An "uplift"

I am seriously past due with the blog updates and have the best intentions to jump back on the bandwagon soon. To boost my motivation, I have asked a friend to give me a blog "uplift." I have lots of posts to publish and will do that soon! Stay tuned for a new and improved blog!

So much FUN in June!

We have really enjoyed our summer so far. It's always nice to have Eric home more and to spend time together. June went by fast, but we had a lot of FUN!

My family from Kansas came to visit for a long weekend and we took them to the Dallas Aquarium. It was SO much fun and the kids really enjoyed it. I highly recommend it! As you can see, the parents enjoyed it too!

We have also really enjoyed spending time at my parents' lake house. It is such a relaxing place to retreat. We have had a blast tubing, waterskiing, swimming, cooking out, and spending time with family and friends on the weekends. Thanks Mom and Dad for a great time! We look forward to many more memories!

Our friend, Laura, invited us out to ride her horse, Blaze, and Gage had a blast! I thought the horse would scare him, but he didn't even flinch! He did not want to get off the horse! Maybe we have a future Cowboy! Mommy and Daddy got to ride Blaze too, although Mommy gets a little anxious around horses! Thanks Laura for a fun day with Blaze!

Our good friends, the Z's, welcomed their new baby boy, Parker, in June. Big sisters, Mai and Ava, came over to play so their Mommy could spend some quality time with her new little man. We had a "dance party" and it was pure entertainment for me! The video below is a little long, but well worth the time - I especially like my husband's moves!

We hope you have enjoyed your summer so far! Stay cool!

Family Reunion

We spent Memorial Day Weekend in Houston for a GREAT Family Reunion, hosted by my Aunt and Uncle at their home. It has been years since I have seen most of my family from Kansas and it was so great to see everyone. It's so much fun now that most of my cousins have their own children. We were so close growing up and it's just so crazy to me that we all have children now! It was fun to see our kiddo's interact with each other. It was a weekend filled with laughter, love, old stories, and some tasty Margarita's! My Aunt and Uncle know how to throw a party and we had a weekend full of fun events, including our own suite at the horse races. Thank you Aunt Audry and Uncle Bill for your hospitality. We had so much fun and love you so much!

At the horse races!

Gage's Horse Race Dance!

*****

Aunt Audry and cousin Layla

Gage and Grandpa - hanging out! Let's see what "Bill" and "Bob" are doing - miniature horses! Some of the Fam hanging out at the "Gates" Sports BarAre you a "Gates?" :)Taking a swim with Dad!

3 Wheeling with Mom!Cousins! Uncle Jason and cousin Joely

Happy Mother's Day!

Mom's - it's just "what we do!" I couldn't explain it any better than this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK5uPBF-s5Y

Happy Mother's Day!

Lake House Weekend

My parents finally bought their lake home that they have always dreamed of and we are so excited to have a "Fun House" to escape to! We spent the weekend at the lake and enjoyed our time with the Fam. The water was still a little too cold, but that didn't stop my crazy husband from jumping in!

The BIG 3-0!

What matters most in life is often viewed as peripheral to the things that we usually focus on. Passion takes a backseat to production, wellness to working, and balance to busyness. The old adage that "life is not a dress rehearsal" is so true, and yet we act to the contrary by putting off what is truly important or indulging in things that are not.

I vow on my 30th Birthday (TODAY, April 28th!) to not focus so much on my age, but to meditate on my life at this exact moment. I hope in this next year to reshuffle my priorities. Spend more time with family and friends, take care of my body and health by exercising more and eating nutritious food, and to offer to help those in need.

My mom says that the 30's were the best years of her life and I hope that rings true for me too! Thank you to my wonderful family for a fun birthday celebration!

My motto for this year:

"Don't just count your years, make your years count. "
- Ernest Meyers

Easter Weekend

We had a wonderful and busy Easter weekend! It was so nice to have a 3-day weekend. It was much needed for me! Eric, unfortunately, had to work, so Gage and I spent Friday with some good friends from out of town. We met at good ole' Joe T. Garcia's in Fort Worth, then we headed to their Lake House in Granbury for some R&R, but stopped to enjoy the bluebonnet's first.

Saturday we joined the neighborhood for an Easter egg hunt and to meet the Easter bunny! Gage LOVED picking up eggs, but was not very fond of the Easter bunny as you can see from the picture below! Priceless!

Saturday night we went to Easter service and then stopped by Grammy and Grampy's house for dinner. On Sunday, we went to Momo and Popo's house to eat some yummy enchiladas! Gage was so excited to see his cousin Max. He absolutely LOVES Max who is 6 years old. He copies EVERYTHING that Max does. He is Max's little shadow. It is so cute! I had fun playing with the boys and being silly. I am the SILLY Aunt! By the end of the afternoon, they were both tuckered out on the living room floor!

We ended our weekend with a trip to the pond to feed the ducks - Gage's favorite thing to do right now! He loves throwing the bread and quacking like a duck! And the duck's like him too! When they see us coming, they run TOWARD us! Surprising that ducks have a memory!

We hope that you had a lovely Easter weekend and remember what this time is all about! HE has Risen!