The Gist Family

Snow Days

2011-02-05T21:53:00.007-06:00

Well, kids went to school on Monday but Central Park was closed due to inclement weather the rest of the week. We got 8 inches of snow on Tuesday and 4 more on Friday. Emma and Bodi stayed home Tuesday and Wednesday and luckily, Pine Crest opened on Thursday and Friday. Thank goodness, they were going stir crazy! Although they opened with limited hours, the kids were happy to get out of the house. They're calling for more snow tomorrow (Sunday) but I'm keeping my fingers crossed that Central Park will be open tomorrow.

I worked from home on Tuesday but the kids were pretty needy. I got the question, "Can we go outside?" every 5 minutes so I sent them upstairs to watch a movie. Emma came down later and told me Bodi locked her bedroom door and asked if I could unlock it. Well, it was dinner time and I was busy making a meatloaf so I told her I would be up in a minute. I asked if Bodi was in her room and she said no.... so I thought I had a few minutes to spare. She seemed pretty upset and wanted me to hurry. She finally told me Layla was inside her room. I told her to give me a second but she insisted. I asked what the urgency was and she said that Layla was all alone in there and that she was probably scared. After we unlocked the door, we discovered the urgency. Emma had put Layla in her tote bag and had her hanging from the door knob. I don't think Layla minded too much, she actually looked pretty comfortable.

We finally took the kids outside to play Thursday after work but it was so cold. We only stayed outside for about 20 minutes and the kids were ready to come inside.

Christmas 2009

2009-12-25T21:58:00.010-06:00

Our first stop during the Christmas season was to Morton, MS. The kids love to visit the country to see Nana and Peepaw and to enjoy time on the farm.

How cute, my little cowboy and cowgirl.

My other cowboy, look at him go!

Time for riding lessons....

Bodi's turn...

After all the fun, the kids were put to work. They

helped Nana sift stalls. Oddly enough, the enjoyed it!

Our next stop was to Memphis to visit with the rest of the family.

My boys and Nanaw

Bodi Turns 3!

2009-10-20T13:06:00.001-05:00

Bodi celebrated his 3rd Birthday on October 20. This year we decided to do his birthday party at Chuck E Cheese. I can't believe how fast he's grown up. It seems like yesterday we were racing to the hospital, in anticipation of his arrival. After 7 hours of labor, my doctor came in to give me the news of a c-section. I had not made any progress and Bodi's heart rate was dropping. Of course I was devastated but was ready. I asked the doctor if he could check me one more time and to his and our surprise, I was fully dilated! I went from 3 to 10 in 30 minutes. After a couple pushes, Bodi entered the world. He has been such a joy. He and his big sissy get a long so well and play all the time. He's so spunky and people tell us all the time "he's ALL BOY".

Our Prince

Bodi and his Sissy and favorite cousin, Natalie

Cake time - Bodi loves cowboys so he had to have a cowboy cake

Enjoying his cake

Opening presents with his friends Charlie and Jake

Pumpkin Patch

2009-10-05T22:40:00.004-05:00

We went to McGarrah's Farm in Pea Ridge on Saturday, which was only a short 20 minute drive from the house. We rode hay rides, went through the corn maze, and picked pumpkins. We ended up getting a couple carving pumpkins and a gigantic one, I think it is around 80 lbs! We absolutely love this time of year, Emma and Bodi have already picked out their Halloween costumes. Emma will be a witch (a mean one) and Bodi will be a cowboy. Actually, Bodi says he wants to be a cowboy all the time like his Pepaw and wore his cowboy boots to school today... too cute!

Bodi, Emma, and Natalie posing

Emma on the hayride. I was so happy that it had the tall sides, otherwise, Bodi may have bailed on us!

Bodi and Natalie. Yes, Bodi's hair is long. We went for a hair cut that afternoon.

Bodi LOVED the pumpkins!

Bodi pulling the wagon, he's always showing off his muscles

Bodi taking a break after pulling the wagon

My beautiful model

Of course, you can't go to a pumpkin patch without taking some pictures with the cute cut outs!

The Latest Addition to the Gist Family

2009-10-05T22:19:00.004-05:00

Please welcome Layla. My mom is so sweet, she got Layla for the kids after we had to put Abby down a few months ago. The vet thinks she's a Chihuahua/Rat Terrier mix. Bodi and Emma named her Layla, after one of the characters from their favorite movie, Sky High. Thank you Mom!

Layla is so smart. She sits on command and does a great job going potty outside. She weighed 2 lbs 8 oz when we brought her home and weighs around 4 lbs now. The vet thinks she'll stay under 10 lbs.

Emma and Layla, the day we brought her home.

She's definitely a Daddy's girl

The kids just love her and are very gentle with her

Tonsillectomy

2009-09-30T22:40:00.007-05:00

Emma had her tonsils removed 2 weeks ago, on September 18, 2009. This was something we should have done a few years ago but we wanted to wait until she was a little older. The ENT said age 5 was a great age to do the surgery. Emma was excited to have the surgery and kept saying "Yeah, no more strep throat!" but the day before the surgery, she said she was nervous. After talking through it, her fear was going under the anesthesia. I told her it was just "goofy" medicine that helps her not remember the surgery. It seemed to calm her fears.

We got to the hospital at 7:15 a.m. to check in. Emma's nurse, Sue, was phenomenal. She was so sweet and eased Emma's fears. She went back at 9:30, the surgery lasted 30 minutes, and she was in recovery for another 30 minutes. When she came out, she was very groggy but that only lasted for about 15 minutes. The nurses said she did so awesome and was so brave. Emma did great taking in her liquids and eating the Popsicles. She was discharged at 1:30 p.m.

Emma before the surgery, she's so brave! The nurses said she was the best patient they've ever had.

Bye bye tonsils!

Emma missed school for a week and was very happy to start back this week. She did great during her recovery, although she grew tired of Popsicles, ice cream, and sherbet after a day. She lost some weight but we hope she gains it back as her diet gets back to normal. We're happy Emma did so well and hope she'll have fewer illnesses from now on. Now she says, "Yeah, no more swabs!" She hated getting her throat swabbed for strep and loves that she won't have to do it again... hopefully.

Destin 2009

2009-08-30T22:03:00.012-05:00

We had so much fun in Destin this summer. This was our first "official" family vacation and it was well worth it. The kids did great during the 14 hour drive and we were lucky to have Mom and Dad, the Craigs, and the Starrs join us.

Our first night at the beach

Dinner at Pompano Joe's

Natalie, Emma, Kennedi, Bodi, and McKenzie

Natalie, Emma, and Bodi

Emma and Bodi (Emma says Bodi's hair looks like Dora's)

Ba with Bodi, Emma, and McKenzie

Me and Ba enjoying the beach

Ba on the boogie board, he turns 70 in October but that didn't slow him down

Holding the alligator at Fudpuckers

A Quick Stop at Nana and Pepaw's

2009-08-29T23:19:00.000-05:00

We stopped at Nana and Pepaw's on our way home from Destin. It was a quick visit, but the kids got a chance to spend some time with them and ride horses.

Emma with Bodi holding on tight

Emma on Leroy, she is a natural!

I'm not quite ready for Bodi to ride solo just yet

Kindergarten, here we come!!!

2009-08-19T22:45:00.010-05:00

The time has finally come..... the first day of Kindergarten!!!! Emma was excited all Summer about this huge milestone but last night, she was unusually quiet. I asked her if she was excited and she said yes, but she was a little nervous. It broke my heart when she told me she was nervous about a new teacher, new friends, and a new school. Many of her friends from Pine Crest Private School will attend Central Park but only 2 of them will be in her class. We talked about how fun school was going to be and how to make new friends.

Emma hopped out of bed at 6:15 this morning. Usually, it's a fight to get her up at 6:45 but she was ready to go. She said she was still a little nervous but excited too. I fixed her favorite breakfast(pancakes) and off we went. She was so cute! Bryan and I were the crazy parents, capturing every minute with our camcorder and taking tons of pictures.

Leaving the house, she's ready to go!

Arrival - the school had a photographer up front so Bryan and I were able to get a picture with Emma.

Right outside her classroom and looking for her cubby.

Getting settled.

Emma was a little clingy and having a tough time. As we left, Emma ran up to us and wrapped her arms around me and wouldn't let go. Her teacher, Mrs. Stamps, stepped in and told her how much fun they were going to have but she wouldn't budge. Mrs. Stamps then leaned down and gave Emma a big hug and that was all it took! Emma looked at us and said "bye". That was all she needed, I can't believe the power of a hug.

I was able to cut out of work early and pick her up at school. We went for ice cream and just talked about all the new things she experienced. Her favorite part of the day was recess. I'm so proud of her and how she handled such a big step in her life. I'm so happy we survived the first day of Kindergarten and did it without a shedding a tear, including me and Bryan. I look forward to hearing all about her days and can't wait to do it again in three years when Bodi heads off to school.

P.S. I plan to get caught up on my blogs soon. We got back from Destin over a week ago and I have lots to post... stay tuned!

After the Ceremony...

2009-05-31T00:55:00.004-05:00

After graduation, the preschool hosted an open house. This is a chance for all the parents to visit the children's classrooms and visit with the teachers. The school had so many games for the kids and even had pony rides and a dunk booth.

Katie Mae, Emma, and Natalie in line for the pony ride.

Look at Emma go, she's a natural!

I was so happy Bodi got on the pony, unlike his sister, he hasn't been around too many horses.

Natalie having fun on her pony.

Emma, Jack, Caroline, Alex, and Aiden. They have been in the same class since they were babies. They originally started at TCH and then moved to Pine Crest. They will all go to Central Park Elementary in the Fall. They are a very close group of friends.

Emma's Pre-K Graduation

2009-05-30T23:42:00.005-05:00

Emma graduated Pre-K on Tuesday. I can't believe how fast it's gone by. I remember the day we brought her home from the hospital and she cried non-stop. She was even nicknamed "Barracuda" by the nurses in the hospital because she was the one that cried the loudest in the hospital nursery. I guess all the crying strengthened her lungs because she did a great job singing at the graduation ceremony.

Ready to get in her cap and gown....

Getting ready...

Emma and Caroline

Paige, Caroline, Katie Mae, and Emma

Pine Crest Class of 2009

Emma and classmates singing...

Aren't they cute?

After the ceremony

Bodi's so proud of Sissy!

Congratulations Emma, you're ready for kindergarten now!!!

Memorial Day Weekend

2009-05-28T21:57:00.008-05:00

We had a great, long weekend. Bryan's mom came in from Meridian, MS and the Starrs came in from Dallas, TX on Friday. We left for Branson Saturday and met the Barnicas for dinner while the Craigs and Starrs stayed back at the hotel so the kids could swim. We left for SDC early Sunday morning. I was a little worried because there was a 80% chance of thunderstorms that day but it held off until after lunch. The rain wasn't too bad and we were able to enjoy some more rides. Once the rain started getting very heavy, we decided to make our way to the train depot so Bodi and Dougie could ride the train. The boys were so excited because that was the one thing they wanted to do. After waiting in line for a while, we were finally able to board the train but at the last minute, the conductor informed us that the ride was cancelled due to heavy rain! All in all, it was a great trip. We enjoyed spending time with family and our closest friends who are actually family to us.

Nana, Emma, and Bodi

Bodi finally met the 36" height requirement and was able to ride more rides this time :)

Emma and Ze riding the roller coaster

Here comes the rain, Bodi's ready though

My boys taking a dip in the pool

Mother's Day

2009-05-11T22:01:00.006-05:00

I had the best Mother's Day! I always look forward to the crafts the kids make for me at school. Emma painted a flower pot and planted a Marigold in it. Bodi made a picture frame. They were both so proud of the gifts and it made me so happy to see how much love they put into making them.

Amy and I couldn't figure out where to go for brunch on Sunday, so we let the kids decide...Chuck E. Cheese it was! Although it was our day, it was nice to see the kids have fun. Amy took the pictures and I'll get them loaded as soon as I get them from her. Later that evening, the Craigs came over for ribeyes and filets. After dinner, we cuddled with the kiddos for a picture, I had such a great day with our families.

Silver Dollar City

2009-04-07T21:06:00.001-05:00

We decided to take the kids for a quick weekend trip to Silver Dollar City in Branson, MO. The Craigs also joined the fun. We left bright and early Saturday morning and made the 2 hour trip up north. The roads were very curvy and eventually took it's toll on Emma. She threw up in the car about half way there. After a 30 minute pit stop to clean her up, we were on the road again. The kids had so much fun at SDC and had even more fun at the hotel, which had an indoor pool. We purchased season tickets and will visit again soon.

We got there just in time for Bodi to fall asleep.

He missed the first 2 hours there!

There was an area just for the kids. Emma could ride most of the rides but Bodi only met the height requirement for 2 rides. He might be able to ride more by the end of Summer, as he only has one more inch to grow :) Doesn't Bryan look like a giant in the frog ride?

I honestly didn't think Emma ride the swings, but she did. My heart stopped the entire time they were up there. My little girl is so brave!

We also caught some shows, the Chinese Acrobats were our favorite!

More fun pics

We had such a blast and can't wait to come back in May!

Emma's 5th Birthday

2009-03-15T16:23:00.009-05:00

Emma turned 5 on Saturday, March 14th. We can't believe how fast our baby girl is growing up. She is so excited about Kindergarten in August and is already reading and loves math. She definitely gets this from her Daddy, the smartest guy I know.

We had her party at Jump Zone, as you can see,

she had a blast!

It was tough gathering all the kids for the group

picture but we got some of them in this shot.

The Birthday Girl sitting on her throne.

Opening gifts

Later that evening - Emma blowing out her B-day candles;

she's not big on sweets so I made her a fruit bouquet. Yes, I made it :)

Emma and the balloons Nana sent her

Emma in the musical dress Kenny and PT got her.

She's also holding the Nintendo DS we got her, look at her reaction

below as she opened it. Her reaction was PRICELESS!

Happy Birthday Emma,

we love you!!!

Mae's 1st Birthday

2009-02-14T23:02:00.000-06:00

We traveled to Dallas to celebrate Mae's first birthday.

We are so proud of her and are so happy that she is doing so well.

Kennedi, Emma, Natalie, and the Birthday Girl

Me, Dad, Mom, Amy, Emma, and Natalie

AiLien and Bryan... Bodi chomping down on calamari, he loves it!

Valentines Day Party at School

2009-02-13T22:45:00.000-06:00

Emma's party was crazy, the kids had so much fun.

Emma pictured here with her friends, Katie and Katie Mae.

Bodi's party was a little more quiet, he pretty

much "chilled" the whole time.

We decided to ditch Bodi's party and join

the fun in Emma's room.

The ladies love Bodi :)

Jitterbugs

2009-02-01T16:34:00.007-06:00

Last weekend, the girls had a Jitterbugs performance. Jitterbugs is a theatrical dance class that comes to their school once a week and holds 3 performances a year. This one was special since Natalie was finally old enough to participate. They performed 4 dances, unfortunately, Natalie suffered stage freight. The show went on with Natalie cheering Emma on.

First dance - "Who Let the Dogs Out"

Natalie watching from behind the scenes

Second Dance - "Chim Chim Cheriee"

Third Dance - "Secret Agent Man"

Fourth Dance - "The Ugly Bug Ball"

Bodi kept trying to go on stage and finally gave up...

then he decided to entertain himself by trying out each seat in the auditorium.

After the performance - Bodi was so proud of Sissy!

Christmas in Dallas

2008-12-30T22:17:00.016-06:00

We left for Dallas Christmas Eve and went non-stop until we got home on Sunday. It was awesome seeing everyone, especially Mom and Dad.

Lilyann and Lucas

Emma and Mae

Emma got up around 8:00 Christmas morning and immediately woke us up. She was anxious to see if Santa figured out she and Bodi were in Dallas this year. As we came into the living room, her eyes glowed as she saw that Santa not only left presents, he also ate the cute little cookies she baked at the Starr's.

Emma and Bodi tearing into the gifts Santa brought

We went to the Phan's that evening to open presents. Let's just say, it was complete chaos. We tried to open one at a time but having 13 kids that ranged from 0-17 didn't make it easy. After one round, we decided to let the kids tear into the presents. Thank you to everyone for the gifts, Emma and Bodi loved everything they got.

AiLien and Tyler

Caitlin, McKenzie, Kennedi, and Emma

McKenzie and Emma

Kennedi

Nicky, Ngoi Ba, Bodi, Ngoi, and Lucas

After opening the presents, we broke out the Wii and played Dance Dance Revolution. I'm soooo happy Bryan got me one for Christmas because it was a BLAST!

The Rookie - I am very confused at this point

AiLien and Tyler's attempt

The Pros - Ty and McKenzie showed us all up

On Saturday, Dzung and Amy hosted a joint Birthday party at Chuck E Cheese for Nicky and Natalie, who both turned 3 on December 1st and 18th respectively. The kids had so much fun and Nicky and Natalie both had more presents to open :)

Mckenzie, Emma, and Ty

Bodi and Natalie cruising

The Pink Ladies, Natalie and Emma

Nicky and Ngoi Ba

After a whirlwind week, it was time for us to leave on Sunday. Saying goodbye is always hard, but it's especially hard on Emma. She cried in the car for about 30 minutes. Good thing we'll make another trip to Dallas in February for Mae's 1st Birthday party. Thank you to the Dallas Clan for such a great visit, we can't wait to see everyone again in February.

Breakfast with Santa

2008-12-21T15:34:00.005-06:00

The kids had breakfast with Santa at school yesterday. Of course, Emma did great but Natalie and Bodi didn't want anything to do with him.

Bodi had so much fun, he couldn't even sit still for a picture.

Good thing Amy was there to help keep him still so we could get one.

Emma was a little shy but hopped on Santa's lap.

Bodi wanted nothing to do with Santa so we compromised.

Same with Natalie......

Happy Birthday Natalie!!!

2008-12-21T14:38:00.004-06:00

Natalie turned 3 on December 18th. We can't believe how big she is. HAPPY BIRTHDAY Nat Nat, we love you!

The 3 Amigos

Bodi on the trampoline Natalie got for her Birthday

The Truong Twins Arrive!

2008-12-15T23:00:00.003-06:00

Dzung, Xiu, and big brother Nicky welcomed twins, Lilyanne (bottom) and Lucas (top) on December 8th. Big sister, Lilyanne, was born one minute before Lucas. She was 5lbs 7 oz and he was 6lbs 5 oz. We're so happy that they are doing great and can't wait to see everyone when we visit for Christmas next week. Congratulations to Dzung and Xiu!!!!

Santa Cow

2008-12-15T22:10:00.004-06:00

We went to Chick-fil-A on Saturday to see Santa Cow and Amy and Natalie met us there. Of course, Bodi and Natalie were scared to death but Emma jumped right in. Although she told me later that the cow was a little "creepy". I guess a 7ft tall cow dressed as Santa was a little weird. We're having breakfast with Santa at their school on Saturday, hopefully, Bodi and Natalie won't be too scared and we can get a good picture.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year....

2008-12-15T21:32:00.007-06:00

We finally got the Christmas tree up last week. We waited for the perfect time so the kids could join the fun but they did not get excited as we thought. I guess they decided it was "work" and went off to play. Bryan and I got the tree up and trimmed, and got emotional seeing all the ornaments from the past. We realized how fast time goes by and dread the year we trim the tree after the kids are grown and leave home. Until then, we'll do our best to keep our family traditions alive and make each year memorable.

Santa's little helper - We found the Santa costume while going through some of the boxes. Bodi loved the costume and even wanted to wear it to school the next day.

6 Years Already???

2008-12-03T22:12:00.006-06:00

Bryan and I celebrated our 6th wedding anniversary on Sunday. I hate to admit, but I completely forgot. I guess it's true, once you have kids, the only dates you remember are their milestones. Thank you Bryan, for being the best husband and father, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Thanksgiving

2008-12-03T20:02:00.009-06:00

We traveled to Eastern Arkansas and Northwest Mississippi to visit Bryan's family for Thanksgiving. We don't get to see them as much as we would like, so we cherish every minute. The kids had such a great time in the country and enjoyed having lots of room to run and play.

Emma posing, as usual, Bodi's not into it.

Emma and Papaw Jack having a chat.

Emma and her cousins, Cheznie, Carson, and Buck having fun on the swing.

Emma, with Cheznie and Carson, stomping figs.

Emma, Carson, McKenzie, Cheznie, and Bodi

Thanks to everyone for making this trip so wonderful, we miss you all so much!

Christmas Pictures

2008-11-24T22:11:00.011-06:00

We had our 2008 Christmas pictures yesterday. The kids did great and we were able to get some great pictures. Later this week, we'll make our trip to Eastern Arkansas for Thanksgiving with Bryan's family. We can't wait to see everyone!

Our little models...

Emma is such a "girly girl", she spotted the pink boa and just had to
try it on. Of course, we had to take some pics.

Emma's First Gymnastics Meet

2008-11-15T16:18:00.009-06:00

Emma had her first gymnastics meet last Sunday. This was a practice meet to get the kids ready for competition season next year. Emma is part of the TNT1 class, composed of just 3 girls. She participated in 4 events - vault, floor exercise, bars, and balance beam. I was afraid that she would be shy in front of the crowd but she did great. The girls were not given scores since it was a practice meet, instead, they were given "comments". She received great comments from the judges and continues to practice.

Emma and her teammates. She's on the front row, fourth from the right.

The TNT1's - Lacy, Emma, and Katie

Emma during her beam exercise.

Emma's bar exercise.

Bodi's 2nd Birthday Party (Take 2)

2008-11-04T22:07:00.006-06:00

We were able to celebrate Bodi's Birthday during the Starrs, Ngoi, and Ngoi Ba's visit. Bodi had a great time and the kids had a blast spending time with each other.

A trip down memory lane.....

Bodi makes his debut at 8lbs 1oz on October 20, 2006

Bodi turns ONE

I can't believe my baby boy is getting so big!

Happy Halloween!

2008-11-04T21:25:00.011-06:00

As a kid, I didn't enjoy Halloween, all the scary decorations and costumes terrified me. Now that I'm a mom, I LOVE it!!! I love to see the excitement on Emma and Bodi's faces as they prepare for a night of Trick-or-Treating. Well, with all the illnesses being passed around, I was bound to catch something. Between Emma, Bodi, and Natalie, they passed around croup, Rotavirus, and bronchitis. I changed it up when I came down with strep throat on Thursday. This was devastating to me, especially since the Starrs, Ngoi, and Ngoi Ba made the trip from Dallas to spend not only Halloween with us, but to celebrate Bodi's birthday on Saturday. Since I was extremely contagious, I sent the kids over to Amy's to ensure they didn't catch it.

Everyone was kind enough to help Bryan with getting the kids ready and pitched in to ensure the Gist kids had a great night. I had been sick most of the week and I didn't have time to get the kids' costumes (yes, I am a procrastinator), so, Thuy brought some costumes down for me.

Emma was a cowgirl (riding a horse), Bodi was a duck, Natalie was a beautiful princess, Doug and Doug Jr. were Spongebob, Kenndi was a witch, and McKenzie was a female Ed McMahon.

Rewind to earlier that day.... Emma and Bodi absolutely love spending time with Amy and having Thuy there was especially special. Thuy and Amy kept the kids busy with activities until the sun went down. They carved pumpkins, decorated mini pumpkins, and made puppets.

I'm not sure how the party turned out later that night, but the treats looked good :)

Halloween Carnival

2008-10-30T10:24:00.008-05:00

The kids had their Halloween carnival at school Tuesday night. Bodi went as a cow and Emma decided to be a spider. The spider costume was Bodi's from last year, we tried it on and it worked! The kids had so much fun, they had games in each classroom and of course, tons of candy. Bodi was so funny, he didn't want to go into his room and cried every time we tried to go in. I think he was afraid that we were dropping him off.

Mommy and her babies.

Emma and Bodi with their friends, sisters Caroline and Claire. Emma and Caroline have been in the same class since they were babies and now Bodi and Claire are in the same class. They are all so sweet with each other, especially Bodi and Claire.

Emma and Bodi enjoying some games.

Emma and her friend Katie.

Bodi searching for the perfect piece of candy.

The kids had a blast and we'll do it again Friday night when
they go Trick-or-Treating.

Pumpkin Time

2008-10-26T21:49:00.006-05:00

The change in seasons has brought on more than cooler weather, it's brought on a range of illnesses. Emma had croup a couple weeks ago, Bodi had rotavirus last week, and now Natalie has croup. Emma recovered well and Bodi started feeling much better so we decided to buy some pumpkins today.

Bryan was so sweet with the kids, helping them pick the perfect pumpkins.

The kiddos taking a break, and they're going to need it. They have their Halloween carnival on Tuesday, the Starrs and Ngoi and Ngoi Ba coming on Thursday, Trick-or-Treating and Amy's Halloween party on Friday, and then Bodi's Birthday party (take 2) on Saturday. We can't wait to see the Starrs and Ngoi and Ngoi Ba!!!!

Bodi is TWO

2008-10-20T22:09:00.015-05:00

Bodi turned 2 today, we can't believe how fast it's gone by. We wanted to start the day special so Bodi and Emma got M & M's for breakfast. Bodi had a birthday party at school so Sissy and Natalie's teachers allowed them to join in the fun. As you see, the kids had a blast.

After the party, the kids and I went home and played outside. Emma and Bodi decided to get the tennis rackets out and hit balls. We are definitely enjoying some outside fun before the weather gets too cold.

Emma decided to try some modeling poses, but I don't think Bodi was into it.

Later, the Craigs came over for pizza and cake.

Finally, time for presents. Bodi was "pooped" by the time we got to the gifts, so he relaxed as he opened them. He perked up when he opened the "Wonder Pets" book Sissy got him and got his second wind.

At the end of a fun-filled day, we settled down for a family photo.

A Day in the Life

2008-10-18T22:13:00.010-05:00

Bodi and Emma enjoying some Fun Dip. We try not to give the kids too much candy, so when they get it, it's a special treat.

Bodi loves his cowboy boots but didn't understand why I wouldn't let him leave the house in his boots and shorts.

The other night, Bodi decided he wanted to try to pee pee in the potty. Only problem was that he peed in our laundry hamper instead of his potty. We redirected him to the potty but he didn't do anything. It's going to be a long road....

Future Olympic Gymnast

2008-10-11T21:46:00.003-05:00

Emma started gymnastics about a year and a half ago. At first, it was recreational. 50 minutes on Saturdays, with singing, dancing, and some basic gymnastic skills. Over the summer, she was selected for the competitive team and now practices twice a week for 2 hours. When she turns 5, she'll practice 4 hours a week. She absolutely loves it and literally eats, breathes, and sleeps gymnastics. Her coaches are very impressed with her and she's the only one in class that can do a round-off. She'll have her first meet late this year.

Bodi on the sidelines, again! Bodi loves to watch Sissy practice. The first thing he does is kicks off his shoes and tries to go out on the floor. It's literally a fight, trying to keep him off the mat. We'll probably start him in gymnastics at the beginning of the year.

Action Packed Weekend

2008-10-03T20:46:00.015-05:00

Whew, what a crazy weekend. It started Saturday.....

10:00 a.m. - Took the boys for an overdue haircut. Shoot, left the camera in the car but Bodi did great. The staff always woo over Bodi as he sits still for the cut. Emma watched as Bryan got his hair cut, or should I say shaved?

10:45 a.m. - We decide to go to Wal Mart, where Paula Deen was scheduled for a book signing. She was there signing her new kids cookbook. Byran really didn't want to go but I gave him the guilt trip. Well, who knew so many people would turn out to meet Paula? We stood in line for 2 hours. Emma and Bodi were troopers, and entertained each other in the buggy. Bodi pooped out right before we got to meet Paula and Michael, oh well. It was awesome meeting Paula and her husband and they even told us what beautiful kids we have!

1:00 p.m. - After a long nap, Emma and I went to the library. This was her first trip and she was so excited. We tried to get a card for her but she has to be 5 before she gets one of her own. Well, another thing to look forward to when she turns 5.... kindergarten and her own library card!

5:30 p.m. - In true Gisty style, we decide to take the kids to Locomotion, as if we didn't do enough today. We played games, ate pizza, and then Emma and Bryan rode the go karts. Bodi was too young to ride, so we watched from the sidelines. I was afraid that Bodi would be upset, but instead, he cheered on Sissy. He's such a sweet boy, he hardly ever throws fits and his teachers tell us he's the sweetest one in the class.

Sunday, not too much action. I took Emma to a birthday party at Jump Zone for her friend, Katie. We've been to 4-5 birthday parties in the past few weeks. Emma and Bodi have 4 this week alone, and 4 more in the next couple weeks. It's going to be busy!

Labor Day Weekend

2008-09-03T20:18:00.023-05:00

Uncle Brandon and Chelsea visited for the weekend. We had so much fun just spending time with each other and hanging out.

Of course, we had to break out the Wii. Chelsea was undefeated in boxing but not without a fight. Brandon tried, even with his fighting pants on, but still got KO'ed!

Go Hogs Go!!!

2008-09-03T19:17:00.001-05:00

Chelsea and Brandon at the Razorback game. This was Chelsea's very first game and luckily, we won :) Too bad the guy in the gray shirt behind them was pouting over the seats... he was confused on the rows and was asked to move back one. It didn't bring them down though, see the big smile on her face?

Let's Play Ball!!!

2008-09-03T18:49:00.001-05:00

Chelsea and Bodi suited up to work on their baseball swing. Bodi absolutely loved playing with Chelsea and followed her step-by-step the entire weekend.

Slumber Party Fun

2008-08-27T22:54:00.005-05:00

Emma always looks forward to our Slumber Party on Saturday nights. We eat popcorn and have a variety of sweets, particularly chocolate, while vegging out in Mom and Dad's bed. Her movie pick is usually Harry Potter. I know, she's only 4, but loves the Harry Potter movies and is NOT scared.

You can tell football season is around the corner, as Bryan has already broken out his favorite Tennessee Vols quilt. Although the colors clash with everything, it's one battle I let him win. Plus, it reminds us of Nanaw, who took the time to make it for us.

Natalie spent the night last weekend so we had to pick a more friendly movie, so Enchanted it was. Natalie is getting to be such a big girl and we think she's getting close to joining the "Big Dog" gang, as Emma and the Starrs call it. *Special thanks to Bryan for watching the kids so Amy and I could do some shopping that night.

The Next American Idol.....

2008-08-27T22:45:00.004-05:00

Open auditions: New rock star seeks band members. Bodi is the new lead singer for the latest, coolest band but he needs some back-ups.... any takers?Audio techs welcome to apply.... he's experiencing some technical difficulties.

Playdates with Natalie

2008-08-27T22:23:00.010-05:00

It's rare when we get a chance to have play time with Natalie.... something always seems to come up. So, when the kids get together, it's always special. We call Bodi and Natalie "Two Peas in a Pod" since they kind of bring out the worst in each other. Emma is usually the one that plays nice while "The Peas" are climbing on things and causing all kinds of raucous.

In a rare and quiet moment, Natalie and Bodi play beauty shop. Bodi sat quietly as Natalie cut and styled his hair.

Nana, Peepaw, and Friends Visit

2008-08-11T21:45:00.017-05:00

Nana, Peepaw, Uncle Jeff, Aunt Sharon, Uncle Ivy, and Aunt Sherry came for a visit this weekend. We had a great time and just "chilled" out. We had to take the opportunity to whip out the Wii (yes, we broke down and bought one) and got to see Peepaw show off his tennis moves. Bodi also joined the fun with his own "special" controller. The kids also enjoyed spending one-on-one time with Nanaw and Peepaw, playing teacher and reading books.

Saying goodbye is always hard..... the Clarks left Monday morning, after we left for work and dropped off the kids at school. Nana, Peepaw, Uncle Jeff, and Aunt Sharon left us a great goodbye picture on our camera. It was a nice surprise when we found it after they left.

Bath Time Fun!!!

2008-08-01T19:41:00.003-05:00

Bath time is always fun for the kids, Bodi took his first shower with Daddy tonight and enjoyed every minute of it.

Time Out

2008-07-30T20:28:00.000-05:00

The kids were crazy tonight! They both spent some time in time out but I think Bodi enjoyed it a little more than Sissy.

Goofing Around

2008-07-29T20:04:00.008-05:00

After a long day at work, it's nice coming home to the kids and just goof around.

Visit from the Phans

2008-07-28T21:08:00.019-05:00

The Phans visited over the weekend and we had such a great time. They were kind enough to bring their Wii and I'm embarrassed to admit, we're addicted! Emma had so much fun bowling, along with playing tennis with Di Ngoc. Ty was so sweet to help Emma with her tennis stroke but she held her own with bowling. Now I know what I want for my upcoming Birthday.... hint, hint Bryan :)

We also had time to visit the pool in our neighborhood. Bodi, as always, was fearless and jumped in the pool about 100 times... good thing Uncle Thanh was there to help. Emma also showed her fearless side by swimming all by herself, with the help of floaties of course.

We also celebrated Ty's Birthday Saturday night. The kids loved the cake and we think Thanh's been working out :)

Anyway, thanks to the Phans for making the trip to NWA, we know how hard it is to travel with your family. We had such a great time with everyone. I guess it's our turn to make a trip to Dallas :)

Baby Cole

2008-07-21T22:24:00.001-05:00

We finally got a chance to visit the Barnica's in Springfield, MO and to see Baby Cole. We can't believe he's already 4 weeks old and spoiled rotten! Melissa and Rob are the youngest and hippest Grandparents we know :) We had fun just hanging out and just enjoying the Barnica's. We did miss RJ though, as he was visiting his Grandparents.

Dallas Trip

2008-07-08T22:23:00.014-05:00

We just got back from our annual 4th of July trip to Dallas. It was great seeing the entire Truong clan, including AA. Of course, the kids had a BLAST! Bodi made his first trip to the water park and was totally fearless. We barely saw Emma over the weekend, as she played with her cousins. She also spent the night with the Starrs for the very first time. It was kind of sad when she didn't make her usual call for us to pick her up. She's getting to be such a big girl and she's ready to spend a week in Dallas without us.... we'll see!

Thanks again, to everyone, for making the trip so special. We can't wait to see the Phans in a few weeks!

Me and Ba with the grandkids.

PT with Emma, Phuong Mai, and Kennedi

Cait and Bodi

Anh with Z, Nicky, Emma, and Cait

Girls night out.... Natalie did so good!

Emma Makes a Big Donation

2008-07-03T21:48:00.028-05:00

A few weeks ago, I decided my hair was too long for the hot weather and had 11 inches cut and donated it. Emma decided she wanted to do the same, of course, we didn't think she was serious. She continued on and on for a few weeks. I then heard about an event, Pantene Beautiful Lengths. I signed her up and spent the next few weeks explaining how it would take her a long time to grow her hair back and that she would not be able to put her hair in pig-tails or even a pony tail. Bryan really tried to talk her out of it, but she insisted on helping those in need. After weeks of discussion, we decided she was ready. The big day came July 2, 2008.

Emma before the big event.

Prepping for the cut.

There were celebrities there to cut the volunteers' hair. Emma's hair was cut by the commissioner of the LPGA, Carolyn Bivens. She also got to meet LPGA star, Natalie Gulbis.

Emma had 8 inches cut, afterward, all the volunteers showed off

their new do's in a fashion show.

Of course, Daddy, Bodi, Di Amy, and Natalie came out to support Emma, we are so proud of our little girl!! She truly has a huge heart. She and I plan to donate again once we grow 8 more inches. Maybe Di Amy and Natalie can join us next year :)