4th Annual Moskowitz Red River Rivalry - TX-36 vs OU-20

HOOK 'EM HORNS!  It's been a few years since I've been able to say that after a Texas WIN, but it sure feels good!!!

Austin & I hosted our 4th Annual Moskowitz Red River Rivalry / House Divided Party.  As usual, we went shopping around 6 PM on Friday night and worked until midnight getting everything ready for the next day.  Austin's menu consisted of meatballs, pulled pork, spinach artichoke dip and queso.  I setup the decorations, dishes and even helped in the kitchen.  We also had another little helper...Caleb!  He was my sous chef when it was time to make our infamous jello shots: Dreamsicles, Strawberry Daiquiri and Margarita.  These babies were the usual....STOUT!

Caleb even made kid jello shots.  We were very careful to make sure there was a :) on the lid!

My rice krispie footballs.  I was pretty proud of myself!

The food is probably what most people come for, but we enjoy the friendships.  It seems like every year there is a different mix of people...and these people are usually 2 degrees of separation!  Even though it's difficult to mingle with everyone, it's worth it to get a few minutes in as we can.  The crazy part about this year's party were the kids....I'm pretty sure we were outnumbered at one point.  It was great having our best friends come from 6 doors down as well as all the way from The Woodlands just to celebrate with us.

The Group Photo! We missed a few people, but tried to get as many as we could.

The party started at 11 (kickoff) and luckily no one showed up until around noon :)  We had a soccer game that morning and pretty much showed up at our own doorstep at 10:50.  Our friends arrived and jello shots were passed out.  It was almost a 'tradition' to pass out jello shots every time a new guest arrived.  Needless to say, we went through quite a few!  We watched the Longhorns to a 36-20 victory over the Sooners - ate Austin's delicious food - played darts and corn hole - and the kids rode on scooters and played with Nerf guns.  OH!  They even crawled through the sewer to get a football!

They may be divided by color, but these two brothers love each other!

Friends! Jude, Caleb, Keira, Tegan

The Boys! Brendan, Curtis, Caleb, Austin, Jacob

Me with my girl Londyn and my baby Jacob

Our lovely family...Jacob is in the back playing with his hat

My best friend Rehana.  The world wouldn't be the same without her.

Neighbors = Best Friends...I love these 2 girls and 2 guys

I am so thankful for this annual tradition.  It creates wonderful memories for us and it's all because of our wonderful friends.  We love you all and look forward to next year!  HOOK 'EM HORNS!

Labor Day 2013 - One For The Record Books

How was your Labor Day Weekend you ask?  Well, the Moskowitz's had a blast!  This year we decided to take advantage of the 3-Day weekend...at home!  That's right, no traveling, no plans, just family, friends and fun.  Lately the boys have decided that 6:30 A.M. is "sleeping in"...so after our wake up call, we turned on Elmo for Jacob.  Elmo allowed us 45 minutes of "rest" before Austin decided to just get up and make some breakfast.  A yummy breakfast with homemade biscuits, eggs and BACON!  I mean..really...who doesn't love bacon!?!?  By 8:30 A.M. we were out the door and on our way to the McKinney Farmer's Market.  Jacob and I fed the goats while Austin and Caleb picked out some wonderful produce.  Then it was GO time....The boys MANned the grill.

My Sooner Boys

The loves of my life

Then Caleb & Jacob monkeyed around...

My handsome boy

My silly handsome boy

See!  I told you he was a monkey!

Once the food was on the smoker, we invited some of our best friends over to enjoy.

 

Sunday morning came bright and early for Jacob and I so we went to church while the other boys prepared for some more fun!  By the time we got home, food was packed and we were headed to the pool.  Once again, our dear friends the Jone's joined us and we had a SPLASHIN' good time!

Tanner Man was a pro swimmer

Caleb learned to swim all by himself this summer

I love this little fish

Yup!  That's my sexy husband!!

So proud of my little boy! No longer a beached whale :)

Rehana and her water babies

Fun in the sun

1st Jello Shot

Someone is going to have to teach the kid the right way :)

After all the festivities and good times...we had a LOT of recovering to do on Monday.  The kids self-entertained with the blow up pool and tablets (not together) and Austin & I took turns resting.  I'm so blessed to have such a wonderful family.

Alpha Wolf: Caleb Moskowitz

I'm on a conference call at work and my cell phone rings.  I notice it's the school calling so I immediately panic and answer the phone.  On the other line was Caleb's teacher Mrs. Wilson.  She was calling to inform me that every week each class chooses a class Alpha Wolf...basically Student of the Week!  Mrs. Wilson lets me know that Caleb has been very attentive in class and setting a great example for his fellow classmates.  IT'S A SECRET but he will be announced in front of the entire school during Good Morning Slaughter (GMS) on Friday!  So we got up early and the whole family, including Gamma, went to our first GMS.  What a great atmosphere!  All the kids sit nicely in their class line, say their pledges and sing the national anthem.  Then each grade has a role call.  I will say that I was tearing up.  I am just so proud how grown up our little Caleb has become.  Not to mention seeing how much of an impact the Slaughter teachers have already made on these students!  K - I -N -D - E -R!



Caleb and his buddy Teagan



K - I - N - D - E - R



The Kindergarten teachers start announcing their Alpha Wolf of the week.  CALEB MOSKOWITZ IN MRS. WILSON'S CLASS!!  Caleb stood right up, grabbed his certificate and sat on the stage.  It appeared as if it was no big deal.  Later, he told me he saw the certificate with his name on it so he knew it was him...as he snickered.

Alpha Wolf: Caleb Moskowitz

Caleb & Ava (our neighbor) were both Alpha Wolves this week!

PROUD parents of our 1ST Alpha Wolf!

So what does Alpha Wolf mean besides just being a good student?  It means REWARDS!!  Caleb received his certificate, a HUGE sticker, line leader and the keeper of Spunky, the class pet!

And Gamma visiting for lunch!!

At the end of the day, the Alpha Wolf is sent home to take care of the class pet and his journal.  It's an exciting time for the two because both Caleb and Spunky get to have adventures with each other and then write all about it!  And adventures they had!

They hung out at Heritage Learning Center

Spunky rode a motorcycle



Spunky & Caleb played with Clifford & Ava

They CRASHED after a long day of playing together.



He even watched Caleb play soccer



GO CALEB GO!

Once again, we are truly proud of our Alpha Wolf!  We know Kindergarten has taken a toll on you, but you continue to thrive and EXCEED our expectations.  Keep up the great work!  HOOOWWWWLLL!

SOME OTHER HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE ALPHA WOLF WEEKEND:

Ava and Caleb writing in her journal.  These two play so well with one another.  We are lucky to have been blessed with such great neighbors!

Austin & Ryan cleaned out Susan's storage shed...and he came home with a 'classic' 1992 skateboard.  It's just amazing what they think is cool...and not TRASH! 

Me and my littlest man.  We love to snuggle!

Kindergarten - Here We Come!

Kindergarten has finally come for our oldest monkey Caleb and he couldn't be more excited!  I feel like he has been preparing for this day his entire life...and he really has.  We put him through all the proper training (i.e. daycare) and he couldn't be more ready.  On Thursday night, we had our 1st 'Meet The Teacher' night.  His teacher had called me earlier that week to let me know she would be his teacher and that she was excited to meet Caleb.  That being said...our first teacher is MRS. WILSON!  She has been teaching Kindergarten for 4 years and 3 of those years have been at Slaughter Elementary.

Mrs. Wilson had all his supplies ready for him when he arrived.  Caleb thought it was really neat to put up his own supplies and write his name on his pencil bag.  Even Jacob joined in the fun....except he was putting the supplies in all the wrong bins :)  He was also introduced to his seat and his cubby.

On Sunday, Gamma took Caleb back-to-school shopping for a few necessities: light up backpack, light up Spiderman shoes, an awesome lunch box with water bottle, athletic shirts and a special Avengers wallet.  And yes...he is going to put a picture of Londyn in there!  I also received some really cool school clothes from Mammy!  Thank you Gamma & Mammy for making my Kindergarten year AWESOME!  We all know his stuff would NOT have been that cool if I (mom) picked those out.

Today, August 27th, 2012 our little man officially became a KINDERGARTNER!!!!  Our morning looked like this: 1. sleeping through his siren alarm clock 2. Mommy changing him into his clothes, brushing his teeth AND brushing his hair (so much for growing up) 3. Telling Daddy that he wasn't ready for Kindergarten (even though he was winking at me because he told me that he was 'prepared for Kindergarten, but I couldn't tell anyone') 4. Complaining about eating the breakfast we had already decided on, so he ate applesauce instead <-- Needless to say, not exactly how I envisioned our first day going.  BUT...he did look good!

We then loaded up the car and headed to Slaughter!  Luckily there is a little church across the street otherwise I have no idea how long it would have taken us to park and walk him in.  As we walked up to the school, Caleb was as calm as can be...he really has prepared for this day and was ready to seize the day! 

After we took our proud parent photos, we walked through the hallways of Slaughter Elementary, found room 100 in the Kindergarten wing and walked into Caleb's 1st Day of Kindergarten!  He quickly found his cubby, hung up his backpack, gave each of us a quick hug and kiss good bye and sat down in his seat.  No tears from anyone!  Just proud parents and an even prouder Caleb!

After having a boring 1st day (LOTS of rules), school ended at 3 PM and Caleb rode the bus to Heritage Learning Center. I then picked up Caleb a little after 5 and we headed to get Jacob.  Caleb told me a few times he thought he was going to throw up (he looked exhausted and a little yellow) so I handed him my empty lunch bag.  By the time I picked up Jacob and made it back out to the car, Caleb had thrown up all over himself and in the bag! OMG it was disgusting!  BUT I had to put my 'mommy face' on, clean it up and drive another 15 minutes while smelling vomit.  Caleb on the other hand PASSED OUT!  We got home, cleaned everyone/thing up and noticed....he didn't drink ANY water today!  The poor boy was exhausted and dehydrated.  So....I had to write my first note to the teacher asking her to please help in reminding him to drink his water as we will do the same.  OH!  I FORGOT!  As soon as I woke him from his coma of a sleep, the first thing he asked was, "Can I play with Londyn today?"  SERIOUSLY!?!?!?  Anyway, he ate a good dinner and re hydrated. 

It may not have been the perfect 1st Day of Kindergarten, but it's definitely a memorable one.  Caleb Asher, Mommy and Daddy are very proud of you and who you've become.  We are blessed to have you as our child and cannot wait to see the many more things you accomplish.  We love you dearly!  Have a great Kindergarten year!

Memorial Day & Jacob's 1st - Austin, TX

We drove down to Austin for Memorial Day Weekend, Jacob's 1st & Garett's 7th Birthday party!  It was celebrated by fun in the sun, Rudy's BBQ, the pool and few beverages.  Thank you Dad and Carmen for hosting yet another awesome party!

The 3 Amigos before the party...iPads, Nintendo DS, thumbs and celebratory Memorial Day wigs!

 The Birthday Boys waiting for their birthday cakes!

Jacob is so excited that this cupcake is all his!

The Birthday Boys...so silly!



And the mess begins...

Jacob couldn't be happier!  BEST birthday cupcake EVER!

This was my attempt at trying to get a pic with my little boys.

And it wouldn't be a party without a pinata!

Look at that form!

We also got to see Little Miss Reagan and Cousin Jenny!  Love these red heads!



Look at those hot ladies in the pool!

Thank you everyone for a wonderful and memorable 1st Birthday Party/Memorial Day Weekend.  It's always a pleasure seeing everyone, but it's even more enjoyable when we get to actually ENJOY the weekend and family.