Santa Yes, Baby Jesus Not so Sure

When DD and Mary took Cadie and Jack Ranger to see Santa at the SMU Pi Phi House, they reported that Jack Ranger ran right up to Santa like they were best friends! However, at Sunday School Jack Ranger did not want his picture taken with the baby Jesus. Not even when they bribed him with Lovey Dog AND a cracker!

Never Too Young for Star Wars

May the force be with you! Thursday night after the Thanksgiving feast wrapped up, we had Star Wars night. Mary had gotten us Darth Vader masks and blow-up light sabers earlier in the week and Thursday night we ran around having saber fights and then watched Star Wars Episode 1. Jack Ranger especially likes his mask and has been wearing it for the last 24 hours. Not sure what the folks at Outback Steak House thought tonight of the mini-Vader, but he thought it was great.

Happy Thanksgiving

We hosted Thanksgiving at our house this year and it was a wonderful day. We basically just provided the venue and drinks (and also brownies made by Mary) and everyone else came with delicious food. The weather was perfect - sunny and in the 70s - and most of the event was outside while the kids played and the adults ate and talked. We still have constructions projects going on at our house, but it wasn't too disruptive to the party.

We ended up with 23 adults and 4 kids, but there was way more than enough food and everyone went home with loaded leftover containers. It was a treat to be able to host and it made it so much easier so the JR could nap when he got tired and I could sit and talk and didn't have to worry about the kids breaking anything or hurting themselves in an unfamiliar environment.

After dinner the boys walked up to Hillcrest High School and played football. We all mingled, watched football and let the kids run around.

Cadie and Jack Ranger helped decorate with craft make at school and also with Mary.

Playing outside with new friends Thomas and Petey.

Aunt Winky was in town from California! We were so happy to see her.

Cadie colored bricks as party favors for our guests.

Uncle Ace told Cadie that Uncle Stew knew the way to Willie Wonka's Chocolate Factory. She followed him around quite a lot trying to get him to tell her the way.

Our first family picture in a LONG time.

Just as everyone was leaving it started to sprinkle and then we got a beautiful full rainbow. An awesome reminder on Thanksgiving of God's promises.

Lake with the Coffman Family

Cadie, Jack Ranger and I headed down to the Coffman's Lake House on Saturday morning for a little fun and catching up with friends. The lake is near Thornton, TX on the way to Houston and it took just over 2 hours to get there. It was a really easy drive and I was excited to catch up with Lindsey. She and I have been very close friends since college and we were overdue a visit!

The lake was down which was great for us because that left a sandy beach with lots of shells, sticks, rocks and interesting things to explore. It was too cold to swim, but that didn't stop the kids. We mostly played outside, then ate delicious pork chops made by Sally, the kids watched Toy Story 3 and then crashed. Sunday morning we played more outside and then hit the rode to come back home. It was so nice of Jim and Sally to open up their home to us and we plan to invite ourselves back :)

The kids and the dogs loved playing together on the beach.

Cadie and Nut teaming up to dig a hole.

After the kids were soaked they thought it was a fun game to give Christopher, Sally and Lindsey wet, sandy hugs. 

Jim was great with Ranger and they had a good time exploring the beach, playing ball and pushing around buses.

Happy Halloween

We had a fun time starting out the evening at the HPPC Fall Festival. We played a few games, but mostly the kids liked the bounce houses. Jack Ranger wanted me to carry him to the top of the slides and my legs are sore today! After the festival we did trick or treating at a few houses on the walk back to DD and Big John's house (they live only a few houses down from the church). When we got to their house the kids were having fun passing out candy, but it felt like they were eating just as much candy as they were passing out. So we left and dropped by a Sunday School party at the house of some friends. We stayed a few minutes and then came back home and tried to wrangle the kids into bed, which was difficult with all the sugar and excitement.

Cutest railroad conductor ever! Of course, Lovey Dog enjoyed the evening as well.

Cadie and Callie were playing dress up at our house recently and Callie didn't want to take off her dress when it was time to go home. So Cadie said she could have it - so sweet. And Callie wore it for Halloween too!

JR, Callie, Cadie and Little Josh (LJ)

The sugar rush begins...

A girl can only take so much sugar and bouncing before she needs some Daddy cuddles.

Cadence Scofield 3K Class Pictures

Cadie had her school pictures recently. Her class picture turned out ok, but her individual picture is a little crazy. We decided not to order prints, but here is a scan of the proof. Dad took her to school on the Wednesday of pictures to make sure she was included in the class photo even though her school days are Tuesday and Thursday. Cadie is adorable, but pictures just aren't her thing.

This is a little story about the 3K class that was in the Scofield newsletter recently. Cadie is front and center and she said she played the role of Goldie Locks. It is funny because they are supposed to keep "air bubbles" in their mouths when they are in the hall (so they keep quiet) and you can see Cadie has her air bubble in her mouth.

Jack Ranger is 2!

He is 2 today! He is simply the most charming little man ever. Everyone who meets him loves him - and I am at the top of that list!

Little Jack Ranger loves cars, especially Tow Mater and McQueen, is crazy about his lovey dog, still sleeps like a champ and is happy pretty much most of the time. He is moving into toddlerhood, but is also still a baby. He sleeps in his crib in footie jammies, wants to have his lovey dog all the time, needs lots of cuddles and has zero interest in potty training. However, he plays very well independently, eats at the table in a big chair (not a high chair) and is super adventurous and isn't afraid to climb by himself to the top of every playset.

While we were at Disney Jack Ranger spent time in Kansas City with my parents and family. He slept in a crib in my parents closet and my Dad called me yesterday and said he was already missing listening for JR to wake up from his nap and yell "Papa, Papa!"

I feel blessed every day to be his Mom. I pray for him to keep his sweet, innocent, adventurous spirit and to grow in love for Jesus and in character.

Disney: Dav 4 Hollywood Studios

We spent our final day at Disney's Hollywood Studios. After our late night at Magic Kingdom we planned to sleep in, but Cadie was up just after 8am so no extra shuteye! We started out the day at a character breakfast at the Grand Floridian. We orginally had reservations at another restaurant, but we have enjoyed the character meals so much that Grant changed our reservations on Saturday night so we could squeeze in one more.

At Hollywood Studios we saw the Voyage of the Little Mermaid show, Beauty and the Beast show, Star Tours (for the 2nd time), played at the Honey I Shrunk the Kids playground and rode the Tower of Terror! We were all hot and tired so we came back to the room and Grant rested while Cadie and I went to the pool. We had dinner at our hotel, Disney's Caribbean Beach Resort, and then Cadie and Grant went back for Round 2 at the Studios. It is 11pm and Cadie and Grant are still at Hollywood Studios right now while I relax a little bit in the room. I am starting to feel more rested and might join them shortly if they are still going strong.

We enjoyed meeting Tigger again!

We love Mary Poppins!

We all enjoyed Star Tours and rode it multiple times.

After 4 days of asking, Cadie finally got her face painted!

Love those blue eyes!

She did ride the Tower of Terror and she liked it!