Baylor Homecoming

I am not a Baylor Bear, but I have a brother and 2 sisters that are alumni and a mom that works at the university, so I feel some connection to Baylor. This weekend was homecoming, so our family enjoyed the parade and the football game... although both were a little disappointing on some level. Parade: It moved SUPER SLOWLY this year, and waiting is not the virtue that 5 little kids, a few sleep-deprived parents, and a sick pregant lady exhibit early on a Saturday morning. Plus we were at the end of the parade route, so many of the floats were out of candy by the time they got to us. Game: Texas Tech - 38, Baylor - 7... Need I say more?!? But all in all, it was fun just to be together with my big ol' family.

Waiting for the parade to start



Coby, Adrielle, & Skyler watching the parade

Allie & Cooper looking at Joy the Baylor Bear


Allie saying "Sic Em Bears" at the game

Skyler & Cooper watching the band... they loved this part!

Jackson

Poppie's lap - one of Cooper's favorite places to be

The "A Cousins" - Allie & Asher

Allie took this picture of Cooper and me, and I LOVE it! It captures the moment perfectly. Allie seems to be very artistic and has a good eye for photography, and I am glad that she shares my passion.

Poppie's Football Game

Friday night Allie, Cooper, and I joined all of my Selke-family at my dad's football game in Waco while Corey & Jack were enjoying opening weekend of deer season at The Place. We had a great time, and the Stars won!

Cooper & Allie with the little football that Cooper caught

Beau and Asher watching the game

Allie Cat

Emmie with Claire & Skyler

The little ones enjoyed their own game of tackling Uncle Joe

Climbing the fence was one of Cooper & Skyler's favorite things to do at the game

At halftime the coaches and their wives were honored. In all 30-whatever years that my dad has been coaching, I don't ever remember this happening - although I think that it should have been done every year! The fact that my dad mows grass, picks up trash, and cleans bathrooms while making a minimal salary just so he can invest in the lives of a bunch of kids is amazing and honorable. And my mom!... She raised 4 kids practically alone much of our lives while my dad worked crazy hours and days. She has sat in the bleachers for 30-something years and gracefully endured people yelling at her husband - the one that was sacrificing time with his own kids to be with theirs. I was so glad that they were finally honored for what they have done for years simply becasue they love other people's kids.

Claire smelling Gibbie's flower

Asher had all that he could take... he fell asleep despite the cheering crowds.

The "I Heart Poppie" shirts return

Allie's Birthday - Waco Style

This past weekend was a great mixture of football games, birthday celebrations, a parade, deer hunting, shopping, and misc. family-time for our family. It was very busy and full, but it was really great. I took 311 pictures in 4 days... no I won't bore you with all of them... but since I am such a "picture person" (obviously!) that is how much of the story of our weekend wil be told.

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Allie started her Waco weekend with a shopping trip with my mom on Friday. She has not spent a ton of one-on-one time with her Gibbie, and she loved their day together which included lunch and shopping at three of her favorite store. On Saturday morning my parents had breakfast at their house for the family to celebrate Allie's birthday. One of my favorite things that my mom did to make the day special were the pictures of Allie from the last several years that she printed and strung up. It was fun to see how much my little girl has grown and changed in the last few years. After breakfast, we had cookie cake (Allie's favorite) and pudding (Allie's request in leu of ice cream), and she opened her gifts. She was thrilled with them all! Later that day, we played a party game... the put a name on your forehead and ask yes or no questions to try to figure out who you are game. It was fun. Allie won the game (She was Hannah Montana. No fair!), but I had a really hard time figuring out I was Santa Claus.

Allie & Gibbie before their shopping trip
Allie, Poppie, & Gibbie at her birthday breakfast

Cooper enjoying watermelon

Allie Cat with her birthday cake

Jack entertaining us with birthday candles in his ears... or "ear wax" as Allan called it. :)

Me and my girl
Playing party games

I'm Alive!

Someone was wondering if I was still alive or if she should send flowers... Well, you can send flowers, but I am indeed here. I have been out of town since Friday morning, and I just got home on Monday evening. It was a wonderful... *really, wonderful* few days. Most of my fun involved celebrating Allie and spending time with my family in Waco. I will post about all of it when I can... probably late tonight. Right now, I am "paying" for being out of pocket for the last two homeschool days, as we are cramming to get homework done before tomorrow when the kids go to school.

On another note, this time change thing is kicking my ever-lovin' derriere. I have been up at 6am both of the mornings since "falling back", and I have literally thought that it was 11 or 12 at night when it is 8 or 9 the last two nights. (Tonight already makes 3, by the way.) Oy!

Until the kids are tucked away... or tomorrow sometime.....

Fairy Beautiful!

Here are some pictures of my sweet niece Claire in her halloween costume. She is so pretty in pink! By the way, this week she has really started saying "MiMi" (my aunt-name), and I TRIPLE LOVE it when she does!



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Claire's costume came with this adoreable little headband. Needless to say, she is not a fan of it. :)

Brotherly Love

... or something like that.

Trick Or Treat - Part 2

Okay, I've had a nice night's rest now, and I am up for the continuation of my Trick Or Treat post...






The highlight of this year, I think, was going out candy-hunting with the neighbors. The boys in our cul-de-sac are really good friends, but we have never had a girl that Allie could play with on our street. Yesterday we got a great big surprise... we have new neighbors, and we met them just before we headed out to Trick Or Treat. They have a 7 year old boy and a 12 year old girl! I think that she and Allie will get along really well... this is something that we have been praying for for 11 years. Anyway, the new neighbors along with the old went door to door together, and we had a blast!

Neighborly Fun ~






Life Is Good! ~