Happy Easter!

Wow - I've really been letting this blog go. The newspaper has consumed all of my time - but I've been having a great time with it. On 4.18.09 my Main Street News will celebrate its 1 year anniversary! Whew...I made it through the first year :) But enough about that....

Kids....yes, they've been busy and growing. Bayleigh has been making good grades as usual. Now if we could just remember to brush our hair every morning and zip our zipper...lol. Love her! We received a notice from the school that she qualifies for honors courses in middle school this fall. That will be interesting. If the homework load is more intense than regular classes, she may hate it. Otherwise I think she'll welcome the more in-depth knowledge.

Jolie started t-ball and has had two games so far. She is enjoying it and we love watching her learn the sport. She's especially happy that their team name is Pink Panthers and everything is pink: her glove, bat, shirt, batting helmet, EVERYTHING! Jolie has been going to daycare here in Florence at Mrs. Ronda's and loves it. I love having her close - no more long car rides to Leander and back. She'll start kindergarten this fall. She's ready!

Changing subjects....last night, Jolie and I were laying on the couch watching t.v. (lights out, except light from t.v.) and we saw something flying around. At first I thought I was seeing things. Then I asked Jolie if she saw it and she said "Yes! I think it's a bat or a bird!" So I get Joey up (he was reading in bed) and he says "it's probably just a moth." Ha! It was a bat! He got a fish net and ran around the house trying to catch it. It flew downstairs, he ran downstairs - it flew back upstairs, he ran upstairs. Finally he got it and set it free outside. Excitement...a bat in the house...lol.

Well, getting sleepy. Will have to continue later. Hopefully I'll get to it sooner than later.

Hope everyone had a wonderful Easter!

Chicken is good - fried is bad

Today on the way home from preschool Jolie says to me...."Mommy, chicken is so good and good for you." Then she went on to say, "but anything fried is so bad for you." All of this as she ate her Sonic chicken strips (bad mommy!). I wonder if she realizes that those chicken strips are fried?

More to come later...I've posted some pics on my Facebook page.

Happy New Year!

Merry Christmas!

I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas! We sure are. I will post photos later, but currently we are in Houston visiting Joey's family. On the 28th we drive to Galveston and board our cruise ship for 7days :) The cruise will be a lot of fun - we are going with my parents and my dad's side of the family - big group! More to come later...

Christmas Lights

It's been several years since we've put lights "ON" the house....we've had some in the yard/bushes, etc...but Joey decided he needed to do the real thing this year. It helps people find our house since we live in the middle of nowhere! (Maybe next year we'll get the side & back of the house as they get seen from the road as well!)

Drago Passed :(

Jolie, Willie, and Drago

My mom's dog passed away yesterday peacefully. He's been a part of the family for 11-12 years (can't be exact). I had taken these photos of him in October, not long after his one and only "son" was born. Today, Bayleigh wrote the following letter about him.

On December Ninth 08 sweet old Drago died in his igloo. He was a loving friend, father, protector, and probably a brother. He died at the age 11-13, leaving his son Willie to share, Bobo an old border collie friend, and Roxi a 1-3 year old dauschund, mother to Willie and another runt that died his first few days of life (also Drago's son). He has gotten bit by a rattlesnake, broken a hind leg, scratched by cats, punished, had a heart attack, but most importantly, loved. - Bayleigh Rizzo 12-10-08

Letters to Santa

I have a full page of letters to Santa from kids in Florence in the next issue of the newspaper. It always makes me laugh to read what kids write. My kids wrote one as well. I thought I'd share:

(Typed in exactly as she wrote it)
Dear Santa,
I’d like big cats not to get hunted for thier beutiful fur and for forests to not be cut down and also I’d like a fish tank and a good cruize.
Bayleigh

(Is she worrying about the ship sinking like I am? We are going on a Reid family cruise for Christmas..lol)

(Jolie dictated this to me verbally)
I love you Santa! Please can you give me a Barbie for Christmas and thank you for all of the presents everyday. I want another thing from you...a play horse. Thank you elves. I love everybody. I want a new dolly and new shoes and new other pair of shoes, but not the same. I want a Spongebob movie. I want a Rudolph toy. Thank you reindeer for flying for Santa’s sleigh. I want a picture frame so I can put a picture of me and daddy and Bayleigh and momma. Santa bring daddy new clothes and mommy new glasses and Bayleigh new shoes.
Love,
Jolie

Growing up...

Bayleigh's 5th grade school picture

Very Behind....

Yes...I'm a slacker :)

I'll update the blog soon with the latest happenings.
Hope everyone has a Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Amy's Baby Shower

Amy's mother-in-law, Amy, and Amy's mom (Aunt Susan)

My cousin Amy and her husband Jerrod are expecting their first baby (a boy!). My mom, Aunt Rhonda, and I threw her a shower at my house today. She got lots of goodies - and some cute baby clothes!!! Can't wait to meet the little guy!

Jolie's 5th Birthday

Wow - my baby is already 5? Time flies! This year we had her party at Chuck-e-Cheese.
She had a great time!Here's Jolie, Charles, Kannon, Ty, and Kooper doing the chicken dance with Chuck-E

Halloween

Jolie started out as Ariel @ her school party. Then she decided to put last year's Super Woman costume on for the evening. Here's a pic of Jolie and her school friend comparing their "princess shoes." Another pic of Jolie and her friend Charles at the church festival. Then, a pic of Bayleigh and neighbor Nadya at the school festival. Bayleigh was Miley Cyrus b/c she has the same color hair, so really she didn't have to do much dressing up. Unfortunately, I couldn't catch her to get a photo of her in costume!

Week of Pink in Florence

The town declared a week in October "Week of Pink" for breast cancer awareness. My newspaper office did "Breast Friend" photos for a donation to BC research. Here's a pic of Bayleigh and our neighbor Samantha.

Trip to meet Carter

We met our new nephew Carter this weekend. He's a doll! Steve and Christie were also there with Logan and Lauren, who it felt like we hadn't seen in a while!

Country Kids & Dad's Mule

"Ok girls, I have the gatorade,

Jolie has the soup bowls (for dinner at the Barnett's),

Samantha has the horses, we're ready to go."

"I need to back this thing up."

"All clear behind us?"

"Wait, Tanner wants a ride!""Now we're ready!"

Some days you feel like a nut....

There are no words to describe her at times....
But hey, she is in the Gifted & Talented Program...
Doesn't that count for something? lol

Dad Reid's Birthday

Yesterday we went over to Mom and Dad's for Dad's 54th birthday. It was a nice day. Check out Drago's baby puppy!

Nothing says 'sharpen my pencil' quite like this....

My dad purchased this unique mounted pencil sharpener from the Florence FFA Banquet Saturday night. Needless to say, the girls have gotten many giggles out of it. lol

Bayleigh & Buddy placed 5th!

Bayleigh showed Buddy at her first show in Leander on Saturday. She placed 5th out of 12. We are so proud of her!

We have a new nephew!

Matt & Tanya's new baby boy was born at 2:16pm on October 17. Carter James Rizzo weighed 8.5 lbs and was 20.75 inches long. We can't wait to meet him!

Bayleigh's class trip to Rocky Hollow Lodge

Rocky Hollow Lodge is a home for alzheimer's patients. Bayleigh's class went there to make cookies with them. It was a service learning project for the kids. What a rewarding experience!