12 Years

Twelve years ago today I loaded up my family, then just myself and my two beloved black kitties, and my most important worldly possessions into my little car and headed north to Dallas.  I had no job and no apartment, just my friend Dori and her sofa and my other girlfriends (I did have several job leads and had been on quite a few interviews)  All my other belongings stayed in College Station in storage and the girls and I moved in with Dori for the next 6 weeks. 
Within a week I had a temp job and in two weeks had started my permanent job at Kimball.  After six weeks, Dori and I moved into our fabulous duplex and I retrieved everything from storage.
Today I packed the kids into the car and we headed south to Dallas to go to North Park mall for storytime and lunch.  North Park is, by far, my favorite mall and as I drove into Dallas and neared the mall, I still felt like I was driving home.  Over the last two years I have grown to love Frisco, but nothing will ever feel like Dallas.  I don't think that I knew how much I would love it there.
It's been a great twelve years and I have tons of great memories. I have made tons of new friends, met the love of my life and had three beautiful children. I've had to give up my little black car, but still have one of my sweet little kitties. Time really does fly. I still remember standing outside Kristin and my apartment on Dartmouth like it was yesterday. I left around 8:00 and got to Dallas around 11:00 because I had nothing to do the next day. I can't wait to see what the next twelve years will bring.

4th of July

Our favorite fireworks and 4th of July Celebration is Kaboom Town in Addison.  It is always on July 3rd and this year July 3rd was a rainy day in north Texas.  We had been talking about going for days and so we decided to brave the rainy drizzle and go anyway.  As usual Daddy went early to save a good spot for us and the kids and I trailed behind.  Our friends, the Booths, joined us and rain or not, everyone had a great time.  The rain kept the temperatures cool and the crowds a little less than usual.  It delayed the activities a little, but did not cancel anything. 
The kids played in the rain and mud and had a great time.  Blake was tired, but loved the fireworks until he fell asleep.

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Constant Supervision

Brandt and Campbell are finally at an age where they can play alone and entertain themselves.  Campbell can play in her room for hours.  Sometimes I have to go up and check on her to make sure that she has not fallen asleep.  She makes a mess, but she has fun and is just fine by herself. 

If I can't see or hear Blake, I have to go and find him.  I guarantee he is doing something he should not be.  He will throw anything he can get his hands on in the toilet if a bathroom door is open, eat anything he can reach in the trash if the pantry door is open, empty any cabinet or drawer he can reach, throw any folded laundry he can reach on the floor, the list goes on and on.  His favorite is the remote and he knows how to change the channel.  Twice I have dried one of our remotes with a hair dryer because we found it in the toilet.  Here is some of what he has been up to...

He found an open bathroom door

What?  Me??

He steals video game remotes

He texts and drives

Summer Fun

We have been having a great summer so far. The kids went to Vacation Bible School, Brandt went to Lacrosse Camp and they have had lots of sleepovers at Oma's. Brandt is also playing summer league lacrosse. They play two games every Thursday night.

We swim almost everyday and most days Campbell's BFF Brooklyn joins us with her brother and sister. Mommy gets a friend to talk to and the kids have a great time playing in the pool together.