Family and Friends, and Family

We have enjoyed an extended unintended stay for Kate and her girls, which is always welcome, even when unintended! We were also blessed by a visit from our son's in-laws, Randy and Tacie Motz. Enjoy my pics of family and friends, and family.

 Papa Wes worked extra hard this extra hot Saturday, taking the girls on an adventure, and occupying them on the porch so Kate and I could get some things done.

I packed up a picnic snack and sent them off into the 'wild'.

 They found some shade on the other side of the creek and enjoyed their goodies. Papa Wes said too many stickers to get out, just stay in the 'car'.

 They got to see this Sulfur butterfly on the thistle bloom.

I spied them on the other side of the pond and called out, capturing this shot of their response.

Nice ThirtyOne thermal tote that Wes has for the picnic snack.

 Fixing special breakfasts for the girls and eating on the porch are some of our favorite things to do.

This morning it was French toast, and Papa Wes gets to enjoy the porch.

This morning, waffles!

Papa Wes and his girls, Mercedes Noel and Evangeline Rose.

Here I am with my girls.

Wes forced me to strike my classic model pose for my Fourth of July blouse.

Play-dough; one of our standard porch activities for the grands.

Mercedes and Evie at the flower beds.

Evie found a nice nap spot on the window sill.

My girls love to work in the kitchen. It's wonderful what a little soapy water and some containers will do.

Randy and Tacie Motz, in town for a friend's wedding. What a blessing to spend some sweet time of fellowship. These are the people we prayed for all the years our son was growing up, not knowing how wonderfully God would answer those prayers.

Enjoying Papa Wes and GG's makeshift water park on the back porch.

 On the Fourth we ran down to the real deal on Bagdad Road.

 Mercedes loved the water park.

 Evangeline twirling in her water dance.

 Splashing and practicing pointing those toes.

Oh, Evie! You are such a character!

My good-lookin' hubby and beautiful daughter Kathryn Rose Hopkins.

Another picnic, and the water park was enjoyed by all!

Makes for great naps. Yes!!

June Odds and Ends

June is almost gone and I don't seem to have a thing to post! We've been blessed to visit with friends, and our flowering plants have started producing. So we'll put together odds and ends, and throw some grandbabies in the mix! Blessings!

The Holders and Hurleys came out to have some supper at Dahlia. We started out with these folks in Young Adult I at Hyde Park Baptist. And none of us has changed a bit!

 I love to have a bed of Zinnias for cut flowers in the house and to take to friends. My first bloom of the season, and now they are coming on strong!

Wes brings me a bouquet from HEB, so I beefed it up with a few of our own flowers.

 We always have fun in the yard when Mercedes and Evangeline are in town. Here Evangeline is playing 'Bye-bye!' She walks a few steps, then turns and bids a happy farewell.

 So I provide Pooter with a big bowl of sudsy water and some cups. In the end, she makes a hat out of the bowl!

Do I look happy? You got it right!

'M's Rule in May!

Mother's Day, Mother-Daughter getaway, and Memorial Day mean that 'M' days rule in the month of May. We are still enjoying a visit from Kate and her girls, so enjoy this installment of my blog!

 We were blessed to get to spend Mother's Day at sis-in-law Becky's place, and she knows how to put on the shindig! Seafood and all the fixin's! Here is Wes and his Mom Sylvia, Mom, Mawmaw.

 So very thankful that at 88 years young she is still going strong!

Mother's Day was filled with cards and calls from my kids. Son-in-law Ryan surprised me with this beautiful floral arrangement.

 Kate had suggested some time back that we do a mother-daughter getaway in Fredericksburg, so this is our B&B for the weekend.

 The accommodations were wonderful, and it was so nice to just enjoy each other.

We shopped, and ate, and ate, and even made a connection with the lady at the Pioneer Museum, who had been married to her husband by Wes's grandfather, Wesley Otto Schulze. Amazing!

 Memorial Day found us at the VFW post in Liberty Hill, where Wes gave the keynote speech. His granddaughters were impressed!

Wes spoke about his mom's first husband Carroll Smith, who was killed in WWII. He challenged the attendees to be 'living memorials', reminding others of the sacrifices made for our country.

Some of our church friends who were enjoying the free pancake breakfast, and the free entertainment from Mercedes and Evangeline.

 The girls sharing their blanket with Wild Child, 'W' for short.

 You can tell a lot about Mercedes and Evangeline by their playscape activities. Mercedes is the smiling teller.

 Evangeline is the fearless one-year-old.

 And all she wants is to GET ON THAT TRAIN!

 You may have heard about Wes's legendary breakfast drink. His grands really like it.

 We'll save this pic for the future hubby!

 Whoa! You want me to do WHAT, with WHAT?

Our beautiful Mercedes, playing the waitress adding sugar to the tea. We had a wonderful Memorial Day.

Goodbye to Some Idaho Spuds!

We recently had the bittersweet task of saying goodbye to the Matt Griffins as they headed for a new home in Idaho. As passionate grandparents, we are now brainstorming all the ways to keep seeing our grandkids! Of course, we like seeing Matt and Ashleigh as well, but you know!

 A strange late-Spring cold front had blown in the night before, so Morgan was bundled up to brave the out-of-doors. How about those double-duty ear muffs?

 The playscape at Chik-fil-A worked a lot better than outside, and Papa Wes could get a treat!

 My grandkids are voracious readers, but they are not above letting me read a few chapters of 'The Boxcar Children' to them.

 We know you will find this hard to believe, but the combined families actually created a 'Harlem Shake' video. Stay tuned for the Youtube link!

 Our precious Emma Ireline!

 Viola Marie!

 Morgan Wesley

 We love our grandkids!

 This family came to be in Midland. The close of an era in their life, and the start of a new adventure. We pray for God's covering and power to be with them!