Babies, Babies, and More Babies

Both my girls are having baby girls in September.  Abbey is having Corrina Lynn in mid September and Brooke is having Annabelle Louise in late September.  We are all so excited to have two baby girls. This will even the grand kids up to 4 girls and 4 boys.  I feel so blessed and thankful to have such wonderful children and grandchildren.  The girls came into Dallas in July and we showered them with gifts for their little girls.  My dear friend Becky helped throw a beautiful shower for the girls.  It was so nice to have my friends and family together to honor my girls. We had a great time at the "Into My Garden Tea Room" in Plano.

Sweet Becky and the girls

The table is just lovely

Luci, Jenny, Robin, and Rachael

Dana, Adrienne, and Molly- three of my best friends over 30 years.

Mary- love her to pieces- besides my momma, she taught me to be a good momma.

My Cousin Leigh

Abbey with Finley, Brianna, and Lauren ( Kirk's brother's kiddos)

Matching outfits- they got many of those- so cute

Aren't they Gorgeous

Count Your Blessings, Bella

Vacation- 2014- Cruise Baby

After a very hard and trying school year for both Kirk and myself, we decided to go on a cruise with just ourselves and my parents and take some time to be a couple.  We left out of Galveston on a beautiful Sunday afternoon and sailed into the Western Caribbean. We had a marvelous time and most importantly, we enjoyed time together.  We had dinner with momma and daddy every night, went on excursions with them, and occasionally saw them on the boat.  They are a great couple to travel with.  This is our second cruise with them and I am sure there will be many more to come.  We went on the Carnival Magic.  Had two days on the boat, a stop off in Jamaica, Grand Cayman, and Cozumel.  We then had one more day on the boat before it was time to come home.  We ate awesome food, drank fun drinks, spent our boat days in Serenity ( the adult only area), slept a lot, swam with dolphins, held sea turtles, rode in a jeep, was waited on hand and foot at a private beach, and of course stopped at Jimmy Buffets.  It was a wonderful, magical vacation.  Here are some of the highlights of the trip:

Kirk Loved the Dolphin Encounter

My Daddy

Bucket list stuff!

My Momma and Daddy

Dinner Dates

Daddy and Lynn

In Grand Caymen kissing a turtle

A vacation is having nothing to do and all day to do it in.

Robert Orben

Count Your Blessings, Bella

Happy Birthday America

We celebrated July 4th in grand style.  Kirk and I headed down to San Antonio.  We went to our in laws Sasha and Juan's home for the day.  We had a pool party.  They were such gracious hosts and entertained all of us- Brooke and Travis and the boys and Abbey and Wyatt.  Justin had to stay in Austin to attend to some pressing business. We then went to Brooke's neighborhood party for fireworks.  Brooke and Travis' neighborhood is crazy on July 4th.  It was tons of fun.  Good food and a jump house for the kids.  We had to say goodbye early July 5th and head back to Dallas for our cruise the next day ( see next blog).

Happy Birthday America!

At the Pool Party

Caleb and Hudson loved Wyatt's car at his Nona's House

I got the boys Old Navy July 4th shirts

Walking to the Neighborhood party

Caleb is beginning to love his Bella ( especially if I feed him)

Wyatt, Abbey, Bella, and Caleb

Brooke and Caleb ( the boy likes to eat)

This nation will remain the land of the free only so long as it is the home of the brave.  ~Elmer Davis

Count Your Blessings, Bella

The Class of 1979 is Well and Mighty Fine

The class of 1979 is Well and mighty fine!

I went to a small high school, in fact my graduating class had only 32 students.  I had attended the 10 year reunion. It was fun, but everyone at their 10 year reunion tries to impress.  I attended the 25th and had an awesome time.  No one really cared what you had or had not achieved.  I was so excited to attend the 35th and did not leave disappointed.  Kirk and I headed to Houston in June.  We stayed with one of my classmates- Lisa Branch Long and had a terrific time.  We so appreciated the hospitality of Lisa and her sweet husband Sam.  We had a casual dinner with my classmates.  Many thanks to Annette Ford Harper and the committee for a great time.  We were able to raise close to $1000 dollars that night for our departed classmate Dorothy's family.  I also saw my best friend in high school, Sheelah Wooten.  We have not really talked since high school and picked up right where we left off, 35 years later. I had connected with many classmates through facebook, so knew about their lives.  It was just so very nice to see people you grew up with, shared your childhood with, and went to school with for many kindergarten through 12th grade.  Here's to the next 5 years St Thomas Class of 1979.  You can always find me on facebook.

St. Thomas Class of 1979

The beach group 

Jimmy Smith- lived down the street from me and went to St. Thomas most of his grades of school.  He is a true Austinite- Lucky Guy!

Happy Reunion Class of 1979

Lisa Long and Diane

Sheelah and her husband Jay

My senior quote in the 1979 St. Thomas Yearbook

"The time to be happy is now, the place to be happy is here, the way to be happy is to make others so."

Count Your Blessings, Bella