Sunday, June 7, 2009

Our First Trip of Summer Vacation




























Well, we have officially started the summer off with a road trip... Chuck had to help work a home show last weekend in Austin so we thought that would be a great time to getaway and see our sweet friends The Bayers who moved to Texas a month after we did.. As most of you remember Peyton and his bff Jackson in St Louis well , that is his family who moved.. It was definitely a GOD thing and I think that is why moving was easier for both Peyt and Jackson because not only are they 2 hrs apart but they were going through the same transitions at the same time and leaving all their friends and times behind in STL.... We are all so blessed to say that they both are doing great and love living in Texas..Our trip was so much fun! We left early Saturday morning and like I said it is only 2 hrs away so we dropped Chuck off at his destination and headed to The Bayers where we spent the afternoon visiting, playing and just catching up.. Our friend Jess Hess who was Peytons Para in St Louis moved to San Antonio about a month ago so she drove up with her hubby and sweet baby girl Lilly who I could just eat up and came for the afternoon and evening so we all got to catch up and reminiscence about St Louis and what we missed the most of course my answer was all my sweet friends who are there,, I miss yall so much.. I love living here and I love all my new friends but there is just something about my friends there who have a very very special place in my heart and I have to say it is still hard when I know I just can't pick up the phone and say meet me for lunch.. or come outside for a while and visit with me:) That is what makes me miss St Louis the most so anyway we had so much fun catching up.. We decided to go downtown and have dinner so I picked up Chuck and we met them at a restaurant there on Barton Springs Road in downtown called Uncle Billies Que and Brew... it was so much fun and yummy yummy food!! and then off we went to the bridge that is known as the world largest bat colony, we all sat with at least 100 other people and at dark they all flew out, it was really cool but also very creepy~~It was very cool though and a MUST DO if you are in Austin... Peyton spent the night with Jackson and so we went to our hotel where they had Heavenly Down Beds, can I just tell you they are one of my very favorite things in this world, I just see them and fall asleep.. instant relaxation... Chuck said I could have knocked the walls down I was snoring so loud:)lol!! I just love them!!! So the next morning we took Chuck and dropped him back off at the Parade of homes which were very interesting... I went thru them on Sunday afternoon, they were all at least a million dollars and they were all GREEN... Austin is Big on the Go Green.. the houses were very cool, very modern and very contemporary, it had cool things like Cork floors, cork walls, concrete floors, all the stair pieces were recycled metal or wood,, It was cool but again very different!! anyway back to Sunday morning we met them at Church, they go to Fellowship of Austin SW.. very very cool church, my boys loved their youth group and the sermon was awesome..The Praise Band was incredible, the girl singing was unreal and of course the drummer was amazing ( our friend Mark):) After church we decided we would take the kids to lunch and of course they all agreed on one of our old STL favorites "Culverts".. We have them here in Houston but it is not close at all so we never go but boy was it good and made us miss STL just a little more:( The boys ended up hanging with them while I went to get Chuck and then we came back and visited with Mark and Pam for a little while and then it was time to head back South ( SE actually) to Houston.. It always so hard saying Goodbye to friends especially when you have a great time and when they are so close to our hearts... But we already have another trip planned, they are coming here in July for a Astros vs Cardinals game and of course we will all be in our Cardinal Gear.. I would love for Jess and her family to come too but its a week night game and her hubby can't get away:(.. I hope all of you who are reading this have started your summer off with as much fun as we have!! Thanks for reading our blog and sharing your day with us~~

Thursday, May 28, 2009

School is officially OUT


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Well school is officially out and we have 2 happy boys! This has been a great year for both of the boys and once again in a new state and in a new school God has truly blessed them with wonderful teachers and good friends... Next year will be a new setting for both of them, they will both be at different campuses but will take their friends (most of them) with them... We have a fun summer planned with lots to do so I am sure it will fly by but, this is my favorite time of year that I get to spend with my boys and enjoy them without a routine.. This is the time of year where we spend lots of time together doing things,talking and really getting to know each other.. I have been so blessed with these 2, they are now 15 and 12 and I know that pretty soon they will be grown and doing there own thing in the summer so as a Momma I encourage each one of you to spend time with your kids and really treasure each minute you have with them.. ( I know! I know! remind me in about 3 to 4 weeks and see if they are still alive)LOL!.Enjoy them and really get to know who they are!! Have a great summer!!!

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Count Down is ON!!








Well The Count Down is On here at The Ray home... Count down til schools out~~~ We are all so ready for summer! We have already been swimming everyday and acting like its summer all except for going to bed early and getting up for school early! I LOVE LOVE LOVE not having a routine and I LOVE spending time with my boys... We have several plans for the summer with travel plans and lots of friends and family coming to visit so we will probably blink and feel like its time to go back to school.. But we are counting down and can't wait!! If you don't have plans to come visit us.. Come On Down~ We would love to have you.. There is always a Party going on in the backyard:)

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Happy Birthday Chuck!! 5-9-09




















Happy Birthday to My Amazing Hubby~~ I feel like I just bragged on my anniversary blog about him but I am here to tell you I can not brag enough!! He has to be the BEST husband in the WORLD! He does everything for me and the boys and always has, he put us first before anything he has or needs to do~ He is a incredible man with a heart like no other and loves us so so much and we love him so so much too! We have been married for 20 years and we dated for 4 before we got married, he has always just been so good to me and for me and I am incredibly blessed to have him as my husband!It is has been a awesome journey, we have known each other since 5Th grade and to watch him grow and change into the man that he has become has just been unreal.. He has grown into such a strong christian man and I am so excited that he has the heart for God that he does, he is a amazing example to our 2 boys and again I feel so blessed! Happy Birthday to My Husband, The Love of My Life, My Best Friend and the Best Daddy to our 2 boys~ We hope that you have a great day and we hope you know how much we love you , appreciate you and adore you~~~ YOU ARE THE BEST!!!!