Weekend with the Kissell's

This past weekend, our best friend's from Tennessee, Stephanie and Derek Kissell came down to visit. We were suppose to have our annual meeting in Hot Springs, AR, but someone (party pooper Jason), had to work. So, we twisted their arms really hard and instead they came to visit us here at our home. It was quite comical, because the first place we took them too was the Uncertain Grill, where Stephanie and Derek "certain they were in Uncertain." If you know anything about where Jason and I live, that is quite funny because we claim we live in Karnack, not Uncertain. I dont even want to think about what the mail system there is like. Then we took them for a tour of Jason's other home, the refuge. Stephanie looked at the bridges on the refuge to see if they were up to "standard" and was very impressed. Saturday when Jason got finished with his meeting we went to Shreveport (they had never been to LA or TX, so they hit them both), where we hit the boardwalk. (uh hum...after the boys forced us to stay in the Bass Pro Shop for 2 hours.) We shopped and shopped and then...there is always room for cheesecake....we went to Copeland's Cheescake Bistro for an early dinner. YUMMY! I had the crawfish pasta something...lol...it was good whatever it was called...and Crawford had pizza. The only bad thing was, I was to full for cheesecake. After Shreveport, we took them to ride the railroad at Jefferson. It was kind of a bummer, because the speaker on our coach was broken, so we didnt get to hear the ghost stories, but I think they still had fun. Saturday night, we (Steph and I) beat the boys booties at Spades. OOOHHHH!!!! Then Sunday, we had a breakfast and they had to head back East. It was a great visit and we can't wait to see them again. (I will add pics when I get to the real world of internet at home again!) Thanks Stephie and Derek for a great weekend!!

The TEXES

Just wanted to tell all of you that have been praying for me and wishing me well about taking my teacher's exit test....I PASSED!!!! Didn't do the most wonderful of flying passing scores....but I have the PASS which is all I needed! WOOHOO! Thanks for the prayers, now pray I find a job!! :)

"Crawford" Family Visit

Jason, Crawford and I just got back from a flying visit to Van to meet my cousin's daughter. Now, I am sure you are all scratching your head, going huh. Well, I have a cousin (only blood cousin on my dad's side) named Brian. Brian is my dad's brother, Steve's son. He moved from Dallas with his mother to California when we were about 10. We are 6 months apart and spend most of our childhood summers together with Mammy Jo. Well, his wife Alexis and him and his baby girl Madison Crawford came into town from Arizona. They now live in Yuma, Arizona. Madison is 6 months younger than Crawford. It was fun to see them play. When we would call Crawford, she would stop also since that is what they say to her with her name when she is in trouble. We met them at mom and dad's and the kids played together after just minutes, realizing that each of them were with their family. We got to visit for a while and then headed to the Farmhouse in Van to eat. Madison and Crawford were running around the restaurant playing with each other. It reminded me of when Brian and I were younger, always getting into some sort of trouble. The night ended with a group picture of four generations. Uncle Steve, Brian, Madison, Mammy Jo, Crawford, Daddy and me. It was a great visit and I cant wait to see them again.

weekend in Magnolia

This past weekend, we packed up the family and headed to Magnolia for a much needed visit with Jason's parents and family. When we got there Friday, Crawford was greeted with some new toys courtesy of the neighbors down the street that had outgrown them. They had brought down a plastic log cabin that him and his daddy and poppy and Suzee got in and also a climbing wall (the ones with the circles and things you can crawl through). He loved them. Then, we had fresh eggplant and okra from Walter's garden. It was wonderful, so wonderful we brought a load home with us. YUMMY! Saturday morning, we had a wonderful breakfast and then Granny came to visit. Crawford was so excited to see everyone, he did not have a nap the entire day. Dallas, our Godson, and his parents (David and Kim) came over for the morning to visit. The boys played badmitton, sort of, and when they got to hot, we took t hem in the house and they played all kinds of fun games. (Thanks Kim and David for the toys.) We had a wonderful lunch of smoked chicken that Poppy (Walter) cooked and again, some garden goodies. It was a great visity with The Copeland family. After lunch, Kayla, Chad and Trevor and Aunt Judy and Uncle Steve came to visit. We all got in the pool and Trevor and Crawford played for 2 hours in the pool. We even got Uncle Steve in the pool for a bit. The day went on and the boys played and cousin Pamela and Patrick came to visit. Later that night, Uncle Daniel and Katie came by and Jared, Justin and Chasity. We visited and picked on Jason for what his mom had put in the family tree about him (long story, another day...pretty funny though). We all enjoyed visiting. It was so nice to see the family, it had been since February. Sunday morning, we went to church at St. Matthias Catholic Church and then had breakfast at the Diner with The Copelands, Davis', Uncle Daniel and some other family from the church. It was a wonderfully fun visit and some much needed family time.

Fun at Grandma Libby's

Crawford and Asher watering grandma libby's plants around the pool.

Crawford with his floaties on. And yes, he keeps his hat on in the pool like his daddy does.

Part of our summer fun has been going to my grandma's house with my cousins and family to swim. It was our hangout growing up and now our kids are getting to use it. While Jason was still gone, Crawford and I would head in for a Saturday swim. The "gameroom" is the hangout for the family holidays and birthday parties. Last weekend Asher had his 3rd birthday party there. Crawford is finally trying to get used to swimming and getting more brave with the water. The rest of his cousins are little fish because they swim over there almost daily. As long as the other kids leave him alone, he will get on the steps and brave the water. Swimming was always my summer pastime and since the Roesner's have a pool and grandma has a pool, that is probably how his summers in the future will be spent. Here are a few pics from our swimming summer this year so far.

Jekyll Island fun

After Jason's graduation from FLETC, we headed to Jekyll Island, GA. The island was originally a resort for the Carnegies. It has beautiful trees and old houses on it and an old inn that we "explored" with Aunt Vickie as the tour guide. Then we went to the beach, (after touring the island by automobile). The beach was a little brown, but it was still a nice place for us to play and visit. Crawford chased the waves in and out and played imaginary football with his grumps and his daddy. We ran on the beach and hunted for seashells. It was a nice end to a great day.

Fourth of July

Gracie and Crawford playing at the Seaborn's.

This picture is the bouncehouse we had at the party. Crawford was terrified of it.

For the Fourth of July, we went to our friends from Lufkin's house, the Seaborns. This was an ordeal because I came down with an awful stomach bug I am still trying to get over a week later. But, we saddled up, (all four of us including Suzee) and headed that way. Friday night was for finishing the outside with all but the decorations and Saturday morning the wildness began. Kristin and Justin had worked their tails off setting up for this party. They rented a huge balloon bouncehouse and slide and then the guys made a 100 foot slip in slide. It was awesome. I was sick, so I didnt get to partake in much of the fun, but I had just as much fun watching. Crawford was scared of the bounce house because it was so loud, but the big boys (a.k.a. Jason, Justin, Andy and Brent) were having a ball in it. Bunny the lifeguard--we know him as Justin--was on duty, so it was not too scary. LOL!!! Crawford enjoyed the cookies that were in the theme of the party--a luau. The boys played on the slide and bouncehouse and then lit up the sky with fireworks. I will be adding pictures later of the festivities, again...when I get the internet hooked back up so I can add them. Hope you all had a fun Fourth, celebrating our nation's independence.