Riding off into the sunset (literally) Take a look at us then...
And take a look at us now...
And I wouldn't change one thing!!! - because this (the ups and downs, the excitement and the ordinary, the tears and joys) was God's plan for our lives- "plans to prosper us and not to harm us; plans to give us a hope and a future" - and I am praising Him for 15 years of friendship and 6 years of marriage to a man that I honor and respect more every year. Sorry, I'm not trying to be all sappy - but there's something wrong if you can't be thankful for your husband on your anniversary!
For the 4th of July weekend we normally stay here and watch the fireworks at Kaboomtown in Addison. We really missed getting together with all the families from his office and having front row seats for the fireworks show, but we decided to take advantage of him having Friday off and headed home to Lake Charles, LA for some skiiing, good cooking, games, and time with family. We filled our weekend and played hard!
Here's the dessert that Ben's mom made for us to eat after watching fireworks off my mom's dock. Isn't it pretty? That didn't stop us from eating it though!
Riding in the boat is serious stuff!
Ben's mom (Mema) and my mom (Grammy) with one very loved little girl
Ben and his brothers
And, here's a video of Ben showing off some of his skills. He's really a beautiful skier and it's fun to watch him. Of course the next morning we both woke up really sore and his comment was "we're not as young as we used to be!" Ben is burnt and asking for Advil, but he'll still say it was all worth it!
Our friend Keri is letting us borrow her "bumbo chair" Thank you Keri! We borrowed one for Anna and I had forgotten how wonderful these little seats are. Rachel is enjoying looking around and seeing things from a different view - and I'm enjoying having my hands free to cook/clean/play more!
and yes, we are very aware that our girl is "healthy" - she doesn't seem to mind the rolls!
This past weekend Ben, the girls, and I flew to Illinois to visit my grandfather in the nursing home. Our entire extended family tries to meet there twice a year and have a little reunion where we can all be together. This time we ALL made it - ALL of my grandpa's children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. My grandpa didn't recognize many of us, but he understood that we were all a part of his family and was very touched to have us there. My greatest memories of him are the hours he spent in his pool with me and his talent in woodworking. We have several pieces of furniture made by him. Here is a picture of the family (except for my brother who flew in later that evening after the picture was taken)
a four generations picture Did I mention that Anna really enjoyed the plane ride?? Here are some pictures of her looking out of the window from the seat in front of me
Well, most of you know that when Anna gets around a group of people she DOES NOT SAY A WORD. I've had many people ask me lately if she ever talks??? The answer is YES, ALL THE TIME AT HOME AND IN THE CAR. And just so you'll believe me, here are some videos of her singing to Rachel this morning. Her singing voice is much sweeter than her mama's.
Itsy Bitsy Spider
Patty Cake
And then Rachel wanted a turn to talk to the camera:
Well, it's officially summer and it's HOT! Here's a little of what we've been up to so far:
playing in the pool of course - can't decide if Anna or the dog (Hunnie) enjoys it more
Ben got us a new "family hammock" and we've already spent lots of time swinging in the backyard
Rachel enjoys it as well and this pictures just makes me smile (do you think someone has her daddy wrapped around her little finger?)
my most favorite summer picture so far! So, let me explain the matching outfits. I've never really planned to have my girls match, BUT I found this dress for Anna at Wal Mart many months ago (way before Rachel was born) and then a sweet friend (without knowing anything) bought the exact same one for Rachel - so who can resist that??
and here's my sweet cheeks so happy to be outside
picking blueberries at Blueberry Hills Farms in Edom, Texas - thanks Mandy for a great day of blueberry picking (OK, a great 30 minutes of picking - it was HOT!)
gotta have popsicles on really hot days - or for no reason at all
We always enjoy trips to my dad's farm in Arkansas and wish we could visit more. It's so nice to get away and enjoy the beautiful country and the peace and quiet. It was fun being able to watch the fireflies and look at stars in the clear skies at night. Ahhhhhh, back to the real world.... The road trip was definitely worth it, but I think 8+ hours in the car with Anna and Rachel might be our limit for now. Here are some pictures from our trip over the Memorial Day weekend. Thank you dad for the "relaxing fun" and wonderful meals.
On Saturday, my dad, Ben, and Anna went canoeing on the Buffalo River. We did this every summer when I was growing up so it's neat to get to watch Anna experience the same thing:
They said she had a blast throwing rocks into the water and watching them splash:
Anna actually fell asleep in the canoe! I guess it is pretty relaxing when you're the one who isn't doing any of the paddling! Ben said she slept for about 20 minutes - I couldn't believe it, but here's the proof: It rained almost the entire time we were there, but that didn't stop us - here's Anna's "rain gear" Feeding the cows:
And, of course, how can we visit the farm without getting a picture on the four-wheeler? It stopped raining briefly for Ben and Anna to take a few rides:
