Trip to Lake Livingston

As promised here are the pictures from our Lake Livingston trip with family.

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Up's and Down's

This past weekend was full of some major ups and major downs.

We started of the weekend Saturday morning by heading to Lake Livingston with family. We got there early, visited then headed down to the water. We had a nice relaxing cruise around the lake then we anchored near a good size island for some swimming and water play. Shortly after the rest of the family showed up in uncle Donnie's boat and the fun really began. :o) We tubed, we knee-boarded, (I taught many kids to knee board), we had picnics, we played a fun game of "smack an unexpecting family member in the head with the water ball" :o) and had lots of laughs. Unfortunately the sun doesn't stay up forever so we all started heading back to camp.

Not even half way back and doing about 35 mph, Schuyler didn't see it until it was too late...a huge stump! We hit it pretty hard! Schuyler jumped off and felt around under the boat for the out drive (the motor) and could not feel one at all, I noticed what I thought was gas pouring out into the water turned out it was oil, then we noticed water was coming in the boat via the inboard area (inside the back of the boat around the motor). I knew how far we were from the dock so I started to panic a bit.

Just then uncle Donnie was driving by and thanks to Walt's very loud whistle he noticed us waving for help. He started to pull us back to shore and we all noticed the weather was getting bad behind us. Dark clouds and lightning in the distance. All we needed was rain to start dumping water in the boat too. I thought we were going to sink so I pulled out the paddles and wanted to help. {crazy I know} Schuyler took the paddles from me and gave me this "you are acting crazy, so calm to heck down" look...so I tried. About half way there, Walt yells at Donnie (from our boat) waving him around something...Donnie looks ahead of him and swerves...another freaking stump!!! Our boat almost hit it....we barley missed it! Geeeeshh {sigh}

About 1.5 hours later we made it back to the dock (I told you that we were far away) and the storm was on top of us. No rain but a lot of wind and lightning. The wind made it hard to push the boat onto the trailer. As we were trying to load our boat Donnie yells that he is running out of gas and needs us to hurry and get his truck and trailer. In all the panic, my cousin's husband John slipped on the boat ramp and fell pretty hard and I fell between the boat and the boat dock getting semi caught by my other cousin's husband Joel. I wasn't hurt just embarrassed and all wet. :o)

Once we got our boat and Donnie's boat out of the water we inspected the damage. The out drive was still there just barley hanging on and completely broken in many places, and a few gashes on the hull from where the stump hit it. We quickly realized that there was a lot of $$$ in damages. :o( Luckily the insurance company has informed us that it will be covered and we only have a deductible to meet. Thank goodness. {Sigh} We had a great rest of the evening eating and hanging out with the family at the campsite.

Then Sunday was possibly the best day I have had in a long time. We had breakfast at home, took some pictures of the boat for insurance purposes, took showers and headed to The Woodlands for a nice lunch and shopping at the mall. Even the mall trip was relaxing since we were not in any rush or hurry, and yes...Schuyler was at the mall and happy! (crazy I know) :o) On the way home we stopped at Marble Slab for some yummy ice cream and when we got home Madison napped while we watched a movie. Then Schuyler treated us to dinner out. It was a VERY nice, happy, relaxing and peaceful Sunday. Thank you babe!

~~Pictures of Sunday soon to come~~

Who needs...??

Who needs perfect poses?



Who needs forced smiles?

Who needs both eyes open?

Who needs all attention on the camera?

Who needs prim and proper?

Who needs to see faces?

Who needs expressions?

Who needs mouths closed?

Who needs any of that when life is perfectly imperfect?

~ SURPRISE ~

We surprised my mom at her birthday dinner. She thought it was only going to be a few of us and ended up being a lot more. I spent the week calling and e-mailing family members in hopes to get them there and it worked out great. We had great food and good times. Thank you to all that came I know it made her very happy to see everyone.

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Happy Birthday to the best mother that I could ever wish for. I hope you had a good birthday mom...I love you!

Josh and Stacy's Baby Shower

We are soon to welcome baby Jacob into our family. My nephew will soon be a father and I can't believe it. It seems like just yesterday I was playing school with him teaching him, teaching him to counting, his ABC's, and how to ride a bike without training wheels. He has grow up to be such a good young man. This means that I will be a great-aunt and my mother a great-grandma. (sorry mom) :o) I wish them the best with the up coming birth of baby Jacob and with the years to come. Remember Josh and Stacy....That life is not always easy but it sure is fun. Here are a few pictures from the couples shower at Tammy's house.

Mommy and Daddy To Be!!

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Uncle Donnie, Christopher, Schuyler and Walt

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Madison in her skirt

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Josh and Stacy playing the "guess the candy bar in the diaper game" soooo gross but funny

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Donnie and Leslie

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My mom holding her twin grand-babies, Brianna and Brandon

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Madison decided that she wanted to try to swim without floaties...

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I was proud of her that she swam pretty far undar water by herself and at 3 years old.

July 4th 2009

We had a great time at uncle Paul and Robyn's house again this year. Thank you Paul and Robyn for having all over! We tubed, knee boarded, wake boarded, swam, shopped, watched an amazing fire work show, ate, ate and ate! Good times!!

Look at these two silly girls....they light up my world and are the loves of my life!

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They are getting very close and are almost inseparable. Well, until one is getting something the other doesn't. But for the most part they are starting to become the best of friends.

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While we were getting ready to eat we let the kids play their DS's

left to right...

Lauren (Robyn's sister's daughter), Madison, Skyler, Brandon (Robyn's sister's son) Mathew (Paul & Robyn's son)

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Madison and Skyler rubbing Bryan's back...awww...

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Madison and Aunt Linda having a serious talk about boys. :o)

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Schuyler's cousin's Bryan and Amanda

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Bryan Wake boarding

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Steven Wake boarding

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Me wake boarding for the first time ever....a total work out in 5 minutes.

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Amanda wake boarding

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I decided that I would try teaching Skyler how to knee board..I didn't think she would be able to do it because she is not the most daring little girl or toughest. But we tried.

Here I am giving all the instructions on how to do it.

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Ready to go

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OMGosh....look she got up on her 1st try!!! WoooHooo!

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A little blurry but look at how serious she was. :o) I was sooooo very proud of her. Not only did she try but she even did it. Even after she fell, she wanted to do it again. A total proud momma day!!!

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Madison fell asleep in the boat

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Amanda tubing

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Michael and Katie tubing...sorry you went home with bruises Katie.

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Me and my Loves!

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The girls checking out a pretty high tree house

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A whale of a pool that the girls had tons of fun in

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Warming up in the sun after the cold pool

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Skyler making the long walk down to the boat dock. I am still trying to talk Paul into getting a moving sidewalk (like at the airport) before next year. HA!

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This is what I caught Madison doing in the boat...gross....but me being the best mom, I took a picture for entertaining purposes before getting onto her and making her stop. hehe....great photo to show the boys later on.

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Mathew (Paul and Robyn's son) 2yrs old

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All dressed for the fireworks

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The sun had just gone down and the moon was up and we were waiting for the fireworks to start. (Only 5 in our boat and the rest in Paul's pontoon boat beside us)

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hmmmm....I tried to get a photo of all the boats that were out and it didn't turn out very good. But take my word for it there were a bunch.

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The girls decided that they wanted to watch from the water....I was a bit worried about fish nibbling their toes....don't they eat at night? But it didn't happen and they were much cooler in the water than we were in the boat. Gotta love Texas heat.

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When the weekend was over all four of us crashed hard. No one like Madison though....this is how she fell asleep. She was SOUND asleep...snoring, drooling and all! Too funny!

Hope everyone had a good Independence Day!!!