Summer Camps 2011

Summer is always a fun time to plan for Luke. I want to let him have different activities and camps - problem I still work during the summer and not all camps cater to working moms. This is where it gets interesting... Anyway, this summer Luke had 5 different camps. He attended the Hebron Baseball Camp.




Luke with his friend and teammate, Grant Johnson

Luke also had Lego Camp. Yeah, I forgot to take any pics - but I promise he made several cool Lego contraptions, many of which were controlled by the computer.

Luke attended one week of St. Mark's day camp and loved it. He attended the tennis camp last year and it was pretty fun as well. They have a great program. Maryam's boys, Sam and Jack, attended the same day camp as Luke this year and Luke was able to go with them some days. Believe me that was very exciting for Luke.

Luke went to visit Sug and Opa for a week this summer and participated in a junior golf camp. He went last year and, again, had wonderful things to say about the instructors and other campers. I know Sug took some pics but I don't have any available right now to post.

Lastly, Luke went with his friend, Jack Falconer, to the Hackberry Creek camp. Luke loved this camp and he got to spend a lot of time with Jack.

Luke was also able to stay up at the Bonderosa for a couple of weeks. He just loves it when he can go to the ranch and be with his Pa. The heat was just awful but they still manage to find plenty to do.

Reed - Reed actually had one camp this summer. He went to Hebron Soccer Camp.
























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My new patio

I have a wonderful new patio. I am SO excited!! Here are a few pics to show the transformation...




























Rob and I have wanted to build a patio out back for so long - our backyard is basically unusable in the summer. However, I do think it some sort of Mother Nature joke that we finally build it and have nothing but 100 plus degree days since June. I know it is hot in Texas in the summer, but this summer is shaping up to be record breaker. Of course, I stubbornly still go out at night, especially when the Rangers are playing, and sit on the couch and watch the tv. Rob has also been able to grill a handful of times, but actually eating and just hanging on the patio has not been possible...yet! And speaking of that, so glad there will be a football season this year - I am looking forward to it more than usual so I can watch the games outside.

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Location:Taylor Casa

Reed, the singer

So my darling Reed loves to sing... And especially songs from the radio or Rob's iPod. Well, I am a country music fan and listen to it all the time in the car. Lately, I have been loving this song "Country Girl" by Luke Bryan. I mean you just can't help but turn it up and move a little! And it super awesome to hear it sung by a 4 year old. His favorite part to sing is:

"Country Girl, shake it for me, girl
Shake it for me, girl
Shake it for me"

I'm sure you can imagine...

This reminds me of another song by Luke Bryan called "Rain". Reed knows the whole chorus by heart which goes something like this:

"Rain makes corn
Corn makes whiskey
Whiskey makes my baby feel a little frisky
Back roads are bogging up
My buddies piled up in my truck
We hunt our homies down and take them in to town
Start washing all our worries down the drain
Rain is a good thing"

Precious, really. However, not necessarily always appropriate. We went to a children's book reading at a local bookstore - called pajamarama or something. Basically the point was to have your kids wear their jammies to story time. So here we go. Well the book reader says we are going to read some books about rain...anyone know any books or songs about rain? At this point, I immediately spot a book I must look at because I know exactly what is coming. As if on cue, Reed raises his hand and I just grin that Rob will be handling this situation solo. Of course, the book reader calls on Reed and he proudly states "I know a song about rain." Book reader - "you do, well hoe does it go?" Reed proceeds to sing (loudly, there is no other way) the chorus above. Luke helped a little as well - yeah, us! At the end, book reader, apparently not a country music fan, and the other parents - I did mentioned there were like 7 other families - who must also not be country music fans, were a little like "huh". I can imagine the book reader was expecting Itsy Bitsy Spider or Rain, Rain Go Away - but no the Rain makes whiskey song. Classic!! Rob tried to defend the boys, like hello it is on the radio right now, but no, I think those folks thought we were cuckoo. I just think we are fun.

But Reed's all-time favorite song so far is Need You Now by Lady Antebellum. We have a short recording of him singing while "playing the piano".



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Grandma

July 7, 2011 - Some very sad news for me, my Grandma (Nana to the boys) had a major heart attack and passed away today. This was just really hard because of how close we were and how shocking it was. I know I was so very lucky to live close to Grandma and spend time with her... In fact, I just spent much of the past weekend with her - playing dominos, discussing the Casey Anthony trial, and riding in the paddle boat. The boys got to know their Nana and I will eternally be grateful for those memories. You really just never know.

Here are a few favorite pics:












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Fourth of July 2011

What a weekend! We have a parade in our neighborhood every year and it is such a fun event - until you lose your dog. Kidding...well, sort of. Anyway, let me back-up. So we all participate in the Castle Hills neighborhood 4th of July parade every year. Here is the transportation this year:



















The parade ends at the shops/plaza area of Castle Hills. Rob is currently the mayor of Escape, the local coffee shop. When I tell Rob that I am going to Escape he reminds to tell them that I am the mayor's wife...really? Uh, no. But I digress... Of course, it was just blasted hot on parade day. Well Red, our dog, must have sensed shade near by and went to cool down. He, however, forgot to tell us and even though we could almost swear Red would go where the people are - he is very social - we could not find him. So we wandered the neighborhood a bit and then decided to load up everything and check back at the house for him. Rob, making one last pass around the plaza area, asked our neighbor if he had seen Red. The response - oh yeah, he has been lying in the shade by the shop doors hidden by people (asking everyone near to pet him). Aww, yes.

Now, off to the lake... Our friends and neighbors, the Youngs, let us crash their family gathering at Lake Lewisville. Somehow the heat is easier to take when near a lake.










Lorie, our hostess















Anyway, they took us out on their boat - Luke rode the big inflatable tube with Patrick and Rob got to ski. Reed apparently was tired so I held him for a nap, but that is so much better than a cranky Reedy.

Then up to the ranch. My uncle and his wife are in town, so it was great to see them. Just a lot of talking, domino playing, 4-wheeler riding kinda time... Mom was also hosting a small gathering of neighbors Sunday evening. An amazing group of friends and neighbors my parents have...and always a fun bunch! We were able to watch fireworks from the ranch on both Saturday and Sunday nights.

Monday afternoon was a terrific time at the Falconers. They are always hosting us (and others) at their house and we are just so lucky to have them as such close friends in the neighborhood. At night, our neighborhood put on its annual fireworks show - always a beautiful sight. We do live in an amazing country!

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June 2011 Summer Vacation

So, welcome - I say this more to myself than anyone else. I have been meaning to start a blog for about 5 years, so cheers to me and here goes!

Disneyland, here we come. Rob and I took the boys to SoCal this summer. We hit Disneyland, San Diego Zoo and Legoland. Here are a few pics:

























The Zoo:

























Legoland:





























Oh and the Long Beach Aquarium:





















The weather in June was perfect. The beach was a little cool and the water was still cold, but the boys ran out there anyway...












Love the girl in the bikini behind Luke...


















As a reminder, I have already voiced my opinion that we return to Hotel Del Coronado someday... Just in case a certain someone is reading this. Ha!

I had such a great time chillin' as a family. We didn't have work, school sports or other activities demanding our attention - we just had each other. And I found out what a lucky family we really are. We enjoyed and handled everything as a family. I hope the boys have just as many wonderful memories from this trip as I do. And yes, I will, of course begin planning on the family's next summer vacation!

Oh one hilarious note at the end of the trip... We have just passed through security at the LAX airport and we are sitting down to put our shoes back on, etc. Well I stand up and say let's go boys only to realize that Reed has stuck his head through the handle roller thing on his suitcase. So yes his head is stuck and it requires assistance of an LAX personnel to help rob pull the bars apart enough to get Reed's head out. We so considered taking a picture but were afraid of being "those parents". But the image will always be with me. Seriously!

Location:California