It's Dropped below 100!

I just noticed my countdown to Disney has dropped to below 100! WOW! I still don't know if I have everything together! But what is even more unbelievable is that Christmas is now less than 100 days away too!

Everybody get ready for the rush!!

First, First time at Karate

This post is a few weeks behind, but I just cant seem to catch up! It's as if we have something to do every night. But I love it! It is so nice to have a little one to chase around again. It's been a long time since Katie was this little!

When Mattie May started Pre-K, that meant that she couldn't go to her day care any longer. They don't pick up from school, so Katie had to find someone that would. She had seen advertised that one of the martial arts schools had an after school program so she called.

We were a bit nervous at first. None of us had ever been in any type of martial arts. When Katie and I went in to get her signed up, she was allowed to go into the class that was going on to see if she would like it. Let's just say she did! She didn't want to leave!

And we love it too! When she gets home she is hungry so she eats her supper. She is stinky from the 2 1/2 hours she has spent at the DOJO and is ready for a bath. And she is so tired so is usually asleep before we make it through one chapter of her book! So it works out great for us all!

Enjoy the pictures. Since I don't know much about what it is she does, I will let them speak for themselves!

God Bless!

Soccer Practice #2

Today, Mattie May had her second soccer practice.

It was another very pretty day.

After the rains we've had the past two days, it wasn't to humid.

As soon as we got there, she said she wanted to go home.

Who could blame her!

She had just had 2 1/2 hours of karate!

Grumpy got her to stay.

She picked at the grass a couple of times,

the water breaks were too many to count,

and she only eyed the birds for a minute before she decided they were faster than her.

This is my favorite picture of the night.

I think maybe she's having fun!

First, First Soccer Practice August 30 2010

This should have been posted last week to continue Mattie May's week of first, but oh well! Lolo gets behind sometimes! On Monday she had her first, first soccer practice. Katie took my camera and she and Grumpy stayed for the fun. I went home to get supper done so we could keep her schedule as best as possible.

It was a fantastic August day in west Texas, beautiful blue sky's and just a little wind.

Mattie May was ready even though she had just gotten out of karate, she was ready to go play soccer. I guess we forgot to explain to her what it meant to "practice"!

But she was ready none the less.
There was absolutely nothing that could distract this kid!

Focus! That was the plan! Focus on the ball..

Really staying focused on the ball!
Nothing could distract her, not even the practice cones

Well, OK! Maybe the practice cones!

Now, on to some kicking drills.

Uh, Mattie May, kick it with your foot! It's soccer, we don't use our hands!

Getting a little personal instruction from the coach.

Well at least she has the waiting her turn part down.

She has another practice Thursday and her first game on Saturday. I hope her coach has lots of patients. I think she's going to need it!

A First for Katie and I this Weekend!

Time is getting away from me again! Since Mattie May has started school it just seems like we are busy every night!

This weekend, we went to Dallas. Katie and I attended a wedding on Sunday afternoon that went into the night. It was a first for both of us as it was a traditional Indian wedding. We Americans think we have the costly traditions for weddings but they don't hold a candle to what we saw this weekend. I am so thankful that Katie chose me to go with her. It is an experience that I will never forget. From the beautiful (and colorful!) saris that the women wore to the food we ate. It was all beyond description! The wedding was held at the Adolphus hotel, which was another first for both of us. We had never been to this hotel which was, for lack of adjectives, amazing!

Frank and Mattie May stayed at our hotel while we were at the wedding. They swam and ordered room service. That was a first for Mattie May. We have ordered pizza in our room before but not actual room service. I think she enjoyed it!

Monday, we headed to the Dallas Zoo. Of course, what Mixon trip would be complete without getting lost! Even with GPS technology, we seem to manage this every trip. This time we got lost in downtown Dallas. But as usually happens, we were glad we did. We found a historic cemetery and a memorial to cattle drives in front of the convention center. I guess that is what you would call it. I did take pictures so you can help me decide once I get them posted.

Hot and crowded, those are the adjectives I am choosing for the zoo. We had to park in the overflow, overflow, overflow parking! We almost didn't go, but try explaining that one to a four year old that you had already told you were taking to the zoo! Nope, that wasn't going to happen! It was fun and once inside, really wasn't that crowded. We had a really good time and Frank rode the monorail for the first time. Or the hot box as our guide described it! They normally don't allow food or drink on the train, but due to the heat we were allowed to take drinks on. Thank you Dallas Zoo. I hope to have pictures of this later this week.

I hope everyone had an enjoyable long weekend. I will have more first pictures from last week soon. I have to finish my fair entries today. My mom laughed and said it reminded her of the "good ol' days" trying to finish 4-H projects into the wee hours of the night. I guess some things never change!

Continuing with Another First

This past week, Mattie May started school. You can read all about that here. And we finished the week with another first, she went to her first Texas Rangers baseball game. It was a lot of fun. (Please note that I forgot my camera, so the following pictures are from Frank's, Makaley's and my cell phone cameras.)

We had to take a picture as soon as we got in the hotel.

(In the window of course!)

Then she had to check out the bed!

We finally headed out to the Ballpark at Arlington.

We rode a trolley from the hotel to the stadium.

Kauy and Mattie May were having a blast.

Grumpy and Mattie May played some games,

got some tattoos,

and posed for some pictures for Lolo.

She fell in love with this window. Look how high she is

and it looks like she is standing outside.

(This is in the restroom!)

We found our seats.

then a picture with Mommie and Makaley.

Then she got some cotton candy!

(Frank took this picture. Isn't it great?)

Then he changed it back to color!

Duck lips!

WOW! Those are some blue lips!

The next morning we had breakfast at the hotel.

Then we headed to Grumpy's favorite store,

Bass Pro Shops!

Naming the fish.

She is getting pretty good at this!

She had to show us a few things to add to her Christmas list!

A little camping with some friends.

Practicing getting to weigh in.

(She plans on being the first woman to

win the Bassmaster Championship!)

She loves this crazy shark.

Grumpy decided she needed to do some kayaking.

Then back to the fish tank.

An albino catfish

Then we did some shopping at Grapevine Mills mall.

She got so tired she just couldn't hold her head up any more.

From here we went to visit Ralph and then headed home. It was a great weekend even though we were just gone overnight. We look forward to our next trip to this area and hope to make it to the zoo next time.

Her First First Day of School

Oh, wow! I can't believe it! My sweet little grandbaby started school yesterday! Pre-K. She is not old enough to go to Kindergarten but she did qualify for Pre-K. We were so excited! She LOVES all her teachers/caregivers at day care, but she was ready for the classroom. Unlike her momma, I believe this child will love school. So through the tears and tissue, we made it through!

At first, she didn't want to get out of bed, but when we reminded her what day it was,

she was up and smiling, ready to go!

She usually just has a "snack" at home and eats breakfast at daycare.
No more of that! Breakfast before school starts now!

After breakfast, she got dressed, we fixed her hair (in her signature dog ears no less!), brushed teeth and ready to start the day.

I love the "Elvis" smile in this one!

Buckled in the car. Her last ride as a preschooler.

Poor Grumpy was always at work when her mommy started school, but he got to enjoy his Mattiebugs first day.

The obligatory pose at the door step picture!

"Lolo! Wait! I have to bow."

Mommy filling out last minute paperwork, but Mattie May just can't wait to get started.

Officially a school girl!

Showing her teacher and teachers aide her "flashy" backpack.
(it really does have lights that flash in it!)

Getting started. Writing her name on the top of the page.

Her Teachers
Mrs. Torres and Ms Sarah (in green).
She looks happy to me!

You say to me "But you mentioned tears and tissue. We don't see either!"
I never said Mattie May shed a single tear!
Mom on the other hand had a hard time.
She didn't want any proof, but I tried!

I know every one's first days (M & K) weren't quite what they were hoping for, but I know things will get better. Here's to this school year being the best ever!