Already February ?????

Ok....I thought I was bad in September! Well, now it is February!! Wow, how times flies! I am posting some pics to catch you up to speed :) This is our "dress up" picture. This was at the club and was for Mansfield Cares. Dinner, dancing, silent auction, live auction! Very fun!!! Mitch Willis (neighbor), John, I and Alex Smith (neighbor).

Already September????

Oh my.....I cannot believe that it is already September! We have had a lot going on around our house!!!

We sold our house in Arlington in March and moved to our final house in Mansfield, TX. We will be here until the boys graduate from high school! We LOVE it!! It is a much bigger house with tons more space and a swimming pool and hot tub =) The boys swim EVERYDAY!!

Shawn - about to have a birthday!!! I cannot believe he will be 8 yrs old! He is having a laser tag party with some baseball friends, football friends and school friends! He had an unbelievable baseball season this past Spring! Sometimes it is hard for me to believe that he is only 7 with some of the plays that child makes on a baseball field! He has a new best bud....Ethan Smith. He lives straight across the golf course from us and they are together every minute that we will allow! Ethan's dad played baseball for the Texas Rangers which still has Shawn in awe! Shawn has started school and is in 2nd grade this year. He has also started football and is now a Mansfield Tiger on the football field. We are excited to be able to watch him play and of course we LOVE football season.

Reid - is in kindergarten!!! My baby is in school everyday, all day! He lost his 1st tooth also. He has 2 new best buds....Parker Willis and Henry Smith. Parker lives right next door and Henry lives right across the golf course (he is the brother of Shawn's best bud Ethan). Reid, Parker and Henry are all in the SAME kindergarten class! Please pray for their teacher =) Reid has started fall baseball and he and Henry are on the same team. Never hurts to have a retired professional baseball player as the coach! Reid is on the Orioles!!! We are anxious to go and cheer for Reid like we have always done for Shawn! Reid's favorite thing right now is driving the golf cart! Believe it or not, he is an excellent driver!!! If he gets "green" at school everyday for the week, he gets to drive the golf cart on both courses as his reward! Hey....whatever it takes =)

John and I.....we are settling in very well! We LOVE our home! We love the golf, club, pool and our neighbors! If we had known that Alec would move back to his mom's, we might not have bought such a large home, but it has all worked out. We love it!!!! We still wish there were 3 boys in it instead of just 2 now, but things happen for a reason even though we may never understand.

I promise I will post new pics SOON!!! I am trying to figure it out again so be patient.

Until next time.......

Flying Thru the New Year............

Wow! All the sudden I realized that I had not posted since last year (ha ha)!!! How time really flies!!!!

The kids all went back to school on January 3rd =) They were out on January 16th for MLK day and then we were out January 18th for a snow day! Can you believe that our kids in Texas were out for snow?? I took pictures of our "snow angels" and our wonderful snowman! Pictures to come!!!

Reid finished basketball for the season and John, Alec and Shawn are just in the beginning stages. Shawn and Alec play on Saturdays and John and Alec play on Sunday nights at church!! We are all going to turn in to a basketball!!! Not such a good shape for a female =)

Big news.......my mom turns 60 on January 24th!! Wow, not that is a milestone!!! She looks about 45, if that, and we are taking a trip to celebrate her big day!!!! We will leave on Thursday, January 25th and come back January 28th! Pray for my family!!! The boys all think they are going to die while I am gone???? I have tried to tell them that their father is more than capable!!! They are not buying it and I even think my wonderful husband is sweating it also =) It will be good for them!!!! I have to type out a "very specific" list of school times for drop off and pick up, practice times, game times, clothes for each day, who wears what uniform, etc!!! I really wish I could be a bug on the wall!!!!! I have tried to tell all the boys that it will be an adventure! They will get to eat things and do things that would NEVER happen if I was home. I will post pictures of our trip once we get back!!!

Hope everyone has a great week!!!!!! I know I will =) Until next time...................

Miracles do Happen .........

Just sometimes, they really do like each other =) Of course they had just finished opening presents so they were both pretty happy...just kidding. We had some crazy days and now it is time to start getting back into the grove of normal bed times and getting up before 11am everyday =) We are taking Christmas down today and have a party tomorrow night with everything winding down on Monday with the yearly church flag football game for the men =) I am sure I will take a lot of bandages and Bactine =)

Hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas as we did!!!! Even through all the hectic days and nights, I wouldn't trade it for the world!!!!

Until next time...........

Christmas Highlights.......

Of course we made cookies =) and of course we made Jesus's Birthday cake. Those are yearly traditions at our house! Lauren got a puppy from Vince!!!! Her father was so against it, but it seems ole dad has gotten a little attached =)

Reid is 5!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Wow, what a week!!! My baby is 5!!!! His birthday was Saturday, Dec. 9th (pictures to come). He had a Pump It Up party with 19 of his friends =) It was crazy and of course, he was sick! Just the whole breathing thing. It kind of gets in the way of being able to jump like a mad man on all the inflatable things when your having to stop to catch your breath and use an inhaler. So hard to believe he is 5!!!!!!!!!!

Nin flew down on Tuesday, Dec. 5th! Yeah!! We had a great time as usual and got to do a few things that don't happen every time she comes (thank goodness). Wednesday, we did some shopping and did some wrapping trying to get ourselves really geared up for Thursday when all kids were in school. We had our plans to finish our shopping (including birthday and Christmas) and have a great lunch and a little fancy place. We had just left Academy when those plans were blown wide open. Of all the boys, Alec got hurt at school and split his head open and was out cold. They brought him out in a wheel chair and then we spent 3 hours at the ER getting his head stapled shut and getting the CAT scan and X-rays! Who would have ever thought! We just knew it would be Reid that day since I had already started his breathing treatments the night before. Just goes to show, you never know =)

The whole family went to see Happy Feet Friday night and then came home and opened Christmas from Nin! Fun night!! Saturday, Reid had a basketball game and then it was home to assemble party favor bags and time to get the cake and head to the party! Mom left yesterday afternoon and we can honestly say, we did more than we planned this time!! Got to see the inside of an ER that I had actually never been to =)

Until next time .....................

Thankful -----

Well, it has been awhile since I actually posted more than a picture and I have a few minutes of peace so......

Thanksgiving is over and we are ready for Christmas. We went to Arkansas for Thanksgiving and got to see many people and had a great time! The weather was perfect!!!

I am now getting ready for Mr. Reid's big 5 yr old birthday party on Dec. 9th =) Nin is coming down on Dec. 5th and will be with us for several days. We will also celebrate Christmas with her while she is here. The boys are all so excited =)

I have started wrapping. I got each child their own wrapping paper and I am not putting names on any of them! They are all going nuts trying to figure out whos presents are whos!!! Now if I just remember, that will be saying something =)

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and took the time to actually stop and think of what you are thankful for...I know I did! Until next time .......

Shawn & Reid .......

Just hanging around =)

Alec.....

Life seems to be good for Alec =) His grades are good and he has a girlfriend....Bailey.

Reid's Thanksgiving Feast......

Shawn's Thanksgiving Feast.....

Settling In ........

Well, our house has certainly changed and is now settling down =) Alec is settling in quickly. He has one week of school under his belt, his room is painted and new furniture in. Last week he was overcome with homework!!!! He had to complete two weeks worth of work in two days! That was rough, but this week is soooo much better for him! Tonight he doesn't even have any homework!

Shawn is on a break from sports right now. He has finished football and basketball does not start for a couple of weeks. He is doing awesome in school and is having a friend over on Thursday to hang out and go to the Book Fair with us! He loves is big brother being here!!!

Reid is one terrific basketball player! Who would have ever thought that a team of 3/4 yr olds could score 30 points in a game!!!! Reid and his friend Ryan are the best players by far! It really is amazing to watch him play defense and take off drippling down the court and then score! I will post a picture soon!

Until next time ......

Lisa

Alec .......

Alec officially moved to Texas! He starts high school at Martin on Monday! Everyone say a prayer that he finds his way to class ..... ha ha

Life is Ever Changing......

This last week has brought both sad days and happy days to our house! I had told everyone 3 months ago of a baby named Eliot. Who could have ever imagined that sweet baby Eliot could touch so many people all over this country? Not me, but certainly He! God certainly knew who to send him to for his ever so short life here on earth! Eliot was welcomed to Heaven on October 27, 2006. Please keep his parents, Matt and Ginny Mooney in your prayers. Not many can actually imagine what their feelings will be over then next few hours, days, weeks and months to come.

Our home is growing by one! We found out Saturday afternoon that Alec would be moving in and attending school here in Texas! John is gone now to get him and will be back tomorrow with Alec and Alec's stuff =) We have prayed and waited for this for 3 years. We knew it was out of our hands and I continued to pray for God to point him in the right direction no matter what that direction would be! Sometimes I wish God would work a little faster =) Just sometimes, I get a little impatient!

This will be an extremely week for us. Alec moving in and all the things that come with that! Reid's basketball practice and first game. Shawn's football practice and last game, plus his end of season party! Alec getting registered for high school here and us getting him unpacked and settled in. Please pray for us as we try to make this as easy of a transition as possible. Of course as you can imagine, his father is thrilled!!!!!

I hear the dryer calling my name ever so softly (not) and a dishwasher that needs unloading. I will take pictures of the kids tomorrow night all dressed and ready to get candy!!!

Until next time......

Halloween at Reid's School

Nothing like a little PB&J, gold fish, fruit snacks and juice to round out a Halloween Party!

Sunday Afternoon with the Cowboys!!!

Shawn Michael Hartsfield

Reid Austin Hartsfield

Survival of Yet Another Camping Trip.......

Yes, once again we (or I) survived yet another yearly camping trip :) This year we experienced more than ever! Our daddy took off work Friday so we could take the camper out to the campsite and set up since Shawn was out of school. Me trying to help him back this house on wheels into a little strip of concrete was not so good! We had to send the kids on an adventure in the woods so they would not hear us yelling at each other over this crazy camper.

After finally getting the thing backed in and unhooked from the Suburban, we were all smiles and happy again. We got everything set up and settled in and took the kids on a walk down a trail through the woods. We came back and it was time to drive back to Arlington for Shawn's football practice. After practice, we drove back to the campsite where everyone was arriving and setting up camp. We let the kids stay up until about 10:30pm since we had to drive back to Arlington the next morning for Shawn's football game (they lost 12-18! Ran out of time while on the 10 yrd line and driving :( ) After Shawn's football game we went back to camp!!! Yeah, once place for a while!!!!!

The boys quickly changed into camo clothes and were off with all the other kids doing who knows what on their trails they found in the woods! We gave Shawn a cell phone so he could call us and we could call him! Boy did he call us!!!! That child may never get a cell phone! He would use entirely too many minutes!

To make a long story short, Saturday, I read 5 WHOLE magazines, Shawn fell 10 feet out of a tree in the woods, we took the kids fishing for the first time, Shawn caught a fish, lost a fish, got hooked and finned and Reid decided fishing was not for him, but he loved pulling the worms apart and distributing them as bait to everyone fishing! Of course the boys were going to stay up ALL NIGHT LONG and watch the sun come up the next morning! I believe the clock said 10:40pm when I covered them up and put their arms and legs back up on the bed because they were passed out cold!! Their daddy said, "oh well, got to have big dreams".

We got up Sunday morning and the kids were off again! We ended up leaving the camp around noon so we could get back home and unload the camper and stuff. Shawn was out of school on Monday also, so I took advantage of that time and we went and got out bale of hay, cornstalks and pumpkins for the front yard! We are officially ready for fall :)

Until next time........Love to all - Lisa

A Win for the Mavericks!!!!!!

Well, after many weeks of football practice and two heartbreaking losses for the boys (and coaches) the 1st/2nd grade Mavericks won their first football game on Saturday!!! The score was 26 - 20 and the boys were over the top with excitemnt (especially since we had only seen the inzone one time thus far)

Now we are getting ready for the yearly camping trip:) We will take the camper out on Friday! John has taken off work and Shawn is out of school Friday and Monday. We will secure the camping spots for everyone Friday and then drive back for football practice. After practice we will head back to the camp site and spend the night. We will then drive back for the football game on Saturday morning and then back once more for the weekend! The boys are so excited! Of course, dad thought they needed new camping equipment and that certainly called for a trip to Academy, which turned in to a trip to Lowe's and then at least I got On the Border thrown in the mix :)

Hope everyone had a great week!! Please continue to pray for Eliot Mooney! If you have not visited the website, here is the address once more: www.mattandginny.blogspot.com

Until next time....... Lisa

I tried to upload pictures, but it didn't work? I will have to ask John to help!!!