More Pictures of Lone Star 2009

Owen playing with beads thrown out at the parade

Katelyn carring a Riptide poster during the parade

Giving little brother a High Five

State champions seven years in a row!!!

Katelyn with friends before the parade

Our girl all ready to show her Riptide spirit

Katelyn diving in lane three

50 Meter Breast Stroke

Owen entertaining himself at the meet

Katelyn got 2nd Place in the 50 meter Back Stroke

Just finishing, looking for her score

Almost there, just a few more strokes

Just after the start

Orange cap, starting her back stoke

Lone Star State Championship 2009

Katelyn with Coach Bridgette

Lone Star, a four day swim meet that the YMCA swimmers look forward to each year. It's a place where the kids get to show off all they have been working for over the last twelve months. Team Spirit, friendly competition, striving to reach their personal best, to say the least a weekend filled with memories. Memories of water, races, laughter, sometimes tears, and lots of cheering from the parents. This was our third Lone Star. Katelyn was sick the entire time, sore throat, ear aches, and stuffy nose on the first day, which led to sneezing, coughing and overall yuckiness the rest of the meet. She was there, much to my dismay, but she had made a commitment to the team, to herself and she wanted to see it through. Since she had no fever we let her go and encouraged her to do her best. Just one medal this year, but with all that she was going through, one was awesome. What was more impressive was that she improved on all of her times, a personal best. She is my hero, so strong, so determined. Though she wasn't the one getting all the awards, or breaking all the records, she was getting something much more important, she was learning how to carry on, even when times were tough. How to achieve her personal best even when she wasn't feeling good. A huge life lesson to learn when you are ten. I truly could not be more proud of her.

PreTeen Camp is over...

The buses roll in...

Their she is...

We were the sun shiners...

Her brother missed her...

And she missed him. :)

Yesterday I picked Katelyn up from Pre Teen Camp. She looked great, so happy and excited. My heart felt good to know she had a good time. She could hardly wait to start telling me the stories of camp. We got her stuff, and headed home where I heard stories of slides, bounce houses, water bomb fights, trapeze slides, ice bergs, zip lines, mud pits, paint ball guns, archery lessons, and so much more. It sounded like so much fun I was actually jealous that as a child I never got to go to camp, must less Church Camp. I feel so blessed that we are members of a church that offer so many opportunities for our children to learn about Christ in such a fun and loving atmosphere. I can not thank all the counselors and staff enough. They did more than they could ever know. Katelyn told me that four kids, three girls and one boy excepted Christ into their lives. How awesome is that? Very I'd say. What wonderful memories she will have from her summers. I'm just so thankful for God blessing our lives. Katelyn told me one of her favorite things was when Mrs. Jill was doing the bible study and she started to cry, she said she really was touched by that and would never forget how sincere she was. She told me..."Mommy, she really wanted us to know that God loves us, no matter what and that he is always there for us." "He wants us to be with him in heaven." She said it was neat to see someone so passionate about Christ. Thanks Jill for all you have done, your great and truly carry God with you everywhere you go. Katelyn really enjoyed the worship band also and told me many stories about them. She really enjoyed it when they ate lunch with them. I think she may have had a crush on one of them but she is not admitting to that. She said Camp River Bend was the great and she had the best time. In fact she said she had a awesome time, over and over again. Owen was very excited to see her and share his news with her as well. He lost a tooth while she was gone and had also slept through the night in his own bed every night since she was gone. For Owen that was a huge accomplishment. He hugged her as if she had been gone for years, which for him it did fill like a lifetime I'm sure. He was attentive to her as she told us about her journey and she was so sweet to him when he asked questions. I must say, they don't always get along, but having some time away from each other must have done the trick as they have been very kind to each other since she got home. Camp River Bend we will happily see you again next summer, and to everyone we shared this experience with and to those of you who are just now reading about it, take care and stay tuned in to see what is posted next.

Night out w/the Monster Trucks

Four boys ready for fun...

Owen standing in front of Wild Thang

He is in awe

Wild Thang

How cute is my boy???

Friday night brought Monster Trucks to the Texas Motor Speedway. Some good friends were going and invited Joe and Owen to go along. It was Owen's first trip to anything like this and he was so excited. He didn't really know what to expect and kept asking me lots of questions. I told him of the days when his dad and I were younger when we used to go the Monster Truck shows. He was excited by the fact that I also liked going, and knew a little about them. Joe said the show was not as good as one's he has seen before but for Owen it was awesome. His words, not mine. He was sound asleep when they got home so I had to wait until the next day to hear all about it. Owen told me that one of the trucks lost it's hood and front end, while another one drove over a car and tore off it's roof, but didn't hurt the person inside. He told me about the blue car with white stripes, and the four wheelers that were also there. He really enjoyed the "funny guy", that came out on a motorcycle, a little monster truck and in a bath tub. I wasn't there so I didn't really know what he was talking about but seeing the excitement in his eyes told the whole story. It didn't matter that I didn't understand what happened, what mattered was that he had a good time and really enjoyed going with his dad.

I don't know how often the monster trucks come to the DFW area but I'm sure we will all have to go see them again....and soon.

Pre Teen Camp Starts today...

There she goes.... :-)

Her bus...filled with lots of girls

Thinking..."Mom, really another picture"

The girls getting ready to leave...

My beautiful daughter, looking so grown up

O.K. so I have to start by saying I have had the hardest time getting these pictures loaded on today, that when they finally came up they are in the wrong order. Taking a page from Angela's book on that one. lol :) I can't believe the time has come to sent my sweet girl to Pre Teen Camp, yes I said Pre Teen. She is off today to spend five days and four nights at Camp with our church. I'm so excited for her. I never went to camp and I just know these are the memories she will remember for a lifetime. We have the most awesome church. Today five chartered buses left from the Rockwall Campus full of kids going to camp. I'm always amazed at how effortless they seem to make it look. A well oiled machine I tell you, very well oiled. Kids were excited and nervous and anxious as were many of the adults I'm sure. I didn't think I would be so teary as the bus pulled away, but I was. I really could seem my little girl as she was growing up and thought to myself...how the time flys. This is just a prelude to a few years ahead when she leaves for college I'm sure. Katelyn made me laugh so hard this morning I nearly peed my pants. You know the kind of laugh where you cry and your ribs hurt and nothing you do for several minutes makes you stop laughing not even the fact that she may have been hurt. See she was loading her luggage in the car and I hit the button on the remote to open the back hatch. I called out to see if it opened but didn't hear a reply so I pressed it again. Well, it had opened and when I pushed it again it closed on her head and the latch got caught in her that I had french braided. It pulled her hair out and it looked so funny and the expression on her face was so funny that I just couldn't stop laughing. I tried to take a picture of it, but she was having no part of that as she was laughing at me laughing at her. It was a great time, and a memory I won't ever forget. I pray for her to have fun, stay safe, enjoy the camp and draw closer to God through this trip. Looking forward to hearing her stories when she returns home...

Having Summer Time Fun

Owen under one of the mushrooms at Hawaiian Falls

Owen and Parker lounging in the pool

Our summer has included a once a week trip to Hawaiian Falls. We go usually on Thursday's. It has been a great source of fun and a way to keep cool. This summer has been a hot one, and having the water to plan in has been so nice. We got season passes at the sports award night in May. They donated a percentage back to our church when we did. It has been the best money spent this summer. The kids love going, we pack a lunch and head off for the day. We get there right as the park is opening and get great spots under the shade. We usually go with friends and it makes for a great day. Owen took Parker and Hutton this last week and they played so well together. I had to take a picture of them relaxing and just sharing a conversation. Katelyn has also taken friends on occasion. There is always someone to share time with when we go. The summer seems to be flying by. Katelyn is preparing to go to pre teen camp this weekend. She will leave on Friday and be gone until Tuesday. It is the first time for her to be gone so long and I will miss her. She has become a huge help this summer. Wanting to learn how to do the laundry, doing the dishes, making meals...she is really growing up. She has been working hard at swim team practice three days a week and working out at Train Up four days a week. She is having a blast and loves going to Train Up.

Owen and I have had time to spend some alone time together while she has been gone and that is always fun also. We have played Wii games, played basketball, gone to Chuck E Cheese and the library during our alone time together. It has been nice to have quality time with the kids this summer. I have truly enjoyed spending time with them. We are all going to Disney Land in CA in just a few weeks. Our family is really excited about the trip. I'm not looking forward to the plane ride, but it is better than driving. These are pictures of Katelyn and Owen after a day at Hawaiian Falls. Don't they look sweet???

All wiped out from swimming

Sharing what is left of the blanket Katelyn has and watching t.v.

Completely wiped out from the day of swimming

More 20th Pics...

one of the many water falls at the Gaylord Texan

The middle of the Atrium at night.

The front of the Gaylord at night

The Bell Tower inside the Gaylord as seen from our suite

The main fountain outside our window

Pictures from our 20th

Are we cute or what???

Love it!!! :)

The front of the hotel, which so doesn't tell you how beautiful it is.

Aunt Janine and the kids, aren't they cute?

Setting outside the RiverWalk Cafe' inside the hotel