Fourth of July

We went to the parade with our good friends the Kemps! It was so fun watching the kids watch the parade! I LOVE the picture of the four of them from the back (Marli, Olivia, Carson, and Ty). We even ran into our friends the Kings, crazy in such a large crowd! I love the picture of Elise and Zane in the wagon... Elise is holding up three fingers because this was her third birthday! What a fun way to celebrate! We had some interesting people behind us who kept yelling, "HOLA, welcome to Lubbock, thanks for coming out!" Craziness. It was just a perfect day, nice weather, great company, and gave me chills to see everyone stand and clap as some of our serviceman marched through. We later went out to Trent's parents where Olivia jumped off the diving board for the first time! As you can tell they had a great time with their cousins. All the girls painted our toes in variations for red, white, and blue. Just a great day!

Marshall Trip with the Davis '09

Every year we spend a weekend in June with Brian and Amy Davis in Marshall Texas. Its the F A R East side of Texas where Trent and Brian play in a tournament every year and Amy and I just soak each other up.


Every year we end up at several of the same places.... its tradition now after I think 7 years! Here is our first night at Jalepenos!


Last year we started a new tradition which was not captured in photos on my blog but were seen on Amy's. We always end up at the local Walmart for various reasons and last year Amy dared me to wear a Hannah Montana T-shirt, in foil with puff sleeves, mind you... it was also purple. I took on that dare only to be able to select her shirt of a rabbit stating, "Crazy doesn't even begin to cover it." This is even funnier if you know Amy, but clearly I got the embarassing end of the deal. This year I more than made up for it.........................................




All I have to say is...



YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Oh and don't worry, I didn't get off scott free, I had the pleasure of sporting a BRIGHT yellow shirt with the Muppet, yes you read that right, Muppet Animal on it with the words in neon lettering, "ROCK ON"

I SOOOOO thought this should be the shirt for Amy for next year but buying it would not be within the rule guidelines so I am just hoping and praying that it will be available next year! In case you can't read.... OBAMA SAY KNOCK YOU OUT!!!

Let's just say we had a bad weekend of customer service. Amy and I had spent TWO hours in a store trying on clothing and finally came to some selections and went to check out. The credit card machine wasn't working. Amy politely asked the girl if they would take a check and then if they could hold our items with which she was met with a short NO as a response. Okay, we had our swimsuits and opted for a relaxing afternoon at the pool. We went back to the hotel, changed headed down the hall toward the pool with hotel towels. We were met halfway with an employee who stopped us. The conversation went something like this:

"You are going to have to take those towels back to your room."

Me: " We didn't bring any other towels."

Employee: " You can check out pool towels."

We head back to the room and then start back. The lady meets us with a clipboard and takes our names and room numbers. Then gives us the towels

Employee:" The pool is now closed. They just shocked it with chemicals and it won't be ready for five hours."

Me: "Are you being serious right now?"

Pure craziness going on here. She was indeed serious. We head back to our rooms where our boys met us with food. Then we headed to Shreveport! Very much fun.


Here we are with a hummer limo :)

Brian, post getting a bug out of his hair! A slight resemblance to Creamer some might think!

Our fun Davis'

I have never laughed as hard as for as long of a time as I did on this trip.

Five words...........

Pop it like its hot!!!!!!!!!!!

Pop's birthday

The Catfish Sam's Royal treamtment...

Ty with Aunt Mimi

We love you Pop and felt honored to be able to celebrate YOU!

Father's Day

Thanks Kerri for the fun shirts to celebrate THE man on Father's Day!

Trent's gift awaiting him before early service!! He has mentioned this is something he has always wanted to learn how to play so we surprised him with it by hiding it over at our neighbor's house. I can't believe the kids's didn't let it slip! We got it weeks before so they probably forgot!

I fully intended on getting a picture of the kids with dear old dad and his gift but I am just not that good anymore.

We celebrated by going to church and then to The Breakfast House for brunch with G (Trent's dad) and then came home to a lazy day on the couch to watch the U.S. Open. Here is the poor guy with a heating pad while doing electro therapy. He has back problems and did something to agrivate that this past week :(

Olivia and I got a little bit silly with the camera!

How blessed are these kids to have such an incredible Dad?! He is such a great balance of silly and discipline and I am so proud of the example he is to them. I have told so many people this... but he just sets the tone for our family and helps me to be a calmer person and encourages me in so many ways to be a better parent. I know these kids will look back on their time at home someday and remember these things and have SO many fun memories with him!

This summer so far....

I just took some time and looked back what was going on at this time over the past couple of years. That is so fun to do, just reflect-try to remember and then see how much has changed!

We have now been in our house a year and its definately become home! Trent and I have done A LOT of yard work lately. We put flower beds around our trees out front, re-did the jungle bed in front of the playroom window, and completely did the backyard! Most of this was done before things have really 'heated' up for June! We are staining our back porch in the next week or so. We are now putting our efforts on the outside, however I am doing yet more painting was well, I know I am crazy. I am doing the living room the same color as my dining room b/c I like it so much, and Ty is finally getting a painted room! Our bathroom is also being re-done with new floor in the shower and I will finally get to use my bathtub in two weeks!

I have ended up subbing quite a bit for Calvary's summer school. All but one day so far! It has been nice though and I look forward to another paycheck! The kids are loving it. I had Olivia's class today and it was neat to watch her interacting with the kids and we were in the class room she will be in next year which is starting pre-school for her! We will be in the same class again Thursday.

We have already been to the pool twice, Meme and G's once, and two other friends homes with pools! The kids are LOVING swimming. Ty is swimming on his own great, diving under water and doing tricks! He was in floaties last summer! Olivia is in floaties still but having a lot of fun. Hoping to break her in this summer!

I don't know that I have mentioned this before but some of our closest friends, and the first couple we met at church and hung out with, moved in across the street around 3 months ago. They have a little girl Ella who is Olivia's age whom she will start kindergarten with and hopefully go to school with forever! The Martins are very dear to us and it has been SO fun having the kids play together back and forth and having someone 'close' so close!!!! Such a blessing! I have never lived that close to good friends and LOVE it!

I have started seriously working out again with a great new friend who has been a wonderful accountability partner. She married a man who used to be a trainer which has been very beneficial! This girl knows what she is doing and has us on a plan. She has been a great encouragement to me in many ways and I have really enjoyed getting to know her and her family more! Trent has played golf with her husband over years but through other friends from that same circle we have gotten to know each other more. She keeps my bootie inline and its getting much tighter!!!! HA!

We went as a family to see "Up" in 3D one evening last week. It was great, we all really enjoyed it. We had to hold Olivia's glasses up for her the entire time because they were so big! I love watching and listening to Ty laugh so genuinely! I have been holding him a lot lately... in the mornings or at night. He said to me the other night that he was growing and before too long he would be too big for me to do that... I teared up! I told him I didn't care, and that I would still be kissing his head 10,000 times when he was a man with his own kids! Maybe not snuggling him in his bed or holding him while he drinks his mornning chocolate milk watching batman.
We have our first trip planned the end of this month to go to my parents and then our annual East Texas trip. I am SO excited about that. We have not been home since Spring Break and I am ready. We have however had a lot more metroplex type weather here lately with thunderstorms and everything. It has been really nice for our newly planted flowerbeds! The storms have also been conveniently at night not to interrupt our outside playtime... thanks God!

End of May

For those of you who don't know her, meet Mrs. Lana Fraze. She has become one of my dear friends at Greenlawn and is moving to Fort Worth this Friday. This picture was from her last day at Ladies Bible Class. She is so fun and quick witted while being such a wonderful example of the woman I would like to be. I am going to miss her but don't plan on letting her go that easy!

This picture of Ty was taken on the last day. This was the afternoon after lunch. I just sat watching all the kids play together for the last time fighting back the knot in my throat.


This is our little friend Aaron and I the day of the party. This guy will hold a special place in my heart. He is a rambunkcious (sp?) little dude but SO loving and thoughtful as well.

Aras and Ty being silly at lunch one day. Aras is special too....one of the most loving little people I have ever met. Smart little thing too! We are friends with her mommy and daddy and plan on seeing her.



This was the last day right before school let out. This was the scene regularly at our school... the bigger kids play on the other side of the playground with bigger equipment but the siblings will always run and greet each other, too cute. The little blonde is Maggie, such a precious girl, I had her for two years and developed a real love for her! She is greeting her little sister Mary Addison. I wanted to capture this b/c its probably the last time it would happen because Ty will be at a different school next year and I suppose by the time his sister gets there they might not always be as excited to see each other!

This was outside in our backyard a week ago Sunday. Just a pretty day..........

I don't think I have ever shown the after shot of Liv's haircut, so here it is! We love our Tande for making us feel pretty!




Please pray for another friend of mine whom I just learned is in the heart hospital here, Louise Thomas. Trent and I got to know she and her late husband when we first moved to Lubbock. She brought me a homemade Coconut Cream pie when I had Ty, that is my favorite. She is dear to me and was supposed to travel with me to Fort Worth at the end of June. Please be thinking of her.

Ty's Luau

Last pic with Mrs. O'Guinn.......

Ty's classroom, everyone sitting on their names...

The class went on a scavenger hunt for things like, sunglasses, grass skirts, and leighs (sp?)

Afterwards we came back to the classroom and ate hawaian treats as well as snowcones!

Mrs. O'Guinn gave each student a bucket full of goodies including a book they had made throughout the year for each letter which included a lot of pictures. She also included a pillowcase that is SO special... with each child's handprint. The words are precious, continue down for a close up picture. All of these kids are dear to me as well, I had them every afternoon all year long. What a treasure!

Olivia's Luau

Friends Collier, Avery and Ryleigh

Ms. Casey wearing O's hat that she refused!

Eating Ice Cream

You may notice that Olivia is wearing different outfits in these pictures, that is because she got to do it twice! She is one of the few that go all four days so she actually has two different classes of different kids! I don't think she minded all the double parties all year long! As much as I don't want her to grow, I will not mind not having to buy double everything after this next year!

Winding down... sort of!

Well another school year is coming to a close. I am starting to get emotional on a daily basis as I am realizing that these kids that I have become so attached to are going to be all over the city now, and it is possible I will never see some of them again! I never knew you could love a child as much as your own until I entered the world of pre-school. We only have two weeks left, filled with a field trip to Kenny's Corral, and a end of the year Luau next week- grass skirts and all! Two weeks left of being with my little guy on a regular basis, eating lunch with him everyday, and peeking in anytime I want!

Ty will be going to kindergarten next year which is really weird, yet exciting. So far I am not emotional about that but who knows how it will be on the first day! We had registration a little over a month ago now where we went to the school, met the teachers and then the kids went to the classrooms while the principle gave us the 411 in the cafeteria. I was more than impressed and think Ty is just going to love it! His school is three blocks south of our house, beautiful, and consists of nearly entire Christian staff lead by a Christian principle! We have friends who have already experienced this school and mammas who have encouraged us about going there. It makes it easier knowing that they are looking for guidance in the right place!

We are also closing on our first season in Western Little League. It has been a good experience and surprising in a lot of ways. I will say we have a coach that is not a yeller, as opposed to several that we have played! I think Ty has learned more from Trent than his coaches but he has enjoyed it. Every game, with the exception of two, however have been not enjoyable weather! Temperature is always considerably lower on those days and of course windy and drizzling the last two!!! It is MAY!

Our church had a Father/Daughter Sunday afternoon where they made a growth chart together, a flower pot, and ate their self-made 'sundays'! Trent and Olivia had a blast. It was actually a small turn out but I think it just made it all the more fun.

Ty had his end of the year program and did great! They sang for one hour! The States song, states in alphabetical order, The letter song, Jesus you are wonderful to me, I want to stop and thank you God, all songs in sign language as well and many more I cannot remember! I really was impressed. I cannot thank God enough for leading us to this school and the unbelievable program they have going.

Trent's season closed and his 'first' players graduated! That was a little weird too, to think he has been there that long now! He has had only the men's team this last season and will continue to do so from now on, which has brought SO much more balance to our lives and a lot less drama!!! We are loving it! Trent is here a lot more and is so flexible. He is also working in the finance dept. of a large corporation part time which has been really good too. God has blessed us TREMENDOUSLY this year.

Had a great Mother's Day. My parents came the Thursday before and were able to go to a practice and game for Ty's team. We had a nice day at church and then went to Red Lobster to eat. Every restraunt in this town was crazy! We came home and had a nice restful afternoon. Ty made me a garden stone with his handprint in it, and Olivia made me the cutest polk-a-dot (thumbprints) flower pot complete with flower! The card from Ty was an interview about me and is hysterical. I will have to post that sometime but I am keeping it forever!

Trent is currently on a guy's golf trip in Alabama living it up at Robert Trent Jones with B-diddy (Brian Davis) and the crew. What a nice end to the semester! We (me and the kids) have three birthday parties in two days along with two baseball games! The crazy continues....

Lots of things coming to end, some sad, some good but we are ready to hit the pool and the lake! I will post some end of the year pics for my two readers (Mom & Dad) in the next week! We will see you soon and love you so much. Thank you for making the trip out and all your time with the kids. Its so neat to read back on here now, I have been blogging for almost four years now! Neat to look back and see what was going on at this time in the past or see how things have changed. What a neat way to record!