Rewind back to last summer 2013..... Part 2

On another day I took the kids and my mom to the Ft. Worth Stockyards to watch the Longhorn Cattle Drive down the cobbled streets of old town Ft. Worth.  It's a fun place to go.  Kids love it and there is a lot to see and do in the area.

Cute cousins waiting for the longhorns

Parker & Mikayla with a young longhorn

Watching a wild west show and shootout 

The Ft. Worth Stockyards is also the location of many museums, the Cowboy Hall of Fame and the Stockyard's Championship Rodeo.   

This is the Cowtown Coliseum where the Rodeo takes place

This wall mural makes it feel like Jessie is right there hanging onto that Bull

Love this one of Mikayla and Parker as well.  

Jessie being way into being a cowboy and a bull rider enjoyed the museum and coliseum.  We had a great day visiting the shops and buying mementos to remember this visit.  

The next few days consisted of roasting marshmallows for s'mores in our backyard fireplace while enjoying the beautiful June evenings, playing games, celebrating a birthday and enjoying spending time together.  

Mmmm.... Yummy Roasted Marshmellows

We had the awesome pleasure of being able to celebrate Melanee's birthday while she was here.  Aunt Valerie made that cool soccer cake.  I hope she enjoyed her special day even if she was far away from home.  

Wishing Melanee a Happy Birthday

As I reflect upon this time, I remember experiencing such joy and happiness to have a houseful of loved ones.  We had such a great time together.  I will tell you more in Part 3 coming soon.  

Baby Baby!

On Wednesday, June 6, 2012 at 1:59 pm we became the proud grandparents of a new grandson.

 Jacob David Romney

8 lbs. 12 oz. 20.5 L

Welcome to the world little man

(I can't wait to meet him)

The new little family

We are so very happy for Natalie & David

They will be amazing parents!

Love You!

Look who is turning 16 years old today....

He is!

My Jessie!

Sniff - Sniff 

I don't have a lot of recent photos so I will be taking a little walk down memory lane and posting some of then and now.  

Jessie loves his cousin's and they love him

This is his beloved cousin Lilly who adores him

After all he is pretty Adorable!

Look Out!  He will be driving soon

I'd stay off the roads if I were you..... LOL  j/k

He is pretty darn handsome!

Skateboarder

A memory that keeps flashing back when I think of him skateboarding is when he was maybe 5 or 6 years old and received his very first skateboard.  The first thing he did was take the skateboard to the railing of the cement stairs going out of our front door.  He decided he was going to try to skateboard down the railing.  Oh my goodness I just about died.  

He is fearless!

Saxophone Player

Wish this picture wasn't so fuzzy

Jessie with his Dad, Sister, and their dog Dexter

Life in Cedar City

Cousins are wonderful friends

Visiting mom in Montana

A birthday from the past

He is an awesome Gamer!

A wonderful brother

A much younger picture 

And more to follow...

A blast from the past...

being goofy with goofy

He loved playing Army Men for hours

That look on his face makes me smile

He loved his spaghetti 

And was great at being messy... 

A cute messy though!

Who me?  Another look that makes me chuckle

Way back when he was very small

And loving his horsey that Grandpa made

Yeehaw!

Always a Family!

An oldie but a goodie

Jessie has been through some really tough trials recently, and is making  great strides in improving the situation.  

I am so proud of how responsible he is being and proud of all of his accomplishments.  

He is a becoming a wonderful young man!  

Stay strong my son.  I love you! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

JESSIE!

Who turns 18 years old today?

My Baby Girl

Let me get my kleenex

18 years ago today I was given the most precious gift one mother can give to another

The precious gift of adoption

Thank You KV... I love you Forever!

My life was blessed with this beautiful girl that I got to watch grow up into a wonderful young woman.  

She also graduates in a few weeks!

Life has taken us through many twists and turns, many happy and sad moments

Having you in my life, my sweet daughter, has been the most fulfilling, most rewarding, wonderful and most heart-wrenching (at times), moments in my life that I will always hold dear to me. 

I will always treasure the gift you are to me

No matter where life takes you, you will always be my daughter

And I will always be right here for you with open arms.  

My heart is filled with love for you

A love that only a mother has for her daughter

The kind of love that you will only begin to understand when you hold your own baby girl in your arms

I will love you forever and for always!

My beautiful baby girl has so much of life ahead and many adventures to look forward to 

I can't wait to see where life will take her 

Hope it's not too far away

I wish her much happiness and success.... and to feel that she is  loved.... ALWAYS.... Because she is!  

My Daughter 

You'll never really know, my dear,
Just how much you mean to me,
A mother's love, buried so deep,
That only my heart can see.

When I sit and really stare at you,
All I can do is grin,
Somewhere down deep inside,
I see myself within.

I'd never change a thing in you,
I thank God that your so fine,
Even when your at your worst,
I'm so proud that you are mine.

The roads we have traveled,
were not always that good,
I would take back all the pain you've felt,
Only if I could.

I know that I'm not perfect,
It's the best that I can do,
But everyday, I thank the lord,
For a daughter as special as you.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

SHELLISE

I love you more!  

** Thanks to Kaitlyn for taking these great photos.

Randomisms

Just some random thoughts I have had today.....

• What to get my soon to be 18 year old daughter for her birthday and graduation?  Holy Crap.... she will be EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD!  No.....!  
• Oh NO that means my son will be turning 16 years old 3 days later!  *Gulp*

COOL GIFT IDEAS APPRECIATED

• My literature and microeconomics classes are killing me!  Can't wait to be done.  Just 3 more weeks!
• The pizza my 8 year old nephew made tonight was pretty darn good!  
• I need a VACATION!  Maybe I should take my cousin up on her offer!
• I need to get my tooth fixed, need to find a dentist first.  Ugh!
• I wonder who will be sent home on American Idol.
• I need to finish reading To Kill a Mockingbird tonight.
• I should go to the grocery store... we need milk!
• I wish I could come up with a nice big point word against my brother on Words with Friends.  He beats the crap out of me every time!  Grrr!
• I hope I am not getting a sinus infection... headache please go away!
• I really need to do better on weight watchers... I am such slacker!  
• I wonder how my kids are doing this week?  Wish they would return my calls.  :(
• I want a Vanilla Ice Cream Cone now!  See what I mean about doing better on weight watchers?  Ugh!
• Wow tomorrow is me and Dear Hubby's 4 year anniversary of the day we met. Good day!
• I'm so exhausted right now and I wish I didn't have homework to complete before I can go to bed. 
• I can't wait for Sunday's episode of Army Wives!  
• My foot hurts!

I know I'm weird! 

I can be weird on my own blog, right?  

What a Birthday Cake!

So it was my DH's birthday a couple weeks ago.  My sister, Valerie, is quite the cake maker decorator and this is what she came up with for my DH's big day.   Any of you who know my DH knows what a big fan he is of hiking and mountains, especially in Montana, so this is the perfect cake for him.

Every single thing is edible except for the animal figures... yes even those rocks!  

Billy and his brother Brad

What a cake!

That's my guy!

Going for it!  

Just so you know, it was really hard to tear into this thing and ruin such an amazing creation.  But we did it! And the cake was so delicious!  

Thanks Valerie!!!  

Happy Birthday 

Sweetheart!