Just two words for you....

ARTIC BLAST!!

Holiday Weekend Part Uno - Backyard Fun House (Ghetto Fabulous Style)

Christopher started off this holiday weekend with a backyard cardboard fun house! We had saved all our cardboard boxes from things we had bought over this past year for a Haunted House we wanted to make for this Halloween past. However, as we all know, we ran out of time and it never happened. Before recycling all this cardboard, Christopher took it upon himself to amaze his awe struck wife, and be the coolest daddy that ever walked the earth once again! He made a cardboard playhouse with Gavin and Reese.Complete with ceiling to floor front window and door.

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Front view of finished project. You might be able to notice even a table inside that was made from cardboard for them to use for various activities. Chairs were also included for comfort. Multiple rooms that branch off the front wing,...all "carpeted" as well.

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Back view of the mulitple rooms and tunnels.

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And our cutie pie Reese enjoying her playtime with daddy, poised from the side window. This place is spectacular as Christopher made it with metal posts for stablility....it still stands today! That is...until it rains...but who knows when that will ever happen again!

Holiday Weekend Part Dos - Thanksgiving Turkey Trot

While our Turkey was brining back at home, we joined Gavin and Christopher among 31,000+ runners for the 39th Annual Dallas Turkey Trot. Here's Gavin with his very first event number!
The Turkey trot has two events, the 5K fun run (3.1 miles) and the 8 mile race. Christopher and Gavin were in the 5K along with a million other people. The route took them through downtown Dallas and they got to race through the towering sky scrapers. It was a beautiful day for it too! (Hottest day of the week at 80 degrees) This was so cute. As were were getting the numbers ready and the safety pins out of the stroller, we looked down to see Gavin doing some warm up stretches. He was very excited to run a race with his Daddy and had on his special "fast shoes" Christopher bought for him a few weeks ago while in El Paso for this very occasion. Sariah and Reese stood on the sidelines waiting for Christopher and Gavin to finish the race. Afterwards Reese and Gavin went to the jumper-landia seen in the background.
Christopher tried to run during the race, but the strollers had to start at the back of the pack. And when I say pack I mean mob of 30,000+ turkey trotters. So Christopher tried to weave his way through the crowd so he could run, but after almost killing a few runners, taking out a couple leashed dogs, and mowing over some innocent children, he decided to just go with the flow and walk the 3.1 miles. So, from the time the race started, it took him 15 minutes to just get across the starting line because of everyone in front of him, and another 50 minutes to get back to the finish line! But all in all they had lots of fun and Gavin was thrilled the entire time. There were live bands playing on the side of the streets and lots of craziness, like this couple making out in the background for instance. That right there lets you know how slow the pace was.

Holiday Weekend Part Tres- Culvert Diving

Christopher wanted to finish off our weekend with some off roading or "mudding" as they call it in Texas. While returning from visiting with Christopher's family in Tyler, he missed our turn to the highway and needing to do a U-turn in the middle of a "farm road". Our vehicle doesn't have the greatest turn radius and therefore required a 3 point turn for our U turn. While doing this, an oncoming vehicle traveling at "super speeds" suddenly came flying right up over the hill. Christopher and I panicked that it wouldn't see us in time to stop and broad-side us hurting the kids in the back seat. So, claiming it was all for the sake of the children, Christopher drove right into a culvert. The car came to a stop teeter-tottering off the side of the road with back tires in mid air. Stunned at the spectacle before it, the oncoming vehicle stopped. It was apparent that we flung ourselves into a culvert dive. The pic below is the best shot we got, but doesn't give the moment its justice. You have to imagine Sariah sitting in the passenger seat screaming at Christopher, "What are you doing, he's going to ram us, AAAAHHHH!!!" and Christopher in the driver's seat believing her enough to plunge his unpaid-for car into an impossibly steep ditch.Luckily it was a gradual dive and everyone was OK. We immediately unloaded the kids from the car, turned death trap, just in case someone really did run into us now that we were even less visible. Within moments we had car loads of helpful East Texans offering us their cell phones and aid. Christopher called his Dad who was 30 minutes away to come pull us out with his truck and logging chains. Even with help on the way, the second car that stopped refused to leave us until we were on our way. They were coming back from a Saturday night church meeting and it turns out it was the pastor and his wife, Robert & Jane. They lived just down the road and knew someone with a tractor. Just as we were about to call Robert's friend, the man who lived right in front of the accident site came out with his truck and suggested he pull us out. So he went back to his barn and came back with this massive John Deere tractor (below). Christopher called his dad and told him to turn around since we would be out before he even got there. Robert begin stopping traffic and the Tractor guy (name unknown) started positioning his back-hoe for the extraction. While he was getting lined up the state patrol and a fire engine showed up, emergency lights flashing. Gavin made the comment, "Wow! I've never seen a real fireman before! SWEET ACTION!!". Before they could take over traffic control we were out of the ditch. After making sure everyone was OK and the car wasn't damaged, the state patrol rolled their eyes at our stupidity and let us go. We were very blessed that there wasn't any damage to the car. Just a few scratches under the rock guard and a few places on the under-carriage frame. It will definitely take some time for Christopher to live down this little excursion.

Holiday Weekend Part Quatro - Christmas Tree Hunting

Unfortunately, we didn't remember to bring our camera for the biggest event of the weekend. What's up with that? Every year we buy a REAL tree for Christmas. Nothing but the best! So we out to Lone Star Pine Christmas Trees once again this year to pick out our tree from the farm. Last year we went traditional East Texas Pine...however, it was too much like a bush for my liking. I didn't like it when we bought it, however, being my first Christmas in Texas, I wanted a traditional Texas Christmas. Forget it! Frankly, I like my Fraser Firs, and this farm sells them too! Only, they have to buy them and ship them in. No problem for me. We grabbed our tree, and at a bargain price at that,..$52 bucks! Last year they were $89....so I'm feeling the REAL Christmas Tree love this year! We still took our tractor hay ride around the farm and pitied all the other little Texas Pine Christmas trees. Drank our hot Apple Cider which Gavin lovingly referred to as,.."hot apple juice" and pretended taking our picture with Santa and his Snowmen....all in 78 degree weather. Ah,...I love Texas! We will be decorating the tree tonight, (although my house is in full Christmas decor already) and so we'll get a few pics to add to the site later. Hope y'all had a wonderful holiday...now bring on Christmas! Share with me what you did this past weekend....and I know more than 3 of you read my blog....so post already! Ok, emailing me and calling me is still cool!

Gavin's Pre-school Thanksgiving Program & Feast

Today was Gavin's Thanksgiving Program and Feast at his pre-school! His class, Mrs. Lewis' class, dressed up as Indians for the program. He made his feathered head band and vest.

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They sang songs of thanksgiving and faith. Gavin decided halfway through the program he wanted to ditch the Indian getup and be a cowboy (notice the cowboy boots he wore just for the occasion)! Gavin wasn't the embarrassment this time around. That would have been the kid second from his left without a hat on. He started picking his nose for about 5 minutes....all for the video cameras!

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Gavin here leaving his Indian TP to tend to his prairie campfire in preparation for the feast!

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Then it was time for the main event,....the FEAST! Gavin was waiting patiently for the Kindergarten Academy to finish their program before scarfing down the Thanksgiving grub!

No pictures of the actual food,..as we were enjoying it too much to think about pictures. We all had a good time and look forward to the Christmas program coming up this next month!

Forney Four on Wheels....

Biking is another hobby we have taken up since moving to Texas. While the little ones are learning to ride bikes, we tote them around in this pull along carrier. This is Gavin and Reese last summer ('05) being pulled along for a ride to the park. This is Gavin and Reese this past weekend in the same biker carrier. My how they have grown. It's fun to look at "then and now" pictures of the kids when they are still this small. This Christmas Gavin will graduate to having to ride his own big boy bike, so Caden can take his place in our biker "chariot". Christopher has decided that he would like to train for an actual Triatholon, so, he's gonna have a fun time training while pulling our children along!
This last picture is just a fun one of Reese. She was just so cute b.c she wanted to wear her scarf,...b.c she really doesn't get much of a chance to wear it here in Texas. She will when we take our vacation to the "greatest snow on earth" this January.

All About Caden!

Today is our baby boy Caden's two month birthday! He celebrated it by getting himself checked out by the doctor and receiving 4 immunization shots!! Can't get much better than that! Eck! He was a champ however, and didn't cry much at all. I have a feeling he's felt worse in his short lifetime! Our little boy is growing off the charts. He is over 24 inches long already and in the 100th percentile for his length! I knew he was a long one! He's almost 12 lbs already too (70th%) and you KNOW you can't be a baby Lloyd without an enormous head,...Caden's is 70th percentile there too!! (Reese is 90th and Gavin 70th!)

Here's Caden chillin in his baby swing earlier today! Doesn't he just fit the Gavin mold? He's the taller, darker version of his older brother...brown eyes and hair.

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Here is a shot of Caden from when we were in Galveston. He slept in his Pack n Play bassinet. He has a toy bug that plays music that he absolutely loves. One morning we woke up to find that he had not only found it in his bed next to him, he had actually gotten a hold of it...and wouldn't let go! So cute!

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His brother and sister are enamored with him! He's just the right size for Reese to sit him in her baby stroller and give him rides! After all, to Reese, he's "my baby!"

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Reese chattin' it up with a little visit to Caden's pad. They are quite fond of each other.

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Caden has started out being a very easy going baby. He never really cries. I think he literally goes a day or two without crying once. He just whimpers for food (eats like a champ!), a bum change and when he is tired (has solid sleep habits). He also seems content watching the world move around him. He is giving us smiles now (when we really work at it) and is working on rolling over. He's so easy going, I sometimes forget that I have a third child! The transition has quite frankly been a simple one from 2 to 3 for me. I'm sure I'll change my mind once he becomes mobile, but for now, he's our God sent delight! Our little slice of heaven!

On a Mission, the Brothaaas Lloyd!!

Christopher's brothers Bradley and Phillip entered the Missionary Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah today! They both will be learning to speak Spanish. Bradley was called to serve in the Chile Conception Mission and Phillip to the Honduras San Pedro Mission. They reported for service today and will serve for 2 full years. They aren't paid for their service, in fact, they pay their way every month while they are out. These two young men have hearts of gold and an unwavering faith....we are proud to call them our brothaaaas! We love you and can't wait for our first letter (or email for that matter!)!

This picture was taken just outside the lovely Forney Wal-Mart as they left Texas for Utah! They stopped by to say one last good-bye (their farewell and open house was last Sunday).