Rachel and the Kids: July 2010

3am Wake Up Call

June 25th, 2010 Rylee had her 8th Birthday Sleepover! This is the third year she has done it, and has absolutely loved it each year!

The early birds...
Madison, Rylee, Shaylee and Shayne

For a mom that burns most everything I cook/bake, I was surprised when Rylee requested these peanut butter cookies "I make" instead of a cake!

All the crazy girls that I got the pleasure of entertaining!
Shayne, Dez, Ali, Rylee, Madison, Shaylee and Dee Dee

This was the girls at about 10:30pm. They were calmly unwinding while watching a movie.

After the movie was over, and the girls 'seemed' to be asleep, I ventured to bed (about 11:15). However, at 3AM I heard a wrestling sound. I woke up (kind of grumpy) and walked into the living room to find all but one of the girls UP, sitting in a circle, talking and tossing a water bottle around!!! I couldn't believe it! Did I really believe that I could have seven young girls over, and have them to bed at a decent hour...NOT? After a few 'kind' words I went back to my bed and listened very carefully. Thirty minutes later, they were out...thank goodness! The next morning they were all very sleepy because I had mommy's and daddy's come pick them all up by nine because Cutter had a T-Ball game at 10am! Needless to say, our bed time came early Saturday night!

Camp Imagination

June 21-25th, 2010 Grandad and Hanaba gave Rylee an early birthday present, Camp Imagination! Rylee went last year and absolutely loved it. So, this year they decided to do the same thing, and she was SO excited!

Rylee was in charge of costume design (right up her alley) and set design for her group. Each group is given a problem, and they have to come up with a five minute skit to act out the solution. Needless to say, she went to school on Tuesday with fifty designs to choose from!

Here she is narrating the first part, in her own designed clothing!

Last minute one of the kids in her group didn't show up, so Rylee got to fill in as a lizard in the African environment.

Notice all the set design and costumes...she did it!

We had to leave right after her group went because her birthday slumber party was Friday night. She did so well, and as usual made me very proud to be her momma!

First Dip of the Year

I know some of my posts are out of order, but without deleting them all I don't know how to fix it. So, before school was out, we went over to Chad and Brittney's to have our first swim of the summer! The kids were so excited!

Rylee jumping in! Notice the life jacket? This is the last picture I have of her in it at the pool. Last summer she was so close to swimming without it, and after her first jump, she took it off. She hasn't put it back on, except at the lake! I am so proud of her for being brave and trying to do it! She can do anything as long as she puts her mind to it!

Cutter is my little dare devil! He is fearless in the water!

Jumping without the jacket on!

Silly boys!

He swam so hard, he finally crashed!

Little Payton, such a trooper!

Andy, Karsen and Roo

Chad and Brit,
Thank you so much for sharing your pool with us! It is always so much fun to get together and let loose!

Buster and karens

The Sunday after school got out, we did our semi-usual Sunday night dinner out at Buster and Karen's. Once again, we all had a blast...especially the kids!

Thanks for always welcoming us to your house. We love yall!

Last Day of School

May 27th, 2010 was the last day of school for the kids. Rylee finished 2nd Grade and Cutter completed his 3 year old class!

Look how much they've grown since the first day of school! My babies are growing up so fast, right before my very eyes!

Happy 56 Years to My Mommy

June 4th, 2010 marked the seventh year my mom has been my angel! Seven years seems like an eternity, but then I can vividly recall moments like it was yesterday! To this moment, not a day goes by that I don't think about her. Oh how I wish she were here on earth with me. I know that is very selfish of me to say, but it's so hard raising kids without your mother's guidance.

This year like every other, the kids and I went out to visit Oma and bring her new flowers. The kids are not scared to go visit her. They sing and dance for her. They sit on her lap and show them all their new tricks. I love that enjoy sharing those things with her. She probably doesn't like me bringing them to her tombstone because she was never fond of them. I can remember doing genealogy work with my dad, and times that mom would sit in the car and wait for us to find what we were looking for at some random cemetery. However, I want my kids to know that she is there to listen if they ever need anything. If that's the quiet place they need, I want them to feel comfortable there.

Mom, I love you all the way around the world!

2nd Grade Field Day

May 20th, the 2nd Graders at Wylie Elementary had their field day competition. Rylee asked if I would go and cheer on her class. I really enjoyed it, and am so thankful that she invites me to her school events!

Tug of War
G-Force WON!

Paige and Rylee

Each child got to pick two individual events to represent their class. Rylee chose the relay and egg toss. Here she is about to start the first leg of the relay. Her team came in a very close
second place!

Look at the determination in her face! Way to run Roo!

Lane, Someone, Hannah, Rylee, Sadie and Paige

Rylee and Paige in the egg toss.

Paige, Cason and Rylee

Lane, Alex and Cason

The Dreaded Bulkhead

May 21st-23rd, the kids and I drove down to New Braunfels to help my aunt and uncle, Deborah and James, with their bulk head problem. The continual waves from the river, over time, erode the ground causing holes in the yard. My aunt always says, "It's feast or famine over here, either they all come, or no one does." We had a full house that weekend! Originally we were the only ones coming. Then my dad planned the trip into his schedule. Ryan and his girl friend Kristen came down. Damian and Laura thankfully brought the kids over from Cedar Park. We all worked our little tails off, and in the end, accomplished our goal!

Cutter and PaPaw

Cutter, Nonnie and Rosie

I forgot to pack my tennis shoes and these are the sexy shoes I borrowed!

Our make shift ladder since we had to detach the original one in order to fix the bulkhead.

Kristen, a woman from my own heart...she knows how to use a SAW!!!

I had met Kristen a few times before in Abilene, but never really had to opportunity to hang out and visit. Of all places to finally get the chance, she comes down with Ryan to help work! She jumped right in without skipping a beat! We could not have done what we did without her help! Thank you so much Kristen! I really appreciate all the help, and more importantly the time we got to spend together, family fun!