Summer Fun!

The kids and I had a wonderful time in Texas!  When we weren't visiting old friends, at the beach, fishing or celebrating something special then we spent our time hanging out and having some good ole summer fun!

The boys spent hours shotting the BB guns!
I am lucky they didn't shoot their eyes out!

Relaxing on the porch!

The kids love to feed the horses carrots!

Exploring in the backyard!

Splashing in the water!

Eating delicious food!

Riding bikes!

Playing with their second cousins!

Loving on their Mimi!

Playing football!

If you asked the kids the best part of our Texas trip they would say, Carter, Parker, and Ryder!
I love how much they love each other!
It makes me wish we lived closer! 

Girlfriends...

are so very special!  I am thankful that time apart doesn't take away true friendships! 

I love that I was able to see several old friends while in Texas.  I had a wonderful weekend getaway with my college girlfriends in Austin! 

Elizabeth, me, and Julie after an
amazing overnight stay at the W!

I love that you can relax and be
silly just like old times with girlfriends!

I love that the Army really can be a small place.
I was able to visit my friend Karin who is
at Fort Hood while on my way to Austin.
Who knows where the Army will take us next?

John was able to spend the
weekend with his friend Caden!

I love that as young as they are they know the importance of true friendship!  It was as if no time had passed since they last saw each other a year ago.  They picked right up where they left off! 

I find that is true of my old friends as well. True friendship creates a special bond between people that isn't broken by time apart or separation.  I have that same bond with my friends. 

Jaime, Kristi and I were best buddies while in middle school.  Jaime and I have been friends since 3rd grade, and it always feel like no time has passed when we see each other.  It was great to all be together again!   

 I love seeing our kiddos meet each
other and make new friendships!

Being an Army wife has challenged me in a lot of ways, but I am thankful for all of the friends I have made during Donnie's time in the Army.  They love and support you in a way only an Army wife can because she understands the unique circumstances of your life. 

The kids and I spent a wonderful day the Westcott Beach State Park with our friends, The Crows.  Thank you for making this deployment bearable.  I can't wait until our next day of summer fun!

Playing in the sand!

The boys in the water!

All seven kiddos buried in the sand!

"Many people will walk in and out of your life, but only true friends will leave footprints in your heart." 
~ Eleanor Roosevelt

 

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Port Aransas

...a vacation within a vacation!

My dad arranged for us to stay at his cousins condo over the 4th of July holiday.  It was an almost perfect (it couldn't be perfect without Donnie) family vacation.  We spent a week of doing nothing but splashing in the water, boogie boarding, building sand castles, swimming in the pool, and playing games!  The kids were exhausted at the end of everyday, and ready to do it all again the next day!

Katie looking for who
knows what in the water!

Luke working hard to carry a bucket of water!

Building something really cool!

Enjoying the waves!  The bigger the better!

Boogie boarding didn't ever seem to get old!

Luke spent hours on his board!

On of my favorite pictures!
1, 2, 3 close your eyes!
The sun was so bright they
couldn't keep them open for a picture!

Me and my beach babies!

No trip to the beach was complete without a swim
in the pool before heading back home for the evening!

If we weren't swimming the kids were gaming!
Who knew 5 kids could all link up on a DS game?



Hedbanz anyone?

Happy 4th of July!

We spend the 4th at my cousin Lindsay's house with my Aunt Linda & Uncle Bill.  I love being able to spend time with family that I don't get to see often enough. 
It is so fun to watch all the kids play together.

The boys had to get shark souvenirs!
Katie decided on a bottle filled with sea shells.

The Jokers being jokers on
our last night in Port A!

Looking forward to doing it again when Donnie can go with us!

Celebrate...

the important things in life!

We have made it through 2 months of this deployment! And while 2 months really feels like foreeevvvverrrr!  It is still a milestone worth celebrating! 

While in Texas we celebrated my nephew Carter's 10th birthday!  I love that the kids were able to celebrate his actual birthday as well as enjoy an awesome birthday party together!  Of course with these jokers everyday is a celebration! I love that they love each other so much.  They truly adore each other and could spend every minute of each day playing together!  I hope this never changes!

The Jokers!
A nickname this group earned a long time ago!

Carter had a laser tag birthday party!  It was super fun and all of the kids loved it! 

Party Crew ready to play!

Katie was the only girl playing as usual,
but she outlasted most of the boys in the game!

Luke taking cover!

Watch out or John will get you!

Katie and Parker teaming up on John!
Time for John to call in Carter and Luke for back-up!

Don't forget to celebrate all of the milestone in your life!

We're back...

from an amazing three week vacation in Texas! 

I am going to do my very best to recap the highlights of our trip.  This post is all about fishing!  The kids love to go fishing with Poppy.  In fact, it was one of the things that John couldn't wait to do when we got to Texas. 

John fishing with Poppy

Katie caught 3 catfish
on our first fishing trip!

John caught a bass
and a crappie on this evening!

My and my fishers!

Katie and one of her catfish!

You can't go fishing without a ride on the mule!

We spent more than one evening fishing on our vacation.  The kids wanted to catch enough fish so that we could have a fish fry before we had to go home.  Fishing with my dad always reminds me of when I was a kid and he used to take us fishing.  I love that my kids get to enjoy something with my dad that I did as a child. 

Such beautiful memories...

John caught a big catfish on this trip!

Too bad his fish tangled up all of the other lines
 before he could get him reeled in...
that was the end of fishing on this evening.

Luke's catfish!

Several fish got away when they were fishing (most of them were Luke's) but the kids did catch enough fish that we were able to have a fish fry on our last night in Texas! They were so excited!!  Thanks for all the trips to the dock for fishing, Poppy! 

I know they are looking forward to their next fishing trip!

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