When you look at your life, the greatest happinesses are family happinesses. ~Joyce Brothers

First of I want to start by giving Praise and Thanksgiving to God- we had our visit from Nana & Papo last week and Papo's tests came back clear!!! He is doing wonderful and God is AWESOME!!!! Nana & Papo arrived Sunday July 17th and stopped by when they got into town to drop off all the great stuff that Nana and Grandma had picked up for the kids' rooms! I will post pics soon the girls' room is almost done and Holden needs a few things yet. Always a work in progress. Nana & Papo then had to head down to Houston to get blood work done while Kailyn had her orientation for Girl Scout camp that was starting the next day. After Kailyns meeting we headed down and had dinner and kids went swimming at the hotel.

Monday and Tuesday Nana and Papo stayed in Houston getting tests and check ups. Kailyn started her camp on Monday and was in heaven (Girl Scouts is so her personality). She also was doing the camp with one of her very best friends, Emma so that made it even better! She got to do crafts, hiking, fishing, swimming and sing songs- she was in her glory! The last day her group got to be color guard and take down the American flag to close the camp. The girls were so proud and careful- adorable!! Tuesday afternoon Nana & Papo came to stay with us and spend some time. We showed them around The Woodlands and enjoyed a nice relaxing couple of days with them. On Thursday Nana & Papo headed home- Papo was getting a bit antsy:)

The kids and I are headed up to Arkansas to visit on Saturday so we knew we would be seeing Nana and Papo very soon! We are SO excited to go and visit our family in Arkansas and then to head over to Oklahoma to visit our friends there (these friends are family to us)! This mama is NOT looking forward to the 11-12 hour drive, but the kids were spectacular on the move down here so I am sure they will be just as awesome for me when I am alone...right? We are leaving very early in the morning to get a few hours in before they wake up (I pray this works out). This summer has been so busy with lots of family and fun things going on I can't believe that when we get back it will only be two weeks until school starts again...time flys when you are having fun! I am looking forward to just hanging out while on our trip- I sometimes think you have to leave your own house in order to relax and just slow down!

We also completed Holden's football tryouts and draft. Yes it's not an error that you are reading he really had to try out(everyone makes it) and he really got drafted. He is SUPER excited and has started running outside with his pads on to get used to this heat in full gear. He is on the Oilers and his number is 21 (Chip wanted him to have 34 it was taken so we picked his birth date). We had the parent meeting the other night and we are going to be VERY busy. I am most concerned about the logistics of him at football and Kailyn at cheer leading both at different places but ending at the same time. So I told Chip I think I need a nice new car since all of my time now will be spent in my second home on wheels!

I asked God for all things, that I might enjoy life. God gave life, that I might enjoy, all things

Well it's been over two weeks since we have had visitors here and I have to admit I have felt lonely this past week- so what else to do than fill our week with fun stuff to do. It was just me and the kids as all of my friends here were gone and all my family had come and gone.

The kids and I have had a great time doing lots of fun things and just hanging out with no schedule. We signed Kailyn up for a Girl Scout camp that she is doing this next week- she is SOOO excited! We hit the library and it just so happened that Ronald McDonald was there to do a magic show so we got to see that. Callie was really not so into Mr. Ronald and would not get too close or even a picture with him. As you can see in the pictures the closest she was going to get was his drawing on his car. We also went over to Blockbuster and signed up for Camp Wannawatchamovie where we get unlimited kids movies for four weeks for $5.00 for the month! Kailyn and Holden made me very proud that day- we said that we would take turns each time we went and they offered to let Callie go first and Kailyn volunteered to go last. They have really enjoyed getting to go to the movie store everyday and look around and pick the movie they want for that day. It has worked out great during the really hot part of the day when everyone needs a nap/rest time and it's the only television they watch. We also had Kailyn's meeting for cheer leading and she got measured for her uniform- again she is beyond excited! Practices start the first week in August which we will miss because the kids and I are packing up and making a round to Arkansas and Oklahoma that week. I do have to say though I have a feeling we will be living at the fields and in our car come August. Kailyn will have practice three times a week until school starts and then she goes down to once a week for an hour and a half. I can't wait to hear what the football schedule is going to be- oh well it will be fun!! Put this in with school everyday until 3:40, piano and religious education for church and I am guessing our free time will be....zero! I guess we have reached this point in our lives so I am not going to fight it only enjoy the ride. Last Friday the kids dressed up as Chick Fil A cows for Cow Appreciation day and each got their free kids meal for dressing up and they were a hit! In the evening we hit another pool with Chip after work it was a wonderful family evening. This past weekend was pretty low key we painted the first room in our new house the girls room pink. It turned out very cute and can't wait for Nana and Papo to come on Sunday they are bringing the girls vanity and we only need a few more pieces to complete their girlie dress up room. Other than that we have been reading like crazy, writing letters and K&H learning times tables Callie is working very hard at writing her name and learning all of her letters. We did got to the Children's Museum here in The Woodlands it was their one year birthday and they had a great magic show and the kids all got treats so they loved it! We have hit the pool and splash pad with friends, kids had friends over to spend the night Wednesday and we have been hitting the gym quite a bit (Mama needs a break just a little everyday gets me re energized).

Sunday Nana and Papo come for a visit for most of the week and we can't wait it will be so much fun!!! The kids are getting used to visitors they LOVE it!!!

Nobody can do for little children what grandparents do. Grandparents sort of sprinkle stardust over the lives of little children. ~Alex Haley

Is it July already? Man the month of June just flew by- we were a bit busy though weren't we?!?!? We had my parents (Grandma & Grandpa) here over the weekend and had so much fun!!! We did some really fun things and enjoyed our time together. We went and explored a new Texas town- Sugarland! The boys went to a block plant and the girls of course went to the mall. I was happy to get out and see another town near us. Friday night the grandparents were on babysitting duty and took the kids to see Cars 2 which they LOVED!! Chip and I had a lovely date night just hanging out together talking about life and just stuff. On Saturday we went to the beach and had a great time. We had a better time than last time because no one got sun burnt this time which is always a good thing! We were all pretty much spent after being in the sun all day so it was pizza and Tron for the evening. Sunday we went back to pick some more blueberries I cannot believe that between the two sets of grandparents we have picked almost 20 pounds and they aren't many in the freezer. It seems you can put blueberries on just about anything and they are a perfect snack in this Texas heat. Mom and I had a little girl time Sunday afternoon and went for manicures and pedicures- always nice to just have some alone time with my mom I so enjoy it since she is one of my best friends! The few days they were here flew by and Monday we just had time to go up to the park near us and then off to the airport they went. We love and miss them so much and are so thankful for their visit!!

July will end up being another busy month for us- I mean why do I keep acting surprised when our lives are ALWAYS busy?!?!? Oh, well we really wouldn't want it any other way this is just how we roll!! Today we spent hanging low because yesterday at our friends Fourth of July party Kailyn came down with a fever and then this morning Holden also had a fever....boo hoo! So we are hoping this is a 24 hour thing and will be gone by morning. Callie started swim lessons today and did so good!! She was SO excited to have something for her finally rather than being drug around to all of Kailyn & Holden's activities. On Thursday we go to the parents meeting and Kailyn gets fitted for her cheer leading uniform- to say she's excited is an understatement! Next Friday Holden has "try outs" for football. They start practicing for both August 13th and games start Labor Day weekend. They said Kailyn will be able to cheer for Holden's team which will be WONDERFUL for me I won't have to split with Chip every Saturday..we will see if it works out. My grandparents (Nana & Papo) come for a visit on July 17th and will be here for a few days we are VERY excited to see them!!! Kailyn is doing Girl Scout camp the week of July 18th and she is thrilled!! July 30th the kids and I make the drive up to Arkansas to spend a week with my parents, grandparents, brother and precious niece then we head over to Oklahoma to visit our friends for a few days. Looking forward to these last visits before we start the practices and school.