Ashlyn's 9th Birthday

Ashlyn's 9th Birthday fell on a Sunday this year.  We kept it low key at home and went to church.  Since she has not had a birthday party since turning 5, we are having one this coming Saturday.  She is super excited and her friends are super excited too! 

I can't believe that this girl is 9!  She is super mature for being 9.  We are extremely blessed to have her as our oldest daughter.  She is helpful, kind, loving, and just an all-around sweetheart.  We love you Ash!  I can't believe next year you'll be double digits. 

Almost 10K Day

Since I have some time on my hands (not much time) but I can't believe I will be running my first 10K on Saturday.  It is the Blue Bell 10K in Brenham, TX.  I am excited and nervous but I know a lot of people running either the 10K or the 5K.  Only 4 more days....

I only started getting into running back in October and since then I will have run 2-5K's and a 10K within 6 months.  I love a challenge and l love that I have made goals.  I am not sure what I am going to do over the summer about running since it gets so HOT and HUMID here and that will start very soon.  In fact, it is already hot and humid today!  I will need to think of some 5K's or 10K's in the fall when it cools off again. 

On a side note: Ashlyn turns 9 on Sunday and Grant turns 11 on the 18th~  So weird that they grow up so fast.  I remember being young and thinking each year took so long to get another year older.  Wow, I was wrong.  Well, I will have updates after the 10K has been done and the kids' birthdays. 

Bluebonnets 2013

On our way home from College Station on Easter Sunday we stopped at the best field we could find which is right off Hwy 6 just south of Navasta. We took some here a few years ago when we only had 3 kids and this field is always the place to be. We snapped pictures and then we drove home. Like my idea of everyone wearing Aggie shirts we bought on Saturday? I was hoping we'd all wear Maroon ones but a couple of kids were determined to have other ideas. I am super happy with how they turned out since it is hard photographing all 4 kids most of the time! I am definitely a TRUE TEXAN since I love having photos of our family in the bluebonnets!!

This is just gorgeous!

Trying to get them to look at the camera but it was warm and sunny out and so this was a fairly good one.

Love this one.  Love my babies!!

Look at the bluebonnets!  I love Springtime in Texas!!

Will have to get this one blown up!

This is a family picture I am definitely proud of! 

Sweetness at its best!

Another family one. 

I did take a few more of the kids individually and on the Hay Bales but I am too tired of blogging to put those up but if you want to see them you can tomorrow on FB or on instagram! Time for bed. I am tired.

Easter Weekend

Easter weekend...On Friday we drove to College Station to be with Corey's family for the whole weekend. It was fun but there is definitely no place like home. Friday was Bonnie's 60th Birthday so all of kids wanted to make sure we were there to help her celebrate. Saturday was a fun yet crazy day. We helped the kids dye Easter Eggs, ate yummy Easter dinner on Saturday, and had an Egg Hunt. Sunday we woke up for church and then after an hour at church we went back to the house to get ready to come home since there was a chance of rain. It was fun seeing Heather and Jessica who don't live in the state of Texas. It was fun to sort of relax and let the cousins play. Brady loves playing with Jackson and Casch. The three of them are so close in age. Ashlyn loves to play and hang out with Alexis! They are the best of friends and cousins. It was nice to go and see everyone even amist all the chaos that can occur when all 6 siblings get together with their families. We are grateful to be home and hopefully we will catch up on some missed sleep this week!

The best picture I could get of them before church.  Love my kids!!

Corey and I,, after church.  Thank you Ashlyn for taking a photo of us!

The boys in their matching ties :)

My girls.  Love them!

Grant and I in the hammock!

Ashlyn and Grant dying Easter Eggs.

Mini-Corey dying some eggs.

The greatest Aunt Heather helping Sadie hunt for Eggs.



Egg Hunting in Grandma Zollinger's yard.



Outbacker Award

On the last school day of March (March 28th), Ashlyn was awarded the Outbacker Award. Each month of the school year a teacher from each grade gets to nominate someone for the Outbacker Award. For 3rd grade, Ashlyn got it from her teacher Mrs. Roman! The school called to tell us about it and told us to keep it a secret. We couldn't tell Ashlyn she was getting it but once she realized during morning announcements she was so excited. The chances of winning the award are so slim while in grades Kindergarten through 5th. We are so proud of her and now this wooden boomerang hangs in the lobby of the school and then she will get to bring it home at the end of April. I think I will end up hanging it above her bedroom door when we get it home. Super proud of her!!

Us congratulating her on her award!  She is an amazing daughter!!

Ashlyn getting to be on morning announcement with the principal. 

Our cute 'Outbacker' from OKE!

Lufkin,Texas

On March 24th we got up super early and drove to Lufkin,Texas which is a little over 2 hours from Katy. We went to Tim Andersen's farewell as he leaves on his mission to France. We became close friends with the Andersen family when they lived here in Katy just around the corner from us. Sarah was our babysitter whom we miss dearly and Tim was such a great young man whom we want our boys to look up to! Great parents, too!! Tim is going to be a fabulous missionary as he embarks on Lyon, France. We told him we'd write him and so once we hear what his address is we will send him letters. It was a fantastic Sunday with one of the best families on the planet!!

Tim, you are going to be a fantastic missionary in France!  We miss you in Katy but we wish you all the best in France! 



One of my favorite people on Earth!  Love Colleen!! 



Some of the girls hanging at the Andersen's!  Jaynee, Tessa, Ashlyn and Sarah, and Kylie.  Super cute!!

Rodeo 2013...Tim McGraw

This year I needed to go to the Rodeo. I was at the rodeo and I started thinking about how I went as a kid and teenager. I remebember the friends I went with and it made me LOVE living in Texas. I am so happy we live in Katy and that I can continue to go to the rodeo yearly. It turned out as a GNO to see Tim McGraw. I only have one photo on this computer and the rest are on my cell phone. I went with my friends Natalie, Sarah, Marie, and Natalie's mom who was in town who was able to see what a Texas size rodeo is all about. This is a picture of Sarah, Natalie,and I. I loved getting to see Tim McGraw. I think it is the third time I have seen him in concert. I would have loved to have gone a few other times this year as they had a great line-up but I didn't have time or we had other things going on. Here is hoping that next year is just as great!!!