Summer so far....

We have had a busy summer this year! Mark and Ryan have spent hours and hours helping Papaw with long overdue yardwork. Because of his mom's illnesses she was unwilling to let anything get done there. They are making up for years of neglect and its tough!

I have been decluttering our house, doing a few improvement projects and learning to crochet with thread. We've also rescued several dogs, all returned to their rightful owners thankfully.



(crochet flower ornament)


It has been ungodly hot here in east Texas this year! Most summers are hot but we've had temps well over 100 for at least 6 weeks now, with no end in sight. As of today, 72% of Texas is in extreme drought. Its not pretty. Crops have failed, livestock are dying, fires have destroyed acres upon acres of land. I am thankful we live in the eastern part of the state, so far no major fires here. Can't wait for some cooler temps though!



The kids have had a banner year for socializing! Sarah now has four neighborhood girls to hang out with, something she's never got to do before. Ryan had a huge birthday pool party in May and continues to entertain friends by the droves. Currently two friends are staying the week and a pasture campout will happen tonight with an additional several coming out for the adventure. The girls and I have plans for a spa night after we return from a marshmallow roasting visitation.


(one of about a gazillion cicadas so far this year!)


(Tibert isn't stupid)


(Mark resting on Papaw's porch at last weekend's work session there)


(assorted pots gathered from the yard)


(pulling vines out of the trees is hard work!)


(newly painted dining table!)


(fire from the boys night out in Papaw's pasture)


The day after Mark's mom's funeral, his dad told him who his biological mother is. So we have been finding assorted birth relatives for the past few weeks. Pictures as well as information have been provided from his aunt's family. These are Mark's biological maternal grandparents, he looks very much like his grandfather! My mom is a genealogy genius and has zipped his birth family all the way back to Jamestown and then some! It is fascinating to find out things that we've always suspected(a Native American ancestor) are actually true. Anyway, we have plans to meet his half-brother this fall when we visit my parents. One of his cousins lives 3 blocks from us and we will meet up with him soon too. It is neat for our kids to be able to know the biological ties to their ancestry.



(pool on a good day)


(this guy has the right idea!)

Friday Fifteen...

A glimpse into our June, in random order...


(weather)


(laundry shenanigans)


(cousins)


(viand)


(harvest)


(me)


(creating)


(thrift store score)


(temp-june 2nd)


(sad day)


(monkey suit)


(sweet boy)


(sweeter boy)


(spied)


(respite)

Ovis Branham Sonier

May 8, 1926 -June 12, 2011

Mark's mom suffered from Alzheimer's Disease and wasn't her usual self for the better part of the last 10 years. These past several months have seen her rapid decline. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on Sunday afternoon. We are grateful she didn't suffer long with this awful disease.

(Obituary)

The Birthday Week...

Sarah's was Wednesday, she turned 11, on the 11th of 2011. Pretty cool huh? Ryan will be 18 on the 15th, and Amy will be exactly 15.5 on the 15th as well. Soooo, we have lots of celebrating going on these days. I took the kids out to lunch yesterday to a new restaurant in Longview, El Pollo Regio, and to their favorite thrift store. Sarah found another bathing suit(her 3rd) and a beach dress. Amy found two bathing suits and a dress, and Ryan got a Bob Marley shirt. Not too bad for under $50!

Here are some birthday-ish pictures of them...


(Amy in her $8 dress)


(Sarah and Ruby)


(modeling with Rosie)


(Amy looking gorgeous)


(Ryan hanging out by the pool)

Ryan is having his annual pool party on Saturday. Not sure how many kids we'll have but I think we're gonna grill hot dogs for them again. One time he had over 40 show up! I need to tell them to bring their own towels and sunscreen!!! Shhhh, don't tell that I'm getting a cake for him too!

Friday Fifteen...

(squirrel on the roof!)


(sunshine on the oaks)


(flooded yard)


(mostly cleaned out garage)


(table project, not yet underway)


(favorite mug)


(Sarah)


(girls bunks)


(new color for the laundry room)


(Papaw's yard clean-up)


(book purging)


(kitchen in the morning)


(bird and/or cat watching)


(Papaw)


(Sarah's friend)

Friday 15, in no particular order...

One day I'm gonna share about our hoarding experience(my mother-in-law) but all the pics are on a computer I don't have access to right now. For now, I'll focus on the work and play from earlier this Spring...


(house minus some really ugly bushes!)


(Boopa and Macaroni)


(Amy having her arm signed by members of A Bullet for Pretty Boy)


(pine root in the front yard)


(spring flowers)


(rescued frog at Papaw's, a snake was after him)


(testing new paint color for the porch and shutters-Secret Garden by Valspar)


(Wisteria at Papaw's)


(Daisy from the block)


(mossy chair)


(new light, new paint-day)


(at night)


(perigee super moon)


(Sarah's piggy butt)


(Jefferson Mardi Gras)