summertime

summertime is finally here and with the exception of dreading the texas heat for another 4 straight months, we are really excited about it. we officially began our summer with a trip into to visit family. we left immediately after micah's kindergarten graduation. he was so adorable. they sang a few songs they had learned troughout the year and then each received their "diplomas." Micah was one of the few students who received an extra award--the athletic award!!! we were suprised to say the least. not that he is not athletic, its just one of the ones we would have expected the least. we were very proud of him.

the trip to vist our families went well. our children traveled extremely well, since they were so excited. i think they would have traveled eight straight days if that's what it took! they really had looked forward to seeing their cousins and grandparents. in paducah we ere able to have the much craved chongs and taco johns. we also wnjoyed a birthday party for all the kids. it was nice just doing it all at the same time. the kids had christmas in june!! while we were in my uncle had a pretty severe heart attack. this is my uncle who i had always been very close to. it was a blessing that i was able to be there to visit him in the hospital. we also had an old fashioned fish fry with my family which was so incredible. i had been craving fish and it hit the spot perfectly! thanks mom and dad for making it. we sat outside and talked and went down to my grandmothers jut the three of us girls for a trip down memory lane. one of the hightlights for me was a visit to strattons. strattons is the place bret and i went on our first official date. it is an old fashioned, authentic fifties soda shop/ hamburger joint. we enjoyed it and took my parents and kids along, too. it was so nice to see all our neices and nephews. they had all grown soooo much.
we returned from a quick trip thinking we would be sad to have to leave, but ironically, coming home felt good. i guess that is a good thing. home is home no matter where it is and i'm glad we are happy to come home to it.
the kids an i are doing sun and fun this summer at the ark (my new place of employment). it is kind of a summer day camp that meets on tuesdays and thursdays during june and july. we are all enjoying it thankfully! it is more compact than a regular schedule, but a little more relaxed.the rest of the days we are spending recreationally--swimming, sleeping, watching movies, library, being with daddy, and chillin' in general. it has been so nice to have non busy days in life again.
i really love not having to wake to an alarm, though i am waking with the sun at 6:30 anyways! oh well, at least i get to lay there for a while until i choose to get up! that is so nice!!
i plan on getting some more painting done soon. any of you board and want somethng to do, feel free to meet me at my house and we'll paint. i would like to get some done.!
i just found out tonight that my sisters are coming to visit me june 27-june 30. i am so excited. it will be so much fun. i love them so much and wish so desparately i could be near them all the time. it means so much that they are taking their vacation time to come visit me! thanks, sisters! i love you both.