Trying to Make a Difference

For Christmas this year, our church (FMUMC) headed out to the Rocky Pointe community here in Flower Mound to cook and deliver a fajita dinner. I know...not a traditional Christmas meal but by this time isn't everyone tired of ham, turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, the ole family fruit cake, blah, blah, blah? I'm not a big fan in the first place so a fajita dinner would hit the spot!

We love doing things like this as a family and I hope that our kids understand and never forget how blessed they truly are.

So, here are a few pictures of the kids spreading a little bit of, what we hope is, Christmas joy!

And...I just noticed. I did get a picture of the Texas White Christmas of 2009. Look real close ...it's in background but it's there!

Christmas with the Keiser Cousins

We failed miserably when it came to taking pictures this year and I'm now kicking myself... and Erik and the rest of the Keiser's out there! We had my family in town, mother nature delivered a white Christmas for the first time since 192..something and NOTHING. Not one photo of the snow, of the great presents delivered by Santa, or of the bad hair we were all sporting Christmas morning....grrr.

All I've got is this fabulous picture of the Keiser cousins at church on Christmas Eve. So, for me, this one is PRICELESS!

Tate's first hunting experience....he LOVED it!

Yikes! Not growing up in a hunting family this is all new territory to me and makes me a bit nervous. Ok...it makes me REAL nervous! Guns, open land, early mornings, no sunlight, lots of fog, more guns and a bunch of camo....

I do have to be honest though.... There was one hunting experience that I remember as a kid where my brother headed out (oh he is going to kill me for this one!) to gather the food for the family. Let me remind you, we grew up "in the country" (if any of my current friends are reading - it's true I'm a country girl!) and behind our five acres there was a bird, game preserve (i think that's what it is called). As my brother and his friend headed out in my dad's pickup one day (it took them a while) they loaded up their guns, boom box, cooler full of snacks and lawn chairs. Remember...this is a true story! City slickers headed out on a hunt.... Now, my memory is fading quickly so I'm not sure what they returned with - if anything. Now do you understand my initial fear and concern (as the previous experience was my only point of reference to hunting) when Erik says he is taking my PRECIOUS (almost) 8 year old out to hunt.

Tate was so excited and had been requesting to go with Erik for some time. So, mom HAD to get on board and give the final "ok". This did not come without much prayer! Thank goodness for my husband and his brother and their reassurance that they would be extremely safe, although, as you can tell by one of the pictures, they did "lose" his shoes somewhere along the way. Guess a little frost bite never hurt anyone.....he doesn't need those toes! Oh, and check out my nephew's extremely "manly" (and warm!) Converse hunting shoes. Nice.... I was told that the shoe attire was not what they were actually allowed to hunt in. The bare feet and converse shoes were only in existence for this photo.

I do LOVE all these boys though and am extremely grateful that they have found something that they enjoy doing together. Now, if I could only get that little blonde girl in my house to love hunting too I'd be set for some quiet time! :>)

Note: In picture #1 and #2 below Tate was actually standing on ice. Not sure how that makes me feel but it is what it is. Supposedly, that's a sign of toughness in the world of hunting. Or so that's what they tell me....

Family (Kind of) Divided - Baylor vs. Texas

We have a bit of a conflict in our house when it comes to the Big 12 Conference. Erik and his family are DIE HARD University of Texas fans and I (for reasons other than athletics) chose to go to school at Baylor University. So, when it comes to sports we have a few problems and our kids are now having to choose (ha! "choose" - only in my dreams). Although I'd like to think that it's a decision, my kids at the ripe ages of 7 and 3 have chosen to be Longhorn fans. Poor Mom!

In spite of all of that and the fact that Texas' football team is ranked #3 in the nation this year (for now...it's not January yet!), we packed our bags and headed to Waco for the Baylor vs. Texas game. Tate joined us this year and kept telling everyone that he was going to cheer on both teams. He so loves his Mom because, believe me, this was only out of pure love and not due to his true feelings for the game/teams.

Upon arriving in Waco, we stopped at the Spirit Shop and purchased Tate a Bears jersey so that he could wear it along with his Longhorn eye black and helmet. Confusing, I know.... We headed to the pre-game festivities and he was a trooper still supporting that green and gold but with his blood starting to spill burnt orange. He contained his true feelings UNTIL the opening kickoff at which point both hands went straight up in the air as he proudly became the loudest, most obnoxious Longhorn fan with not only one hand displaying the hook 'em horns sign but TWO. He immediately looked at me and said "Sorry Mom!" How can you blame a kid when the score at half time is 40 to 0 Longhorns all the way. I will say, Baylor won the second half of the game 14 - 7 against the incoming Texas freshman (kidding...but Mack was playing the fourth string).

None of that mattered to me at all because I got to spend the day with my two favorite boys doing one of my favorite things....watching football on a gorgeous Texas day. The only thing that could have made that day any better would have been if Peyton could have been there. She's still a bit too young to make it through an entire game. And..., ok, a Baylor victory would be nice too but (to keep peace in the family) I'll wish for that during a season that doesn't have National Championship implications.

I'm already looking forward to next year's game when the Bears (with a healthy Robert Griffin) head into Austin to take on the Longhorns (and, hopefully, the 2010 National Champions). Good times ahead!

The family minus "Sister" (a.k.a. Peyton). We missed you P!

Aikman's End Zone - Love it!

One of Tate's friends landed himself in Children's Hospital after a fall that lacerated his kidney. He ended up being just fine - thank God - but we headed to the hospital for a little visit. The floor he was on is supported by the Troy Aikman Foundation and for any of you who know me at all you know I have a "thing" for Aikman (no offense Erik...i love YOU!). I was in heaven when I stepped off of the elevator and found myself in a sea of Aikman memorabilia. He and his things were everywhere. I used Tate as my excuse to get several pictures as I didn't think we'd get quite as many stares if he was part of the pictures. Tate finally got tired of my... "Hey Tate look at this....Tate did you see this jersey.....Tate just one more picture - please" and said quite sharply "Mom, let's go!" as he was on the elevator pushing the down button leaving with or without me.

So, if there are any other Aikman fans out there enjoy these few photos.

In all seriousness though, it was a pure joy seeing the works of a charitable foundation that obviously cares for people - especially children. I truly applaud their efforts!

Nothing Stands in the Way of a Cowboys Game

Tate and his Dad headed out this Sunday to watch the Cowboys play the Seattle Seahawks in spite of the fact that Tate didn't feel well. Come to find out, he was coming down with strep throat. Ok...before anyone calls CPS on us, you'll need to understand that there was no way that I could have convinced him that he needed to stay home. He's that big of a fan (crazed fanatic!) and with prices the way they are at "Jerry World" probably his only opportunity to go to the stadium this year.

He had a great time and the Cowboys had one of their better games. He did tell me that he couldn't have much to "snack on" at the stadium because it would have cost them thousands of dollars. I know you all think he was exaggerating a bit but let me reassure you he's not far off. Jerry Jones needs to understand his target audience and get prices back in line (oh wow...i just went down a little marketing tangent).

Any how, here's picture of the coolest (most handsome) Cowboys fan ever!


==> Pure excitement!











==>Check out that screen!

==> "Jerry World" is HUGE!

Two "HOT" Chicks

We get this question all of the time.... "Where did Peyton get that porcelain skin color from?" Well, it's really no mystery at all. It's in the Kemp genes!

Here's a picture of her and her Kiki (Erik's mom) so you tell me. Can't we all agree that's a portrait of two "HOT" chicks with beautiful skin?!?! :>)

And yes....one of the chicks could have used a good face cleaning prior to picture time but it's the best we could do. We had to work with what we had available.

Trick or Treat Texas Style

We had a great time trick or treating this year. Or, maybe I should say Erik and the kids did as I stayed behind (with Nannie, PawPaw, Kiki and Popi) to hand out candy and work the fog machine. Yes, I was given strict instructions on when to "push the button" since Erik's goal is to have one of the scariest porches in the neighborhood. Peyton was hilarious as she was in a dead sprint for the first 20 minutes and then "pooped out" prior to making it home. The three trick or treaters came home after about 45 minutes and Peyton was riding on her daddy's shoulders.

Thanks to Aunt Amy and cousin Katy Beth, Peyton was Minnie Mouse. And, I must say Berry girls sure do look cute in their Minnie Mouse attire. Thanks Aunt Amy and Katy Beth for letting us borrow the costume!

Tate was Colt McCoy...eye black and all! He had a great time playing the part and, of course, had to head home quickly to check out the real Colt McCoy as the Longhorns were playing the Oklahoma State Cowboys. Congrats to the Longhorns on their victory and to Tate for portraying such a fine athlete that evening.

Here Comes Halloween...Let's Decorate

Tate and Erik love Halloween and therefore decorating the front porch has been delegated to them. Each year it is so fun for me to get to see what they have come up with. This year, Peyton joined in the festivities and when I got home from a trip she was so excited for me to see their work. She greeted me in the garage before I could get out of the garage with "Surprise Mommy....it's so scary!" I loved it! The three of them make a great team.

What you can't see here is the strobe light and industrial strength fog machine that makes an appearance when all the trick or treaters appear.

Enjoy these pics of their labor of love....

FMUMC Campout - Beavers Bend State Park

Flower Mound United Methodist church headed to Beavers Bend State Park in Broken Bow, Oklahoma for its first annual family campout. We loaded up the kids and headed for a weekend of outdoor activities and had an absolute blast. The weather was a bit "damp" but that didn't stop us. We ended up taking some nice hikes, going horseback riding (the first time ever for Tate and Peyton), and hanging out with many of our friends just enjoying each other's company. Each evening was concluded with a campfire and smores! We are all looking forward to heading back to Oklahoma next year over the Columbus Day holiday weekend.

Pictured above (from left to right): Jackson, Tate, Peyton, Katy Beth and Mallory

***Click below for our entire photo album from the weekend.***

http://tinyurl.com/yj2dbj3