Another chapter in life.....

Another beginning.... Collin starts 10th grade

And, an ending.....Krista graduates from Texas State University!

The family--Amber, Jerry, Krista, me & Collin

Every new teacher needs a portfolio to take to in-service meetings :)

TA - DAH!

After decorating her mortar board with some "bling"!

Awwww---a loving picture of siblings ;)

Krista with Oma & Opa

Krista (with Brad) opening gifts---check out her "grown up" lunch kit!

Krista is Graduating!

Her time at Texas State University is nearing the end...... Krista will graduate from Texas State on Friday evening, Aug. 14th and complete her student teaching this fall in Clear Lake. (Technically she is participating in the August graduation ceremony and will receive her diploma in the mail in December). It's hard for us to believe that her college coming to a close. She's thrilled and we're proud!

I went back to work on Tuesday and the students will return on August 24th. We have completed Collin's school clothes shopping....sitting on the couch, laptop on, and a Dr. Pepper in hand. (smile) School shopping for him is easy and pretty much stress-free. He is not a shopper so we play the "pick out a few shirts, a few shorts...go on ZAPPOS and pick out shoes and backpack". I have never been much of a mall shopper unless I have a specific need to go.....I know, weird for a "girl". So, God blessed me with a son who is generally "low maintenance".

Will post more after this weekend---need to pack and get on the road :)

Beach, Guadalupe, Projects & Getting Ready for School

I painted the walls in the dining room a cool bronze metallic color. You really aren't able to see the "sheen", but the light really adds some "oomph" to the color. A very dramatic change.

Sunroom - AFTER - Jerry built this bench in the corner, I made a cushion and covered it and he built that cool shelf for the TV/DVD player. It really opened up the room!

Sunroom- BEFORE -

Painted the floor and moved out furniture.

Panama City Beach Florida---what to do in the evenings? GO KARTS!

From "afar"--Kendall & Collin on the jet ski. I wish we didn't have to drive 1/2 day to see water this beautiful.

Leaving for their ride on the jet ski. They also parasailed. But, are you kidding? we couldn't get good pics from the balcony of our condo. We tried! They looked like ants in the air!

This is the life!

Yes----we rode GO KARTS, too! How fun!

Cute picture of Kendall & Collin in front of us for the GO KART ride :) TOES TOES TOES! in the white sand.

"What do you want to eat for your birthday, Jerry?" Cheeseburgers & fries, of course!

New Orleans- on the way to Florida. Ate at Joey K's--as seen on the Food Network show "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives"

We made a trip to the Guadalupe River last week with some friends from Orange. The river was low and slow but we managed to have a great time! We floated the Comal one day, Collin and his friend enjoyed their annual trip to Schlitterbahn and we took a (should have been a 2 hour float) 4 hour float down the Guadalupe. Krista & Brad joined us as much as they could from San Marcos. There's always good food in Gruene and great live music on River Road. Now.......back to reality.....and that is going back to work next week.

Answered Prayer!

We have prayed for several weeks and we received much needed rain yesterday. In fact, after the rumbling and lightning on Monday evening..we woke up Tuesday to the sweet sound of rain falling. It rained slow for several hours. Our yard and plants are happy!

Happy Birthday America!

We had a great time over the 4th of July weekend with family. Lots of visiting, eating, laughing, swimming and participating in a 4th of July parade!

NEED RAIN!

Jerry and I are about to resort to the raindance! That would be a funny sight to see---but necessary. This is the hottest, driest June we have ever had! RAIN RAIN RAIN---we got excited the other day when it sprinkled.....only briefly... I think I could have counted the drops in the swimming pool. It was only a tease.

Father's Day 2009-- Cheeseburgers & Kids

"Great Uncle Jerry & Aunt Babs"

Jennifer & Jesse on Galveston Ferry. Gotta love going to Galveston for great seafood and some shopping on the Strand.

Okay- we get this phone call from Abby after they get home from their honeymoon a few weeks ago and heard...
"Aunt Babs, you are a great Aunt!" Hmmmmmmmmmm, I thought.
We got a Pekingese named Chloe!
Oh, okay.....you scared me!
Chloe came to visit on Friday with Penny & Abby while Jennifer and Jesse were here visiting from Florida. They will be moving to Ohio soon so it was nice to get to spend time with them.

Friday was great family time and Chloe behaved and had "bonding" time with us :)! We made her a doggie blanket out of hot pink and zebra.....(Abby is not obsessive by any means about their new little puppy. HA HA) Abby made this scrumptious banana puddin'. Yum Yum

Sistah Time

My sister and her husband have come into town from Florida for a few days. It's only a few times a year that the three of us "sistahs" get together. Jennifer, Jesse, Jerry and I drove to Galveston yesterday through Crystal Beach....never get used to it....always still such a shock to see. Penny & Abby and new member of the family...Abby's dog Chloe--a Pekingese, visited today. Lots of talking, laughing, visiting and catching up. Jennifer and Jesse will be moving to Ohio in July so it will be a while before we can see each other. Always good "sistah" time.......

More kneeboarding & Tonsillectomy over

Collin and friend Alex

Collin really wanted to go out on the river yesterday for a few hours since he had his tonsillectomy this a.m. and knew he would be "home bound" for the next several days. Remarkably, he is doing well---tolerating the pain, watching a movie and sipping on a gatorade slush. Thank you to all my dear family and friends that lifted his name up in prayer---they were felt. I have some "inside projects" to do this week as he heals. God is good!

Fruits of my labor

Okay- I made a post in March when I planted my tomato plants....and, drumline please................ ONE TOMATO! UGH The heat, the drought.....apparently this isn't my year. I'm looking at my neighbor's tomato plants and they are huge! Maybe next year......

Bye Bye Tonsils

Please pray for Collin this week. He will have his tonsils out tomorrow morning. Our prayer is for "minimal" pain, recovery, healing, and skilled hands of the medical professionals attending to him.

Java on a Monday a.m.--Gooooood!

Leaving...I love the bubbles!

Penny, Abby & me dancing to YMCA--really a funny site!

Krista, Collin and Abby.

Bridal Breakfast hosted by Auntie Babs.

Jerry & I the night of my class reunion.....classes of 1978-1983...me? 27 years!

The title sounds like it could be a song...doesn't it? What a great weekend! Our niece got married on Friday evening and she was a beautiful bride! The weekend was quite busy as we went from the rehearsal one night, to the wedding, to my class reunion on Saturday evening. It's good to be home now! Our pups missed us!

Let us pray for some rain! This is undoubtedly one of the hottest, driest Junes we have seen in years.

Great Week!...first week of SUMMERTIME!

The "Orange Blossoms"---our line dancing group keeps getting bigger and bigger! It is so much fun to get together one Thursday a month and go to Larry's French Market and eat good ole cajun food and dance to some zydeco music! Believe me...it's cheap entertainment for our husbands!

Sabine River---Collin's first time to knee board and he has his dad's blood in him! Like father, like son. That kid was doing 360's---in fact, he did 3 in a row one time before he hit the wake sideways!

One of many rounds on the knee board!

Driving the boat.......

Adjusting...

It usually takes me several days to "settle" into my new mode....summertime. The last several weeks of school are usually so hectic and frantic that I don't sleep real well. So....I do so enjoy the alarm not going off!

Collin will be having his tonsils out in a few weeks so Tuesday we went to preregister at the hospital, blood work, etc...

A good friend and I went to see a friend of ours in Houston on Wednesday and enjoyed some girltime, catching up, alittle shopping.....a grand time!

Summertime Baby!

May 22--Lamar University "Celebration of Teaching" I have had the pleasure of teaching a new course this year called Ready Set Teach! that gives students a "taste" of what teaching is all about. What a great group. Our superintendent, on left, was the keynote speaker for the day.

Cousins John & Logan visited on Memorial weekend...good times catching up!

Can you say "GARAGE BAND?" Practicing their music for the end of school (annual event) swim party at our house. This band made their "debut" the last day of school. That are really good----music..not noise :)

Here's the BAND and the swimmers! I think we started having an end of school swim party when Collin was in 2nd grade. So hard to believe these kids will be Sophomores next year!

It officially became summertime Friday- May 29th at 4 p.m.! Hooray!

Sheer Craziness!

We are amazed at how big Ande is getting! Collin lugs her around, wrestles with her...and she DIGS. Sometimes we ask ourselves about this whole "puppy business"....then....she melts our hearts.

Collin and Krista "posing" like they were dancing at Brad's after graduation party in Gruene.

We are so proud of Brad. He graduated from Texas State on Friday, May 15th. We enjoyed meeting Brad's family for dinner in Gruene and then fun times & music at Oma's Biergarten close to Gruene Hall. His degree is in radiation therapy and is working out of a clinic in San Marcos. God was so good to open doors for him.

CRAZINESS: I always get really anxious this time of year. It's the last 10 days of school....exemption forms, grades, field trips, special celebrations, exams, review sheets, closing out the classroom, textbooks, boxing materials up, cleaning up, etc..... These days FLY by. And, it seems like this year just started. The kids are nuts and the teachers are whack jobs, too. Teachers want it quiet and orderly so they can take care of their business and the students are LOUD and hyper!!!! Ughhhh. Come on May 30th! I'm reminded why we need our breaks :)

Mother's Day -2009

What do you want to do today? It's Mother's Day.
GO TO THE BEACH
Do you want to take the kayaks?
HECK YA!
(I got the picnic packed and we were on our way :)

We have the "sunscreen shine" going!

Collin took a friend and he and Alex fought the waves all day. I'm sure they slept well. The surf was rough and they played all day!