Happy Birthday, Luke!

Today my beloved husband turns 38 years old.  I had an entire string of photos of him, ready to upload, but blogger had other plans tonight.  So, I'll leave you with just one photo of him running this Spring.  He looks so happy in this picture!!Happy Birthday, Babe!  Even though you are working on your birthday, I hope it is a good one!!  I love you!

The Big Winner...

I am so honored... our wonderful, loving, irreplaceable babysitter (also known as the Fabulous Ju-Ju), is the latest recipient of the "Yard of The Month" Award here in H-Town.  I am in the presence of a real celebrity!!  ;-)

Here is a little "visual" of why she won...Anyway, back to WHY I am feeling honored... a few weeks ago she had our kids over to her house for a little cook-out and fun with her neighbors.  They did all kinds of fun things, and many of these I will have to blog about later.  One of the things they did was work out in Ju-Ju's beautiful yard.  Ju-Ju took lots of great pictures, and I'll be showing you these a few at a time.  The pics of the girls in their "gardening" hats were my favorites.  I have to share.



Those are pretty cute.

The dog days of summer...

We are really in the grip of summer around here... the kids are still crazy busy with swimming lessons and playing with friends.  Since school was out, they have spent a few days here with Nana, done an art camp, 2 different sessions of VBS, and taken swimming lessons.  All of the kids have started a tumbling class.  Kate has started a summer softball league.  I thought this summer was going to be easy and relaxed... not so much!!

My blog has really been ignored lately.  I just can't seem to find time to do everything that needs to be done!!  

Maybe when school starts again, things will slow down... but probably not!

Vacation pics...

I'm finally getting around to loading some photos of our time in the Bahamas.  So, in no particular order, because blogger makes you think backwards, here they are!

Here was the beach in Nassau.  Yes, it was a little cloudy, but it rained  a little bit every day.  At least it wasn't so hot that you couldn't stand it!
Our ship.  The photo doesn't do it justice.  It was huge.
We went to Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island in the Bahamas.  Folks, it was AMAZINGLY beautiful.  Possibly the most beautiful place I've ever seen.  I took tons of photos, but this one shows you a little bit about what I mean... huge, grandiose, marvelously, breathtakingly beautiful.
Here is our "cruise ship" photo from dinner the first night.  Smile!  Say cheese!
And, here is our official "I'm getting on the boat" photo.  Check out Luke's shirt... that was a surprise gift from his loving wife!  :-)
We had an awesome time!!!  

...AND... they're back...

... and they had a wonderful, marvelous, relaxing time.

I highly recommend getting away for a few days.

It really made me appreciate the things I have.

Like my kids.

And my parents (who made this POSSIBLE, because they took care of those kids.)

And also my BED and my KITCHEN.

I know this sounds crazy, because some days I hate to cook, but by today, after someone else deciding what I was going to eat for 4 days, I told Luke that I was ready to cook something.  Anything.

He laughed and shook his head.

I guess he thinks I might be a little hard to understand.

I don't know what he's talking about!!!  :-)

Welcome home to me.  It's good to get away, but it's even better to come back home!!!  

I'm leaving on a jet plane...

... and then getting on a big cruise ship tomorrow!!! I can't wait. To celebrate our 15th year of wedded bliss, my darling hubby planned a surprise trip to the bahamas. My parents have already arrived to spoil my children while we are away. Does life get any better than this? I think not...

I'll be out of touch for a few days. Many photos when I get back (unless I forget the camera... which, knowing me, is a real possibility...) :-)

Grace, Grace, Grace...

I do realize that I have 3 children, but, really, none of them are as funny as my "baby"...

Here's her latest.

Hubby has surprised me with a trip to commemorate our 15th anniversary.  FABULOUS!!!!  Can't wait!!!  In a few days we are off on a cruise, WITHOUT CHILDREN.  A cruise that hubby planned for us, all by himself, with no help from me.  Heaven.  

Anyway, when reading all the information about this cruise, I discovered that one of the evenings is a "formal" evening.  This means only one thing... I have to figure out what to wear!!  So, the other night, the girls decide that I should have a "fashion show", and model dresses from my closet.  While they soaked leisurely in my bath tub, I tired on dresses for them.  When I got the first one on, I was turning around for them to have a look at it.  Kate said, "I give you a 6."  I said, "You're a harsh critic!"  Abby said, "I give you a 10!"  I said, "I love you."  Grace looked for a while, and then shouted, "GUACAMOLE!!!!!!"  We all stopped and looked at her in confusion.  Luke said, "Why did you shout guacamole?"  Grace answered, nonchalantly, "I just felt like saying Guacamole!"

Oh, that kid kills me...

Just a quick one from Grace...

I know your night would not be complete without yet ANOTHER "funny" from Miss Gracie, so here you go!

Here is my young lady playing with her crazy Uncle Matt.  She loves him a whole lot.Any-hoo, on with the story.

Today we had to go to the "big town" to buy groceries and animal food and get my oil changed in the jeep, and all kinds of other FANTASTICALLY boring errors.  The girls were really pretty good, so we went to DQ to get some ice cream.  Grace got pretty excited about this information, and shouted, "Oh, good!!  I want one of those chocolate buzzards!"  Buzzards.  OH!!!  She meant "blizzards"!!  

Ha!  They will forever more be known as buzzards at this house...

Kate shows off...

Kate loves to sing.  And, really, she's pretty good at it.  Our little elementary school does a talent show every year on the last day of school.  They choose about 15 acts out of the school to perform.  Each grade level has a little "mini" talent show, and then the best acts move on to the big talent show.  I've been trying for 4 years to get Miss Kate to try out, but she always backed out at the last minute, or just didn't want to. This year she tried out, and made it.  So, even though she was pretty nervous, she sang for the whole school today.  I was so proud of her!  I've uploaded the video of her singing.  The picture isn't really great, and I didn't have anything to set the camera on, so it moves around, but you can hear her pretty well, at least.  She did wonderfully.  I am so proud of her!!

15 Years Ago TODAY...

...I married the love of my life.  We looked a little bit like THIS...In 15 years, we have lived in 5 different cities, and between us have graduated 3 times.  We've brought 3 lovely daughters into the world, and, some days, we wish we would have  a few more!!

15 years later, we look a little like this...

... and I must say, he's STILL the love of my life.  Happy Anniversary, babe.  I love you.  Thanks for giving me this beautiful, wonderful, crazy life!!!!!