Getting Caught Up

College friends in Lago Vista! We had the best time catching up with one another! :) 

While I was in Lago Vista, Walker received his "3rd Grade Bible" at church. He did really well although he was a little bit nervous. ;)

After I returned from Lago Vista, Lainey left for camp with her fifth grade class. She was gone for two nights! She did great and had a blast. 

Lainey is the one posing in the background.

Walker's thoughts about himself in third grade. So funny!

Last Friday, we attended Lebanon Trail High School's Homecoming game so we could watch Brooke and Kate cheer. They did so well! It was POURING rain so we were slightly soaked getting in and out of the facility but other than that...it was a lot of fun! Walker was so excited to see his friend (and neighbor) David there, as well! :) 

Lainey and Brooke :)

And here's Reagan. She turned 14 years old in September! She is completely deaf but continues to be very protective and loyal. She loves to arf at me throughout the day (she's big on communication), follow me around the house, be held by adults, sleep 22 hours a day, eat her dog food with the occasional bite of cheese, and drink tap water from the sink out of your hand. Lately, she "reverse breathes" ALL the time and she has a very soft little snore. She sleeps in our bed like a human, with her head on the pillow and the covers pulled up over her belly. I don't know how she manages to get like that. She likes to snuggle on you (but please keep her head elevated), and she has the worst breath known to man. She has a bad habit of licking her paws and people. She continues to be very concerned about the presence of a bunny in our house, and every day she yearns for that time when she was an only child. ;) Ten years later and she has just barely warmed up to Lainey and Walker. ;) Her back legs are weak and we've had a couple of scares over the past year with her health (nothing major, just old-dog stuff). She is slightly grumpy, and set in her ways. She appreciates routine. :) 

Happy 14th birthday to our tiny dog!  We love you, Reagan! (Most of the time! But sometimes you bark too much!)

Christie's 40th Birthday Celebration

One of my oldest and best friends turned 40 on September 11th! To celebrate, her husband arranged for us all to go to Myrtle Beach, South Carolina the weekend of the 7-9th. We had the best time surprising her! We laughed and laughed and laughed the entire weekend; I'm so thankful for the time I spent with her!

This is us...sometime in the late 90s. ;)

at her wedding in 2011

after her wedding in 2011

The birthday girl...! :) 

We enjoyed mimosas!

And we spent a fair amount of time at the beach...poor Myrtle Beach...it may get slammed in the next day or two! And who knew that going to the beach without kids was so much fun? ;)

floating the very, very, very lazy river

Ali (Christie's sister), her mom Wendy, and Christie

:)

Everyone! So fun! Old friends and new!

the view from our balcony

not sure what we were looking at...

This game. Cards Against Humanity. I laughed SO hard...it is the most highly inappropriate and borderline offensive game I've ever played but man, it was fun. We laughed so hard!

What a wonderful weekend! I'm so thankful that I had the opportunity to celebrate Christie's 40th birthday! :) 

Labor Day Weekend

Over Labor Day Weekend, the kids and I went to see my cousin Kate, her husband Stefo, and their girls in Kingwood. It was VERY special for us for two different reasons. First of all, last year, just before Labor Day Weekend, Kate and Stefo's house flooded thanks to Hurricane Harvey. They have been back in their newly-renovated home since late May/early June, but have plans to move in 2019. It was great to spend some time in their home one final time! AND, second of all, September 2nd (of Labor Day Weekend, 2017) was the date that Ben was admitted to the hospital with what we later learned was West Nile Virus. SO, all in all, Labor Day Weekend 2018 was about a billion times better than Labor Day Weekend 2017. :) Ben, should you be wondering, was hunting with his buds in West Texas, as is tradition. :)

 

Walker, Charli

Andi, Lainey, Lucie

and Eva

 

We had a wonderful time with this precious family. We love you, Millas family! And we're thankful to be related to you. :)

Belle and a Baseball Banquet

Walker and Ben attended the Dallas Patriots' end-of-year banquet this past Saturday. :) 

A friend of ours captured this picture...so sweet.

Walker and his friend, Hunter! I often confuse them on the field!

This bunny is so funny. #lounging

And again...

And one morning, we found her out of her cage.

I think even she is confused when that happens.

And, a brief picture of Reagan. Poor girl is so deaf and we think she's beginning to lose her eyesight. On this particular morning, when I took this picture, I had been trying to clean her eyes. She put her paw over her face as if to say, "ENOUGH. Let me sleep." :) Sweet doggy. 

Weekend at the Lease

From last weekend...

Lainey helping Ben set up the crossbow and target

one of about 5 rattlesnake skins I found over the weekend

Lainey's new friend "Farrah" that lives under the doublewide at the lease

exploring the property near Quanah, Texas that my parents recently purchased 

Beautiful views!

We fed the longhorns at Copper Breaks State Park. It was fun! My parents' new property borders the state park (so cool!) so I'm hoping we'll get to do this again. 

The longhorn pictured above - Spot - is the boss of them all. He's the oldest, and at the top of the pecking order. 

I liked this guy. His name was Lone Ranger. ;)

Walker was very hesitant to feed the longhorns but, as per usual, he got into it at the end. ;)

I think Lainey would happily live on a ranch and bond with all of the animals. 

This longhorn named Red really slurped up the food pellets. :) 

The longhorns were a bit slobbery. 

rattlesnake skin #423 

(I'm kidding...kind of.)

We always practice driving at the lease. :)

This is "Stick Man." The kids made him using various materials found in the truck and at the property.

On the way home from dinner, we stumbled upon all of these cows in the road! There were about 20 of them, just wandering about! Poor things! 

And, back at home...Fortnite anyone?