Thirty Seven!

October 1, 1974...

~Yours truly...one year old~

October 1, 2010...

 I woke up and found a special message on my bathroom mirror...

 On the kids birthdays, I always leave them a message on the mirror.  So, Lauren and Carter decided to
leave me a message as well... I thought it was pretty cute. 

I enjoyed a lunch out with great friends...

~Laurie, Halli, & Gracie~

Lauren helped Dave make me a cake...

And I didn't even have to help clean up!

I was super excited to open this...

...and find a new pair of sun glasses!  (I had broken my favorite pair this summer and was really bummed.)   Thanks babe!  They are perfect.

Lauren likes them too!  :)

Dave's mom made me this beautiful wall quilt...

I love it, don't you?

So, I'd have to say that October1st was a good day, a very Happy Birthday indeed.

Way Back Wednesday!

 Like Father...

Like Son...

(Dave & Carter 2001)

Twelve!

This cutie...

 ...is already TWELVE years old!  My kids are growing up way too fast.  It kinda makes me sad.  

Lucky for him, his birthday was on Saturday, so he invited a few friends...

Carter, Jacob, Justin, & Sam  (His buddy, Brock met us a little later as he had a baseball game.)

...to go to Austin's Park n' Pizza!  We met his cousins there and his Grandma & Grandpa Matheny are visiting from Oregon so they came too! 
His favorite thing was the go-karts...

But the girls liked the rock wall the best...

We stayed until they closed (10:00 p.m.) so on Sunday, after church, we had his favorite dinner (hamburgers, chips, and watermelon) and, per Carter's request, an ice cream cake...

...just like Taylor's!  I told you it was a hit.  :)  Check out the candles, they glow the color of the candle itself.  Pretty cool, huh!

Then he opened presents...

...while we watched.

~Lauren & Grandpa Matheny~

Then we all played a really fun card game called Bang.  Now, if only they could grow up just a little bit slower?  Yes, that would be good.  :)

Happy Birthday Carter!  We love you!!!

It's a weekly thing...

For the past month, my friend Darlene has been taking a really nice group of mama's on a standing date every Friday out on her boat...

(Darlene pulling Ginger on the tube.)

...and I've been getting braver!  I've been skiing like this...

 But today, after a little peer pressure, they finally talked me into kicking a ski!  I slalomed a little as a kid but after a bad fall, which felt like I broke my neck, I was scared to try again.  So you can imagine how nervous I was, especially now that I'm old.  But try, I did and walla...

 It was fun!  :)  And the best part (besides lunch on the lake)...I didn't fall!  Woo-Hoo!!!  Thanks Darlene for another perfect day at the lake!

Way Back Wednesday!

Check out this little video clip from Lauren's 4th birthday...

Isn't that just the cutest thing ever...I want a "geerl kiss" too!  :)

Fourteen!

Can you believe this cute little thing...

...is now FOURTEEN years old! Where has the time gone?

Lauren made her this...

And I made her an ice cream cake...

...to go along with her favorite dinner (lasagna, salad, and garlic bread). It was a hit. I got the recipe here.

Dave's sister and her family came over for dinner and to celebrate with us. It was fun. We are so incredibly thankful for this cute little  big thing...

How did we get so lucky? We love you Taylor! Happy Birthday!

Dove Hunt

They're back! Taylor got two doves! Woo-Hoo! Evidently they are really fast. Dave said it was really hot outside but that they had fun!

She even cleaned them herself!

They saw this spider...
It was eating a very large grasshopper. Isn't that disgusting! Taylor said it was the size of her palm. I may never camp again! :)

And they're off!

A hunting they...

will go...

Dove hunting, that is. I know...very sad. It is true. :)

Six Flags Post Edit: The Titan

I can't believe I forgot to add these gems in my last post about our trip to Six Flags...

It's intense! Seriously. I saw stars. But it is FUN!!!

(FYI, in the last picture, I was trying to look like I was yawning due to boredom and the girls were trying to look like they were praying for help. I think they were much more successful than I was! :))

Labor Day Weekend

On Saturday morning, we got up and headed to Fort Worth to see Dave's brother, Sam, who had flown in from Oregon for the TCU vs. OSU game. He was staying with Dave's Grandma. Dave's sister and her family came up to see Sam as well. Dave has lots of cousins, aunts, and uncles that live in Fort Worth so we all got together for a bbq before Dave, Sam, and Carter headed off to the game.

~Taylor and her cousin Nathan~

~Nathan's mom & dad (Katrina and Kevin) a.k.a. Dave's sister and her hubby~

~Kevin~

Dave, Sam, and Carter ready for the game... Carter had been counting down the days. He could hardly wait!

O-S-U!!!

~Dave, Grandma, Katrina, & Sam~

The game was at the new Dallas Cowboy Stadium. I guess it was pretty awesome!

~Dave & Sam~

The kids asked if they were twins...they do look a lot alike. :)

Sam, Carter, and Dave at the game...

We spent the night with Grandma and then got up early and headed to Six Flags with Sam! We had a blast!

~Dave, Halli, Taylor, Lauren, & Sam~

It was so fun to see everyone! Thanks Grandma for putting us all up for the night! We loved seeing you! :)

The Lizard Whisperer...

Ladies Day...

...at the lake!

My friend Darlene is one of the nicest people I know. She is so down to earth, sweet, compassionate, and fun! In May she invited a few ladies for a day at the lake, remember? Well, since this is our first week with the kiddos back in school, she thought it'd be fun to do it again. It was! I got to ski again, and I did a little of this...

And we went to lunch at Cafe Blue (a great little restaurant on the lake)...
~Julia, Halli, Darlene, Brandi~

Thanks Darlene! It was another perfect day. My kids are so jealous. ;)