1st Day of School 2010

Sofie-1st grade, Lily-3rd grade, Jack-7th grade

Well, it's that time again. Back to School! After weeks of anticipation, all three kids are starting a new year. Summer has gone by so fast, but I confess I am ready for a routine again. And the kids are suffering from a little too much "togetherness". A little school should be a good remedy for that!


We started the day with the kids' favorite...chocolate chip pancakes. Nothing like a little sugar rush to get the kiddos moving in the right direction. Their teachers can thank me later. Ha!



Change is very hard for Sofie. Even if it is good change. She was having a hard time convincing herself that going to school was a good idea. In this picture, she is trying so hard not to cry.


But, Sofie's scooter seemed to be the right distraction to keep her from entertaining her fears. Her smile seemed to return as she scooted off towards the school.


And knowing that big brother Jack was looking out for them certainly put a smile in Lily and Sofie's hearts. He volunteered to walk with them to school. What a guy!


Sugar and Spice ready for a great new year!


Jack's school started a bit later than the girls. He enjoyed having a little downtime before starting his day.


Off he goes!


We are so blessed to have our kids in such excellent schools and we pray that this year is another filled with friendship, laughter, learning,and discovery!

Sofie's Half-Birthday

Sofie's birthday is December 16th. With all the Christmas hustle and bustle, her special day tends do get lost. So, I decided to start a new tradition for her because it is tough competing with Jesus. ;) We started celebrating Sofie's half-birthday. This year, we met some of her best friends at the Stonebridge Ranch Beach Club. The kids played swimming games, ate cookies, and made sand castles in the bright Texas sun. And as luck would have it, rain came in just as our party was settling down. So we loaded up the car and got home just in time to enjoy a thunderstorm. Sofie was so busy playing with her new loot, she hardly noticed the thunder. Happy Half-Birthday Honeybug!


Lily, Emily Heaton, Sofie, and Michael Schwab splashin' around.


Happy Half-Birthday dear Sofie...


Sofie and some of her peeps. How cute are they?


Molly Reck and Sofie...BFF's

Fun On The Farm Summer 2010

The kids and I went to Iowa to visit our family while Marty was away on a business conference. We made up up for lost time and stored up many memories to last us until we can get back again. Swimming. Movies. Flashlight tag. Driving the golf cart. Grandma's house is just one big adventure. Lily says she wants to live in Iowa when she grows up. I told her that one Iowa winter would put that dream to rest. ha!


We drove straight through on the way to Iowa. Here we are taking a much needed Frosty break in Kansas. What happy travelers they are!


Here Pete and Noah are introducing Sofie to "buddy" the calf.


Jack loved snuggling with my parents dog, Turner.



Lily loved my Aunt Berna's perennial garden. She especially liked the Queen Anne's lace. It is my favorite Iowa wildflower too.



Lily made a crown of Queen Anne's lace for her sweet princess head. I guess it is the wildflower of royals. ha!







Swimming at Aunt Niecer and Uncle Bruce's pool. What fun on a perfect Iowa day!


I think the kids wore the tires out on this golf cart. If we were home, they were driving it around the farm.



Sofie was ready to get out her stinger when Grandma worked her magic. All it took to make the Honeybug smile was cherry Kool-aid in a fancy glass. I will have to remember that trick!



Snuggling and watching Percy Jackson together. Looooove these girls!



Mom and I took the kids to the Bass Pro Shop on our shopping day. After Jack and Noah patiently waited at Justice for the girls to pick out matching t-shirts, we figured they had earned some "boy" time. Here Sofie and Jack are taking target practice. It is the first time Jack ever held a "gun". :)


Madilyn and Sofie...can you tell they are cousins? I think most strangers think Madilyn is my daughter when they see us all together in Iowa.


The kids loved watching the giant fish in the aquarium at the Bass Pro Shop and Jack loved reading all about them.



All tuckered out! We learned our lesson and stopped at a hotel on the way home. Of course, there are many more memories that I do not have a photo for. Having a glass of wine with Mom, Dad, Matt, and Minniette while the kids all played flashlight tag. Watching the sunset. A good ole Iowa thunderstorm complete with lightening that seemed to illuminate the entire sky. And of course sweet corn and homeade ice cream. All that was missing was a night of stargazing. The clouds kept veiling our stars at night. Oh well. I guess we will have something to look forward to for next time. We love Iowa and miss our family and friends there more than words can say.

Iowa State University 2010

While I was back in Iowa with the kids, I took them back to where it all began...ISU. This is the place that I met their Dad. Where we had our first home together as a couple. And where I met some of the friends I cherish most in this world. One of those friends, Melanie Bretey, met me with her family and we spent the afternoon wandering around campus and giggling about the good ole days. While we were there, I tried to introduce them to the culture of Iowa State, including my favorite traditions. Lily loved it so much she said she plans to go there when she goes away to college.


The kids looking out into the ravine on the path that leads to central campus from my old dorm.


I met Marty at this very spot 20 years ago as I was singing with some friends on the way to the Festival of Lights on central campus one cold December night just before Christmas break. I wasn't looking where I was walking and I bumped into him. Literally. The rest is history. <3


The Zodiac in the entry of the Memorial Union. Tradition says you must walk around it or you will fail your next exam. Lily said, "I better be very careful. I don't want to fail the TAKS test next year in third grade." Ha!


Another ISU tradition says that you become an official "Iowa Stater" when you kiss under the camponile at midnight. Lily couldn't wait to go camponiling but since midnight is past her bedtime, she settled for noon.


Here the kids are standing in front of Curtis Hall. It is one of the most beautiful buildings on campus and it is the place where I had my first class as an ISU student.


Sofie was so excited to dip her feet in the Memorial Union Fountain.


Jack and Hudson Bretey aka "the thinkers"



Sofie and Hudson found these Cy masks in the University Bookstore. Go Iowa State!!


Sofie, Lily, and Natalie Bretey at Great Plains Pizza, an Ames tradition. Double Yum!!


The past meets the future...

Chestnut Square Farmer's Market

This morning we decided to venture to downtown McKinney and check out the Chestnut Square Farmer's Market. It is a very interesting piece of history in our town, as several buildings have been salvaged and restored as a museum. The girls loved learning about each of the houses and inquisitively looked in the windows trying to catch a glimpse of life from long ago. We will definitely have to go back for a guided tour. As for me, it was fun talking with vendors and taking in the smells of fresh produce. The berries and peaches looked and smelled especially tasty! It was a beautiful way to spend a lazy Saturday morning.


Sweet and Sassy!







Sofie wanted to take a silly picture. This is her Elvis face. ha!


Peace, Yo!!!


I wonder who is sweeter..Lily or the strawberries?


Sofie loved making friends with Fifi the chicken. She was especially curious about the red crown on her head. :)


Lily and Sofie were mesmerized by this woman who was spinning lama wool into thread.


Peeking into the "Secret Garden".


Daddy and his princesses.


My girls...more precious than rubies.


We lucked out and got the last box of blackberries. They are yuuuuuuummmy!


Jack wasn't able to go with us since he is on a mission trip to the Gulf Coast this weekend. We will definitely have to go back so he can experience the fun with us.