Kade's 4th Grade Christmas Party

I just posted about Layton's last preschool Christmas party and how it saddened me.  As I titled this post, it hit me.  This will be Kade's last school Christmas party!  Our ISD doesn't allow them in middle school and up.

I was able to attend Kade's party.  The parents were instructed to bring their child a $5 gift.  I gave Kade a balancing bird.  They are amazing!  He loved it.  You can find them for $2 at Hobby Lobby in the sections around the registers. 

Kaders

 Kade balancing his bird on the tip of his finger.

Kade and I

Layton's Miz Carol Christmas Party 2011

Layton had his last preschool Christmas party this past December.  I still can't believe he will be in Kindergarten next year!

I was unable to attend, but Clint got to and snapped these pictures for me.  Layton had a great time, of course!

What a Blessing...

Clint's great-great-grandmother passed away right before Christmas.  She lived 101 years and touched so many lives, especially Clint's.  He loved her so much and will miss her dearly, as we all will.

Here are a few pictures, so that you can see just what a sweet lady Nanny was. 

Nanny our out wedding in 1999

Nanny and Kade

Nanny, Kade and Layton

Nanny, Clint, Kade and Layton

This is one of our favorite pictures of Nanny.  She was playing with Kade and trying on his coonskin cap.

 A lot of Clint's family lives in the Houston area, which is a ways from where Nanny lived in the Texas panhandle.  So, we were able to have Grandma Dixie and Uncle Ted as visitors, b/c our house is about halfway.  It was fun to have them stay with us, but of course, I wish it were for different reasons.

4-H Nutrition Quiz Bowl

I forgot to blog about this in November, but wanted to take a minute to brag on Kade. 

We began going to 4-H meetings in October.  At that month's meeting Kade signed up for the nutrition quiz bowl, which at the time was only four weeks away.  He loves game show type things and thought a quiz bowl would be a blast.  Well, he was right!  We studied the packet of questions and he took to memorizing it better than I could have ever expected.

His team, Baylor A, ended up taking 3rd placed in the junior division, which consisted of 20+ teams.  Kade's team really bragged on him saying that there is no way they could have won some of the matches without him.  He really knew his nutrition!  This is funny, because Kade is the pickiest kid you will ever meet!  He absolutely hates anything healthy and only has a handful of likes in the food category!

Church Christmas Program

Our church held it's annual Christmas program on Sunday, December 11.  They have done the same program for over 30 years now!  It is so simple, yet absolutely breath taking for so many reasons.

Kade was a shepherd.  Layton was an angel.

Layton is the angel closest to you.

I pointed out a church sign today to the boys and asked if they understood the meaning.  It said something like, "Mary wrapped the first Christmas present."  They, of course, understood and loved the saying as much as I did.

Merry Christmas

Medals Galore!

Kade's elementary participated in a district UIL (University Interscholastic League) competition on December 7.  They competed against five other schools and ended up second place overall, which is definitely something to brag about in my opinion.

Kade competed in music memory, ready writing, spelling and oral reading.  He did not place in ready writing.  He also did not place individually in music memory, but as a team Seymour won 2nd place.  Spelling, in my opinion, is not one of his stronger attributes, but we worked hard at it.  He actually was alternate, but ended up on the team when a little boy got sick the night before competition.  The team placed first!  Oral reading is his favorite event and he won first place in it.  So, in all Kade received 3 medals!

If you are not familiar with UIL most of the events allow each school to enter 3 students, so Kade was competing against 17 others in ready writing, spelling and oral reading.  Music memory allows 5 or 6 students per school.

The day before UIL competition Kade's oral reading coach/teacher had them perform at a Chamber of Commerce meeting.  The parents were allowed to attend too!

Here Kade is on the day of competition.  All smiles and ready to go!

Daddy and I are very proud of you, Kade.  

Quick Trip to Vegas

My sisters were in Las Vegas working a booth during the National Finals Rodeo and were kind enough to invite Clint and I out to stay with them.  We took off on a Wednesday night, stayed in Vegas Thursday, Friday, and flew home Saturday night.  It was nice to get away and spend time together.  It was cold and rainy in Vegas, though, and I ended up getting a bad cold Friday.  So, even though we were ready to get away, we were just as ready to get home!

The boys stayed with my mom at our house and didn't miss us one bit!  I think she was wore completely out when we returned.  Thanks for helping out though, Mom.

Here are a few pics from our adventure!

 The Christmas decorations in Las Vegas were over the top beautiful!  This is a clear glass ornament tree in front of The Venetian.  It was beautiful at night!

 I think this was inside The Venetian or Caesar's Palace.

Jelly Belly Statue of Liberty at New York, New York

M&M Store

Sunday, Papa Smurf and Skye

The Mirage water show

I think these last two were in The Miracle Mile shops (Planet Hollywood)

This is a chocolate and fondant Grinch.  He was about 6 ft. tall!