreciate that love! :)

And, a picture of my new eco sneaks......I guess the kids weren't being cooperative at some point and I had to get a pic of my shoes! LOVE THEM!

And, the whole gang! Seth, Emma, Hanna, Lily, Cameron, Aly and Quinn. Love them, too!

PUNKINS carving PUMPKINS!

We LOVE to carve pumpkins! This year was no different....except the kids seem to have more of an opinion of what they want to carve AND they want to hold the carving tools BY THEMSELVES! Makes me a little nervous,Sean LOVES it that he doesn't have to do ALL of the carving anymore! Do you know that pumpkin innards sting the skin now-a-days AND they stick to the floor like glue! Mop them up quick, not the morning after, for a happier mommy! :(



















We also made our annual jack-o-lantern pizzas for the occasion! There is never a dull moment in my home! Here's proof!















Here are some more pics from our fun evening. Enjoy!


Love these faces........



Daddy's Job!

Hard at work......































My Little Punkins!

















































Happy Halloween!

So Proud!

I don't know if there is anything that makes me more proud than my children! Everyone must run out and get the November's issue of Southern Living. Besides it being an awesome magazine, esp. in the fall, there is a featured section on The Lone Star Ballet's "The Nutcracker". It has a picture of Emma on stage in the party scene. (she's in a rust colored dress...b/c they really all look the same in a bun!) It was from last year's performance and has an incredible article that makes me proud to be a part of our jewel in the crown of Texas! If you don't want to go buy the fine copy of Southern Living, at least go look at it while you stand in the line at the grocery store. It's on the pages following pg. 164. (She will sign copies if you bring them to The Nutcracker this year) ;) Enjoy!

Lily's Little Tooth Lost

1st tooth a'wiggling.............5 months

Time it took to pull it...............5 seconds

1st tooth payout...............$5

The prayer that Lily said asking God not to let the tooth fairy take her tooth away...................Priceless!

(I wish the tooth fairy could use Mastercard!)

Softball and Nutcracker and LIFE.....oh, my!

That is my anthem...it is ringing in my head! We have soooo enjoyed taveling with the fastpitch softball tournament team this year.....but, isn't it time to STOP?!!!!! Just this weekend, I took Hanna (and the rest of my crew ) to Wichita Falls for the Texas ASA State Tourney. (Sean was in Dalhart working the ER, while I had trauma of my own!!!!!!) .....anyhow, it was fun, but the drive was long and the games were long (esp. the last one on Sat. night! We finished at MIDNIGHT.... Texas time!) woooo! The girls did great and fought hard, but their carriage turned into a pumpkin and they lost their glass slippers and LOST the game! We came home on Sunday after some Nutcracker Ball dress shopping..... Very tired! Very cranky!

That brings me to my next stop....Nutcracker! You all know how I love (and loathe) Nutcracker time! Yes, yes, it is all worth it to watch my ballerina and gymnast show their stuff on the big stage! It's just all of the wonderful things that lead up to it that I could do without. Nutcracker Ball is one of them. The kids love getting all dressed up for a night and a party, just for them! It's Nov. 8th. I'll pencil it in!

On with the show......this year, Emma is "Clara" again! YEAH! We are thrilled! And, if that isn't enough, on her "off nights", she is in the party scene as a Party Girl, dancing in the Snow Scene, a Merliton in Act II, in The Land of Sweets, and then she is also in "The Waltz of the Flowers". Wooooo! I am worn out! She will be "Clara" on Friday and Sunday performances and the other FOUR roles on Thurs. and Saturday. Eight performances in all! (You can go to http://www.lonestarballet.org/ for ticket info). One of the mom's asked me the other day, as we stood staring at the cast list in awe and dispair......"Is this the Emma Green show, or what?!" I didn't have an answer! My mind was throwing out all kinds of comments and jabs, but my heart guarded my tongue and I just SMILED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :) When you've got it, you've got it!

Hanna is also in The Nutcracker again this year! She is a tumbling buffoon again. It just fits her, really! And she is proud of it! She will be in EVERY performance. :) I'm so proud of my girls!

We have already started rehearsals. Emma is there after school with classes, and then rehearsals till 9:30pm, most weeknights. She LOVES it, so it's worth it. Lots of hard work, sweat and tears. We are still doing soccer with Lily and gymnastics with Hanna and softball....which is almost done till Spring! Seth just hangs on for the ride. He loves the ride! And, he likes to go fast! He's in luck! I am so thankful for my hubby! He just smiles and asks very little of me during this crazy time! We did decide the other day that we need to hire another parent to this party. If there are any takers, get back to me! SOON! :)

Soooooo, bare with me in the next few months. My blogs may be few and far between. You never know which mommy hat I will have on. You may get totally sick of Nutcracker stuff.....it may be complaints or praises! You never know! :) That's why I love blogging.....I can just let my mind go and you can turn it off whenever you want!

Oh, yeah, I forgot....we had Canyon homecoming on Friday before we left for the tournament. I made Emma and Emily's mums. Aren't they fun?! :) Life would just pass me by with no memory if I didn't have photos to prove where I've been! ARGH! Canyon beat Lubbock-Estacado....a lot to a little! That's all I know.....

What I've been doing....

I had the pleasure of spending an evening with the Adee family in Palo Duro Canyon a couple of weekends ago. Here are some pics from that shoot.











You can go to my website www.jgreenphotography.com to see some more! :)

If anyone is interested in Christmas pictures, please contact me now! My calendar is filling up!