Coserv Dinner

Every year our electricity provider provides a barbecue dinner. 

 It is our new tradition to go and enjoy free food and a 20 dollar credit on our bill for participating!

Ben's Tooth

Ben had his first loose tooth. He was different than all my girls. My girls were excited about it and would constantly wiggle it. Not Ben, he did not like it and would never wiggle it. So the tooth ended up getting imbedded in his gums sideways. So at the dentist I asked her to pull it. She said, "No, I don't want to be the bad guy." I said, "I am paying you to e the bad guy." So they ha him lay on me so I could hold him down. They never did pull it, Ben still wouldn't let them wok at it long enough to get it out. It finally fell out a few days later.

Papa Tom Part 3

Cheddar's

A Texas Tradition!

One of our favorite things to do when Mom and Dad come is to go to Cheddar's.

Grandpa Tom was super sweet and offered a night out with all the kids on him!

My kids choice was of course Cheddar's!

The fish tank is always a hit!

If Grandpa wasn't at the pool playing he was on the floor playing with the boys and even Hannah sometimes.  

My kids loved every minute of having their Papa Tom here.

It would warm my heart to see them enjoy their Grandpa.

Papa Tom has been trained well by Mama Jan.

He took pictures of all of us on Sunday.

I'm so glad he did, because I am not well trained and always forget.

This whole visit was such a tender mercy.

It was such a treat to have my Dad visit.

I loved that he wanted to come for two weeks.

My favorite part I think is I realized what a good listener my Dad is.

I don't think I ever stopped talking the whole visit and he just listened.

Love him!

Papa Tom! Part 2

We live at the pool in the summer.  It is one house away, we walk there.

We take lots of snacks and stay for about 3 hours.

My friends loved that Papa Tom came to the pool, they told me it was like having a grandpa for everyone.  I sit in the shade and talk to my friends the whole time, not Dad he gets in the water and plays with the kids.  

THE WHOLE TIME!  

The poor guy, we wore him right out!

For my Father's Day gift to my Dad we went on a date to the 

   George W. Bush Library/Museum.  

We spent about 2 1/2 hours there and it just wasn't long enough.  If you know my Dad you know he loves to read everything and doesn't want to miss anything.

Dad and I in the Oval Office

Dad looks like he belongs, right?

Loved spending time with my Dad

He makes a great date!

Loved having Dad here with his smart phone.

We had different days we needed to find things to do so he would just go to his smart phone and find us places to go visit.

"Little Chapel in the Woods"

First Lady's of Texas Dress Exhibit

One night I took the kids to the pool and Dad needed a nap.

(We had wore him right out)

So I entertained myself by doing some selfies.

Papa Tom! Part 1

            It all started when I arrived to church and was told by Dale that he was being called as the Second Counselor in our Ward Bishopric.  I was in shock with just that information and then Dale leaned over to me during sacrament meeting and whispered in my ear, "I would really like your Dad to come and set me apart as a High Priest."  I thought wow that is really sentimental of my unsentimental husband.  Then he leaned in to whisper, "It will make it possible that our boys priesthood line would go through your Dad."  Then the opening hymn began to play and it was How Firm of Foundation.  Talk about not being able to keep it together.  It was such a special Sunday.  One that I will never forget.  I even felt that during the hymn maybe my Grandparents were there for our special Sunday.  I sent Dad a text during the meeting and of course my Dad had the best response.  He told me he would be honored and he would do whatever he could to make it possible to come.

That was Sunday and by Thursday Papa Tom was on a plane to come see us!

Papa Tom's flight was a little late so we grabbed .50 cones at the Burger King across from the airport!

My Mom had a lot to do at home and couldn't join my Dad.

My Dad came by himself and that was new.  

We just took Dad where ever we were going and it was so great!

Hawaiian Falls

Hannah got to take her Dad and her Papa Tom to her Activity Days Father Daughter Activity

The Best Father's Day Ever....

              Dad set Dale apart as a High Priest and then got to stand in the circle when he was set apart as the second counselor. 

It truly was a tender mercy that I will never forget!

As a gift for Father's Day all the kids showed Papa Tom one of their talents....

Ben showed Papa Tom how he learned to read this year.  

He picked the longest book ever to read to him.  I didn't know that was the case until he started reading to him.  30 minutes later Ben finally finished the book and in true Papa Tom fashion he listened to every word!

All the girls played for Papa Tom.

It really was the best Father's Day ever!

Summer

My favorite time of the year is summer in Texas! 

 Yep i said it, and I'm not lying. 

 LOVE having my kids home and love our days going to the pool and having no school schedule. 

 It's the best! 

 We always start out by going to the library. 

 I always have good intentions to go all summer but I usually only make it once.

Girls Camp

This year Madilyn got to go to Girls Camp for her first time! 

 It was hot but she still loved it! 

 All my girls embrace the girls camp experience, and this momma is so glad about that.

Orchestra Banquet

This was such a special night. Gene Pike Middle School Orchestra has been such a gift to my family. Mr. Maciel had been the director for 6 years and is what you would call a "golden educator." He inspires the kids to love music and to love to play. Haylee had the privilege of having him and now Madi also had him this year. This was a very bitter sweet night. Madi received 6th grade female cello player of the year, but then Mr. Maciel made the announcement that he would be leaving Pike Middle School. I wish you could have seen the faces of everyone, complete shock. Then he was given a 5 minute standing ovation from the kids and parents. All 100 kids and their parents cried. Never seen anything like it. Mr. Maciel you will be missed.

Mikayla, Madilyn, Amanda