Free Things for the Summer

I have been trying to think of things to keep us occupied this summer without being in the heat too much. I found that the outlet mall nearby offers free movies at 10 am Tues-Thur and that our local library offers a free story time on Wednesday mornings. Swimming in our pool or the splash park right across the highway from our home. It has been fun to beat the heat and not have to shell out a lot of money to have fun. We need to continue to do more fun things, because I am sure there are more opportunities for big discounts or free ideas - I just need to research to find them. I love the ages of the kiddos right now because they can both walk and participate in whatever we are doing. Here's to having fun in the TEXAS HEAT this summer!

The College World Series

For Father's Day this year Dane decided it would be fun to meet his dad in Omaha, Nebraska for the College World Series. Dane and his dad have always wanted to attend the College World Series (plus it was the last year they are playing at Rosenblatt for the World Series that Gary played in during 1971 for BYU). They had three days of fun, baseball, relaxation, hotdogs, and seeds. They were both in seventh heaven! It was fun for just the boys to spend some time together. Gary saw 8-10 of his players (from when he was the coach for the USA Youth National Team) playing on the various teams and talked to a couple. Overall, it was fun (except that Dane got fried because he didn't put on any sunscreen during the whole day Monday - sometimes you have to learn lessons the hard way). Happy Father's Day to you both - we hope the trip was well worth it!!!!

Splash Park Fun - Part 2

We've been trying to stay cool in the hot Texas sun this summer and took our second trip to the City Splash Park this summer. Em became a little more adventurous this time and was running through the spraying water. Easton wasn't so sure about the splash park and stayed near my side most of the time. It was fun to share some time with our friends. Em has really become a big fan of playing with little girls her age and loves to hold hands and give hugs whenever she greets them. It is so cute, I love the stage she is in right now. Just as we were getting ready to pack up, Em tripped and skidded across the concrete on her face and knees. It was not a pretty sight and it took quite a while to calm her down because she doesn't like band-aids and didn't want to put one on her knees. It was not a fun way to end a fun day, but that is just what comes with having little ones!

Happy Father's Day, Dane!!!

Happy Father's Day, my love! It is hard to believe that shy of 3 1/2 years ago we didn't know when we would be able to be parents, and look at us now (2 kids in a 3 year period). I want you to know how blessed I feel to be married to the man of my dreams. I am so lucky to have found someone who exemplies all the traits I wanted and dreamed of in a future spouse. You love the Lord, you honor me, you love your family, you work hard in your career and in your calling, you are handsome inside and out, and you make me want to be a better person when I am around you. I love your laid back personality that helps me stay grounded and I love the way you are not quick to judge. You are one in a million and I feel so blessed to have found you. My favorite thing each day is a kiss from you before you leave and the excitement on Eme and Easton's face when you walk through the garage door each night for dinner. I love to hear laughter in the other room after dinner and see how are children delight in spending time with their Daddy. I love to watch you with Em and the way you teach her in love. I look forward to seeing Easton grow and develop a new relationship with him (which I hope will mirror the relationship you had with your dad). Thanks for all you do. I love you with all my heart. Here's to you this Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day, Gary!!!!

Happy Father's Day, Gary! What an awesome weekend to have Father's Day fall and to be with your son doing your favorite thing-watching baseball-a dream come true! I am so happy that the two of you could attend the College World Series together and have some father-son bonding time. I love and appreciate you - and while I have a father of my own - I truly love and respect you. Thank you for being such a fun and silly grandpa with the kiddos. They love you and squeal with delight when you play with them. Thanks for teaching Dane such great principles to live by and to remember that your attitude is the only thing you can change in life, and if you have a great attitude no matter the circumstance something good will come from it. I appreciate the many lives of youth you have influenced over the years in coaching, but also in helping them learn life lessons of how to be successful. Here's to you this Father's Day. We love and appreciate you!

Happy Father's Day - Dad!!!!

Happy Father's Day! Thanks for being such a great father and Poppy. We love and appreciate you and all you do for us. Thanks for always being such a great example of Christ-like attributes. You are so much fun and it was fun to have a Dad like you growing up that wanted us to learn and grow and try new things. Thanks for you wisdom and love over the years. Thanks for being such a great Poppy to Eme and Easton! They love and adore you and Eme prays for you daily. You can never have enough time with grandparents and what great examples to have as grandparents. Here's to you this Father's Day!

Happy Birthday, Britt!!!!

Happy Birthday, Britt! May you have an extra special day and know we are thinking of you. I love and appreciate your energetic spirit and your zest for life. I always know that I will get a good laugh in whenever I talk with you on the phone. You always make the person/people you are with feel like a million bucks. I have cried and laughed with you over the triumphs and obstacles you and I have overcome. I admire you so in the way you and Randy have handled and dealt with the sensitive nature of Hatcher's condition and the way you have grown and matured through the process. You are so beautiful and you just have a way about you that makes others around you want to know who and what you are. We just want you to know how much we love and appreciate you. Happy Birthday and may Randy and the kiddos spoil you (even though technically you should be spoiling Randy also!).

Happy 90th Birthday, Granny!!!

Happy 90th Birthday, Granny! I only hope I live to be 90 and have the zest and zeal for life that you do. You are such an example to all of us of hard work, love, service, and fun. I have so many fun memories of Granny and your home. It was always like coming home when our family would come to your home. There was always a yummy smell coming from the kitchen and a warm fire and blanket waiting downstairs. I remember slip'n'slide in the backyard, ponycart rides, badmitton, swinging, and gliding back and forth on your back patio. I remember making cookies and rolls with you. I remember many skipping sessions with you. I remember Sunday dinners and long conversations while in college in Provo. I remember playing shoe store with you and trying on all of your fun shoes. I remember so many fun times with you and the way you always make us feel like we are the most important person in your life. Thanks for all the hugs, kisses, and memories you have brought into my life and the lives of countless others. You are such a wonderful Granny - I love and appreciate you! May you have a wonderful and memorable 90th Birthday!

Gallbladders - Do You Really Need Them?!?!?!

I found out about a week ago that my gallbladder was non-functioning and was operating at 0%. When your gallbladder is at 50% function you are considered low functioning and then from about 20% on down you are considered non-functioning. Well, as you can see my gallbladder is not even pumping because it is not even serving a purpose in my body at this point in time. We met with the general surgeon today and he said based on this information we need to operate and remove the old gallbladder. The gallbladder can be removed without further issues and your body can function just fine without it because the human body accomodates for its absence. So my question is - why do we have gallbladders? Hopefully, all will go well and I will be up and moving soon after the surgery. Goodbye gut aches, hello relief!

Easton's Fall

Being the good mom I am, I turned around the corner (for just a second) to return Eme's hairstuff to a drawer and our cute little Eastie fell down the stairs. As Eme recounts it "Mommy, he did a lot of summersalts down the stairs" and of course bless her heart she just watched in silent horror. Easton was screaming bloody murder and I found him in a crumpled mess against the gate on our stairs. To say the least he acquired a few rug burns. Thank goodness we have carpet on our stairs and a gate at the bottom or he might have landed hard on the tile below. Eastie thinks he is a big boy and still hasn't learned that he isn't big enough yet to walk down the steps on his own with assistance. This fall still didn't teach him to not walk down the stairs, because later in the day he was again attempting the same accrobatic maneuver. Boys will be boys!

Blackberry Pickin' @ Ham's Orchard

The kiddos and I went blackberry pickin' to a nearby farm called Ham's Orchard. The size of the blackberries were amazingly huge! We had fun with some of our friends and their kiddos. The kiddos started to get a little tired and so we headed inside to get a little ice cream (strawberry and peach swirled to be exact). Eme and Easton were in heaven. While we were eating our ice cream, a train passed by and was so loud that all of the kiddos (except Eme and Easton) covered their ears. We had a fun time. We definitely need to visit next summer for some more juicy, plump blackberries.