Finding the Fresh Beat

Can't think of a better way to kick off Thanksgiving vacation than hanging out with the Fresh Beat Band for a surprise Friday night concert...Oh, the things we do for these kids.

Friday Feasting

Thanksgiving feasts were in full swing at Sloan today.  Liam's thankful list (see above) included family, school, mom, sisters, Texas and dad.  Ellery said that she was thankful for "my brother, my mom and dad, my sister, my toys, outside time, playtime, my house, my turkey, and church"  Marin listed "school, toys, cups (like the ones that you drink from...huh?), friends at school, grandma and grandpa, brother, sister, me, mom and dad, and nap time at home." (Since the girls dropped nap time at home several months ago, maybe she really meant that she's thankful that she doesn't have to take naps at home anymore?   Dunno, but I love her strange unique little list)  One thing that they were all very grateful for was that they had a surprise visitor at their parties--Poppie! 

Bless the Lord, Oh My Soul

 It was Liam's turn to sing at church on Wednesday night.  Loved the sound of these sweet 1st and 2nd grade voices sing 10,000 Reasons.

Victoria's Face-lift

The new and improved Victoria Park recently re-opened in Irving.  Gone are the hypodermic needles poking out of the sand; in are swaying drawbridges leading to bright slides.  Gone is the weathered, spitting, wooden ladders; in is grinning dragon with his protective surface for safe climbing.  It's a welcome face-lift to a tried and true Irving park--definitely Bushwar-kid approved!

Orange Kickers Grand Finale

The girls wrapped up their soccer season on Saturday, and the party and awards dinner was tonight.   They had lots of fun at practice and games and thought Coach Jamie was the best coach ever.  Both were super excited to receive their first trophies.  So excited, in fact, that the speed that Ellery demonstrated as she ran up to Coach Jamie to accept the award was faster than any ball-chasing action she exhibited on the soccer field this season.  That's my girl.  :) 

STOMP

The girls had their very first choir (called STOMP) performance last night at church.  Ellery was way, way into the motions and singing the entire time.  It took Marin a little bit longer to feel comfortable on stage, but once she stopped covering her ears and started singing, she did great.

90 Years Young

Last weekend we were happy to celebrate 90 years of Poppie.
In those years...
he fought for his country,
married a beautiful gal who he still calls, "Sugar,"
fathered two,
grandfathered four,
great-grandfathered seven,
labored for his community,
extended aid to those in need,
and remains a strong patriarch of the Bushwar clan.
Happy Birthday, Poppie.  We love you!

BU Saturday Morning

Early on Saturday morning, I snatched a sleepy Liam, and we headed down to Waco for the morning to catch a little bit of Baylor Homecoming.  (Jon and the girls stayed home because they had a soccer game).  After a quick breakfast stop in West, we made it to campus just as the parade was starting.  Afterwards, we walked around campus, did a little shopping at the bookstore, and visited the bears.  Homecoming is always a Baylor-rific time, but the best part this year was getting to have a little one-on-one time with my favorite little man.  And by the way, he did tell me as we were passing by the student mailboxes in the SUB that he wants #1515 when he goes to Baylor.  

Lil' Ninjas

 One day after school, I decided to try a new indoor play area for the kids called Lil' Ninjas. It's basically mini-obstacle courses with helpers in each area, so parents have the option of sitting in a lounge area while the kids are playing.  It was a huge hit, and the kids are begging to go back.