Washington DC & Halloween

This was a busy week, Washington DC for a few days with the family, and then Halloween. Phin had a great time touring our nation's capital.

Superman on a horse on UT game day with pride

Last weekend at "Camp Taffy"

When Mia was in town

The Weekender

At the park on a beautiful Sunday morning...I can tell that Fall is just around the corner!

The "stink eye" at the Bob Bullock Texas History Museum.

Phin turns 4!

Another year has flown by! Phin turns 4 tomorrow, we had a very small little party with a Superman cake, Phin's new alter-ego is the Man of Steel...

Pride Sox

Wet and Wild

At the splash park with his school buddies...Phin, Baz, Ian, and Doobie (names like that, they sounds like the next big punk band!)

Rockin

Sk8 Party

Mia's 7th birthday party was at the skating ring I went to as a kid, so it was a lot of fun! Phin skated for the first time, he actually enjoyed it (Even though this picture doesn't look like it, they had a great time!)

Kodachrome

Texas Spring Time

The wildflowers are amazing this year, so much rain, makes for a lot of weeds and a lot of flowers, great photos though! We stumbled upon these bluebonnets today while at a park, and decided to take the obligatory Texan bluebonnet photos...

Bathtub Confidential

Troy teaching Phin personal hygiene during bathtime tonight:
Troy, "Phin, wash your penis, or it will rot and fall off."
Phin, "Then I will have 2 bottoms?"

Austin City Limits

Today Phin and I went to UT for the annual "Explore UT" event, at the Communications building, where Austin City Limits is filmed (at least for now until it moves downtown) Phin got to grace the stage where so many great singers have performed. Watch out Willie!
He was also dazzled with Ms. Rosa from his favorite morning ritual of PBS Kids, she read a story to the kids, and he was in awe!

Phin Photos

SNOW

Blueberry eyes and a baby carrot nose, it's a mini-snowman!

It actually snowed in Austin today, a rare sight indeed. The kids at school today were nuts, they acted like it was the Friday before spring break...on a Tuesday.
It was nice, not enough to stick for long, but a nice sight.

Snuggles

Snuggles, both the name of Phin's stuffed dog that he can't sleep without, and the way he has been with us lately. He wakes up and says, "Mom I love you!", and gives me big hugs, I love it! This morning I said, "I love you too snuggle bug.", and Phin corrects me, "Mom...I'm not a snuggle bug, I'm Phin!" Cute.

Beautiful Day to Fly a Kite

Today we went to the park and flew kites. It was like a spring day, in the middle of winter, a nice breezy 68 degrees in the sun.

Reflections on the year

To say this year has flown by would be an understatement! Work, Phin, Troy, House, myself, all take up so much time that the time just flies right by! I cannot believe another year has past. Phin is 3 years and 4 months old right now, one of the things he has perfected this year: prolonging bedtime! He is a master at finding anything and everything that he needs at the very moment he is supposed to stay in bed. "Mommy I'm thirsty, Dad I can't see, Mom I don't feel good...." He is already becoming a master manipulator. Troy is still only working contract work, nothing full time yet, but we can't complain, it's a paycheck! I am enjoying my work too, and I have been doing extra lately as well. I have applied to graduate school, still waiting to hear back from one to make my decision on where to go, but I will start in the summer or the fall. I have been talking about it for a while now, and no time like the present right? Work has taken me different places this year. In April I went to Atlanta for a college tour, in July to Boston for a conference, in October I went to both New York City and Portland, also for conferences. Today, Troy and I enjoyed our last day of 2009 together. We went to eat at a great Mexican place here in town, shopped around, even though we did not buy anything. We also took advantage of the free admission to the Blanton Art Museum at UT. Phin played with his friends at school while we were out and about today. Tomorrow will be a new day and a new year. I am so grateful we have our health and wonderful friends and family to share it with.

Hiking on a cool December morning

5 miles from our house is this beautiful hiking trail, the weather was perfect today for a nice walk. Phin loved the hike, his imagination went wild as we strolled though the woods and next to the river, it was so much fun.

Thanksgiving 2009

We went to the "country" for Thanksgiving, my Mom and Neal were there. It was a nice visit and beautiful weather. Phin got a real cowboy hat and a stick pony from "Dee-Maw" and Pop, they will break that city boy if it's the last thing they do!
1st attempt at a sweet family photo...