Mountain Laurel

I'm so excited that my mountain laurel is actually finally blooming! I think these bugs are too. Oh well....I have had if for 6 years and that's how long it took. They are just so pretty. I know I'm a dork! What do you think these bugs think of each other?

Blisters!!!!!

So Brock and Cody decide that they need to dig a hole big enough for them to both get into. Who knows why kids do the things that they do but I am glad that they love to spend the majority of their time outside. They both got blisters from digging. I hope you can tell how deep it really is.

Geocaching

This is actually a picture of the other team looking for a cache that is in the top of this pole. All of the kids on our team went over to sit on the fence to try to give them a hint without really giving them a hint.

This was us watching from afar so none of the kids would give it up.

This was the last one that our team found. Bruce found it in the roof of this thing we are standing next to. It was real small.

Sweet Hogan found this one in the trunk of this tree. He was real proud.

This was actually the first one we found in the top of this pole.

We went geocaching for my nephew's birthday. It is so much fun. We put coordinates in a GPS and then follow them to find a cache. For Allen's birthday we split up into 2 teams and took off through this park looking for 3 different caches. Our team found all 3 just about before the other team found their first one. It was real funny because my sister in law Sheridan and I were running all over this park with the kids and Bruce following behind. I guess I do have some competitiveness in me!

Grandma Turns 69!!!

So we have kinda been teasing her about turning 69. Beth and I are bad children! She says that she doesn't know what 69 means. Well I think as we got nearer to her birthday, she learned. Anyway, Beth and I and some really close friends had a small surprise party for her on her birthday. One of the grand kids gave a little bit of the surprise away, but she was really surprised all in all. It was a very nice party. She deserves it.

I am amazed every day!!

Harley's kind heart amazes me every day!! We have a friend whose son died 7 months ago and Harley and I went to replace the flowers that were there(I let Harley pick new ones and they were crazy) and put up some lights around them that he had bought. She knew Clint and she is just so sweet and thoughtful even though she is just 5. She sat there real somberly and cried a little and acted a little silly too. After we left she asked all about the whole death thing. It is hard to explain exactly what happens to a child her age but I hope I did a good enough job. She is an awesome child and it was a meaningful experience.

Money, 40, Friends

Beth hit a Royal Flush and won a$1000.
Grace let loose...or just acted herself!

It was so much fun I smiled the whole time.

I have the most awesome sister in the world. As kids we fought like we hated each other, but as we got older we can't live without each other. I always say we are like twins and know when something is going on with the other before we are told. Well, at least a year ago she decided that she was going to take me to Vegas for my 40th birthday. All I can say is that I could not have asked for a better trip or time. Beth, I and 3 really close friends headed out for the weekend. We had so much fun and I am so blessed. I was treated to everything by all of them. We had the best time. Thanks BC for all that you do!!!

Carissa and Beth
Dionne and Grace

Grace treated us to a comedy club night. It was the first time I had ever been to a comedy club. I got to do the neatest things. I am so thankful!

No way I'm forty right?????

The end of our trip as we were leaving the hotel. It was so much fun. I couldn't have asked for anything more. I am so thankful. Words don't even describe my feelings!!!

This could have been bad but it is real funny!!

We were at a friend's ranch and they have so many fun things to do...golf carts, 4 wheelers, hunting and just hanging out. Well the kids love to take the golf cart all around the property. Right before we were going to leave to go home, Hailey decides she is going to go out one more time. Well a short while later she comes back walking and comes right to me and says "Mom I flipped the golf cart". After finding out that she was ok, I started freaking out because I couldn't believe she did it and worried that she totally wrecked it!!!! Well long story short she supposedly went out of control, ran up the side of a fence and flipped it. We got it back on all fours before really anyone knew and all is good. I just couldn't believe it and love this picture! That day we teased her a lot and she cried every time because she was embarrassed! Poor Hailey

Here fishy fishy!!!

Fishing guide Bruce!!!
Brock was fishing in our back yard and caught this puffer fish! He went to pick it up to take it off the hook and it started puffing up! I still laugh thinking about him running in the house saying "come look at this fish I caught!!!" He knew there was something about it that was different and he shouldn't touch it. They are poisonous but I think you have to be poked by one of their spines instead of just touching it. He was very smart though!

One of the boys caught this ugly fish a month or so ago. I still don't know if we have figured out what it is.

Bruce took Brock and Cody floundering one night. This was the first time either of them has actually gigged a flounder. They were so excited when they got home at 1:00 in the morning! They got me up to go and look at everything!

Bruce, Brock and our good friend Mark from San Antonio went fishing a couple weeks ago. Don't you just love pictures like this. Look at Brock's humongous red fish that he had to tag to keep and look at Mark's awesome little trout. Too funny!

At the Lake for New Years!

We just have so much fun. It was really a quiet New Years. We popped fire crackers, hung out and just had fun!
Rode little motor cycles........

rode big 4 wheelers with cousins........

and if you can believe it even got in the lake for a swim! (not a very long one it was cold but they just can't stand not to get in)

Samuel's swings

Nine years ago December 13th my sister and brother - in - law had a baby boy named Samuel. He died in the womb due to a cord death. He was perfect. The whole thing is like nothing I have ever experienced, but I am so thankful for all of it. Their strength has shown so much to me. Shannon and Jerry are awesome. It is so hard to have a child die, but they are the best parents to the three other children that they have and I know Samuel is so happy that they are doing so well . I know that the whole experience touched people's lives in ways nobody knows. They got these swings in memory of him for their church. We had so much fun when we celebrated his 9th birthday and dedicated the swings to him. How awesome!!!

Samuels Swings

All the cousins had a blast at Samuels swings dedication. We are so thankful to be part of this family!!

More fun at Brewsters. Somehow I always manage to save these backwards. This is Hailey and her friend Brady.

Brook!!! We love her. She is so much fun. Brooke and Brady's dad is in the band.

Henley and her cousin Carley. Henley wasn't going to come, but then found out Carley was coming and decided she needed to be there too. The love to hang out when they can. We should do more with them.