Summer Vacation 2013 @ the Coast

In July, we took off to the Texas coast for a little relaxation & fishing in Port Aransas. A little history: Terry is not real keen on beach vacations! I love a good beach vacation! I agreed to not expect him to "just sit around on the beach getting all sandy" with the kids and me. We both compromised on 5 days, including the 9 hour travel days!
Our small complex was quaint and comfy! A short walk to the boardwalk and we were on the beach!

 

 

Arriving on a Wednesday, we had the beach practically to ourselves! The kids and I spent time on the beach and playing in the surf while Terry fished for a day. We went to Corpus a day to the USS Lexington and the Texas State Aquarium. Of course we enjoyed lots of fresh seafood and pool time also.

Our last day in Port Aransas was spent with a sweet friend of mine...Jennifer Axelrod drove down and us girls hung out while                                        the boys went fishing.

 

  

And believe it or not, Terry did sit on the beach with us for a little bit!

Summer Litter 2013

If you have followed this blog for a little while, you know we bought a new female Australian Shepherd last Spring. She is a little jewel...ummm, a little sweetie...well, a little beauty... Ok, what I really mean is: River is a little stinker! She is a digger! Sweet? Yes! Energetic? Yes! Pretty? Yes! Driving us CRAZY? Yes! Terry has worked so hard over our first two summers in this home to get the yard looking spectacular...and THAT it does! For some reason unbeknownst to us, she likes to randomly dig wholes about 10" wide by 10" deep in our backyard, usually in the grass. So this past Spring, she spent a lot of time in the kennel or house with us! Oh, did I mention this breed sheds a lot? It is the one drawback to the breed...well, except for the digging by our little sweetie! So more time in the kennel...and it just bothers me to have a dog locked up and not able to roam the yard! 

Let me just skip all the details about making sure everyone was "checking" River and watching Hank (our boy dog) for "signs" so we would know when to separate them as to not have a litter of puppies. (I like to wait until my female is fully mature around age 2 before breeding.) So by now, if you noticed the post title, you realize we had an OOOPS! Only once! Yup, that's all it takes! And 63 days later, River had one of the most colorful, well balanced litter of puppies I have had the pleasure to raise!

3 Boys - 3 Girls

 

 4 Blacks - 2 Reds

3 Merles - 3 Solids

I can say that after witnessing her raise her babies, she is an outstanding mama dog! Just ask Hank because he all of a sudden lost his status and no longer ruled the roost...or ruled the yard! (I still miss not having chickens!)

Meet the crew! Girls first...

Flower, a red merle with blue eyes who was the boss of the litter. She stole the heart of my daughter and niece. If we have a red merle female...she is ALWAYS named Flower, thanks to Kate. Flower went to Levelland to live with a daddy and his daughter...and gets to stay with one of her brothers cuz he bought TWO...crazy man!

This is Cookie! She was a blue merle with great copper and white. She had some striking contrast in her coloring and was a smart little girl with an active and easy-going disposition. She lives with Jeremy in the Lubbock area and goes everywhere with him in the back of the truck!

Say hello to Skye...sweet Skye. Another blue merle with copper and white...and my personal favorite! Great disposition, active and lovie all the same! She was the female I would have kept if Terry had killed River for all the diggin! She moved to Borger to be with a sweet family that has two young boys and will enjoy the work-time on the ranch. 

I just love it when my dogs go to a working home...after all, this breed is instinctive, loyal and dedicated to pleasing their master and herding the livestock!

Now for the BIG BOYS...

Here is Hoss, a black tri...and yes, his name has purpose! He was the biggest boy in the litter! He was also the least active, least assertive, least awake pup of them all! Oh but is he a lover! Snuggles and kisses is what he was good for!  This is the guy who moved to Levelland with Flower...she will be wearing the pants in that relationship!

Meet Joey, another big boy and another black tri! Joey was a tremendously active guy and loved to antagonize Flower...that bossy, little female pup. And WATER...he takes after his daddy and loves to makes splashes! He moved to McKinney, Texas for the good life with with another Aussie and her family!

And finally, Copper! Our special red tri with the green eyes. Another active and smart guy with lots of love to offer. Surprisingly, he was the last to sell. He moved in with an Odessa family of 6 and will have plenty of playmates to keep him busy.

End of School Year 2012 - 2013

Jack went on his first mission trip with his youth group over Spring Break to Groesbeck, Texas where they held VBS for a small church and did some community work around the town.

Kate had a great sitter while brother was gone...they welcomed Jack home with lots of glitter! You can imagine his "excitement" to see his bedroom door decorated so NICELY!!

Both Jack and Kate finished up their school year nicely. Jack completed 8th grade and surprisingly, even to Jack, made the A/B Honor Roll for the year! We are tickled to pieces! He chose Buffalo Wild Wings for a celebratory dinner.

 I was able to attend Kate's second grade Award's Ceremony...

 Kate made the A Honor Roll for the year...she is the kind of student every teacher wishes they had...at least that is what I am told by her teachers!

Kate and her friend Brandon

 Although Jack won't turn 15 until September, he has been getting some practice drive time in around the neighborhood. He is very much begging for Driver's Ed as soon as possible!

 We spent one weekend in Arlington to celebrate my nephews graduation from high school. Jesse plans to attend a local junior college and then TCU...shooting for the FBI last I heard!

Jamie, Jesse and my sister, Amy

 Memorial weekend we went to Abilene to watch Terry call a few high school playoff baseball games, made a trip to the zoo and then relaxed at the lake the rest of the weekend!

 And on June 10th, we welcomed River and Hanks first litter of puppies. A beautiful litter of all 4 colors. It has been a lot of fun watching them grow...and even more enjoyable since it has been almost 3 years having not had any puppies around!

A trail of puppies

Kate Turned 8 on April the 8th

That's the birthday girl! We had a great weekend in April when we went to Disney on Ice to celebrate Kate's birthday. It was a great time filled with family and friends and a couple of precious little friends of Kate's: Delaney and Kate!

Delaney, Kate & Kate

It only takes a short time spent with Kate to understand what a happy little girl she truly is! She is forever smiling, and talking, and skipping, and smiling, and talking, and helping, and talking, and smiling...

Birthday Bike!

...and dressing up...

50's Day in 2nd grade!

...and loving on all animals...

Easter bunnies...for real!

...and she likes going to the mall...

Got some glasses this year!

...and is crazy about going to school and reading...

Only A's the entire school year!

...totally enjoys being outdoors as well as helping others...

Planting Memaw's garden for Mother's Day!

 ...and loves her River.

Every girl needs her very own dog!

Christmas 2012

Since Jack & Kate were at their dad's for Christmas, Travis stayed in Canyon and the Webb kiddo's traditionally go to their grandparents, our gift exchange celebration of Christmas came a little later than normal. I know, we haven't been doing this long enough to know what normal is for our blended family...or if we even have a normal! However, we had a wonderful afternoon/evening together with the Webb side:

Cadden on his scooter; Mr. Happy - Jeremiah; Always moving Verna

Terry's folks: Meemaw & Grandpa -- Reese and his sweetie, Derien

Adam & Alyssa -- Jared, wiggleworm and Alysha

We had a blast opening gifts and watching the littles play with all their loot. We then feasted on homemade lasagna & chocolate crumble balls for dessert. For me especially, it was exciting & meaningful to have all of Terry's family together during this time.

Two days later, Jack & Kate came home. They had a fun time at their dad's, but I sure was happy to have them back home. So on New Year's Eve, we had our Christmas with them. 

A couple of days later, Travis came home for a very short visit...it was certainly better than no time together at all.

I sure hope you had a wonderful Christmas season and safe New Year's. It was good to get those Christmas cards from friends we don't get to see.

Our Little Get-A-Way

For the first time ever...yes, in our short 3 years together...don't laugh too hard...Terry and I were all by ourselves for Christmas. Actual Christmas Eve and Day! Terry's foresight, he did not want me sulking around the house missing Jack & Kate so he proposed a little trip "somewhere." I got to pick! So arrangements were made for 3 nights in the Chuckwagon Bed and Breakfast in Fredericksburg, Texas. (A little history: my Gran lived in Fredericksburg, as well as my only Aunt & Uncle on my dad's side, and there were many weeks in the summer and Thanksgivings spent there.) We arrived on December 22 and drove home Christmas Day.

 This was our little get-a-way retreat for the 3 nights there. Cozy, quaint, hospitable, quiet, tasty, relaxing and comfy...that about sums it up. Sam & Becky own the B&B and prepare a wonderful breakfast along with some interesting and entertaining conversation.

 We enjoyed a little shopping, good eats, more shopping, took in a show...no I mean live show...musical with some good ole laughs at the RockBox. Ok now, back to shopping... Poor Terry, my looking in each store allowed some time for him to explore and learn his new phone a little better! 

Drove to San Antonio thru route of Bourne (yes, for more shopping) and enjoyed lunch on the River Walk, the Alamo and the hub-ub of the area. Fun! Totally Relaxing! No Schedule! We could not have enjoyed it more...not to mention, we had so much to look forward to in celebrating Christmas with our kiddos back home a few days after Christmas.