Fun Pictures from Mike

As an advertising mechanism, Mike and his coworkers created this adorable bear near the Monterra Village - some luxury apartments owned by Hillwood. It sits at I35W and North Tarrant Pkwy.

Also, this week - not sure where this was taken - Mike came across a fire hydrant that was missing a cap and some honey bees decided to call it home. Isn't this interesting?

Megan & Ryan start 4th Grade

Well, this is it! Megan & Ryan started their final year of elementary school yesterday! It seems like just yesterday they were starting kindergarten!

(Below) Here they are at home before that first day of kindergarten! (Below) Here they are with their Kindergarten teacher Mrs. Smith

And here they are at home before they left for school to start the 4th grade!

(Below) Here is Megan being silly!

(below) Megan being serious!

(below) Megan being silly again! Maybe, just maybe, a hint of Diva?

(Below) Here is Ryan!!

(below) Ryan being silly

(below) Megan & Ryan together!

Family Visit - Part 2

On Wednesday July 15th - we headed out to Six Flag Over Texas. I didn't do much photo documentation - but here is what I did actually take pictures of:

BELOW: Jason, Mackenzie, Courtney and Megan in the GINORMOUS chair!

BELOW: Melissa and Mackenzie - I don't know why - but I had a crazy urge to snap this picture.

BELOW: Megan and Ryan in the GINORMOUS chair.

BELOW: Superheroes were roaming the park and Mike jumped in to have his picture taken with Wonder Woman!

BELOW: Here is "Mighty Mike" and the Super Heroes!

Family Visit - Part 1

July 14th. Mike's Mom Margie and his sister Melissa, her hubby Scot and daughters Melissa are here for a visit. We played Putt-Putt earlier that day and then everyone was hot and sweaty and ready for a swim. We had the pleasure of being able to use a nearby pool for the evening. We cooked a yummy dinner of lasagna, salad and garlic bread, dessert and took along a cooler of drinks.

BELOW: Here are Mackenzie, Courtney and Megan eating poolside.

BELOW: Jason and Ryan eating poolside!

BELOW: Melissa (center) and Courtney (right):

BELOW: Here is Scot. He had just come back from running over 11 miles!

BELOW: Mike's Mom Margie (in yellow) and Melissa:

BELOW: Here is Mike - proudly sporting one of the nieces sunglasses!

BELOW: The 5 cousins in age order: Jason 15, Mackenzie 14, Courtney 11, Ryan 9 and Megan 9.

Megan was invited to be on Team ASI Gymnastics

In early June - we received a call that Megan has been invited to be on a gymnastics team. She has been taking girls gymnastics a bit less than 2 years. She participates in floor, beam, bars and vault.

She is in Level 2 and now takes class 2 hours per week. She has a practice leotard now - and later will get a competition leotard, a warm-up suit and a gym bag. The girls will compete later this year, but we don't know when yet.

Here Megan is in her brand new Team ASI practice leotard!

Learners Permits-- July 3rd

July 3rd - a day to be remembered. Jason and his friends Cody and Dylan (from baseball) and all us moms - met at the local DMV to get their Driving Learners Permits.

7:30 a.m. walking up to stand in line. Dylan (left), Jason (center) and Cody (right) I think these looks are a combination of the early hour and embarrassment that I was taking their picture to commemorate the day!


Below: We are too cool to have our pictures taken !

Below: REALLY Mom!!? Dylan ducked and Cody hid behind his hands!

BElOW: We aren't worried - we are cool!

Below: Jason is proud of his permit - but embarrassed I am documenting it in front of everyone!

Below: The three Amigos... All VERY cool with their new drivers permits.

From THAT to THIS

On June 22nd, I injured the middle finger on my right (dominant) hand while cleaning the carpet in my van. I saw the orthopedist on the 25th and he confirmed that I tore the tendon that goes over the top of that first knuckle completely off the bone. However, it did not chip the bone. The official diagnosis is called "Mallet Finger". My injury also includes a "Swan Neck Deformity" . This is where that second knuckle was being forcefuly hyper-extended. So, what to do now?

For the next 8+ weeks this "Stack Splint" is my new best friend. I must wear it 24/7. No exceptions. It holds the joint in the proper position to, hopefully, allow the tendon to re-attach itself to the bone. If I bend the first joint for even one second, it will undo any healing that has taken place.

Isn't this attractive? The Dr. was not all that encouraging about results of any potential surgical correction. So, I am being very compliant with wearing it. And, I must say that my finger is much more comfortable IN the splint than OUT of it. This isn't a painful injury - just really awkward. Please wish me luck for complete healing without surgery!

Trick Photography?

Ooops! That just doesn't look right!

Yesterday - I hurt my finger. Mike and I were scrubbing the carpet in my van. I was scrubbing and the tip of my middle finger caught on a ridge in the carpet and buckled under - I also heard a loud POP sound,

I see an orthopedist Thursday - but unofficially - it seems that I have torn the tendon on the top of my finger resulting in the inability to straighten the tip of my finger.

It isn't terribly painful - but it is awkward.

Swimming Lessons

The twins started some private swim lessons this week. They have 4 more days next week. I think they are doing quite well. It has been a few years since they took lessons.

It was time for some "tuning up".

This is Megan working on the back stroke:

Another of Megan working on the backstroke:
Ryan working on backstroke:

Time to wipe our faces!
Megan working on breaststroke:

Ryan working on breaststroke:

Ryan doing freestyle:

Megan doing freestyle:

Megan practicing her kicking with her coach Olivia:

Ryan practicing his kicking with his coach Chase:

I think that they are doing very, very well! I can't wait to see what next week brings!

Dang Tomato Hornworms!!!! !!*%#!**!!

For the second time in less than a week - we have had a VERY hungry Tomato Hornworm chomping on our three tomato plants! We had two last year nearly kill our jalapeno plants before we figured out what was happening.


This year, what tipped us off was all the greenish black poops that look like miniature grenades all over the patio and on the leaves of the tomato plant. My twins and I looked and looked - and the dang worms are always in plain site! Megan spotted it with her eagle eyes.


See below:




Could you see it? That sucker was longer and bigger around than my little finger! No joke. Here it is with Jason's hand next to it for comparison:


We found another one the SAME SIZE this morning. Crimony! Again - it was Megan's eagle eyes that spotted the thing hiding in plain sight.


They bleed green if you squash them. I think I will go and feed the catfish in the pond with it.