Three months this time, haha! Summer flew by and I mean it was a mad dash from one thing to the next. It was crazy, busy, tiring and FULL of memories and fun. Every summer we say we are going to slow down and every summer we don’t. I guess that’s just life though. We try to slow down and take in the moments but those turn into a series of events that march on whether you like it or not. I’ve been embracing the busy better these days. Maybe it’s maturity, maybe it’s sheer exhaustion, but I feel better at the end of the night regardless.
Every month we have to include a picture of our Rusty boy!
Kam got married in July. It’s still a little unreal that she’s married and we have Uncle D, D-dog or Kota in our family. The kids are still working out the details on his ‘uncle name.” We’ve prayed for a partner for Kam for a long time. God has blessed her tremendously with Dakota. We couldn’t be happier they get to share their life together and we get to watch from the sidelines cheering them on!
Kam’s shower was beautiful. We have a wonderful church family!
Practicing shooting clays in the backyard…in his swim trunks. I wouldn’t expect any less from Myles Lewis! He gets to join the shotgun team this year. We are all so excited!
Rocking this tired little boy was the highlight of one my days in June. He’ll be too big one day so for now I’ll always say yes. I told him I’ll keep rocking him until he’s so big and heavy that he makes my legs go to sleep. He said he can’t imagine that day. I can but I sure don’t want to.
I got to go to Florida with Mandy and Kambry. It was a fun, relaxful trip and I’m so thankful I have a husband that wanted me to go. He stayed home with a happy heart took care of the kids and planted cotton. What a blessed wife I am!
Feeding time!
Robert Earl Keen concert with my main squeeze!
Sydney made her Daddy and gave it to him for Father’s Day. Her portrait looks just like him if you ask me!
Myles’s new pool trick. Hahaha
Parker McCollum with these two was so much fun! They both love him and I loved watching them during the concert. They are such cool kids. One day, not now, but one day we are going to be best friends. I just know it!
Dottie and Buddy have the right idea. Afternoon naps are always a good idea!
Well, hello Willy! Are you a steer or are you a pet? Who really knows by this point.
Day camp is something this girl looks forward to all year long. She had the best week and made lots of new friends.
White River Youth Camp is so special to our family. We intend to spend many more years deepening our relationship with God and growing with our brothers and sisters in Christ at this place. We get to spend two weeks out here every summer and it’s two of our favorite weeks of summer.
Of course, I’ll rock him too! Ryan is such a loving boy. He’s always patting and hugging me. I pray he always loves his momma as well as he does now.
Myles got to go too! He gets to night camp next summer and he’s already counting down the days!
Parker McCollum fan club!
Tye has done the lakeside devo every year on the first morning of camp. He makes my heart so full but moments where he’s stepping out of his comfort zone to model Christ for his family, my heart nearly explodes. I am so, so proud to be his wife. I’m so thankful I get to share my life and all my experiences in life with him. He makes all things better.
KAM KAM’S gettin’ MARRIED! Haha, I don’t know how many times we said that phrase that weekend. We got to celebrate Kambry for a couple days in Fredricksburg in June. Kambry has such a great group of friends that love, encourage and support her.
I know how important that is because I’ve got some too. They are the best and I should do a better job of telling them that on occasion.
Myles and his buddies, Cruz’r and Janie. Animals always gravitate to Myles, even donkeys! I think they can sense his caring little spirit.
Fourth of July!
San Angelo gun shoot was so FUN this year. Ayden and Ryan did a great job and we couldn’t be more proud of how hard they work. It’s soooo hot. It’s incredibly tiring (for them) and they do it with happy hearts and joyful attitudes. I don’t care what a score sheet says. If they can be tired, hot and run-down and still treat people with kindness and cheer on those that are shooting better than them. THAT’S first place every single time in my book. They did improve their scores from last year and we were really excited about that too!
Ryan has been working on a song that he wrote the lyrics and chords to about WRYC all year. He got to sing it during the talent show. It was a moment for him. You know one of those moments in life where you felt on top of the world. One of those moments where you felt cool, important, and special. This was one of his and Tye and I cried the entire time. I hope he always remembers how he felt at that moment. After his song the crowd erupted and gave him a standing ovation. It was awesome and one that still makes me tear up thinking about it. Papa and Mama Beene were proud too. They want to make it the official camp song. If anyone wants to go ahead and get an autograph now, let me know and I can make it happen! Haha
She is so cool. Those boys better watch out because Ayden can shoot a shotgun like a grown man! She said it was so hot that the barrel would burn your hands if you touched it long enough. They shot 400 rounds of ammo in 100 degree heat. Once again, bad to the bone!
Ryan is so good with his cows. He’s spent a lot of time with his Grandaddy checking and working cows. I think it’s paying off!
Western day at camp. Kam and her first little bestie looked so cute together. These two are so much alike and I’m so glad Ayden has her to help navigate this life with.
Tent 5 got the coolest, sweetest girl this year!
Ryan had his first guitar showcase at the end of June. He played Oklahoma Breakdown by Stoney LaRue. He did amazingly well. I could tell he was super nervous to go up on stage but he did it! He’s got a really good guitar instructor and we are so thankful for him and the hours he pours into teaching Ryan. Playing a musical instrument isn’t just good for the brain, it’s good for the soul.
These two loved their clothes so much for Kam and Dakota’s wedding they wanted to wear it to church the next day. Sydney was the flower girl and Myles was one of the ushers. They took their jobs very seriously and did a great job. They looked so good!
Getting our nails and toes done for the wedding.
Like father like son wearing cowboy hats, shorts and sandals. These two act the exact same!
Lake side devotional at WRYC
Myles and his buddy D-Dog. Myles has loved Dakota since day one! He’s pretty pumped he’s officially part of our family now.
Well, hello Merle!
Ryan loved his week at camp this year. Western day was his favorite!
Well, hello Janie and Cruz’r.
Tent 4 got a really talented musician this year!
Well, hello Dottie.
Ayden and Shell showing off their nails.
Sydney knee-boarded this year! She was incredible! She popped right up and strapped herself in like she’s been doing it her whole life. We had a scary moment. She let go of the rope and it caught the front of the knee board. No one knew what happened at first and then when she didn’t pop up everyone quickly jumped into action. There is nothing like the feeling of your kid being in danger. It’s a feeling you can’t even describe until you’ve felt it. I’m thankful B is such a great boat driver. He always knows just what to do in an emergency and then is so nice to me when I cry or throw my child at him (he knows exactly what I’m talking about, don’t cha’ B) haha!
Cleaning up the range after practice one day.
There is no tired like WRYC camp tired.
Introducing a cleaning robot made by Sydney Marr! This robot is magical. It will pop up in random spots just in the knick of time and go “Bee boop, bee boop what do you need cleaned?” I can say go pick up Sydney’s room and IT WILL DO IT. I’m telling you it’s ground breaking. It’s like a modern day Rosie!
International skeet
You can’t mount your gun until the bird is thrown. It’s hard and it’s fast and oh so fun to watch!
Tye and I celebrated our 15th anniversary on August 4th. I can’t believe it has been 15 years. I could go on and on about our marriage and this man but I’ll spare you all the mushy gushy. I’ll just say he still my favorite person and I love him more now than I did 15 years ago.
Lake days are the best days.
B and Shell took the kids to Red River for several days. They rode horses one afternoon and had a great time! The kids came home saying they think we need horses now. Ummm, no..I’m not equipped for that.
Sweet cousins in front of the cabin.
They went to a Michael Martin Murphy concert one evening. My kids love him and seeing him is always a highlight of their time spent. This time Ryan took a picture with him hoping he might could get an autograph and HE DID! It’s hanging right beside his bed now. He’s so proud of it!
Ayden had a unfortunate thing happen to her while riding her horse. B’s horse decided he didn’t want Ayden’s horse to walk behind him and so he kicked. Ayden was in just the right place at the wrong time and got kicked in the side of her leg. It was pretty bad B and Shell said. You could see the outline of a horseshoe immediately bruised on her leg. They said they were SO proud of Ayden. She cried a little but then continued to ride for another hour! She didn’t let her fear or her very painful leg stop her and THAT is something to be proud of!
During health we’ve been studying the digestive system. Sydney drew a picture of your brain, esophagus, heart, lungs, circulatory system and stomach. She even drew bile in the stomach. I guess she can draw and listen at the same time!
Ayden turned 12 August 13th. Booo hooo! She is growing up so fast. If you don’t know Ayden, you should. You are definitely missing out! She is so full of love that it spills out into her actions. She is sweet, smart, funny, caring and always willing to step in and help. She’ll do without just to make someone else happy. She loves Christ and wants to know him more. She is the best daughter, sister and friend. I pray she always knows her worth and I pray God fills in the gaps where Tye and I fail in raising her.
B and Shell love taking their grandkids to the mountains. They are really good grandparents and we are thankful for them.
Post Stampede Rodeo!
Just a little fishin’ in Red River.
Mim hasn’t been doing well the last couple months. I think the doctors have finally figured out how to get her home and out of the hospital/rehab. We’ve been diligently praying for her and Grandaddy.
A little hiking in Ruidoso.
Pioneer Flyer at Red River
One of my favorite things is walking into the school room and seeing that Sydney wrote a Bible verse or verses on the board. She does it all the time but for some reason this time it hit me and made me tear up. She decided she was going to learn all three last week and she did. I can’t bring myself to erase it.
Happy Birthday to three cool cats! 12, 9 and 7- it’s going to be a great year!
Crazy, cute cousins!
More fishin’
Not only did they get his autograph but they got a PICTURE with Michael Martin Murphy. What a cool souvenir!
Sydney really liked her horse. His name was Carlos. Haha
Just a little Fish’opoly! B and Poppa are always such good sports by playing Monopoly with the kids.
Myles built a tee-pee by the creek in Red River. I think his Apache and Cherokee blood is coming out in him. He did a great job!
Momma and Myles
Ryan and Holly were buddies.
Sydney set up quite the restaurant on the coffee table. It’s still there because once again I didn’t want to move it. I know I’ll someday miss things like this around the house. So, for today and tomorrow I’ll go to her restaurant and eat invisible supper and enjoy every moment.
We got to go to Poppa and Honey’s for supper. We enjoyed sitting outside and visiting. The kids played Jenga and it was fun to watch on an unlevel table. Haha. We are ready to get to spend some time with them on vacation in Alabama in September.
That is a wall of sand headed to our house. This has happened twice in the last two days. Good news, because there is usually always good news…it rained both times afterward! Woo hoo!
We started school about two weeks ago. This is our 5th year to homeschool. We all love it and understand that everyday we get to spend together like this is rare and beautiful.
But seriously, someone remind me to chant that to myself when I’m overwhelmed.
7th grade
3rd grade
Myles turned 9 years old on August 5th. He’s still the best anniversary present I’ve ever received and I know nothing could ever beat it. Myles is just a breath of fresh air. He is so funny, witty, smart, loving and caring. He continues to be the light in all of our lives. If you are with him you are usually talking about animals, banjo music or laughing at something he said. He’s growing and maturing and learning to handle all emotions, good ones and hard ones. We are proud of him and are so thankful we get to have him in our family and as our son. God blessed Myles and we intend to tell him that every single day!
5th grade
While I was in Florida, Tye took all the kids fishing. He didn’t throw anyone overboard and leave them there so I’d say it was a successful trip. No one caught anything but Tye didn’t expect to. He expected to enjoy the day with his kids and that is exactly what happened until the boat started to sink. Man, to hear them re-tell the story you’d think it was a remake of Gilligan’s Island. I love they will always have that memory with their dad.
1st grade
The last three months have been a blessing to us. Like I’ve said before all the moments haven’t been great, wonderful and incredible. Along with all the activities, Tye and I have been parenting and trying to be on the same team while doing it. It’s hard sometimes. It’s hard when you don’t feel like anyone can communicate without yelling or hitting. “Keep your HANDS to yourself” is a phrase I’ve said way to many times to count. “Go to your room and work on a better attitude while you’re in there” is also one that’s been repeated multiple times. At the end of the night, Tye and I usually knuckle bump without saying a word to each other. We don’t have to because we both know it means we’ve survived another day of parenting and staying married while doing it. That’s life though, right. That’s a beautiful life because it isn’t perfect. We use the imperfect moments to grow together and towards God. What makes it wonderful is that we are doing it together.
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