Fall leaves

It always takes a while for fall to hit Texas, but it has arrived here!

Decorating for Christmas

The advent calendar's are all ready for Dec 1 -- 

The downstairs tree



The upstairs tree and train!

Driving home from Houston

Here we are saying good-bye to Dad and Sally!  On the new steps

It was cold, dark and rainy as we drove back home to Dallas.  But we were certainly glad we weren't stuck at the whataburger in Corsicana or on the freeway for 6 hours like Amber was a few weeks ago.  I took this blurry, dark pic of the whataburger as we flew past it at 70 mph.

Trent and Invisalign

Shad's office is getting remodeled.  It is quite the project.  Today he saw the girls and Trent!

Thanksgiving

The parade --

I didn't take any pics on Wednesday as we arrived in Houston -- so I'll post all the parade pics for this day!

Trent's parents head home

We had a nice visit with Trent's parents.  They are headed back home today!

The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Gardens

Last night and today's choir project

We did the Southlake town square tree lighting. And then I got this lyric sheet ready for the kids singing in the kid's choir song.

All about JFK

We learned all about JFK and the assasination today.  We did a 2 hour van tour of the sites and spent 2 hours in the 6th floor museum.





The x on the ground is where the shot hit JFK

Round 2 of the playoffs

We drove to the Allen football stadium for Southlake round 2 of the playoffs.  It was fun and cold.  Trent's parents came and we took the whole family plus some kids.  We tailgated and had a good time.  Sadly, they lost.




Owen tried to fall asleep under all the blankets at the game!

Big D

Trent and I had lunch downtown today (I was taking pics of the AT&T team).  Then I went to the airport to pick up Trent's parents.

That evening we went to see Catherine's debut on the basketball team.  They had their first scrimmage.

A good reminder

There is a lot of talk here in the states about whether to accept refugees.  I thought this meme very appropriate.  

The tornado scare

Is everyone else texting their friends about moving into a tornado shelter, or just us? #itsover #notornado Kids headed back to bed now. #goodmemories #notreally"

Last night we knew there was a big storm coming.  They even cancelled seminary before we went to bed but still we were on the lookout for a lot of rain.  But at 3:27 am when the phone alerts all went off, we were pretty surprised to see that we were under a tornado warning.  We turned on the TV and technically the box where the tornado was supposed to move ended at our neighbors house.  Just then it got really windy and we heard something crash.  We ran to the backyard and it was one of our little light lanterns on the table that had blown over.  We were busy moving all the stuff in the backyard under the porch or inside when all of a sudden at 3:35 the neighborhood sirens rang out.  It was getting windier, but it was dark so we could't see but the sirens meant we had less than 5 minutes.  We raced inside, woke up the kids, got in the media room (ours is downstairs and has no exterior walls or windows).  It was super loud and windy and then rainy.  Then at 3:38 the tv weatherman cancelled the tornado warning saying that he no longer saw any rotation.

All the kids were back asleep by 4:00.  Trent and I were more than a little wired.  I don't think either of us fell back asleep for a while.

Getting ready for Christmas choir

I'm the choir director in our ward.  Getting ready for the Christmas music is a lot of work.  Today I "got" to painstakingly create the violin part by copying and cutting a  lot of music.  They all better appreciate me!!!!

Choir

I have never conducted a choir before this year. I have accompanied choirs for at least 16 years . . .  and it is different than I'd thought.  For starters . . .  no amount of musical talent or skills on my part can make a choir.  It is people skills, recruiting, valuing other's time and contributions, selecting awesome music, being dynamic and versatile, and organization that matters.  I'm not perfect, but I'm working hard at improving.  

First playoff game of the season

We were excited to watch the Carroll Dragons in the first playoff game last night.  It was played at Dragon Stadium and televised in HD.  They beat Cedar Hills who I think won state last year.  It was a close game.  Julianne and Catherine went to it, but me, Trent, Madelyn and the boys watched it at home.

Tabletops charity event

I went with a few friends to a charity event in Southlake that raises money for a women's shelter.  They decorated tabletops, very elaborate place settings and holiday themes.  It was fun to look through.

A beautiful day in my yard

This butterfly was on my Mexican sage.  It was stunning.  

Veteran's Day

I posted pics of Grandpa Hanis today.




Grandpa joined the Navy and spent WWII in the pacific, yet never learned how to swim. "If our ship went down it probably didn't matter if you could swim" he would say.

Grandpa was born on Armistice Day. He was even in the parade as a newborn to celebrate the end of World War I.