Happy Birthday To All !!!!!!!!!

July has been a busy month for us this year. I feel like this is the first time I have actually slowed down enough to feel bored. So I have played on the computer all evening. I'm not going to try to tell you everything we've done. We have been having a great time at church events, the lake, birthday parties, and at home. We had a Family Fun day at church a couple of weeks ago and won Ranger's Tickets for next weekend and the kids and I had a garage sale this weekend. I'll let you check out the fun pictures in the new slide show. I found it much easier and quicker to change the pictures in the slide show with each post rather than uploading pictures into the blog. I like it better too!!!

One fun thing about July is that lots of the people in our family were born in this month. I will try to list them, but let me know if I accidentally leave you out. Chad - 8th, McKenna (our niece) - 17th, My mom (Darlene) - 18th, Christie (my sister-in-law) - 21st, Chad's Papaw - 22nd, and Chad's Mom (Sheryl) - 24th

Mini-Vacation #2

This year we haven't really planned a big vacation. We have alot of plans especially with church, so we are just going to get in a handful of mini-vacations whenever we can. As I already mentioned, Chad and I took a few days by ourselves at the beginning of the Summer and headed to Beavers Bend on the motorcycle. We loved soooo much that we wanted to take the kids back. So that's what we did last week along with Sheryl (Chad's mom) and Frank. We got there on Wednesday and came home on Saturday. We just bought an old camper for the deer lease so we decided to take it. I think it was the oldest camper there and it did look a little shabby next to Frank's, but we didn't care. We had sooo much fun. The kids loved it as much as we did. They rode bicycles all over the place. We rode go-carts, bumper boats, a train, and canoes. The kids really enjoyed roaming around the creeks and woods hunting for anything they could find. The wildlife is amazing there. We saw deer, squirrels, woodpeckers, fish, frogs, and turkey. They are all so use to the people that they just stand there. Not scared at all. It was great!! During the day Thursday we went into Broken Bow to buy groceries and in downtown there are two stores named "Bruton's". We thought it was pretty cool. While in town we bought stuff to makes smores one night. I thought Caitlyn was going to faint. She just kept saying, "This is the first time I've had real smores." She gets so excited over the littlest things. Well...Enjoy the pictures. It won't be long until Mini-Vacation #3 (probably the beach somewhere).

Happy Father's Day!!!!

This year we kind of turned Father's Day into a weekend and it was the best yet. We pretty much did what Chad likes to do. We headed to the lake on Thursday and stayed until Sunday morning. Chad and the kids had so much fun. Most of the day Friday we had the place to our selves and we played and played and played. We finally got Denim to swim in the deep water and to get on the tube with mommy. Friday Chad's sister Whitney, Clint, and our precious niece McKenna came down and just added to the fun. Saturday morning we got up and went to Chad's grandfather's. We all spent the day eating, talking, and fishing. It was a nice, peaceful time. The kids always love going there. Papaw has a pond set up really nice with a paddle boat and lots of fish. Everyone always has a good time. Sunday we went to Church and then spent the early afternoon with my dad (the best dad in the world). About 4:00 we left and headed to Six Flags. Now Six Flags is usually not Chad's favorite place, but I think he really had a good time. He even rode the Parachutes. I don't know if he will do it again though. I told him it just made me want to go to Disney World. He didn't feel exactly the same but he does agree that nothing can compare to Disney. It is just magical!!!!I can't wait until our next trip. Well, I won't get on the subject today. Enjoy the pics.................................................. Especially Chad's Before and After Pictures.

All of you dads out there... I hope you had a Great Father's Day!!!

Long, Busy, Relaxing Weekend

Yes, our weekend started out a little fast. Ballgames, Ballgames...but we are wrapping them all up now. We finally got to have Dalton's Birthday party. It was a good time. Friends and family at my mom and dad's visiting and swimming. It was nice and peaceful. Every year I try to get him to do something else, but he always chooses the same ole thing. I guess that is just what he likes to do, and I don't blame him. Quick and easy and painless. This year he was a little too old. "No candles and no singing and no gift! I want money to buy my new phone." Boring!!! Chad and I surprised him though, and bought his new phone as a gift. I think he was really excited. Now his birthday money is all his. He is growing up tooo fast. Hopefully I will be able to get one more party out of him next year.

After all the going and going, Chad and I took a long needed break. Since I was already out of school, but our kids still had to go; we took off Sunday morning on the motorcycle and headed to Beavers Bend. IT WAS AMAZING!!!!!!!!! Three days of just us two...riding, hiking, fishing, and canoeing in that beautiful place. No cooking, no cleaning, and no chasing kids. It was just the little get-a-way we needed.

I promised Chad I would tell everyone about a conversation we had with the waittress in the park...She asked us how long we had been together. Chad said, "forever" and I said, "about 20 years." Then we explained the whole married-divorced-remarried deal. She said, "Well yall get along so good, we thought yall were newlyweds!" We just laughed and said, "If you only knew!" Chad was sooooo excited. I think that was the highlight of the trip for him. I didn't take just a whole lot of pictures, but I did get some really cute ones of the two of us.

Lastly, Dalton had his first game of the end-of-season tournament. They won 11-7. So we play again tonight at 6:30. I got some good pics of him, even though he didn't want me to. I also threw a picture or two of the girls and their daddy on the bike.

Happy Birthday Dalton!!!!!!!! We Love You!!!!!!!!

I know, I know. It has been a long time. This month has been quick and busy. This is the first time have been able to get free to sit and type. So, I have alot of catching up to do. No, not really. I will just give you a brief account of what we have been up to.

Friday, May 15th.....Everyone took a day off and we headed to the Dallas Zoo. It was great. The kids really enjoyed getting to skip school and Denim thought the animals were amazing. She had been to the zoo before, but she probably doesn't remember it. She will this time though.

Later that night Caitlyn and her friends were in a talent show at the High School. They had practiced for a couple of weeks. It was really cute, even though Caitlyn got a little stage-fright and kinda lost her pizzazz. She complained the rest of the night about not feeling good. So that might of had something to do with it. I also added a picture of my cousin's daughter Victoria. She sang during the talent show and did a terrific job.

Friday, May 22nd....Caddo Mills Elementary Field Day. All the grades Pre-k thru 5th got to compete in different events raging from the Turtle Hurdles to 400 Meter Run and softball throw to tug-a-war. Our two, plus all of our neices and nephews, cousins and friends were involved. It was a fun time.

May 22nd-25th....We spent Memorial Day Weekend at Chad's grandmother's house at Lake Tawakoni with most of his family and my cousins Wesley and April and their children. Some other friends came over from other areas of the lake. We had a few boats and Cindy's Sea -Doo. The kids had a ball and the adults did too. It was really nice to get away and take a break from Caddo and ballgames. Just what we all needed. Don't miss the beautiful picture of our adorable niece McKenna.

Wednesday, May 27th......Happy Birthday!! Where did the time go? We hadn't planned a party for Dalton yet, because he can't decided what he wants to do. So, on his birthday we went over to Shananigan's. We ate at Rozie's Grill, rode go carts, played laser tag, bowled, and then we all played games for a while. It was a fun, fun, fun family night. Unfortunately, I ran off without my camera. So, no pictures. We are planning on having some kind of celebration next weekend, I will let everyone know. Again, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DALTON!!! Hope you had a great day. WE LOVE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, May 30th.....Motorcycle ride. Well yesterday we went on a very long ride. There were 34 people on 19 bikes. To name a few people who went: my parents, Chad's mom and Frank, my brother, our friends from church, and a few couples from town. We rode out thru Commerce to Sulphur Springs, to Yantis, to Alba and Grand Saline, and then to our final destination Edom. In this small town there is a great little stop for dinner called The Shed. We had a nice meal and a short trip home thru Canton and Quinlan. You know... you can't really ride very much longer after you get your belly full. I again, didn't take a camera, but if I can get my mother-in-law to email me a few; I will try to get some posted.

Sunday, May 31.....Jesse Duplantis. Today was the big kick off for our new Sanctuary. Bro. Jesse had told my dad a while back that when we got ready for this service, he wanted to be a part... And so, he was. It was an amazing service about Vision and Dreams and losing the past. It really hit hard for Chad and I. LIFE CHANGING!!!!!!!!!!! After service, we all headed to the ranch to annoint and/or bless the property. As a church family, the devil hit us hard financially, but it didn't stop the Vision. When you get hit, you don't stop, you just press harder and get through. VICTORY!!!!

Well, I hope it wasn't too long. Sorry. I will post sooner next time. Especially since I will soon have alot more time.. SCHOOL ALMOST OUT FOR SUMMER!!!!!!!!!!!!! I only have 31/2 days with kids and two 1/2 days to get my classroom in order and then I'm outa there.