Six Flags after dark.

Our obligatory Chute-Out shot!

All summer we said we'd head to Six Flags late one day just to see Coobrila. With time running out on summer and the show, we made a run to the park Monday night just as the sun was starting to set. Considering the 100-degree heat, that turned out to be a good time to go!

We thought the show was cool! Brett and I were especially impressed with the balancing dudes.


After the show we got to take a turn on the Superman ride, and like most fast rides, it's even better at night! All those thrill rides seem more thrilling after dark!

Small group swim.

We met up with some of our small group Saturday for a swim party. We're so blessed to have our small group, and we were thrilled to have such a great place to play on this hot summer day.

The snacks really quacked Ryan up!

Three weeks to go.

By the time I get to the last 15 minutes or so of my daily walk, I'm usually pretty hot and sweaty. But something on my "Morning Walk" playlist gives me goosebumps every time I hear it. Every. Time. 95 degrees outside? Goosebumps. Sweaty from walking for a couple of miles? GOOSEBUMPS!
On my iPod I have the play-by-play of Vince's Rose Bowl-winning touchdown in English and Spanish, and both of them give me chills. Still! And it's been 19 months! (The final play is pretty cool, too: "Longhorns Campeons! Longhorns Campeons Nacional! Que un gran momento!")

I didn't shoot this video (I was about 20 rows lower), but this is pretty much how I remember Vince's game-winning TD: pure, chaotic JOY mixed with hugging, screaming, crying--



Have I mentioned how much I love Texas football?

Frisco Fest '07.

For a couple of years, Katie and I would plan a trip to Frisco during Ryan's week at camp. This year that didn't work out (see why), but we really didn't want the summer to pass without a jaunt up 121.

After making some finds at Sam Moon, we ate a delightful lunch at the Cheesecake Factory.



Of course, we had to ride the carousel at Stonebriar Centre.



And before we headed home, we made a stop at Ikea to find just a few more items for Katie's new room. I'd been to the store in Houston and had been dying to get to the Frisco location. It only took us a year to get there, but we made it!

The big 4-0.

Today was the big day! After a celebratory trip to Las Vegas for the Classic Gaming Expo a week ago and some partying with Ryan over the weekend, Brett finally turned 40 today!

Nana and Papa had us over for Brett's birthday dinner tonight.

Nana made roast, potatoes, carrots and green beans. Of course, it was delicious!And of course, there was CAKE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BABE! I can't wait to see what our 40s have in store for us! As long as we're together, Sweetie, I know it'll be great!

The kids of summer.

We're down to the last few precious days of summer break! We still have a few items on our "to do" list before school starts, but today we kept it simple: Mickey D's and Half Price Books!

iPortrait.

Now THAT'S a happy 11-year-old! For months now, Ryan has wanted an iPod, and after adding up his birthday money, he finally had enough to buy one. We headed to Target at 9 p.m. last night to make the big purchase.

Congratulations, Ryan! Your patience really paid off!

Potter party.

(What? You mean I'm sharing my party with this old guy?)

For his 11th birthday party, Ryan chose a Harry Potter theme. We were fresh out of owls to deliver the invitations, but Hedwig was at least pictured on the Hogwarts acceptance letter we sent to our guests to announce the party.

From Gryffindor Grub to Muggles Mix, there was no shortage of Potter party food. We even had a Wand-Making Station ('cause doesn't everyone need a chocolate-covered pretzel wand?):


Ryan's birthday tablecloth is getting pretty crowded now that it has 11 years' worth of signatures. There are lots of great memories here:

A relatively new tradition is the trivia contest. This year our guests answered Harry Potter trivia questions and guessed the number of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans in a jar.

And just like we've done for 11 (Can you believe 11?) years now, we SWAM! This time we called it "Hydro-Quidditch."
While the kids swam, Nana and Memaw tried to keep cool in their spots on the swing:

Once everyone was waterlogged and pruny, we headed inside for more snacks and birthday cake.

Ryan's cousin Chris entertained the cake-eating guests:
And then it was time for presents!
Ryan was overwhelmed with all of his presents!
Since we're also celebrating Brett's 40th birthday, he got to open some cards, too.

Thanks to everybody who helped us celebrate Ryan and Brett's birthdays!

Four reasons to root for the Tennessee Titans.

Michael Griffin, Bo Scaife, Ahmard Hall and The Greatest Evah (Vince Young)

HOOK 'EM, TITANS!

While I'm at it, I just have to mention this cool story I read about two current Longhorns, QB Colt McCoy and WR Jordan Shipley, who spoke at a Dallas church this week:

"From the stage they were both open about their faith and how they try to lead by example on the team. When asked about giving in to peer pressure, Colt replied that he and his friends are the peer pressure - they try to make other folks do right." (the rest of the post on Hornfans.com)

Considering a couple of our players have been making headlines for poor choices, it's great to see positive role models on our team!

(Can you tell I'm ready for football season? Only 28 days and 17 hours to go!)

Busy, busy!

It's VBS week! We've been at the church building every night this week and still have one day to go.

Tonight Ryan and Katie got to help with the "seaside playground." It was archery night, and R&K helped retrieve arrows!


For more VBS pictures, check out our Heritage VBS blog. It's amazing how much work has gone into this week! What a blessing it has been to our kids!

About the lime sorbet...

...or Extreme Makeover: Katie's Room Edition!

It was one of those bedtime conversations. I was tucking Katie into bed months ago, and we talked about her room's white walls. Wouldn't a COLOR be so much nicer? We decided to try and paint over Christmas break. OK, that didn't work out. Well, how 'bout spring break? No? Summer, then!

So this summer, the week Ryan was at camp, we started the process. After finding a comforter that she really liked, Katie picked out a yummy color for her walls: lime sorbet! Then it occurred to me that the brown shag carpet in her room--the oldest carpet in our house--would just drab up her new walls. How could we leave the lame, old carpet in her divine, new lime sorbet room?

So out it came!Of course, Brett had to get the tack strips up for us.
Katie pitched in when it was time to mop the floor.
(Can you tell this flooring is from 1970?)
Then it was my turn to paint--with Katie's help, of course. Then we installed vinyl tile to match the living room and hallway.

Katie's bed: BEFORE

Katie's bed: AFTER

Katie's closet corner: BEFORE

Katie's closet corner: AFTER

We're thrilled with the results! The new floor is a huge improvement over the old carpet, and we think the lime is sublime!
Welcome home, Katie!