Busy Weekend

We had a very busy weekend playing and hanging with friends. Saturday was the 2nd annual Fish and Splash Bash in the park behind our house. We had a big pool, a sprinkler "snake", and a slip n slide! Everyone brought a contribution to the picnic, as well as a few fishing poles, and we all had a grand time. After the bash, we hopped in the car and headed to Austin. We got to see Aunt Laura and Uncle Reeve's house for the first time. The have a really nice big backyard, and they've built a cool horse shoe pit. We pitched some shoes and Uncle Reeve grilled some fish and corn for dinner outside Saturday night. Aunt Laura got out all their nice wedding gifts to serve our dinner on, and it was a really enjoyable evening. Sunday morning we headed to South Austin to meet up with Mom and Dad's best friends from their Austin days, the Merheges. We got to meet Ellie for the first time, and Abby and I had lots of fun playing on the playground together. They all seem to be very happy living in New Mexico, and it was great to see them all. Here are some pics of all the activities. I've also included a photo of our park flooding--we've had so much rain! We're sort of happy the park floods, however, because it provides security that it won't be developed any time soon. I'd hate for someone to take over my backyard!

Flood and Friends

2nd Annual Fish and Splash Bash

Happy Birthday Chad!

On Saturday the 16th, we went to a crawfish boil with some of Daddy's coworkers. We had lots of fun swimming and eating. Dad and his buddies cooked the crawfish, along with potatoes, corn, sausage, and onions in a huge pot outside. I had fun watching the live crawlers in the bucket before they were dropped into the boiling pot! What Dad didn't know was that Mom and I had a surprise birthday cake for him. We all sang Happy Birthday, and I blew out the candles. The cake had a golfcart on it, and Dad was driving the cart. We told him that was him playing in the US Open. Luckily, Dad's friends didn't throw him in the pool as they had promised. It was a fun day for all.

Surprise, a cake!

Crawfish Boil

Showing Out

Here are just a few pictures of me cheesing it up. I've learned to say CHEEEEEEESE when anyone takes my picture. Here I am with Dad's sombrero and with my friend Sarah. Mom and I took care of her the other day while her mom and dad closed on their new house!

Me!

Summertime Fun

This week, Grandmother asked us to come help her entertain my cousins while Uncle Jay and Aunt Lizzy were out of town since she's still really weak from her treatment. So Mom and I loaded up and headed to Woodville. I finally got to see their big surprise they've been telling me about--a paddle boat for the lake! Apparently it was an impulse buy from an ad in the paper, but I'm sure glad they got it--it is so much fun. I had quite a time with James and Claire. Grandmother made us her famous "request your own character" pancakes, and we played Spiderman, put on skits, and went to visit Aunt Adelaide on her farm. I even got to go watch James at his baseball practice. While I took my nap, Mom helped Grand Dad clean out Nana and Poppoo's house. One treasure found was Grand Dad's red rocking chair he had as a boy as seen in the picture below. I really like rocking in it.

Summertime in Woodville

Take me out . . .

to the ballgame. Grandma and PaPa came in town, and we took them out to a Texas Rangers game. It was my first professional baseball game to attend. Grandma and Mom had planned on taking turns walking around with me--but that wasn't necessary. I was really in to the game! Apparently I'm a big baseball fan. We had lots of fun while they were here. Grandma took Mom shopping for some new shorts for her birthday, and we all went with them to help pick out a new chainsaw to take back to MO. I can't wait to see Pat in action with that thing! Here are some pics from the game.

At the Game

Surprise!!

Well Dad really out did himself this time. He organized and successfully pulled off a huge surprise 30th birthday party for Mom! She didn't know what hit her. It was all arranged weeks ahead of time with him sending out emails to all her friends, arranging a catered Mexican dinner, and scheduling a margherita machine for delivery to our house. The hard part was keeping it a surprise from the ultimate party planner. Here's how he did it: After taking her to the enjoyable Van Cliburn piano competition in Fort Worth (Mom loves piano), he told mom he had received a call during the competition and her "2nd surprise" was not going to be able to happen due to the weather--it was a hot air balloon ride. Due to the direction of the prevailing winds, the balloon would head the wrong direction and not be able to land. He told Mom they'd have to move on to Plan B, but in order to do so, would need to stop by the house for the confirmation number and directions, etc. Mom had about 100 questions, and Dad answered every one with ease. When asked later how he had "all the answers" he said he had known Mom for 10 years now and knew she would be asking the who what when and how in detail! Lies, lies, lies . . . when Mom walked in the back door, everyone jumped up from the kitchen and yelled "Surprise!" There were about 40 people here, including Grandmother and Grand Dad, Aunt Laura and Uncle Reeve, all the MOMS Club folk, and even Mom's old college roommate and her 2 best friends from high school. After Mom stopped crying, we all ate fajitas and drank margheritas and talked about how she had been duped. That night, Mom and all her girlfriends got ready to go out on the town. All the ladies went out to karaoke and to an 80's dance club while the guys watched the kids. Oh what a night! I don't think Mom will ever forget it.

30th Surprise

Party Pics

Welcome Home Soldiers

This morning Mom and I drove down to the airport and welcomed home the soldiers coming in from Afghanistan and Iraq. It was quite an experience. When we got there, we picked up some flags from the USO volunteers--they remembered me from my last trip to their office! We waited until it was announced that the plane had landed, then we all lined up in front of the door. The patriotic music began, the doors flew open, and soldier after soldier, about 150 on this flight, came through our assembly. We shook their hands, waved our flags, and said "welcome home heroes!" The family members got to stand at the front of the line so there were lots of hugs and kisses too. These soldiers are all on long deployments but get to come in for a 2 week r&r. All r&r flights come in to 1 of 2 airports--Dallas or Atlanta--but Dallas is the only one that has a welcome reception. Those that aren't from Dallas are met at the end of the receiving line by a volunteer who directs them to their connecting flight or to the USO office where they can have a snack, watch tv, or get on the internet. It was so neat, and we're so close to the airport, we're definitely going to do it again soon. Here are some photos showing the setup.

Welcome Home Heroes!

Mom's Triathlon

I got up early this morning with Dad to watch Mom in her first ever triathlon. It was lots of fun to watch all the athletes-- about 130 people participated in the race. Dad and I positioned ourselves at different locations during the race so we could cheer and take pictures during the run, bike, and swim. It was really rainy and muddy, but it didn't start pouring until right before Mom completed the cycling. Luckily, the swim was inside a natatorium. Mom completed the race in about 1.5 hours. She was really excited to become a triathlete--and just 1 week before she turns the big 3-0! Afterwards, we went to eat a huge breakfast at IHOP--omelets, pancakes, and hashbrowns. I don't think I've ever seen Mom eat so much. Here are some photos of the race.

Triathlon

Trip to the USO

Mom and I took a fun trip today to the USO office at the airport. I think I told you how I asked all my friends to bring a book instead of a gift to my bday party. Well, today I got to deliver all the books to the soldiers heading overseas. They use the books to read a story to their kids before they take off. The reading is videoed, then the video is sent along with the book to their kids. We learned that most of the soldiers arrive at the DFW airport early from all over the US, and they don't usually depart until after lunch. This gives them time to go to the reading room to make their video. The USO at DFW airport creates more videos of soldiers than any other location in the US! I carried the books all by myself in my new Cars rolling suitcase. I even got to hand deliver them to a group of soldiers getting ready to take off. It was really a magical moment. Mom and I thanked them for their service to our country, and I gave them all a high five! I've including some photos of the visit, along with some other photos of my new tricycle--my birthday present from Grandmother and Grand Dad. I haven't really taken to the trike yet, since I won't part with my new suitcase from Aunt Laura and Uncle Reeve. I take my bag everywhere--the grocery store, playgroup, outside. I won't leave home without it. I got a lesson yesterday in stealing when Mom found some items in my suitcase before we left the sports store--oops! We now do a bag check before departure. Enjoy the photos.