The Last of the Firsts

This is the last First Pinewood Derby of The Sampler clan.  This is WHS' first PWD.  Usually Babe pulls off a win for the boys in some way or another, but this year was also a first "no ribbon" year.

The best part is that WHS didn't even care.  He was in it for the fun and it was certainly that!

There are a few things, admittedly, that might not be so bad being the "last first." ;)

Cookies and Lemonade

Who wouldn't buy cookies and lemonade from this cute boy?  Sure miss this long driveway and beautiful yard....

We miss you Texas!

You is Kind. You is Smart. You is Important.

I found my Master's Thesis when we were moving and I snapped a picture of the front of it.  It is my reminder to myself that I am still smart :) despite my brain going to mush with motherhood, anesthesia and fatigue.  Yes, it was 20 plus years ago, but there has to be some brain celliage still left, right?

Funny thing is this was the hardest class for most.  For me, I love to write, so it all fit together like a good puzzle when I wrote.  I had a really sweet girl who was my "co-worker" on the same subject for our thesis.  She was the "smart" one that our mentor loved.  While her forte was in other areas, it did do me a bit of pleasure when she got a C on her thesis....NOT because I wanted her to have a bad grade, but because my mentor realized that I was smarter than she thought.  

One day, our mentor called us in to chat about our progress.  My partner was 100% school.  I was 75% school, 25% keep my sanity.  I also was the ONLY person in my class of 75 that was from the South.  Mind you, I also came from Fort Worth where we dressed up to go to class, we wore lots of silver jewelry and definitely lipstick and cowboy boots.  In graduate school, it was my first time to NOT live in the South.  People didn't wear make up, teachers included.  They wore jeans and T-shirts to class, teachers included.  No one really cared about their appearance, but it was sort of to a fault.  Some of them could of used a touch of lipstick a day or more!!  And T-shirts in the 90's were not cute...nor did they flatter anyone!  I only knew dressing up for class.  I had a closet of clothes from Harold's, including wrap skirts ;)  I wore skirts to school and I did look nice.  It's all I knew to do.

So, my mentor made some pretty rude statements to me about not knowing if I was studying or worried about what I was going to wear the next day.  It was so uncalled for that my sweet partner interrupted her and told her that was not fair.  I wasn't vain as she thought, I was just clearly from a  different world than her.  Her comment actually hurt.  A lot.  She made me tear up, but I refused to cry in front of her.

Come graduation, I made an A+ on my thesis, graded by the director of the school, and I graduated with honors...higher than her favorite of the two of us.  So, my pride in this thesis is more about my proving to that professor that I was smart AND I dressed nice.

TAKE THAT! ;)

These Boys

These boys are so precious to me.  JBS and EO, plus JLS and CO became fast friends through Scouts.  On top of that we were friends at church and outside of church with their whole family.  Sweet WHS was always included by their sweet mom, too.  These smiles bring back such wonderful memories.  This was at church in the coffee shop waiting for God and Family to begin and having lunch between church and Cotillion of JBS.

These friendships will hopefully endure the test of time.  We had it really good in The Woodlands.  We were blessed with wonderful family friendships.  God has a plan for us all and I pray that that plan includes us all living in the same town again. ;)

A Beautiful March Day in Magnolia

My favorite spot in my favorite yard on a gorgeous day was in a hammock.  The kids were playing ball and mowing the yard and I was relaxing listening to an Audible book.  Complete bliss.

This yard was in my vision when I was so sick and in the hospital.  All I wanted was to be in this yard or on my front porch watching my boys play.  This was my happy spot.

We tested the hammock to its fullest because the boys discovered my bliss and climbed in too.

Meanwhile, back at the ranch....

(It doesn't get any cuter than this, does it?)

Take note they are in JBS' bed because it was so isolated that no one could catch them.

Friday Night Lights

A wonderful night at LAX.  What a gorgeous Texas sunset!

Little Willie

It doesn't matter that he is now 8 years old.  He is STILL Little Willie to me.  When he was born, we promised we would not call him Willie.  And to Babe and me, he is Little Willie.

Just the other day, he said, "Mom.  When will I stop being Little Willie?  You know I am eight now."

To which, I quickly replied, "Never." Big Willie just doesn't suit him, so Little Willie it stays.  And he is just as sweet and kind and thoughtful as he is cute.  He makes this family go 'round.

Kanakuk Pics Round 2

Love this cute profile...

Clearly having fun on the blob!

I am thinking the Lawn Mower??

Ready to run....or not.

L1 and L2.  Besties.

He played Dodgeball to win.  And only to WIN!

The 2 L's running hard!

Melt my heart!

What a cutie...

I think he's playing tennis!

Whatever this might be?

Listening fervently...

And the camp photographer got this.  I had to brace myself for the speed he was running up to me!  We almost made it to the ground!!

E-Rock

E-Rock is everyone's favorite Boy Scout Camp Out.  Its in the Hill Country and apparently gorgeous. While I didn't get to go, I was able to get some great pictures from a friend.

The boys had a lot of fun.  Sadly, the weather wasn't so great and they had to leave in the night to avoid sever storms.  That said, they got a lot accomplished and had a great time and now great memories of packing and running in the rain and the dark!

Kanakuk Pictures

When I left the boys at the Kanakuk Bus in June, it was JLS and L2 that were sniffy and sad.  WHS was footloose and fancy free.  HE was READY to do this camp thing.  So, each day I waited by the computer waiting for the previous days pictures to post so I could see all they fun they were having.  This was JLS' 4th year, meaning he would get his cross and tennis shoes and it was WHS' first year.  He wanted to go and he ASKED to go.  By golly, lets go!

Checking in after the buses dropped them off...

Fun times for JLS in the pool...

WHS' barn pics...

JLS' barn pics...(Little did we know there were KC boys in this barn that are in JLS' school now!)

WHS looking like a pro...

I spy JLS in a cute new hat!

Orange socks is my guy.  Praying with his barn.  LOVE!

Soccer man, who?

I know my parents never say a pic or rarely a letter from me.  But I looked forward to these pictures EVERY DAY!

Keystone Spring Break

Over Spring Break, we were lucky enough to get to take the boys skiing again!  The last time we went, JBS and JLS were young and WHS was not even skiing.  This time, we went with two other dear families which made our total of boys 7 and girls 1.  Poor LB. :)  But we had a blast!

On our way, we spent the night in Raton, NM.  The highlight of the trip was having dinner at Denny's.  We are very easy to entertain apparently.

The view of the Mountain from our Condo. Snow was a little on the short side during our trip, but it was still OK.

Day One!  Ready to go!!

The O Family.  Ready for ski lessons!

WHS' first  year to ski.  Did he ever LOVE IT!!  Makes me so happy!

JBS getting his skis on...

Happy kid...

No fear.  This one just pointed his skis downward and off he went...

The O and Sampler boys ready for ski lessons.  JLS was determined to snowboard and that he did.  He did great for his first time!

3 cuties.

Sampler Family.  Ready to go!

JBS, WHS (hanging on tight), PB and EO getting off the lift.  This was WHS' first time alone.  He did great...very happy his big bro was there! :)

 The whole family...

In the mornings the boys had ski lessons for the first 2 days and the adults would take them in the afternoon.  I would scout easier blues so they could say they did a blue.  By the end of the trip, the boys and I were on the highest peak and everyone knocked out a blue handily.

EO, JBS, CO, PB, TB, JLS and WHS

All of the above plus JO, EO and Babe.

WHS' favorite spot.  We would all be in the den area and realize WHS wasn't with us.  He was in his room watching cartoons in bed every time.

 Final shot...JBS.

It was a fantastic trip.  We already booked for next Spring Break with our friends!  What great family time and time with some very special family friends to boot!