Dallas Trip

We headed to Dallas on Thursday morning. All went well until we got to Dallas and they were doing major construction. We ended up missing our turn off somewhere and had to drive a completely different way then the directions I brought. Luckily when we got to a gas station, the people there were very nice and helped us out and got us on the right next 5 freeways to get to the hotel. The freeways there are INSANE!

We enjoyed the pool all to ourselves Thursday afternoon and Friday too! After that for the weekend a HUGE crew for a family reunion took over the place.

We also went to the mall Thursday night.

Then Friday we headed to the Dallas Aquarium. Direction were correct and we made it there with no problem.

Canyon got to feed a toucan!

There was a Mayan dance show.

The dancers were very nice and let us take as many pictures as we wanted.

Next stop was at Ripley's.

We went to the museum and the maze of mirrors. The maze was great! Video of the maze at the bottom.

Saturday was 6 Flags day! It was extremely hot! 110 and humid. Free ice water was given out all over the park. Canyon got heat stressed and had to be taken into one of the stores for about an hour to cool off. But that caused him to pretty much be done for the day.

Trying to get cool in the shade.

Zach was crazy enough to try this...The big hang from a wire and swing thing.

It was so scary to watch. He LOVED it.

Sahara's schedule

1st year in the high school....1st year with a locker

Her schedule:

1 PreAP Biology

2 Drivers Ed / P.E.

3 PreAP Art

4 English

5 Spanish 1

6 World History

7 Geometry

We assume they will feed her lunch somewhere in there, but we don't know when. I hope it's between 4th and 5th so she doesn't end up with 4 hard classes at the end of the day in a row. 2nd period is 1 semester each.

AHHHHH....

I guess I should have taken Jared up on mowing for me 2 days ago.....but nooooo. I had to do it this morning and did this:

Now I either get to spend $200 on a new filter ( the salt one I was planning to get next summer ) or put the pool up for the year. It's 105 out! We wanna swim!!

me this morning:

At first there is a loud rushing noise...and a million thoughts come flooding in. So fast I can't really make out or make sense of any of them. Then I say to myself, this isn't my bed. It's harder and colder. And my body aches. It's hurting more and more and more. Ok! Open your eyes, why does my body hurt? Why am I looking at a washing machine? On the.....ground? Tingling all over now and then back to normal. Yep! I passed out in the hall after I woke up this morning. I went back in my room to look at the clock because I was sure at least an hour went by. Nope, only 1 minute. Thats good. The feeling is so strange. I go to Sahara's room now laughing at what just happened. Shes awake and asks what that noise was. I told her the story. She said it sounded like Canyon had thrown one of his monster trucks at the wall. I'm surprised that I didnt split open my head. My thigh is bruised and my neck hurts. I'm such a dork. I never even felt it coming on. That was really strange.

finally...a vacation planned

The kids and I along with our neighbors, Mila and Zach will be heading to Dallas for a very end of the summer get-a-way. We will go to Dallas for a couple days and weather permitting go to Six Flags. Then its back home and work and school start the same week. Were did the summer go???

college...r u kiddin ???

Yep. I got signed up and will start my first 2 classes next month. 1 online and 1 at the campus. At this rate I will be in college for the next 12 years to get a 4 year degree. Oh joy! Sahara will probably be graduating from college before me.

Malaki and Sascha

Malaki is getting a lot more playful and Sascha a bit more tolerant of him.

(please excuse the mess on the floor...we had a BBQ last night and the house hadn't been restored from the mayhem yet)

Sascha 4 1/2 years ~ Malaki 8 1/2 weeks

Championship gamez

It was only about 5000 degrees out but we hit the ball fields.

We got there late because Canyon had a drs. appt. in Little Rock and it took forever. So we missed most of the first game, but Jared scored -we missed it! :[ - and they won! 7 - 0

Sahara and Jared between games.

Paige (Sahara's BFF) and Jordan (Jared's twin brother) between games

I don't know...maybe they are playing pattycake.

Sahara and Paige made shirts to support the team.

2nd Place. They totally bombed big time the second game, but all the players were in great spirits anyway. I think it ended up being 0 - 19 and towards the end they were all pretty much acting silly and switching up positions to try out different things for the fun of it. Their team even got the good sportsmanship award. Actually the team who got 1st were a little upset that the second place team were in such high spirits. I guess they wanted that 'rubbed in your face' victory.

Paige - Jordan - Jared - Sahara

After the game we went to IHOP with another teammate, his parents (the coach) and Jared and Jordan's mom. There were only 10 of us but our food took an hour!

Home at 1 am!

Baseball season is about over

And Sahara's favorite player got to pitch! Jared's team won against Sahara's school...it was hard to know who to cheer for :P The boyfriends team or classmates we have been cheering for - for the last 9 years...

Last games tomorrow...a double against Little Rock for STATE!!!!

GO TIGERS!!!

Malaki

Malaki 6 week and 4 days old.

Chloe and Malaki check each other out. Chloe does not take Malaki as a threat. Sascha does however. She will not get close to the pup, I think shes afraid she will get in trouble if it makes a sound or yelled at for being 'big' next to this itty bitty ragamuffin.

Malaki's first video ~ playing with a 1 1/2 half inch water ball. Too cute!

4th of July

Of course, living in the south, since the 4th of July falls on a Sunday, we have to celebrate on Saturday. So this evening we went to see the fireworks. Good, but not as great as years past.

Before that we went to Paige's house for a pool party.

Paige and Canyon. Yes Paige can swim and is a goof with her floaties!

Sahara poolside.

ANNNNNND.......

Happy Early Birthday to Sahara....

She got her Yorkie puppy.....

He is 6 weeks and 3 days old and got to come home with her today!!!

Prince Malaki

or just Malaki for short.

YAY! Russellville decided NOT to change the 4th to the 3rd so we got to see a free concert at the park and watch fireworks again. Much better show than last night. :)

Horse Camp

Sahara went to Bar J Ranch this past week. She was every much against going (mostly because she thought she would not be allowed to have her cell phone with her) but by the end of the first day....she LOVED it!! (they were allowed to have phone time mostly the last hour before lights out)

Penny - girls bunk mom.

Mary - Sahara's camp BFF.

Arizona - a rescue horse they got at the end of the week.

A bunch of camp kids filling up water balloons for their daily cooling down water fight.

Sahara waits for directions in the rodeo ring.

Getting ready for the rodeo.

The campers get a certificate after the rodeo. ( Sahara in back row in center)

Last picture of Sahara and Trooper together.

Trooper is a Red Roan Tennessee Walker.

Other fun things she got to do at camp were the zip line, water slide, smores, talent show, line dancing, herd cattle, and trail ride.

Entrance to the rodeo.

Hat Trick

Standing on Trooper!

Unsaddling Trooper for the last time.

then.....and now!

Sahara 3 1/2 months, Joy 18 months, Zach 2 months

Sahara 14, Joy 16 and Zach 14

Houseguests

Bob, James, Joy and Zach came for a visit this weekend. Pool came just in time!

Joy and Sahara sitting in the sun in the sprinkler.

Zach and Canyon playing telephone with the noodles.

James and Bob drinking a beer....nothing new there.

Our new toy

Since a vacation this summer isn't going to happen (other than Sahara going to camp) I decided to get a pool. Hopefully, it will last for several years. And if it goes up without issues next summer, I will go ahead and get the saltwater filter.

The kids couldn't resist playing in it even when it only had a foot of water.

What can I say.....awwwwwwww

Summer doo

So long to the Justin Bieber style he had....

Canyon Hawke now sports a mohawk! (for the summer anyway)

About flippin' time

Canyon has been putting some sentences together. It's a rarity, but here are 2 from today:

'Mom, put your party hat on, I want presents.'

and

'Holy heifer, I can't tie this shoe.'

Last game

Canyon had his last game this morning. Here he is getting his helmet put on just right.

Perfect contact with the ball. He can be pitched to but sometimes prefers to use the T.

Canyon getting his trophy:

All smiles!

Until next year.... baseball is done.