Brenna's Very First Day of School

Brenna has embarked upon her journey of Education.  I can't believe that the time is already here.  She looked so grown-up with her back pack and lunch box marching through the hall to her classroom.

We Have a Pig Problem

When people ask me where I live, I usually say Houston.  More specifically, we live in suburban Houston.  In general, you wouldn't think that living in a large city like that would lend itself to much wildlife unless we went to the zoo!  But, we choose our neighborhood because of its natural setting; the wooded areas around it, the lakes, the creek that winds through the property.  Of course, this natural setting also comes along with nature's creatures.  We get regular visits from armadillos, raccoons, and snakes of all kinds.  My neighbor woke up one morning with a pot belly pig in his yard.  I've seen both deer and coyote by our house.  Once, I even watched a Texas Eagle snatch a squirrel from the tree I was standing under.

Recently though, they've cleared off the property beside us to start the next phase of our development.  This, coupled with the lack of rain and dry conditions, has sent all kinds of critters running around.  More specifically, its created a pig problem!

Over the last two weeks, our yard and our neighbors have been destroyed by feral hogs.  They roam through the neighborhood and on the creek trail reeking havoc.  We've been hit a least 4 times. Most of us will have to re-sod in the spring.   

Sausage Balls

My husband loves his mom's sausage balls.  I make them occasionally (meaning maybe once a year....), but their alot of work.  You have to blend the ground sausage into the bisquick, cheese, and seasoning.  I don't have a stand-up mixer, so I put my poor little hand held mixer through misery trying to pull through the pork.  It's wonder I haven't burned the motor out yet.  But, I'd much rather sacrifice a $30 mixer than exert the energy it took me to do it by hand the first time I made them years ago.  Then you have dozens of balls to roll out.  This just isn't my favorite dish by any means.

But, as a sentiment to Mississippi States first Game Day of the season, Brenna and I made Daddy sausage balls for his football snacking treat.  I have to admit, making sausage balls was alot more fun with Brenna, but she added at least another 45 minutes to the process because of all the cheese I had to clean-up from the kitchen floor. 

Brenna Applies Make-Up

All women know that the application of make-up is fine art.  Brenna's canvas was covered in art after her first attempt at putting on make-up by herself.  Of course of all the bright greens, blues, and purples that were in her case, she only wanted to apply pink in every shade.  She did at least hit the key areas of the eyes, cheeks, and lips!

Practice with John

A couple of weeks ago, Brenna and I got together with Shellie and John for a quick photo shoot / play date.  The kids love just walking down the creek trail collecting sticks and picking flowers.  I warned Shellie that I wanted to bring along my camera for some practice shots with John and she was nice enough to go along with it.  I like to practice with John because his light skin, blue eyes, and blond hair require a whole different skill to photograph and especially edit.  Needless to say, I get alot of practice on the other end of the spectrum.  Here's some of my favorite shots of John from the day.  He's such a cutie!

Just Another Walk in the Park

Splash Pad Fun

We got together with some friends for a church playdate at a local splash pad.  It was hot, but the water was cool and the kids were having a blast.  That is, until the sensor on the splash pad got over sensitized and shutdown all the water works after only about 30 minutes of play.  Great!  Now What!

We called out the repair guy and waited in the smoldering heat for the water to flow again.  In the meantime, our kids decided to entertain themselves by putting on a show.  They gathered up all the bowls and cups we had brought along as "water toys" and began beating and banging out a tune while they marched and sang "I Love the Lord"!