Thursday, January 31, 2008

Sure Do Love You, Uncle Boo

As the 4th grade Writing TAKS test gets closer and closer, I am working more intensely with my students daily on writing compositions.  
Today we wrote about someone that is special to us.  
I wrote about Uncle Boo.  You will find my example below:


    My Uncle Boo was one of the most giving and loving men that I have ever known. He wasn’t really my uncle, but he was my parent’s best friend, so we called him Uncle. His real name was Bill, but I couldn’t say that when I was a baby. I named him Boo. He was part of every family holiday and special event. I can’t remember a time he wasn’t there.
    Uncle Boo’s heart was a big as a football field. He loved my family as if we were his own. He took my brother and me fishing all the time. He had a boat named after me, Monkey Nose. We would all go out into the ocean on weekends and fish. I didn’t like the slimy scaly fish, but I loved being with my Uncle Boo.
    Uncle Boo worked at Disneyland for thirty years. He was an electrician in Tomorrowland. After school my mom would take my brother and me to Disneyland to meet him when he got off work. Uncle Boo would sign us in, and my brother and I would play at Disneyland all evening. To this day, I think of him every time I go to Disneyland. I wish he could be there with me riding “It’s A Small World”.
    Whenever I think of my Uncle Boo, I imagine him sitting at the kitchen table drinking coffee, eating chocolate, and working on a crossword puzzle. Uncle Boo loved chocolate. One year I bought him a five pound candy bar for Christmas. It was too big to even fit in his stocking. He ate it in less than 3 days!!! I have never seen anyone eat chocolate like him.
    The last time I spoke to my Uncle Boo was a Sunday in March 2001. The new California Adventure had just opened at Disneyland. My best friend, Teresa, and I were riding the brand new ferris wheel. We were at the very top, and I took out my cell phone and called my Uncle Boo. I told him I wished he was there riding with me. I also told him I loved him. The ferris wheel started to sway back and forth, and Teresa and I screamed and laughed. He laughed also and said to have fun.
    Two days later, my brother called to tell me that Uncle Boo had suddenly passed away. My heart was broken, but I was so thankful that the last time I spoke to my Uncle Boo was a happy time. I know that anytime I eat chocolate or go to Disneyland, my Uncle Boo will be watching and laughing from heaven.

I could continue to write forever, but I had to show my kids that it could be done in 2 pages.  But I did get to spend more time telling more stories about my precious Uncle Boo.  They were all on the edge of their seats while I told my tales.  

Sure do love you, Uncle Boo.

Saturday, January 26, 2008

Our new home

Well, after much discussion and lots of driving around.....we have found a home in Midlothian!!!
We will be living closer to family (maybe closer than they want us)  :)
We will be across the street from Angie and her family.
Holden is thrilled to have his cousins and the rest of the family so close!

It is definitely going to be a change for me, but I will love it!   
I go on Tuesday for the inspection.  I can't wait to see the inside again!
I am looking forward to setting up a real home for my family!
We will move in 52 weeks exactly from our wedding day!


Saturday, January 19, 2008

Things I Love About Holden.....

  • his sense of humor
  • his honesty
  • his obedience
  • his laughter
  • his eagerness to help
  • his language and vocabulary
  • his ability to express himself
  • his random thoughts
  • his blue eyes
  • his cool hair colors
  • his memory
  • his eagerness for Jesus
  • his empathy for the less fortunate
  • his protection of his friends
  • his communication with adults
  • his desire to help
  • his excitement for life
  • how he handles my moods
  • his talent for public speaking
  • his retention of information
  • his storytelling skills
  • his adorable baby pictures
  • his love for his daddy
  • when I watch him hugging Granny
  • his pleasing nature
  • the improvements he has made at school
  • the way he has adjusted to our new family
  • his imagination
  • his comic book he is creating
  • his patient attitude towards me
  • the way he always does his homework
  • his huge heart for his friends
  • his desire not to participate in inappropriate things
  • his excitement for spending time with his family
  • watching him play and talk to his family
  • his intelligence
  • his love of cuddling
  • his affectionate nature
  • his singing and performance voice
  • watching him dance
  • his memory of scripture
  • his love of reading
  • he is part of Jason

Sunday, January 13, 2008

UPDATED---CONTRACT SIGNED!!!!!

Well, we signed a contract on a house tonight!!!
If all goes well, we will be homeowners the end of February!!!!!
Holden will not have to change schools, and we hope he will have new friends to play with in the neighborhood!!!!

UPDATE:  1/19/08
We have withdrawn our offer on this particular home.  We had intentions of putting Holden upstairs in the loft, thinking it could be used as a third bedroom, but there is no window.  So for fire safety concerns we need to find a true 3 bedroom.

A NEW HOME???

Last week Jason and I started to discuss the possibility of buying a home.  Our lease is up in March, so if we want to purchase, we needed to start looking quickly.  We really wanted Holden to stay in the Grapevine-Colleyville ISD, but weren't sure we could afford any homes in the district.  After church on Sunday we decided to drive around the neighborhood of Holden's school.  There were several homes for sale with a few in our possible price range.

My dead friend, Janet, from church is a realtor, so I called her on Monday.  
We received our pre-approval letter the next day!  Jason and I started looking online for homes.  Janet took us out looking yesterday.  The first home we looked at was a duplex.  I wasn't sure about the idea of a duplex, but the price was right.  As soon as I walked in, I was impressed.  I immediately loved all the room and the floors!!  No carpet except on the stairs!!!  Which means, no constant scrubbing and cleaning up after cats when their food doesn't like their bellies.  

It slightly worried me that we loved the first house we looked at, but Jason and I agreed that this would be perfect for us.  We made an offer.  Now we wait.  Janet has told us that there is another offer on the table, but it looks promising.  I really want this home!
Let me chase a rabbit for a minute and tell you a little more about Janet.  I met Janet through our women's mentoring program at church probably 4 years ago.  Little did I know what a big part of my life she would become.  When I told her Jason had asked me to marry him, she was so excited for me and asked if she could help and do my flowers.  And what a gorgeous job she did!!!  Not only did she do my flowers, she made sure that every little detail I had overlooked or didn't even think of was done.  It is because of this godly woman that our wedding was as classy and beautiful as it was.  Now Janet is part of another huge step in our lives.  I know that Janet is in our corner praying for us.  Thank you, Janet!

Back to our possibilities:
Holden would be able to ride his bike or walk to school.  He would have friends in the neighborhood to play with and a backyard!  Did I mention the wooden deck in the backyard for BBQs???  

I know if it doesn't work out, God has something better for us, but I still can hope and pray that this is His best for us right now!!!!  

Tuesday, January 1, 2008

Christmas 2007 Memories

Just a note--you can click on any picture to see it larger!!!  :)

The first thing Holden did on Christmas morning was stand at our bedroom door and say, "Can we open presents now?"  Jason and I rolled out of bed, and Holden tried hard to be patient while Jason got his cup of coffee and we got situated in the living room.  Before opening presents, Holden and Jason read the Christmas story from Luke 2:1-20.  

Holden was ready to dig in to the presents as soon as we were finished.  He definitely made out this year!  He got several video games, books, a few clothes, and other goodies.  Santa brought him his Webkinz and Lego Star Wars Imperial Star Destroyer!!!  Jason bought me a beautiful watch and jeans--it meant the world to be that he went to an extra effort to get me exactly what I wanted.  I am a lucky lady.  I got Jason a 30th Anniversary Star Wars watch.  It is pretty awesome looking.  

After all the presents were open, we watched the Disney Christmas Parade.  I made breakfast and the boys started working on the Star Wars Lego set.  I played the Star Wars Lego Wii game with Holden a little while.  Jason thought my personal sound effects were funny.  It is fun swinging the lightsaber!  

After spending a couple of hours playing with all of the new stuff a little bit we got ready to head to MeeMaw's.  I couldn't wait to give her the Storybook I made for her of the three grandsons.  She loved it.

This was my second Christmas with Jason's family.  I love watching the boys get so excited.  Holden was beyond excited!  He got Guitar Hero III from MeeMaw, PawPa and Greg.  I knew that between him and Jason, our living room would never be the same!  
He definitely made out this year!  He also got several new games for his DS that he earned in November!!!  (Big Brain is my favorite--my brain is the biggest in our house).  Angie and her family got him his precious Zelda DS accessories box.  No one is allowed to touch it but him.  

After we finished opening presents, Holden looked and me and said, "I got everything I wanted!"  What a great thing to hear from your child because there was always that thought in my mind, "Oh I wish I would have gotten that" or "I forgot to get this", but Holden didn't miss anything.  He was thrilled with everything he got, even his new belt!

Having my own family for Christmas is such a treat.  Watching Holden open presents and listen to his excitement was so fun.  I still had to "be a mom" and tell him to "calm down" a few times and to "remember you are inside" and to "not be so loud".  But he was incredible to watch.  I know he won't be a child much longer, and I kept telling myself to leave him alone and let him be a kid on Christmas!  Jason sweetly reminded me a few times also.  :) 

My little embarrassing moment was when Jason's mom gave me a gift set of Britney Spears perfumes!!??!!  Even Jason's initial reaction was, "Why did she get you that??"  A few minutes later Glenna explained to everyone that she figured that the Spears girls are so fertile, maybe it would rub off on me!!!!  

The most precious gift Jason and I received was when we got in the car to go home and Holden said, "We have a great family!"  What a great thing to hear from your child!  I know that made Jason feel fabulous!  Jason has done everything in his power for almost 10 years to give Holden the best of everything, and I know that had to have touched him in a special way.  Holden deserves a great family!  We are gonna do everything we can to continue to give it to him!  Then Holden said, "This is the best Christmas I have ever had!"

I want to end this post with the funniest memory of the day--It happened as soon as we got home!  As we were walking up the stairs, somehow the question of whether we would have a baby for Christmas next year came up.  I told Holden it takes 9-10 months, so it was possible.  He said, "I know how it happens, Mom.  You guys just have to DO IT!"     Need I say anything else???   Out of the mouths of babes!!!!