Aaron and Colorado

Recently, my mom went to visit my little brother in Colorado. He lives in Ft. Collins. She is the first one in our family to go visit him, although we are hoping to make it up there this winter sometime. Below are some pictures that she took, of scenery and of my brother.

More pictures

And then you find pictures that make you wonder. How do you go from taking the above photos - to the ones below?

Tayler holding a starfish (I actually took this underwater picture with her camera....as you all know...she would not get out of the boat into the water. But, I thought this picture was too good not to share.)

Starfish taken from inside the boat looking into the water

Nice relaxing day at the beach

Daddy from daughter's point of view

Vacation memories

Well, I finally found Kaylin's camera from vacation. I had given all 3 girls disposable underwater cameras for them to use while in Florida. Kati had hers developed back right after we got home. Tayler still hasn't given me hers to take in. And Kaylin couldn't remember what she had done with hers. I finally tracked it down.

It's funny what you find on a 6 year old's camera. She has photography genes in her blood - but she might need a few lessons from her Opa. Below is a sampling of the wonders of a 6 year old...

This appears to be the parking lot of the place we rented the boat from.

The corner of the shack roof

The man explaining boat stuff to Bryan...and a very attentive and excited set of girls

The rocks at the edge of the boat dock

more lake pictures

This will give you an idea of proximity to houses

Another view of where the water is flowing in

The girls and Harley - after our long walk around the lake. It hadn't gotten dark so you can't see the lake behind them.

And...my favorite picture. I can't claim credit for this one - a neighbor of mine actually took it that same night as the sun was setting. She sent it to me, and I thought it was too beautiful not to share.

Our Big Lake

Well - it's finally happening. They are finally filling our "Dry Lake" with water. When we moved out here 1 year ago, it was just a big deep hole in the ground. We were told they would be filling it soon. Here is how it is being describe:

A Bill Dance designed Lake for Trophy Bass fishing
Private 40 acre constant level (30' deep) reservoir surrounded by native trees
Lighted boat ramp and fishing dock
Jogging Trail around the lake
Picnic tables & Barbecues


So for the last year we have watched, waited, and wondered....when it would be anything other than a big dirt pit. We were told at our annual BOD meeting that they were still building the pipe system that would be pumping water into it from another lake (oddly enough...we are on the banks of Lake Lewisville and Ray Roberts Lake - yet they were pumping water in from a lake in East Texas). We were told by spring it would be complete and filled. Then when that didn't happen, we heard that due to our area's drought - the filling was put on hold. The jogging trail was poured around the lake, so people could start jogging around the big dry hole. They were smart and made the path exactly 1 mile around, so you didn't have to guess how far you had jogged. Anyway, about 1 week ago people started to notice something odd - the big dry hole...had water in it!! And not just the puddles we were used to - the water was actually flowing into it from the pipe system!! Sadly enough, this was great cause for celebration in our community. We all got cameras - and took family outings down there....and pondered what we would call it now. It seems out of place to call it the "Dry Lake". We in our house refer to it as the "Big Lake", since we have 3 smallers one in the community.

Anyway, here are some pictures we have taken of our new lake.

This is where the water is filling in from.

Isn't she lovely...

My beautiful mini-me Tayler

Here is Tayler's 8th grade school picture. I think she likes it, but I'm not sure. She spent all weekend comparing it to Kati's picture - to try and figure out why people say they look alike. When we were school clothes shopping, a lady in the mall told us she thought they were twins. That, of course, upset both girls who think they don't like the other.

School pictures

My beautiful Kati

School pictures are in. Tayler hasn't brought hers home, of course. But Kati brought hers home last night,and she actually likes it this year!! It took 7 grades...but she finally likes a school picture!!

Fun at the Klein house

Is this how you make the pyramid? Cheerleaders we are not!!

Tayler and Glorianna

We rock!

This is our best side

Saturday Night Fever - on a Friday night

Some pictures from Kati's party

"What is that thing?? " Kati's cousin Alaina meeting Harley for the first time

Kati's cookie cake. I thought at 16"x24" that it would be too big - we ate it ALL!!!

Kati in her new bean bag chair - examaning her toes?

Grandma holds court with the girls

I got to use my HOME dishes for the first time!

My Baby is not a baby anymore

Well, Kati's birthday was this past Friday. My little baby is now 12. Such mixed emotions for a mom. I'm depressed that she isn't a baby anymore, and never will be again. I'm also excited for her future and what it will bring. It seems like only yesterday that I was watching her on the sonogram machine as the technician told me I would be having another girl. Or when I had to spend 9 months sleeping on my left side, because she did not like me on my right side (and would protest by kicking until I rolled over). I can vividly remember giving birth to this beautiful little girl - who came out looking exactly like her older sister!! I tried to tell Dr. G that I'd already had that baby, but he assured me she was not Tayler. Oh how time flies....

Totally unimpressed with her new brother Harley.....

DAY 774 of my captivity - I am convinced the other captive is a flunkie. The dog is routinely released and seems more than happy to return. He is obviously a half-wit. Due to his current placement in the metal room his safety is assured. But I can wait, it is only a matter of time................

Harley's new haircut

The ladies are really gonna love this new look

See my beautiful eyelashes....they are black and long...and my mom is very happy the groomer didn't cut them. Of course, if she had, then mom might stop telling me I'd make a pretty girl dog with my long eyelashes

Harley the Stud....yea I know I'm cool

Not to be outdone by Tayler

These are the flowers that Bryan sent me for our anniversary. The funny thing is, I got them on Monday, the same day Tayler got her flowers. I think mine are prettier of course.
And poor Kati - no flowers for her that day.

Tayler's first flowers from a boy

Tayler got 60 pink roses yesterday from her 'boyfriend'. Actually, it was her ex-boyfriend - I think that is why he brought her the roses!! He is also her best friend, so I'm sure they will be 'going out' again soon!! And if not, I might ask him out!!

Aren't they beautiful?

I'm leaving on a jet plane

Captain Bryan hard at work

This is what he calls "Work"....looks like a good video game to me!

Ok..I better go find my seat and let the Captain get to flying...

Well, we made it to 3 years of wonderful marital bliss!! We decided that this year, so we could actually be together on our anniversary, that I would go to work with him. So, that is what I did. I went to work with him over the weekend and went on all of his flights with him. This was the 1st time anyone in our entire family has flown on a commercial flight with our favorite pilot at the controls. It was very fun. And to answer his never ending question of the weekend - No, I'm not tired of flying or airports yet. Not even close!! Here is a rundown of what we did:

Friday, I flew from Dallas to St. Louis. There I picked up his flight and we went to Dayton, Ohio, where we spent the night. He then had me walk 1 mile from the hotel for dinner at Buffalo Wild Wings. Oh what a glorious walk. Those of you who know me - know that I don't exercise and walking isn't one of my favorite pasttimes. Plus, I had just walked 32 miles throughout airports. But, if we wanted to eat - that is what we had to do. We were staying at a Hampton Inn, and I soon discovered that not all Hampton's have changed over to the new "Cloud Nine" beds. If any of you plan on traveling to Dayton - and want to sleep - avoid this hotel. The bed was horrible, and neither of us slept well at all. So we woke up Saturday - and were exhausted. We spent the day in Dayton on Saturday - which was our anniversary. We had our anniv. lunch at Bob Evans Restaurant (cross between Owen's and a Denny's).

When we went to work that day - we flew from Dayton back to St. Louis - and then from St. Louis to Minneapolis/St. Paul. That is where we spent Saturday night. Once we finally got to our hotel (after a 45 minute wait on the shuttle...don't ask Bryan about it....he's still mad) we went to dinner at about 10pm. We had our romantic anniv dinner at - Denny's. When then had to go to bed - cause we had an early morning on Sunday.

Sunday - we got up and caught a shuttle to the airport at 8am, I had a 9:25 flight back to St. Louis. Bryan took me to the airport - even though his flight didn't leave until 1:35. I flew back to St. Louis - and then caught a 12:00 flight back to reality. Or, I could say back to Hellxas....man it's hot here!! When we left Minneapolis - it was 61 degrees. When I stepped out of the airport in Texas - it felt like an oven!! I could have done without that welcome back home.

Here are some of things I learned this weekend:

• Parents who take babies on airplanes should be offered Children's Nyquil by flight attendants....at no charge.
• Love Field really does hate American - and to prove it - they put their gates way out in the back 40...with no moving sidewalk.
• Getting to board the plane with the pilots - long before anyone else - is really cool.
• The ERJ has a really small cockpit.
• I fit in the First Officer's seat nicely.
• The First Officer does not appreciate being told to sit in the back so I can sit in his seat.
• Bryan's voice sounds different over the loud speaker of the airplane.
• Being first on the airplane is fun - you can hear what everyone says as they board ("oh my gosh...this is a small airplane." "why is there only 1 seat in those rows?" "I'd feel worse about the plane being so small if my seat weren't so good")
• Flying makes me have to pee.
• I don't like airplanes whose bathrooms are at the rear of the airplane - I feel like I'm going to fall out the tail end of the plane.
• I can accurately answer at least 1 question on the Mensa quiz.
• Bryan can get angry and forceful when he doesn't get his way - and rightfully so.
• The Hampton Inn's don't like Bryan.
• Spending our actual anniversary together was a wonderful gift.
• I'm the only person I know who can say that they ate in 2 different states on their anniversary (and neither were truck stops).

And most of all

• How absolutely proud I am of my husband - who made his dreams come true - and gets to do what he loves everyday. We should all be so lucky!

Also, something interesting (to me at least) - the entire weekend - everytime I was on the plane flying - I kept thinking about both of my grandmothers who have passed away. I can't explain why - but when I would look out the window into the clouds - I would think of them. I know the passengers near me thought I was crazy, a few times I did get teary-eyed. Maybe being up 30,000 feet made me feel closer to them - or maybe they were just trying in their little way to let me know they are happy and together, playing domino's in Heaven.

First Day of School - 7th & 8th Grades

Isn't this a rite of passage? First day of school - and you have a big red zit on the end of your nose?

I'm so glad we are out of the phase where we have to dress up and stress about what we will wear. They both chose cute outfits, but not what I would have picked. But then again, I'm the mom who is older than dirt - what do I know anyway?

Proof that Harley is loved & spoiled!

This was after our rain the other day - the first time Mr. Harley has seen rain - and he barked at it.

The girls took him out to play in it - and then brought him in and gave him a bath. You can really tell who rules our house during the day!

This is the man who didn't want a dog......my 2 favorite boys

Harley loves sleeping on mama

Even Marmalade can't resist the cuteness that is Harley. Ok...she really can - but he loves her so much!! He's keeping an eye on his big sister while she sleeps....such the gentleman.

Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be....

Coming up on August 19th - Bryan and I will celebrate our 3rd wedding anniversary. It seems like it should be so much longer - but it is only 3 years. Also, on August 15th - it will be the 17th anniversary of our very first date.

Do the math...and you will find quite the gap. We tested the theory - If you love somebody, let them go, for if they return, they were always yours. And if they don't, they never were.

I think when we broke up (ok...when I broke up with him...I know...I'm an idiot) - I might have used this line. I think I said that to him, although didn't really believe it. I think I may not have believed in true love, or soul mates in the first place. Lucky for me I grew up and matured - and realized what true love really is. For me, it was love at first sight - when I was 14 and first met the 17 year old Bryan. Love at first sight grew into a wonderful friendship - which grew into a beautiful love. I do believe in it all - the concepts of love at first sight, soul mates, one true love, all of it. It can happen, Bryan and I are living proof that there are soul mates - and true love will prevail.


"True love doesn't have a happy ending: True love doesn't have an ending"

I wasn't sure if everyone had a chance to see our new toy. We are having so much fun taking short trips on the bike. What's even more fun - trying to find time to take these trips.

As you can imagine, the girls love it - but don't like it so much when we go on rides without them. They think I should get one to ride myself, so they can always go with us. Little do they realize - that is exactly why I'm NOT getting one!!