P52 - Week 12 - Academic Accolades

It's a proud mama moment for me! The boy and his UIL programming team teammates had a GREAT showing at the district UIL meet!


Being this is his freshman year, he wasn't in the know when it came to opportunities like the UIL Programming Team (and they didn't have that even in the dark ages when I was in school). So it was a complete surprise to him when his Programming teacher invited him to join the team late in the fall semester. She gave him some sample test materials and advised him to read over them over the Christmas break. He did that and was ready to go when competition season began in the spring semester.

The team did a couple of practice meets and then they really made their mark at the district meet!

Wonder Boy finished 5th overall in the individual competition and his team took FIRST PLACE in the team challenge event! Wonder Boy is the only freshman on the team. He partners with a senior and a junior for the challenge event.

To say we are proud of him is such an understatement!

But the BEST PART BY FAR is seeing how much he enjoys the challenge. We know that it is this kind of drive that will take him far in this life! (not that we're biased or anything)

P52 - Week 11 - Belly Laugh

It's spring break here and I had thought I would be sharing a snap from one of our little adventures. This year we got the chance to visit a "Ninja Warrior" gym in Houston, had the meal of a lifetime at a Brazillian steak house, saw a couple of movies in the lap of luxury, and enjoyed quite a bit of time with friends. Not bad packing all of tht into a 4 day weekend (Wonder Boy was off all week, but we had to work Monday through Wednesday).

But despite the fun we had along the way, this little snapshot stole the show for me:


Mr. Mess here has the B-E-S-T belly laugh I've heard in a very long time. His twin sister, older brother, and father spent the better part of a day visiting with us. And all three of these young 'uns are just the most ebullient little folks you've ever met! Their zest for life, much like this bright and bubbly belly laugh, is down right contagious! (And I hope I never recover!)

I wish I had a picture of all 3 of them together, but it's hard to get a snap of even one of them as they are always on the move. And that's OK. It's just part of their effervescent personalities and I just cannot get enough of it! I hope we get to visit again REAL SOON.

P52 - Week 10 - Bully Ball

Our bulldogge babies recently got a new toy and we were blessed finally to have enough good weather to break it out for them. Wonder Mutt especially enjoyed this new toy (a Jolly Ball with a tug rope through it).


Toys don't last very long around our house. Wonder Mutt and the Puppy Princess are both quite accomplished at "seek and destroy missions" when it comes to new toys. But we've had pretty good luck with the Jolly Ball brand toys. They are also both big fans of tug ropes. So this toy seemed a pretty good fit for them.

I am happy to report, now that we've gotten the opportunity to try out this particular toy, that it is VERY GOOD for wearing out a couple of very active bulldogges! Thank you Jolly Ball!

P52 - Week 9 - a Texas tradition

Spring has come early to Texas. In fact, except for one weekend in January, I think we skipped winter all together this year. But regardless of what that means for the many hot months to come, an early spring means early BLUE BONNETS!


Personally, I just love seeing the roadsides draped in this particular shade of royal blue. It's my favorite color!

I'm told, however, that this obsession with blue bonnets is definitely a "Texas thing." My better half is not a native Texan and he shakes his head as I swoon over the blooms each spring. He plays along when I drag the family out for pictures amidst my favorite flower and never makes a fuss about me wanting to stop the car each time I see a good-sized patch along the roadside.

I can't help it. It's a Texas thing and I'm a Texas gal!

p.s. this snap was actually taken on March 2nd, which happens to be the anniversary of when Texas declared independence from Mexico. Happy Birthday Texas!