Merry Christmas!

Meghan's Bronze Award - Finally Done!

As most of you know, Meghan and 2 friends have been working on their Girl Scout Bronze Award.  This is the highest award that a Junior Girl Scout can earn.  It shows that the girls have made a promise to help others, improve their community, and become the best they can be.  For their project, the girls decided to make goodie bags for sick children in local hospitals.  They asked their National Elementary Honor Society and their church's children's missions groups to help them collect items.  Also, many of you donated money to help.  Meghan raised $250 from family to help buy bags and other items.  A friend of mine that wrote a children's book donated a copy of her book for every single bag that we filled.  What a blessing!  After filling 148 bags last Saturday, the girls got to go deliver the bags yesterday after school.  When we got to the hospitals, they loaded little red wagons up and took them to the pediatric units.  They were surprised to be able to deliver 2 bags to children that were currently in the hospital ( we had previously been told that we couldn't see any patients due to patient confidentiality). 

Meghan and Tess after a long 4 hours of filling bags

Here's a sample of the tags that were on each bag.  They were separated by age and gender

Here's a girl's bag - age 8-10

148 bags !

boys bag -     age 5-7

delivering 48 bags to ETMC - they don't have as many children admitted so they didn't get as  many bags.  We even got a tour of their pediatric department and we will get a write-up in their newsletter

Delivering 100 bags to Mother Frances

They asked us to take about 20 bags down to the ER so the girls are waiting to "play santa" as one patient put it

Many thanks to everyone that helped make this a success!  We couldn't have done it without you

Fall Fun

Happy Birthday Gavin

Gavin - We hope you had a great day and an even better year!  Sorry we never got to talk to you, but we were thinking about you.  Tell your mom to get you your own phone and then we can call whenever we want :)   We wish you were coming out here for Thanksgiving with Aunt Beth and Uncle Chris, but I'm sure you'll have a great time with Grandma Kate and PaPa Rick doing lots of fun things.  Hopefully we'll get to see you again soon.  Aunt Beth can bring your birthday present home with her.  Happy Birthday!

Happy 60th Birthday PaPa!

Happy Birthday PaPa Rick!  Hope you had a great day and a great birthday dinner. We love you and  Hope to see you soon!

Also, sorry I haven't posted any pictures of Meghan's new look, but my camera has completely died so I can't take any pictures :(    Anyway, for those of you that don't know, Meghan got glasses - purple ones!  She is becoming near-sighted.  So far, she just has to wear them in class and while watching TV.  The doctor said that if her eyesight worsens at all, she will have to wear them all the time.  She has definitely noticed a difference in her vision since wearing the glasses for a week now.  She can see things clearly that she hasn't been able to see in awhile.
Don't be looking for pictures for awhile - don't know when we'll be able to get a new camera

Happy Belated Birthday

Happy, Happy Birthday to my mom (on Monday).  I've been trying all week to wish her a happy birthday but my blog wouldn't let me log on.  We love you lots and hope you have a great year!
Stay tuned...I'll try to post pictures of Meghan's new look later this week

Wildcats Soccer

Nick is playing soccer (and baseball) this fall.  The soccer season started last Saturday.  Even though Nick hasn't played in 2 years, he's doing great.  He scored the first goal for his team both last week and this week :)  I'll post some baseball pictures next week.

Happy, Happy Birthday!

Happy 8th Birthday to Addison!  We've been trying to call you all day but haven't been able to wish you a "happy birthday" yet.  Your present should be there next week so be looking for it.  Have a great birthday and eat some cake for us!

And, Happy 33rd Birthday to Uncle Ben!  We hope to see you soon.  Have a great day!

First Day of School

Ready or not, school has begun.  I can't believe summer is already over.  Hopefully, this means fall is just around the corner with cooler temps (anything is better than 100+ degrees out).  This is Meghan and Nick's last year to be at the same school until they reach high school.  Meghan is the "big girl" on campus - a 5th grader.  Nick is in 2nd grade.  They both have good teachers and good classes.  I think it's going to be a great year   

Michigan Trip - Day 6

Friday, July 30, was Ryan's 36th birthday.  He spent the morning golfing while Jill and I tried to get group pictures of the kids.  I got lots of good pictures, but my computer is acting up so I can't post them.  Maybe later... 

We spent the afternoon at Aunt Mary and Uncle Pete's.  Aunt Mary cooked a wonderful steak dinner for Ryan's birthday.  She even had a pinata and 2 birthday cakes.  We all had a great time.  A big thanks to Uncle Pete and Aunt Mary for everything!

Cousins

Nick & Meghan

Everett trying to hit the pinata

Nick taking a swing at it

cookie birthday cake...yum!

cupcake birthday cake...also tasty!

I think Everett enjoyed the cakes.....what do you think?

Many thanks to everyone for all your hospitality.  We had a great time seeing everyone together.  We can't wait to see you all again soon!

Michigan Trip - Day 5

On Thursday, Ryan and PaPa took Nick, Gavin & Aidan golfing.  They had a great time!  Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures since Ryan didn't take the camera.  We also played miniature golf that night and then went to The Cascades where we met Aunt Mary and her gang.  Lots of fun with the cousins

Miniature golf with all the big kids

Cascades

The big kids at the top of Cascades.  It was a long walk to the top - too long for the little ones

Michigan Trip - Day 4

On Wednesday, we went to Ann Arbor to the University of Michigan.  I think that may have been the highlight of the trip for Ryan :)  Gavin made the trip with us while Addison went shopping with Grandma Kate.

Ryan really wanted to go inside the football stadium, but it was closed to the public due to renovations

University of Michigan baseball field

Track practice at the University

Aunt Beth left on Wednesday to go back home :(  
Luckily, we'll be seeing her at Thanksgiving.  Aunt Beth and Uncle Chris are coming to Texas!

Gavin, Nick & Meghan

Michigan Trip - Day 3

On Tuesday, one of Grandma Betty's neighbors took us on  a raft ride.  Then, we headed back over to Aunt Mary and Uncle Pete's for dinner and swimming.

Aunt Beth and Ryan enjoying the raft ride

Aunt Debbie, Addison and Meghan

Nick enjoying the lake

Everett is worn out

Meghan enjoying the lake

Aunt Debbie and Paige

Ryan enjoying more fishing

Ryan's still fishing

Brought one back to show us