W-William Texas Knight

William Texas Knight joined our family on November 26, 2007 and he is a complete joy!  He is the third son for Zach and Meg and he is so sweet and easy going! He is starting to really get a personality now and has such cute little grins and giggles. He has BIG blue-eyes, dark hair little and is a "chunky monkey". He is well padded and so laid back! He is trying to figure out the whole crawling thing. He loves to lay in his older brothers room and is quite entertained by them. It will be so fun to see what things interest him, what talents he will charm us with, etc.  but for right now, we are just enjoying his snuggles and precious chubby cheeks! How fun to watch these little guys grow up!

X-X-ray

First off, there aren't a lot of things that start with X and besides that we do have a great x-ray film at our house. Once, when Larry was doing a little building out back of our house, he accidently shot a six-penny nail into his foot. Yep...all the way in! He shot right through the boot, sock and even managed to catch the hem of his jeans. When he said he had a nail in his foot...I was thinking in the bottom, like most people do. But, no, his was through the top of his foot. After a little visit to the ER, it was determined it had thankful not caused any major damage. When the doctor walked in with a pair of pliers, I thought he was playing a joke on us but no, he just got a good hold on the head of that nail and pulled it out! Larry said it didn't hurt...I think he was in shock! Either way, later in the day he was certainly hurting! But he was just excited they didn't cut through his work boots! And they think women are crazy about their shoes! Sorry, no picture to post! Just the story was probably a little to graphic for some of you! But we do have the xray if you ever want to look at something both amazing and gross!

Y - Yellow

Though not my most favorite color, it is near the top! It seems to always find a place in our home. Our bedroom is painted yellow, the kitchen has lots of accents of yellow and I do love yellow tulips and daffodils! 

A to Z...in reverse that is!

I decided I would do an A-Z list but I am starting with Z! I know, I am weird...but it is kind of like the way I flip through a magazine...I always go from the back to the front...so Z is where I will start!

Z- Zachary Austin Knight
Our firstborn. Our only son. Our pride and joy. I loved this stage of my life, because now I get to sit back and watch my children be adults. Be spouses. For Zach, we get to watch him be a husband and a daddy. It is great fun. But first let me go back to September 25, 1979. I can't describe the excitement Larry and I felt as we anxiously awaited our firstborn child. We had

 been married a little over 3 years when Zach was born. The nursrey was ready (decorated in lovely checked gingham and ducks) and we could hardly wait to meet our child...yes...in "those" days you really didn't really have the option to find out so the sex of our child was a much anticipated surprise. I actually loved that...one of life's truly best surprises!! We were delighted when Zach made his much anticipated entrance weighing in at 9 lbs and 2 1/2 ounces! He had a head full of black hair and pretty much entered the world ready to take it on! He was a chunky little guy with gusto for life! He quickly became Larry's little sidekick and loved to "go work" with Dad. He basically just loved life...but he was also very strong willed which of course got him in to a bit of trouble through the early years of his life. He had to often learn lessons the hard way and had his fair share of bumps, bruises, stitches and even a few broken bones. When I was pregnant with Ashley, I often thought how he would accept another "kid" in the house but I could not have dreamed how well he "took" to his sister. He immediately became the protector and her best friend. We thought Ashley would never walk, because if Zach saw her trying to get to something he would quickly bring it to her. It became very obvious that her brother could do no wrong in her eyes! Being strong willed had it's advantages as well, he was a quick learner, not afraid to try new tasks and his brain was always thinking up something to do or make. Zach loved being with family, grandparents and cousins! You could give him a piece of rope or an empty cardboard box and he was a happy camper! Zach, loved life, but didn't really see a great need for school. He tolerated it and was actually a good student but he just didn't see why everyone else made such a big deal of it...he had much prefer to be at home or working with his Dad. When Zach reached high school, he went on a Wilderness Trek trip with our youth group and the whole world changed for him. He had always been our child who LOVED to be outdoors but once he saw the mountains, he was hooked. He loved climbing, repeling, rafting, fly-fishing, skiing, camping...pretty much if it was outdoors he was interested. But the thing we also saw happening, was his faith grew by leaps and bounds. As soon as he was old enough to work at Trek (between his Junior and Senior Year of High School) he spent his summers in Colorado. It was hard to be away from him all summer, but then when we would go and see him so happy it became much easier. Working with Trek, he met Meg! So, we really feel like the whole Trek thing was a "God-thing" in his faith and in his future. Fast forward...there was college, marriage, moving to A&M to finish his schooling, moving back to Abilene to take over a business Larry had started when Zach was in High School and then Meg and Zach starting their family. Now we have three precious grandsons and have the pleasure of watching Zach be a dad! It is so fun to see Owen and Clay already following in their father's footsteps! They love being outdoors, love to "build things" and as Owen says "be worker men!".

Zach started life out big and he hasn't ever stopped. He towers over me and his body build is much like his granddad and his great granddad. But there is another part of him that is huge and that is his heart. He has such a heart for serving others. On so many occasions, I am reminded of what a heart of gold he has. He is always doing and giving of himself, his means and his time. But he also has such a funny side, that many never see. Thank goodness we do, because it brings us such joy! I am very proud to call him my son! He is such a blessing to my life! Zachary Austin Knight...thank you for the honor it is to call you son! You have made my life rich in so many ways and I am so blessed by you each and every day!

Here is Zach and his three precious boys! Owen is standing, Clay is sitting on

Zach's lap as he shows them their new baby brother, Will. 

Okay...I promise I won't make ALL the post this long...but after all, 

I am a mom and I do love to talk about my kids!

Two months ago today...

Well...a not so funny thing happened on the way to Sam's two months ago today. Larry and I had made plans to grab a quick bite to eat and then head to Sam's to buy groceries for our Christmas meals, etc. I had a full weekend planned- I was going to finish my Christmas shopping and get lots of my baking done. Less than a block from our house...our plans changed. We were broadsided by a Schwan's Food Delivery Truck. We got a very quick reminder of how fast things can change in your life much less a very sweet reminder of how good our God is! He certainly was watching over us! The Jeep was totaled and I had multiple broken ribs but in the big scheme of things...we were incredibly blessed to have come out so good!

It has been a painful and slow recovery, but I went to the doctor today and he has released me! Yeah! Things are looking good. I am still sore at times, but overall I am very glad to be up and going once again! Larry was thankfully not hurt and he has been my strength these past two months. He has been an incredible "nurse" to me! I sure do love that man!

I want to thank my sweet family for ALL the ways you have showered me with blessings these past 8 weeks. You have not only encouraged me with your sweet words and caring ways but have reminded me of how very blessed I am to have such loving and supportive children, spouse and grandkids! Thank you for all the ways you have helped out!

So, on this Valentine's day, I send my love and thanks to each of you for blessing my life with your love!

Our traditions...continued

This tradition was started when our kids were very little. Christmas Eve has always been spent with my family. Zach and Ashley would get so excited not only for Christmas but for all the fun that awaited them at Nanny and Pa's house, thus Christmas Eve was a very long day! When they were little, I think about 5 and 2, we began this tradition. It was started to give them a little something to pass the time! But we still do it today, with all the kids, "big and little".

2) The Christmas Eve Morning Hunt

On our tree are small decorative cone-shaped boxes. Each Christmas Eve Morning, those little boxes hold a poem. It is the first "clue" of many to help them find the Christmas Eve Morning Gift. The clue leads them on a scavenger hunt through the house (and occasionally outside in the yard weather permitting) until they finally come to a special treat. When the kids were little it might be an art project, game, Christmas Movie, etc. Of course, the hunt is the popular part of the activity. To add a spin on things we have added challenges to our hunt as the kids have gotten older and wiser! The poems went from giving very direct clues when they were little, to now having to make the older "kids" work and think through the clue. To add to the fun, we always try to do something a bit different. The first Christmas Meg was in the family, we tied the three kids together...so they could "help" her with the hunt, so of course we had to repeat that activity this past Christmas with David. Seeing 4 adults tied together at their wrists and ankles, scampering through the house is a sight to behold! They were laughing so hard but working as a team every step of the way! I am pretty sure David wondered what kind of crazy family he had married into but I think he has recovered! Hopefully! Another memory was when Zach and Ashley were in high school, we tied them back to back...but they quickly figured out that Zach, who was much taller than Ashley could lift her up on his back and run through the house carrying her! As you can well imagine, we have some great pictures that year! Larry and I have more fun planning it and the kids never know what to expect! A few years ago, the kids surprised us with our own hunt! They did a great job on the clues/poems...what pressure! Ha. Last year the adults helped the little grandsons on their first hunt but this year we are thinking they will be able to do it on their own...with all the adults following close behind with camera's snapping! Each year differs slightly, but one thing is always the same. You read the clue as a group, solve the clue together and run to the next location where you will find another clue, and so on and so on. As you can see, our family believes in having fun at the holidays! One thing I have learned...it is more about the activity than the prize!

Introducing William Texas Knight

William Texas Knight

Born November 26, 2007

Just when you think your heart can hold anymore love, it just gets bigger and bigger!Today, we welcomed another grandson into our family and into our hearts! Zach and Meg were blessed with another beautiful son this morning at 7:51. Will entered the world weighing 7 lbs and 13 oz, 21 1/2 inches long and has a head full of dark brown hair. Will and Mommy Meg are both doing great, Dad just couldn't be any prouder and the big brothers, Owen and Clay are quite proud of their new brother. We are all quite busy right now trying to help with the two older boys but I just had to stop and share a few photos of our new pride and joy!

Owen holding his brother for the very first time.

What a precious moment!

Will was making quite a face at Owen, who found it all very funny!

Honey and Will...ahh...what sweet snuggles!