Chillin' On The Patio

After our arrival on Sunday afternoon, Jim and I did the Wal-Mart run. By the time we got unpacked and all the groceries put away, I was too tired to cook. So, some of the kids went to Popeye's and picked us up some fried chicken. We ate and jumped back into the pool.

By the time it got really dark, we were tired. So we just kicked back on the patio for a long visit.


From L to R: Brooke, Meagan, Maddux, Kelli, Davin and Brian

We had some music coming through the intercom system,
so Jim took his littlest princess for a spin around the dance floor.



Davin and Uncle Brian "sharing" a Popsicle.
I don't think Uncle Brian got a single bite.

Brianne and Josh listening to Derrick spin a tale.

Jim, Will, Derrick and I were out there too.  We were just all sitting on the same side...and I didn't get up to take pictures from another angle.  WalMart wore me out!!!

It is a good thing we decided to hang out on the patio, because it wasn't long before we noticed a lot of boats on the lake in front of the house.  Lake Conroe had their 4th of July fireworks on the 3rd!

Thank goodness Brian took a photography class last semester! I can never get night pictures to come out right!

It was a beautiful ending to a beautiful day!

An Afternoon In The Pool

Okay, let me just be upfront with you.  We had a VERY UNEVENTFUL family vacation.  Just what the doctor ordered!  We swam in the pool and played in the lake and ate and watched movies and had a game of spades or two...but that was IT! 

So, I am just posting a few pictures over the next few days so that you can see the family kicking back and enjoying ourselves!

The first thing we always do at the lake house is to hit the swimming pool and this year was no different.  Here are a few pictures of the grand babies playing in the pool!  Enjoy!

Brooke and Kelli playing in the water

This is a BIG one y'all. 
Last year, Brooke would not get off the steps and really didn't even want to be there. 
This year?  Full face under water! 
Yay, for our Big Girl!!!

Davin diving right in!

Davin was 'It'

...as in, Davin was the ball being thrown around by Uncle Brian and Duck-Duck!

Maddux with 'Mater and Guido
Although he loved the water last year...this year?
Not so much!

But he would occasionally get to playing with Pappaw or one of the Uncles and forget how much he dislike it!

What Are Friends For?

On November 16, 2001, Brian and I went to see a new movie with Stacy and Tim.  Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was the name of that film.  Brian had read the book (and since back then, I read what they did, so had I) and enjoyed it.  I think Tim had as well...and so, as Stacy and I were talking one day we decided to invite our boys on a double date with their moms. 

We had a great time that evening.  We laughed as we stood in line with adults dressed in character for the afternoon viewing.  Afterwards, we discussed the things that had been left out of the movie and whether or not we thought it affected the story line.  Stacy thought it was a great movie without reading the books, so we reasoned that in the end it didn't make a huge difference.

Fast forward to November 2002 and the premiere of Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, I don't think we were able to make it opening night due to scheduling conflicts, but the four of us met up at the theatre once again for a Mom and Son double date night on opening weekend.  We had a great time and deemed that this would be our tradition for the remaining movies.

Unfortunately, by the time that Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban was released in June of 2004, the boys had lives of their own and no longer needed to attend movies with their Mothers.  They preferred to go with their friends instead.  So, being creative mothers...we took our youngest children, William and Tressa instead!  It wasn't opening weekend, it took us a little longer to get a date on the calendar...but we went none the less.

Busy lives took their toll after that and we were unable to make another movie together.  I went with Will, Brian and Brianne to see Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire in November, 2005...but after that, they went without me.  Preferring to go with friends or together at times that didn't work for me.

I watched The Order of the Phoenix, The Half Blood Prince and Deathly Hallows: Part 1 either on DVD or on pay per view at home.

I was determined that I was going to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2 in the theatre on opening weekend.  Jim was going out of town for a golf tournament, so there was nothing to distract me from attending.  (He isn't a 'go to the theatre' type and could not care less about Harry Potter if he did go!) 

I said something to the boys on Tuesday night about going only to find out that they already had plans to go with friends to the very first midnight showing.  So, I determined to go -- alone, if need be. 

Instead, I called Stacy to see if she wanted to go with me.  She hadn't seen any of the last three movies, so I wasn't sure she would.  But she took pity on me...and so we closed out the series just as we had started it all those years ago...together!

Thanks, Stacy! 

A true friend will accompany you to a movie...even when your children desert you!