Summer is in full swing

So far, the kids have attended VBS (green shirts), Lauren is now an official swimmer (look close, she's under the water), and Jared is at football camp this week (pics later). Summer is definitely in full swing! I am finally attempting to finish the HUGE project I started a couple years ago- scanning, organizing, and scrapbooking my mom's pictures. The idea is that once I finish this, I can get back to my own family pictures. This is one reason I started blogging in the first place...I am not doing a very good job of keeping up with the old fashioned scrapbooking thing, so this allows me a place to journal and post photos! (It's also a lot easier and doesn't fill my closet with supplies!)

We are having a great summer so far! To my surprise, the kids have been getting along well (mostly)- and we have been just the right amount of "busy"!

I also wanted to post a picture of the cute shirt Jared and Lauren made Steve for Father's Day (with Mimi and Pa's help!). They did a great job! In honor of Father's Day, I asked the kids to complete this sentence. "My Dad is the best Dad because..." Lauren: "he loves me." Jared: " he is fun!"

Anniversary Adventure Weekend

We're baaaack! We had a great time in Austin this weekend- thanks to my mom and dad for keeping the kids, and to "hotel Leslie" for the fabulous accomodations! (More on the sorry Mountain Star Lodge later- DO NOT STAY THERE!) We set out Thursday morning and stopped at the Round Rock Premium Outlets for a little shopping. There were some great bargains on clothes for the kids, and I got two Calphalon santoku knives (which I had been wanting) for $9.99 each! We ate at Fuddruckers for lunch, and then headed out to Lake Travis to deal with the hotel fiasco. We met up with Leslie and her friend, Ashlin, at Freddie's place for drinks- (a kid and dog friendly restaurant with live music out back...so Austin!) Then Steve and I went to the Oasis for dinner. I love the Oasis! How can you beat the combination of Mexican food and this sunset??

Friday morning, we went to the Lakeway marina and rented a waverunner for 2 hours. We rode around the lake and swam, then went to Carlos 'N Charlie's for lunch.
While we were waiting for our food, we picked up a local magazine and read about Cypress Valley Canopy Tours. How fun! We decided to make a reservation for Saturday! Then, we headed back to Leslie's apartment for a swim and to get cleaned up for dinner. On the way, Steve spotted a place that said "Olde World Furniture", so we stopped in to see what they had. Hello, new kitchen table and 6 chairs for the bargain price of the century!! Just try to guess how much we paid for this solid wood, handcrafted table and chairs...
We made reservations for 8:00p.m. Friday at Carmelo's Italian Restaurant. Nine years and 364 days before, we had our rehearsal dinner at Carmelo's in Houston. Both meals were fantastic! Complete with an accordian player and everything!
We both had a summer salad:
Fresh torn lettuce, apples, strawberries, pears, Blue Cheese and honey spiced pecans with a citrus honey dressing and olive oil...mmmm! I had the Pollo parmigiana and Steve had the Pollo Carmelo. So good! After dinner, we met up with Leslie and fought the million motorcycle ROT Rally traffic to get to Six (Lance Armstrong's bar). We sat on the roof and I tried a cosmopolitan. I know I am about eight or ten years late, but I have just recently gotten into Sex and the City, and after seeing the movie (with my mom, no less!) I had to try a cosmo! Pretty tasty for a martini! (Notice my pretty necklace from James Avery that Steve gave me for our anniversary!)
Saturday morning we went to a few furniture stores and then heard that Barton Creek Country Club was selling some of their old furniture. We took a drive out there, but didn't find anything we couldn't live without. We stopped at Panera Bread for lunch. Around 3:15, we headed to our zip line place. There were 8 of us and 2 guides. We went on about 6 zip lines through the tops of these huge cypress trees over a creek bed. It was pretty and we had a lot of fun! They even have a tree house that you can stay in overnight called the "lofthaven". I don't know that I'd do that, but I'd definitely do the zip lines again! Maybe when the kids are old enough to go, we'll go back. After the tour, we went back to Leslie's for a swim, then went out to dinner. Got back to Waco Sunday morning and reunited with the kids for Father's Day (Mimi and Pa had driven them back from Houston).
What a great weekend packed full of stuff we couldn't have done with the kids! Our "Anniversary Adventure" weekend in beautiful Austin, Texas. (Of course we are thrilled to have the kids back...it was kinda boring without them!)

10 Years Already!

Happy Anniversary, Steve! Can you believe it has already been

ten years? June 13, 1998 was a very hot day in Katy, Texas!!

I remember every detail, and it went by way too fast like everyone warned me it would. I wouldn't change one thing about that day. I still love my wedding dress, the flowers, the family and friends, and the cake (which almost wasn't)! Then we had our fabulous week in Hawaii! Everything went perfectly, and, just like your anniversary card said, it WAS the smartest decision I ever made marrying you! Thank you for 10 wonderful years, and 2 wonderful children. Thank you for being so patient, thoughtful, and kind- and for putting up with me when I am not! Thank you for providing for us so that I am able to stay home and raise our children. Thank you for our gorgeous new home. Thank you for being the greatest husband and father anyone could ask for.

Thank you for sharing your life with me. I love you!! Happy Anniversary!

Lauren and Jared tagged by Myles

Hi! We are in Katy this week. Jared and Lauren are attending VBS at Mimi and Pa's, and Steve and I are going away for the weekend. (Our 10th anniversary- June 13th!) Just checking e-mail and blogs and found out that we'd been tagged, so here goes:

1. What is something mom always says to you?
"I love you"- Lauren, "Maybe"- Jared

2. What makes mom happy?
"Hug and kissy"- Lauren, "When I do something nice"- Jared

3. What makes your mom sad?
"Crying and whining and pouting"- Lauren, "When I do something bad"- Jared

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
"Make silly faces"- Lauren, "Smile at me"- Jared

5. What was mom like as a child?
"You're still a kid"- Lauren, "Happy"- Jared

6. How old is your mom?
"44"- Lauren, "34"- Jared

7. How tall is your mom?
"Big"- Lauren, "5 feet, 11 inches"- Jared (Wow! He's right!)

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
"Say no to playstation"- Lauren, "Talk"- Jared

9. What does your mom do when you're not around?
"Find me"- Lauren, "Have fun with Lauren"- Jared

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
"I don't know"- Lauren, "Baking"- Jared

11. What is your mom really good at?
"Watching tv"- Lauren, "Playing checkers"- Jared

12. What is your mom not very good at?
"Going to bed"- Lauren, "Singing"- Jared

13. What does your mom do for a job?
"Hug me and kiss me"- Lauren, "Stay home and watch us"- Jared

14. What is your mom's favorite food?
"Fruit"- Lauren, "Salad" Jared (I wish these were true)

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
"I love you"- Lauren, "Teaching my class"- Jared

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
"Sandy (Spongebob- "She's a girl")"- Lauren, "Cindy (Jimmy Neutron)"- Jared

17. What do you and your mom do together?
"Have fun with each other"- Lauren, "Play boardgames"- Jared

18. How are you and your mom the same?
"Cause we got a haircut"- Lauren, "We look alike"- Jared

19. How are you and your mom different?
"We're not the same size"- Lauren , "She has long hair. She's a girl"- Jared

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
"Since she told me"- Lauren, "Because she's my mom"- Jared

Lauren and Jared tag Kolby, Rhett, and EK!

Summer is like a marathon...

I don't know how well I am pacing myself for the summer. If it was a marathon, I don't think I'd make it the first mile! I am worn out! It's the first week, and we've already been swimming every day! Monday, our neighbors invited us over for a swim. Tuesday, I took the kids to the Y to swim. Today, we were invited to the park for lunch with one friend, and then to the Y to swim with another friend. Poor Lauren also has swim lessons every afternoon. Let's just say she is getting lots of practice! Tomorrow, we have a lunch date at Chuck E. Cheese. I really do not think I can keep this up! The kids have been wonderful, though! (knock on wood) They are getting along really well and listening and behaving themselves! I guess they haven't had time to get bored and act up! Plus, they are too tired to fight or argue. I know I am!



Speaking of marathons...I have to give a shout out to my sister, Leslie, who raised over $4,000 for the leukemia society and ran the rock'n'roll marathon in San Diego on Sunday in 6 hrs and 30 minutes! Can you imagine running for that long? 26 miles? Over 6 hours? No thanks! But, I'm proud that she did it! Way to go, Les!

Funnies:
Jared last night, "Does this town sleep?" (He was wondering because NY is the city that never sleeps.)

Lauren at dinner, "I want to be a brownie when I grow up. (talking about scouts) And then a cookie."

Lauren after dinner, "Yeah, let's go to Sonic for a flushie!"