Our July 4th Weekend

We had a great Independence day and weekend. We left on Thursday and headed over to the lake. There we met up with Wes' parents, his brother, and the girls (Amber we missed you tons). We spent most of the time outside or in the water. We swam, ate delicious food, had even better company, swam, slammed it up with the new volleyball (great, great purchase may I add), cat fished, swam, dug in the sand, watched an awesome fireworks show, let off our own fireworks, and had the first freedom swim ever (it was a huge success Vern, good work!!). However, like always, I forgot to take pictures. Here is the one lone picture I did take of gramma and kiddos.

We are so grateful for such a wonderful country to live in. We are even more grateful for the men and women who have sacrificed so much for us to enjoy the freedom we do. How was your 4th??

Kate=happy in a Texas Summer!?!

oh yes, it's true. We have been having a blast this summer. I'd like to give a "shout out" to the following:

1)AMC theaters-for giving us $1 movies, an exceptionally cold AC, delicious popcorn (rated 10 by Benjamin), and finally not getting angry and kicking us out when the popcorn and goodies are gone and we spend the last half of the movie running up and down the aisles screaming, "Mommy, I can't see you, where are you?"

2)Our Local Public Library-to you our greatest thanks for summer programs and especially for inviting Jungle Jim over to scare our kids silly with snakes, spiders, turtles, and scorpions. The really cool play area, that is not really a play area that has kept my kids entertained while mom picks out our weekly stash of new books. And lastly for providing the endless collection of new books and slightly scratched DVD's to read and watch during our daily "quiet time" hour.

3)Friends with benefits(not what you are thinking)-this shout out goes to good friends who have invited us over to eat, swim in their pool, or just to hang out-thus providing me a break from the continuous search for cheap childish entertainment.

4)Life Time Fitness-aka world's greatest gym ever! Thank you for giving us your pool. We have spent countless hours this week in your chlorine filled chill tanks. Texas has been pounding out near 100 degree temperatures the last few days which we have failed to notice due to all the splashin' we've been doing at your facility. Not to mention my white, white water babies have tan lines. Yup, you heard me right, tan lines. Thought it was impossible? Yeah, I did too. Kudos for your child care area that blows all other child care areas out the the water. While the kids are happy jumpin it up in the bounce house or climbing in the gigantic jungle gym, I challenge the stair master and pump some iron all that I can look better in my new

5)Layers swim suit-the summer just wouldn't be the same without you. You've booster my confidence immensely pulling and hugging in just the right places. I love you, and I am so glad we have found each other this year. Not to mention Wes really likes you too. Good job on the good work. Click here to view.

If I have failed to mention anyone or thing that has also added to my summer enjoyment, please accept my deepest, heartfelt appreciation.

Party, party, party...PARTY!!!

Most of this week was spent at home in bed as we were all sick. The boys had nasty colds, I had laryngitis and I think a sinus infection, and Wes had the flu and some strange stomach bug. So by the end of the week we were rip roaring ready to get out and party. Logan's good friend(the parents are our good friends as well) had a b-day party that we all went to. We BBQ, played, and visited while the kids jumped in the bounce house and trampoline, swam, and ran in the sprinklers. Then we had a surprise visitor, none other than Batman!!!

Oh Bat girl was there too!!

You Don't understand how excited Logan was to see Batman!!

"I saw you beat Dracula yesterday in the movies!!"

When he walked in the kids didn't quite know how to react. It was so funny. I think Logan was the most enamoured. He wouldn't leave poor Batman alone. We had just rented Batman vs Dracula a few days earlier and Logan had to give Batman the run down on the movie. It was pretty funny. Logan said to me after he left, "See mom, Batman really is real!!"

Weight Loss Time

I think this might be my second blog entry ever, but I am bored out of my skizull so I thought I would contribute. One evening last week while Kate was at camp I was making the boys some dinner and just had the tv on some random channel. Well, that show The King of Queens came on and right when it did Ben pointed to the tv at Doug Heffernan (Kevin James) and started saying "daddy" probably 7 0r 8 times. I know I have been packing it on, but kids tell it just like it is. I had been contemplating for a while on whether to start training again like I used to in college and looking for something to push me over the motivational edge. Well there it was, my own kid telling me I looked like Doug Heffernan. Then this morning I was making them some breakfast and Ben saw a picture of Matthew McConaughey on a dvd that we have. Of course he had his shirt off, and Ben pointed to the picture and said "daddy". So bye bye motivation and hellooooooooooo Whopper & fries, Braums (best ice cream), Wing Stop french fries, Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, Coke, and chips (any and all kinds).

Wes

I got back from girl's camp on Saturday. It went phenomenally!! Many, many prayers were answered last week, and the best part was...I got to come home to these two cuties.

They do look like me!!

I never thought that my boys looked like me, except for the fact that they are blonde and blue eyed. Then last week my mom sent these pictures to me of when I was little. What do you think, can you see Logan and Ben in these?

Lucky Number 7

We did it, we made it seven years. We can't believe it has been that long, but then on the other hand we can. It's funny how even though we met at college we feel like we have known each other forever. How grateful I am to be married to my best friend. Thank you Wes for being such a stellar husband, father, and companion. You rock, rock'n'roll, rock around the clock, keep rockin', rock on, and rock out.