Happy Anniversary...Ten years ago today, John and I were married. We had a wonderful celebration and enjoyed having so many people there to help us celebrate. I look back on all the pictures and am amazed at all we have been through. Hard to believe it has already been 10 years. Happy Anniversary, John. I love you.

Ride 'Em Cowgirl...Several weeks ago we stopped off at our friend's, The Littlefield's, for a visit after seeing family in Oklahoma. Julia was enamored with Patrick's cowboy hat and stick pony. So he loaned it to her for a couple of days since they were coming down to TX shortly. Never to be separated, here is a cute picture of her with her "horse".

A Few More Pictures from 4th of July...if they weren't so darn cute, I wouldn't have to keep posting. Love those squirrelly kids!

More 4th of July pics...

July 4th...It has really been a whirlwind summer. Much faster than I thought. Hard to believe we have only 6 more weeks until school starts. Anyway, the Elliott's went back to Marlow, OK (John's hometown) for 4th of July. We had a really great time visiting with lots of old friends including the Terrell family who put up with us for 3 days...ha! And of course, the kids just loved staying in a hotel with a pool...ha! It really is the little things. Marlow has the largest 4th of July celebration including awesome fireworks in SW Oklahoma. They have a parade, games/rides/etc. in the park, and the wonderful fireworks show with live music. Julia had her first pony ride in the park. She loved it but wanted to go faster...surprise! John took the kids all over town to show them where he went to school and to show them all the history of the Marlow brothers since the town is located right on the Chisholm Trail. It was really interesting. Jacob is a country boy at heart and would move there in a heart beat. We even took the kids out to the old farm so they could see where daddy grew up and lived. Luckily, the current owners were not there so we could walk around a bit. I stood lookout when they went in the backyard. Just have to say...I would not be good at a life of crime. I was so nervous the whole time...ha! Guess that's a good thing. But the kids got to see the handprints made on the old back porch by grandma, big daddy, greg, chris, and john. Jared isn't on there since he wasn't born yet. Hard to believe so much time has passed. It was a really great weekend celebrating our country, freedom, and friends. Happy 4th of July!

Rock Pit...Today was an overcast mid 80's day so I started the project that I meant to start last month. THE ROCK PIT! What??!?! You may ask. Underneath the kid's playfort in the back yard is a big week farm. I determined at the beginning of the summer to turn it into something they could use and enjoy. I was not hip on sand after living at the beach. I did not want more sand in the house. Well, I say in a magazine or somewhere the use of small pebbles instead of sand. Eureka! They could play with all their sand toys but not have the sand mess. A momma's dream! So, today I completed the weeding, laid down the weed barrier, put down 1 layer of river rock, and 1 layer of pebbles. It is a sight to behold. I would like to put 2-3 more bags of pebble in just so they have lots of room for digging. However, they got started today and spent a good hour just hanging out in the shade of the play fort digging/moving rocks around with sand toys, dump trucks, whatever. And of course, the piece de resistance (sorry, no inflection on my keyboard) was when they could just hose each others legs off at the end and it turned into a water gun fight! Go summer! Isn't that what it is all about?!?

20th High School Reunion...The kids and I made it back to OKC for my 20th high school reunion this last weekend. How is that possible?!?! I still feel like I am fresh out of college. Of course, according to all the older people in my world, their minds stay in their 20's and 30's so they are just shocked to look in the mirror. I am beginning to understand what they are staying. We had a great weekend! Unfortunately, John had to work but he did get a wonderful opportunity to go out and visit the vineyard of his flight surgeon before he headed out to work. He has been invited several times so I am glad he finally got to go tour the vineyard. Cool. Anyway, back to the reunion...(see...I even digress in writing...ha) Got to OKC Friday afternoon and got to stay with my sister, Rebecca, and family again. The wonderful treat was that her mother, Darian, (my Godmother) was in town visiting. I had not had the opportunity to see her in many years. So, we got to catch up a little. Friday night was the casual/social night of the reunion as Cafe Nova in OKC. It was hot as woo-ie but got to catch up with many old friends especially Kendra and Kara. Nice. 20 years is definitely better than 10 years because we aren't busy trying to impress each other any more. Of course, I was reminded several times during the reunion of my spiked "Pat Benatar" hair. Apparently it was a hit and all I was trying to be was different. Guess I succeeded since that is what people remember. I also managed to squeeze in a visit with my sister, Teresa, and brother, Doug, which I loved. I took the kids out to my friend Tracy's farm in Piedmont. They are renovating a 1950's farmhouse but I promise it is the most idyllic spot I have seen in a long time complete with beautiful trees, a fishing pond, pumpkin patch, garden, porches all around the house, a horse, a donkey, 2 sheep, and a dog. Really great! Her son, Cole, took Jacob and Julia out fishing at the pond. Before we knew it, Julia came running up the hill with a fish in hand screaming, "I caught a fish! I caught a fish!" Imagine her pleasure at catching her first fish about the size of a grown up's hand. After a quick celebration, the fish was taken out of the house and back to the pond. What a day! And for that matter...what a weekend!