We're Going On a Bear Hunt...I Think

I'm actually unsure of where he's going - but he knows! Cannon came home from school last week very proud of what he'd done in his art center. I was impressed! He said he'd stayed in the art center the entire time (meaning I guess they can usually choose to spend their time in two or three stations) and this is what he created.

I'm a "lister" for sure, and there's no doubt she's picked up on this - but he's definitely taken after his daddy when it comes to being detailed oriented. Again, I'm not sure where he's going but he's not forgetting a thing!

He's taking food, clothes (notice the underwear), a bear, and a pillow. He's taking a blanket, a friend, a backpack, a movie and a parent. Not sure who the lucky parent is - but I hope it's me!!!

My best guess is we're going camping - which in my opinion would be a dream! Camping is one of my all time favorite things to do, but something we don't get to do....well, ever!

I love watching Cannon discover things he loves to do. Watching him focused and spending so much time on any one activity that he chooses truly intrigues me.

He's always loved to draw and create - but he's also specifically been this focused on baseball, army men for hours (literally) on the kitchen table, Swamp People, and reading his little book bag books, bed time books and library books.

So far, he's really a well rounded little guy!

Red Sox

From the Longhorns flag football, to the T-Birds soccer, to the 'Lil Dirty Dawg basketball...we've now joined the Red Sox coach pitch baseball team. Dad was super excited about picking out his practice gear and we hit the jack pot at Dick's with a big sale for his game gear.

We had our first practice last night - and I have to say that next to football, baseball might be my favorite thing to watch him play. He was super excited! Super focused! And super intense!

I didn't have my big lens, so this is as good as it gets for his turn at bat. You can see daddy in the background helping coach. I was probably most impressed with his catches and how quickly he sent the ball off to help get the runner out! Last night he played the pitcher's mound and as soon as Coach Harpole pitched and the ball was hit, he was right after it scooping it up!

Most of the same boys we've played football and basketball with are on our team as well as the same coaches. It's going to be a super fun first season!

PS: Notice the Baylor cap? Lance took him to Lids in the mall several weeks ago and let him pick out any baseball cap he wanted. We have nothing Baylor in or around our home - so we're not sure what he liked about it - but that's the one he picked!

My Little Dribbler

From football to basketball, we played with almost all of the same players. In football we were the Longhorns, but for basketball? Coach Harpole coaches his older son's team as well, and they have been the Dirty Dawgs for a few years. Therefore, coaching his younger son's team only left but one name for us......the 'Lil Dirty Dawgs. I love it!

We finished our season last Friday night with ? wins and 1 loss. I can't even remember now how many games we played but we were in season for at least 7-8 weeks. There seemed to be so much less pressure in basketball than football. It was a crack up watching these little guys get the ball up and down the court. But I will say....they improved tremendously! Cannon acquired his first dose of court sense, he learned a few plays, and (in my opinion) became an expert in defense!!! That kid had no problem stripping the ball away from his opponent. I was most impressed with his ability to anticipate and pass and then intercept it and dribble down the court. So fun -

We picked up soccer last week, but missed the first game today due to a rain out. He doesn't seem as interested in soccer as other stuff, but he still enjoys it. We play soccer with a kid on our basketball and football team, but the rest of the players are other Prosper kids.

Coach pitch begins this week with his first practice Wednesday. I'm really excited about watching his first season of baseball as we geared up with all the appropriate equipment this morning. It's going to be a busy and fun spring!

I know Lance enjoys coaching Cannon, but he does a wonderful job with the other kiddos, too. They respond well to him and he does "keep them in line" but he always jokes around and plays with them.

Love my boys and I've loved watching them this year. I'm super excited about watching a girl do all this...even if she is wearing a pink bow when she runs down the court! :-)

Let's Go to Granbury, Girls!

This is probably where we should have stayed for our girls weekend - if nothing else, simply for the name. I think it was built for us!

Shopping was our main squeeze last weekend as I met up with my two favorite childhood girls for our annual weekend together. Instead of owning every cute thing I saw, I decided to photograph most of it!

Growing up 90 miles from the border, we mange to find it everywhere we go. The waitresses at Ayala's, a yummy little Mexican restaurant in Granbury, thought we were having too much fun laughing together to let us leave without trying on their sombreros for a photo session. I think the back of my hat must have been sat on, or used as a taco at some point. It was squished!

We found a wonderful steak house there as well.

And this was our cutesy little bed and breakfast - The Pomegranate House! And yes, we had pomegranate juice for breakfast.

...just some more cute things we found while shopping.

Our weekend was shorter (for me) than usual, but the time was still valued. Katie and Beth will always be the girls that know everything about me and they will always be the friends that no matter how much time is between us, we pick up right where we left off. No matter our differences, the love and respect we developed for each other will never diminish. I love those girls.

What Made This Sunday Super?

I had a really good night's sleep. Little to no pain in my hands and arms.

Cannon woke up and turned on his own TV and laid in his bed so we could sleep a little while longer.

Daddy had donuts picked up and delivered by the time I got out of the shower.

We got to church early!

Cannon was the first kid in his class so we got to hang out and visit with his teacher for a minute.

Lance and I had some brief, honest conversations prior to the service...and then Pastor Graham actually commented on exactly what we'd discussed in those particular conversations. One of those God wink/warm your heart moments.

After church we visited, for a while, with a couple we've been acquainted with but not necessarily spent a lot of time talking to. And guess what? Following the conversation it looks like we're going to try their small group class on Sunday mornings at 9:15. If you know anything about our involvement in church, you know this a step I've prayed about for quite some time.

After a quick stop for groceries, we came home and Lance grilled steaks while I got a week's worth of cooking accomplished! I've got fresh cooked green beans, pinto beans, and carrots...I've got sliced strawberries, celery, and cucumbers ready to go as well. And not to leave out any sweets, I whipped up a batch of cupcakes complete with sprinkles. No way any of this would have gotten done had my parents not come this week and my mom finish every load of laundry I had backed up!

When the cooking was complete we played a little back yard baseball until our future Ranger hit every ball over the neighbor's fence in to that neighbor's, neighbor's yard! With our last ball, Cannon worked on his catching skills while bouncing on the trampoline trying to catch every throw Lance lobbed over the trampoline net. He especially loved all the diving from one side of the trampoline to the other.

Husband vacuumed the house and emptied the dishwasher. :-)

I got 5 sets of papers graded and recorded.

We caught Cannon singing in the shower and recorded it. He sang "Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelu, Hallelujah......praise ye the Lord!" I'm sure he picked this up at church this morning. Love that kid.

We caught a couple episodes of My Redneck Vacation and Undercover Boss and now we're settling down for another good night's sleep.

The icing on my cupcake-kind-of-day? Sitting in my big green fluffy chair watching my belly dance. Lady Bug Leighton is a busy little girl.

Praise God for our super Sunday!

Farming Ants

I have always thought ant farms were fascinating and having a little boy gave me all the more reason to get one. Lance wanted no part of the project as his cautious self could only envision the ants someday escaping their farm and taking over our home. Since we usually have planned gifts we get Cannon for Christmas and then while shopping we usually each get him something of our own choice (no questions asked), I decided this was the year my personal gift would be an ant farm!

I picked up this gel all-inclusive ant farm at Toys 'R Us for Christmas, but we had to order the harvest ants on line. They finally came in the mail this week! 25-30 huge red ants came in this little vile. After reading the instructions - carefully - we read that we needed to refrigerate the little crazies before taking their lid off. The refrigeration was supposed to settle them down so we could have an easy transfer from the vile to the gel farm.

This cool poster came with our supplies! Cannon was oh so hopeful we'd hang it in the kitchen next to the plant and the ants but, ahem, no.....it wasn't going to hang in our kitchen by the table. Nice try. He settled for letting the poster sit next to the farm in case we needed to reference something.

He was really quite excited and fascinated about the idea of having them in our house; hence the silly grin.

I like the fact that once the lid is on, it's on! The gel provides all the moisture and nutrients they need. We pre-dug the three tunnels you see. Their job (after they get settled in to their new home) is to continue digging, building and "working" as they would in a normal habitat!

Updates and death toll to come. I'm sure they won't all survive. My question is - what do the live ones do with the dead ones???

Hello Heaven

I imagine as soon as you met Jesus this morning, our family was there to greet you. I imagine your mother, Granny Annie, was particularly happy to wrap her arms around you and squeeze.

(Thanksgiving 2010 Don and Ewell Sessom)

These pictures do not at all capture how I will remember you. You were strong, fiesty, and quite witty - like Gus from Lonesome Dove (as I often told you).

(Thanksgiving 2010, Uncle Ewell, Aunt Cecelia, and Cannon)

Being close to 15 years older than my dad, and me not ever knowing my grandfather (you and my dad's dad) - I always looked to you as a grandfather figure. Christmas time - well, anytime - at your big house in Brady has always provided happy memories.

(Thanksgiving 2009, Ewell and Ceclia, showing his "Sessom" grin)

You are the only family member I've watched age, and now lost - and you are the one family member I've spent the most time with throughout my 34 years. I'll miss you and will always wish I'd known you longer - especially when you were younger. To me, you'll always be Gus.

(Thanksgiving 2009, Uncle Ewell, dad, and Cannon)