Rockwall fun

While in Dallas, we took the kids to a new development called Rockwall. It has some neat fountains and is right by the lake. They also have a water garden of sorts that people can run and play in. It was really pretty at night. The photos were hard to take b/c the kids were running, it was dark, and the lights were reflecting. I took so many photos of them in the water, I ran out of battery for the fountains and lake front. This what we ended up with.... the kids had a blast!

Kolin, happy boyThey did try to stand still for one photo Kolin blew a shoe
Wes stayed relatively close to us
This is the reflection of the lights on the water spray. Each has a spray of water coming out of the ground
The light house in the background at Rockwall... before they played in the water
Another view of Rockwall at dusk
Wes is about to leap out of the photo

Kolin kept coming to tell me "Be careful mom, you'll get wet"
I liked this photo of the water spraying on Jaylee...looks like something someone professional might take

Wes and Wes

Had to include one photo of Wes and his namesake Wes.
It has been too long since we had a photo of them together. Here is the beginnings of the sore stomach from the previous post....Uncle Wes getting ready to float the creek. He is telling me to not take a photo....It was too late! I love the shoes! They were Kory's size gigantic and Wes literally cut them down to fit him.....

Photos at the old house on Bar Diamond Ranch

While at the ranch in Montana, we went up to the old house that Uncle Wes' grandparents had built and lived in. It is a neat place to take pictures, so that is what we did. I am by no means a professional photographer, but I had a great backdrop and even better subjects....

Jaylee, Wes, and Kolin at the old houseSweet boy looks so innocent... looks can be deceiving
When I grow up I'm gonna be a rock star,I think I'll be a model...I love to have my photo taken
If we all smile pretty can we be finished?
We love going to Montana. If it weren't so cold, maybe I could talk Jason into moving there....We had not been in 6 years, but I plan on it not taking so long next time.

While there, we floated the creek, but did not have a camera. I was floating with Wes, but hit a rough spot and we both fell out. I reached into the water and pulled him out and handed him off to Susan. I felt much better while he was with her. We laughed and laughed on that trip down the creek. Uncle Wes and I were at the very end of the travelers and he was a hoot! My stomach was hurting by the time we got finished. Jaylee and Kolin loved it and Jason went down the creek one more time with both of them... he is much braver than I.

We took our dog, Suzi, to MT with us and she too went down the creek. She did not know what to think, and kept trying to get on my inner tube with me! I am a sucker, and I don't want anyone to drown, even the dog! But she has really sharp clawn, like a cat, and I hated to share and us both be without a tube by the end of the trip. That is one thing that made me laugh about U.Wes, he kept saying he was loosing air, and he was floating really slow, and sometimes he would ask me if he was moving. I guess you had to be there, but it was funny

July in Montana: fish hatchery

We spent a week in Montana on Jason's Aunt and Uncle's ranch. One day we took the kids to the fish hatchery. They loved it. They enjoyed seeing the fish, walking the paths and feeding the big fish. Wes is a big fisherman.... so he was in heaven. Jaylee and Kolin liked it too...

Jason showing Wes and Kolin where the spring is coming out of the ground This is the natural spring that feeds the hatchery and a creek that runs through the area
Jason showing the boys where the water is "springing" from the earth Jaylee, Wes, and Kolin on a pathway bridge... hoping to get a good Christmas card photo
Photo in the tree... the mosquitos were bad, and the kids were being good sports about the picture taking process
One more, maybe this one will suit our mother
They wanted dad to be in the photo too

June 2007, Red River

Jason and the kids outside of Red River Jaylee always want to take the photos....I think she should be in the photo, but she did a really good job getting everyone in the picture

We made our 2nd annual trip to Red River Family Encampment this year. We love being in the mountains and it is a virtual feasting upon the Word while we are there. The kids love it and look fw to going again next year. Jason's mom met us this year and we stayed in a condo not far from all the activities. We highly recommend anyone who has the time to plan on being there in 08.

On the way to RR and home we took a few pics. If we are gonna be bloggin, we will have to be better about taking photos. Here are a few photos from the trip.

Jaylee and Wes on a rock by the road leading into Red River coming from Questa

Me and the kids on the rock... I usually get to take the photos... that is how you know I am there, there is a photo :) Jason showing the kids to look for fish
On the way home from Red River, we always stop at the log... it is a tree trunk that has been hollowed out and water is flowing through it.... " a river runs through it" literally...
Wes at the log

Floating the creek ain't nothin' like floatin' to Dallas!

Our trip to the Big D was a great time for all of us!
We had a bit of trouble getting off to a start. Jason had to work Thursday morning and he got home about 45 minutes later than expected....which was not too bad b/c I had the car loaded and ready....
Jason showered, took care of the dog ( and orders for her) and off we went..almost.
I forgot to get my keys so back in I went to arrive back in the car with the house phone in hand... so back in the house once more.(None of this is hard, except for keeping the cats out of the garage each time we open and close it so they won't have free reign while we are away)
As we are leaving Dalhart, I am telling Jason I wish I could have been more ready, but it is hard to pack for 5 people and not forget something important, like my medicine.... My medicine! I forgot my medicine.... so we head for the hacienda once more.
Now we are 2 hours behind schedule!Jason is beat, so I am driving....he is sleeping, and it starts to rain.... We love rain, but it is coming down in sheets, like buckets and I can't see! He is still sleeping! Then, the windshield wiper on the passenger side...QUITS! KUPUT no more.
So here we go down Hwy 87 in pouring rain with one winshield wiper.

Did I mention the fact that Jason thought we could make it to Amarillo to fill up with gasoline? Well at this point the low fuel warning sign lights up, Jason says "Have you ever seen that?" "No" I reply, " I don't let it get that low."

So now the kids are a bit concerned... which is icing on the cake about now. We call a friend who tells us to check a nut, not the one driving in the rain w/o wipers or gas, the one on the wiper. But by now, it has stripped gears, and so had a few others :)

We slide into Amarillo on a wing and a prayer to get our gas, float down the road to the parts house and get a new wiper arm, and float back over to Harbor Freight Tool to get something to install the new wiper. Jason goes into HFT and about 45 minutes later, comes back with a pair of plyers stating he won't be going back to this place again.....

So we are off once more.

We drive most of the day in pouring rain, Jason sleeping, and me a little nervous about seeing the road. We did make it to Richard and Frieda's house without any complaints and had a great time with them

I got a good report at the doctor in Dallas. The kids were able to play in the water at Roundrock and we spent a good bit of time in Bass Pro Shops...my kids love that store, and so does Jason.

I will get some photos on here later!

August 1, 2007

We decided to try and start a blog for our family. We are getting ready today to go to Dallas tomorrow to visit Richard, Frieda, and Barrett Dickson and the kidney doctor on Friday. We are excited to spend time in Dallas with the Dickson's... they are some of our favorite people! We have had a great summer and will try to post more of what we did and some photos later.
We have to warn everyone that reading our post may be dangerous... you will see how exciting your lives really are :) Hope you have a great August!