Christmas Program

Today was Will's Christmas program at school ... it s precious! His class sang Jingle Bells. I have a video but it is not cooperating so hopefully I will get it downloaded soon. Here are some pictures of our big boy!


He did not have a speaking part by the way....

November.....

I have really been bad about updating lately! We had a fabulous Thanksgiving with family and enjoyed having 5 days at home together! All of us. We are really counting our blessings this time of year, as it was a year ago Patrick was laid off. Thank goodness we are where we are now!


Annie Caroline, our new niece, was born November 21. Isn't she beautiful?






The weekend after Thanksgiving Bentwater does their annual Holiday lighting. Will had a blast! We rode a train, he got to innertube down a snow slide, see Santa and play games! It was fun for all!



He was so funny ... he got so excited, he would not look at Santa!






Now it's December and we have lots going on .... I will try to update more often!!

Sick, sick, sick....

Last week was a long one for all of us. School got the best of Will, or at least all the germs did! He started the week with a sinus infection and stayed with YaYa Monday through Wednesday. Wednesday we were sure he was on the road to feeling much better .... but at 10:00 that night he woke up (after being asleep for almost 3 hours) running a fever of 102!! Will does not generally run high fevers so this scared us a bit. So, Mommy pulled out the trundle and slept with our sick boy. I took off Thursday to take him to the doctor and he had a very red throat with high fever - viral. He continued to run fever until Friday afternoon so Daddy stayed home with him.
Today he has been all smiles! I am just praying we can get through the next month until Christmas break without him getting too sick again!
Tomorrow he will go back to school, and he is ready! He definitely is ready to see his friends, and teachers ... and so are we!


Poor sick boy passed out on the couch

Our Triathlete

Patrick completed a Half Ironman yesterday .... for those who don't know (because I did not until we started this triathlon journey - and yes, I said WE! I have been a very supportive wife!) it is a 1.2 mile swim, 56 mile bike ride, and 13.1 mile run. He finished in 5:49 and looked great through the whole thing! We are so proud of this amazing accomplishment! Good job, Daddy!




Waiting patiently...




Crossing the finish line - way in the distance

Getting his award - 1st place in the Clydesdale division (over 200 lbs)

First Week = Success!

Will started his new school Monday ... and walked in like a pro Monday morning. Mommy got in the car, called YaYa and we both cried! But, every day he has been happy to get there, to see his friends & teachers, and most of all - to go play! I feel like this has totally been one of those God things. The place he is going is a well respected church day school in Conroe, and we were lucky they had an opening in his age group. We have gotten positive comments each day from not only his teacher(s), but also other teachers and the director. They all say it is like he has been there forever!
I am afraid we have a big boy on our hands .... it makes me sad, but at the same time so proud of his independence!

October ....

...in pictures! Pumpkin patch, pumpkin carving and Trunk or Treat!

The verdict is....

Zena, who is now Maggie (Zena just DID NOT fit us!), is a keeper! We are definitely going to have to get her used to outsiders...she is quite attached to the 3 of us, but is not too sure about neighbors who walk up when we are outside. Poor girl gets scared and backs up as far as she can, but we know she will get comfortable! I am just crazy about her, and love having a new companion in our house!

In other news....we have had to find somewhere new for Will to stay during the day, long story! We are thrilled that he is going to be starting a church school in Conroe starting the first week of November. Thanks to YaYa for coming to the rescue!! We feel very confident that Will is going to be very happy at his new school and will stay there until he starts kindergarten!

Life is good here ... we are all doing well, over some sickness that Will and I had this week which was no fun! Two days of us stuck in the house with a pup who has lots of energy is exhausting when you don't feel well! Other than that nothing is new! We are ready for Trunk or Treat next week and loving the fall weather!

Zena

We are "fostering with the option to adopt" ...... you know, kinda like, "leasing with the option to purchase"??? We want to make the best choice for everyone involved. We want a new dog, Will wants a new dog, but we have to be sure it is a perfect match for our family and for this sweet girl. She is an American Staffordshire Terrier and seems to be a sweetie! We will keep you all updated...........

Just Pictures......

That's it. We have been so caught up in our lives I have shared very few pictures of the cutest little boy in the world lately!! So, here he is! Our little guy is turning into a big guy before our eyes! He is smart, and sweet, and tests us constantly! But .... we LOVE him!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I think both of my boys are a little lonely with Riley gone ... so they've really bonded!

We are surviving!

Well .... life is going on in the McLendon house. Will loves going to MDO and playing with his friends. We feel so blessed to have him 2 places he enjoys being!

Patrick loves the new job ... now that we are over the hump of him being unemployed, we see that it was all a blessing. We now have a whole afternoon as a family, rather than the hurry-and-get-home so Will can see you evenings. It is beyond what I ever imagined, and we love having Daddy home!

Life is a blessing. Every day something happens that reminds me. Knowing God never gives you more than you can handle has gotten us through some difficult times. We do truly believe it is all God's plan!

Daddy's a Triathlete!

On Sunday Patrick competed in his first triathlon! He did awesome ... we unfortunately don't have any swim pictures. Patrick was first in his divsion, Clydesdales (men over 200 pounds) and had he competed with his age group he would have been 3rd! We are so proud of Daddy ... and looking forward to many more triathlons ahead.
Good job, Daddy!

Another sad day....

Well, we are due for something really great to happen in our lives.... and soon. Yesterday we had to put our sweet dog, Riley, down. For those of you who were lucky enough to spend time with our baby, you know he was the most gentle dog around. He loved kids, and he loved being with us.
Last month we took him to the vet, and he had extremely swollen lymph nodes which caused alarm. Over the last month his health has quickly gone downhill. The masses grew and were restricting airflow, he lost 7 pounds, he became lethargic and not himself.....we came home Wednesday to blood on our dining room floor.
Patrick and Mom took him to the vet, and were assured that it was time for his short life to come to a peaceful end.

Riley, we love you and miss you, bub.