Summer 2022
This was a week we will never forget. The gorgeous emerald waters of the Florida panhandle were absolutely breathtaking and the experience at the Ripken Experience World Series is one we will certainly always remember. However, it was not a great start to our summer... to say the very least! We had a week of non-stop car issues and stress and emotions were at an all-time high, for the first week of summer.
Hello Panama City Beach (Laguna Beach, actually)
We are ready for BASEBALL!
Happy Birthday Luke! He got to celebrate his 10th birthday a little early with his teammates.
It's not how you start... It's how you FINISH. His team came from 0-3-1 in pool play and went and wont 2nd place in this 10U tournament. I am beyond proud of Luke for not just his work ethic but his overall attitude and effort during this week. WAY TO GO LUKE!
This was another busy week as we celebrated our BABY turning 10 years old. Luke and his best friend, Reece, went to the Astros game with Chris on his birthday and then we celebrated with the four of us with Outback Steakhouse and a HUGE baseball themed Cookie Cake. On Monday of this week, Natalie went to Impact Youth Camp in Longview while Luke went to The Woodlands High School baseball camp for his 4 year in a row.
Birthday baseball with your bestie... it doesn't get much better than that!
The boys were so happy and had a GREAT time!
How can my BABY be 10 years old? I don't even think it is possible!
I am sending my baby off to Impact Youth Camp with FBC. She is so happy and excited and I'm over here crying...
This week started with dropping Natalie off at SFA for Band Camp. This was her first year to go to an overnight band camp and she invited her friend, Chloe, from school. She showed up and got FIRST chair French Horn, which is unfathomable but not at all surprising. Luke invited his friend, Reece, to VBS and Armor Sports camp and they had a fun-filled week at First Baptist Conroe.
She was loving her dorm set up!
My baby... following my footsteps and going to SFA band camp. I went for 7 years... but I NEVER GOT FIRST CHAIR! She did that, on her FIRST YEAR! Way to go Natalie!
I am so grateful for her friend Chloe who came to camp with her!
Luke and Reece at VBS/ Sports Camp Day #1
VBS for Luke the Duke!
Natalie's Band Camp concert... Thank you Gigi Shirley and Poppy for coming!
My baby girl... killing it with her French Horn!
I am BEYOND proud of this girl right here! My heart is SO HAPPY!
We spent this week resting and enjoying all four of us AT HOME for the first time since summer started. Natalie had her annual eye doctor appointment, where we learned her prescription changed due to her growing and we got to spend a Thursday night with Grandpa before he took the kids back to Lubbock for the next week. Chris and I also packed and planned for our cruise, including the dreaded COVID test to board the ship.
New glasses and contact prescription for this girl (and me).
What is this... summer chill time? She has not been able to do that all summer!
And of course, with her best friend... Oxford!
Fun time with the bestie and sister!
After 28 months of not cruising, we FINALLY boarded a SHIP again on the Carnival Vista and it was GLORIOUS! The kids enjoyed a week with Gigi Jackie and Grandpa and their cousins at the farm in Lubbock! This was our best week of the summer!
Happy July 4th... from the Gulf of Mexico!
We love Roatan!
Those Caribbean blue waters... LOVE IT!
I would say this cruise was a success... 4 Golden Ship-on-a-Stick!
Cousin and family time for the kids in Lubbock!
As we recovered from our cruise, the kids came home with Aunt Leeanna and cousins Madi and Daniel. We were able to spend a day with them before they went to see their own grandparents. We spent the rest of the week resting and getting Natalie ready for his Mission Trip with FBC.
Cousin time in The Woodlands
We had fun at The Woodlands Church with Madi and Daniel!
Aunt Sissy is my name... SPOILING is my game!
I love spoiling my niece and nephew... This time at Twisted Sugar!
FINALLY... new furniture! After 11 years, it was time to upgrade!
Oxford was not happy that Natalie was packing to leave... AGAIN!
And she didn't want to leave her best friend!
And she's off... AGAIN! This poor girl has only been home for about 5-7 days!
We spent this week at home with just 3 of us as Natalie was still in San Marcos on her mission trip with FBC. Luke was able to do a lot of baseball work in prep for the fall season, which is sure to be a new experience for us. And then out of nowhere... More car drama and stress! This time, we had to make more decisions that we originally planned. My Buick just all of the sudden stopped and we assumed a battery or alternator complication. When we got the diagnostic from PepBoys (we should own stock in this company by now... We used them in PCB as well), they said it could be the computer or a number of things. We took it to the Buick dealership to have it looked at but it was going to be a week before they could get to it. We dropped it off, still struggling but drive-able. Then I suggested going to "look at" a Nissan SUV. Well one thing led to another and 6 hours later... We had a BRAND NEW Nissan Rogue and by the Grace of God the Buick made it from the Buick dealership to the Nissan dealership to drop off for the trade-in/payoff. THANK YOU JESUS. I was not sure if this was the route we should take but the repairs on the Buick would have been $4-5K. As this crazy day progressed, we knew this was God opening a door for us!
Hello Fresh with LUKE... He was SO helpful!
Fine Arts Department Chair means going in to work EARLY for meetings!
Waterpark time with the bestie... Reece!
Natalie and her friend Natali in San Marcos on the Mission Trip!
What is going on... The car just stopped, the AC turned off and a screen read "Active Battery Save" and then the check engine light came on. This is NOT GOOD!
The Buick IN the Nissan dealership... Chris said it jerked, sparked and barely made it back to the dealership for the trade-in.
Meet Taylor "Shift"... (Natalie came up with this name).
My BRAND NEW 2022 Nissan Rogue. It was not on my list to look at to replace the Buick, but once we test-drove it, I knew this was going to be my new car!
Luke attended the NCHS football camp while Natalie prepped for her 22 Volleyball season with the NCHS Volleyball coaches. While the kids enjoyed their last camp of the summer, Chris and I prepped our classrooms and minds for the 2022-2023 school year. Natalie and I were FINALLY able to do a quick shopping spree for school at the Houston Outlet Mall.
I love having shopping time with this girl!
Football and Volleyball camp were a success!
The kids are so blessed to be able to go on an annual baseball trip with my parents, Gigi Shirley and Poppy. This year they took the kids to Cleveland, OH to see Progressive Field and the Cleveland Guardians. This will be the kids 13th baseball stadium (only 17 more to go). While the kids were away, mom and dad... HAD TO GO TO WORK! Our 22-23 contract started Monday, August 1st and it was a non-stop adrenaline packed week.
This may be my absolute FAVORITE tradition of summer!
We are so grateful that Gigi and Poppy take the kids on baseball trips!
The kids were so sad to leave Oxford!
Happy Birthday Natalie!
Goodbye Texas... hello O-HI-O!
THAT'S IT... Summer is OVER! It's hard to believe it is time for school to begin already! This will be a year of LASTS for us. It is Natalie's LAST year in Middle School and Luke's LAST year in elementary school. This will also be the last year that one of the kids is not at our campus. Starting next year, a kid will be at least one of our campuses until they graduate! Look out... Here come's Natalie- the 8th Grader and Luke- The 5th Grader!
I have got to stop blinking...
