Family Beach Vacation

We are so lucky that we get to go to South Padre 2 times each and every summer. Early in the summer we go with our very dear friends













and then later the boys and I travel back to an extended family vacation. 2 of my out of state cousins and their children come in and we all spend time together in the sand and the surf catching up with one another and letting our kids get to know each other. What a great time we had this year!

The first day we spent together at the beach













The 2nd day we took an eco tour/dolphin watch tour. Wow! They drag the bottom of the ocean with a net to see what fabulous creatures they can catch and share with the children and adults alike. On our trip they found butterfly rays, several starfish, a squid, some crabs and several varieties of fish. The kids were amazed! Of course, spotting the dolphins was the highlight of the day. It was such a great trip!
B and one of the bigger starfish.





Syd and the butterfly ray.





Krista and Alex and a smaller starfish!








Lu and a special starfish whose name I cannot remember!





We love spending time with Mimi!






Ahhh.....the dolphins. Very cool!

Football practice!

Some local dads organized a football practice for kids ages 6 - 10. We were lucky enough to get invited and the boys had a blast. There were about 25 boys who went through a series of 4 stations or drills and after about an hour and a half they played a football game. B was so proud to be on the team of "skins"! It was a great way to spend a summer evening. The dads thought it went so well that they are going to do it every Monday and Wednesday for a while. The boys are thrilled and can't wait for football practice on Monday evening!


G helped the dads run some stations and played with Lu who was "out for the season" with an injury - his cleats gave him a blister. He was not exactly the toughest boy on the field....

B going out for a pass which he caught and scored a touchdown! He was so pumped!

Getting ready for the big game!

A Mother's Mid-Summer Prayer

A Mother’s Mid-Summer Prayer


By Debbie Farmer



Dear God,

Grant me the strength to last until Back-to-School Night.

Give me the energy to drive the swim team carpool, take knots out of wet shoelaces with my teeth and untangle the dog from the sprinkler hose.

Grant me the wisdom to remember the name of the redheaded kid from down the street who hasn’t left our house since June.

Walk with me through the backyard over piles of wet bathing suits and empty ice cream cups, to rescue my good lipstick from the bottom of the wading pool.

Give me the courage to accept that everything in the refrigerator either has a bite out of it, had a finger stuck in it or is reproducing in the vegetable crisper underneath the expensive cheese.

Guide me down the hallway to the laundry room, where I can experience five minutes of peace and quiet by turning the lights out and climbing on the dryer so the kids can’t see my feet underneath the door.

Help me accept that fact that even if I take the kids to the circus, install a pool in the backyard, go on a safari, and carve a redwood tree into a canoe and sail down the Congo, my children will end each day with “I’m bored.”

Grant me the serenity to smile when my husband insists on tossing the Hamburger Helper on the gas grill because “everything tastes better barbecued.”

In your infinite wisdom, show me how to disconnect the video game console that hasn’t been turned off since June 10.

Comfort me when I realize the color of my earth-tone carpet has changed into a mixture of melted blue Popsicle and the remains of somebody’s purple slushie.

And if I ask too much, God, just give me the foresight to know that one day—not too many years from now—the barbecue, television and sprinkler hose will be off; the refrigerator, front door and garage will be closed, and I will wonder where my children—and the little redheaded boy with the glasses—went.

Girls Out Weekend Revisited!

A few posts ago I mentioned a fabulous tradition that I have been involved in for some time now. My dearest friends and I try very hard to carve away time for each other at least one weekend out of each year. We are so consumed in our roles as wives, mothers, teachers, taxi cab drivers, coaches, doctors...that sometimes our friendships get placed on the back burner. So we have vowed to have at least 3 entire days devoted to nothing but each other at least once a year. For the 2nd year in a row we rented a house in Wimberly, Texas that was close to the river and had a private pool. We had such an amazing time!














As an only child, I am not sure what it feels like to have a sister, but I am pretty sure that these women (and others who aren't pictured) have always treated me like a sister or even better. I love each of them for the added joy they bring to my life - for the laughter and the tears and everything in between. Thanks ladies! I can always count on you to put sunshine in my day!

Yee-Haw, Y'all!

The PRCA Rodeo was in town this weekend and the boys absolutely love to go. We went last night and had a wonderful time. The announcer and clown - Rudy - were wonderfully entertaining and the cowboys and cowgirls were such fun to watch. While I was downloading my pictures from last night I found pictures from the 2005 Rodeo.











It is really almost painful for me to look at these pictures from just 3 years ago - where have my babies gone? Wow, they have changed!




However, I am enjoying their new found independence and ability to let me sleep in this summer, so growing up isn't all that bad!

One of the many reasons...

I love my children......

this morning as we are getting ready to go somewhere, B jumps on the scale to weigh. To most adults - especially women - this is a painful process only to be done in private usually a week after exercise and starvation. Well to an 8 year old this weighing can occur anytime, anywhere and there is amazing joy at any weight gain! Wow, what a wonder to be an 8 year old boy with the whole world ahead of you......

Thanks B, for all the things you are teaching me!

Happy Birthday Shawna!

Today, my baby cousin celebrates her birthday! It has been such a joy to watch her grow up into an amazing woman! Shawna - I wish you a lifetime of success, joy and happiness. I love you:)

It is good to be home....

In the past 16 days I have slept in a bed - other than my own - 10 times! Needless to say, I am exhausted, but very happy!

One of the many things I love about summer is all the adventures we are able to take. Some of those adventures include the 4 of us

(watching the fireworks from the tennis courts at the condo)


and some are just for me....


but all of them are very fun! As summer winds down we have a couple more trips planned - if I can find the energy to go:) We cherish this time because as the boys get older





our time gets more and more precious.

Here's to more adventures!

SNAKE!!!!

Just a quick update as I zoom in from one trip and get ready to leave for another!!!

This was supposed to be a relaxing weekend - one that I look forward to every year with my dearest friends. Instead.............


we are innocently swimming and Sara's hand brushes what she thinks is a leaf, but what turns out to be a WATER MOCCASIN........needless to say we took care of the situation!

At least the mornings looked like this....


Have a really blessed week!

July 4th weekend!

To celebrate the July 4th weekend - we attended the Taylor Family Reunion. It was a reunion of my mother's family and we met some amazing new aunts, uncles and cousins while seeing those I have known my whole life and love dearly.

This is Lu and me at breakfast one morning - he tried french toast for the first time and LOVED IT! Powdered sugar and syrup - what's not to love?

This is my mother with her Aunt Irene - that is my great aunt and the boys' great, great aunt. It was an honor to meet this 94 year old who still lives alone! She shared amazing stories with all 67 of us - Aunt Irene has seen many changes in her lifetime!

My parents with my mom's 2 brothers and 1 dear sister-in-law. They spent Sunday at Canton and had a really good time.

This was almost all 67 of us that came in for the event. Their was actually a cousin of mine that was A&M class of '93 - just like G! Whoop! It was truly awesome getting to know so many people that we are related to!

Some of the Brownwood crew came to town. The boys always love seeing Grady! He is going to play football in college next year. We can't wait to see him play!

A sweet one of our immediate family!

Aunt Shirley (like a 2nd mother to me) and 2 of my favorite cousins who were more like sisters.


All in all, it was a great weekend - I can't wait to see what the rest of July brings, but I do wish time would slow down. Soon the title of my blog will be first day of school and while I love the routine and predictability that school and work bring, I will miss these long, lazy days and the traveling to see the people we love. Until the next post....(and I hope it won't be another month!)

We laid low the rest of June and enjoyed sleeping in and long, lazy days at the pool...(at least the boys and I did - poor G still has to work everyday. Sorry honey!)

Then July hit with a bang. We started out by celebrating G's birthday! He turned 29 (for the 8th year in a row)


Then we went with G's family to the great wolf lodge in Grapevine, Texas. That place is so fun!

The boys with their cousin Brady. He and Lu are only 16 days apart. Needless to say, these 3 have a great time when they are together!

We rode every ride in the place - many of them more than once!


Bitsy with her 4 grandchildren.

Wow! It has been over a month since my last post. I am trying to take the term "summer break" do a brand new level. However, my blog stalker (love you linds) was insistent on an update so here it goes....

We are having an amazing summer - I can't believe that it is 1/2 way over.
We have visited Papa


and Mexico

and Mimi (all on the same vacation!)


We went on our annual week long visit to Padre with some of my very favorite people and had the best time yet....





and that was just in the first 2 weeks of summer vacation...what until you hear (read) what else we have been up to...