Passport DRAMA

Monday was passport DRAMA day!!  Ryan and I will soon be taking a vacay to Mexico and I just recently thought...hey, I should probably check our passports out!  I had mine renewed a couple of years ago so I knew mine was fine...I thought Ryan's would be good as well.  I made Ryan get them from the safe and wouldn't ya know  HIS WAS EXPIRED!!!!! AHHHHHHH!!!! Panic set in...we were almost 2 weeks away from travel so I didn't really want to mail it in and wait for them mail it back...they claim it could be done in 2 weeks...but I was to scared we wouldn't have it back in time.  So, I did what any logical person would do....I consulted with people on facebook, HA!!  As luck would have it everyone told me to go to the passport office in Dallas or Houston and it was simple and easy, two words that never are associated with passports (in my opinion).  I had to wait until we were exactly 2 weeks away from travel (that meant waking up at 12:01am to make an appointment with the passport agency for Monday morning) but I got the appointment confirmation for Monday morning at 9:00.  Early Monday morning I woke up 3 sleepy boys and we headed to Dallas to get this thing DONE!!!  We arrived at the federal building very early and were seen right away to my surprise.  It really was quick and simple...they told us it would be ready around 3 o'clock that day if we wanted to pick it up or they could overnight it to us.  We just had them mail it back to us to avoid another trip downtown.  

Since we arrived in Dallas so early we had some time to kill before lunch...because when in Dallas YOU MUST eat lunch (for us at least)!  What better place to kill time with 2 little boys than Bass Pro, of course.  
After what seemed like FOREVER in Bass Pro, we came out with a boat load of hunting supplies and I got all new camo.  Yes, you forget about buying new camo clothes after weight loss....or I did at least.  Maybe cause I like to spend money on REAL clothes not camo clothes...but a hunting girl does need those too!  We had a yummy lunch and then decided to head home.  They boys were just a little tired from waking up at the break of dawn, and they both slept all the way home!
When we arrived home it was like they were completely recharged!!  They were wild animals...they seriously DESTROYED my house in like 10 minutes!!  Here are just a few examples........
Yes...that is crystal light EVERYWHERE....even the dog's water bowl?!?
Jack was dressed for the house take down complete with helmet, chaps, vest and spurs.....REALLY??
In the end it all turned out fine.....we are now in possession of 2 GOOD passports....and if these kids keep up this behavior we may never come home!!! HA!! Only kidding I love these little monsters, but a grown up vacation is very much needed!!!!
Just so everyone knows from our mistake... if you find yourself in need of a passport super fast, this is the only way to go!  It was fairly painless and super quick!! VIVA MEXICO!!!!

Rough Creek weekend...again

Friday was a BIG day for us.....we closed on our new land!!!  We recently purchased 26 acres here in Lindale and will soon be building our new home....we couldn't be more excited!! 

Friday night my boys and I had dinner in Tyler and then went to Rough Creek our "home away from home".  I swear my children think that if its the weekend that you have to be going somewhere or doing something...they are just not content to stay home and relax, I wonder who they get that from...RYAN?!?  In all honesty I am so grateful that we have placed to take them and things to do...its just funny to me, because all I want to is relax at home....but that RARELY happens!  Life with my boys is NEVER dull and it involves a lot of MUD and dirty clothes!!

We had some work to do at RC...it is almost that time of year...hunting season, so we had to refill all the feeders.  It was A LOT of corn....it was hard work and let me just say I was NOT feeling guilty for not walking Saturday morning because I got a workout after all!
WHOOPS...we busted a bag!

Jackers driving the tractor for Daddy.....
Ryan working hard filling up all the feeders.......
Every time we are at RC Barrett loves to go hunting at night for little critters... well this time he got one!  His first rabbit!!  He was so excited and we were so proud of him!  
It was a memorable weekend with my boys...I can't believe this summer is almost gone!!  God is so GOOD and I am blessed beyond measure!!

Splash Kingdom with friends

Last Thursday we planned a Splash Kingdom day with friends.  We had planned to go and spent all day having fun...but as plans often go awry....Loft like ONE of THE only decent stores in Tyler happened to be having their "friends and family" sale.  This was just something I couldn't miss...yes it went on through the weekend, but I didn't want to wait until it was all picked over!  So...I called Chelsey and told her we would meet them there ASAP...after my shopping was finished :)  I will say that having to take the boys with me shopping was not ideal, but things really seemed to go down the tubes when only 5 minutes into the ride Barrett is yelling that Jack is unbuckled and twisted in the seat belt.  UGH!!!!

I pulled over into a church parking lot...the Lord new I needed support for this one....and discovered this.......
OK, I know it doesn't look bad but lemme tell ya,  it was my friends!!  My child had completely twisted himself in the seat belt and it then locked into place because all the slack was out and he was LEGIT, stuck!!!!  I was in a panic....I worked for a long while to no avail and I thought about cutting the thing!!!  I was literally freaking out....its was like 100 degrees....I'm sweating.....and getting ANGRY!!!!  I did the only logical thing and called my husband to gripe him out, as if it's his fault HIS CHILD is stuck in the seat belt and people are driving by a crazy woman in a Jeep having a meltdown!!!!  My wonderful, calm husband talked me through it and I finally got him out of this seat belt, it was scary....the thing was really tight and beginning to hurt him.  WOW!  Good start to the day.

Anyhoo...the shopping was a success.  Although, I may have issued a bribe for cookies and even threatened the boys in a scary voice through gritted teeth, but we all made it out alive! 

Next stop Splash Kingdom!  The boys were excited to see Braden, Kam and Logan!!  

We had a great time and the weather was great! It was the first time I took Jack on the BIG slides and he LOVED them!!!!  After a full day of sun we decided to end the day with blizzards at DQ.   Chelsey introduced me to the most delicious blizzard I have ever had tasted or ever heard of.  Chelsey ordered a cappuccino heath blizzard....it was Amazing!!  I wish I had never tasted it and so does my butt!!!  Fun day with great friends!!

Beach trip with the Sacreys

July 26-29 we had a fun beach weekend with the Sacrey Family....Mark, Chelsey, Braden and Logan joined us for some fun in the sun!!  We left Thursday and our first stop was Lufkin for a yummy lunch at Del Rio with some Lufkin friends.  It was fun to show Chelsey around my hometown :)  My boys are REALLY into alligators shows right now...I though it would be fun to stop at a gator park that happened to be on the way to the beach in Beaumont.  The park is called "Gator Country" it was actually featured on a show on CMT a few years ago.  Here are all the boys ready for the gators!!
My BRAVE boy holding an alligator......
Braden holding the gator...way to go boys!
I love this picture...I wanted him to hold the snake and he really wasn't into it, so I told him he would get a treat if he did and what do ya know........
Hungry gators looking for food......
Umm....really who lets their kid stick their head through a hole in the gator pen....OH, Me.  Whoops!!  No children were harmed or eaten while having their picture taken.  HA!!
The boys LOVED the gator park....we were a tougher sale.  If you want my real opinion it was hot and over priced!! But hey....check that one off the list, been there done that! Next stop.....the BEACH!!!!

Chelsey and I....soaking up some sun!!

  Buddies!!! B and Braden!
My boys and their ideas...this was a boogie board train.....
Jack in the box err, sand. 

Four little monkey in the tub!!



Mark loves to fish and the boys couldn't wait for him to show them how to fish in the ocean!  The only problem was the fish weren't really biting this weekend....but that didn't stop Barrett from trying!

Handsome boys at dinner at the Stingaree!

Hot mamas...literally! We were sitting in the blazing SUN!!!
Fisherboys :)
We had a great time with the Sacreys! I wish it could have been for longer!!  Come back anytime guys!!

Dallas trip

On Monday August 23, Ryan and I had a Pentastar Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep meeting in Dallas.  Our dealership was being honored for being inducted into the Pentastar Club and we were happy to have a child-free night in Dallas!  We spent the day shopping and had lunch at one of our FAVS....PF Chang's.  We had a great day shopping, I can't remember the last time Ryan actually shopped for himself {besides for hunting stuff}....he got some cute things.  

We had the awards ceremony and dinner at our hotel and then went up for dessert and cocktails in the Reunion Tower.  This was the view from up in the ball....I had never actually been up into the tower and it was really pretty seeing Dallas from up high.  
While we were having a great day in Dallas...Anna and the boys had some fun at a local wildlife refuge called Tiger Creek.
My boys enjoying the tigers!
I think they really liked the tigers....Jack was acting like a tiger for weeks...RAWR!!!  It was a great night away with my love!!

Weekend at Rough Creek

July 20 - 22nd we spent a fun weekend at Rough Creek...Big B and SuSu came up to visit us and we all had a great time!  They boys did their usual favorites like, riding the rangers, exploring and maybe some shooting :)  

 I know they are mine and I'm partial.....but seriously these are some handsome boys!!

 Jackers....ready to let her fly.

 Jack has gotten pretty good at shuffleboard...he might have beaten SuSu, HA!!

SuSu cooked all weekend for us and the food was SO yummy!  Nick and Starla, some friends from Lufkin came down on Friday night to visit and have dinner with us....It was great to see them!

On Sunday leaving Rough Creek we decided to stop at the lake and have some fun before heading home.  It was a beautiful day on the lake the boys loved it, as always!
They were super excited to tryout the new "smaller" tube Big Mabel as opposed to Super Mabel, HA!!
Needless to say the tube was a success with the boys!
These girls had a great time on their first boat ride!  They even took a little dip in the lake!
It was a hard day for this little man...as soon as he got still he fell asleep....sitting up.  So sweet!
It was another fun weekend with my boys!! I am just LOVING this summer thing!!