Long Trip

Okay for many you, you already know that we lost a wonderful man this last week. PaPaw Long went to be with Jesus and is already basking in his love and fishing with the best. The trip was extremely long and along the way we had many pit stops to get through. However, this time it was a little more fun. We found bluebonnets and paintbrushes. Of course we had to get pictures of Shaleigh with them. Wonderful pictures.....

During the time of the funeral we got reacquainted with our nephews and nieces. We have new memories of them and the time we had with them. We have Forreste, Kacey, Tommy, Steven, Montana, Emerie, and Haleigh. We even managed to get a good picture of them all together.

Our family has changed with the loss of a wonderful loving man but we will continue on stronger due to his love.

T-Ball Time 2010

Wow T-Ball began tonight with the Astros playing their first game. I wish that I could tell you what the score was but I was just a little busy. Dan and I along with James, and Stephen stepped up to be coaches for our kids team. After two practices the real game began. We have some awesome kids on our team this year and they have proven themselves with every hit and catch they accomplished each inning.

Yes there were some tears, from Shaleigh, when she wasn't able to get the ball as it flew past her. Plus she just really wanted the ball and her teammate Cutter almost got them all. I even believe I heard your not my best friend anymore. Ah the drama of kids. That's okay by the end of the game all was well again as we congratulated every player and told them they did a wonderful job.

Many more Monday nights to go....more posting later.

4 Years Old Today 4/21/10

It is so hard to believe that 4 years ago today we received a phone call that would change our lives forever. They said they had a hispanic child and asked us what we thought. I said hispanic kids need as much love as the next...the next words changed our lives forever...come get your daughter.

We have had a blast the last 4 years and look forward to many more as she grows and gets to experience all the new things the world has to offer her. We would never trade her for a million bucks....we are so proud of all that she has accomplished in that short of a time. She has attended playschool for 2 years now and about a month ago she started to read. This spring and summer she of course turned 4 and gets to play T-Ball, take swimming lessons, and also play soccer.

Easter Time

Well Easter has come and gone and I am just now getting it blogged. Slow much....yes I am....have way to much going on. Right now we are in the process of starting T-Ball: games on Monday night at 6:00 starting April 26th and practices on Thursday nights at 5:30, Dance class on Monday nights from 4-5, Gymnastics on Tuesday nights at Amarillo College from 6:30-7:30, church on Wednesday night, and manage to have the weekends off unless we go to Lubbock. Can't wait until school is out she will drop about three of those so we won't be booked every night.

Okay back to Easter....we had a very busy one with cousins from all over coming: C, H, J, and Kenna all came to hunt eggs on Sunday and they hunted approximately 120 plastic and candy eggs. They had so much from going from lot to lot looking for eggs. We had them spread out over 3 lots and some of them hidden. They manged to find all but one that I found when I mowed. On Saturday they hunted at the city wide egg hunt and had a blast. We have been so blessed this year with cousins for Shaleigh to hunt with and hopefully we will continue it for many years.

Okay enjoy the post and the pictures. Love to all.

AC Gymnastics

Last year we had tried to do gymnastics in Plainview but to my surprise Shaleigh wouldn't go into the classroom with the other kids and do the routines. I really wanted Shaleigh to be in gymnastics so that she could learn the proper way to tumble and do flips, cart wheels, and etc.

So we decided to sit out for the rest of the term I just couldn't see forcing her into going to class and screaming and trying to get to me for the whole class. I was a little disappointed due to the reasons mentioned above. But I have to remember that what I want for her and what she wants to do are two different things.

This year to my surprise when asked if she wanted to go back to gymnastics she said yes. I explained to her that she would have to go to class and participate in it or it was not worth going. She agreed to go and do the routines. The warm up was the hardest for her to sit through. She absolutely hated that part.

So to AC we went to sign up for gymnastics....she loved it. We went into the gym and she saw all the awesome equipment she would grow up on and away she went with the kids her age. Now she is tumbling all over the place and is learning the proper way to do the above mentioned. I have been so proud of Shaleigh and how far she has come in the last year. Going from not wanting to leave me and go to class to practically telling me to go away so that she can go to class. She has accomplished so much. Also I wanted to show you her gymnastics pictures that we got tonight.

Love to all

My big new friend.....two socks

Shaleigh and I went out to her Grandpa Oscar and Grandma Kim's house to visit their horse. This was to be the first time that Shaleigh had been anywhere near a horse. Grandpa Oscar had the lead rope already tie on and he brought two socks over to meet Shaleigh. She did really well and the horse seemed to love her. It would stand so patiently and let her come up to it to pet it and to feed it.

They decided to take it for a walk and it would keep looking back to see if Shaleigh was still there.....don't worry Shaleigh was just a few steps to the side of him. The horse seemed to love Shaleigh's hair and would walk toward her when she had food in her hand. I think this is the beginning of a beautiful relationship.

My hope is that it helped teach Shaleigh to not be afraid of things that are bigger than her and that she can handle anything God throws her way. I have all the confidence in her and her abilities and I look forward to seeing them develop over the coming years. Thanks Oscar and Kim for letting us invade your place so that Shaleigh could have her first experience with a horse.

Meeting the Cousins

Well I would of course post pictures but I'm not able to. We first met the kids a couple of weeks ago. Shaleigh walked into the house stopped in mid stride at seeing the kids.....looked up at Uncle Lee and asked if they were her cousins. He said yes of course they are....they introduced themselves and away they went. They had so much fun together and they didn't have any problems. K and Shaleigh are like to peas in a pod. What one does the other one does and Ham isn't far behind.

The Friday before Spring break started we went down and went swimming with everyone and the kids had fun. When Shaleigh would climb out of the hot tub (don't worry the water wasn't that hot) the older two weren't far behind her. K would jump into the pool but laid backwards and almost hit her head....about gave me a heart attack. Shaleigh is so used to the water we don't have to worry about her at all. The other two we weren't too sure about....all in all we had a good time visiting and swimming. I believe we are all ready for Spring and Summer.

That's about it on this front...talk to ya later.