Camping: Episode 1 - Padre Island, TX

School is out! Time for a little traveling. In my brain vacation always equals B-E-A-C-H. I use to say the only thing I missed about Atlanta was being within a three hour drive to the Ocean. The closest thing to the ocean in Colorado was an eight hour trek to the Great Salt Lake. There really is no comparison in my book.

Jamie knows just how much I love the beach, so we planned a camping trip to Padre Island/Mustang Island just south of Corpus Christi, TX. As a child I travelled to the Gulf Coast many times,but never this side of the Gulf. We would always visit St. Pete/Clearwater or Tampa. I don't remember the wind being so constant and abusive.

I digress, we had a lot of fun on what I hope will be many camping trips. We visited Padre Island National Seashores and saw man-of-war (look, don't touch). We built sand castles and flew kites on the beach. Jamie and I even helped Emma with her Jr. Ranger activities at the National Seashore.

The only problem with blogging about the trip is having to chose which pictures to tell the story. I uploaded some on the slideshow, but this is a good representation of our trip:

Getting Ready

National Seashores

Chillin' at the campsite

New Jr. Ranger

Drying in the Wind

Band Concert

Seventh grade in a new school. In a "real" middle school. Miles and Taylor took a year off from piano and concentrated on Band. Miles played Clarinet, maintaing First Chair ranking all year. Taylor played Trombone and was First Chair most of the year too. Taylor and one other student would compete for First Chair, you know how it goes.

The boy's final concert put all the students together for an evening. The students have transformed into real musicians. We enjoyed listening to the musical talent from these hard working kids. I am sorry to say, the boys will not be in Band next year. However, they are going back to piano and picking up two new instruments. Taylor is playing the drums and Miles is learning the guitar.

In addition to all of this, Taylor is learning to run the sound and lights board at church. He is in training to run the board for Youth Worship! How did I wind up with such musical geniuses? Watch out for Emma, we've challenged the boys to teach her piano basics this summer. We'll have our own garage band in no time.

Here are some pictures from the boy's concert. Enjoy!

Miles

Taylor

The Band

Honor's Awards

We are so proud of Emma and her diligence with school this year. I am proud of each of my kids, they have such a positive attitude about school (most of the time) and work so hard toward good grades. We came into another new school, the third one in three years. A new state, new friends, new teachers, new expectations. Jamie and I couldn't be more proud of their accomplishments.

Emma and Taylor made Honor Roll, Miles missed it by one B. I have to admit, I was a little confused by the system the school uses to determine Honor Roll. In elementary school the students have to maintain all A's and all E's in conduct. This can be a challenge especially for little one's, Emma was awarded a medal and certificate for her persistence.

In middle school, the criteria is just as difficult. Students are allowed only one B for the year. One B, the rest have to be A's. That's a pretty tough standard to meet. I know in college getting A's and B's is considered Dean's List material. Which is difficult enough. So I told Miles not to be discouraged, he made the Dean's List in my book for maintaining all A's with 2 B's.

We weren't able to make the Honor's Banquet for Taylor, but cheered for Emma at school during the Honor's Assembly. Emma received a Good Character Award too. I know I'm their mom, but I think my kids are awesome! I can't wait until next year.

Checking the List

Proud Parents

Proud Emma

Emma & Tommy (her friend)

Brownie Troop 11681: Bluebonnett Trails

Girls just want to have fun! This is the second year Emma was in Brownies. Her troop started out small and grew during the school year. The girls met at Salyers Elementary for meetings and worked on many different activities. They made care packages for the US Military stationed in Iraq, learned how to make Brownie Swaps, and earned three TryIts. For the last meeting the girls had a luau party. We danced the limbo, played silly games, and celebrated being Girl Scouts! Next year the girls will be "Bridging Up" to Jr. Girl Scouts. I am excited to be a part of this group and hope to see the girls build lasting friendships. Here are a few pictures from their celebration.

Emma was being clever, the pole was too low so she jumped over it!

Memorial Day, Auburn Univ.

Memorial Day left us without plans, being away from home (Texas) and a three hour drive from "home" (Atlanta). I got a crazy idea and called Mom and Dad, inviting them to take a drive and visit us.

Being the history buff I claim to be and having an affinity toward historic buildings, I suggested we spend a little time touring the Auburn University campus. I know, how can a UGA grad (i.e., Jamie) and a former UGA student (i.e., me) even think of stepping on an SEC competitor's campus without a sporting event taking place?

I guess the history wins out, I love the feel of college towns and walking the campus. I just feel smarter walking past the old buildings. I have to admit, Auburn has a beautiful campus. Not quite as sprawling as UGA, but the buildings are just as majestic.

The campus was like a ghost town, the semester and graduation having just passed. We stopped in for a refreshing drink at Toomer's Drugs,

a local icon and must see when visiting Auburn. I think what I enjoyed most, aside from seeing my family, was just being on a college campus.

I really miss that, being in such an inspirational learning environment. It makes me excited about working on my degree and is a little awesome to think the boys will be considering college in about four years. You heard me, four years . . . they begin eighth grade this year, start considering colleges their Junior year. It hardly seems possible they were brought home from the hospital and tiny little men and now they are young men. Awesome, there really is no other word.

There really is nothing better than a piggy back ride from Uncle Matt!

Family

The trip to Alabama was a wonderful opportunity to visit with family. You never realize just how long you've been away until you return home. While I did not grow up in Alabama, I feel like I've always been a part of the family. I guess 12 years of marriage and three kids give you a branch on the family tree.

During our stay in the Heart of Dixie we visited Maw Turner, Jamie's grandmother, for the first time in quite a few years. She is such an amazing and wonderful woman, even at 90 years young!

Here are a few pictures from our visit.

A Very Happy Birthday!

During our trip to Alabama a very special member of our family celebrated their birthday. Emma, Alice and I took Jamie out for Birthday Breakfast at the Waffle House. Houston does have a sprinkling of these landmarks of wonder, but they never feel quite like home. Now this is a perfect representation of classic Southern breakfast.

The orange, yellow and black striped awning symbolizes just about the best meal ever! Seriously folks, if you've never eaten at a Waffle House before you just haven't lived. Scattered, Smothered and Covered . . . need I say more? For those of you not on the "in" that's hashbrown speak and it doesn't get any better unless you count the bacon!

Not only are these buildings icons of the South, they represent all which is right and good in the world. Alabama may have a bad wrap, but at least they have Waffle House! I was amazed when we walked in at 9:30 AM and found an open booth with no wait. Then I remembered it was Sunday at 9:30 AM in Alabama, all the good God-fearing Christians already beat us to Waffle House about two hours earlier and were now sitting in a church pew digesting all the goodness that is Waffle House.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAMIE!