Holding Back No Longer

In the July issue of Oprah...

'What you perceive as prudent social caution is likely limiting your life to about half of its natural capacity.'

I am so happy to say that I am working on experiencing as much as possible. I will not sit on the sidelines and watch others have fun. I will get out and play with my kids/dH and have new adventures everyday. Life is just too short.

Kookabura

Can't get the Kookabura song outta my head!

Kookabura sits on an old gum tree
Merry merry king of the bush is he
Laugh kookabura
Laugh kookabura
Gay your life must be
ha ha ha

Did you sing songs like that as a kids?
I feel bad cause my kids don't know these songs...
Summer plan is to teach all of these songs to my kids...
*******************
Amster Amster
Dam Dam Dam
Somebody said that naughty word
******************
There once was a man named Michael Finnigan
He poured some whiskey on his chin again
something something
something something
poor Michael Finnigan
Again Again
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I like to eat
I like to eat
I like to eat eat
Apples and Banannas

O loke to oat
O loke to oat
O loke to oat oat
Opples and Bononnos

U luke tu uke
U luke tu uke
U luke tu uke uke
upples and bunnunus
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#3's BFF was teaching them one in the car again about 6 pences.

Yep - that's what we're gonna do...learn these songs...

Got any to add to the list?

Malls and Such

I had a first last Friday night. #1's best buddy was over spending the night. We had done a little shopping for Father's day and I had promised them that we could stop by a skate shop to check things out. Naturally, we ran outta time and the youngers were both losing steam. So after dH got home, I took the big kids (#1, #2 and the BFF) to the mall. How weird. We had a fun time. Went to the Vans store, to the Fast Forward (now called Zumies) and a few other random stores. I overheard a conversation about some cute girls. And I learned that we are pre-pre-teens and that going to the mall is what we do! Kinda of funny since we had never gone to the mall for no reason before and it will prolly be a bit of a long time before we do it again!

I am glad to report that a great time was had by all!

Peace of Mind

Well, I just got off the phone with the Austin Parks and Rec. Department. They said that the child lived. The child was transported to the hospital. Also of interest, the kid was not at the pool with parents.

So Upset

Oh I am so upset right now. Trying to cook supper and keep it together. Jeff is reading with the kids.

I took the kids to Garrison pool, which we do on a regular basis. Sure enough, a baby was pulled from the pool. We heard the loud whistle. Everyone was evacuated from the pool. We saw them doing chest compressions and the blowing in the mouth. Then they asked everyone to leave the pool area. Sam noticed that they were doing the 1-2-3 clear thing. (I didn't actually see it because I was trying to get our stuff together.) As we were driving away we saw them putting the child on the stretcher. The kids are all upset. I am very upset. Called Jeff and told him he needed to come home from work.

We always watch our kids like hawks when we are in the water. Things like this can happen so easily - no matter what the age or the swimming ability. I'm pretty shaken up tonight. We can never take each other for granted.

I'll keep you posted if we hear what happened.

Smile

This morning I was thinking about how happy I am. I feel such a great sense of peace. I know I am loved. I know that I can face whatever comes my way. I am so blessed in this life. I LOVE my husband and I LOVE my kids and I LOVE my people. We are all so lucky to have each other.

It is very unusual for me to say these things - but I know now that it is true.

So anyhow - I was having a hardy laugh at myself this morning because in previous years the only way that I could express my love or receive love is if I had been drinking. There was an on-going joke amongst our friends that they knew I had consumed a few if I was telling them that I love them and giving hugs. That made me think of these two pictures. Surely one of my favorite memories and one of my very best NYE's (next to the one in Dallas with Nakajima).





Ha ha - and the other joke within our group of friends is that they know I am pregnant again if I am not drinking! :)

Mo Ranch

This weekend we had another family adventure! We had our 2nd annual trip to the beautiful Mo Ranch. The Lewisville Janik's came to Austin on Thursday night. Friday morning we got up, got the cars loaded up with our gear and the kids and got on the road. All of the kids were SO excited. One of them even asked if we get to do this together every year for the rest of our lives.

The Mo Ranch is located outside of Hunt, Texas on the beautiful Guadalupe River. The whole drive I was reminded of how much I LOVE TEXAS. The girl car got to stop in Fredericksburg and eat fresh picked peaches and blackberries from Vogels and run around the Wal-Mart trying on cute (but unnecessary) flip flops. We laughed and listened to music and talked about all of the things that girlfriends talk about. It is so nice to have a grown-up woman relationship that our daughters can see and understand (but that is a whole 'nother post).

Once we got to the ranch we took some time to get settled into our cabins. As is customary, there was a girl cabin and a boy cabin. This year, the girl cabin was affectionately referred to as "SHANIQUA" and the boys were staying in "ANTWON".

Mo Ranch Girls with Shaniqua


Mo Ranch Boys with Antwon.

We were so lucky to be joined by the Johnson Family, the Round Rock Janik's, the Cunningham ladies and Sam's good buddy Alex. What a wonderful group of people to spend the very best weekend with! We spent Friday evening, all day Saturday and most of the day Sunday in the beautiful Guadalupe River. We body surfed the rapids, canoed, rode the giant slide, swung off the rope swing (thousands of times) and laid on the floating dock. By Sunday afternoon, we were all wishing that we could just float on the Guadalupe river for the rest of our lives.

Fortunately for us, Amy and Liz are both incredible photographers, so JC should be able to post lots of awesome pics. on our website for you guys!!! :)

This was one of the last pictures that Amy took. Liz told all of the kids to run directly at Amy and "wa-la!" it turned into this great pic. where you can clearly see all of the kids and their excitement over the weekend! And notice that they are all wearing their Mo Ranch t-shirts that they made Saturday morning during 'craft time with Val and Kathy'. We are already looking forward to next year and hoping we can talk everyone into adding one more day.