Thanksgiving 2011

We celebrated Marc's birthday on the 21st. We had a great Olive Garden dinner, ten had presents at home for him. Jud loves birthdays!

Thanksgiving was a nice day. We spent part of the day with friends then had a nice family dinner at home. Jud was excited that I made Nona's "homemade" hot rolls.

The day after Thanksgiving we went to the Stars game, and got to see the Stanley Cup. Jud was so excited and said someday he would hoist it over his head, but until that day..."don't touch it!!!"

WE didn't want to risk any bad luck, so none of the Criss' touched the cup, but it was really tempting.

One of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions is putting up the Christmas tree. This year we had to buy a new tree, it is really pretty and just loaded with all the beautiful ornaments we have collected. The most beautiful though is still the angel "Gabby" on top.

Hockey Fun

Jud is having a great season so far. He had his first Hat Trick of the season. Hope we have lots more.

Then he was the Jr. Starter at the Texas Tornadoes game, the moms and kids scrimmaged during the first intermission. We actually had a shot on goal but alas it was a wash, next time the mamas will win!

Happy Halloween

Jud likes Halloween, and this year he again went as a soldier. We really got our money's worth out of this costume, he wears it all the time. The real cute part of this is the tooth hanging out. Jud won't pull them out he waits for them to just fall out, lol. I guess he is more patient than he often seems to be.

Goal

Hope to see lots of this, soon. Jud celebrating a goal last season. There was a whole series of this, he must have skated about 50 feet like this. He does like to celebrate. Wonder if I can do this move if I ever score a goal?

Cub Scout Camp

On the way to camp Jud and Marc stopped for supplies, and noticed the street name.

The boys went to Cub Scout camp again this year. It was fun, except for the rain Saturday night. I kept waiting for them to show up but they stuck it out.

My boy sure likes guns. He loves doing the BB gun shooting at camp.

Award Day

My smart boy got the Principle's award for having 95% or higher. We are so proud if him.

All Jud

Now he really looks like a hockey player! What a gaping hole in his smile. Tooth number three in just 3 months. Took forever to start loosing them and now he is nearly toothless.

During my run down at White Rock Lake, Jud and Marc went kayaking for the first time. Jud had a blast and Marc said he even enjoyed it.

We have had a lot fun lately. Jud really enjoyed the pool in the back yard this summer. This pic shows the last swim.

Second Grade

The first week of school went pretty smoothly. Jud is with the teacher he had hoped for, and has many friends in his class. We are all excited to get back into a routine, except for the early mornings that is, lol. Jud is growing up and getting to be so big and mature, but he still likes Mama to take him into school each day and always has a hug for me when I pick him up.

August

Well we are mostly up to date here now. Jud is currently in Wyoming with Nona. Papaw, Unka, Aunt Carie and Cousin Lindsey. I will post pics when he get back, or at least by October, lol. He finished up a golf clinic last week and then we went to the Flow Rider at the mall. He really liked that my little daredevil. I don't know where he gets the idea he can do anything, but I hope he never looses it.
Only 2 more weeks until school starts and the summer has flown by. Jud did science camp, art camp, golf lessons and camp, hockey camp, and vacationed. He leads a pretty busy little life and we hope the fun never stops. Have a great end of summer and we will update soon,
maybe.

July

In July Cousin Lindsey came to visit. Jud really liked that, it was like having a big sister, except they didn't fight.
We went to Hawaiian Falls and had a blast, also headed down to Dublin for the real sugar Dr. Pepper, yum.
Lindsey got to see me play hockey, and Jud play. She would probably say Jud's game was way more exciting.
We can't wait for her to come back next summer!

Nona and Papaw

We popped up to Grafton for a few days to visit Nona and Papaw. Jud had a blast with them. He got to climb on te hillside and wonder around the woods a little. Papaw took him fishing and to the pool. They rode the 4-wheeler and fed the wildlife. It was a fun, busy trip.

Jud had never caught lightening bugs, so we got a jar and put about 30 in it before we freed them. Jud wanted to keep them and use it for a lamp, lol.

Can't go to Grafton without visiting the dam.

Oh yeah, Papaw let Jud shoot the pellet gun. Jud definitely likes guns, must be a boy thing.

Vacation

It was pretty hot,and this looked cool, but as soon as this squirrel heard Jud open his Cheez-Its he came running. Unka had a bad experience with a squirrel in DC once, but this guy was very nice and no injuries were reported.

Jud and Mama headed off a little vacation by ourselves. We flew into DC and spent a few days, then headed over to Unka's for a couple days.
Jud enjoyed the museums and monuments in Dc more than I expected. We walked for hours, in the humid city heat but it was so fun. Jud insisted on seeing both sides of Lincoln's face at that site. A clerk at a book store had told him to do that and that one side was happy and the other angry. I couldn't believe he remembered. He liked the War memorials. And shopped in every museum store he could find, lol.

The President will take your questions now. No wait, can someone get him a step stool? He thought this was very funny.

Summer fun

Summer has been rough in Texas, we did make it to a Rough Riders game before it became unbearably hot. Jud ate everything they had to offer.

Jud lost his first tooth!! That was super exciting for him, as he was starting to think he never would. It only took a week. At press time he has loose tooth number 2 wiggly and should loose it any day now.

All Star

We were very proud of Jud, he made the All-Star team this year. There were only a handful of 2004 kids on the teams. He had a pretty good season and really matured as a player. He was pretty proud of himself, too.

Hockey fans may recognize the coach standing behind Jud as Jere Lehtinen(former Dallas Star). Jud thought it was cool to play on the team with his son. He complimented Jud's skill to Marc and was impressed with his abilities at his age.

He got a nice certificate and a jersey and played in a fun game. His final game with Dr. Pepper Starcenters.

School's out for Summer

For a school project, Jud had to pick an inventor. He chose Frank Zamboni, of course. We know peeps at the rink, so were able to get up close and personal with Mr. Zamboni's invention. (Thanks Coach Jay).

Jud received a Citizenship award at school. We were super proud of him.

Birthday Cont.

I may be the world's worst Blogger, or maybe the only person still blogging at all. But since you don't get to see Jud very much I will keep trying. It has been a busy spring and summer so I will take you back to his birthday and catch up from there.

Jud's birthday celebration continued and for the 23rd, he and Marc were together at school all day. He had his favorite Donut Palace breakfast and then cake for snack with his class. 7th birthday is going to be pretty tough to top.

Jr. Starter

The Stars photographer took these awesome pics of Jud.

"Hey whose the new guy?" Morrow.
" Not sure but he looks fast." Benn

" Okay guys, I've got your back. I can stick handle and skate circles around the big guys. Jamie, you push guys into the boards and I will skate in under their sticks and take the puck to the net. My wrist shot will burn through that goalie." Jud

Okay, probably not what anyone was saying or thinking but........

The ref giving Jud the official game puck. That was pretty cool. I am sure we won't be using that one for practice.

Hockey Pics

Okay, I know, more hockey pictures? I just never get enough of my boy on the ice. Since I started skating and am trying to learn some of the moves he does so naturally and easily on the ice, I just can't figure it out. There have got to be some laws of physics or gravity that explain how he does it. He uses those edges like Picasso used a paint brush. ( maybe a slight exaggeration) But the picture above is one of many where I just can't figure out how he stays standing. If I ever figure it out, I'll let you know.

Jud decided to give defense a try. He did pretty good, doesn't quite know exactly where he should be all the time and for an ex- goalie he kind of left his hanging out to dry a few times. All in all though a good game. The Plano Rep Wolverines won 10 -0, their first win of the season.

Oilers Win

The Plano Mite Oilers won their first play-off game 14- 0. Those boys played so well. Jud had his first "Hat Trick" and threw in an extra, for 4 goals.

Jud and his buddy "B" celebrate!

Break away Boy, driving for the net. He pushes through those bigger kids pretty good lately.

Our new theme "Be Aggressive, B, E, Aggressive!" Well it didn't work out this time. Jud spent some time in the penalty box for body checking. For you non-hockey folk the definition of body checking:
using the body to slow or stop an opponent. Technically, body checking is legal only against a player who has possession of the puck or is in the vicinity of the puck. ( in this case the player did have the puck)however;

If you are only 7 years old, checking of any kind is a no no. Jud has been playing some very physical hockey, we have decided he is like the chihuahua, who thinks he is a doberman.
The Oilers' ended their season today with a loss to Jud's old team the Blues. Here is to another great season, and all the ones to come, cheers.