Halloween

14

It kinda blows my mind that daughter is 14! I mean, come on, I am not old enough and it hasn't been long enough....True to the promise of being the most embarrassing parents ever, I downloaded the funniest pics of Autumn (for us) or the worst pics of Autumn (for her). She wanted an ipod touch so Grandma Susan and Grandpa Philip and the Aldrich's and Brice and I all went in together and gave it to her. We went to Red Robin for dinner and she didn't even want a cake. She requested root beer floats, taking after Brice in yet another aspect. She is her father's daughter: funny, witty, and very athletic. She is happy, smart, a friend to everyone, and a great daughter. We love you, Autumn.

Idaho

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Summer Track

I have to say I am completely stumped as to what to say about Summer Track...you know, if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all :) Actually, track was great for Taggart-lots of exercise everyday, 1 1/2 hours of running to be precise. It built his stamina and definitely helped all of us because we all know Taggart needs to be busy and get exercise to lessen the daily teasing and bugging he does of the girls. So here is the HUGE downside of summer track. In case you haven't heard me say before, it is HOT here, like 100 degrees with 80% humidity every day in the summer. Now, do you want to guess how long track meets are? They are about 7 hours long and each is different as far as order of events goes. So you try to predict when your events will be so you don't melt away waiting in the blazing sunshine for 7 + hours. This usually meant that Taggart and I sat for around 3 + hours each Friday for 2 months in the 100 degree weather for Taggart to run the 200 and 400. You are supposed to be either laughing at us or sympathizing with us by now....because the 200 is like 1 minute long and the 400 is about 2 min long. 3 agonizing hours in the full sun, sweating from every pore on our bodies so that Taggart could run for approximately 3 minutes. I guess the silver lining for me was I read a book each Friday, sometimes 2. After the district meet, which was twice as long as his regular meets, Taggart told me he didn't think he would do track again. I was so happy, I cried a few tears of joy---or it could've been because sunscreen was burning my eyeball as the sweat from my forehead slipped into the corner of my eye!

Taaf Swimming

State Swim Results: 8th place 50 breast

13th place 100 free

18th place 50 free

Regional Swim Results: 1st place 50 breast

1st place 50 free

2nd place 100 free

Green Thumb....NOT!

I got a topsy turvy for Mother's Day. I eagerly planted 2 tomato plants and watered them faithfully (well, Chelsea, Taggart, and Brice watered them faithfully). I waited and watched and anticipated....and waited some more. They drooped in the heat, they got bugs, they turned a little brown....and then ta-dah, one measley, small tomato. I don't think I have a green thumb. It did however, taste delicious.

What do you mean it's July? Where did May go?

Birthday, Brice Chandler, 29....I mean 39!

NJHS induction, Autumn Chandler, star student

Spring Baseball, Taggart Chandler, rookie pitcher

District Choir, Chelsea Chandler, singing star

a reminder

I decided I needed a little reminder of all the little things in my life that make me happy and grateful. For me, this summer has been a long one and it's only really half-way over. While I was at the grocery store today, I happened upon something I really love to eat and it got me thinking of all the smallest things that I am thankful for....so here goes a small sampling of things I was thinking of:

*Wilton Samper---I love this little yellow square box of 4 chocolates. It reminds me of Christmas stockings, winter, and 5 seconds of something that is all mine....
But how can I talk about wilton chocolate if I don't mention the KING of chocolates:

*SEE'S CHOCOLATES--nothing is better, oh, I can taste it in my memory while I type this. Unfortunately, the state of Texas does not have a See's chocolates, which makes me like it even more because I do not get it very often--unless I want to pay almost as much in shipping as in chocolate for the dry ice pack to keep it from melting.

*Paper Tongues and the song "Get Higher". I can't get enough of this song. It makes me happy. Some of my other favorite groups at this moment:
Safety Suit
One Republic
All American Rejects
Cary Brothers
Right The Stars

*The Mcallen Library Hold System: I find books I want to read from best seller lists, Target, Amazon, friend's suggestions, and then I go online to see if my library has them and then request them. They bring them all to the main library and call me and I go and pick them up. It's like magic to me---I get to read whatever I want without spending a fortune at B&N, all with just a few strokes of my keyboard.

*Brice getting the kids up: My lovely husband gets my children up for me almost every morning, so that I will get a precious 2-3 more minutes of time in bed.

*Windchimes--how I love the sound of windchimes, it's like ear poetry....

If you have a simple pleasure that you are thankful for, post it in the comments.

National Chess Tournament, Altanta GA

Who knew that Chess was so intense! Taggart and I traveled to Atlanta with the John H Shary Knights to compete in the National Chess Meet. These are all the teams who took 1st or 2nd place in the state competitions, so off we went for 3 days of chess matches. So , this whole chess thing is a new experience for me and I will try to explain in my limited chess "language" how everything works. Taggart and all his team mates are members of the national chess federation (membership card and all). As you play in federation recognized matches, you get a ranking number. This number is based on how many wins/losses you have and what your opponent is ranked. Taggart's team qualified for nat'l in the 800 or less catergory. That means every player was ranked under 800. But since Taggart did so well this year, his ranking was 913. At the national competition, he had to play up a division. So here's the reality check: the kids in this division are ranked like at 1800-2000 and Taggart had to compete with them. These are dead serious chess champs, who have strategies and play mind games with their opponents, like making them sit for an hour before they show up, by trying to smack talk with them, or distract them....who knew it was so brutal, I mean this is chess:) Needless to say, Taggart is more about the fun and excitement. His first match was just completely insane. Opponent shows up 1 hour late, won't sit down, tries to stare Tag down. He was ranked about 1900. Match was over in 20 minutes, Taggart really discouraged. 2nd match, guy shows up 40 minutes late, Taggart holds his own in a 2 HOUR MATCH and finally loses. He is heartbroken. Remember what I said about reality check? Taggart had a hard time, an early lesson in defeat. It was good and bad, it was fun and sad. He endured 7 matches over the 3 days, some wins, mostly losses. His little team from Mission TX ended up taking 18th in the entire nation. Not too shabby considering our players do not have their own personal coaches, chess practice and funding year round, and maniac parents with binoculars, watching their every move from the back of the designated competition rooms. Really, it was an experience for me and him. I learned some new lingo--still don't know how to play. He learned he needs "new Tricks" and how to relax a little more. We both had a great time visiting the aquarium, Coca-Cola museum, and lunch with the Pavia's.

District Champs

I decided to post a picture of Autumn doing the back stroke because this may be the only time I ever have a picture of her doing it. It is her least favorite stroke....this pic is of the 200 IM, for those nonswimmers out there, that means individual medley, 50m of each stroke. For school swim team, you don't get to choose your events, you just show up to your meet and see what events your coach decided to put you in that week. Sharyland North girls were district champs this year. Autumn excelled at 50 free and 50 breast. She took first in 50 free at all except 1 of her meets (of course the one my mom and dad were visiting for) and took 1st, 2nd, or 3rd each time she swam 50 breast. She also swims a 200 medley relay. It constantly amazes me how great these kids do. If any of you remember me from my swimming lesson days, you will know that Autumn does NOT take after me at all :)

birthdays, birthdays!

I am laughing while I blog this because the only thing Chelsea and Taggart like to share is a mean look, so the mere thought that I actually have them "share" a post of their birthdays is, I'm sure, absurd to them....But, nevertheless, I am behind as always and in my attempt to catch up, they will have to "suffer" through while I talk about both of them, together :)

I have taken to bribing my kids. I am tired of all the birthday party planning and hoopla, so because I am lazy, I offer my children cold, hard cash instead of a party. And, to my great surprise and happiness, they take it! We have a small celebration with cake and out to eat and then they get to go to the store and pick out their own gifts with their birthday cash. Happy Birthday to me! (side note: this year Taggart wanted a nintendo dsi, which is over the birthday cash limit, so that is the one and only gift he got and mother did go and pick it out.)

district choir

Wanted to put a little shout out to Chelsea on the blog...Chels made district choir! That means she had to try out all by herself and sing a solo. For those of you who know Chelsea, that was quite a brave thing she did. Her choir teacher told me she has the sweetest voice...we wouldn't know at home because we can never get her to sing for us. I tried to take a picture of her while she was in her room practicing, but uh, she was not having that. She is practicing every Mon and Wed after school for a big performance in May.

chess

Taggart has discovered the world of chess! This is his 2nd year on the chess team at John H Shary Elementary. He took first place in his division at the regional meet! (bottom pic) Then we took a trip to Dallas for the State Chess meet where he took 5th place!!!(top pic) His team took 2nd place in his division and 2nd place in the elementary division as well. So, now they are national bound. Nationals is May 6-9 in Atlanta, GA. I am so happy that Tag has decided to try a "quiet" sport. I can see the wheels turning in his head when he plays. These kids are amazing, with their strategies and ability to think ahead....awesome.

soccer

Autumn made the 7th/8th girl's Shary North soccer team this year and they ended the season as district champs, undefeated. Autumn made 1 amazing, super sweet goal from half field....a beautiful shot, perfectly kicked into the top of the net. Let's just say it wasn't really intentional, but an awesome shot. She played mostly center or right midfield and right defender and really became an aggressive player. I particularly loved watching her play as it reminded me of my "glory days" as right defender (ha, ha).

Winter Baseball

I wanted to write something about winter baseball and realized the only picture I had was a grainy pic from my phone---and it most certainly is not of Taggart playing baseball. This picture is of the "spectators", absolutely freezing to death, as we watch Tag play. The winter season was unkind to the Boys and Girls Club baseball program this year. It rained so much that most games were cancelled or postponed so we ended up playing whenever it dried up enough. That means we played 3 games in a row on days when it wasn't wet. This picture is the first game of a 3 game night, which also happens to be the Fiesta Bowl night. Autumn took this picture before Brice dashed home to start watching the game. I was going to be clever and put Taggart's stats in a chart like the real baseball players, but who are we kidding, I really have no idea what all those little abbreviations and stats are. So, I'll just say Tag did great! We ended up playing 13 games and Taggart hit 24 homeruns, 1 double, and had 1 out. He plays 1st base and short stop and made at least one out every game. It looks like he is following in his Dad's footsteps.....He has now officially graduated to kid-pitch, which starts up again in March.

Merry Christmas - 2009

Autmn, Chelsea, & Taggart pretending like they have been nice all year......HA!!

Our good friends the Pavia's came to visit South Texas for Christmas. We had a great time with them.

Santa's mad helpers attempting Ginger Bread Houses.

The finished product.

Isaiah just heard Jason say that he had been "good" all year.

The kids & Sienna Pavia jammin out on Rock Band, Christmas morning.

Thanksgiving

My parents, Grandma Susan and Grandpa Philip, hopped in the minivan and drove (yes, drove 30 hours) to have Thanksgiving with us this year. They actually got to enjoy some much cooler weather this time around. The kids especially have a great time when Grandma and Grandpa are here to spoil them and spend time with them. This is the only picture we got...we didn't even get one around the Thanksgiving table. This is at the Hidalgo Festival of Lights. There is a driving tour of lights and also a walking tour of these beautiful lighted sculptures. And now, as we "go around and say something we are thankful for", I am thankful for my Mom and Dad, who are generous and thoughtful and a lot of fun.