Thursdays

We have made Thursday's our day to catch up, run errands, and just lay low. Today we had Sept 11 to remember as well as Ike to watch. It looks like Ike will hit east of us but we are keeping all of our Houston family and friends in our prayers the next few days.


Caramel Fudge Brownies was how we coped with all of it. I think the girls finally like having their picture taken(most of the time).

So cute in their aprons

Once the brownies were in the oven, they stripped(something they love to do anytime they can(Dan is a BIT concerned)). Kate was insistent that there be sprinkles on the brownies...

Speaking of a total sugar rush, this is a "cake" from a recent birthday party the girls attended.

It was a bigger hit than the presents for sure!

First Day of School!!!

Finally we are back into the swing of things. Today was our first day of school-both girls will be going three days a week from 9-1.

The house was BUZZING this morning in anticipation. I think both girls were ready to get back with their friends and we are all ready to get back on a schedule. No tears from either one-it was "bye mom" and they were gone...wow...

First day pictures:

No Posts?!?

So sorry there have been few to no posts all summer. Our house has been on the market and there is not really a good place for the computer(or the ability to keep it on all the time). We have been busy with swimming, friends and our trip to Idaho. I will post pictures this afternoon and now that we have taken our house OFF the market(long story involving credit card fraud), hopefully it will be easier to post updates.

NASCAR children

OK so the girls love NASCAR...there could be worse things I guess. Kate will not take "Jrs" hat off and has to know where the M&M or the Lowe's car is at all times. She knows Tony Stewart drives the Home Depot car but he is "not winning" right now. Here are some pics of her and her hat:

Idaho

Our annual trip to Idaho was so great this year. We went later so it was cooler...a lot cooler. Kate especially loved wearing sweatshirts everyday(she is definitely my baby).

Here are some pictures from the trip:

Arriving off the airplane(just me and the girls...Dan came about 5 days later)

Miss Priss

Feeding the fish at Big Spring

Grandad so loves the fish food

Bear World!!

Petting the pig at Bear World

Chasing the chickens

Lauren introduced herself to this deer "Hi I'm Lauren and this is my sister Kate"

Family shot at Mesa Falls

Kate so loves her dad

Hanging out on the deck

Feeding the birds with Grandad(the girls favorite part of the day!!)

Watering the plants and themselves(another daily fun thing for the girls and Grandad)

Smiley returns

Having fun with all our TOYS in Idaho!!

Lauren ate corn nearly every night...Aunt Funny will be so proud!

Bowling & Zoo with the McDaniel's

The girls LOVED spending the summer with people other than me. Whenever we had a playdate or something to do, it was pandemonium until we arrived at our destination. The McDaniel's were often in our plans and here are some pictures of two "adventures" over the summer.

One HOT August night, April(Brayden's mom) and I decided to take the kids bowling. They could have cared less about knocking down pins, they just liked to roll the heavy balls. Here are some pics from the night:

Kissy Kissy

We also thought it would be fun at the zoo. An hour and a half and a train ride later, we were out of there. Here are a few pics before we melted in the heat:

The Gang of Four

Love the train

Visitors from Idaho

Queenie and Grandad came in for their annual July two week visit. The girls were so excited to see them and had a great time with them while they were here.

Also, our "other brother" Shady got married last weekend and Barrett was a groomsman (it was a beautiful ceremony and so great seeing all of Barrett's friends all grown up!).

We did get to Houston last Tuesday-all of Queenie's sisters were there as well as Granny. It was fun to spend the afternoon with all of them and the girls LOVED Aunt Betsy(and the toys she brought!!). We also got to see Nancy's new house-it is lovely and I was amazed at how much she had already moved in(they had only moved a few days before we visited!!)

A few random pictures from the past two weeks:

LOVE their ice cream(and they know they ALWAYS get dessert at Queenie and Grandads)

Lauren performs

Ta-da!

Kate gets some tips on how to study for the bar

Eagle finished the bar-yea more dessert!!

Time for bed? Probably not....

HOUSTON

Playing with all the toys(Aunt Nancy and Betsy help)

Miss Priss and her protege(don't ask me which is which...)

they LOVE Aunt Betsy!!

Uh-oh (did I mention she is an Aggie??)

Look what Aunt Betsy taught us!!(the girls now say "Bevo blah" and hold out their thumbs!!-Dan is so happy)