Our 4th of July!

I love Fireworks! To me... I need to see a Fireworks display or at least some 'sparklers' as part of my Fourth of July celebration! Now... the traffic jams AFTER the fireworks are the pits--- so....
We got our camp chairs and camped out at the police station (1/2 mile from where they were shooting off the fireworks)! Jordan read a book while we waited, Josh and Jillian fought over who got to hold the flag!-- This was Josh's turn as you can see!
OOOOOOOO---AAAAAAAHHHHHHH! We were so excited when it began-- my camera didn't do them justice!
We got on our feet and walked over to peek around the building to get a better view!
Here is Jilly watching the display-- It's her turn with the Flag-- and she was holding it HIGH!! :)
GROUP SHOT! They were NOT enthused as you can tell! haha
Here is ALL American Girl Jillian McKay Agua Fria!! as we love to call her!
All American Girl Jordan with her sidebangs!
It was fun and patriotic-- It was actually the 3rd of July but on the 4th we got together for some BBQ and Pool Fun with our great friends The Boyds and Miller families-- and some extended family of the Boyds-- We had a Volleyball Tournament-- Adults only while the kids were all banned to the Hot Tub-- they played Hide and Seek around us while we played Vball--

I was right to insist we go to the Fireworks the night before because we could HEAR the booms from the fireworks nearby but couldn't see anything. The only thing I missed was singing the National Anthem with a big group of Americans-- I really LOVE this country we live in-- I always get a tight chest and feelings of pride and gratitude when we STAND and SING!!

It was a wonderful 4th of July weekend all and all!

It's been awhile!

Sorry I haven't updated our family blog for awhile. While the facebook bug has bit me.... it's more like, I just haven't felt like going through the effort of learning to blog from my laptop versus my old desktop which happened to die in a thunderstorm about a month ago. On my old desktop I was able to easily and effortlessly upload pics from my camera straight to my hard drive and also straight to Shutterfly simultaneously! I think I figured out how to do all that on my laptop---

So, Here I am FINALLY blogging! so what's been happening with us???

There has been tons of stuff--like weddings, school parties, summer splashing etc etc! But here is a fun update-- Jordan's Volleyball team... THE BLUE THUNDER (yes, I know they should be called The "Teal" Thunder!) got 2nd place in their division!! Dave and another dad were the coaches! I loved it that Dave was Jordan's coach! He was funny to watch as he learned to deal with 'girls' in a competitive setting! haha! Girls scream a lot!

Here is the team posing silly!
and... Here is one more shot that isn't blurry! The Blue Thunder is playing every Friday night in July for a fun Summer league-- They are undefeated so far!! Dave is a hilarious to watch-- He yells in a totally obnoxious voice--- "LET'S PLAY SOME VOLLEYBALL!!" like 2 times before each match-- I always giggle and I look at Jordan's face and she always says-- "DAD!"
Here is some Backyard Summer Fun! Wish we had a pool-- but the hose is always a fun standby! Jillian got a cute haircut as you can see-- She even has bangs!
They took turns spraying each other and they ran around the backyard dodging fireants!
They just love to spray and be sprayed!! LOL
well-- I hope there won't be a long hi etas of no blogging for me-- I have lots of fun wedding pics from both Dave's brother Mike's wedding and our Beautiful niece Savannah's wedding!

I have to admit-- It feels good to blog-- Someday, like when my kids are grown-- I'll be so happy I blogged all this stuff! LOL

8 Things!

Thanks for tagging me Camily! I haven't done one of these in a while... LOL

Here goes...

8 Things I'm Looking Forward to...

1. A fun Summer with my kiddos-- Making lots of Memories!
2. My OBGYN appointment this Thursday! haha (crazy I know)
3. Thursday night dinner with Krista Kay, Andrea and lots of peeps from the past! (It's 20 yr HS reunion time!)
   
4. Getting some fresh highlights this week!
5. Dave speaking in church tomorrow!
6. Dave playing in the "coaches volleyball game" tonight!
7. Painting and facelifting the kiddos rooms this June!
8. Being finished with this '8 Things' blog entry... it's hard to think of stuff! LOL

8 Things I did yesterday...

1. Field Day with Josh and Jillian! It was SPLASH day with tons of water slides and a teacher dunk tank! It was all smiles yesterday!
2. Saw the movie "UP" with my family!! THUMBS UP from The Waters 5!!
3. Dishes
4. Folded Laundry.. still more to fold!
5. made Chicken using Italian dressing as the marinade... something my Mom taught me! My family loves it!
6. Steamed green beans and flavored with "Steak Seasoning"... something Rachel Ray taught me! :)
7. put on make up! that's rare for a weekday!
   
8. read Camily's blog about 8 things!

8 Things I wish I could do...

1. Lose 100 lbs before this 20yr reunion this weekend!
2. Go do tons of guilt free shopping!
3. get an iphone... but I've got another 2 yr commitment with Verizonwireless-- oh well!
4. Travel to New Jersey to visit my brother, sister in law, niece, and nephew
5. Travel to Detroit to visit my Dad and Jan
6. Travel to Chicago to go to my cousin Erin's Wedding in September
7. Go on a Cruise... just Dave and I!
8. Go to Disneyworld with my family!
   

8 Shows I watch...

1. Clean House
2. Grey's Anatomy
3. Good Morning America
4. Today
5. American Idol.... although I may boycott it now that Adam lost! LOL
   
6. WipeOut
7. Law and Order Criminal Intent---SVU---or regular
   
8. 24

8 People I Tag...

1. Penny
2. Ericka
3. Lisa
4. Alisha D.
5. April A.
6. Jen
   
7. Chris M.
8. Breanna

I'm Fine

Just wanted to move my crazy hormonal blog entry down the page-- I'm actually fine-- just had a moment. BUT, I have made a Doctor's apt with my OBGYN to just check things out.

Right now... I need to do some laundry-- pack wedding clothes for Josh, me, and Jill-- double check Jordan, get all toiletries, unload dishwasher, wrap teacher gifts for Jillian's class, make sure camcorder is charged for Jill's big show in the morning etc etc-- It's HELL NIGHT! The night before a trip is always such a big pain. I actually already had a meltdown and went ballistic on the kids with the threat that we just WERE NOT GOING TO GO if NO ONE HELPS-- TURN OFF Zack and Cody-- no Guitar Hero, No more Popsicles--- and HELP ME DAMMIT! Maybe I am out of whack hormonally-- I really went off. I need to apologize to the kids! I am afraid of the upcoming Summer break! How will I cope with belligerent children without having meltdowns daily. I think I will just need some Momma Time OUTS!

My Birthday

Well... It actually has been a wonderful week leading up to my big day! I was spoiled at work with gifts galore and sweet cards. I had an amazing time with Andrea and friends at the Cheesecake Factory earlier in the week.

But today I'm...
Tired
Moody
Crampy
Feeling old
Teary Eyed
Thinking I have "Perimenopause"
Thinking I have low testosterone
Thinking I have hypothyroidism

(I took some hormone quizzes on a OBGYN website which diagnosed me of these things-- I scored bigtime points indicating that all these things are "VERY LIKELY"!

THEN... In the back of my head I remember a symptom of my mother's cancer was Hypothyroidism! So, now I'm searching the internet reading about Adrenocortical Carcinoma and pretty much how deadly it is and sure enough-- a symptom of it is the hypothyroidism-- WHICH according to the dang quiz I just took-- I think I have!

SO... I grieve-- I'm sad--- I'm worried about myself. It's not PMS because this Perimenopausal crap is all the time feelings and symptoms!

Happy Birthday to me-- I bought 2 books for myself at Half Price this afternoon--


Well-- I just got a hot flash! I'm not kidding-- I have this white desktop fan that I've had for 15 years-- My parents got it for my dorm room-- And now it's on HIGH blowing at me!

I guess I should go to the doctor--

sorry for the downer blog! I think I'm seriously HORMONAL!! afterall--I'm 38 today!

Handsome Ring Bearer

Josh was recently the Ring Bearer for Uncle Mike and Aunt DeVonna's wedding! Our Little Man is such an awesome guy! He was just dashing all decked out and dressed up in a TUX!!!!
It's the Flower Girl (DeVonna's niece) with Josh-- notice how he's leaning away from her! :)
The Groom is in the middle with his brothers Dave on the left and Larry on the right and of course handsome Josh in front! AND...note they are wearing Cowboy boots!
Daddy and Josh! My guys!
Cheese!
I was clicking away with my point and shoot!

Spring Outing with Jill!

Jillian and I went to the Dallas Arboretum recently with her Day School. It was so gorgeous there-- I really enjoyed the beauty and the company! We had a great time together! This is my last year with Jillian at home before she enters 'big school'!
This is the only picture of "me"LOL I love flip flops FYI! (size 10 and my birthday is May 16th! LOL)
Jillian on the Pirate Ship! There are always new little attractions at the Arboretum. Always something new and fun!
Jillian playing and hanging out at the Gingerbread "cottage"!
Isn't the Gingerbread House cute?
My sweet girl posing "smelling the tulips and daffodils"!
These are the experimental gardens. Jillian had fun running down the aisles!
We had a picnic and afterward Jillian blew bubbles into the wind! It was relaxing!
The pond was so intriguing to the little ones. All the parents kept yelling, "Don't get too close! Be careful!"
She's a poser!
Cheese! She looks like my mom to me in this picture for some reason. Maybe my mom is on my mind this time of year!
It's a cool Waterfall! (and she looks like a little Sylvia to me again in this pic!)
Jillian hugging JuJu her sweet classmate!
Jillian with a smirk! She just came in and commented on this picture... "That's what I wish OUR Garden looked like!" well-- me too! In fact when Dave asked me what I wanted for Mother's Day--- I told him I'd really love to have some landscaping in the front of our house! So-- maybe I'll get my very own little shrub or something! LOL