Daddy-Daughter Dance 2010

Hair-do at Sweet & Sassy!
Natalie lives for this night every year!
She is a daddy's girl!

Natalie decided to get her ears pierced to surprise her daddy...she was a total champ! She got Peridot studs because that is her birthstone.

Hubba! Hubba! Look at that good lookin' couple!

Natalie shaking her booty! Erick said she danced to just about every song! Sista likes to dance!

They ended their date with dinner at Benihana. That was Natalie's choice. I remember a few years ago, her choice for dinner was Braum's...daddy better start saving up 'cause sister's starting to get "fancier" with her choices!!

Murphy Junior Mida

The Midas have a new family member!
We are pleased to welcome

Murphy Junior Mida

We all agreed on "Murphy" and then we let the kids pick his middle name. :) He is about a year and a half old and he is 21 lbs or so. We aren't sure of his breed, but the Vet thinks he has some terrier in him. The kids are loving it! Poor dog can't catch a break 'cause the kids are always right in his face! Spencer will basically lay down on him, and Murphy will just let him. Sweet pup!

He was a stray that our friend found a couple weeks ago and she just couldn't keep him. He is very mellow and very loving. Kinda lazy. :) He is pretty much potty trained. His only fault...he is super gassy! And, believe me, it is TOXIC! Any suggestions on how to cure that in a dog?!

We are going to have him neutered in mid-February. We got to explain to Will the other day what neutering is after he heard us use the term. :) Now, every day, Will asks when Murphy is getting his b*lls cut off...NICE...thanks, Erick!

Found Spencer in Murphy's crate the other day...poor Murphy was just trying to rest.

Sweet boy!

Sweet Papa

We sure do miss you Papa, Dad, Harry...
We honor you today, January 17th, 2010,
the day we lost you last year, but the day Heaven gained a loving angel
We CAN NOT WAIT to see you again!

It doesn't even seem real that you have been gone for 12 months...missing birthday parties, holidays, family dinners, football games and school programs. I think we all just expect you to "show up." Your memory and our cherished times with you live on in our talks with the kids, and in the outings we go on together, and in the simple talks we have with your three precious grandchildren during tender moments. They sure do miss you, Papa. As do we.

Love~ Leslie, Erick, Natalie, Will and Spencer

TGIF!!!

Here are a few highlights from my week (if you care)...

• Monday- Pulled my first WHITE/GRAY hair out (had a small gray one before, but it was tiny and thin)...this one was coarse and sticking straight up...told Natalie that stress gives people white hair...she replied that I'm gonna have a lot more...NICE
  
• Tuesday- Started a fitness challenge class with a trainer at the Y...meets twice a week...the trainer reminds me of Jillian from the Biggest Loser (need I say more?)
• Tuesday- Stayed up all night watching tragedy in Haiti...feel helpless watching all the coverage...PRAY!
  
• Wednesday- Haven't been feeling good in awhile...super dizzy the past few days...have a ct scan and bloodwork (3 sticks before they got a vein...my worst fear...hate it)...all looks good except for every sinus cavity is FULL of fluid...diagnosed with labrynthtitis (sp?, basically inner ear infection) and vertigo...given meds and told not to drive
• Wednesday- Get a note sent home with Spencer from preschool...no school on Friday due to FISD district holiday...DANG IT!
  
• Thursday- Miss my second class with trainer b/c of illness...hoping and praying she won't take it out on me next Tuesday
• Friday- still dizzy, but not as severe....vertigo stinks!!!
  
• Friday- FINALLY get my dishwasher fixed after months of attempts (atleast 4 plumbers and atleast 6-8 visits)...Praise the Lord!
  

Spencer's First Hair Cut (Finally!)

We finally bit the bullet and got Spencer's golden locks cut...I think I am still in shock. I knew it was time, but it was still hard. Spence is almost 27 months and we had never waited so long to cut one of the other kids' hair. I was so afraid his little curls would go away and never come back (like they did the first time we cut Will's). The hairstylist assured me that because Spencer's texture was different (not as thick), his curl would stay. Here are a few pics...

Before...

Another before...his hair was "pony tail" long :)

Big bro and sis got to come along since they didn't have school

After...
atleast 2 inches gone most of the way around...
and layered just a bit :)

Still looking "rock star" cool!
And, his mama survived! :)

A few add-ins from '09

Forgot a couple of MAJOR 2009 events...

In late September, my cousin, Jeff, and his wife, Jen, had twin boys.
Below, JD and Travis are pictured with their great-grandad (my grandad, Harvy).
These are the only great grandkids on mom's side
of the family besides my three.

And, my big girl got braces in October.
I cannot believe the transformation in her mouth...
and, she's only had them on for 2.5 months!
Can you tell her rubber bands are pink and black?!?
She said they were "fashionable colors!"

A YEAR IN REVIEW: 2009 January Highlights

As most of you readers know, we lost Erick's dad on January 17th of 2009. Other than funeral plans, comforting family, making decisions at the funeral home, not much went on this month. Wonderful friends, family, associates and even strangers reached out to us and comforted us in ways we had never experienced before. We will be forever grateful for all the love shown to us.

This is the flower arrangement Natalie, Will and Spencer got for their Papa. They miss him so, but we try to talk about Papa often, and pictures of him are all about our house. Please keep us all in your prayers as we approach the one year anniversary of Harry's passing.

2009 February Highlights

February was pretty uneventful for us...probably because our January had been so hard and draining. Erick and I decided to continue on with our plans to head with friends to Beaver Creek for a long weekend. We had such fun, skiing, snowmobiling, snuggling and socializing!

2009 March Highlights

In March, me and the college roomies did our annual weekend get-away! We stayed close and enjoyed the sights, sounds and food of Big D! This is us out sailing on Lake Grapevine!

Spring Break week...mama's gotta stay sane, so we did little outings most days. This was a venture out to the Heard Natural Wildlife Museum and Reserve in McKinney.

And, at the beginning of March, Erick and I celebrated our 11th wedding anniversary! I'm pretty sure we went to Del Frisco's to celebrate!

2009 April Highlights

In April, we celebrated Erick's 34th birthday. His mom gave him a Big Green Egg for his present! This was his most favorite gift ever! If you don't know anything about Big Green Eggs, you MUST google them!

Easter Sunday!
Don't know just how many more years I'll get out of the kids when it comes to coordinating their outfits. :(
But they sure do look cute this year!!

My buddy Will turned 5 with a party with his friends at Main Event. They bowled, ate and got to play all sorts of games! So much fun!

2009 May Highlights

Swim party for the PIRANHAS!
Coach Mida and Coach Martin hosted a swim party for the team to end up the season!
These boys are some awesome soccer players!

Spring LDC Dance Recital!
Natalie performed a hip hop routine to "I Don't Dance!"
She was fabulous!
She is looking forward to trying out a few other types of dance in the next year.

2009 June Highlights

Will's last day of PK4 with Mrs. Norman!
What an angel of a teacher she was and is!
She loved my Will like he was her own!

Natalie's last day of 1st grade with the most awesome teacher ever...Mrs. Frazier!
Wow!
First grade was a phenomenal year for Nat and we owe it all to you, Mrs. F!!

2009 July Highlights

In July, we celebrated my mom's 65th birthday with a surprise party at our house!
Trini (as she is called by the kids) had a little help getting her candles blown out!

2009 August Highlights

First day of school!
Natalie is in 2nd grade this year and her teacher's name is Mrs. Walsh!

Will is in the K5 program this year (a precursor to the kinder year). His teacher is Mrs. Brown and he adores her!

Walking in together (I forced them to hold hands so I could ge this great shot)!! :)

Natalie had her 8th birthday party...a "no boys allowed, invite 12 girls, overnight slumber party!" Whoo! It was crazy, but Natalie thoroughly enjoyed it!

2009 September Highlights

A September trip to NYC to see good friends and enjoy some "kid free" hours!

Central Park beauty!

Where we stayed...the W in Times Square...kinda loud and busy!

Spencer started his 2 day a week preschool at our church preschool.
I had to grab one last hug!

Posin' on the porch, ready to go!
(and Spencer is wearing the very same outfit Will wore
on his first day of preschool a few years ago)