I'm baaaaack. Again.

Wow.  When I said I'd be back - bet you didn't think it would be NEXT year!?  So, one post for 2012 and now one for 2013.  I am so on the ball.  Sigh.  I just got tired of blogging, and then I got so far behind I just gave it up.  But now, I think I'd like to take it up again.   My kiddos like to look at all our old pictures and maybe one day they will enjoy my rantings and ravings.  When their older.  Much older.  I guess I didn't realize just how popular and interesting we were over here.  The daily emails to start blogging again.  Constant text messages.  Harassment from friends and family everywhere.  Wait.  That didn't happen.  And that's OK!!  This blog is just for us, grandparents, aunts, siblings, and a few friends.  I've never wanted a popular "public" blog, so I'm REALLY happy it's our cute little family one.  I hope it always stays like that!  This blog has always been and will always continue to be just about our fam, what I think, funny things that happen, sad things that make me cry.  The usual.  So, enjoy!  It should be a pretty regular blog again. :)

I'll be back!

I'm coming back!!!  Promise.  Tomorrow.  It will take a lot of time to catch up but I'm up for the challenge.  I don't know why I stopped posting honestly.  It just became another chore I think and I just needed a break.  But, journaling is a good thing (and not a real word I've just discovered) and I want to get back at it.  See ya soon!

Texas Drought 2011

I think the heat and drought we have experienced over the past several months deserves it's own post.  It's been the #1 thing on everyone's mind here in Central Texas.  Not just older folks are talking about the weather anymore - we are ALL worried.  We were worried months ago.  We are beyond worried now!  We pray and plead for relief and rain but so far very little has come our way.  Over the past SEVERAL months, we've received 10 minutes of rain at our house.  Once.  That's it.  The unbearable and dangerous heat was the reason my children and I couldn't go outside to "play" this summer.... at all.  There was lots of library and indoor activities and TV watching, but with a summer like we had there wasn't much else we could do!  Oh, and LOTS of swimming!!!  I've never experienced the kind of heat and lack of rain like we've had in my entire life.  No one has.  Literally.  We broke every record there was this past summer.  I thought the following data was really interesting and it will give a chance for those of you out-of-staters to get a glipse into the summer I affectionately refer to as, "The summer from hell... really."

These are a couple shots of our poor dying Lake Travis.  It's a few miles from our home and it's scary looking!  It's down over 35 feet right now!!  Unbelievable!  

1st swim meet

Sorry for my obnoxious yelling on the video...  I was going hoarse so that makes it even extra not fun to listen to.... 

We were so proud of Logan at his very first swim meet.  After only a month, he improved his times considerably and also how he starts...  keep up the great work Logsters!

Six Flags!

When I asked her how come she didn't want to ride the log ride, I got this look.  Ooookay.  Never mind!

Michaela was standing up screaming at me, "It was awesome!  Oh my gosh it was awesome!!"  LOL!

Poor, poor Uncle Chris.  What a trooper, eh?

Uncle Chris decided to treat us to a day at Six Flags.  Woohoo for Uncle Chris!  ha,ha  Even though it was A MILLION degrees, the kids had a blast!  It was Aaron's first time at Six Flags.  He tried to convince Logan and Eiley to ride some coasters with him, but for some reason, they were not having it.  Maybe next time, Dad!  The kids favorite rides were the boat thing that goes back and forth and would make me puke all over myself - and I almost did just by watching it - AND the scooby-doo ride.  Love that ride.  That afternoon we moved to the water park but I was too busy playing with the kids and going down the slides to take any pictures.  It was so nice to cool off!! :)  Note to ourselves:  Go to Six Flags in the spring or fall.... NOT during a heat wave in the summer.  But, it was fun anyway!

posing, swimming, dancing, and lemonade selling

I don't know where she gets this from!  ha,ha.  Strike a pose!

All ready for envision tryouts!  #40!  Go Eiley - She made the Envision Demi dance team and is sooooo excited!!

selling lemonade in 105 degree weather is brutal... BUT, you make A LOT of money!!!

Love that smile, Love that boy!  I mean.... half boy/half fish!

Logan really took to swimming this summer while he participated in Nitro's summer swim league.  He qualified for USA year round swimming and is now on the Bronze team.  We are so proud of him!  It's such good exercise and he is so FAST!  I really enjoy watching him swim.  Eiley decided she wanted to try out for Envision dance team this year.  Starline and Envision are both great teams, but Envision is more for the "serious" dancer and we ALL know who the poster child for "serious dancer" is.  ha,ha.  She was a little nervous for tryouts but did AMAZING.  So proud!  She make the Envision Demi team and there's 7 girls on it.  They have a really good team and all of them LOVE to dance so therefore, they have been working really hard to learn their 3 dances.  Michaela also wanted to be on a dance team this year.  So she's on Starline Glitter.  They are ADORABLE!  The team is all preschoolers and kindergartners and they do 2 dances at 3 competitions.  She is LOVING being on a team and I've noticed she's really coming out of her shell.  But, add baseball into the mix and you got a VERY busy momma!!!!