I realized.....

The first day of school this year was bittersweet.... It made me realize just how fast my adult life has gone. It seems just like yesterday I was starting my first day of school, well my first day of college really. When in reality it has been 20 years!! That's right - 20 years ago this past June, I graduated from high school. My how time flies.


When the first school bell sounded this year I realized......




Allie is not my little baby anymore. She is a big third grader and very independent. She likes to make her own lunch and pick out her own clothes. I can't say I always like her choices in clothes, but it does help out in the morning as it is very chaotic around here at 6:30 AM!





I realized.......



What a gifted young lady Emily has turned into. Although she is in 8th grade, she is definitely "13 going on 30" in every way. She seems to have made up her mind about becoming a vet and attending Texas A&M - Whoop! She is very good in math & science. Not sure where she gets that as neither her father or I liked either subject very much.



I realized.......



Amanda is almost grown! She is 16 and a junior in high school. In a little less than two years she will be old enough to vote, enter into a binding contract and move out of the house! She has started talking about studying for the SAT (something I should have done more of!! haha!) and visiting colleges. She is a very creative writer and is exploring options for a potential career.


I realized........


That even though I gave birth to these three girls, they are vastly different. Each special in their own unique way. Each with their own likes, dis-likes, desires, goals, thoughts, opinions. They are diverse - They are unique. No one in the world is EXACTLY like each of them. I see that as a wonderful thing. I hope in this day of peer pressure, fitting-in and the like - they realize just exactly how great it is to be unique.

Daddy Daughter Day (2 1/2 actually)...

When Allie was a baby she spent 24/7 with David. She was his little shadow. He worked on the yard, she worked on the yard. He cleaned his Harley, she cleaned her "Power Wheels" motorcycle. They were two peas in a pod. That all changed when Allie turned 5 and had to start school. They have not had a lot of "alone" time together since then and Allie was really missing it. She has been begging all summer long for just the two of them to go on a trip. Sunday morning they did just that. They set out to spend two 1/2 days together doing fun "daddy / daughter" things.

They want to lake Georgetown for a few days of camping.

They had planned on spending some time swimming, riding bikes, roasting marshmallows etc... but the weather did not cooperate much. As it turns out it rained off and on the entire time. But that did not stop them from having a good time. They got some bike riding and swimming in between showers and went bowling, had a tea party and watched movies when it was raining. From the sounds of it they had some great bonding time.

Friendship day

Sunday was "Texas Friendship Day".

My neighbor, Leathea, had a few girlfriends over for drinks, snacks and dinner - No guys allowed! It was an afternoon of girl talk and bonding.



Amanda & Emily were at their Dads and David & Allie were on their camping trip so I got to go alone. It was nice to visit without refereeing between the girls!

Grandma & Grandpa

My parents have not been able to visit much over the past few months but came for a short visit on Friday. They were passing through and stopped over for the night.


They kept Allie for a few hours and let David & I go out on a much needed "date".

We met a few friends at a local bar / pool hall to listen to a band. We got to visit and relax for a few hours.

Thanks Mom & Dad!

Saturday was a lazy day as we were all tired from having a great time at the wedding the night before.

We were able to muster up enough energy to have a beer at one of the beer gardens in Fredricksburg though. After that we headed back to the RV for more relaxing.

As it turns out, my good friend Rebecca (her husband Simon & son Perrin) were in Kerrville for the night and they came over for a visit.

Eric & Lisa got their boys to bed early and we were all able to visit for a few hours. It was nice to have old & new friends there with us. Hopefully we can see Simon, Rebecca & Perrin again soon.

The Wedding - 08 08 08

Jared & Felisha

The Meaning of 8

The number 8 is the most powerful of all numbers.

The number 8 is seven plus one, thus the start of a new order, the beginning of a new era, regeneration and resurrection. When the flood washed the earth clean, in a type of baptism, eight people were saved in the ark.

The number eight has long been associated with blessing and eternity. When you lay the number 8 on its side, it becomes the mathematical symbol of infinity.

The phrase “I Love You” is exactly 8 letters



This is the wording that Jared & Felisha had on their wedding programs. It was a beautiful day - a true "New Beginning" for the rest of their life together.

We are lucky to have been part of their special day.

You're from where?

One of the things I like most about camping is meeting new people. We met some great people, from all over Texas & the world while on vacation.

We spent the last few days of our time in Port A getting to know all of them a little better. We went to the beach with them, played Putt-Putt with them and had a "Pot Luck" dinner with them on our last night at the park. Everyone cooked food and brought it to our camp site. Markus & Constance, Lovingly refereed to as the "Germans" joined us as well. I felt a little out of place with my slight Texas accent. Maybe not out of place but not nearly as "international" as most of the crowd. :)

We did not have the sand castle contest - but we ALL got into the spirit and had fun being creative.

Eating good food.

Sue & Jason from Midloathan (sp?)

Paul, Jenny & David. Paul is from Great Brittan & Jenny s from Scotland

Markus & Constance from Germany.

It was a great vacation. We just wish it had been a little longer. We hope to be able to plan another trip next year with all the new friends we made.

Another fun day at the beach

We spent another afternoon at the beach playing in the waves and digging for sand dollars until the threat of a storm chased us away.

The girls found a bunch of them along one of the sand bars.

The sky looked really scary but it did not stop us. It actually did not rain the entire trip.

Sand, sand and more sand....

The girls spent a lot of time feeding the seagulls "cheeze its". They would actually take them out of your hand if you stood still. Amanda took these photos of Allie & Emily but she did get in on the "feeding frenzy" as well.


After so much sun we were all feeling a little "crispy" and needed a break. The girls and I did a little shopping at the local shells shops and took a few photos before relaxing at a local pub for a cold one.

Our friends Jeff & Leathea came down on Sunday for a short vacation as well. We spent the rest of the day relaxing, eating some great steaks and then it was back to the beach for more!

After sunset we spent a few hours chasing crabs with flashlights and just having a great time. Again, more great memories in the making!

Port A here we come

After a lot of wine making David and the girls picked me up and we headed for Port A. We have a week of beach fun and relaxing planned before we shoot up to Fredricksburg for Jared & Felisha's wedding.

When we arrived at the RV park there was still someone in our spot so I took the girls to the beach while David got our camp all set up.

Waiting to go to the beach...

The kids had a blast boogie boarding & trying out the skimm board. The waves were the perfect size for it - Not too big and not too small. The skimm board is an art - one that we have not yet mastered.

The girls met so many kids to play with at the campground. They had a great time just hang'n out with all the new friends they made. These are the days they will remember when thay are old and look back on our "camping days".