The Good, the Bad

The Good:  This weekend we were blessed by a visit with our dear friends the Alexanders.  We immensely enjoyed the company,the conversation and the catching up.  Our kiddos did as well.  We were also able to celebrate our college friend, Sha-nay-nay's, Renee's birthday.

The Bad:  When we came home that evening, Anna went to check on Walker only to find that he had thrown up at some point.  Bless his heart, it didn't quit.  Unfortunately, this seems to be a trend when they visit.  Hopefully, it won't continue when we reconvene for Anna's birthday in Grand Saline next year. 

Here We Go Again...

Facebook has become my daily post of what we are up to.  I am just really having a hard time blogging these days.  Kendrick is dropping his nap and I have a huge book project that I'd like to finish before school and BSF start up in the fall.  So, for posterity and my end of the year book to remind me what pictures to include, here's the run down of where we have been and what we have done...

July 1st-Our second outdoor umbrella of the season blew over in a storm and spintered.  Returned to Costco with no worries.  They gladly accepted it.  While waiting for Dad, the boys discovered the joys of bungee cords acting like sling shots.  The flip flop was the overall favorite for catapaulting.  We will see if they take back umbrella number 3!  (I swear, the thing has a design flaw and catches the wind!)

July 3rd-  We had our college friends, Renee and Kristin over and were overwhelmed with guns, swords, and wrestling.  Boys.  5 of them. 

July 4th and 5th-We had all of the Dallas area Hills over for Grandmama's birthday.  For some reason the camera didn't come out and the only pic I got was of her breakfast.  She always elludes the camera, but then again, I'm sure she didn't want to be seen in her nightgown with breadkfast in bed. 

July 9th-11th- We headed down to Houston just beacuse.  It had been a year since we had made the trek and thought it was time to reconnect.  On our way out of town, with my cows popping out of the sunroof in the drive through, we stopped by Chick-Fil-A, since it was cow appreciation day.  We got our free chicken biscuits and hit the road. 

We swung by Stephen's office first and said hi.  Next up was our old 'hood.  It was so good to see these faces of friends we have truly missed.  I have nothing like them in my neighborhood and it is sorely missed.  Our kids miss the interaction as well.  

 

We spent the rest of the weekend with Anna, Mark and Walker catching up and looking forward to J.P.'s entrance into this world.  Unfortunately it didn't happen during the weeknd, but Anna was a sure trooper keeping up with us all. 

On the way home, we stopped by Wheelock, TX for an adventure.  The kids were asleep for most of the drive, but I know that once they woke up and we were on a dirt road, Cavett might remember it later. 

It's one of those crazy Dadoo moments when he throws everyone into the car and starts driving.  When he finally arrives at the destination, it's a tree in the middle of no where, but it has significance. 

When we got out, it was two houses--a log cabin (1836) and a large white house(1845).  It was the Cavitt homestead settled in 1835.  I had originally wanted to see the cemetery which is behind the house to confirm some dates for my genealogy book, but there were gates and "No Trespassing" signs.  Turns out a couple from Dallas who is related distantly just bought the place and is in the process of restoring it.  He said the cememtery is too overgrown and he sees snakes everyday.  We exchanged information and emails and hopefully we will get an invitation back one day. 

July 13th-We have finally finished our 7 swim lessons (interrupted by rain, toes and messed up schedules) and our teacher invited us to the Natatorium to see if Cavett could swim the length of the pool.  He did so with ease and vigor!  8 laps and could have kept going!  I was so proud.  I think we have a sport for him!  He'll start stoke clinic in the spring and then do swim team next summer. 

The summer is nearly over.  Just a little over a month left and the next two weeks are pretty full with a wedding in Shreveport, a dental (parent-only) trip to Boston, trips to and from Grand Saline for the kids, and Chicago Heizers (Hills) coming to visit.  Before we  know it August 23rd will be here! 

The Ranch

Back in the Spring my college roommate and best friend, Renee invited us to the Dallas Children's Chorus Gala.  We had a great time at the event and ended up winning an auction item of a weekend at a ranch house up near Lake Texoma with the Trumon and Adrianne and Renee and Chuck.   We had such a great time even with Kendrick's boot impeeding full fun.  Here's my top ten of the weekend.

1.  Feeding really long-horned Longhorns.

2.  Reading stories to the littlest ones.

3.  Wearing the kids out in the pool.

4.  Fresh picked fruit.

5.  Dragonflies and Butterflies everywhere.

6.  Canoeing, Golfcarting Tree Swinging and Fishing.

7. Adult dinners while the kids are fast asleep.

8.  Sharing the ups and downs of motherhood while rocking on the front porch.

9.  Watching the boys and men bond.

10.  Friends that last a lifetime!

For more pictures, see my facebook page.

If You Build It....

"If you build it they will come."  It's a quote made quite often about various things, from some baseball movie that I can't even remember.  But, I am saying it about our house/backyard.  Since the last day I blogged I have had 5 days of entertaining and 3 of those were between 10-35 adults.  Now don't get me wrong, I enjoy every lick of it, but it is all engrossing.  I've done it to myself. I have no one to blame, but me. And, I can't let anything just slide. I can't buy store-bought-already-prepared food.

My Mom emailed me today and said she missed my blog.  I miss it too, but I just haven't had the time.

Last weekend started on Thursday when Stephen had his one year anniversary party for his office. 

Friday, we enjoyed in the pool as a family.

Saturday and Sunday were full of friends.

Memorial Day was family and more friends.

We had our first week of no school and then we prepared for Kelli and Joe's baby shower this past Friday night. 

I slept 11 hours laast night and it was good sleep.  The kind where you don't dream and you don't wake up until a kid crawls in bedd with you at 7:00. 

The thing is "gratitude is a twofold love -- love coming to visit us, and love running out to greet a welcome guest."   I love entertaining.  It's my gift.  I think I do it well.  And if you are one of my guests and feel like I am saying I don't want you here, you are completely wrong.  I guess I just needed to explain why I have been absent from my blog.

Today at the grocery store the little girl pushing my cart out to the car asked me if I had big plans for the summer.  I told her, "We are staying in our backyard enjoying our pool and our friends." 

We are blessed by God to be able to have such a nice home and a pool and we are blessed in the fact that our friends and family feel welcome and want to spend time with us. 

So, welcome one and all to Casa de Las Colinas.   I look forward to a summer of a full house.

My BFFs

This weekend was Girl's Weekend.  A few months ago, one of my college buddies, Paula decided that since we had no more weddings to get together for, we should have a girl's weekend.  We orchestrated a way to share the cost and that we would rotate who would plan each year.  This first year, Renee and I co-hosted.  I provided the spot and Renee handled the finances.  It was THE. BEST. WEEKEND. EVER!!!

We stayed at Casa De Las Colinas, a.k.a. my house and I prayed about the weather for a month and watched the 10 day forcast constantly.  I was really worried about the rain.  But, it didn't put too much of a damper on the weekend.  Paula and Kristin's flights were delayed, but it all worked out and we were still able to get to dinner at Stephen Pyle's on Friday night. 

Saturday was filled with Sliver Service breakfast,  manicure/pedicures, outlet shopping, hot tub relaxing, steakhouse dinner, Renee's tambourine shaking, an Elvis impersonator, a band singing "Happy Birthday" to Adrianne who said her name was Jennifer, Kristin's Karaoke with Big Tex and the smoking bull.  I just don't think we could have squeezed anything else into the day!  Paula and Anna were real troopers carrying their little ones inside. 

Sunday consisted of Brunch at Blue Mesa and lounging in the pool the rest of the day until the boys came and disrupted the calm. 

These women mean the world to me.  They have known me for just a few months shy of half of my life. All but 1 I have lived with.  They have completely put up with me and all my quirks and antics.  We have been there for each other and have been there to laugh, cry, stand by them as they married, support them through pregnancy, and have playdates with our children.  I hope that 40 years down the road we are continuing to do the same as well as share pictures of our grand-children.  We are mothers and wives to 17 boys and 1 baby girl.  We needed this time.  Time to reflect, to remember and to reconnect.  Each of these girls were and are in my life for a purpose and I love them all dearly.  Thank you for such a great weekend.

And I guess I have to say that it is all due to Will K. Andress, the past director of the Centenary College Choir.  With God's help, he hand picked my best friends forever. 

He gave me Kristin first as my first college dorm roommate and fellow flute player who showed me the love of "randomness and silly." 

He gave me Renee who blew me away with her talent who showed me the meaning of hard work . 

He gave me Paula who showed me the love and dedication of a true friend. 

He gave me Anna who showed me great humble-ness, even when I had previously wrongly pegged her for something different. 

He gave me Adrianne with her amazing voice who has been a blessing for me and my entire family for the past 11 years having gone through dental school with her husband and "our boy" Trumon.       

The thing is these are only 5 of many more from college.  There were others missed this weekend.  If I didn't care about my education, I at least made friends that pass the test of time.  Money and loans well-spent.  I feel truly blessed to have so many long-time and dear friends.  I love each and every one of you! 

Playdate

Mother Nature teased us this week and we were able to have a park playdate during Spring Break with our friends, Skyler and Oakley.  We enjoyed the warmer weather and getting a bunch of energy out.