Ah, Summer, What Power You Have To Make Us Suffer And Like It

How true that title is......so hot, so sticky, so busy and so incredibly FUN!

We have had a jam-packed last two months. Visits from kids and grandkids, Reunion, July 4th and the list goes on and on. Here is a brief glimps into our summer so far....


SWIM LESSONS

Around the last part of June, Ava, Clara and Sunni came down so that Ava could have swim lessons here at the house. She just had a blast and she did really well. Later in the week, Meagan and Jackson also came here for a little R & R. What a fun week that was having the girls here and three grandbabies......ahhhhhh.....my cup runneth over.




Meagan, Ava and Jackson in the pool. Not sure Jackson liked it at first, but then he really got into it.

Jackson just floating the afternoon away....

He really liked the turtle.

Ava kicking back with a pop-cycle after a hard day of swim lessons.

Sweet baby Clara and grandpa got in the act also......just chillin'.

Ava's floaty was her best friend.




Hollywood Ava and Grandpa.....she was lovin' it.





Posing with her Arial doll.

I'll be posting more later.....so much more. The summer has been great to us so far and I know the rest of the summer is gonna be even more fun.....so, until then....summer suffer and love it.

Missing My Son On His Birthday

Having a son in the Navy is bittersweet. The pride felt by me and his family is undeniable. The challenges he is facing now are extreme and he has risen to them, and I truly believe that his future will be more secure and much brighter because of this period in his life. But, on days like today, its so hard not to be able to put my arms around him, to tell him how much I love him and how proud I am that he is growing into such a fine young man.

It seems so long ago that I knew where he was, what he was doing and that he was safe. Those were much simpler times for me.

Below are some pictures I wanted to share of Cades past on this...his 22nd birthday.




About 8 months old at Christmas



Monty and Cade at Reunion


Cade at about 8 yrs old and me


July 4th a few years back....had a little too much



Christmas 2007


Playing Santa on Christmas Eve 2007

Eating fried catfish at a family dinner in his honer

Christmas 2007

Graduation night with Meagan

Jeremiah, Cade & Meagan

Right after Graduation 2007



With Granmama



Cade and his Uncle Lanny (who also served in the Navy in the late 1950s)

Dancing with Emili (he felt like a lucky guy)



A couple of years of birthdays.



Reading a book at the Lakehouse (yep, I was so shocked I had to take a picture)

Happy to be home



Meagan and Cade on her bridal portrait day



In his tux.....he cleans up pretty good, huh!

Again in his tux with Meagan





In Cancun about to Parasail.....he was so excited and had a blast



On his ship during a drill

At home with boys....Ollie, Andy and Pog



With his three adoring aunts........ Cindi, Cheryl and Sandra

With Granmama again at her house in Midland.



With cousin Monty....such great friends

Cutting up onions Thanksgiving 2008....




And having dinner.

In Midland a few years back

Thanks for looking at a little bit of my life with my son. And Cade, if you are reading this, just know how much I miss you and I love you. Happy Birthday Son! Be Safe.

Random Pictures

The pictures below are of Meagans old car that got attacked by a werewolf......not really......just a big dog trying to get to a cat under the hood of her car. Look close and you can see the teeth marks. If I could have caught that @%$# dog......ha.

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A few weeks back, we went to Grapevine with all the kids and rode Thomas the Train.

This is the actual train we rode.

Ava, Jackson, Tony and me on the train. I think here, the kids just heard the Train Whistle.....they had a great time.

Jackson in his Conductor Cap, me and Tony. It turned out to be a very nice day.

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Even though we are close to an Air Force Base, this kind of activity is rare in our skys. If you double click the bottom picture, you can actually see the fueling hose. Kinda cool.

Well, just some random pictures I wanted to share. See ya soon!

BIG FISH!!

I thought this might be of interest for the fishermen who read my blog. Last weekend my nephew, Jimmy Dale and his son Braden caught these fish at the Rio Grande River down around Eagle Pass. BIG FISH! The big one weighed in at around 45 lbs. They will sure make for a great fish fry. Congratulations Jimmy!