Happy 4th!! 2013

I swear I'm going to do better about keeping this this updated.

This year for the 4th, we did so much! We went to Jr's cousin's house to swim and hang out with family. Jaida had so much fun swimming.. She did not want to get out of the pool. But when she did, it wasn't even 1 minute that had passed before she said, "Mom, that was fun to swim in the pool."

After the swimming fun, we had my family come over to our house. Oliver smoked some brisket on the smoker and we all ate a LOT of food. Then we went to the Church to watch the firework show.

Sunshine and Summer Time

This has been one hot summer.. Let me tell ya..

We have been keeping really really busy. The thing that is on my mind most of the time these past few weeks is the fact that my brother and his wife are moving to New Mexico. I am seriously distraught from this. My brother is one of my best friends who always knows how to help me. He is one of the hardest workers I know and has taught me so much about working your butt off to get what you want. He is going to New Mexico for a PhD program for English. He is so stinkin smart. We had a going away party for him last night as he newly finished house. We had a great turn out. His friends from his work, Mr. Sheilds (high school english teacher, who has really influenced his choice in career), Coach Dyer (his high school basketball coach), and some people from church. I am so proud of him and everything he has accomplished, but it sucks to think we'll probably never live close to each other again. He is the best brother anyone could ask for.

On another note, my Uncle Mike got a Liver!!!! We are so incredibly happy for him and his family! We love this man so much and I am personally grateful for the stories that he's told me and the memories I have of him when I would stay with him and my Aunt Amy for the summer. The liver came just in time and this whole thing has turned out to be a miracle! A lot of prayer and fasting has helped this family in a very hard time. I am happy beyond measure.

We had our 5 year reunion this weekend too. It was so fun to catch up with some old friends from High School. I forgot how much fun we had! I would love to go back to High School. It was awesome. We just laughed and laughed about all the stuff we did to each other, to teachers, and to coaches. good times. Love my little town of Odessa, no matter how trashy it is sometimes. :)

Jaida will be turning two next month! Where has the time gone? she is a little sassy pants. She may be small like her mama, but she has got some pep in her step. She says the funniest things and does the craziest stuff. She is my best friend and I tell her everything and she loves to make mommy and daddy laugh. She is the life of the party and I couldn't have asked for a more perfect child. She is really into Taylor Swift and literally knows every word of her favorite song, "Mean" by tswift. Her birthday party theme is taylor swift. I can't wait until we have another one so Jaida can be a big sister.