Happy Birthday Emily!

This has definitely been a birthday

to remember for Emily. Unfortunately,

it hasn't all been good!

We had planned on going to

Nashville Shores on her birthday

to participate in her gymnastics

performance out there. We planned

on bringing 4 of her friends with her

for a birthday celebration out there too!

Well, it didn't go quite as planned. We

all came down with a stomach virus that

killed any birthday activities for the

entire weekend. That also included

postponing her family party. We

rescheduled that party for the next

weekend and here are a couple of

pictures from that shindig! Princess Emily!
What a haul!

The story of the birthday of

all birthday continues. We were

able to reschedule the trip to

Nashville Shores for last weekend.

All her friends were going to be

able to go. Yipee I thought. I

should have known it wouldn't go

as I'd planned for. On Monday, the

18th, Emily broke her right arm in

gymnastics class. I wasn't there, but

one of the Mom's told me that everyone

heard it snap. Monday night was spent

at the ER and found ourselves in a splint

for a couple of days until the swelling

went down. She broke both bones just

below her elbow.

So much for Nashville Shores....an outdoor

swimming, water slides and beach park.

We ended up going to the zoo and had a

great time. Probably not as much fun

as Nashville Shores, but still lots of fun

and giggling girls.

Emily got her new cast yesterday. The

doctor has given her the green light for

any and all activities that her broken arm

will allow for. Obviously no gymnastics and

no swimming, but we are a go for roller

skating in PE and dance class that starts

next week. Look for pictures soon!

Our Little Deer Family

I took these pictures a couple

of weeks ago. The first was

taken just down the street from

me and the other was taken

directly across the street from

my yard.

To bad I had the camera

on the wrong setting when

I took this one and thus it is

a bit blurry. Aren't they

adorable? I hope Mama keeps

them away from the street!

Michael's Pictures From The Trip

Here are some of the
best pictures that Michael
took with Dad's old digital
camera. They had a ball
snapping picture left and right.


On the bus from The
Ranch going to Cody, WY.

Wonder if Kenneth
regrets this look?
Emily and I in our
hotel room in Cody.
Ahhhh...

Yellowstone National Park
One of the many geysers
we saw. Yellowstone is a
very old supervolcano. There
are 4 geothermal features
found there due to the volcanic
nature of the area. Geysers,
mudpots, hot springs and steam
vents.

Michael's picture of the
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.
This is a geothermal
feature called a mudpot.
One of the many hot springs
we saw. The colors were
varied and brilliant. Lots of
them were caused by micro
organisms that only live there.
It was so cool!

At Yellowstone they try
to be as minimally invasive
as possible. The logs that are
at the base of the waterfall
won't be removed unless there
is a huge problem caused by
them being there. We saw lots
and lots of areas that had
suffered from forest fires. None
of those dead trees had been
removed.

Michael took this picture
at the store in the lodge
we stayed in at Grand
Teton National Park. This
is just some of the great
Native American crafts and
handiwork we saw.

Emily's Photos Of Our Trip Out West

I let Emily use my old digital
camera during the trip to SD
and WY. Here are some of
the best pictures she took!

After our morning at Mount
Rushmore, we headed over
to the Crazy Horse Monument.
It was awesome!!! They've
been working on it for about 70
years and it is much, much
larger than Mount Rushmore.
I thought Emily did a good
job getting a photo of the two
of us.

Emily's photo of Michael coming
out of an Indian's tepee at the
Crazy Horse Memorial.

Indian crafts that were on
display at the Crazy Horse
Memorial.

Statue of fighting stallions
at Crazy Horse.

Mimi and Grandaddy at
one of the beautiful photo
ops in Yellowstone National
Park.

The Grand Canyon of
Yellowstone. I don't
know about you, but I
didn't know there was a
Grand Canyon of Yellowstone.

Sorry to have been gone for 2 months.....

Seems like I'm getting behind

in everything!!! Posting has

been one of the things that has

been let go for the past couple

of months. But here I am, back

with loads of pictures to share.

I'm starting off with some recent

ones and will go back and catch

up on some of the other activities

we've had over the past 2 months.

Get ready to be inundated!!!!

You've been warned.

Williamson County Fair

Last week we went to the

Fair one night. Here are

some photos of it. Ahh...

This was taken just before
Emily got a slide burn on
her arm. Oh the crying....
She is quite the drama Queen!

Does he look like he's
having fun? They must
have gone down the slide
10 times. Thank goodness
for the unlimited ride
bracelets!

They enjoyed going flying.

Emily got to ride with another
little girl. She got to be the
older, more experienced rider
for the little girl who'd never
ridden the ride before.

A ride on the Scrambler.
Poor Emily was squished!
The next time they rode
it Emily rode all by herself.

Man was it hot! Of course our
heat wave broke the next day.
To bad our schedule didn't allow
for going on a different night.

This was Emily's and Frankie's
first time riding a big kids fair
ride. Michael was just to short
to ride. This ride scooted! Then it
stopped and went backward. Of
course on certain turns the cars
swung up and to the outside.
They got off a little dizzy and
then decided to ride it again!

While Emily and Frankie rode
the above ride, Michael and Gina
went and rode the big Pirate Ship.
They had a ball. Look for Michael's
grey and orange shirt and Gina's
purple shirt.

We had a couple of tickets
and Kenneth went with Emily
for a fly around. Seemed like
he enjoyed it as much as she.

This One Is For The Girls!!!!

Girl's Weekend 2008 We had our annual Girl's Weekend

a couple of weeks ago in Franklin, TN.

What a blast!!!

Every year since 1995 we've

had a weekend where we

got together with no kids and

no husbands. What Fun!!!

We all were able to catch up,

sat up late talking, indulged

in a few drinks, lots of good food

and even did a little shopping.

Who knows where we'll be next year?

I can't wait to find out.

Michael was an All-Star!

Michael was chosen with two
other boys from his team to
be in the All-Stars for the
spring baseball club.

The Franklin league had over
400 5-6 year olds play this
spring. They picked a little over
80 to be in the All-Stars.

Here is Michael running
to homeplate while being
introduced over the
microphone.

They had 3 competitions
before the games started.
This is from the running
competition. It was purely
a timed event around the
bases. I thought Michael
was pretty quick....turns out..
not so much.

Gone around 3 bases and
I'm headed for home!
Michael had a big time
competing in the throwing
competition for the
All-Stars. They had to
throw from 2nd base to
home and get it through
the cones. It could roll
through, bounce through,
to be thrown through.
They got 5 chances to do this
and I think Michael got
2 or 3 out of the 5.

Here is another good throw!
Here is Michael during
the hitting contest. His
best friend, Frankie,
actually won the hitting
contest for our field and
was in the hit-off with the
3 other boys who won
their fields. Frankie
finished 2nd overall!

I've been tagged....

Megan tagged me, so here we go:

I love the smell of – Michael after a shower, chocolate and roses

People would say that I - am really organized....(I just put on a good show)

I don’t understand why – we have got such problems as a nation, but the government turns a blind eye to them.

When I wake up in the morning – I am on the go!

I lost my willpower to – clean the house. (Megan's answer couldn't be better!)

Life is – toooooooo busy!

My past made my - blood run orange!

I get annoyed when I – am around people who think there is no one else in the world but them.

Parties are not a good time to – parties? who gets to go to parties?

Trust me.Dogs are – a necessary part of my life.

Cats are – to help you get your "motor" running.

Tomorrow is – first day of summer break....Yeah!

I have low tolerance for – misbehaving children (mine or others). (Again, Megan hit it right on the head)

I’m totally terrified of - snakes.....ick!

I wonder why I thought my life would be – relaxing.

I always knew I would – love to travel.

Never in my life have I – seen "Casablanca".

High school was – first two years were just o.k., but the last two years were phenonmenal!

When I’m nervous - my breathing gets short.

One time at a family gathering – I almost caught a small shark off the bridge at the cottage in Florida.

Take my advice – always follow through with your threats of punishment with your kids.

Making my bed - used to happen, now I'm happy if I can get my kids to make theirs.

I'm almost always – on the phone.

I’m addicted to – my kids, diet Dr. Pepper (my new fave), UT football and skiing

I want someone to – come and cut my 7.5 acres of grass, weed my flower beds, clean my house, paint the fences, water my plants, paint the house, clean out my closets and garage, fix Kenneth's old Mustang, give me more time in the day, I can go on and on and on and on and on.

Michael's Trial Gymnastics Class

Michael went to a trial
gymnastics class last
Friday. Little did I know
that it was the last class
of the session and they
had Fun Friday to
celebrate. Michael
had a ball, but didn't
do to much gymnastics.

Smiling up at Mom!

Geronimo! He landed 8
feet below into a big
pit of foam squares.
He looks to be enjoying
himself!

They were playing
trampoline basketball.
Michael wasn't very
good, but had a ball!

A little more of Emily

These are a couple of
pictures taken at Emily's
Mother's Day Tea in
her 3rd grade class.

She had a big time
reading her information
about me. She guessed
my weight, clothing and
shoe size. I was thrilled
to say she was way off!

A couple of pictures from
Emily's Gymnastics
performance. Here is her
class before they went on.

Emily is getting more
flexible. To bad the girl
doing the handstand
roll-down is all blurry.

More Gymnastics Photos

I got some more pictures
of Emily at her Gymnastics
class on Monday and thought
I'd share them.

Getting ready to do
a handstand.

Said handstand.

Wish I was half this

flexible.....

Look at that pointed
toe. Can see the
years of dance experience...
all 5 1/2 years of it.

One handed cartwheel...
About the best I've ever
seen her do.

Working on a back
handspring....still
getting help from
Ms. Stacy, but it is
coming on.

Emily is moving up to the
next level gymnastics class
in two weeks. She has
waited a long time for this...
she is the oldest in her class
by a couple of years and has
seen all her classmates move
up. We all go at different
speeds and I'm glad she has
reached this milestone.

Mile Run for school

Last week the kids
went to their semi-
annual mile run at
Pinkerton Park.

The kids did great!
Emily ran the whole
thing and never walked.
I was so proud of her.

She finished her time
in 9.5 minutes and
Michael finished
exactly as he did in
the fall...8 minutes
and 42 seconds.

Getting ready for the big run!

Glad to see that smile...
tears to come later!

Halfway....and about to

start crying. Oh the

emotion!

Cruising along.

Emily is cruising to the

finish line!

Coming to the wire with
Daddy. Sprint to the finish
Michael!

After the mile with
classmate Brenda!

Michael hanging out
with the dudes.