Christmas 2010 w/ the Brinkmans

 they say that "pictures say 1000 words".  i love this because when it comes to expressing myself with words on paper, they just seem to get lost in translation.  we had a fabulous christmas & were blessed in many ways during this time of year.  tucker played the violin a few times during the holiday season to brighten up the day of those who listened at the assisted living center & for the parent's at school.  we celebrated with the sutherlins & the georges at numa & pop's in athens. & we had our own party on christmas day with numa & pop....we had a delicious feast that pablo & i prepared together.  through all of this.....striving to remember the true meaning of all of this festivity.
THAT A BABY WAS BORN TO SAVE US FROM OUR  SINS & TO GIVE US ETERNAL LIFE!  AMEN

First Jr. High Orchestra Concert, Oct. 2010

Tucker's 1st Jr. High Orchestra Concert!  He's the only 6th grader in the 7th-8th grade orchestra.  He tried out for region orchestra last Sat. & made first alternate! Yea!  So proud on him!

Halloween 2010

Food, Fun, Firepitting & Trick or Treating on Halloween Night!

Halloween Night at the Brinkmans!



The Foster's



Tuck's "Hook-em Horns"  Pumpkin!



The official "little kid scarers"!



Trick or Treating in Tall Timbers









Flag Football!

This is our last year on our Upward Flag Football journey. It has been a wonderful experience for all of us.  Tuck...playing,  Pablo...coaching and me on the sidelines cheering!  We've made some awesome friends and will be moving on next year to jr. high tackle football at school.  Oh my!  I will definitely need to prepare myself for that.

It's Fall in TX!

This was a few weeks ago in Dallas at the Arboretum!  Such a beautiful day enjoying God's creations!

Summer Recap 2010

I think that I should stop here with all the pics!  Are you confused yet?  A quick glimpse of our Summer through the eyes of the camera.  Our Summer was busy: Camps for Tucker;  Middle School prep. camp, Jr. High football camp, & Scuba certification camp(see pic).  A June trip to Galveston for Tucker with friends and we joined for a couple of days; fun with friends on the 4th and at the lake(see pic), an awesome trip to the Caymans(see blog entry below), Tuck & I visited Mimi & Poppy in PA and all the cousins were there, a pair of doves aka. love birds built a nest and had babies(2) in our rose arbor....so fun to watch, lunch in PA with Gram B.....she's amazing at 93,  the funky table and chairs are an original from Uncle Ed & Aunt Margaret....mom & dad said they would bring them down for us when they visit; the house I grew up in and mom & dad on their new, awesome patio....pretty enough to be in a magazine.  Well, that was a mouthful!  We had a crazy, busy, awesome, fun, HOT summer!

Cayman Paradise! July 2010

Honey Moom Hibiscus!

Diving with the mermaid @ The Sunset House!

Pablo's underwater photography!

After a dinner of all you can eat lobster!  5 tails for Pablo!

 We had an extraordinary adventure in the Cayman's this Summer & feel so blessed to have had this incredible vacation together that we can treasure always!

Where is Summer going?

OH MY GOODNESS!!!! Where is the Summer going?  It's been awhile since I blogged.  I've been trying to learn & acquire new blogging skills.  When I do that I don't seem to find the time to download the pics and write anything.

 A LOT HAS HAPPENED SINCE MAY!

Tucker graduated from 5th grade; he turned 11 on May 29th and he went on his first big trip without mom & dad!  As can be seen in the pic, he had a sleepover for his b-day.  Very fun for boys!  Nerf gun wars, a movie, ice cream sundaes, hotdogs and smores outside and sleeping (sort of!) in a tent in the backyard!  A perfect boys day and night!  The trip was to Galveston Beach with our friends the Fishers.  Tucker & their son Conner are great friends and they had a BLAST!  I don't think there was a lot of missing mom & dad.  We were so glad and proud of him!  Don't tell Tuck, but it was a nice break for us too.  Shhhh!

Spring Time 5/2010

Our front door!  Bright & Springy....in full bloom!

(these topiaries where a birthday project that I made a few years back)

My Mother's Day & Pablo ends up in the lake!!!!! LOL!  We had a fun, girly, mommy picnic!

Tuck, AJ & Steven at the Elementary School Track Meet.  It was a fun/hot day to be outside & out of school for the day with friends!  Jack Elementary WON the meet!  YEA JACK!

Pretty Girl Mango!

This is our sweet Mango!  She hasn't been in a blog yet, so I thought it was about time!  She is posed on "HER" chair!  This is the only piece of furniture that she us allowed up on.  So she thinks she is big stuff!

Easter @ Numa & Pop's!

We spent Easter (4-3-2010) in Athens at Numa's & Pop's.  Having Aunt Kat here was a treat and we met Lady Boggs, the new member in Numa & Pop's family.  The Bunny came again, for the 10th year in a row.....Tucker must be doing something right!

Is it Spring somewhere?

This is a picture of an incredible rose that was blooming in "MY" yard this week! It measured almost 6" across! Seriously! The snow is Colorado Springs, yesterday! Yes, yesterday....April 23rd. My friend Mary sent the pic to me. The kids had a snow day on April 23. There is something not right about that! Anyway, Happy Spring!