Memorial Day Weekend

Memorial Day

We didn't make big plans for the weekend. Friday night was Fun Night at Acrotex Gymnastics. The kids could bring a friend for free so Angie spent the night and went with Regan, and Blake spent the night and went with Riley. We had an interesting night with that many kids here, boys vs. girls most of the time, we didn't get to bed until after 2!

We spent Saturday at a friend's house, swimming with the kids, they had a blast. David smoked a brisket that was awesome, we had grilled veggies and potatoes and all the yummy sides, it was great. We hung out at their house and the kids played video games, then we sat outside and the kids played soccer, and they were worn out by the time we got home, it was great!

On Sunday we went to the late service, which we won't do again, Saturday nights are our service for sure! Then we drove around looking for houses. We are trying to decide if we want to move. There are pros and cons. We could get a more energy efficient house for probably about the same amount of money as we pay here, if you add the utilities we pay right now. I found the neighborhood I liked too, now just have to figure out a way to afford it!

Then Monday, Alex and the kids came over, David smoked some chickens and we mostly spent the day getting things done around the house. Kenzie took the kids to the pool, David worked on the yard while I cleaned up inside and did laundry. Fun. But, it's been a nice weekend, nothing too busy, just time with family and friends.

Regan's a Fudgem!

Bridging

Okay, she gets mad when we call her Fudgem, but she had her Bridging to Brownies, and she went from Daisy Scout to Brownie, so we call her Fudgem. The girls made paper bag puppets, and put on a puppet show with one of the girl scout laws, then went to the computer lab and worked on home safety, where to go in your home in case of fire, tornado, etc. and made custom print outs to keep. Then the girls made their own "sit-upons", it's a cushion that they hand sewed to sit upon while camping. And then we got to make s'mores! There was a pretend fire pit that looked super cool, and the girls got to stand around and pretend to toast marshmallows and eat all the goodies! And in the end, they earned their first Brownie Try-It for their vest, and got their certificate saying they are now officially fudgems!

Author's Tea

Today was the last day of school and Regan had an Author's Tea where the parents got to come and see stories that the kids wrote, a How-To book, and another book that they chose. We also got to have tea, lemonade and cookies. Regan wrote a How-To book called How-To Ride A 4 Wheeler. It was really cute, and it went something like, you get on, hold on tight, and go fast. It was funny. She also wrote about church, and how much she likes going to church to worship God.

It was also a sad day because her teacher, Mrs. Garwood is leaving. She is the best teacher EVER and we're going to miss her SO much!! She was a teacher there when Riley was in K1 so we knew her then, and she left to travel around the world with her husband and do some missions work, and she came back this year and was Regan's teacher, and we have enjoyed working with her, and Regan learning from her more than I could say. She was so patient with Regan, when Regan wanted to go to school just to play and make friends and have a good time, Mrs. Garwood was always great about keeping her on track but not being so overbearing that school wasn't fun anymore. Regan came around and ended up learning a lot this year, and she is so sad that Mrs. Garwood is leaving too. But, we are praying that she ends up being a mommy real soon, and she comes to see us at school with her baby!

Eat Sand!

This is a cake I made for Regan's end of school year party, it's a bucket of sand cake. The kids liked it, and it looks a lot like a bucket of real sand! It's yellow cupcakes layered with vanilla pudding topped with crushed vanilla wafers inside of a (clean) bucket, complete with serving shovel.

My Kids are Clowns!

Swimming

We spent some time at the pool this weekend, it was a little chilly on Saturday, but super hot on Sunday, but still, the water is COLD! But, the kids don't care, they jump right in and are like fish.

But then, Sunday night Regan starts screaming that her ear hurts, and so first thing Monday morning we head off to the doctor to find out she has strep throat and a raging ear infection. She never did run a fever, so she's back at school today, after being on meds for 24 hours now.

Daisy-Brownie Sleepover

Regan had her first Daisy-Brownie sleepover, and it was a blast! They played games, made crafts, earned her first Brownie Try-it, watched Lilo and Stitch, and we even managed to get a little bit of sleep! I think her favorite thing was the speed stacks, she played that many, many times.

Lanier Ray Fowler

Lanier Fowler Lanier went home to be with Jesus on May 11, 2008. He was born on August 4, 1961 in Abilene, TX to Carolyn and Red Fowler. In September 1973 he and his family moved to Austin, TX. Lanier graduated from LBJ High school in 1980 then completed a plumber apprentice program acquiring a master plumbing license. Lanier started his own plumbing company Fowler's Plumbing in 1990 and served Austin and the surrounding area for the past 20 years. Lanier and Colleen began Lighthouse Full Gospel Ministries in October 1999 in their home. In September 2001 they moved to their building at 115 Oak Haven Dr, Round Rock, TX 78681 which is now Life Church. Lanier's happiest times were with his family and friends, preaching God's Word and giving to people. Lanier never met a stranger and never met anyone who did not love him. He had a heart of gold and a sweet and gentle spirit. We have lost a father, son, brother and a friend and he will be greatly missed.


I can't say enough how much Lanier meant to our family. I first met Lanier when I was 11 years old and he came to my dad's church. Wow! What an impact he made on my life at that time, and in the years to come. He was the loudest, funnest, craziest person I've ever met, and it's so hard to imagine a world without Lanier in it. He was always having parties at his house, we would go over and swim and eat pizza and stay SO late. I remember well the July 4th parties, and how he would spend hundreds of dollars on fireworks and we would be out in the street till all hours shooting those things off, usually until the cops came by and told us to stop. It seems we spent a good portion of our Sunday nights at their house, in the pool, watching football, playing basketball outside with the kids, and riding bikes and scooters around the cul de sac. He always had some wild and crazy story to tell us about his adventures in plumbing, like the monkey jumping on his head at one service call!

But most of all, as a Pastor, he was always there for us. He came to my side when my mom died, stepped in, took over, helped me out so much, and was just there for me when I needed someone to talk to, and always talking about when we would see my mom in heaven again. I know they are partying together now! David especially had a soft spot in his heart for Lanier, when David was going through a lot, spiritually, Lanier never judged him, never thought less of him, or looked down on him, but was always there to encourage him, and lift him up, and I know it was through Lanier that David started going back to church, after many years absence. We truly felt like there was nothing he wouldn't do for us, and we felt the same for him.

Our hearts break for his beautiful mother, who is one of the most special and precious ladies I know. She has such strength, and I know she is rejoicing that her boy is in heaven, but it is so hard on those of us that are left behind. She knows that we are there for her as well, and we feel honored to be considered a part of their family.

There was a packed house today for the funeral, standing room only, and it was just a testament to the type of person that Lanier was, he truly never met a stranger, and considered everyone a friend. He wouldn't hesitate to grab your hand and pray for you, even in line at 7-11! The service today was beautiful, everyone did a great job, and as hard as it was to hold it together, I know Lanier really did want this to be a celebration of his life, and a joyful time to remember the crazy things about him, and have a good laugh, knowing he is finally where he always wanted to be!

Happy Mother's Day

I hope all you mom's had a great day! My Mother's Day started last night, we went to church, and we planned on going to the Fry's for lunch on Sunday, so after church we just went to Taco Cabana with them, and the kids started begging to spend the night with Mimi and Papa!! Well, since we had done Olympics, a pool party and Texas Jumping Beans before church, they were pretty exhausted so Mimi thought it would be a great night to have them over! The kids were thrilled, they LOVE to spend the night there, and play "jail" with Papa. So, of course, David and I head over to the movies to watch the late showing of IRON MAN!! I have been aching to see this movie and it did not disappoint, it's incredible, and I never realized just how hot Robert Downey, Jr can be when he's all sweaty and kidnapped. Great movie, be sure to stay till the end of the credits to see a little mini-preview of the sequel, it's gonna ROCK!!

Now THAT'S Attractive!

Just had to post this funny picture of Regan. We had a busy day, from Regan's Olympics, to a pool party with friends from church, to Addison's birthday party at Texas Jumping Beans where this picture was taken, she was chowing on some Dorito's, and man she was enjoying them!

Regan's Olympics

Regan's gymnastics had their "Olympics" today, and it was so cute! They had the kids separated by age group, and had them demonstrate all their skills: the mat, bars, trampoline, beam, and vault. It was so cute, and Regan had a great time. At the end she got a really cool gymnastics medal!

BUSY!!!

Wow, I can't believe how busy we've been lately, and I looked on here and realized how long it's been since I've updated. Bad mom! I have pictures in my camera to post and everything. And guess what...you're not getting them any time soon either. There's no end to the madness. It's crazy this time of year with school getting out. So, I'm sorry for lagging so far behind, it's not because we haven't been doing anything though, that's for sure!

Conferences

We had student led conferences today, and you know it's coming...time to brag on the youngin's. Riley is of course, promoted to 4th grade, and he's doing great in school, still working on some focus issues, but overall, his reading and math levels are off the charts. Next year he will be going to a different campus, NYOS is split K-3rd at one, and 4-12th at the other, so I'm nervous about him being at a much bigger campus, with much bigger kids, but I know he will do great. One of his subs told me about a letter he wrote to his new teacher, and he wrote, "I'm a great kid, YOU'RE GONNA LOVE ME!" Gotta love that self-confidence!

Regan is promoted to 1st grade (my baby!) She started the year off not wanting to learn to read or write, and she's doing SO much better now. She's right where she needs to be, she is enjoying reading and writing in her journal, and unfortunately for us, every little thing becomes a story for her journal. As we were leaving for school the other day, I saw a cockroach in the laundry room, which is right next to the garage, and I'm assuming it just came in from the garage, but I yelled for David to come and kill it, quick! Wouldn't you know, Regan wrote a story about it for school, they probably think we're infested now. But it was so cute, she drew a picture of the roach with a smiley face until Dad stepped on it, then it had a sad face :( It was too cute. I love the details she notices, and the things she writes about, and I'm so happy that she's enjoying school, and loving to learn.

Squirrel Thief

Regan made a bird feeder in Daisy Scouts, it was a small coke bottle, turned upside down, filled with birdseed, it was so cute, and she was so proud. We hung it on our pitiful little Magnolia tree out front, and it lasted a couple of days before the Squirrel Thief came...he knocked it down off the tree and had his way the bottle. He ate ALL the birdseed, and when I picked the bottle up later, there was a ginormous hole that his little squirrel teeth gnawed right in the bottle. I managed to get pretty close for a picture, cause no way was this greedy gut going anywhere!

Celebration Heroes Building Dedication

CelebrationChurch

On Sunday, May 4th, we had our Heroes Building dedication, and it was a blast! We got there extra early to help set up, we wrapped about a thousand hot dogs! There were a million jumpy things for the kids, some bungee cord things that wrap around your waist so you can jump in the air and do flips, Riley did some double back flips, he loved those. There was a giant slide, some spinning cups, a live band, tours of the new building, a great time. So, here are some pics of the kids enjoying the wild night.