There's no place like Home

Last week we went "back home" to Louisiana. Although we have lived in Amarillo for four years, we are still struggling to call it home. The fact of the matter is that while we were both born and raised in the same town in Louisiana, we really have never lived there together. James left for the Marine Corp at 17 and two years later I joined him at his first duty station. Well, that was eleven years and all of our adult lives ago.
    We moved around to various duty stations for the first 6 years of marriage and only lived in Louisiana together for less than a year waiting his job here to start. Then we moved here in 2008.
Amarillo has alot to offer that our hometown does not such as, our church family, better schools, less crime, its where James Henry was born and has always been, it's the longest our older kids have ever lived in one spot. Still, it's not "home".
      We spent last week at the lake in La(Amarillo has no water)with our nephews, my brother and sis-in-law, our parents and our grandparents, aunts and uncles. I spent time last week with the oldest friends I have, one that I've known since the 1st grade and one that Ive known for a better part of 13 years. Friends who know me inside and out, good and bad, maid of honors at each other weddings, so on and so on. The two friends I see every time I come into town and the friends who I may not talk to everyday but will always answer my call.
      Sitting at this spot on the lake and soaking in the view is where I refelected on how much I love these people and how blessed I am.....

Last week I lived laughed and loved life with my favorite people.They say home is where the heart is well a piece of this girl's heart is sitting on the Bayou.

Father's Day 2012

My poor hubby pretty much missed out on Father's Day this year. He worked until almost midnight and walked in the door and talked and loved us for a few minutes and then we hopped in the van and drove the 9 hours to Louisiana.
   Even at midnight he stopped and went thru his loot. This year, we made him a grilling basket and inside was a custom platter and apron we made for him along with lots of stuff the kids picked out.
We are so thankful and blessed by James. He is irreplacable!

Sundays are made for haircuts

Sundays during the summer are known around here as haircut day! For about four years now Christopher has gotten a mohawk, well this summer James Henry decided he wanted one! So every Sunday during the summer our front porch serves as a haircut parlor.

For months now James has been talking about shaving his head and this summer he did it! I actually really like it!

These boys can rock a mohawk!

VBS 2012

VBS 2012 has come to an end. I am so proud of my church and blessed by what I was able to witness this week. Our numbers averaged 200 kids, over 2,000 was raised in the penny offering for our camp facility and most of all we had 2 salvation's!!!
    This year our church went with a basic training theme and focused on the story of Moses. We are the only church who will do this VBS, because our church wrote and designed it themselves! I wish I could share all my pictures but there are 100 so Ill just share a few!

Gymnastics

James Henry has always been tiny (we were destined to have one tiny one). Although tiny, He has always been so tough! This guy has no fear of anything! He jumps, kicks and rolls off anything and everything he can find. When I caught him jumping off the computer desk hutch that's about 5 feet tall, I started to worry. That's when gymnastics came into play. I thought if he was going to jump off everything, he might as well learn to do it properly! I was worried what James would think about his son taking gymnastics but he was fine with it, It seems it will limber him up for his collegiate wrestling career :)

Here are some pictures....

stretching

practicing his handstand

learning cartwheels

I told you he was strong!!! Look at him go!

When Daddy Comes Home From Work

This is what happens in our house when Daddy comes home from work with all his gear....

Lego Camp

Last week Christopher went to Lego Camp at Amarillo College. He went everyday from 8-12 and did what Christopher lives for...building Legos! He had a blast! Here are some pictures I took on show and tell day...

Last Day of Lego Camp 2012