The Homecoming Game

The Broncos suffered yet another loss (41-23 against Plano West), but still managed to have a lot of fun during their Homecoming Game. Here are some of the highlights:

Go Broncos!

Abby said the hot dogs were YUMMY

McKinney Boyd Baladoras (dance line) performed at

the beginning of the half-time show

getting ready to start the show....

Emily with her rifle

now with her flag...

They did great!

Homecoming Queen and King

The Homecoming Mum

After band/color guard practice last night, J.T. gave Emily a Homecoming Mum...a highly coveted thing among Texas high schoolers. (Yes, Emily looks like she just rolled out of bed in this photo. She had!

This was taken at 6:15 this morning before she went to Color Guard practice!)

Emily and I had no idea what she was supposed to do with this GIGANTIC thing next. Is it something you actually wear? It's at least 3 feet long (it hangs from her shoulder to her knees) with tiny cow bells and other little trinkets tied among the ribbons! She sounds like a one-man band when wearing it. If she was supposed to wear it, was it for school tomorrow (today)? Was it for the Homecoming Dance on Saturday night? Or is it just a keepsake?

We were in foreign territory so I immediately scoured the internet looking for answers. I found out that the Homecoming Mum is a Texas tradition that started in the 1920s. Of course I should have known it originated in Texas since everything is bigger in Texas, right? Ha, ha! The Homecoming Mums are given to you by someone that thinks you are "special." Yep, you wouldn't buy these for just anyone since they start at $30 and go up from there! Anyway, the girl is supposed to wear it to school (if her campus allows) and to the Homecoming Game. It is not to wear to the dance. She, apparently, will receive a live flower corsage for that.

close-up of the mum with a red bronco in the center

plentiful ribbons and tiny trinkets like cow bells, footballs,

horseshoes, etc. and then personalized with sparkly letters

Oh, and I got to meet J.T. after he gave her the mum. He seems very nice! He was extremely polite and friendly...he even held out his hand to shake mine when I introduced myself. So far, so good.

Merry Christmas!

Well, we might as well get used to saying it since

CHRISTMAS IS ONLY 12 WEEKS AWAY!!!

Yes, that's right...good ol' St. Nick will be here before you know it! Retailers are so eager for those first holiday purchases that they are already stocking the shelves with Christmas decorations. My local Hobby Lobby has had Christmas trees up with lights on for several weeks now! Thankfully, I have all of my Christmas shopping about 75% done. Abby is about 90% done. Emily is a little harder, but I'm getting there. I had a lot done at this point last year, but not as much as this year. I love it! Maybe this year I can actually enjoy the holidays instead of feeling rushed.

As suggested by some blogs I read, I am going to start making one batch of cookies each week until Christmas. Each batch will be different so we will have lots of choices to enjoy when Christmas arrives. I also hope to have some handmade gifts this year. Nothing too extravagant...just a personal touch.

Of course, I also hope to create some easy, fun holiday crafts with Abby since I know she will understand it more this year. With Emily, my goal is to create those beaded snowflakes she wanted to do last year, but we didn't find the instructions until late and then I was too busy.

Last, but not least, I want our family to do some fun holiday things together. Downtown McKinney hosts "A Dickens Christmas" where the square turns back the clock and recreates a Victorian style Christmas with strolling carolers in period attire, booths for kids to make gingerbread houses, etc. We've never been to it before so I'm really looking forward to it this year. Also, there is a subdivision where you can take a horse-drawn carriage ride to view holiday lights. We've done it once in the past and it was so much fun! Oh, and the Gaylord Texan Resort has an ice sculpture walking tour in their garden. I've heard it's awesome!

What are you looking forward to this holiday season?

Happy October, Pumpkins!

A woman was asked by a coworker, "What is it like to be a Christian?"

The woman replied, "It is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

"Perry, get your shotgun ready."

Yes, I said that last night. I didn't think I would have to be saying that for at least another year or so.

Alas, Emily came home last night and announced that J.T. had asked her to go to the Homecoming Dance with him this Saturday. I think this is just a "friendship thing" since J.T. is a saxophone player in the band with her and she said "He's just a lot of fun to be around. He's not one of those nasty boys." Ha, ha! At least she recognizes that there are "nasty boys" and it is not a good thing to be around them. However, I don't really want to call this a "date" since she's only 14 and was actually planning to go to the dance with friends anyway. (By the way, he is 14 too.) Any ideas of what to call it to make me feel better? It's not really a date, is it?

Sunday Morning Scripture

One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek:

That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the

days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord,

And to inquire in His temple.

Psalm 27:4

Annihilation

I only have two words for this week's football game - Utter Annihilation.

Wylie Pirates - 44
Boyd Broncos - 0

The worst part of all? They were within 1 yard of another touchdown with only 30 seconds to go and they just put the ball down and walked away rather than humiliate us even further. Perry said it showed good sportsmanship. I said they should have taken what they had earned. It's not like it was going to make us look any worse than we already looked. Oh well...it's just a game, right?

P.S. Sorry I didn't post much for you all this week. I was barely keeping my head above water so-to-speak with a terrible cold Emily so graciously shared with me. Thankfully, I am feeling better as of yesterday and today. Unfortunately, I think I have passed it along to Perry now.