Life's Treasures

The kids are in Brent's room playing and I hear Ryleigh start singing...next thing I hear is Brent saying, "Will you PLEASE stop singing!" There is a pause where neither one of them says anything (I can only imagine the looks) and then B says, "I'm sorry, but you are just NOT that good.." What are big brothers for if not to tell ya like it is?!?!

Wowie...where did the summer go? We had such a blast and I was so lucky to get to spend all the time with the kids that I got. More than likely, this was my last summer of sleeping in and staying up really late so I did my best to take full advantage of it. I just can't believe that it's all over already. Monday was the first day of school for the kids. This means that Brent is the "big man" on campus this year and this will also be the last time that they are in the same school until Brent is a Sr. and Rye is a Freshman, CRA-HAY-ZEE, I know! With the first day of school though brings our yearly tradition of going to IHOP for breakfast. We have done this every year since Brent started kinder and it is something that we all look forward to. We have been so blessed every year to have whatever family can make it come with us. This year it was Grammy, Grandma and Grandpa. We have to get up super early but it is always well worth it!

Saturday was spent lounging around the house for a bit and then getting ready for dinner with one of my oldest and dearest friends. Melanie and I have been trying to get together since after her birthday in December but it just never seems to work out...more so on my part because we always seem to have something already planned. Anyway, a day FINALLY opened up and we scheduled our date. We went to dinner at Joe T's and had a great couple of hours just catching up. After that we headed to Sherlock's to watch an '80's cover band playing, they were pretty freakin' funny but cool. I still can't believe that we met in 8th grade health class...where'd the time go?? The really funny thing was that we ran into a guy that we knew from way back then that night. I always have some of my best times with her and I am so happy she is still a part of my life. She, for me, is definitely one of those people that I could not talk to for a while but as soon as I do, it's like we've never been apart. Love her! After I got home that night, Eric and Ashley came over and they also had run into some peeps from high school so they came with. It was so nice to catch up with them and hang out. Sunday was an impromptu trip out to Dana and Ed's house in Albany. They have invited us many times, and Rye has been a couple, but it never fails that David has always had to work. Since he was actually off we decided to just go ahead and go for one last hoorah of the summer. The drive is a little over 2 hours and the town only has a population of 1,921! I was so mad at myself for not bringing my other camera but I most definitely will next time! Our plan was to just stay the night and come back Monday morn but seeing as how Dana sprained her ankle, the kids and I ended up staying until Tuesday so that I could drive her car back. I had so much fun that it felt like a mini vacation. We stayed up way too late, drank a little more than we probably should have and laughed until there was nothing left. I love how sweet Dana's girls are to Ryleigh and I know she loves that she gets to hang out with the older girls. Even Brent had fun just running around with the girls and shooting them with Nerf guns, lol! Unfortunately, these are the only couple of pics I got while we were there because my camera died...always my luck!

You have to wait till the end to find out! We took the kids bowling last Friday (gotta love FREE bowling tickets!) and I forgot how much fun it can be. Now that the kids are a bit bigger, they don't do half bad on their own. It is so fun to see their reaction when they get a spare or even a strike. Since David had to go to work, we only had a chance to play the one game but that worked for me :-).

I cannot believe it is already that time of the year! Conditioning started last week for both of the kids and from here until Thanksgiving or Christmas (depending on if they make it into the playoffs) our evenings and Saturdays will be dedicated to football and cheer practice. Wednesday is our only "free" day so you will usually find me relaxing on the sofa, although this past Wed. I went to El Arroyo with Jack, Cindy and Ashley...who can pass up $2 schooner margaritas? I always have so much fun with them and am so glad they are a part of my family. Thursday and Friday found us back at the field, thank goodness there are a few trees to sit under. I am looking forward to the season starting though, I do so love sports photography!

My sister-in-law turned 29 on the 7th and had her birthday party at KG's here in Mansfield. Ivy and Kim went with me and we all had a lot of fun, of course, the margaritas at Gloria's first didn't hurt either. It was a karoake kind of night and everyone definitely made the most of it! Happy Birthday Cari!

The week that we got back from the river was spent hanging out with good friends and having great times. While we went to the river, Rye went to Albany with the Waczak crew and didn't return until Monday afternoon. They invited us to come back the next day to hang out by the pool, which went well into the evening and then we returned the next day and spent the day on the lake. It was the first time Brent ever belly surfed and he had a blast! Ryleigh wanted to do it so bad but poor thing wasn't heavy enough to hold the board down..I so wish I had taken my camera along! The following day we took the kids to the movies and Dana and I watched The Orphan..all I will say is please don't anyone ever name your daughter Esther!! FREAKY! We ended the week just relaxing at the house on Friday, which of course also meant catching up on the laundry for me, but it was well worth it. I wish life could be full of fun and games every day with no worries...oh well, I will take all I can get!

It was that time again! Time to set aside our everyday responsibilities and go to the river for fun in the sun with the adults! This year we all rented cabins and it was by far the BEST IDEA EVER..I don't know that I can ever go back to sleeping in a tent. It was so nice to be able to get there and only have to carry bags in and then be able to sit back and pop open a brewsky. It was even better to be able to get up on Sunday, feeling like a million bucks of course ;-), and not have to worry about taking down a tent in the miserable heat. I took some pics on the river but I haven't taken them in yet to see if they can develop them so for now, here are a few from Friday night when the party started:

Ashley claims she had never done a beer bong before...I don't know about that...


Tannie, why are you not amused?

We have been so busy soaking up the last remaining weeks of summer that I have slacked on my blogging (now I will try to recount everything..wish me luck :). This post goes back to the day before we left for the river (3 weeks ago)..I guess with all of the talk about the adults going camping, the kids decided they needed to join in the fun! They asked if they could build a "tent" in the living room. They funny thing was that they lasted all of about an hour and then they hightailed it back to their own beds..should be interesting to see what happens when we take them out into the wilderness!