Hog Roasting

Our church has an annual Hog Roast. I believe it started out as a welcome to all those university students, but now has evolved into a welcome-back-to-church-from-summer-break event. They had rented giant jumpy houses and we brought covered dishes. This was a great opportunity to socialize with our church friends and enjoy our Sabbath. The kids had a great time, and I was glad to have a "day of rest." Dinner was done and the kids were occupied! Thank you God for good food and great friends!

PJ Party

These pjs were hand-me-downs from Cousin Wyatt...

I love the two piece! That little belly peeking out is covered in kisses, just so you know!

First Day of School

The girls started school on August 20th this year. It was a Friday. I guess the thought is that a Friday first day is just enough time to meet your students and then have the weekend to re-arrange the seating chart before the first full week of school (spoken from a teacher's perspective). All I know is that the girls were to precious for words.

My little Bekah is now a big 6th grader! It seems like just yesterday she was starting kindergarten, and now she is officially a middle schooler. Fortunately, she attends a grade school, so the top dogs are the 8th graders. I can hardly believe she is closing the gap on the title of "teenager!"

Savannah Kay was thrilled to begin 1st grade. She is right at home in the crowd and loves being in the sea of friends at school. I suppose the apple doesn't fall far from the tree in this instance. Although she is only six, she thinks she is just as big as Bek. Don't let the Barbie gown and "Baby" fool you. She is a big sister now!
Bekah had a nice ensemble of jeggings and a t-shirt. For those of you who are not aware of this latest fashion craze, jeggings are jean leggins...hence we have "jeggings." In our house they are "jeggins." She donned her gray Converse and a sweet headband.

Savannah Kay elected to dress very practically...for comfort. I let her pick her outfit. I know, I am making huge strides in the flexibility. However, there are some things that are non-negotiables...therefore, she is adorned in a bow. I have informed her that my child will wear a bow until 4th grade. You can take the girl out of the south, but you can't take the south out of the girl. She was probably the only child wearing a bow. Oh well, at least I can pick her out of a crowd!

Hooray for the first day of school!

Baby Mason is 3 Months Old

I had these pictures taken in hopes that I would get an announcement out to all my loved ones. Perhaps I will do this tomorrow. Better late than never I suppose. What is it that they say about your third? Who is "they" anyway?!

One of my very talented friends, Jill, took these at the house. She did a great job! I have had another friend make announcements for me. She is an up and coming, so if you need a digital announcement done, give me a shout and I will hook you up!

I had to post some of my favorites online because, after all, I do believe I have the most beautiful little boy in the entire world! Who would have thought that this little miracle would melt my heart like this?! Enjoy blog readers!

Tah Tah Trampoline

August 14th (I'm just getting you caught up) was a day that will live in infamy. We have owned our trampoline since Bekah was about 4 years old. We bought ol' trusty when we moved to Georgia from the local Wal-mart. Let's just say that when we bought this thing, nets were not even included...that is saying something people!

We have moved this thing to two houses in Georgia, to Arizona, to California and to Kansas. With each move, we broke it down and then reassembled it. When we moved to California, we had to buy a net for it because the post-regulation required nets on all trampolines. Of course we had an odd legged trampoline, so the net was a special order that cost about as much as the entire trampoline did. I would estimate that this trampoline has probably received about 5 gazillion bounces from about 500 different kids. In fact, this summer our neighbors just replaced our net and pads because they were ragged (The net might have been destroyed after multiple interactions with two 16 year old boys).

At any rate, on this particular day in August we had a storm of all storms, and needless to say...we must now put our trampoline to rest. That freakish storm tore siding off our house, blew down the neighbor's fence, shredded the flashing and gutters of many houses and FLIPPED, yes flipped, our entire trampoline upside down.

Let it be known that we will miss you ol' trusty. The yard is naked without your presence.

As a result of our loss, Jerm had announced that we are expecting...

a new tramp is due in the spring!

Only in Kansas my friends...

Interesting note: My Dad researched replacement parts for me. The thought was that we might be able to repair the section of the frame that was broken. Apparently this model was recalled in late 2004. The recall was issued from reports of broken frames. The good news is that we must have had one of the stronger frames...it took 90 knot winds to break ours!

Oh Sweet Irony...

The girls and I had Chinese for dinner. This was inside my cookie:

Okay, this is for those of you who need a good laugh...

Mission accomplished. Man are the Chinese wise!

Loving on Our Auntie Ray

My littlest sister and I have always had a special bond. (Well, once I accepted that she was indeed here to stay, I tolerated her existence for the first 8 years of her life.) However, when Bekah was born, she and I really developed a very special relationship. I suppose it could have been because I was in a phase of my life where I was staying at home, and that was fine by her...she was the same age as Bek is now! I can hardly believe that! I would like to say that is was just because I had finally matured a little and could be a better big sister to her. ;)

I called her Rachel, and when she was a baby we called her Rachie...which she HATES now. Haley was about 15 years old when we joked that I could be Lindz, Dad was Steve, Mom could be Mar (mare), and Rachel could be Rach. Was Haley shortened just Hay? Then she joked that she was indeed Hay, and the fam would be Day, May, Ray and I would have to be Duh. Not funny. Well, the Ray thing stuck and now my kids have dubbed her Aunt Ray.

Rachel and I have really spent some great time together this year. I am so proud of her! At 21 years old she is finishing college in December with her Elementary Education degree. I suppose this is just another area of interest we share! We love working in children's education. She was here when our little Mason was born, and spent each night at the hospital helping me in and out of bed and bringing me the baby. Those are cherished memories I will hold dear for the rest of my life. She took a whole week to stay with me in Manhattan and be on baby, Auntie duty.

This summer she was my co-pilot on the long, long, LONG drive to San Angelo. She was my roomie at the hotel. She joined us on our camping trip over the July 4th weekend...AND, she missed me so much while I was in Texas that she came in for the weekend to swim with the girls and just hang out at the house with the kids and me. She was here to hear baby Mason laugh out loud for the first time!

I am so blessed to be so close to her! We adore you Aunt Ray! You are so precious to me. Thanks for being such a significant part of all our lives. We love you.