we're back!

Our first week of school was hectic, scary and fun all at the same time. Getting our wacky schedules coordinated has definitely been a task! These peas are everywhere!

Anne Pea started her cross country practices this week. Last year she was gung-ho for cross country and this year, well, her enthusiasm is lackluster. I think it's because they lost their amazing coach after last season (even I miss you, Coach Martin!). Hopefully, once the meets get going, her competitive spirit will kick in to overdrive! Even though the meets are on Saturday mornings, early, they really are so much fun! She's also in yearbook and band this year. {She has a few actual classes, too, I think.} Overall, she's having a blast! She said she knew it would be a great year when she walked into lunch the first day and her friends were saving her seat for her from last year! :)

Abby Pea is a sophomore in high school! {Yes, you can all gasp!} Her livelihood is still dance, but this year it's with the Marquettes! McKinney High had a football game on Friday and it was so much fun to see her down on the field! They are really awesome and a great group of girlie peas! The game itself was a blast! McKinney High won their first game in over a year! I was so excited for them! My throat was sore the next morning from all the cheering! I can't wait for the game next week!

Of course, I had to take a few photos (okay, more like 100)! By the time I actually found Abby on the field, their performance was almost over! But, there are only about 10 more games left to go! :)

Here's a little pea-k!

She's in there somewhere!

This is Lauren Em, the Captain! She's also Abby's Big Sis! We're pretty proud that out of all the girls, she chose Abby to be her Little Sis! Huge honor!

I could watch her all day! Although, I did most of my watching through the camera lens. I think I'll have Anne Pea video the next performance so I can see it later!

"New Year, New Record!" And they started it off right!

Even sitting in the stands they are in sync and precise. Very cool!

I'll give you ten points if you can find her! :)

Dancing in the stands to the band was her favorite! You could tell by the look on her face! They were having a blast! (It probably helps when your team is winning!)

See?! We won! :)

school days are almost here :(

I don't know whether I am happy or sad that school starts in a week. These peas have been enjoying the summer and I have been enjoying my easy commute! So much has to happen in this last week before school starts, I don't know if we can get it all done!

Anne Pea has cross country coming up, and I hope to get her into tennis lessons this year. I still don't know how she's going to get back and forth from school yet; she's a transfer this year since we moved last March. We don't have the bus to rely on anymore. We always manage to work something out though! Tennis lessons will depend on the after school schedule. I don't want my baby peas to grow up faster than they are, but this is when it would be great to have another driver in the family!

Anne Pea has been our babysitting girl lately! She's a fantastic little sitter and so mature for her age. It's good and bad all at the same time. She should be the one being babysat! She's my baby! :(

*Update* Did I mention my baby pea is 5' 6 1/4" tall?!? How does one make these peas stop growing?!?

Abby Pea seems like she's already in school! She's doing summer homework and dancing every day. I think once school starts, she should just pack up and move into MHS! I wonder if she could fit inside her dance locker....

I took a beautiful picture of my girls this morning on our way to church. It was just with my phone; nothing fancy. I just love these sweet peas so much!

{Blessings to you all from us!}

abby pea's amazing dance photos

I do not take credit for any of these photos, though I wish I could! I didn't order any (yet) thinking, "I can take dance photos of her!" But, these turned out so good that even this photographer mom pea is probably ordering some! Gasp! It's a first since I started my photography! It's a Kodak moment! Pun intended. Hardy-har-har, that was a terrible attempt at a joke. On to the pics!!! {Don't worry! Anne Pea will have her turn as cross country is coming up soon! Eeek! I love cross country meets! Much better than football games, but don't tell the older pea!}

Abby Pea's Marquette photos

a little shout out

I just have to recognize some of my favorite people in the whole world. Today is my father-in-law's birthday! I want to wish Tim a blessed birthday! He's such an awesome person. I wish we were closer to our Tim and Paula because we just adore them!

A few days ago it would have been Grandpa Jack's birthday. (Jon's grandpa, Tim's dad.) Jon and I miss him and all our grandparents that we have lost so much. We think of them daily and strive to be the kind of amazing people that they were and are. We're still so blessed to have some of our grandparents with us!!

It was also my awesome sister-in-law's birthday! Kaley is such a sweet person and awesome momma! I love her dearly!

Jon's Uncle Brian also celebrated a birthday yesterday, I think. (Sorry if I have the wrong day! They're all kind of running together!)

On top of all this, it was my parents' anniversary on the 2nd! I can't believe they've made it 38 years! Pretty amazing for a couple of high school sweethearts!! I am so blessed to have them as parents! They are truly an example of love and perseverance! I love you so much!

I pray blessings overflow for each one of these special people in our lives! We would not be who we are without you and can't imagine our lives without you in them! Thank you so much for being you!

brace face

This summer is flying by, but we're not up to too much. Jon and I are working like crazy (as always) and the girls are enjoying their summer for a few more weeks. Yikes! School will start before we know it and our busy lives will just get busier!

Anne Pea has been hanging out with so many of her friends. She got her wretched Herbst appliance out of her mouth (a little linky-poo for your convenience). Next step is braces!

Speaking of braces, we have a new brace face in the house! Abby Pea got braces on and actually kind of likes them. I think the novelty will wear off soon!

Picture courtesy of Abby's phone  :)

They're really cute and she has bright pink bands on them.

Other than mouth-metal news, we don't have a lot. Which may be a good thing! 

King Pea is liking his job, even though it has taken him to Irving every day for about the last month. We supposedly only have a week left of it, but let me tell you, Queen Pea is not a happy camper with this situation! Especially when the restaurant he is supposed to be at is only about three minutes from our house. Three minutes vs. an hour? An hour on a good day? Yeah, he knows my displeasure because I remind him of it about every fifteen minutes! Pray for our sanity and pray this is the last week of this mess stress!

Sweet G.G. is hanging in there like a real trooper! I will have better news on her soon. King Pea and Anne Pea are going to see her on Monday and Tuesday this week. 

Abby Pea has tryouts for the elite squad for her drill team this week. It's a group of the really good dancers that get to do special things within the Marquettes. Which means momma and daddy will be shelling out more dough! Abby's on the hunt for a part time job to help with some of the cost of her drill team endeavors. She's just about old enough to start helping out! 

Driver's ed is over and the practice driving has begun. She does very well, but I feel like I need a drink after every one of our sessions! Nothing wracks my nerves like my baby behind the wheel!

Once school starts, the craziness will resume! We are looking forward to Friday night football games complete with Marquette performances (you will see pics). Also, early Saturday morning cross country meets will soon start up again (you will see pics of that too). I love fall and can't wait for the craziness to begin! I wish it would never end. 

How do I make these peas stop growing up? I can't think about it because it makes me cry. Yet, I wouldn't trade a minute of it for anything in the world! Our blessings truly abound!

sweet g.g. pea update

Today is G.G.'s 81st birthday! It's so hard to believe it's been a year since her amazing surprise birthday party. If you haven't seen those pics, go to my "Pea Family Photos" page and scroll down. It was such an amazing, wonderful, happy weekend full of precious memories!

Our precious G.G. is still hanging in there, being a trooper! I spoke to her on the phone today. She is speaking well and loves to hear from friends and family via the phone. She is hooked on watching our Texas Rangers! She never enjoyed baseball that much until this summer. She and Mammy (Jon's mom) are watching every game possible. We have to find her a jersey, probably needs to be a button-up, that she can wear during the games. Help me be on the lookout for one! :)

I received a precious picture of her, in her wheelchair (she's been bed ridden for months now). It was so awesome to see her sweet smile. She was rolled into the kitchen (her favorite place in the house). She loves to look out her kitchen's bay window onto the golf course and watch the players. I will always picture her there, at her table watching the golfers with her telly running sports programs!

Brian (Jon's uncle) surprised her with a short visit from Austin this weekend. She got flowers and a laptop for her birthday from the sweet Freidell family (Brian, Kim and cousins, Chase and Brandon). She can use it while she's laying in bed. Maybe it will give her a change of scenery. She said she's getting a little tired of looking at her fireplace!

She has a lot of spirit and hope. She talks about her sweet kids, grands, and great-grands and is so thankful and blessed to have been such a huge part of their lives. She said she hopes she's walking next year on her birthday. I told her I would be happy just to have her for her next birthday! :)

Her hospice aide (I don't know her actual job title), Katherine, is becoming very close to the family. She's been wonderful and we hope to have her around for a long time. G.G. is very comfortable with her. I know it is a huge blessing to have a caregiver that every one loves.

She continues to need prayers. She has good days and bad days, of course. We're just so happy to have her in our lives! Thank you for all of the love and prayers! It is appreciated more than words can say!

color-{me happy}-ado

It was back to work today after a refreshing trip to the mountains! I wish I could remember every detail to tell you about it, but I don't think I can. The only thing that would have made it perfect is if King Pea had been there. He would have loved every second of it like I did.

The first day we awoke very early (3:30 am; thanks, Dad). By the time I woke up again, there were (small) mountains around us. We set up camp at beautiful Vallecito Lake. I could have stayed there forever! It was really beautiful. It wasn't far from Durango; which is where we spent most of our second day.

We went into town pretty early to check out the downtown. I had to buy a car adapter for my phone charger. I didn't realize we would literally have no electricity! Downtown was super cute; I could have walked around there all day. We ate at a yummy local brewery, Steamworks. The food was good, but the beer was better!

After lunch, we went white water rafting! Okay, so the "white water" was a little lacking, but we still had a blast! It was my first time rafting and I can't wait to do it again. Every one in Durango was out on the river; some just tubing, others in kayaks. I was really wanting to kayak! (I'll have to go back for that!) Every one there is outside as much as possible. There were bikers every where (bicycle bikers and motorcycle bikers; mostly bicycle bikers though).

Anne Pea and Abby Pea had fun too! They've been rafting before (yes, I'm totally jealous) but this is the first time one of them got tossed! Abby Pea fell out of the raft once; I only had a ~mini~ heart attack. She was quickly saved, but almost fell out again! But, she managed to stay on board the second time. Our rafting guide was pretty cool; he did save my daughter's life after all. Anne Pea was a bit of a sour puss. I borrowed {okay, stole} one of her watches and wore it that day. Let's just say she didn't let me live it down.

We spent our last night at Vallecito Lake by playing games. Any one who knows the Barrett family knows we have to play marbles! That's also the night Mom and I went to Margaritaville, and it was a little better trip for me than it was for her! :)  Love ya, Mom! You have to let loose every now and then!

The next day, we headed back towards Pagosa Springs. We spent some time around another gorgeous campsite (no view of the lake though). I could hear the river at the campsite; that was nice. We took a closer look at the river and I did get a few photos.

That night we went into town to the hot springs. After a couple of shower-less days, we needed it! The hot springs were ah-(wait for it)-mazing! If you're ever in the area, you have to check them out! Here is a linky-poo (see how I made that so easy for you!). I highly recommend it, but wait until your last night. Although it was fantastic before our monstrous hike, it would have been well worth it to wait until the next night. {End commercial break} :)

The last day of our stay we went for our (as previously mentioned) monstrous hike. It was beautiful and I am so glad I had been working out more than normal for a while beforehand. I really don't know how my Daddy Pea does it, seeing how he never works out. It was well worth it though! 3.5 miles and about 1,000 feet in elevation up; and what goes up must come down!

Once we got to the end of our part of the trail, Dad and the girlie peas went fishing. I took pics (not with my camera; it's too big and I did not want to lose it in the river!). I used Dad's old camera, so I don't even know how those photos turned out. Anne Pea took a little dip by accident, bumping her knee in the process. She shed a few tears, but kept going! Mom found a small clearing by the river and spent time napping and reading a book. I went to join her as soon as I noticed clouds rolling in. I got half a tiny glass of wine down before the rain started! That was the end of the fishing. (Abby Pea did "catch" one, but when they were about to get it, he got loose. He lived to see at least one more day because he would have been our lone fish at our fish fry!)

As the lightning and thunder got going, we hoofed it pretty quickly down the mountain. The lightning struck pretty close at one point. We were saying our prayers before, but that really got us praying! Of course, God in His sweet mercy got us all down the mountain just fine. Abby Pea talked Mom's ear off the whole way down, so she wasn't as focused on the impending storm. Abby Babbles' babbling is good for something! :)

Seven mile hike--check!

We had pizza for dinner that night; all fish were spared. We got packed up as much as possible and then soaked our tired feet in our camper pedis. (Our dish buckets filled with hot, soapy water; scrubbies optional.)

We packed up the next morning and I was not ready to come home (though I did miss my King Pea, a lot!). I have always loved the mountains, but I am ready sell all my belongings and move there! (Haha, not really, well maybe, no no, we can't, but after the girls graduate, we've been known to do crazier things, I don't know, we shall see.)

We'll just get started by planning a camping trip up there next summer. Around mid-June, if any one is interested. You have to rough it though; taking tents, no electricity, and King Pea is definitely on the guest list this time. :)