San Antonio Vacation

Well, we really enjoyed our Christmas break and to close it out we went on a family vacation to San Antonio. It was cold and rainy so all we had planned didn't get to happen, but we still really enjoyed our time together as a family.
The kids at the hotel!
Eme exploring the shelves at the hotel!

The first night we bundled up and went walking on the river walk. It is so pretty down there. We decided to treat the kids to the Rainforest Cafe. After they figured out all the noises and that the animals were pretend, they loved it and haven't stopped talking about it yet!
The Boys
The Girls

Tuesday morning we got up to rain, but the show must go on. Though we let go of the Sea World idea, we still wanted to explore. So we started out at the Alamo.

Then after walking around the mall and going to lunch we took the kids to the Children's Museum. It was really a neat place and the kids had a great time.
Michal Kate shopping
Jack trying to put himself inside a bubble.
All the kids dancing and being put on tv
Noah flying the airplane
More Bubbles
We then went to see Dolphins and Whales at the IMAX. Okay so 3 of my 4 were freaked out by this, but overall, some slept, some watched, and others...peaked every now and then.
On Wednesday, as we headed home, we stopped in Round Rock to visit Keith and Barie and their sweet family. We had to take a picture before we left.
Memories, I love making them!

Pre-Christmas and Christmas Activities

Christmas break was very busy for us. Non-stop for two weeks for the most part. But, before Christmas was that was also. Filled with parties, programs, friends, family, FIVE broken ornaments(everyone needs a Jack at their house during Christmas)! So, bring on the pictures! Oh, and a new tree, which is a long story (that has nothing to do with Jack)!
My new tree and a new star I might add!
Not to mention, Emorie's First Christmas!
In the picture above Eme is in a dress Michal Kate wore her first Christmas, in the picture below she is wearing a dress mom got her last year after Christmas and it is beautiful!The first saturday of the month was jam packed with activities. We first drove to Idabel to do breakfast with Santa with Paul's family, then Michal Kate and I participated in the Mt. Pleasant Christmas parade with The Dance Company, and Richard took the other three to the kids Christmas party from church.
Our Gingerbread houses from breakfast with Santa...quite the neighborhood!Michal Kate and I on the float...oh it was cold!

Noah, Jack, and Emorie with Santa at the Kids Christmas Party. Eme DOES NOT LIKE SANTA at all....

Noah's first school program. He did so well! Noah has shown us, especially since school started that anything put to music...he has is learned in no time! He can pretty much sing every song in the church song book, so this program was his thing. He was so excited for the night to get here and really had a good time!
Their parties...all three in one day I might add!
Michal Kate's party was a PJ party so she wore her new Christmas jammies!

Noah at the party, not feeling all that great.

Jack and one of his most favorite people in the world, his teacher, Mrs. Cara!

Then Santa Land. If you live anywhere near Tyler, you should check this out. It is a drive through lights show and it is amazing. So pretty!

Our Christmas open house for the church was a hit as well, though the amount of food is crazy as usual, everyone seemed to enjoy everything! It is a lot of work every year, but though the day before is crazy, I truly enjoy doing this for the church. Oh, did I mention, when we got home from church on this day to start setting everything up we randomly didn't have power! It came back on though, only setting us about 45 minutes behind schedule!

On the 23rd we packed up and went to Dallas for Christmas. It was actually pretty calm considering 8 kids in the house all at once all getting new toys! Unfortunately, Suzanne and Michal Kate were running fever so they spent a lot of time observing from the couch!
My mom's one request each year is a picture of the grandkids on the stairs. This was absolutely painless. Happened in the first 5 minutes everyone was there!

Christmas Eve before bed.

Eme with her nose from her stocking! (notice the smile underneath)

Christmas morning! A WHITE CHRISTMAS...it was beautiful
Our traditional picture of my family under my mom's tree. We have only missed one year since Richard and I got married! And that year we got it by my sister's tree!

Mom and Dad Christmas Day

Papa and Gram with my kids

Then our final Christmas was last night with Paul, Adria, and the kids!

When we left Dallas we came home and had our Christmas to the kids. Santa came to see us in Dallas but we decided to start a new tradition of our own and do ours after!

One of many pictures of the four together! I pray your Christmas was filled with as many joys and blessings as ours was! Happy New year! May 2010 be the best yet!

Thanksgiving

This year we had Thanksgiving with the Castleman side of the family. Most of us gathered at Richard's sister's house, Cindy, in Houston for most of the week.


Among many other things, we went out by their fire and made Smore's one evening. The kids, and adults for that matter, all loved it and they were YUMMY!
Cade, Chris, and Collin with their treats.

Michal Kate and her Aunt Cindy
Gran Gran, Emorie, and GrammaOn Thanksgiving, after lunch of course, we went down to the park in their neighborhood and took some family photos!

The Richard Castleman Family

The John Castleman Family



The Deister Family

Out of Order...but...FRIENDS

I know this is super out of order and I need to blog about Christmas and our vacation, but I couldn't resist! On our way home from our vacation we stopped by Keith and Barie's house in the Austin area. Though it was a quick visit, it was filled with memories. I am coming to tears just typing this, because God has blessed me so much with her (their) friendship. I am overwhelmingly reminded that not everyone has someone they have been friends with for....well since Jr. High/High School really, a lot of years. We are both wives of ministers, and have 4 kiddos each! Barie Sue, I love you and your precious family!
Barie and I and our youngest kiddos...Brynlee and Emorie!
6 of the 8

Quick family shot before we left!
Thanks to the Fergusons, for a great meal and amazing friendship! I hope you all are as blessed as we are to have friends like them!

7 months, Great-Grandma, Thanksgiving, and Santa

On November 15 Richard's grandmother, Linda's mother, passed away at 98 years old. We all went to Fort Worth that week to celebrate her life at her funeral! It was a great showing of people all whom loved her. I have put together some pictures of Great-Grandma that I have from over the years, since digital cameras that is...
Great-Grandma, Gramma and Michal Kate in '05
Noah and Great-Grandma in '05
In OKC in August of '08 Richard, Noah, Great-Grandma, and Kirk
'08 with Michal Kate
'08 meeting Jack
My favorite picture of Great-grandma with Richard
The WHOLE Castleman family at Great-grandma's funeral, for the first time since our Wedding! We have added a few since then.





All 12 Castleman grandchildren


Our Family at the funeral
This year for Thanksgiving we went to Richard's sisters in Houston. Most of the family was there which was a neat experience. Our family Christmas card picture and some individuals of the kids.
Emorie at 7 months.
During the Thanksgiving break Emorie decided to pull up for the first time.The Thanksgiving Crew
And then Santa! We went to Longview to see Santa. Jack initially freaked out but quickly became okay when Santa threw in some candy and a toy! but it was too late he had scared Eme by then and there was calming her down! But, I thought for 4 kiddos, it is a pretty good shot!

Merry Christmas!

Fall Fun

These are in no way in the right order, but it has taken almost 2 weeks to get them up so I am just putting them up here. October was a wild and crazy fun month. Filled with all sorts of opportunities to dress up and get free candy. From Church carnivals, trunk or treats, trick or treating, birthday parties, and a halloween concert, well you get the drift. This year, I took my sisters advice and let my kids that wanted to pick, pick what they were for Halloween.

Michal Kate, with a little direction, chose candy corn! Her tutu was made by a friend, I made the shoes and found the other items.


Noah was Spider-Man, of course, was there any doubt.

Jack wanted to be Buzz or Woody but the costumes worth spending the money on were all too big. So I went with a more fitting thought, a monkey, and a cute monkey he was at that!
Emorie was a pink and brown lady bug. No there isn't such a thing, but I liked it. Once again a friend made the tutu and shirt and I put the rest together! I got some great six month pictures of her in this outfit!
And the four!
The King grandkids.
Carson was a storm trooper I think...
The Kings, Allyson a candy corn witch, Austin, a Star Wars something, and Aidan, Luke I think...
The girls
Boys (Noah very scared at this point of someone elses costume.
Papa and Emorie before round 2 of trick or treating started
The Candy Corn girls while out! Allyson, Madelynn, Michal Kate, and Claire.
Emorie (see what I mean!!!)
Monkey Man
More Eme
The four during our churches trunk or treat
Girls at the trunk or treat
More cousins. Cambri and Connor with Noah, Jack and Michal Kate
The four at the pumpkin patch
Michal Kate's class at school went on a field trip to a supposed pumpkin patch.
Noah on a hay ride, I love this picture!
Jack in the hay
Oh and how fun is this...Eme's first pig tails
I hope your October was blessed!

Today

October 15, just another day in the October calendar right. Well not for those of us who have lost a child in pregnancy or infancy. Today is the National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day in the United States. I didn't even know that this day existed until last year when I was reading through a blog I read regularly. I invited you as I do on Jackson's birthday each year to spend some time in prayer remember those who have lost these precious babies. Share your stories with me, know that I am praying for you each time I remember Jackson and baby #4 for us. Jackson would be 6 1/2 now and baby #4 would be almost 3. Though this isn't something that any of us just think about on one day, know that you are remembered today. A tradition with this day has been to drive with your lights on all day. So when you are out and about turn them on and when you do say a little prayer.
Michal Kate and Noah with baby#4 pregnancy test

Catch Up

Okay so this is an Emorie catch up post. She has changed so much. Today marks her 6 month birthday!!! She is officially a 1/2. She is most described as a "happy baby", "poster baby", and "gerber" 's next baby! She loves to smile and likes to be entertained sometimes. So let's get you caught up!
On September 18 she had her first ponytail.


Then this last Saturday, October 10 Eme sat up! She likes this position and does it well most of the time.
Because she sat up, that meant it was time to go to bible class at church. So on Sunday, October 11 she went to cradle roll for the first time.
Here are her 6 month pictures. I decided to take them myself and am pretty pleased. I may do a little more tomorrow. This is the tutu that she will have with her Halloween costume.
Have a blessed day.

This and That

Well at the beginning of the month we went to Paul and Adria's to celebrate Cambri's second birthday at her party. She had a baby doll theme that was precious. Here is the birthday girl looking pretty!

We were blessed that Aaron, Cindy and the boys were able to come up from Houston to celebrate with us followed by Kirk and Linda coming down from Kansas.
Here is Collin with Carlee Jo and Aunt Cindy with Emorie
Aunt Cindy and Carlee Jo
On the 13th Emorie celebrated 5 months. She has changed so much in the last month. She is trying to sit up, though she isn't there just yet, she sleeps in her big bed, rolling over both ways, FINALLY takes a bottle when needed, and eats cereal!
Happy Baby
Emmi with her cow
With her "E"
Her favorite toy
Rolling over
Hope you all have a blessed day!