Grandma's Brag Board: And it all Started on September 14th

On the 14th of September, Maren and I needed to head to Houston to meet up with Kim, Kaylin, Shannon, Holli, Kyle, Gabi and Holland. However, Maren, Isabella and I had to stop and have some lunch with Braydon at his school. We were celebrating Grandparents' Day a few days late.

Yes, that is Kyle in the background. He was going to eat lunch with Gabi, not because he is a grandpa but because he is a fantastic daddy.

As a treat, I had bought the girls (and myself) tickets to go to a women's conference in Houston called Time Out for Women. Friday evening we were spiritually uplifted as we listened to two fantastic speakers, James Ferrell and Brad Wilcox. Kyle stayed back in their hotel room with Gabi and Holland while we girls were spiritually fed and then physically fed. On a Friday evening, it was a little difficult to find someplace to eat that didn't have a waiting line a mile long; but we lucked out and walked into an Olive Garden that was just waiting for six giddy women to sit down, eat and to laugh the night away. Holli stole the show; and we laughed so hard that our sides hurt. I am sure Kyle was wondering where the heck we were.

So much for "early to bed and early to rise". My original plans were to be in bed by 10 PM so I could be up by 7 AM. No way was that going to happen. Sleep was going to have to wait until Saturday night. Our next session of our women's conference began at 9 AM. We headed to the conference with our group now numbering five as Kaylin chose to head out with Kyle, Gabi and Holland to the new American Girl Doll store that opened in Houston. Before writing more about our spiritual day, I have to pat my son on the back. Because of the popularity of the store and because the turnout consisted of thousands of parents and little girls, Kyle, Kaylin and Gabi did not get into the store until almost 4 PM. Kyle wasn't going to let anything or anybody ruin his little girl's day. He kept the girls and Holland busy at Target, getting something to eat and walking the mall until their group number was finally called.

Our little group of five was spiritually fed from 9 until 3:45. I wish I could post all of my notes on this blog so that you could hear the wonderful things that we were taught, but time and space don't allow me to do so. Suffice it to say we were on a spiritual high and nothing could ruin our day. The Woodlands Mall was calling our name and we headed over there, which happened to be about a five minute walk from where our conference was held. We walked, we talked, and we laughed as we stuffed our faces full of Marble Slab ice cream.

On one of our trips to Target, Kim and Kaylin helped Gabi to pick out a new outfit to wear to the Saturday activities. Here is Diva #1, as Isabella is Diva #2.

To finish up our festivities on Saturday, we went to Emma's school's football game which just happened to be 10 minutes from the Woodlands Mall. Emma is in the flag corp. In this picture she is on the far right. I have no pictures of her facing us because when you are the visiting team you face the home team. But, Gabi loved seeing Emma at her performance and I think Gabi might just love twirling one of those flags herself.

Saturday was a long day for me emotionally and physically (long story). After not sleeping the night before and getting up at 7 AM, our women's conference, walking the mall, sitting through a 3 hour football game (yes Maren and I stayed for the whole game as Kim took Kaylin and Gabi home to Beaumont), driving back to Beaumont with Emma with a stop for cold medicine for Emma and something to feed Emma, keeping away from a drunk driver who I did call 9-1-1 for which no police ever showed up for, almost home and then dealing with a tired truck driver who was swerving back and forth, dropping off Emma to Chad's house and then driving Maren home to her house, my nerves ready to explode and I walk in the house and see this....

Gabi with monkey eye blinders on, her head on her pillow pet, and sound asleep. In the background the movie "McKenna", the new American Girl movie, was playing on the TV. My heart melted; and everything that had frustrated me throughout the day and evening seemed so unimportant and trivial.

Moving onto Sunday and our Dallas Cowboys cheer day. In our family, we dress for the occasion. Isabella and Kaylin are ready for the day.

Isabella and her gorgeous curls. She loved when Kaylin was here and would sit her on the bathroom counter to curl her hair.

Kaylin wanted to find out if she or Hayes was the tallest. The picture tells all..Hayes wins.

Sunday we had a birthday dinner for Kaylin and a cookie cake. So hard to believe that Kaylin is 17 years old.

Two sons and a two grandsons.

Two sons and three grandsons

Great picture Kaylin and Emma

Drake loving every bite of his cookie

Oh those eyes...and she loves her cookie too

Drake, Gabi and Isabella

Cute and cuddly..Gabi, Kyle and Kaylin

GO-O-O-O-O COWBOYS!!!!

Saturday the 22nd, Braydon had his birthday party...THE BIG 7!!1!

Kyle is already teaching Holland how to make funny faces on windows

The birthday Boy

Kyle with a mouthful of dinner

Meigan and Syd

Two of Braydon's friends

Kyle and his PaPa

Holland loves Isabella's Minnie Mouse ears

Once again...those eyes

Braydon loves Legos and therefore wanted a Lego party. The main colors of Legos are Yellow, Green, Blue and Red; and instead of a cake, Braydon wanted cupcakes with Lego colors. You can't see it but his candle is in the shape of a Lego.

A big smile for all of his gifts

Braydon's friend Cole, with very blue lips; not from being cold, but from lots of frosting

Parker, with red frosting; but the sad part is right after he took one lick of the frosting, it fell on the ground

Cole's sister and lots of red

What a handsome, little dude

When Shannon arrived with Kyle and Sophia, Sophia was happy and bright eyed; and it was time for grandma to sit with her and coo and talk. I won't write what happened. You will be able to tell by the pictures.