Another School Year Begins! 2013-2014

Well despite me not being ready to send my daughters back to school the day came anyway. I cannot believe that Kaylee is a sixth grader and Campbell is in third grade. This is my first year to not have a child at the elementary campus and it was so hard to wrap my head around that but Campbell was so excited to be going to the intermediate campus. Kaylee was equally excited to be attending middle school especially since it is in a newly built building and to experience what it is like to switch classes for each subject.

This is Campbell with Mrs. "R" who we met a few days before school started.

 Here is Campbell with Mrs. "W".

 We made our yearly trek to IHOP for our first day of school breakfast. I love this tradition and I can honestly say that all four of us look forward to it. 

 Once school was out we went to Coldstone to enjoy a treat after a successful first day of school report from both my girls. I even managed to keep my self busy too.

Last of Summer Fun!

 I cannot believe that the summer is winding down and the school year will begin in just a few days. We manage to squeeze in some fun the last week of summer and made a trip to Primetime, movies, and playdates with friends.

Kaylee also attended the annual back to school pool party for her grade at a local swim club. I could not believe how much these kids had grown up in the past year. I think sixth grade is going to be a hard one to wrap my head around.

Summer Sports

Well as you can see in previous posts our summer was jam packed with fun times and also we included some sports in the mix.

In the spring Campbell started tennis lessons and has really enjoyed them. She started out taking them with her friend Mallory but has now gone to private lessons for the school year and has really thrived. She is not always excited to go but once we get there she is glad to be there and gives it her all most days. I am so proud of her for the handwork she has put into it. One of her motivating factors to try tennis was because her Great Papaw use to sit and watch tennis a lot. She said she wanted to play a sport he would enjoy watching from heaven. I love her big heart and I know that he is watching with a big smile on his face each time she takes the court.

Kaylee had a Midnight Madness softball tournament this summer and the name suits it perfectly. We were exhausted after playing all night long. I understand playing when the temperature is cooler but i learned that I am not in my 20's anymore because this Mom was beat. Kaylee and her other teammates loved it but by the time we were handed a loss on our last game none of them were sad to be able to go home to their own beds and sleep.

Kaylee also played on a select basketball team this summer named SWAG. She really enjoyed playing with some girls from her school. They had a good season and Kaylee is looking forward to playing again in the winter months.

Abilene City Council Meeting

This past year Kaylee was in a class which required them to put together an Earth Day project with fellow classmates. Kaylee along with her sweet friends Anna Claire and Mattie came up with a project on Liam's Wells, xeriscaping, and recycling. When the day finally came for them to set up the project at the zoo they were amazed at the interest they received on recycling. Our city does not have a door to door recycling program so these three girls put together a petition and got over 1200 signatures. A local reporter heard about their project and interviewed them for the nightly news. From that point on the story took flight and after articles in the paper, more news stories on local stations, and a request from the Mayor of Abilene...these sweet girls were invited to speak before the city council.

 Look at this...they were on the agenda.

 When the time came to present their research they suddenly looked like three young women to me. I could not have been more proud of the professional way they handled themselves. Likewise, the City Council along with Mayor Archibald could not have been more gracious and encouraging to these girls. The meeting ended with a few motions to quit talking about whether it should happen but to have the city works department to come up with a plan to make it happen. I am praying that in the future Abilene has curbside recycling and we will all know that three 5th grade girls helped make that happen. No matter the outcome though, this experience was so positive and one they will never forget. Kaylee walked away wanting to have a position on the city council one day thanks to the lone female representation of my friend, Kellie Miller. I love that!

Watch out world...these girls are going places. I am one proud Mom!

July in Pictures

 The month of July went by so fast! We spent our days swimming, stopping at lemonade stands when the opportunity arose, sending the girls to camp, and spending time with Papa and Nana.

 Campbell and one of her BFFs at Kidquest.

 Cary on his 2nd annual guys' fly fishing trip. 

 Kaylee and AC at the dorm getting ready for Learning to Lead.

 Kaylee and AC getting ready to cheer on the Rangers.

Campbell's minion cupcakes she made at Nana and Papa's house. Aren't they so cute??

As you can see from the pictures we were busy having the most fun we could!

Our 15th Anniversary

I cannot believe how quickly time has passed and we have reached 15 years of marriage. I can honestly say they have been better than I could have ever imagined. That is not to say that there have not been trials and sadness but the good we have experienced thanks to our Lord has far out weighted any trials. My amazing husband is still the love of my life and I feel so blessed everyday to wake up with the life we have created each day. Our two precious daughters make life so much fun. Thank you Lord for the past 15 years. I am praying for many more to come.

 As a wonderful surprise, Cary planned a vacation for us back to the same place we were for our honeymoon 15 years ago, the Ritz-Carlton St. Thomas. It was so much fun to see all the things that had changed and even those that had stayed the same.

 This view was just as beautiful as I remembered!

 The concierge sent us some chocolates and champagne shortly after we arrived in our room.

 I just could not get enough of the beautiful blue water.

 We spent most of our time working on our tan with this beautiful view. Of course, we also found time for kayaking, paddle boats, snorkeling, and Cary even did some wake boarding. I would have to say that swimming with a sea turtle was one of my favorite things. The barracuda that surprised my by the reef, not so much.

 Cary managed to surprise me with an evening sail on the Lady Lynsey to St. John. It is so calming and beautiful in the middle of the ocean. We took a similar sail on our honeymoon so it was fun to experience this again. We ate at a delicious place called Zoe's for dinner before sailing back to St. Thomas.

 One of the many things that did not change was me wanting to stay longer and trying to figure out how to get a time share there so we could go back more often.

It was such an amazing trip and I look forward to going back sooner rather than later. Thank you to my amazing husband for booking the perfect vacation for us. I left with more wonderful memories of this special place.

Summer Sports Fun

Well with summer has come some more activities for our girls. A little basketball and tennis anyone...

 Kaylee played on a select basketball team this summer to improve her skills while having fun with friends. She enjoys playing and has a lot of sweet teammates. Her coach is someone who is a friend of ours and who is competitive but in a good way. Kaylee enjoys playing for him and we enjoy the experience as well.

 A little action running shot during one of her games. The summer season is over for her team so we are on a basketball break until the fall.

 Then there is Campbell who started tennis lessons in January and has really picked up on things fairly quickly. She shares a lesson with her friend Mallory which I believe helps motivate her for the better most days.

 Here she is practicing her serve.

I love that she has decided to make tennis her sport because my Papaw use to sit and watch tennis on the television for hours. He loved it! Each time we go to lessons I cannot help but smile just thinking about him watching from heaven and getting a chuckle out of her.

I love my girls and the talents they each possess that make them who they are each day. They may decide tomorrow that these sports are not for them and if they do then that is fine. I will still have the good memories of this stage of their lives and grin fondly.

Birthday/Father's Day fun!

Well we decided to take a short trip to the Gaylord Texan on Father's Day weekend which also happened to be Campbell's Birthday weekend as well. We arrived in Grapevine on Saturday morning and the girls were so excited to be there. My parents went above and beyond and actually met us at the Rainforest Cafe for lunch to surprise the birthday girl. She was a little speechless when she saw them. After enjoying a good meal we moved the party to the Bass Pro Shops to look around and dream about some of the beautiful boats there. Once we were done my parents went back to Waco and we went back to the hotel to greet our friends the Driskills who were meeting us there for the weekend. 

 The first stop was to get a little balloon art. I had forgotten how beautiful the atrium is there. 

Our sweet girls in front of the faux Alamo in the atrium.

Then we moved on to a crazy picture with Fiona.

 Last but not least for the day we enjoyed the water park they have there. I have to say the lazy river was quite enjoyable. By the time we got there on Saturday night most people had gone to dinner and I think there were only about 20 of us left at the water park. I decided at the end of the day that the Gaylord Texan is the perfect compromise for parents and children. There is a water park for the children to enjoy and still the beauty and luxury for the adults to enjoy. Definitely a hit for every member of our family.

 On Sunday we surprised our husbands with a Rangers game for Father's Day. The things we do for our amazing husbands. It was so hot with no breeze but at least we were in the all you can eat seats with some shade. I figured since Campbell is more into the food than the game that would be a good compromise for her.

 Cary & Cory

 A cool thing happened while we were walking into the park...each year the girls register to be junior Rangers which means you get a free item and some coupons for different things at the ballpark during the season. Since this was our first time to the ballpark this season the girls had to register. When signing them up Cary mentioned that is was Campbell's birthday that day and the sweet lady proceeded to hook her up for her special day. While I was shopping with the girls, she arranged with Cary for Campbell to go on the field before the game, get her picture on the big screen, and have the experience of a lifetime. (of course, Kaylee would have appreciated it more since she is the Rangers fan but Campbell loved the attention.)

 Dad and Campbell on the field

 Campbell on the big screen

 Kaylee and I in the stands trying not to be too jealous;-)

 Our family after the game

Our sweet friends the Driskills

After sweating ourselves to death we decided to head back to the water park and shut it down for the evening. It was such a fun weekend filled with family, friends, and memories. I look forward to going back again soon.