ARISE...Stream Austin 2011

We drove straight to Austin from San Antonio on Friday and made it just in time for Stream at Westover. Stream is like a conference set up by Ken Young who is the executive director of Hallal Worship. Stream is a time for families and friends to come together to sing praises to God, listen to inspirational speakers, and just fellowship with each other.

Ken and his family are very dear friends to me and my family. We went to church together at Westover Hills church of Christ when I was growing up and I always LOVED watching Ken sing. He always had new songs to teach us at our family retreats every summer at Mo Ranch and I remember how much I got out of the songs just by watching his expressions. It had been a l-o-n-g time since I had seen Ken and several other families so it was almost like homecoming weekend at Westover! I wish I took pictures throughout the weekend, but always forgot about it once we got into the singing and visiting with everyone. I was reminded how blessed I was growing up with such a loving church family and I thoroughly enjoyed showing my family off to my friends!! We are already looking forward to going again next year!! God is so good, all the time!!!

My "second" set of parents...Steve and Cristi...love you guys!!

We took pictures before church on Sunday morning (kids with Mimi)

The four of us...

Carrys Faye is HERE!!!

I came to San Antonio on Wednesday to spend some time with my sister, Carie, before she was induced yesterday morning. We took care of her grocery shopping and got things ready around the house. I also enjoyed some precious time with my niece, sweet Cambry. Seems like just yesterday I was in San Antonio for HER birth...time flies!! After Colten got home from school we all headed out to Target to get a few things then met Caleb for supper at Salsalitos...one of my favorite places to eat in SA! Being through the whole labor/delivery thing twice already, Carie was as calm as ever and really ready for the next day!!

Carie woke me up at 5:45am yesterday morning to let me know that she and Caleb were on their way to the hospital to check in. I got Colten up and enjoyed some one-on-one time with him while getting him ready for school. Caleb's dad arrived to the house in time to take Colten to school then Cambry was up and we got her ready as well. My parents came to pick me up just as Caleb's dad was getting back from dropping Colten off. He kept Cambry while my parents and I headed to the hospital to play the "waiting game" before Carrys' arrival. Mom and I really enjoyed being in the room with Carie the whole time up until it was time for Carrys to make her debut. It was hard to watch my sister in labor before she got the epidural...all the memories of that terrible pain came flooding back!! Her labor was much more intense and progressed much quicker than her first two did. Carrys Faye was born at 12:19pm weighing in at 8lb 5 0z and 20 in long. She is beautiful and looks so much like her sister did at birth except for less hair and her petite features like her mommy.

About to become new parents for the 3rd time!

Almost a BIG sister!!

Excited BIG brother!

And here she is....first look at Carrys Faye

First picture as a family of FIVE!!

Colten and Oni talking about Carrys

Proud Granden (Carrys' middle name is taken after his mother)

Colten and his Daddy hold Carrys

Caleb and his beautiful girls...trouble one day! :o)

Proud Daddy with his kiddos

Proud Aunt Chera

Carrys hanging out in the nursery

Cambry and Colten looking at their sister with Doc (Caleb's dad)

What a sweet face!

My parents and I took Colten and Cambry back to the hospital this morning to spend more time with Carrys. I got to hold her quite a bit and loved every second...she is a sweetheart. Carie and Carrys were released around 3pm this afternoon (wow) to go home. Carie was so happy to get out there and be home where things are much more relaxed. Ricky and the kids came this afternoon to meet Carrys before we all headed to Austin for the rest of the weekend. Kalyn was so excited to meet and hold her newest cousin. Sheldon was more interested in playing with Colten...imagine that... so maybe next time he will hold Carrys. We are all so blessed and thank the Lord that precious Carrys is finally here with us now.

First outfit

Already protective of his sister!

Sleeping away...

Oni and her 3rd granddaughter

Cambry enjoyed playing on Mommy's bed!

Cuddle time with Aunt Chera!!

Comfy in Uncle Ricky's arms

Kalyn bonding with her newest cousin

Bird Hunting is SERIOUS business!

While Ricky and I were working on the shower we told Sheldon he could hunt for birds right outside our bathroom windows where we could keep an eye on him. Kalyn was at a friend's house for the day so we knew Sheldon wouldn't be as distracted since he would be alone. Anyway, it was so funny because Sheldon kept calling out questions for Ricky (we had the windows open and Ricky could hear him) while he was hunting and he wondered why the birds weren't coming around. Silly boy! I was able to get a few pictures of Sheldon from the window. He managed to shoot down a sparrow after several misses. :o)

New project

Back in October Ricky and I noticed mold around the shower in the master bathroom. We decided it would be best to just strip it out and dry out the mold before we decide what to do about a new shower later. With hunting season and the holidays coming up around the corner we weren't home many weekends anyway to be able to get started on it. It has been interesting sharing one bathroom with the kids...but not as bad as I feared it might be. Now that hunting season is over we got started on the bathroom project over the weekend. We have decided to build a tile walk-in shower, bigger than the one we took out...I am so excited!! Ricky worked on pulling down the sheetrock on Saturday and will be working on it each weekend. Stay tuned for updates....

after ripping out the old shower...YUK

cutting the sheetrock

need to replace some of the insulation and build the walls next

Cali

After Sheldon's party a couple of ladies came over to pick out two kittens out of the litter we had. We left in a hurry to go eat at Granny's in town for Sheldon's birthday supper before it got too late. It was rainy and cold when we got back home so the kids, Pat and I ran inside while Ricky stayed outside to do a few things. When Ricky came inside he had a surprise in his coveralls...the last kitten we had left, Cali. He said he felt bad for her because she was sitting under the car all alone shivering. She has stayed inside our house ever since...we will see how long that lasts with Ricky and Kalyn's allergies. So far she has been really sweet and playful!! :o)

First calling experience

Ricky took Kalyn and Sheldon on their first calling experience last night while I was in town teaching my sign classes. He said they were a bit scared at first because it was dark, but once they saw THREE foxes respond to the calls, they got excited. Kalyn said they are ready to go again!

Welcome Deer Hunters!

Sheldon had his birthday party earlier today and boy, was it something to see! We kicked things off with a hamburger lunch with my family, Ricky's family, and Stephen's family (kids' dad). Sheldon and Kalyn were really excited to have everyone they love here at our house with them at the same time and I felt very blessed to see how successful it turned out to be. Pretty soon after we finished eating lunch, MANY little deer hunters dressed in camo wear started arriving to our house. AND IT WAS RAINING!!! I think at one point there was approximately 24 kids and 29 adults crammed in our house...yikes!!! We sang Happy Birthday to our head deer hunter, Sheldon, and dived into the yummy chocolate cake and vanilla ice cream. Sheldon was ready to rip into his tall pile of gifts in the living room so we all crowded into there to see what all he got. There is no way I can list or even remember what all he got...he got lots of cool things!! Ricky set up a deer hunting area outside by the house with several blinds and targets for the kids to play with during the party. He also made the party favors...camo marshmallow guns made out of pvc pipes. It was a huge hit and the kids loved playing with them even though it was quite muddy and wet outside. Thank you to everyone...family and friends...for coming to spend the afternoon with us to celebrate Sheldon's 7th birthday. Now I need to REST!!!! :o)

SEVEN!!

Our sweet Sheldon Blake is seven years old today! He had been counting the days until today since Christmas and he was so excited when he woke up this morning. He gave me the sweetest hug as I sang to him to wake him up...then he said "Mommy, since it is my birthday can't I just stay home with you?" That boy KNOWS how to melt my heart! I took a birthday snack to school for Sheldon to share with his class this afternoon. He asked me to bake his favorite peanut butter cookies with kisses on top...there wasn't a crumb left when we left school.

Sheldon requested spaghetti and meatballs for his birthday supper and Dr Pepper floats for dessert...yum! After supper Ricky, Kalyn, and I gave Sheldon his birthday presents from us. Kalyn gave him a crossbow which he was really excited about. Next, he opened a bag that had a container of bb's...he then knew what his big gift just might be! But before he could open that one gift, he opened two more gifts-camoflague comforters for his bunk bed which he had been wanting for awhile now. Finally, he was allowed to rip open the most desired gift...his very first bb gun. It was fun to watch the excitement in his face as he looked over his gun and listened to Daddy Ricky explain the rules to him about using it. Of course, he had to try it out so Daddy Ricky got a paper plate and made a target to put on the fence and let Sheldon shoot a few times from the front porch. He LOVED it. Happy Birthday Sheldon!!!

Sheldon Blake,

I know I say this every year and I probably will keep saying this each year, but how in the world are you seven years old already?! Time has just flown by so fast. You are the sweetest boy ever and I am so proud of all the things you have accomplished in your life thus far. It gives me great joy as your mommy to see you embrace life everyday and I can't wait to see what else God has in store for you. I love you my sweet boy!

Love,

Mommy

Squirrel Hunting

Sheldon went with Ricky, Uncle Brad, Uncle Ronnie and Dale to Llano a few weekends ago. They wanted to hunt one last time and stay in the cabin overnight. Ricky took Sheldon bird/squirrel hunting between hunting times and he loved it! Ricky sent me this picture to my phone and I almost died laughing! It was this picture of Sheldon with the first squirrel he shot all by himself...he was so proud! What can I say...boys will be boys especially in the country! :o)

My Lil' Aggies

Kalyn and Sheldon have become more interested in the Aggies lately. Here they are sporting their new Aggie wear...Gig'Em!!

Happy Birthday Boppo...and Happy 2011!!

Boppo was born on New Years day. For as long as I can remember my mom has cooked lunch for us on New Years day for Boppo's birthday. Ricky and I were able to get the kids back from the Springers yesterday so we were thankful to have them with us for lunch. We had really missed them this week!! Carie and her family came to Llano as well so the kids got to play with each other some more before returning to school. Papa O, Granny, and Aunt Bitsy joined us for lunch and we all had a wonderful time just visiting and relaxing all day. Happy New Year to all our friends and family...we hope and pray that 2011 brings you and your family many blessings and much joy.

Daddy, Granny, Papa O, Judy, Boppo and Aunt Bitsy during lunch

Kids singing "Happy Birthday"

Happy Birthday Boppo!!

Granny and Papa O

My beautiful very pregnant sister (3-4 weeks away!!)