Hanging out at the lake

We like to go out to Lake Grapevine even though we don't have a boat or any or those fun water toys. The girls just like to get wet and the dogs love to swim too. We have had many fun times on Sunday afternoons just being together as a family. Here are a few pics of our visit to the lake last week.


The car ride to the lake is long!!!! Dixie knows where we're going and she makes the most pitiful whining, barking noises as if trying to tell Don to hurry up. Ranger is just oblivious and lays down in the back. The ride back home is quieter since she's tired!



Katie and Dixie.


Katie, Sarah, and Ranger having fun.

Kids Kamp : June 30-July 3, 2009

I think I have finally recovered enough from Kids Kamp to post some pictures. Heat, hard twin bed, Katie sleeping in the bed with me the last night, long days, little sleep, GREAT girls, wonderful worship, fun games, LOTS of laughs, 2 kids praying to receive Christ as their Savior, priceless memories.........

This was my second year to go to our church's camp, and I so enjoyed the girls and was truly blessed to hang out with them.

Katie and the girls I shared a cabin with. There were 2 other adult women in there with me. Only 2 showers!!! I don't think I ever got my feet completely clean. I forgot my tennis shoes, so I did a lot of walking in my sandals.

The only time Katie let me take a picture with her. I tried not to embarrass her, but drove her to tears one day. I think she was just tired.....sorry Katie for speaking before thinking!


Katie on the rock climbing wall.


Katie was first in line for the "Screamer". They were pulled up to the top and then let go of the rope and went swinging! Scared me, but my little adventurer loved it!

Shaving cream fight! Great fun since they had to get out of the pond when a snake was spotted!

Nerd Party on the last night. So funny to see how all the kids dressed up.

Katie as a nerd! She would walk up to people, snort, and say "I like dinosaurs, do you?". Where does she get this from?


Do you recognize this nerdy church staff member?

More nerdy adults.....thanks "Miss Lisa" for all you do for the kids!!!!! By the way, I just went as myself.

This "nerd" is in charge of Missions at church!

Doggie Fun by Katie

Katie was bored one day and decided to follow the dogs around taking pictures. I won't bore you with the MANY that she took. But here are a couple of cute ones and a rather scary one - you be the judge on that!


Ranger taking a nap.......zzzzzzzzz

Dixie and Ranger playing tug!

Dixie in her cool shades.

Ranger being humiliated by Katie once again.

Sweet Dixie. I think with that face she deserves a treat :)

This one creeps me out! Katie snapped the picture as Ranger was jumping on her. Now Katie thinks it's funny to scare me with it. I walked in the bathroom today and nearly jumped out of my skin when I saw a large printout of this on the mirror.....ha, ha! So what do you think? Funny or Creepy?

Happy Father's Day !

Happy Father's Day to Don.....what a great dad you are! I'm so thankful to you and all that you do in raising our girls. Love you!!!!

Port Aransas, TX in September 1999. Sarah was about to turn 4 and Katie was 11 months.


Burger's Lake - June 2009. Sarah 13 and Katie 10. My how they've changed!

Don was off last week and we enjoyed a "staycation" or in others words, fun on a budget! We (at least the girls and I) enjoyed going shopping at the new Sam Moon's in Ft. Worth on Monday. We went to the movies on Wednesday. Don and I saw "Star Trek" and the girls saw "Night at the Museum 2". Tuesday we spent the day at Burger's Lake in Forth Worth. Thursday we headed to Galveston. Don had travel points for a free night at a hotel. So we stopped in Houston to go to the aquarium and then headed onto Galveston and a few hours on the beach. We got back up early and headed out in the sun again on Friday. The girls and I managed to get various sunburn spots. The only damage to Don was when he tripped on the ice cooler and went rolling in the sand. We all had a good laugh! We've always enjoyed beach vacations as a family and have been all around the Gulf and into Florida - starting back when Sarah was about 10 months old. Lots of fun memories have been made, and I'm sure many more will be in the future.

Ferry ride in Galveston

Katie at the beach in Galveston.

It's Summertime !!

Well, school's out and I wish I could say the busyness is over. But June and July are always the months that we have many activities scheduled. We started off the summer Friday night with Sarah at a sleepover and Katie at a birthday party. Don and I enjoyed a few minutes together, but not near enough. Saturday morning Katie had a makeup softball game and then that afternoon we went with a church group to the Rangers game and pre-game concert. It was fun even though the kids complained of the heat. We've already been to NRH2O twice and Katie has been asking to go again today. I need to go buy groceries because "there's NOTHING to eat in this house". Anyone want to contribute to the summer grocery fund???

Don called this morning to let us know that Katie was selected to play in the All-Star game on Saturday. Way to go Katie! So much for thinking that we had nothing to do this weekend. But it is an honor for Katie.

Next week Sarah and I will be working at Vacation Bible School at church. This will be Katie's last time to participate in the children's group. On July 26, she will promote to the 5th/6th grade student group called "Merge". How can she be headed to 5th grade? How can Sarah be an 8th grader? Wasn't I just crying about her starting middle school? June will also bring Kids Kamp...I plan to go back as a counselor with Katie. Don and Sarah will be going on the Mission Trip in July.

Whew......I get tired thinking of it all. But I know there will be lazy days in between all of the activities (like now I'm still in my pajamas). Hope you have a fun summer with your family! See you at the waterpark!



4th grade end of year party

Katie, Mrs. Latham, and her best friend Hannah at end of year party.

View of the new Dallas Cowboys stadium from the top of the Rangers stadium.

Don and the girls at the top of Rangers stadium.

Casting Crown concert before the Rangers game.

Hanging out with the Montgomery family at the concert and game.

Sitting at the top of the stadium. Go Rangers!

A week of grief

What a week the Riley family has had. Last Wednesday morning I got a call from Don saying our friend Tony Johann had died. He had been undergoing cancer treatment, but no one was expecting him to die. He was 48 years old and shared the same birthday as Don - that was surreal to read in the obituary February 11, 1961. Then on Thursday night my Mom called to tell me that my cousin's 40 year old husband died. Maybe a heart attack, but don't know yet. I'm still in shock that two young fathers are gone. I've never had to try and schedule our time for two funerals in a matter of 24 hours. Right now I can't even express in words the grief our family feels. Please pray for both families. My cousin is Lori and her children are Hayden (1o) and Lauren (6). My other cousin Melany just posted on her blog and her words so capture my thoughts (click on her blog under "blogs I read"). Give your husband a hug today. Hold on to your children. Make sure you know your eternal destination. Life is way too short.



Here are the latest pictures of Sarah and Katie. Aren't they growing up so fast? For my friends who have small kids - cherish the days with them because they do grow up in the blink of an eye. I realize I only have a few short years left for them to be under my roof. I pray I will make the most of that time to guide them to become godly women.

Something's wrong with this picture!

So here's a peek at what our Wii family looks like....do you see the resemblance? Well, I'm here to tell you that I'm in need of encouragement. I've been faithfully tracking my weight on the Wii Fit since January. I've been doing Weight Watchers for the same amount of time as well. I've been working out (on the Wii Fit and the gym) and have lost 15 pounds and almost 2 sizes. Yet this Wii "game" still calls me overweight, and I'm the chubby one of the Mii family!!!! How's a girl supposed to stay motivated? I'm very excited over my progress and the pounds and inches that have been lost. I'm still struggling to lose those last 5 pounds to reach my personal goal and doctors' advice (not to mention the Wii will finally tell me "normal weight"). Please cheer me on! Pray for me to finally stick to a healthier lifestyle. I don't think I have the option of returning to my old ways since I'm firmly stuck in the over 40 category, and according to my doctors, this is just part of the aging process - which is how I put on 20 pounds in the blink of an eye. Why do I see so many skinny 40 somethings at church? Do they have better genetics than I do? I'm looking forward to my new resurrection body, but until then, I'm praying to stay healthier and happier with this old body!