The Ranch

Jeremy and Luci bought some land in Central Texas near May,Texas.  Luci plans on remodeling the house so the entire family can come and hang out.  Jeremy plans on deer hunting, duck hunting, dirt bike racing, Polaris riding, and who knows what else.  They have been so sweet and included Kirk and I in this adventure.  I plan on cooking, playing with grand kids, gardening ( we will grow our own vegetables), and scrap booking.  I am not quite sure what Kirk will do.  I am sure he will go along and have a great time as long as he can watch his football.  The house will be be ready in November hopefully.  I will keep you posted on the blog.  We did have an exciting adventure on Wednesday as Jeremy accidentally flipped his smaller Polaris with Kirk in it.  All were okay, just kind of scary. Here are some pictures of the land.  I fall more in love with it every time I go out.  Right now it has no name except " the Ranch."

Boys and their toys!

Such a cute house!

Okay- needs a little work

5 ponds on the land!

A hog cage- hmmm?

The ache for home lives in all of us, the safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned.
Maya Angelou 

Count Your Blessings, Bella

July Birthdays

We have lots of birthdays in July in our family.  On July 4th two of my favorite people were born- Luci and my mom.  We had a cookout with the family to celebrate and it was so fun.  For Luci's 30th birthday Jeremy pulled out an outstanding surprise party at a wonderful restaurant.  Kirk's birthday was also July 15th.  We celebrated at a restaurant with the kids, then cake afterwards.  Most importantly, he got to talk to all of his children.  He was a happy man!

Paige and Connor at Luci's party

Party Time

Momses and Papa came out

College Friends and Luci's best friend Jenny

The Guys to celebrate Luci 

Brooke and Travis came in.

Abbey and Justin came in

Kirk's birthday cake

Count your Blessings, Bella

Up and Down 35 Again!

Well Kirk and I made the trek last weekend down 35 to Austin and San Antonio.  We saw Brooke, Travis, and the boys in San Antonio on Friday/Saturday, then up to Austin on Saturday to see Abbey, Justin, Wyatt and Connor.  We had such a great time.  As I have said before, my girls are always so hospitable.  Brooke made a cake for her daddy and Travis made the best red fish I have ever had.  Abbey made a delicious pot roast and got her daddy special ice cream.  Luci took care of the dogs and gave them some loving.  We had a great visit and were able to get our stuff out of the house in Austin.  It was a little bittersweet saying goodbye to a place with such great memories.

Hudson loves to mow the lawn with his daddy!

A little direction from daddy

Caleb is crawling

Oh how Sweet it is!

Bless sweet Wyatt


Have no fear of moving into the unknown. Simply step out fearlessly knowing that I am with you, therefore no harm can befall you; all is very, very well. Do this in complete faith and confidence.
Pope John Paul II 
 


Count your Blessings, Bella

Park Days

We have had some great days at the park in July.  We went to a water park in Allen, A dog park called mutts where you can sit and drink a beer and they have handlers that watch the dogs and scoop the poop, and a city park built above a tunnel.  Such fun places!

“A little nonsense now and then, is cherished by the wisest men.” 
― Roald Dahl, Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator
Count Your Blessings, Bella

Carter Turns 3

Our little Grandson turned 3 on July 2nd!  The entire family was in Dallas for his birthday.  Here are the festivities in living color.  Carter Mark, you have brought such joy into our lives!

Hudson and Pops at the party

All putting the toys together

Play time

Marble Toy

Pirate costumes were very popular

Riley waiting for cake!

Cake

Yum- his momma made his cake!

Truly wonderful the mind of a child is.

YODA, Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones

Count your Blessings, Bella

She Did It

Brook ran her first 1/2 marathon at the end of June.  We all went over to Fort Worth to support her.  I was so proud of her and the whole family.  Carter ran her in and said he beat her!  She did a strict training schedule with her two babies.  I am so proud of her commitment to herself and her family to stay healthy.  She eats healthy and cooks healthy.  Yes Kirk will even eat her wheat lasagna.   We had a family dinner afterwards at Joe T Garcia's.  Not as good as I remembered, but we were all together.

Go Brooke Go!

In the background you can see Kirk, Luci, Carter, Finley, Jeremy, and  Connor running her in!

See Carter "beating" Brooke!

Celebration Dinner Pics

To keep the body in good health is a duty... otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.
Buddha 

Count Your Blessings, Bella

Road Trip

I came through Austin at the end of June to celebrate Connor's 18th birthday, see Abbey's new house, and head to San Antonio to see Brooke and the boys.  I brought Finley Grace with me and we had a great time. First stop:

Austin for Connor's Birthday!  Connor turns 18!  Between our sweet friends the Sloans, Abbey, and myself, we were able to pull off a surprise party for Connor, planned in 24 hours.  We really surprised him.  We had the party at Kobe steak house - his favorite restaurant.  

Momma Slaon ( that is what Connor calls her) and myself

The birthday boy with his friends

Finley and Wyatt

Wyatt and Justin

Paper birds that Connor made for Finley

Happy Birthday Connor

2nd stop San Antonio: After a peaceful night in Abbey and Justin's new place, Finley and I headed to San Antonio to see Brooke and Travis, Hudson, and Caleb.  Both my girls are so hospitable and so are my son in laws.  I am so thankful , appreciative, and respectful, that they open their homes to us. We had a great time- We went swimming and had great food to eat.  It was so relaxing to spend time with Brooke and her boys.  Here are some pictures to capture the moments.

Cupcake making with Finley

Hudson joins the fun

Sweet Caleb!

“True hospitality is marked by an open response to the dignity of each and every person. Henri Nouwen has described it as receiving the stranger on his own terms, and asserts that it can be offered only by those who 'have found the center of their lives in their own hearts'.” 

― Kathleen Norris, Dakota: A Spiritual Geography

Count your Blessings, Bella