Grapefest 2010

Angela, Grayson, Jonathan and I went to Grapefest for the first time and we had such a good time!!! I have been wanting to go for a while and a friend told me that it was kid friendly, and I saw that it is free admission during the day, so we decided to give it a try. (By the way - Grapefest is an annual event in Grapevine, TX that is usually to sample the local wine; since there are a lot of vinyards in the area. But during the day time, it was kid friendly, I am sure that night time is a different story.)
Jonathan loved it so much, that he continued to talk about it for at least 4 days afterward. Which, by the way, is a first for him. He would say..."Grayson, Bear, Big Truck, Horsey, Barn, Cow..." it was SOOOO cute! And I got pictures of all the things he was talking about...



Looking down the street at all the tents.



We are in the petting zoo with all sorts of neat animals, but he has spotted a BIG TRUCK ride. He loves big trucks, it's pretty much all he talks about. :) 



Jonathan, Grayson and Angela with some goats!



KANGAROO!





The kid's play area was so neat. They had a big sand box, tricycles, a coloring area and the petting zoo. They really thought about everything.




THE BIG TRUCK! He was so happy!




The Big Bear Ride!



The Barn! We didn't get to see the show, but Jonathan was sure that there was a cow back there!



Riding the horsey! It was a bit toasty out there that day, I got a little hot! And as you can tell both boys have red cheeks too! :) But we will do it again next year! So much fun!



Semi Kitchen Remodel

Michael and I moved into our home 4 years ago...and the day that we bought it, we decided that we would replace the counter tops and back splash! Well, that day has finally come!
But you have to understand, the house was built in 1972 and the kitchen has remained pretty much untouched all this time. Cream, Green and Gold Swirl Laminate Counter tops and Back Splash. Harvest Gold Appliances!!!!! Yuck, Yuck, Yuck!
Over the past 4 years, we have purchased a new appliance every year. Dad got us started and as a house warming gift, he got us our refrigerator! Then we bought our beautiful double oven. Then our glass cook top, which I don't like, but it would have been much more $$$ to get a gas cook top! Our vent hood and finally our dishwasher...all stainless steel and beautiful!
So back in July, Michael and I went shopping around and decided to go with Lowe's for our new granite counter tops. (We got a really, really good deal!) But, sometimes you get the service you pay for! I'm happy with the final product, but working with them was frustrating.
We hired an independent contractor to install the tile back splash and I highly recommend him, if anyone needs a tile guy! We did cream colored tumbled travertine as the main tile and then we had an inset added above the sink and cook top of marble, glass and travertine.
Special Thank you to my super handy husband, Michael...he uninstalled the vent hood and cook top, then reinstalled them back in. He installed the new faucet and all the stuff under the sink. He installed all new outlets to black and new outlet covers to stainless steel. He installed the new light over the sink! And on, and on! Thank you Michael! :)

This pic is before the house was even ours (the MLS photos) note the Harvest Green oven!

This is the day before the new counter tops arrived!!



After! YEAH!!!



Before



After...much better...yes?



Before



After!

Before the house was ours...yucky Harvest Gold!



The day before the new counter tops...and I forgot to take an 'after' pic from this angle...but I think you get it! :)

Pool Party with the O'Brien's and Cole's

A couple of weeks ago, Jonathan and I went to join the O'Brien's (Jim, Holly, Joe, Leanna and Owen) and the Cole's (Sarah and Adrian) for a pizza and pool party. We had so much fun, as usual!
Here are some great pictures of that evening!

The Boy's getting to know each other (Baby Owen and Jonathan). 





Uncle Jim and Jonathan always disappear upstairs to play games! SO cute!

Owen, Jonathan and Jim.

Giving kisses to Owen!

Giving Owen big hugs! Poor Owen, I don't think he knows what to do with lovable Jonathan! :) 





Aunt Sarah got Owen to sleep!



Dallas Zoo

A few weeks ago Jonathan and I joined my good friend Angela and her son Grayson at the Dallas Zoo. And I just have to say...WOW! I haven't been to the Dallas Zoo in like 20 years and Wow has it changed! I have always heard the FW was better so I have just stuck to going there...but I think that has all changed now! :) Jonathan and I both had such a good time and we can't wait to go back! I highly recommend to anyone, especially if you have kids!
Angela has a season pass so she and Grayson had already been there many times and knew all the fun things to do! What I loved most about it was the kid's petting zoo!

Just arriving!



"Look Momma WISHES!"

  



"Look Momma, Goats!"

Jonathan and Grayson, practicing for the real thing...



PONY RIDE! He loved it!







Grayson, Angela and the PONY!



Petting the Turtle!





They had a large water fountain in the middle of the petting zoo for all the kids to get in. Angela suggested we bring our bathing suites and he had a blast!



Angela and Grayson down the way



Sweet Boys!



Riding our second pony of the day! Spoiled!

Back to School

Jonathan started back to school last week! He goes a couple of days a week for 5 hours each day and he loves it! He really likes to interact with the other kids. He loves chapel, which they do once a week, they sing songs and hear a story. They have music and crafts times too...he loves it all! I'm glad we could get him in a program that he loves so much! 
He started going mid-semester (January) earlier this year. Then we broke for the summer and now he is back in a new class with new teachers! He is doing great with the new changes too. I really, really like his teachers too! They are so complimentary of him, so obviously, that makes me so happy! Today one of the teachers asked me if he ever stopped smiling! :)

First Day of School pic...not quite awake yet. He was throwing a bit of a fit right before this picture because he needed his favorite stuffed animals, "CoCo and Doggie" he also insisted on carrying "BackBack" also known as backpack.  



He didn't cry when I dropped him off...he saw trucks and he forgot all about dear old mom!



This year he has 5 boys and 5 girls in his class which I think is really good mix. He gets along great with all the boys, they are so cute! 



Happy Birthday Scarlet

Scarlet turned one years old this week! I honestly can't believe it has been a year! The little sweetheart was an excellent hostess and we all had tons of fun. I was camera happy at the party, I took 300 pics, so here are a few that I liked best! 

Her actual Birthday was 9/7, but they decided to have the party on the 11th. I know if Dad where here, he would have loved to have shared his Birthday with her! :)

There was about 60 people there, I would say about half kids and half adults! A great turn out for her first big bash! Amy and Waylen did such a good job preparing everything and the food was so good! Hot Dogs and Hamburgers! And Cindy and Krista made great sides! Thank you!

Cupcakes!

Birthday Girl in her party dress! She is such a big walker now!

The watercolor that Mom painted for Scarlet's room.

6' Bear that Cindy and Wade got for Scarlet!

Scarlet's room

Scarlet's room

The kiddos taking over!

Amy and Waylen rented a bounce house for the party. All the kids loved it! It was Jonathan's first time in one and he loved it! 

Finally started jumping

 

Scarlet's special cake!

The hand is making it's move to grab the flame. (Amy blew it out before she got it!)

Maybe I'll just have a taste...

Yes...I think I like this! :)

She did pretty good!

Contemplating calling it quits!

The proud parents and the birthday queen.

I turned around to check on my boys and find Jonathan eating the icing off a cupcake that Michael is holding. Note Jonathan's nasty fingers...yuck!

I guess he didn't realize that getting icing all over your face is just the birthday thing. 

Scarlet and Jonathan down center to help inspect all the new toys! She got so many cool new toys!

I thought it was funny how all the little girls came to help open the presents! Amy had a crown making station, so all the little girls could make their own crowns!

Amy really liked this present! :)

Yummy cookies that Amy's nanny made! (they were also the party favors)