Alyssa'a first date

Yes, Alyssa had a date last night! She was asked on this special date last week and has been excited every since. Monday evening she and I went dress shopping, since no girl can go out without a new dress. Oh what fun we had. We went to the big city store (J.C. Penny's) and started the hunt. We tried on dress after dress and each one she wanted to think about. None of the dresses were a no. They all went on the maybe list! Of course when it came to picking them out she was very mindful of what Dad would approve of. No spaghetti straps and nothing too short. So the perfect dress emerges, but still she's not sure. So we do the enie-menie-miny-moe thing to help decide! I kept telling her to pick her favorite, so now we have 2 on the list. She picked the one she thought her dad would like the best, which was my favorite too! All week she has been so excited she could hardly contain herself. Is the day here? Time yet?? So yesterday she gets home and I tell her jump in the bath your big day is here!
Our Friend Ms. Kelly came over to help with the "gettin' purdy" process. Kelly and I tried to do something with her hair for almost an hour! We finally picked a style and tried to make it stay. Kelly made Alyssa feel super special by applying just the right amount of make-up. Alyssa felt sooo special. She knew this was big, make-up and a special hair style! Oh, what a day!
And the hair spray! We all needed gas masks! All this to look pretty! I forgot what a chore it is for a girl to get all dressed up to go out! Maybe that's why I don't do it any more! But she got beautiful! And then got dressed!
I almost wanted to cry! It's like prom! She was all dressed up and ready and looking like such a big girl not a seven year old. Her excitement was just...oh you could feel it, how excited and nervous she was.
I know I'm partial an all, but, really, have you ever seen a more beautiful girl in all your life??? There is just not a girl more beautiful on this earth (her mom comes in a close second!).

And her date was there and ready! You didn't know this was her date?? I didn't tell you it was her Dad that asked her out?? Oh, shame on me! I thought I told you she had a special dinner date with her dad to go to his company Christmas party at River Oaks Country Club. Sorry! Guess you assumed we had lost our minds letting a 7 year old go on a date with a boy! Well, part of our sanity is intact because she and her dad have an understanding! He is the only one she can go out with until she's somewhere in her LATE 30's! And for now she doesn't complain about that. Boys are still kinda gross and that's cool with me!

From the little I got this morning, they both had a great time last night. They didn't get home until after 11pm. ON A SCHOOL NIGHT! So this morning was difficult! But they had fun and that's all that matters!

Moody Garden's

Ok, so it's been awhile since I last updated, but I have an excuse, a real good excuse! I have three kids! Ha! So there! Beat that one! We have been keeping up with the usual schedule of karate, scouts, and life, and in between all that I have been fighting a cold. Well, Ashlyn had the cold and gave it to me and apparently it liked her alot more than it likes me. While she's running around and getting into things I can barely move. I think I may be on the downside of it though and hopefully I will be getting better by the end of the week!

Last weekend I decided to take the kids to Moody Garden's. My friend Shawna and I loaded up and went (after a long day of girl scouts and birthday parties!) .

We did most of the park. Spongebob was a big hit. Both here and at the festival of lights. They were so excited to hug and talk to him (or her, Austin swears he saw a face through the eye of spongebob!) Do you notice Alyssa's hair? Yes I straightened it! (Took an HOUR!!!) But that is how she wanted it. Good thing I only agree to it once a month or so!!Then We went to the aquarium. This is by far their favorite part. They get to touch and watch real ocean creatures at play. This trip they even got to smell them! UUGGHHHH! It was very fishy smelling but I think that is because of the renovations from Ike.The seals are a favorite!


Touching sea urchins and star fish. Alyssa was pretty creeped out but she did it after 10 minutes of grossing out but the boys jumped right in!Then we went in this huge room that was all glass and the fish and sharks and sea turtles swam all around you. LOVED IT! This is john and the sea turtle!

The kids were so excited. Unfortunately I have to give a shorter version of what happened here on this blog, but to put it in a short story, Mom had too many things in her hands to take a lot of pictures but the ones I got I love and I am sad about the ones I didn't. Galveston is still showing signs of Ike, with huge sail boats on the side of the road and houses barely standing. This said, after seeing the news immediately afterwards and knowing what it did look like I'm sure this is a great improvement. Anyone that knows me knows I love the beach, even Galveston with the icky water and sometimes stinky smells, but all the landmarks I remember are mostly gone or under construction. It's sad really. The ferry is still there, but don't act like your lost because then you have to go through a line where they check your car to make sure you are no threat to national security. How do I know?? I asked to many questions! Bolivar is run on generator and at the end of the ferry landing is just a line of busted up cars that Ike so thoughtfully detailed but left in undrivable conditions. The ferry ride at 11 at night was nice though and was a great end to or night. It was relaxing (except for the screams from the back of the truck about our ferry sinking, and being sea sick, and vampires and ..well, if you know my kids you can imagine the rest of the idea's that their little brains thought up!) All this said I really enjoyed the trip and I think the kids did too and and I hope we can go back before the end of the holidays!