Happy Birthday Marty & Mike!

Tonight we drove over to San Antonio to have dinner at Mike and Debbie's with all the family to celebrate Marty's and Mikes' 38th birthdays. In the past 20 years, since we've all lived in so many different places, Mike estimates they may have celebrated 4 or 5 birthdays together. It's been a blessing having him and his family living close enough for celebrations such as tonight or even just to hang out together.

As is Billie's tradition, the boys each get their own cake:

(Also a tradition, they are always picking on one another)

Happy 38th Birthday, Guys!

We knew Billie and Freddie were up to something but we didn't know what until the candles were lit....and they began roasting marshmallows over the candles!!!

Apparently, Mike's a little slow blowing out his candles!

As the boys know, they're never too old for their Mama to scold!

Cute cousins, Heather and Cheyenne.

Billie with her twins. (Marty will always tell you he's the oldest...by 28 minutes)

I'm so glad we all got to celebrate together!

Happy Birthday!

Our Walk at Fort Sam

We are childless this weekend as Heather is enjoying herself on a band trip to South Padre Island! Friday night we were invited to have dinner at Mike and Debbie's (my brother in law and his wife).



After a wonderful meal I suggested we take a walk and everyone agreed. It was a beautiful evening and Mike and Debbie's new house is near a very pretty golf course. Someone please remind me next time, no matter how cumbersome....I may just want to take along my zoom lens!!!

On our walk we kept finding golf balls everywhere. Marty juggled some of them he found.

Mike and Debbie.

"Helllooooo, whatcha doin'?"

Marty and me.

It was beautiful out and the reflections in the ponds on the golf course were great.

Marty just chillin' while Debbie and I snapped photos near the water.

As I was heading to the other end of the pond/lake to photograph some pretty flowers nestled on the banks I stopped to take these photos on the way.

I never did make it to the end to take the photo I wanted. My biggest fear while I'm out taking photos is that I'll see or even step on a snake. Marty's always telling me I don't watch where I'm going. Right after I snapped this photo and continued walking along the water's edge I almost stepped on a huge snake laying right next to the water. He scared me and freaked me out and I went the other way and and refused to go back for the photo I wanted. Mike, Debbie and I walked in the opposite direction. Marty, of course, went over to see the snake. There were 2 laying side by side, not just one and he thinks they were water mocassins. He scared them into the water but we still refused to venture back over there. Mike was sure I could have gotten a cool photo of the snakes! I told him I didn't want to even look at pictures of the snakes!

We kept hoping the crane would stay still long enough for us to get close enough to take some good pictures of it, but he was way too skittish and kept flying off.

The cemetery on Fort Sam

Awww....Weren't They Sweet?

Just needed a "pick me up" after a stressful evening and decided some cute photos might do the trick!



Most of you who know me well know my husband Marty is a twin (fraternal). I love the twins' baby photos! They are adorable!



Marty and I have moved around a lot, from state to state and his brother Mike is in the military so he moves a lot too. Because of that, they haven't lived close to one another since they both graduated high school almost 20 years ago. Mike is now stationed in a city very close to us and we are sure enjoying having him so close! It has been awesome getting to know him and his family.

Newborn twins. 4 days old. Which is which? (My secret's always been to see which one has larger ears!)

(Mike's the one crying in this photo)

Mike and Marty with their Mama (Billie) Mike appears to be kissing Marty. They are 24 days old in this photo.

14 months old. (Marty's on the left, Mike's on the right)

I absolutely love this photo of them! (18 months old) Although Heather mostly looks like me and has all her life, this photo of Marty (on the right) has always made me see resemblances in Heather and Marty.

2 years old. Billie, you'll have to share with us why Marty's got a cut on his upper lip. Was he accident prone even way back then???







3 years old. What a couple of cuties!!! (Mike: left/Marty: right)





3 1/2 years old. Can you see the twinkling eyes tellling of the mischief they're about to get into constantly??? (Marty: left/Mike: right)





And here they are now. (Mike left and Marty right)

I'm going to have to get them to go motorcycle riding together soon so I can get their pictures on their bikes!

A Weekend of Farewells

Thursday night my father in law's father passed away. We spent the evening in San Antonio with family until late. The funeral will be tomorrow. Tom was a good man and will be missed, but there's a peace that comes from knowing we'll see him again because he's a child of God and we know without a doubt he was a Christian man.




Last night we attended a Good Luck/Going Away party for my nephew Chris. Chris has decided to join the Air Force and will leave Tuesday morning for his basic training. Good luck, Chris! We'll miss you! Keep in touch! These pictures were taken at Mike and Debbie's last night as we all celebrated with Chris.

Our clan: back row left to right: My nephew Chris, my brother in law Mike (Marty's twin), my sister in law Debbie, me, Marty, my nephew Tony.

seated from left to right: my niece Cheyenne, my father in law Freddie (aka Pappy), my mother in law Billie (aka Granny), and Heather. (and of course Mike and Debbie's daschunds Rosie and Rocky.)

The kids: Heather, Chris, Tony and Cheyenne.

Me, Heather, Marty

Chris, Cheyenne, Tony,

Debbie and Mike

"I WILL NEVER BLINK!!!!"

(This may be lost on you if you've never watched comedian/ventriloquist Jeff Dunham)

Tony has a new pet: some mouse/rat looking critter I wouldn't go near. Heather on the other hand thoroughly enjoyed playing with the thing. Ick!

Tony and Chris started a towell fight. Everyone run for cover!

Cheyenne's been around when these guys go at it apparently! She hid under the table!

Uncle Marty got in on it before too long! Watch out guys! He brings blood!

Mike got in it too. The gals all stayed out of the way as the boys and men (?) ran round and round the house snapping towells.

Poor Debbie got nailed anyway!!! Shame on you Mike!!!

But, as was bound to happen, something got knocked over and the war ended when the towells had to be put to use to clean up the mess!

Good Luck, Chris!!! Thanks for including us in the celebration guys!!!!

Live Nativity

On Tuesdays and Thursdays for a short time, there is a live nativity on display at one of the local churches. We decided to check it out tonight since we weren't doing anything else. We called Marty's brother Mike and his family to see if they wanted to join us for dinner and to see the Live Nativity too. They did!

We met at Chili's for dinner and laughed as we always do when we're all together! After viewing the Nativities on display we went to the coffee shop for coffee and hot chocolate to take with us as we strolled around Central Park enjoying the lights.

We tried to take family photos for Christmas cards with the fountain behind us, but the lighting didn't work out well and the photos are too grainy. Sorry guys, this means another photo session very soon!

The guys found reading material in the coffee shop while we waited for the barista to bring our orders.

My nephew Tony seems even taller next to the very short table where we chose to sit.

My niece Cheyenne and Heather. Don't they look sweet? Warning: looks can be very deceptive...especially in teenage girls!

Me and my sister in law Debbie. We always cut up and have a good time together don't we Debbie?

Debbie stole my camera and got some really goofy shots!

She also got a few less goofy ones.

All the girls: me, Heather, Debbie and Cheyenne.

Debbie and Mike. Mike made it very difficult to get a "normal" shot of him tonight. He was in a mood to make faces all night. Here he's showing off his dimples!







Debbie and Cheyenne.





Marty and me in front of the fountain.

Mike's family in front of the fountain.






Leave it to Mike to try to ruin a perfectly nice picture!






What a sweet couple!







Marty, Heather and me.