Learning to Walk Again

Waiting for the braces!


First steps in new braces!


This is going to take a while, but I'll get the
hang of it!


New Braces vs. Old Braces!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday, we went to get Bin's new braces. I knew they were going to be much bigger but for some reason I was still shocked when I saw them. These go up around his hips, around his thighs and then around his feet. As you can see in the pictures there is a HUGE difference between these and his old ones! The new ones are supposed to help keep his feet in a forward position. (they are usually turned outwards, his left more than his right) Well, the problem is he has learned to walk this way and has used that left foot more for balance than for walking. I don't know why I was just expecting him to put them on and just take off! It was like watching him trying to learn to walk all over again. It made me sad. However, he did not seem to let it bother him. He just wanted to go go go! He will have to use his walker again until he gets used to these. Part of me wishes I had not worried about that right foot and just let him go on walking like he does! You know for a little guy who was not supposed to be able to walk, he has done a pretty darn good job of getting around to me! Sometimes, I think it just bothered others more than it did Jon and I. I know in the long run this will be better for Bin to learn to walk with better foot positioning but right now part of me is bummed that he will have to start over from scratch!:( I'm just a sad Mommy venting right now, I will be better tomorrow!

Christmas Decorating

I took advantage of Granddaddy and Nana visiting and had them help us decorate the tree. Jon took advantage of that too, and went hunting all day!!!:)

Jingle Bell Run

Blake & Oaxie


Granddaddy making the fire (our 1st fire for the year)


Abe enjoying Brien & Christies bed

Working on the Ginger Bread House

Before the race

Karen and Me (the one who gets me into these

things!:)

The entire Binford/Wells gang

The Runners- (except Abe of course)

Granddaddy, Sydni and Blake relaxing in the

hot tub

This weekend all the Binford crew came in town to visit and participate in the Jingle Bell Run/Walk in down town Ft Worth. I can't believe the entire family did it but we did. Here are a few pictures from all the fun. Bin and Oaxie love their cousins Blake and Sydni. They had fun playing with them all weekend. After their nap on Sunday they woke up asking for them. We sure miss them. Abe (our dog) really misses Uncle Brien and Aunt Christie too! He got to sleep with them by the fire. He tried to stow away in their car when they left. Silly boy!

Thanksgiving Pictures

I am a little late getting these up, but here you go! We spent Thursday at Jon's cousin, Martha's house. It was like a Wells reunion. The food was great and we all ate too much. On the other hand, Oaxie preferred her Thanksgiving meal to be a bag of Cheetos and some pumpkin loaf. Where on earth did this child come from? Saturday, we had Thanksgiving with Jon's parents, brother and sister and their families. Aunt Jenny, me and all the kiddos hung out at our house most of the day while TaTa and Aunt Penny made dinner. It was a lot of fun to have all the kids together.

Goodbye to our Sweet Anna

Bin loving his dear friend (I love this picture)

Last week we lost our Sweet Anna. We were all so sad to see her go but we knew that it was coming. We never were for sure of her actual age. I have a feeling she was around 15 or so. We adopted her from the Golden Retriever Rescue seven years ago this coming December. They told us she was around 7 but when we met her for the first time we knew she was much older than that. She was already white in the face but we loved her from the moment we saw her. This is her story ( I will try and make it short)...

When Jon and I first met I knew he always wanted Golden Retrievers. So, a year after we were married we got one, Annie Bell. Then a few months later we got another one, Amos. Annie and Amos were great buddies. When Annie was 3 she began having seizures. We found out the cause was an inoperable brain tumor. She passed away about 6 weeks later. Almost a year after she died we started looking into adopting a Golden instead of getting a puppy. We happened to come across a Golden Retriever Rescue in College Station which was perfect since we are there pretty regularly!:). They had one in need of a home and her name was Annie too. Later we changed it to Anna. She was our Christmas gift that year to each other. Since then we have picked up a few other strays a long the way and this past summer we lost Amos as most of you already know. He passed away in his sleep one night. We are still so sad he did not make it to come and live out here in the country, he would have been the most happiest dog in the world. I know this is getting rather lengthy but I just wanted you all to know what a sweet dog she was. She had such a gentle soul. I often wonder what kind of life she had before she came to live with us. I can't imagine any one not loving her. She was so sweet with the babies and Bin really loved her. He says now that she has gone to live with GG in Heaven. GG is what he calls Jesus:)! The other day on our way home from the store he said Mommy I need to hold Anna. It made me so sad. Maybe someday we will get another one. So now we just have Abraham (a silly little dog that Jon found when he was out dove hunting about 4 years ago) and of course all the cats.!!

Family Camp 2008

Oaxie caught her first fish

Face painting at the Carnival

Believe it or not this was some sort of game, but

I still never figured it out. Oaxie just liked

playing in the flour!

Arts & Craft time

Time to go home

This weekend we went to Family Camp. This was our second year, click here to see pics from last year. We sure have changed! It was a lot of fun and burrrrrrr was it cold! We went to a camp fire and made our very first smores. We went on a scavenger hunt, did arts and crafts and went fishing and even caught fish! Saturday night we went to the carnival, ate cotton candy for the first time, had our faces painted and danced a lot! Here are some of our pictures from the weekend.

Cute Halloween Pictures

Just some cute pictures of us playing in our costumes. Mommy and Daddy put on oldies music and we danced. They taught us how to do the twist!

School Halloween Party

Oaxie would not cooperate for the group picture!

Pizza Party!

Nap Time

Today we had our Halloween party at school. Bin was a Fireman and I was a 50's Girl. We got lots of goodies, painted pumpkins and ate pizza! Mommy had to come pick us up early because Bin got sick. We don't know if he ate something or got a bug but by the evening he was feeling much better.

Pumpkin Carving

We decorated our pumpkin tonight. Talking about waiting until the last minute! We seem to be very good at that. Unfortunately, no one will see him except us. Now that we have moved out to the country we won't have any trick or treaters. That is a bummer. I still managed to buy candy though...guess we will have to eat it all!

Fire Truck Day

Bin is up in front, leading the pack!


Bin just spotted me!!!!



The Fireman is shaking Bin's hand


Bin is totally freaking out in this picture!!!

Today the Fire Truck came to see all the kiddos at school. I was not sure how Bin and Oaxie would do once they saw me. I tried to stay hidden in the back for as long as I could. I was worried they would throw a fit and indeed they did. They were okay at the beginning while the Firemen were talking to them but once it was over, they were not happy about me leaving. I was able to get a few pictures of them before the melt downs occurred. Oh yea, and by the way, you won't have any problem spotting them out amongst all the kids, BECAUSE I did not dress them up in their school shirts today. I officially won "Worst Mom of the Day" award.:(