A Sunday morning surprise

Tory and I took the kids out to the park on Sunday. They wanted to play outside, and we were going to pick up lunch anyway, so we just decided to go over to Old Settler's. We were surprised when we got there to find a big car show going on. It was the British Car club and there were all sorts of old and new collectible cars. We decided to check them out before we went to the playground. We went on to play, but what a fun thing to check out unexpectedly at the park!

Tx State Bobcats beat TX Southern

We traveled to San Marcos on Saturday evening for our 2nd Bobcat football game this season. They played Tx Southern and we ended up winning pretty big. The highlight of the game was definitely the awesome Tx Southern band. They played a medley of Michael Jackson songs and had someone dressed up like him dancing. The drumline jammed out and the whole band danced the Thriller dance! Andrew loved it especially! He was jumping off of my lap dancing to the music. He really enjoyed being there this time and played and was so happy seeing everything. Lillian on the other hand, wanted to sleep by the 2nd quarter. She kept laying on Tory singing herself an lullaby she made up "Treetops, baby Lillian, rockaby." Ha ha! She ended up laying on the bleachers after half-time and sleeping the rest of the game!

Fall is Here!!!!

That means more fun at the park!!! We took advantage of the nice weather yesterday.

Getting Pictures Taken

I guess it is just part of life as a mom. We want those cute pictures of our kids to show off and keep in our albums for years to come. Those first pictures of your children are so easy! They are just babies that sleep or smile just because they see your face.

Then all of a sudden overnight, they become toddlers and then as a mom, you can say, "Goodbye easy picture days!" They cry, throw fits, and refuse to sit anywhere near a camera. We discovered this last fall when we tried to take our first family picture with both kids. We got all dressed nice and Brandon and I sat with Andrew ready to take the picture when Lillian takes off running out of the portrait studio into JC Penney somewhere. Brandon had to chase her down, but there were no pictures to be taken that day.

This fall, I decided I would take some pictures of Andrew since he hasn't had any made in a year and Lillian would be taking pictures at school in a month or so. I also thought, maybe Brandon could bring Lillian and I could try and get some pictures of Lillian and Andrew together at least. Well, Brandon decided last minute that he wanted to attempt family pictures again, so we all dressed for that and went in yesterday morning.

To my surprise we actually got a few family pictures that were decent. Lillian kept trying to get away, but after bribery, we got her to stand with Brandon and smile even a few times. Andrew got fussy, but made it. Of course in the 2 pictures that were best, one or the other child is not smiling! Must be a curse or something since I have heard this tale from other mothers.

Then we tried having their pictures taken together. Lillian would sit, but Andrew screamed every time I put him down. So much for sibling photos. Then I could totally forget about Andrew having his picture taken alone. So I'm taking him back on Monday. Hopefully for a better experience!

So, our picture taking days are done for this year. We'll see what next year holds....older toddlers...Yikes!

Dancing Kids

The kids love this song! Wanted to share them dancing to it.

My Little Peanuts

I tried Lillian's old Peanut costume on Andrew to see if it would fit for him this year, but it was a little too tight, so we are going with something else. I wanted to share the pictures though. First is Lillian when she was the peanut for Halloween, age 1. Then Andrew dressed in it at 18 months.

My little peanuts! :)

Remembering September 11, 2001

Like most of our parents remembering where they were when JFK got shot, I think this generation will always remember where they were when they found out about the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

I was fortunate enough to have a good school schedule that semester where I only went to class Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Therefore, I worked on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-3 or 5. I worked as the telephone (PBX) operator for the Omni Southpark Hotel in Austin. One of my co-workers kept a small hand-held tv in the bottom drawer of a filing cabinet to sneak out and watch in the evenings when it was slow, so when my boss came in around 7 telling us a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center, I got it out immediately and tuned in. I witnessed the 2nd tower get hit and then everything else throughout the day as the whole world watch in horror.

I just can't imagine the feelings of those brave people on the planes that were hijacked and the people that were trapped up in those buildings. CNBC was re-playing the exact news presentation they played from that morning, this morning on tv and I watched as I worked out at the gym. I still get teary eyed and emotional seeing it. My heart will forever go out to all of the people affected by the tragic event.

Every year when I think of September 11th, I go and fish out my pictures from my trip to New York to look at. My dad and Jamie got me for Christmas 2000, a trip to NYC with Jamie, my Aunt Liz, and my cousins Kelly, Ellen, and Jennifer. So we went for spring break 2001...exactly 6 months before the attacks. I took lots of pictures. I haven't been back since, so the only New York skyline I have ever seen still had the towers in place. I also have something that is a special keepsake to me as well. When we went to the observation deck of the WTC, I got one of those pennies that you push through the machine and get an imprint on it with the WTC on it. It is just crazy still to me to think that those buildings are not there. I can still remember perfectly leaning against the glass and looking out over New York. It was kind of a scary sight looking down from so high up and the observation deck wasn't even at the top of the building! Here are a couple of pictures. I had to take a picture of them with my camera to put them on here because my scanner isn't cooperating, so they aren't great, but wanted to share.

This is looking down from the observation deck of the World Trade Center. (I often think how someone could jump from this when I look at this picture.)

This is the view of New York from the WTC.

People Actually Do Win!

I've always been a skeptic when entering drawings and contests. Most of the time, there are strings attached when you "win" something. Like the time we won the drawing at Lowe's but had to come watch a fire safety presentation to get our free dinner.

Well, today I got a call from the Texas Beef Council telling me I won a grill in a drawing I entered back in April at the Schlotzsky's Bun Run. I remember entering. My mom was there as well as the kids and we both entered and spun a wheel to win little prizes. I haven't thought about it since.

The lady tells me that they keep all the entries from all the places they set up through the year and draw from them and I was drawn! She just had to confirm the phone number with me and the man that is with the company that makes the grills will be delivering it personally, will set it up, and will show us how to use it!

I found out after doing some research online that apparently this is a very nice grill. It is a Hasty-Bake Legacy and retails for $999! What a big surprise today to win something so nice. I'll let you know in the future how well it works. But from the reviews I've read from people that are really into grilling, it is supposedly awesome. We'll see.

I just wanted to let you know that it isn't always a waste of time to fill out a card and enter a drawing. People actually do win and this time it was me!

And So It Begins Again....

The Koennings are back in San Marcos on many Saturdays for the next few months as Texas State begins another great football season. We have had season tickets for quite a few years now and really enjoy it. The kids have fun as well.

It is funny sometimes to me that my husband graduated from UT, but is so into Bobcat football. He really hates how much UT is so commercialized and likes the more unified feeling at Texas State games. Most of the people at Texas State games actual went to school there or are students right now. Plus there is a great togetherness with everyone rooting for our team and trying to get us moved up into Division I. It is so awesome just to see in the past couple of years how much attendance has risen and the amazing renovations to Bobcat Stadium. If you haven't seen them, google Texas State football stadium renovations and you'll see. It is a huge change from when I was in school. Not to mention the outrageous prices for UT football tickets. Don't get me wrong, Brandon still loves his Longhorns, but if they are playing while we are at a Bobcat game, he just waits to hear the score until later. I know a couple of my friends didn't even know Brandon was a Texas Ex and assumed he went to Tx State since they know we go to all the games.

The opening game was lots of fun yesterday. The kids were just amazed when we came in and just sat on our laps most of the first quarter taking in everything. Lillian loved pointing out the mascot, Boko and watching the guy run the flag after touchdowns. Andrew would just smile and clap when he saw others doing it. It was so cute! The cutest thing was when out of nowhere, Lillian just stood up and yelled "Go Bobcats!" All the people around us just turned around and were giggling at her. I was surprised she said that without one of us telling her to do so. The kids also loved the band and Lillian tried to kick her legs up with the Strutters. Then after the game, they had a fireworks show to celebrate the opening game and stadium renovation. Lillian saw fireworks on the 4th of July, but didn't have a good view and was so tired. This time, she was just in awe! She stood so still and just watched and kept yelling, "Fireworks!" She did get scared at the end though when they let a bunch go together and yelled "Help" and jumped into Tory's arms. Looks like we have a fun football season to look forward to.

Lillian and Andrew's First Sleepover

My neighbor, Karen, from across the street suddenly went into labor yesterday afternoon and had to go to the hospital. Her inlaws, who were supposed to keep her 21 month old son, Tyler, had gone out of town thinking they had a few more days until the baby came. So Tyler spent the afternoon and night with us. The kids had a lot of fun playing and having their first friend over for the night. Tyler seemed to have fun too and was just running all over the place. Now, he is a big brother to little sister Audrey born last night.

Congratulations Karen and Jeff!

Lillian's 1st Day of Preschool 2009

Lillian's officially back at school again. She is still attending Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, but has a new classroom and teacher for the fall. She was so excited to go this morning and to be in her new classroom. The teacher said she had a good day besides the telephone call I got that she had bit someone! Hopefully that was a one time event. Apparently the older siblings learn from the younger ones as well. Andrew is our biter! Yikes.

No, We Don't Beat Our Child!

Having a boy has shown us a whole new perspective on toddlers! Lillian has had her fair share of accidents, but Andrew is taking the cake. He climbs and runs into everything! The poor child fell off of the table attached to our sandbox and got a big bruise on his cheek on Sunday, touched the grill before we could catch him on Monday and burned his arm, and then yesterday he climbed up after sister onto our playscape in the backyard and fell and got a black eye! I know what people must be thinking when they see me with this kid! No, we haven't been beating him, he is beating up himself! I may need to get him some heavier shoes or something to keep him on the ground.

***Update---Just when I thought today he wouldn't have any accidents, Andrew ran into the swing while I was pushing Lillian and got a bloody nose! Maybe he needs one of those football helmets to wear all the time!