Let's Talk Texas

*Warning: not to be read if you are hungry or dieting*

If you have never been to Texas, there is a good chance you have never tried Blue Bell Ice Cream. This is a grea picture because some of you out there may be thinking that ice cream is just ice cream right. WRONG! I thought the same the first time I visited Texas (to see the Maas family that is now in Ohio). It is so creamy and the flavors are so good. When I came to see the Maas family a second time, I knew exactly what I wanted while I was here. Yes, I wanted Blue Bell Ice Cream.

That first night when Peter and I finally made it to Texas when he moved, we headed to Walmart to buy food and other supplies and prominently on the list was Blue Bell Ice Cream. It was wonderful! I believe we chose a black berry cobbler.

There are many flavors to choose from but in the running for my favorite we have:

Vanilla (The Homemade version is wonderful)

Chocolate (like someone took the best chocolate in the world and made it ice cream)

and most recently Caramel Turtle Fudge (sitting in my freezer right now and very tatsty).

I promise that if you come to visit me we will have Blue Bell Ice Cream and then when you too fall in love with it we will go to the store and buy more flavors for you to try!

As for other fun places we have tried since moving here (becuase there are so many new restaurants we have never heard of): Babe's Chicken-a wonderful restaurant that offers 5 different types of chicken with family style sides. I recommend the hickory smoked- so tasty and juicy. Cotton Patch Cafe- kind of like Applebee's or Chili's but with a bit of a southern taste to it. They have great cobbler that is only 1.99 (a good deal for dessert). Rosa's Cafe- they have a tortilla machine that captivated my children's attention. The prices were great and the food wasn't too bad either. Freddy's Frozen Custard- we all enjoyed this treat night. Arabella sat between Peter and I. She would finish a bite of mine and turned with mouth opened to Peter for a bite of his and don't you dare be trying to take a bite when she was ready for one. They also serve sandwiches and fries, etc. I will be investigating this sometime as well.

Peter is determined to find the best BBQ place around. I will be sure to keep you "posted" on that research project.

Urrrgh!

I have tried reposting my videos for the last hour tonight and my computer is quite ademantly not cooperating. I will succeed!! (Just not tonight, I am tired.)

Look What I Can Do!

Our Kids have been making us laugh regularly! Arabella will find a kleenex, wipe or napkin and carry it around for 20 minutes playing with it and wiping her nose. It is quite funny to watch, as you will see.


We took the boys to a Black Belt Taekwondo competition the other night and Jon was amazed by the XMA (extreme) forms. He was trying to imitate them the rest of the night. This video is not his best example but it is still pretty funny!


Joey discovered a great trick on my exercise ball. He also figured out that he needs to have his shirt up to give him better "grip" on the ball.

IN OTHER NEWS

We signed the boys up for Taekwondo again and they are excited to be doing it again. Even Jon, has been happy to go to class and is participating and following rules better. We are at a brand new studio and their teacher is great! I had met his wife at the hospital a few weeks before we started Karate; we were both doing orientation together. Small world?!

Arabella is discovering dolls and I think it is super cute.

And finally, the boys have really be wanting a dog. This is something we have been considering for quite some time. We are not opposed to the idea of a dog. We made a deal with the boys that if they could show they could be resposible by keeping their rooms clean, helping around the house, doing well at school, and being good at taekwondo we would get a dog. Jon also would like to have a fish and a parrot. He tells people that first we will get a "watch fish", then a "watch parrot" and then a "watch dog". I am not so sure how effective a watch fish would be a parrot might at least make noise but we will see about all three.

Crumbs

Jon said to me the other day: "Mom, Arabella has crumbs on her nose and she won't let me get them off."
Mom: "Jon that is because they are her boogers and they are stuck to her face. She won't let me get them off either."
Jon: "Ew, boogers that is yuck!"

I have been a slacker lately with pictures and blogging but I have some pictures of our new Taekwondo studio I am going to get posted.

A White Christmas

This is what happened on Christmas Eve afternoon. The boys were so excited to play in the snow. But there was not quite enough for a snowman but I was hit by a snowball, thanks Peter!

Arabella only stayed outside for a few minutes. I don't blame her it was cold!!

Peter and Joey lasted the longest. Joey took a nose dive literally on the trampoline and scraped his nose, chin, and upper lip. But they had a great time.

We opened our Christmas Eve pajamas before I left for work. (Yes, Jon has taken his shirt off and I can not remember why. Usually it is because it is "too itchy".

Such cute PJ's.

I had to leave for work after this. The roads were so nasty because before it snowed it had been raining and sleeting for about 10 hours. Now there was ice under the snow and just not fun to drive in. The worst was coming home on Christmas morning. Now the ice was really hard and so some places, like the parking lot at work were like ice arenas. I made it home safe and I only slid through one intersection. My wheels were not moving there was just enough of a slope to keep the truck moving. Crazy!!!

Joey and Jon checking to make sure Santa and the reindeer found their carrots and cookies. Santa left a note saying thanks. Santa is so good!

Check out that half eaten carrot.

Arabella loved her seat at her new table and chairs (thanks Grandma and Grandpa Rabner).

There was a great deal of excitement over the Bakugan that dad got from Santa. Now he can play with Joey and Jon. He was so happy!

Joey did not believe that this was his bike, "it was to big"! Peter climbed on and said it must be for him then, but that did not seem right, too small.

Finally, Joey gave it a try and sure enough it was a bike for him.

Jon is going to be a great puppeteer. We got quite a few new puppets and he makes great sound effects.

Arabella liked how soft her puppets were.

Jon opened his new Bakugan.

Joey opening his Bakugan. Check out that pile of chaos in the middle.

Peter got a hold of the camera so here is a shot of me still in my work clothes. I do have on my festive jacket. Jon was so eager to help me and Arabella unwrap our gifts.

Christmas was wonderful! Jon got a scooter and some dinosaurs; one even walks. Arabella a shopping cart and play food and bath toys. Joey got a bike and a bowling set and legos.

This is after I have had some sleep. Ahhh! I helped free a few more toys from packaging before starting on dinner. Peter and I had a great time making a Christmas dinner for our family and the missionaries. The elders called their families (and one girlfriend) from our house. We loved sharing our Christmas day with them.

This a picture of Arabella today. Nice horn hair after she pulled her pigtails out. Yesterday we took the kids to see Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakuel. They loved it.

Today, I gave a talk and it was fun to watch Peter manage the kids, he did a great job! I was also sustained as the Releif Society President. I don't think I really know what I am in for but I am always up for a challenge. We have great people in our ward and I am anxious to get to know more of them. The sisters I have for a counselor and secretary are so sweet and I think we will make a great team. I hope everyone had a magical holiday and felt the love of our Savior.

December Activities

I wanted to share some photos of what we have been up to this month.

The kids were struggling during the First Presidency Christmas Devotional so we made a hut and became the coolest parents in a snap.
Arabella thought it was pretty cool too until the boys blocked off all of the exits.

Our ward Christmas party was last Friday night. Arabella discovered the delicious joy of the peanut butter hershey kiss cookies. She is clutching it in her hand.

The kids sang a few great songs and sounded like angels but in this picture with their red eyes they look a bit devlish. Freaky, eh?

There was an adorable puppet show with Grover and Oscar the Grouch.

I really don't know what to say about this picture. Peter states it is a very "Shellie Picture". My eyes certainly show excitement, or suprise?!

Santa arrived and made many children very happy. The boys were so excited and Arabella tolerated his lap for about 30 seconds and then she was done.

I took this picture this morning because they looked so cute in their Christmas Duds.

I love my kids!

More pictures to come of our outing at the beginning of December to Holiday At the Hall at the Lewisville City Hall. It was great and now my desktop is working again so I will be able to get to my pictures.

Happy Holidays!
Oh and if any of you can figure out what flying pigs have to do with Christmas let me know. This is in the yard of a house down the street. The wings even move up and down.

Jon turns 4!

I was going to post some pictures of Jon over the years but our desktop is on the fritz and so, I can not get to my pictures. Argh, computers.

Either way Jon had a great day and we can not believe he is 4 already! We love him so much and are so grateful he is a part of our family!

Opening presents on birthday morning. It was a very dinosaur filled birthday and he loved it!
Dinosaur face! Jon was able to take treats to his preschool class and also a favorite book to share. They gave him a Mickey Mouse birthday crown and he felt way cool!

Monday I baked three cake mixes so that while I was at work Peter could sculpt this cake for Jon. Peter is feeling a bit like "the Cake Boss". I am so grateful for his hard work and late night putting this together. And yes, those would be Jon's feet on the table because he was standing on it in all of his excitement. We had two families from our ward over to share the cake. So much fun playing.

Another dinosaur face. Happy birthday my Jonny! We love you!