August, 2009

Summer Band started for Nathan on July 29. He will have band almost every day until school starts. On August 1 he went to a leader's retreat and on the same day, August 1st, almost 50 of my Lee Family came to Midland for a family reunion. It was exceptional. I had so much fun! The next weekend, Bryce & I took a truckload of furniture and housewares to Adam & Laura (his girlfriend) in College Station. We shopped and shopped and I stocked their fridge and pantry. We celebrated Adam's 20th birthday, even though he doesn't turn 20 unitl the 22nd. The next weekend, we took our new (new to us) travel trailer and headed to Junction, TX with our best friends the Webbs. We floated down the river on inner tubes. Well, some of us floated. I bumped along on my butt! Bryce just left to go spend the weekend with his Pipe and Lindy. School starts on Monday and we are all ready to go!

July, 2009

So, after the Fam Va-Ca concluded on July 9, Adam hung around another day for a couple doctor appointments and headed home on Sunday the 12th. That's the same day Nathan left for Band Camp in Canyon for 2 weeks. On Saturday, July 18th Bryce and I drove to Dallas to see our cousin Misty Boyce who plays piano and sings back up for the Naked Brother's Band. That was fun, and Bryce got to go backstage and meet Nat & Alex and get his picture made with them. I'm not to sure it would be cool to post that picture on the blog without their permission, so if you want to see it, you will have to come to our house! The next Friday, the 24th, Bryce and I drove to Canyon to hear Nathan's concert. It was fantastic, as usual. On the 26th, my Gan celebrated her 83rd birthday. I listened to my inner child and put 83 candles on her birthday cake!

Man Cave Update

Eric's shop is nearly done. A few more bricks, a door, & electrical and I'll be shovelling goodies from the garage into his "Man Cave"!

Alisa's Plans

I just talked with Alisa. She made a 52 on her Air Force entrance exam. She said that qualifies her for any of the jobs she wants to do. She will hopefully do MEPS (more entrance requirements and medical review) in a week or so and then she will get her dates for boot camp. She is very excited and we are very proud!

Family Vacation 2009

Our fantastic, fun family vacation in California! We went to Disneyland on Day 1. Day 2 we spent at Newport Beach and finished off with Mideval Times. Day 3 we went to Disney's California Adventure. Day 4 was spent in Hollywood checking out Mt. Lee, the Walk of Fame, Rodeo Drive, and a Warner Brother's Studio Tour. We had lots of extra time for shopping, eating, bowling, and eating. And, oh yes, did I mention, eating?

Caleb's New Hair

Caleb's new hair. Picture sent from his I-phone from Virginia. Thanks, Caleb!

Nathan & Europe

Nathan in Sorrento, Italy.

Bryce & Gymnastics

Bryce performing a stradle jump from the mini-tramp during his year end performance.

June Update

So, today is the last day of June and I haven't posted since the end of May! Here's an update on everyone, youngest to oldest:

Bryce: Finished up the year with perfect attendance. Performed in the year-end gymnastics programs and did a great job! Participated in VBS the first week of June and played his electric guitar in the Praise Band. Enjoyed a visit from his cousin, Riley, who lives in Missouri. Made a trip to Arlington, twice. Once to spend the weekend with his friend Steven and once with the family on a trip with our friends, the Webbs. Has done a lot of swimming, so far!

Nathan: Made a successful and enjoyable trip to Europe. He visited Buckingham Palace, London Tower, Westminster Abby, Stonehenge, the Blue Grotto, Pompeii, Bath, and other great things I can't remember right now. In his free time, he has been at the band hall or on the computer playing WOW. Nathan also made the trip to Arlington with the Webbs. While there, he hooked up with his friends Danny and Alex (twin brothers to Bryce's friend Steven)!

Adam: Has been working everyday and saving money for next semester. He sent me an e-mail recently with his really cool "work" info as his signature: Technical Support Representative, Texas Digital Systems Inc. Adam will be home on Friday for a week! I miss him so much!

Caleb: Working for Lockheed-Martin in Manasses, VA. He just got a great new haircut. I will post a picture he sent. He went camping last weekend with some other interns. He had a good time.

Alisa: About three weeks ago, Alisa indicated she was seriously considering joining the Air Force. We are so proud of her.

Barb: Helped with VBS the first week of June. Made two trips to see family I've never met - one trip to Pickton, TX to meet my "Burnes" family and one trip to OKC to meet my "Johnson" family. That was LOADS of fun because I am really getting interested in family genealogy. I've been planning a family reunion for my "Lee" family. That happens here in Midland on August 1. I am concentrating on living each day to the fullest without regret for yesterday or worry about tomorrow. I realized how fast time flies. I blink and a week has passed. I am so excited about things upcoming that it is hard to stay focused on the here and now. So, I find myself missing the pleasure of today.

Eric: Made huge progress on his shop! He has gotten the foundation poured and the shop framed. Next week he will have it bricked. He has also gotten 1/3 of our super long, extra drive-way poured. We are doing it in stages. He works so hard all day in the heat and then manages to come up and work outside around here until dark. I don't know how he does it. What a great guy!

Upcoming: Our family trip to Disneyland and Nathan goes to band camp.

Bryce & Math

Bryce says this is "a little braggy" and it is. However, I am a proud Mom. Bryce scored 2864 points out of 2864 points on the Math TAKS this year.

We are so excited he scored 100%!

Needless to say, he achieved "Commended Performanace."

He only missed commended performance on reading by one question.

Exciting News

Nathan made Drum Major for the
2009-2010 school year!

Caleb comes home

Caleb got home yesterday from A & M. He will be home for about 4 days and then head to Washington, DC again for another summer internship with Lockheed-Martin. Doesn't look like Caleb will be able to go on our family vacation this year.

Adam at company picnic

Adam sent pictures! This is one of Adam participating in the "football toss" at the company picnic! He is enjoying his job and made 3 A's and 1 B last semester at Blinn college. He will be home July 3 to join us for our family vacation!

Nathan receives academic award

Nathan received his year end Academic Award last week. This award is given to students who have maintained a 4.5 GPA for the previous two semesters. Congrats Nate!

Danielche turns 5!

Danielche turned 5 on May 12!

Just trying the mobile blogging again. I think I got it this time! Let's see!

Nate & Joz

Nathan and Jozlyn pose for a picture

at Gan's house. It is a tradition!

Prom 2009

Nathan getting ready to leave to go pick

up his date. Notice the nice grass in the yard?

The Blue Man Group

The purpose of the trip was to play at The Auditorium Theatre. That was neat. But I've got to say, the most fun we had was at the Blue Man Group. That was probably some of the best fun I've ever had...ever!

Obama

What do you think?

Rain, Rain

The weather was perfect every day. The only day it rained was the day we had an outside trek through Millenium Park and over to the Art Institute of Chicago. Here, I am snapping a picture as Nathan and I are reflected in the "bean" at Millenium Park.

Chicago, Chicago

So, Nathan and I had a fabulous time in Chicago. Here we are at Wrigley Field.

Here we go!

Barb & Nate are leaving in 5 minutes to head to the school to catch the bus that drives to the airport where the plane arrives to take us to Chicago! No mobile posting from my cell phone...just couldn't figure it out in time!

Packing our bags

Nathan and Barb will be packing our bags today and leaving on Thursday for the Windy City...Chicago. Nathan will be going as part of both the Lee High Rebel Band and Orchestra and will be performing at the Auditorium Theatre. Barb is going along as a chaperone! We will be home Tuesday morning. I hope to be able to post to the blog from my cell phone. I have been practicing tonight to figure out how it all works. If you see random posts...you'll know why!

Uncle Homer

Yesterday, my Great-Uncle Homer, who is 89, drove himself from Abilene to Midland to see my Grandmother, who is 82. He has got an incredible memory and a great sense of humor. We had a fabulous time!

Family Genealogy

I have a new obsession...tracing my roots. I have been working on my family tree for two weeks now and loving it! Nathan is preparing for a UIL competition next week in band. Bryce got glasses/contacts last week. Adam is loving his new job. Caleb accepted another summer internship with Lockheed-Martin that will begin in May. Eric is going to San Marcos to see Alisa for Easter. Eric is nearly finished with the sprinkler system in the front yard and will then move to start the backyard.

Late Night Update

So, I have been obsessed with working on my family geneaology. It's addicting. I would like to learn to use this blog rather than our website. I seem to be challenged with this sort of thing, so far I'm not finding it user friendly. I've been getting in bed around midnight each night. Normally, I would think that is too late. However, I've been sleeping like a rock. It appears it be working out nicely!

Because this is my first post, I will give an update on each of us:

Alisa is at Texas State University in San Marcos in addition to working full time.

Caleb is a Jr. at Texas A & M in College Station. He has secured another summer internship with Lockheed Martin in Washington, DC.

Adam followed his brother and is enrolled at Blinn College in College Station. He just started a new job on Monday.

Nathan is a Jr at Lee High School, is in the Honor Band, and on the Drum line. He works part-time at HEB.

Bryce is in sixth grade and takes guitar and gymnastics lessons.

Danielche is our foster child. She came to stay with us on Dec 27, 2008. We expect to have her until the first part of June.

Eric works as an oilfield fisherman for Basic Energy. In his spare time he is installing an intricate sprinkler system in our yard...wait, we don't have a yard...in our dirt!

Barb sold her business in January and enjoys being a stay-at-home Mom for the first time in 16 years! She is spending her free time (and some of her not-so-free-time) gathering family genealogy.