Wanted to post a few pictures of our newest family member. Travis, Macey, and I traveled to Oceanside California to pick up Ms. Joycie and spend two weeks training with her. She's been training for us for TWO years!!! She is incredible! She is the sweetest and best behaved skilled companion dog you would ever hope to find! Macey loves her dearly and already we can see her speach improving and she stays with us in public because she is holding onto her handle on Joycie's vest -- we call it making a Joycie sandwich (me and Macey w/ dog in the middle). I can not wait to see all of the things she is going to do in Macey's life. Having a great time getting to know her!!! Thank you so much to Canine Companions for Independence and all the trainers there!!! Also to her two puppy raisers - Maureen & Barbara!! You guys all did an awesome job and we couldn't love Joycie any more if we tried :0)

Macey reading Joycie a book about Marley :0)

Oh, my! I haven't updated this since before our crazy summer. So much has happened! We went to Disney in July to attend a Down syndrome conference and hit the parks for about a week -- Nana Pat & Pepaw went with us, too. On our way home we detoured through Georgia and visited with best friends from Seminary. Three sets of friends were all along our route -- it was so cool! Two of them that didn't know each other at Southwestern actually wound up about 20 minutes apart from each other. We had a WONDERFUL time and rarely a day goes by that one of the girls doesn't ask when we are going back to Disneyworld....

April & May Pictures

First -- I want to brag on my husband! He was voted teacher of the year at BrookHill and its only his second year teaching :0) I'm a proud wife!!!

Lily & Carsen have some ice cream on the last day of school

I'm not sure what this was other than cute. Never know whats going to happen when I leave the girls with Travis for a weekend...

When did she grow up?

Macey took "private ballet lessons" from one of Travis' students. She enjoyed it although she didn't participate as much as we had hoped. In August we'll start back up and include her sisters, too....

This is their favorite ride at Six Flags. They would ride it over and over again if we'd let them.

Easter Pic w/ Carsen

Macey takes over Nana Pat's desk

getting ready for Easter Sunday. Macey only kept the rollers in long enough for this picture

us :0)

We've got big plans for the summer. Both girls are going to summer school all of june and then Disneyworld in July. hoping we can fit VBS in at some point but not looking too promising. memorial day weekend we are headed to Circle of Friends at Camp Gilmont for some relaxation and fun....

We are all enjoying the snow and the unexpected day out of school!

The girls had so much fun at the Red, White & Blue festival! They earned money from Nana Pat picking up pecans in her yard and got to ride several rides!!! I can't wait to get a season pass to Six Flags this summer. I think they are ready....

Trick or treat'n in Tyler!

Lily had a ball at the queen's tea and even was on the CBS local news as this picture was being taken. We didn't it but several people have told us they saw her....

August Pics

This kangaroo was so sweet and soft. He is a family pet that was "loaned" to a teacher at daddy's school. He travels in a diaper bag on his back. Its so sweet it made us all want a pet kangaroo -- except I wouldn't want to deal with the diapers. Carsen is going to come out of her's soon and I'll be diaper free for the first time in SEVEN years. Macey is still in pull-ups at night but that doesn't count, right?

The Jacksonville Rodeo has a "special needs" day at the end of their run where they invite the kids out to ride horses. This year the turn-out wasn't as much as expected so Lily and Carsen got to ride horses, too. It was a fun morning that Macey is still talking about a month later. ...
Macey is such a "pepaw's girl". This was at the fireworks in Bullard this year.

The girls are thrilled school has started back up but Carsen, I think, is a little lonely. We are really close to being finished on the house. Carsen is keeping me company as I complete the finishing touches. Today I paint the front door yellow. I'll put up some before and after pictures once we are finished. My husband has done an amazing job!!!!

Macey's acid reflux seems to finally be under control after numerous trips to Dallas and a scope. She is on two different meds and a restricted diet but doesn't seem to mind at all and never complains her tummy hurts anymore. We did take the pillows out from under her mattress (they were propping it up on one end) and the very next morning she was hurting and throwing up. Don't know if that was a coincidence or not but they pillows are back and we aren't taking any more chances.

OK - enough procrastinating. Off to paint the door.