Family baseball

This picture completely summarizes our days and family time.  Outside, together, usually playing sports as a family.  Reid was doing a great job as the catcher!  :)

River, Golf, Peaches, Party, Seth, Water and Fun!

What do you do on a hot summer day to make a play date extra fun!?!?

You have a friend who calls and offers their 550+acre property on the Canadian River as an option to go play and picnic at for the day!

Thanks, friends!

Here are the kids loaded in the back of the gator as we take off on our fun adventure.

 Our boys haven't been to a beach, and other than the icky foamy stuff, this was pretty darn awesome and a fun alternative to expensive travels!

Sand castles

I was able to do the Junior Golf shift and had a fun time playing the 5 holes with the boys!

Our family went to the Beacon Drive-In to see the movie Turbo.

Excellent movie.

Excellent evening.

We were a bit worried with how Reid would handle being still, quiet and awake for so long, but he was amazing.  It was a fun memory!

Grant's friend had a birthday party at a local gym, and at the end, the ice cream truck surprised everyone!  So fun.

We went to a local peach orchard and picked peaches!  We had a 5 gallon bucket, "picker stick" thingy (you can tell how technical I am on the subject), GG, and the Ramseys with us!  Kyle wasn't supposed to climb the trees, and I did make him get down .... after a cute picture!

Cute picture of Addie and Reid that Kristy sent me

AND, maybe the best news of all week, is that SETH, otherwise known as Jason's ex, came to visit and spent two nights with us!  He was Jason's roommate at OSU, my friend (!), and in our wedding party.  Excellent to see him and for the biggest boys to get caught back up on life.  We missed his wife and two boys - but next time!  We already have your football visit on our calendar, Darci!!! (Seth said you read this - I miss your blogging!)

I had seen "Inflatable slip-n-slide" advertised several months ago for today at the OSU Student Union.  Why not take advantage of the perfect weather and healthy kids to enjoy some time on campus!?!

We hit the waterslide, where I made the big boys leave after an hour to avoid getting a parking ticket for staying too long.  They had a blast  Reid, however, did not have an interest in getting wet, and sat by me in the shade for most of the time.  

We ended with a walk through the OSU Library Lawn, which is looking spectacular, especially for the end of July.  The flowers are fabulous this year.  Lunch at the classic Coney Island.

Reid has been in to golf lately.  He was helping Jason with yardwork and joined in with his club and his "golf cart."

Only a few more weeks of summertime fun with these sweet treasures.... tear. tear.

Sue Gray Hall

1921-2013

She passed away this morning.

Yes, I just visited her last weekend, and yes, I truly do think it was her choice to stay alive to have her little boy (who is now 60) hug her one more time before her entrance to Heaven.

Austin, Family and Brother's Day

I was finally able to make my long-awaited trip to the Austin area this past weekend!  My parents and I chose to drive this time since our last trip didn't quite pan out how we wanted (ie OKC tornado!).  We have a lot of family in the area and although the main reason was to visit my 92 year old grandmother, I loved being able to hug on three of my cousins, their spouses, kid, and an aunt and uncle!!

My cousin, Lib, and her husband welcomed us to their home.  Another cousin, Jace, joined us for a great dinner on a lake-view restaurant!

My Kyle loved driving through Kyle, Texas, when our family went to Sea World and then again a few years ago for a family wedding.  I took several shots of signage with his name throughout the town to make him smile!

Here is my MyMy!  :)  She is ALL dolled up and ready for us.  She lives in an assisted living/memory care facility, and the nurses put on her Sunday best - sparkly earrings included - when they learned we would be visiting.  MyMy currently has some speech issues from a stroke but it was wonderful to see the twinkle in her eyes and to give her a hug.

Priceless grins.  She was so happy to have her little boy visit!

Grandpa and MyMy when they were young and pretty!!!  Good-looking family!

Our next stop was at my cousin Luke's house for an afternoon!  We had lunch at a great place near Texas State and dinner at a steak place.  Thanks for the hospitality, Richards!  

One cute thing - when they married, we signed a picture frame.  Grant wrote his "Grant5" on it!  Cute to go back and see this hanging in their entryway.

While I was away for 48 hours, Jason had a blast with the boys.  They were going to celebrate our annual Brother's Day, but Grant didn't want to celebrate with out his Mom (ahhhh).  

Thanks, Nana, for watching them on Friday!  He sent me some pictures of their fun....

Reid's first movie - Monsters University!  Jason said he did awesome!

and he loved that Reid crawled in to his lap for most of the show!  :)

Our deer friend behind our house!

My precious husband tends to do a lot of things in excess... which is sometimes awesome and sometimes annoying.  Usually my frustrations occur with his shopping habits. He loves to buy several all at once "so he doesn't run out." (but I do note that he likes to go to Walmart so no complaints!) I will write "ketchup" on the grocery list, and he returns with three large containers.  Who eats that much ketchup?!?!  I digress....

Does he really need 6 sticks of deodorant in his drawer?!?!  

at one time.

I don't think so.  

But at least he doesn't smell.

And he won't for the next 3 years!

HELLO!

Reid went to get his second haircut last week.  Lana is my stylist, and her kid cuts are $5 (the "cheap" places around here are $14.95).  I haven't braved cutting his hair yet like I do Grant and Kyle, plus it's fun to watch him.  He is excellent!

Kyle has been playing a lot of legos.  He really wanted me to take these pictures and then "put them on our family blog, Mom!" so here you go!

My bracelet Kyle made for me... I even wore it all week!

I guess this post has a lot to do with Kyle as we have more....

Poor guy.  And I did this to him.  : (  We had a friendly game of whiffle ball in our driveway, and I was up to bat.  Kyle asked Grant if he could please pitch, and this was his second pitch.  Needless to say, I smacked a line drive back to the pitcher's mound, and caught him on the forehead.  

It was slightly funny when it was over.... at least to a few of us!

Sweet little moments like these will be gone before we know it....

Snoozing with my Grant-boy....

Kyle is all cuddled up in our bed.  He snuck in and was obviously where he wanted to be for the night!

If you're going to have braces, you might as well rock some fun colors!

Sam and Mez - two of his best buddies!