Jack turned the big 2!!

These pictures are in backward order but oh well... This was Jack's big gift from us for his bday.

Of course a Cowboy jersey from Uncle Matty and Lindsey

I love that he kind of knew what was going on this year. He helped me open his gifts.

My big boy!!!

He loved his lawn mower he got too from Aunt Liz and Uncle Casey.

The dessert table...

The party was a pirate theme so my sis n law made these amazing cake pops.

Jack and I share the same birthday so we had to get a little pic the evening of our actual bdays.

My little man

More pics from the party...

We had a little family dinner and cake the night of our birthday.

The breakfast doughnuts for his bday.

He was just waking up



Thanks dad!!

American Girl

The pictures say enough but we spent the day for her "party" at the AG doll store and bistro. We shopped for clothes for her new doll, ate lunch, and Kate even got her hair done at the salon.

Hayden and her big cousin Maryn.

Blowing out her candles, she got a big piece of cake with chocolate ice cream, whipped cream and sprinkles.

Taking a pic with the doll of the month.

Hayden and Kate

Kate getting her hair done at the salon... really, this is the craziest thing.


My beautiful girl

Hayden is 4!

These are in a weird order but anyway, she got an American Girl doll for her birthday. That was her big gift and then for her party we took her to the store and bistro in Dallas for a girls day.

This is the newest member of our family "Kate". She named her herself after her own middle name, so cute.



Her birthday cake!!!


The morning of her birthday. Daddy went and got her doughnuts and she got a mini pillow pet.



The Birthday Fairy came to visit during the night and was there when she woke up ;)

Soccer 2011

My sweet little Hayden started soccer last weekend. She actually did pretty well. She is playing for a club soccer in the "tots" league. They just learn the fundamentals and basics of soccer.

Working on some drills with the coach and Daddy.

Now for the big game :)

My little athlete, well, we will see. I actually wanted to start her in cheerleading this fall but I figured since she already does dance that this would be something fun for Daddy to get into with her, at least until little Bubba starts playing sports. We'll see how it goes and then try cheerleading next fall.

First day back...

Hayden's first day back at MDO.

My beautiful girl, love her so much.

Oh so much has been going on...

There has been so much going on over the last two weeks and lots to come over the next month or so. I am plum wore out already! For those that know, my daddy has suffered from COPD and emphysema for the last 7 yrs or so and for the last 2 years it has gotten worse. He has been hospitalized several times for it and one time even intubated and in ICU. He was pretty much oxygen dependent anytime he was up and doing anything. Needless to say, it has been horrible for him and my mom. Well about 6 months ago they started working him up for a lung transplant, yes...lung transplant, scary stuff. He has been listed for a little over 3 months and they have had a couple of "false" alarms. Well, last Saturday August 27th they got the call. They had 2 good lungs and he was a match. I was at work of course, I rarely work but of all the days I was at work when my mom called. Anyway, I left immediately and headed home to get the family and we headed to my parents house. By the time it was all said and done, they started his surgery at 1:00 a.m. on Sunday the 28th. It was a 7 hr surgery and we were all settled into the waiting room for the long night of waiting. They called us every 2 hrs and then at 7 a.m. they called and said they were closing him up and that everything had gone perfectly. The doc came and talked to us and said he had done really well and was going to ICU for recovery. My daddy did wonderful and everyone had been so impressed with his recovery and outcome. He was only on the vent for 2 days and out of ICU in 3. He is going to be discharged today which means he was there just a total of 9ish days. My dad says he feels good and can't believe how easy it is to breath now. There is a long rode ahead with lots of recovering and a life time of medications but we are all on board and supporting each other as a family. HE is amazing and I am so grateful this finally happened. We were all very anxious about it but now that it has come and gone we are so incredibly thankful and just looking forward to his rehab and recovery. Our family is so thankful for the prayers and well wishes and so thankful to have our old daddy back. We feel very blessed and now feel like we have a bright long future with my dad.

Busy couple of months

We have so much going on over the next couple of months. This is always our busy time of the year and then we get a small break and holiday season starts :) I love that we have so much going on and this is by far my fave time of year but I also always get so stressed out about it. Oh well, c'est la vie! Hayden starts back to MDO the 22nd, eeek. I am not looking forward to it. I know it is good for her but I feel like she has so many years of school ahead of her and she is still my baby, that I want her home with me as long as possible. I approached the idea with Scott of leaving her out this semester and he said no way, she loves her school. I know she does it just makes me sad to send her off twice a week. Other than MDO, she will have dance again once a week and then she is staring soccer in September. It's on Saturdays and it's a beginner 3 and 4 yr old's team. I think it will be so much fun for her and very entertaining for the adults. I'm really looking forward to it and I think Daddy is too. Finally something he can get into with her. Hayden will be a busy little bee this fall. We have Jack, Hayden's and my birthday's all in September too. As for my sweet little Jack he is still going to be home with Mama. I'm definitely not ready to send him off to MDO. Maybe in the spring or next fall. Anyway, he will have his 2nd bday party and other than that he will just follow along to all of sister's activities. Fine with him as long as he has his Mama :) So excited for the next few months and hopefully this heat wave will go away and fall will be here soon. Hope everyone is having a fantastic week!!!

Love,

Mindy