Bowling

Check out our bowlers! We asked the bowling alley to put up the gutter guards and we were in business.

Mr. Friendly

Tonight we went to Hondo's on Main street with our friends the Gioffre's. Shelly, Shawn and their little boy Jack met us there for dinner and we had so much fun hanging out with them. I think Jack had a great time hanging out with our four kiddos and we had fun talking about all sorts of things as adults! Fun times!

Shelly and Jack

Teague and Jack

Lately, Teague has became "Mr. Friendly" and tonight he was in full form. He was walking up to people and saying, "hi" and enjoying the scenery. He even crawled under a bar stool and surprised a real cowboy, but his big hat didn't even phase Teague. He crawled right up into the cowboy's arms and introduced himself...and even took his hat from his head. Then, he climbed up in a chair with a couple and ate some dinner with them. They fed him french fries and he ate them up. Teague sat on Shelly's lap, Shawn's lap and probably would have climbed in anyone else's lap if they would have invited him. Of course, I had my camera and caught some good pictures.

Teague meeting all his new friends at the restaurantTeague and Shawn

We had so much with the Gioffre's and hope to go out with them again REAL soon!

Our trek to San Antonio

The kids are getting restless just hanging around the house now. They are arguing more and beginning to get on each others nerves- it takes lots of interference from Jerrod and I. I really think they are ready to go back to school!! Until then, we are keeping busy with all sorts of things.

We knew that today we had to get everyone out the house and make some plans somewhere. We decided to go to Natural Bridge Caverns in San Antonio. We were reluctant about taking Teague, but our neighbors let us borrow a back pack carrier to walk with him in the caves. I worked. He really enjoyed it and was a real sport. The girls and Jackson thought the caves were pretty cool and Jackson kept thinking that it was where the Indiana Jones movie- Temple of Doom- was filmed. We all just agreed and let him think what he wanted...

Afterwards, we tried to go to the Alamo for a tour, but it was closed already so we went to the Riverwalk to take in the sights. We decided to get on the tour boat on the river so that the kids could see everything. Our plan was foiled when it started to rain on us- the kids actually thought that was pretty cool too.

The beginning of our boat tour... and then the rain came! As I remember this day, I remember the good times we had, but I will forever remember one event particularly. We stopped at a gas station in Bulvedere to get gas called "Big Tex". It was a miniature Buc-ee's of sorts. I went in while Jerrod was pumping the gas because we needed some cash. I went and picked up a few diet dr. pepper's and a vitamin water and went to the register to pay with hopes that I could get cash for over the amount of the purchases.

My cashier was so sweet but nearly scared me to death. She had no teeth...none, zippo, nada and I don't think she cared. She just S-M-I-L-E-D the entire time and was overly happy. It startled me. I just didn't expect that.

Then, it happened. I noticed a gentlemen behind her holding a mop (he clearly worked their too) and he was cutting up with several guys in the store. He caught my attention because he was picking his nose with his other hand. No, not trying to clear some dirt....not trying to wipe away or itch it inconspicuously. I continued to watch him because all I could think about was a young child. He was totally picking his nose- like a 2 year old would. His finger was entirely up his nose and he was really digging- for something good, I suppose. I couldn't believe my eyes.

Wait. It gets better. I went to the bathroom after I paid and I saw the gentleman digging for gold in his nose. The kids needed me in there (plus I needed something to distract me from staring) so I got them out of the bathroom and headed to the car. That's when I saw "goldie" cleaning the soda fountain machine with his bare hands. I loved my bottled DP. Enough said.

We used to drive back and forth to Amarillo when we had fewer kids and I have many a tales from those trips. I will definitely add this one to my repertoire of disgusting gas station stories.

A bunch of "news"

We tried out a new church this morning! We went to Holy Ghost Lutheran Church where Teague RAN into the nursery (overly ready to play) and we enjoyed the service. It was a great message that I should stamp on my hand and heart- let God have your worries...

We had lunch, hung out at home, watched TV and the kids played video games here and there. I even got a nap! Once the sun started going down, we decided to take a bike ride around our neighborhood. I packed up Teague and Jackson in the caboose and attached it to the back of my bike and had so much fun. Emma found a super steep drive way at Angels above the Creek just a few blocks away so we spent some time going down it individually- really FAST and FUN! Jackson and Teague even held up their arms as if they were going on a roller coaster. Remember? it doesn't take much to entertain them??!

Later this evening, we went over to our neighbors so that the husband's could meet finally and the kids could play. I am sure they were beginning to wonder if I really did have a husband...especially with the last name Smith. :) As usual, Leslie and Kevin were great hosts. We even got to meet Leslie's sister, her daughter and her parents! The kids swam and the adults just talked and got to know each other. At the end of the evening, the kids made their favorite- SMORES- in the fire pit! Yummo!
Leslie was in charge of passing out marshmallows, crackers and the chocolate. I seriously think Teague ate his weight in chocolate...he could not get enough!

Lauren is a pro at marshmallow roasting so she had a few things to teach Bailey.This is delish!! I agree!! This is number 3 for me!

Buc-ee's

This week we decided that we didn't want to make the trek to Florida so we decided to back out of our reservation. We talked about it and really just wanted to go to Fredericksburg and spend a week doing a whole lot of nothing. We decided to go after the girls got back from the Friday night birthday parties they were invited to- they just could NOT miss them! We have priorities, you see.

We packed up this morning and headed to the hill country for some relaxation. This is a real treat for me...Jerrod spending the week with us without work- yippee!

Jackson was of course thrilled to get to Fbg since the Wii is located there (and his new friend Grayson) and the girls were pretty excited as well. But I must say...the BIGGEST excitement was Buc-ee's on I-10. The kids were begging to stop there. I tell you- it was as if we were going to an amusement park. I guess it just doesn't take much to entertain the Smith kids. It certainly helps since you KNOW I am using it to my advantage on the way- "if you do this...we'll stop, etc."
Whatever works. It was packed and took me nearly 5 minutes to find a parking spot. Crazy. I even took a picture. Who can say they have whipped out their camera at the filling station? Not many.

Did I mention that the bathrooms are AWESOME? The kids loved those too. :)

Lezlie Andrew Photography

Last summer, for my birthday, my MIL and SIL surprised me and had pictures taken of my kids in a park in Amarillo. One of Carey's friends is a photographer as a side job so she offered to snap them up.

To this day, those are my absolute favorite pictures of the kids. I think I love them so much because I see nothing but beauty when I look at them. I don't see the sweat and tears it took to get them or the stress that we all went through either- because I wasn't there. It takes a lot to photograph 4 children so I appreciated them taking the initiative to get their photos and I've since decided that this is the BEST way to get my children's picture taken each year.

This summer, Carey wanted to get a few of Olivia Claire at 6 months and so I offered to pay the bulk of the fee if she would be willing to have it done while they were visiting in Amarillo. She offered and this is what they got...I am so pleased!

My favorite of Olivia Claire...those little lips are perfectly puckered!

Lezlie Andrew Photography

TCHS Class of 1988 Reunion

Hurricane Ike blew through Galveston in September of last year all while our 20 year reunion was being planned. Because of the damage sustained to Galveston, it had to be cancelled. Some of our classmates were even homeless afterwards so we felt that it was only appropriate to cancel the event. We had a small "reunion" at a local bar owned by a classmate, but always intented to hold a larger reunion in 2009. Most of what we heard after the cancellation was - next year "hold it in the summer, make the cost low, make it fun", etc. After listening to all of the suggestions, my BFF from HS, Jennifer, spear headed the event for this year (even financially!) and got the event together SOLO.


Jennifer did a great job and I was most impressed with all of her decisions. It was held at the Moody Gardens Hotel and Resort on Galveston Island. Friday night's event was held in the bar in the lobby (I didn't make that...I was still in Fredericksburg) and the second night was held in one of the ballrooms off the lobby. I may be crazy, but......this is summer time, great food and great set up!

Well, our reunion was last weekend and it has taken me this long to post about the event. I was so disappointed...and I just don't know what to think or even say.

Unfortunately, our classmates decided they were "busy" or lost "interest" after last year's reunion got cancelled. Our class was mid-sized with approximately 330 students graduating that year. We had a whopping 18 classmates show up for the reunion. Of course, some had their spouses and others came by themselves, but we had a total of 40 people at the reunion. We barely got 5% but math isn't my strongest subject so someone else may be able to be more specific on our percentages of classmates. Whatever it is, I think its pitiful. Don't get me wrong, I had a great time seeing the friends that I hadn't seen in a long time. We tried to make it fun by requesting songs we danced to in the 80's and even turned our name tags upside down for excitement- I know, a stretch.


These last few years I've become sentimental. I think a lot of these friends, because I "grew up" with these people. Back then, we all went to Kindergarten, MS and HS together and rarely anyone moved off. Most of our parents worked at the plants in TC so we had that mutual interest as well. There were only a few churches in town so we saw each other at church on Sundays too. It's so different now. Our kids make friends and then they move off because of a job transfer or something as simple as just wanting a bigger house in another neighborhood. Our kids just don't have the stability that we had during those days. I guess that's why it upsets me so much.

Oh well, I want to post pictures for those people that were there. We missed you if you weren't! Maybe we'll have a better turn out at our 40th Reunion- YIKES! Here are some of my friends from high school: Jennifer, Elisa and Cristina.

Here are the classmates that came to the reunion.

More of the same...

Me and my honey....my favorite part!