Love is Patient: Summer, Summer, Summer Time!!!

I LOVE SUMMER!!! It is officially here and in full swing. I feel like I have been blowing and going ever since school was out...but I am loving my summer vacay so far! Even though I have been busy, and summer seems to be going by so fast, I have had so much fun and have gotten to go and do some really fun stuff. It's so nice being done with my Master's too. I don't have to spend my days reading, writing papers, doing assignments, or posting in group forums. I get to do what I want and also spend more time with Cody, my family, and our friends. Because I'm done with school, I'm also working a couple of days a week for some fun money. It's nice because I still have most of the week where I can do the things I want to do, but also have those other days where I get out of the house for the entire day and have an excuse to actually put on make-up! I really hate wearing make-up. But, in the summer it's even worse because it's so hot. However, it's also nice to have to get completely ready...I also get to talk with lots of people throughout the day which I love. I can't complain about the extra money either...and it's so much fun!

Other than working a couple of days a week, I spend most of my days at home with our loves. I typically take all three of them for a walk before it gets to hot in the morning, then go work-out after that. It's so nice to have the time to get all three of them out of the house and let them get some exercise before it gets too hot in the afternoon. I take both the girls at the same time, because they want to run, not walk. So, I run them for a mile, then walk another mile with them. Sarge moves a little slower. After the girls and I are done running and walking, I drop them off at the house, then pick-up Sarge and we go for our nice little walk. It's a cool down for me, which is nice because he just loves to take it easy. He's not much for being hot, so one mile is perfect for him! The girls always beg to go swimming after our run/walk, but I save that for the evenings when my parents are off work and their dogs can swim with ours. Sarge hates the pool, so we usually leave him at home to take a cat nap! The first time Cody ever brought Sarge over to my parents house when we were dating, he had never been around a pool before and had no idea what it was. He was walking around it looking at it and all of a sudden decided he would try to walk on top of it. We call him our "Jesus" dog when we refer to this story! He simply tried to walk on the water and had absolutely no luck. Poor guy...he didn't know what hit him! As soon as he stepped forward, he went head first into the water. It was a few seconds before he came up. When he did, he was snorting and spurting water out everywhere. He had no idea where the steps were and was trying to climb out one of the corners. To this day, he won't get anywhere near the pool. We've tried holding him and walking in with him and he stiffens up so tight and then tries to fight you as soon as you're in the pool. So, we figure that walking him is just fine for his exercise...no swimming for that good ole boy! So, after all that, I get ready for the day and just hang out around the house. It's nice to have the time to go to the store, clean, cook, and run other errands during the day if I need to so that when Cody comes home, we can just hang out and relax together. During the school year, all those things take up so much time and get done during the week at night and on the weekend, so we don't have as much time to just hang out together. Let's see...I've also gotten to babysit sweet Jansen Hadley a couple of times! She is so much fun to be around. She just laughs and coos...it's amazing to see how much she has grown in these 5 months. She just gets more and more beautiful. It's fun to go in her room just when she's woken up. You can hear her on the monitor getting fussy and as soon as you walk in her room, she gets the biggest smile on her sweet face. I love getting to love on her...she's so snuggly! Brent and Bria are truly blessed to have this precious angel...such a sweet family!

Cody and I have also gone on a couple of last minute weekend trips with friends. In fact, just last weekend we headed to Ft. Worth with Josh and Abbie. The boys went to a Rangers game...they sat behind the Ranger's dugout...and were on TV!!! Abbie and I met up with Jen at Joe T. Garcia's for dinner and their famous margaritas. We had a blast sitting on the patio eating fajitas and sipping on our margaritas! The weather wasn't too terribly hot and we have so much fun together just talking and catching up. After dinner, we met up with the boys in downtown and went to a couple of other places, then headed back to the Harrison's. We stayed up for a bit longer then all headed to bed. When we woke up that morning, Sandra was already in the kitchen getting breakfast ready. She had made some delicious Dunkin' Donuts coffee...and we top it off with Italian Sweet Cream coffee creamer...to die for! I've tried making it at home...and it's just never as good. I think it's because she has that mother's touch...nothing gets better than when a mom makes something with love behind it! After breakfast, we sat around in our PJ's and just chatted with Josh, Abbie, Ladell, Sandra, and Ryder (the first grand baby in the fam). Jen had to leave pretty early to go run some errands, so she wasn't around...and we sure missed her! I think that Ryder found a new best friend in Cody! We had so much fun playing with him and catching up with the Harrison's. We both feel like part of their family...they are some of the sweetest people I have ever known in my entire life. I have secretly adopted Sandra and Ladell as another set of parents!!! I love the fact that we have our precious parents here in Abilene with is, but when we go out of town, we have another set of parents that love us, and we love them, that are in another town. It makes going to visit feel like home. Around 11...we packed up our stuff and headed back home. It was a quick...but super fun trip! We're already planning to go back soon! Here in a couple of weeks, we're going to see Amie, Ryan, and Gavin in Lewisville. Gavin turns ONE on the 12th! I can't believe it. I'm so sad we won't be at his party...but we'll be there that weekend...so we'll just have to celebrate again! I always look forward to going to see Amie in the summer's...and Cody's coming this year too! The girls are going to spend the day at the mall while the boys play some golf and do other manly things! I'm so excited!!! We also have a trip planned...in Jamaica! We're super excited about it...and especially about getting away together on a beach with Josh and Abbie!!! More on that in another post after we're home! I also just got back a couple of weeks ago from Albuquerque with my parents and Mimi (post soon to come)! I'm also going to go see my Mimi this weekend. Of course Faith will be taking that trip with my mom and I! I'm going to buy her a kiddie pool when we get down there. She's a little fish and loves to swim in my parents pool...I'll have to let you know how she likes it! Well, I love summer time and all the fun that comes along with it! I also love getting to spend the days with my three love bugs, having extra time with Cody, and getting to do so many fun things with family and friends!!!

The girls after we had gotten back from a 3 mile run...they were pooped!!!

Sweet boy! Look at that sweet face!!! Of course...he was begging for a cookie from his Bella!

Trigger...sacked out!

My sweet Faith. These doggies get so worn out during the summer time! We play all day long!

Oh Sarge! I sit on the floor 90% of the time...the doggies steal all our seats!

Spoiled rotten!!!

Bria and me hugging Josh before he and Abbie's wedding! I love this picture...such sweet friends!!!

Faith, Trigger, and Sarge playing in the backyard while Cody and I hung out on the patio...perfect night for being outside!

Cody bought a golf cart that he's turning into a hunting rig. When he got it, he took Faith for a ride. In this pic...she looks very unsure. Now...she begs to go for rides! When we go to my parents...the girls ride on the golf cart with Cody and I walk Sarge across the street. Our dogs are spoiled...it may be a little ridiculous!

Me and sweet JJ!!!

Precious baby girl! Such a big smile...I love her to pieces!!!

At the Ranger's game and on TV! Just chilling behind the Ranger's dugout watching the game...no big deal!

The boys on TV again...looking at something in the outfield. The guy sitting right behind them in the blue shirt and gray Ranger's hat is Abbie's dad! Fun times with great friends!!!