Cool!!

The other night Ricky was checking his traps close to the house and he had TWO bobcats in the same spot!! It was a nice surprise!!!

Lights Galore!

Every year in Llano there is a trail of lights in the city park and we have made it "tradition" to take the kids there. My parents, Aunt Joni, and Kristi went along with us and we had a great time with the kids. They have lots of neat things to do there! First we walked through the lighted arches to see all the lighted displays. Each lighted display represents a group or is dedicated in memory of someone who has passed away. There is a special one in memory of my cousin, Tanner, who was killed in a wreck in 1999. He was special to all of us and I know the kids would have loved him. Kalyn and Kristi enjoyed spinning around under the big lighted tree in the park. Sheldon just enjoyed riding on Granden's shoulders! At the end of our stroll we got in line to talk with Santa. Sheldon didn't like him too much last year, but did GREAT this time...both kids sat on his lap and told them what they want for Christmas. I love the picture we got with Santa! Right before we left the park the kids roasted marshmallows with Aunt Joni and Kristi...yum!! There was also a man-made snow slope with kids riding down on tubes. We didn't get a chance to try it out...maybe next year!!

Kalyn and Sheldon ready for the stroll

Sheldon on Granden's shoulders

Kalyn and Kristi spinning around under tree

Kristi, Sheldon, and Kalyn with Tanner's display (Tanner is Kristi's brother)

Kalyn and Sheldon with Santa (no tears this year!!!)

Sheldon on RudolphKalyn on Rudolph

Kalyn and Kristi roasting marshmallows (Aunt Joni and mom chatting on side)

Sheldon enjoying his marshmallow

Tagged!

Guess I better join the club...here are my "Crazy 8s"

8 Shows I Watch: (when I actually watch TV...rarely!)
1. Days of Our Lives
2. HGTV
3. Food Network
4. Dancing with the Stars
5. The Bachelor/Bachelorette
6. Hannah Montana (with Kalyn)
7. whatever Sheldon is watching in the morning (cartoons)
8. News (to see what the weather forecast is)

8 Favorite Restaurants:
1. Granny's
2. Taco Cabana
3. Olive Garden
4. Saltgrass
5. Schlotzsky's
6. Salsalitos
7. Red Lobster
8. Texas Land and Cattle

8 Things That Happened Today:
1. went to church in Llano with my parents
2. ate potluck after church/class
3. drove home from Llano
4. got locked out of my car at a gas station (ugh!)
5. unpacked my car
6. cleaned the kitchen
7. checked email and blogs
8. got ready for church

8 Things I Look Forward To:
1. heaven
2. school being out
3. Christmas
4. time with family
5. good night's sleep after sleeping with Kalyn last night (she kicked me all night long!!)
6. another cold front
7. finishing up my Christmas cards and shopping
8. time alone with Ricky

8 Things I Wish For:
1. safety for family and friends during the holiday season
2. good health for us and the kids
3. financial freedom
4. my kids to always feel safe and secure wherever they are
5. the kids to have a close relationship with God and to always look to Him for guidance and wisdom in their lives
6. a vaccination for the stomach virus so I will stop worrying about one of us getting it!!! ;o)
7. the kids to find the right person to marry and have a good marriage
8. grandchildren

8 People I Tag:
1. Carie
2. Hannah
3. Tera
4. Shannon
5. Jessica
6. Missy
7. Summer
8. Corrie

Have fun!!! ;o)

Sweet Tooth

Sheldon helped me bake a cake this morning...actually he was waiting for the beaters so he could lick the batter! Seriously, this little boy LOVES sweets! ;o)

Wild Game Supper

Last year we started a sign language class on Wednesday nights at our church to implement our Deaf Ministry program. We have had 8-10 members who have worked hard and have improved SO much since last year!! I am very proud of each one of them and appreciate all their effort. Ricky and I invited the class to eat supper at our house last year and it was a great success. We decided to do it again this year as well. Last year we had "Mexican Stack" and this year we opted to go for "Wild Game" which included whitetail deer, axis deer, wild hog, and moose. Everything tasted great and several people who said they didn't like wild game were actually surprised when they took their first bite! The fellowship wth our friends in our home was wonderful...we are looking forward to next year!!

The spread...Kay trying to decide what to try...

Jamie was surprised how good the fried venison tasted!

Special Christmas Dishes

I was getting all of my Christmas dishes out of the shed yesterday and I started to think about the special person who gave most of them to me. Janice started my collection when I married Stephen 11 years ago and each year she added to it on my birthday or Christmas. Each piece is special to me! I have five collector's plates with the year written on them...each one of them represent an important event in my life.

The first plate was 1997-the year Stephen and I married and the beginning of a wonderful, special relationship with Steve and Janice. I love those two people so much! Janice taught me alot about cooking while I lived with them for 9 weeks while Stephen was at basic training so those memories fit well with the dishes!!

The second plate was 1998-the year I graduated from Texas A&M University!! WHOOP!! Being an Aggie graduate was my dream as a little girl and it was a huge accomplishment for me to fulfill that dream. I miss Aggieland in many ways!!

The third plate was 2002-the year Kalyn Leigh Springer was born. Stephen and I were thrilled to have our first child and a GIRL!! She is very special to our family and we love her so much!

The fourth plate was 2004-the year Sheldon Blake Springer was born. Having a boy made me so happy...I had always wanted a little boy! He is everything I dreamed a little boy would be like!

The fifth plate was 2006- the year Ricky and I married. Ricky has been such a blessing to me and the kids in the way he loves us and takes care of us. God continues to bless us with so much!!

Janice, I want you to know how much I love you. I treasure the times we had together and I am so thankful we remain to be close today. You taught me so much and you are an amazing wife, mother, and now NANNA! All your grandkids are blessed to be loved by you and Steve. Thank you for my special Christmas dishes and I have told Kalyn that she will inherit them one day. She knows how important them are to me and said she would help me add to the collection-ha! ;o)

Busy!!

I know some of you have been waiting, and waiting for me to post for awhile now...so sorry!! We have been crazy, busy now that the holidays are here in full swing. Thanksgiving this year was different with the kids being in Houston and Ricky being here with his mom. I enjoyed the time I had alone with my family in Llano though! ;o) Ricky was able to join us the next day to celebrate my birthday and that was very nice...thank you honey for making my birthday extra special!

Now for some updates....

Kalyn and Sheldon have lovingly named our bobcat, Tommy. They made him a picture and hung it by his cage. Those kids crack me me up sometimes!!

We finally got a new TV!!!! Sheldon learned his lesson, we think, and is being more aware about

the way he plays around "breakables." We'll see if that lasts!! ;o)

My daddy got a new toy....a skid loader. He spends alot of time on that thing! The grandsons really enjoy riding in it with Granden whenever they get the chance. He has done alot of work around the home place at the ranch and it looks so good! I can definitely see why he enjoys working on it...looks relaxing and a wonderful time to think and talk with God.

Last, but not least, we put up our Christmas tree after the kids got home on Sunday. The kids each get a new ornament each year from us and my parents. It is a neat tradition that Carie and I have always enjoyed through the years and now I've passed it on to my children.

Next on our agenda....tackle the outside lights tonight!!! We shall see.