Summer Vacation - Port Aransas

Just like that our Summer Vacation is over!!:0( It just never lasts long enough!! We decided to head to our favorite beach spot again. We tried some knew restaurants and they were really great! We played in the big waves and made castles in the sand. We watched dolphins and sea turtles off the jetty. The weather was perfect in the mid 80's.

 A little beach football.

Our master builder.

 Kate met a couple of friends. They helped her be brave enough to surf the waves. Kate is scared of the ocean and what is under the water that you can't see.

Kate wanted to go to the rocks. She said she liked them because they were a little dangerous! We saw lots of sea turtles swimming by the rocks. That was pretty cool!!

We made it to the end of the jetty. It is a long way to the end! Someone offered to take our picture. Luke and Rachel had stayed behind at the condo.

This picture was taken right before Chris and Kate slipped on some algae on the big rocks. They got a few scrapes and bruises. Kate was right about it being dangerous!!

The dolphins love to jump in front of the big ships that come through the bay.

The beach carts are a fun way to get around town....even if Luke does not look like he is having fun.

This is a true reflection of how my kids behave. I was getting the camera ready for our family picture and snapped this.

Wade and I played at the beach until the very last minute!! He loves diving into the big waves and letting them push him back!

Rachel's Sweet Sixteen Party

Rachel wanted to have a party for her Sixteenth Birthday!! We thought that would be a fun idea. Aunt Cara helped us with the decorations. She made the banner complete with musical notes and a cute photo collage.

We can't believe how much she has grown and changed in just sixteen very fast years.

Her very delicious cake!!

Time to sing Happy Birthday!! I tried to get a picture of everybody, but I think I still missed a few.

We had some fun outside games. 

And the girls played some card games inside.

Uncle Beaubie had the hottest job!! He grilled the hamburgers and hot dogs. They were delicious!

I wanted a picture with Rachel's friends. A few had already left, but these are sure a sweet bunch of girls!!

With Cousin Tenley

With Aunt Johnnie and family

With the McLeod Family

With Granny

With Granddad Bob. He managed to find a way to look taller than Rachel for the picture. ;0)

With Grandmom Wanda

With Grandpa and Grandnanna

Us with the Birthday Girl

With Aunt Dena

And with the Keller family from Arizona. We were so glad they were able to make the party.

The birthday girl on her actual 16th birthday!! Looking very grown-up!

Rachel loves all things musical. She plays the piano, clarinet, and cello. She loves to relax by watching Netflix and hanging out with her friends. This summer she is working at the pool as an attendant, at the church in the nursery, and also with the kids praise and worship team at the church playing the piano. She is excited to go to Band Camp in Canyon. She is also working to finish Drivers Ed, so she can get her drivers license!!

We are excited to see what this next year holds for you Rachel!! We love you so much!!

Prom - Sophomore Year

A friend from band surprised Rachel and asked her to go to the prom with him!! I was super excited for her and couldn't wait to go dress shopping!! Rachel had a vision of what she wanted her dress to look like. She wanted it to be long and purple. It took a little looking to find the perfect dress. We ordered it from a magazine. It was so much prettier in person and it fit her perfect!!

Her friends came to help her with hair and make-up. I was worried about the make-up making her look too old, but they did great and she looked beautiful!!

This is my favorite picture!! She looks so pretty!

All dressed and ready to go!! They both look so good!!

He had told a joke and made us all laugh. I love this picture of Rachel laughing.

 This is Rachel telling me to stop talking about the prom.

She said she had a fun night and a nice time! Dancing is not her thing but she enjoyed getting to dress up. They went to dinner with a group to Chilis and rode in a limo to the dance. After the prom the group went swimming at his house and had pancakes.

Luke is 13!!!

It is official, we have two teenagers in the house!! Please pray for us!! Luke has grown and changed so much this year. It is really hard to believe. He is now taller than I am by quite a bit. Luke loves to play basketball, football, run track, pester his siblings, and play on his phone.

I made his cake this year. I was pretty proud of my sprinkles!!

He didn't want a party this year. He just wanted to stay home from school and eat lunch at Osaka. He did get his wish.

He asked for a new basketball goal....so now we have two. Wade wanted to keep the old one and lower it for him.

Luke also got some clothes, a wallet, an alarm clock, money, cards, and lots of phone calls.

He had a good day and we are excited to watch him grow and mature over this coming year. We are so very proud of you Luke!! We love you mucho!!