Lazy Days of Summer

Happy last week (depending upon which school district you live in) of Summer 2009!

Miss Taylor starts the 4th grade next Wednesday (still not sure how she keeps getting older while I don't age a bit) so we spent our last Girls' Weekend (Davey works every other weekend, remember?) enjoying the lazy days of summer.

Well, actually, Saturday wasn't all that lazy as we went to Cinnabon (had to get some to go because it would be 30 minutes before any were ready - who does that?!?!), Starbuck's, Zumba, Furniture Row and Wal-Mart (both for shopping and nails) before heading home to clean house and finish the laundry.

It was a long but fun day. Miss Thang got a new pack of Littlest Pet Shop animals and was in hog heaven playing with them while I harvested my crops (anyone else on FB addicted to Farm Town/Ville?) and cleaned house. Yes, in that order. Got to have priorities, after all.

Before I show any pics, let me put out a disclaimer that they were all taken with my phone. And the object was usually moving. Quality stinks but the memories shine!

So the last time we went to Wal-Mart, Tay thought this was hilarious. I have to concur.

On Sunday, we went to church and then headed to the gym for her weekly private lesson. Then we decided to throw caution to the wind and had a Lunchable picnic at YMCA pool. And, of course, we actually swam too.

She specifically asked that I take a picture (and post it) of the splash her cannonball elicited. So here you go.
Ahhhh - what a precious little girl. She's sweet, sassy, smart and funny. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
What else have we been up to? Well, we (and by 'we,' I mean Taylor) found this amusing school supply at the mecca that is Dollar Tree last week. I thought it was stinkin' hilarious.

I do have some more pictures to share but will spread them out this week so your retinas don't begin bleeding. After all, there's no amount of concealer or powder that can make that attractive. :-)

On another note, please keep Baby Reese's family in your prayers today as they celebrated her life this afternoon and will also be burying her today. I cannot imagine what they are feeling but do know Katie has been an amazing witness for God during these trying days. If you have a few minutes, check out her blog and pictures of her beautiful family.

Prayers for Baby Reese

My heart has been extremely heavy for the past couple of days so I haven't really been in the mood to blog. One of my sorority sisters from Baylor, Mandy, has a sweet and beautiful sister named Katie. She went through a rough patch earlier this summer as she had meningitis. As if that wouldn't have been bad enough, she was also pregnant with her second child - a baby girl to be named Reese - at the time.

Many prayers were said for this sweet family at the time and we were all so thankful Katie and Reese made it through that trial. Unfortunately, they are now experiencing a situation I can only describe as unfathomable.

You see, Reese was in some distress Tuesday so an emergency C-section was performed. She was not breathing when she was born and is currently in a coma and is ventilator dependent. While initial tests revealed she was brain dead, they are running further tests before this precious family will have to make some tough decisions.

Katie, Jason, their son Zach and the entire White and Rowe families have been on my mind non-stop since hearing this news. I cannot imagine what they are going through as we experienced nothing of this sort when Taylor was born. What I do know is that this is a wonderful family who, though rock solid in their faith, has to be experiencing unimaginable pain right now.

I know miracles still happen and I pray one will be done in Reese. However, if that is not the case, my prayer is that these families will experience a peace that passes all understanding sent from above. Please join me in this prayer and, if you would like to see pictures of this precious baby, check out Katie's blog.

Hello, Howdy, How Do You Do?

As you have probably noticed, I'm a bit off of my blogging game right now. 

Generally, I upload all of my pictures to Facebook and then retrieve them during my lunch hour to add to posts and we're good to go (our computer at home take f-o-r-e-v-e-r to do this little task so it's just easier that way). However, FB is acting nuts right now so all of my pics are stuck on the house computer.

I can hear them crying for me but, alas, I am powerless to save them.

Until I can figure out what the issue is, you may have to deal with some photo-less posts. I apologize in advance...

Anyway, we've had some exciting stuff go in the last few weeks. 

My stepdad (better known to blog readers as Boppy), who was born and raised in the Episcopal church, converted to Baptist and was baptized in Belton Lake during an outdoor (obviously) service on August 2. That date also happens to be my late grandfather's (on my mom's side) birthday so it was a special one for sure.

Last week Miss Tay stayed with Nana and Boppy all week to attend Vacation Bible School at their church. This has become quite the tradition - Nana teaches Tay's class and they both have a ball. We attended their program last Friday evening and then enjoyed a leisurely Saturday. We were resting up for another big day last Sunday.

What happened, you might ask?

Well, you're in luck, because I'm feelin' a bit chatty. (I know, like that's ever NOT the case, right?)

But I digress...

So last Sunday Miss Taylor was baptized at the local YMCA, where we work out, in the super cool pool. This was awesome news because she had previously been a bit shy about actually going through with it. When our pastor emailed me last week about this, I was so excited because I just knew she'd feel more comfortable in this familiar and relaxed setting. I think it helped that she'd seen Boppy do it the week before as well.

The other wrinkle in the story is that we have been "visiting" our church for the past 18 - yes, 18 - months. We love it, knew it was the one for us almost immediately, and considered ourselves members for most intensive purposes; however, we were waiting for Tay so we could all join together. Add in the fact that Dave works every other weekend and it was tricky thing, you see.

Lo and behold, on Sunday, August 9, we finally did it and are official members at Brazos Meadows. Can I get a 'woo hoo?'

And perhaps an award for the 'longest to visit without actually making a commitment?'

So, you see, we have been quite busy. (And I didn't even tell you about the Willow Creek Leadership Summit, which was transforming, I'll have you know.) And I do have pictures to prove it. If FB ever starts acting right again.

At least Farm Town hasn't been affected. If it had, my hubby would - no doubt - have a meltdown. A big one. As anyone else who actually calculates the ROI of each crop, wishes for a bullwhip to take out a horse, and fires their avatar would.

Right?!?!

Down on the Riverwalk

To continue with the crazy busy month of July, I attended a Noel-Levitz enrollment management conference in San Antonio the 21st through 23rd. Miss Tay spent some quality time with her dad and Dave was able to get off so we made a no-kids getaway.

We stayed at the Mariott Rivercenter, which was totally awesome while we were there but it's been a nightmare dealing with them getting the right invoice, state tax removed since Baylor is tax exempt, etc. It was a lot of fun even though we were totally ready to get home and settle back into our boring routine once it was over.

The first day we had lunch at Subway (I know, way outside of the box, right?) before I began a long afternoon of sessions. They were good but I wasn't finished until 6:30pm so it was just a whole lot of goodness packed into half a day.

While I was working, Dave hit the riverwalk and found that he could purchase beer for only $2/bottle. Where, you might ask? What kind of great happy hour did he find?

None - my man was doing his shopping at the CVS Pharmacy. One beer at a time. And then strolling along the riverwalk enjoying one purchase after another. Now how many girls can say that?

Only a lucky few, that's who. :-)

Anyway, after I finished up at the conference we had dinner at Landry's (fabulously yummy) and then hit a piano bar called Durty Nelly's. It was an irish pub. Very quaint. Lots of friendly people. Good margaritas. Great piano players. What more could a girl ask for?

Apparently just one more thing - you see, my man leaned over to me toward the end of the evening and, I KID YOU NOT, uttered this phrase: "I just knew you'd love it here. Every woman I've ever brought here thought it was great!"

My reaction? "I truly AM the luckiest girl in the world, aren't I?"

For those of you who know Dave, that little exchange came as no surprise. Just another day in paradise for the two love birds. It works for us - don't knock it!

Moving on - we headed back to the hotel about 9pm and hit the sack. In a down feather paradise that the Mariott apparently calls a bed. Dave spent most of the next morning trying to figure out how we could get it downstairs and strap it to the top of the car.

Didn't quite work but it was a nice thought.

I headed back to the conference early the next morning but was able to enjoy a great lunch with my man at Lone Star Cafe. We then spent the rest of the lunch hour at the Alamo. I'd been once a long time ago but wanted to see it as an adult. And I'm glad I did.

You can't take pics inside the Alamo but I thought we got some good shots of the outside. Here's the kicker - it never occurred to me the type of reaction my born and bred Texan husband would have to this experience. As we were leaving he said, "It always pisses me off when I walk through the Alamo."

This Louisiana girl has taken note, my friends...

That evening we enjoyed another San Antonio staple - the river cruise. This is something else I hadn't done in years but it was a lot of fun. A lot of HOT fun but fun all the same.

See?

The best part? This little sightseeing adventure didn't make my man mad. Score!

Then we hopped on the trolley and headed to what we consider a San Antonio must-do - a trip down to the market to eat at Mi Tierra. Seriously, y'all, it gets better every time I go.

We spent some time shopping before eating because Miss Tay had been promised some souvenirs. Apparently I was feeling a bit guilty for leaving her behind because, before I knew it, I had purchased her the flowered hair wreath I'd gone looking for AND a dozen confetti filled eggs.

Seriously?!?!

And she loves them, thankyouverymuch.

Mi Tierra really went all out for the summer (or perhaps it's just left over from Fiesta) because the decorations were all kinds of sparkly goodness. And you know how I love me some sparkles, right?

I had Dave purchase a little dessert from the bakery while I took pictures making it look like he was the sweet eater. (He's totally not. Prefers salt. It's an illness.) I picked out what I thought to be a fruit tart but turns out it was just moist white cake topped with fruit. It wasn't what I was expecting but I still managed to eat half of it about 10 o'clock that night. 

Because that's what you do when you're out of town.

Then we hopped back on the trolley and made it back to the hotel. 

The next morning I headed down bright and early again while Davey slept in. It was a rough week for him. Obviously.

After wrapping up sessions in the early afternoon, we headed back in time for Miss Tay to come home. A short but fun getaway. But we totally missed our dogs. And kiddo. And, for some reason, I wanted to get home and do some housecleaning.

Again, it's an illness. Or I've turned into my mother. Not sure which...either way, the result was a clean house so I suppose one should not complain.

That's it.

The end.

No Longer 30

Since I knew Dave and I would be heading to San Antonio for a conference on enrollment management at the end of July, Tay and I spent my birthday weekend taking it easy and lounging around. Seems to be the theme of July for us, huh?

Anyway, she spent some time loving on Bo. She loved on the other two as well but I just wasn't around with the camera at the time...



On my actual birthday (7/19), Dave had to work so Miss Tay took it upon herself to make sure I had a special morning. She made me a card and even wrote a sweet verse in it. It was decorated with purple fireworks because a) I like fireworks and b) purple is my favorite color.

Who wouldn't love waking up to that face?

She also enlisted this little guy's help in singing 'Happy Birthday.' You see, he has a recorder inside - push one hand and record a message, push the other and he plays it back. She had recorded herself singing to me and I got to hang out with him all day.

After church we met Nana and Boppy at Don Carlos for lunch. It was super yummy and I got to open presents in the middle of a restaurant that does think that means 'ok, now let's see how loud we can sing and embarrass her.' But they did give me fried ice cream. Success, any way you slice it.

Afterward we headed over to Davey's hospital (aka Hillcrest) because he really wanted to give me my birthday present. He'd apparently been scoping it out for weeks and had been discussing it with the nurses...he's not much of a present guy so this was an extra special treat.

And I L-O-V-E it.

Wouldn't you?

Tay sent me to my room for a while and then called me back into the living room for a fruit snack/rollup party with the stuffed members of the family. She took pictures herself to document the occasion.

Super sweet, don't ya think?

Then she went back to hanging out with her pups while I made shrimp fetuccine alfredo for dinner. To go along with the red velvet cake with butter cream icing I'd made the day before. It was divine if I do say so myself!

Thirty was the year I actually felt like a grown-up and it was truly one of the best years of my life. I'm praying 31 will be even better :-)

Little Dude

We took the weekend following the Fourth of July holiday to chill out and relax as a family. We were finally all together back in our own home - the puppy posse included - and we hit the gym early, took Tay to her gym lesson and stocked up on groceries before settling in for a lazy Saturday afternoon.

Or so we thought.

As you may remember, we've had some unfortunate guests this summer (ie coral snake and water mocassin) so you can imagine I was a wee bit leery of going outside when Dave came in from taking the dogs out and said, "You'll never guess what's out there now."

Yeah, well you're going to have to actually TELL me what's out there, buddy, because I'm not about to head out there unarmed.

Turns out I didn't need any weapons because it was this little guy...

We think he must have fallen out of his nest because one of his wings was broken. Poor little fella could only hop around. We called the zoo to ask if they knew anyone who would take him in. Luckily, they did. There is a certified rehabilitation place out in Robinson.

I called the lady immediately and she indicated that she was going to pick up another bird at the Waco Humane Society later that evening and asked if we could get the little guy there...of course we could!

So Dave put on his giant gloves and prepared for a fight.

But he didn't get one! The little owl just let Dave pick him up and place him in this box. He hopped straight into the corner and stuck his head in it...kind of like 'If I can't see them, they can't see me.'

Needless to say, Miss Taylor was ecstatic and promptly named him Little Dude, which she later modified to Little Tiny Dude. Everyone - great and small - needs a middle name apparently.

While I've tried to call and check on Little Dude a couple of times, I never get an answer so we're just hoping this nice lady is really busy taking care of all of the hurt birds of McLennan County.

Summer Haircut

Shortly after we got back from Disney, I decided it was time for a summer haircut. I had been trying to grow my hair out - and I had - but it's so darn hot here that I was just wearing it up pretty much every single day.

I wouldn't be sharing this with you except that Taylor told me I had to...seems that since I share such things about her on the blog, she thinks we should all be subject to the same treatment. Because I really didn't have a good rebuttal, you'll find before and after pictures below.