Now starring... Kendall

Just an impromptu performance from Kendall... we were finishing up dinner and she broke into song! Thought we'd share. Sorry you have to turn your head sideways, but I don't know how to turn it.

The Beach

Vacation's all I ever wanted, vacation HAVE to GET away! Vacation dumey doo fishin line...duh duh duh duh DUH DUH! I don't know why I feel the need to start the latest blogs with a tune, but I do. Even if I don't know the words to the second line! Don't laugh unless you can email me the words people! I bet you don't know'em either!

We just got home from our Gulf Shores, AL beach trip and it was awesome! Instead of boring you to death I'll just try to tell you some fun stuff. We went with my parents, my sister and her family. We stayed at an awesome place. The kids could ride their bikes to the park and back at their leisure (it's a wonder we survived doin that!) and fish right off a pier and go crabbin there too! It was so so so much fun! We went to the beach EVERY DAY and I think that is the very best vacation for families.... I didn't know how much my kids could dig, dig for shells, dig for clams, dig a chair for yourself, dig to see if you could dig deeper than your next door digger, dig to China, build a great wall OF China, well.. you get the picture. Troy and I even had a date night out and drove to FL since he'd never been... but he has now! We tie dyed t-shirts. Don't ever do that on vacation. We had a talent show. I won. Just kidding. We made hand prints in the sand with plaster paris and sea shells. Don't do that either. BUT the kids loved it!! We just had a grand ole time I tell ya here's some pics and video to prove it. Don't be too alarmed with Kendall's head in the cooler. She literally ate all the ice out of it the first day at the beach and then entertained everyone walking by with her new trick.

Funny Stuff

Today Savannah and Duncan were separated into different rooms in the house b/c they were arguing and buggin the fire out of each other. It was so peaceful. But then Duncan yells from his room, "MOM! Can I run and give Nina a letter? I wrote it for her!" He calls her Nina for those of you who don't know. Anyway, I was thinking how sweet, he must be giving her an apology or something. He delivers the "letter" at lightning speed...and runs back to his room. Again, peace... until... "MOM! I have another letter. Can I take it to Nina?" I answer that he can. He runs back and then AGAIN, he yells to ask if he can deliver yet another letter. I stop and yell back, "Hey! Where are you getting all this paper anyway?" His response, "My diarrhea!" "You know... the pirate one!" Yes it was from his pirate diary he writes in.....

Summer...it turns me upside down

Summer, Summer, Summer... it's like a merry-go-round! I hope you know the tune. It's a good one and explains our last few weeks. But PLEASE know it's been an awesome merry-go-round and it's been a fun upside down few weeks! Let's start with Savannah making it home from camp safe and sound. I was so happy to see that girl I couldn't stand it. And I was so happy to see her sleepy little butt get out of the bed each morning and tell me good morning this week! She, on the other hand said she missed us, but I don't believe it. She smiled and was like ,"Hey mom." Notice I didn't put and exclamation point after that! I told Troy that I swear when she grows up and leaves the house she's a goner. She'll be off to do her thing and that'll be... well, I don't even want to think about it, it'll be a lot of things... OH gosh I think I just had a small heart attack or severe heart ache just typing that! Stop the madness...

OK, onto the next adventure. After getting Savannah in LA we drove over to Troy's folks where his sister and her family have been since moving back to the states from Germany. They are in route to N.Dakota. We were able to bring Nathan home with us for a week! It was just so much fun having him here, KAMP KELLYE was in full force I tell ya!!! The first few days were like OK everyone we have a VERY special guest, please be on your best behavior! But then it was like we just had 4 kids instead of 3 after a few days! He was just one of the family! It was busy...but so fun! They swam so much their little toes were blistered, and played in the sandbox by the pool for at least 5 hours last week! We had Sonic drink stops, ICEE runs and lots of Popsicle... BIG FUN I tell ya!

Savannah's birthday party was yesterday. Troy's sister and her family and Nona and Pops (Troy's parents) came in for the occasion. I think Savannah felt like a rock star having them all there. Her "official" bday is Thursday. She had a roller skating party and it was so fun! She was so cute skating around and visiting will all her friends. She loved every minute of it. Duncan skated like a madman and Kendall even tried it too. What can I say people it's in their blood. Troy and I both spent lots of time at the good 'ole Hot Wheels in S'port. My mama dropped me off every Saturday for a 3 hr. session! I think it was secretly like her "moms day out" program. I still dream about it and have my big boxy metal looking skating case in the garage as I type this...yes, I loved me some skatin. Yeah, all you Sheveporters, you know what I'm talkin about!!

Oh, I just can't believe she's going to be SEVEN!! I've been a mom for 7 years! What a blessing....

Camping update

OK, I'm not so sure many of you read about the Conly Crew, but thought I'd update you on Savannah's camping experience. She's loving it!! Kim and I talked last night and there was a gazillion girls talking and giggling in the background... but not Savannah and Bekah. They were totally and completely crashed out! Isn't that so funny! Believe me if she's sleeping through the action at night, the girl is tired! Kim said after swimming yesterday she crawled in her bed and slept through the shower time, which I think she may have planned since she hates to shower! Anyway, Kim gave me a surprise call today at lunch and said she had lots of pep in her step and was going strong and doing great! The big news... she did the BLOB! That's one of those big pillow things on the lake where you jump off a platform onto the pillow and that catapults someone else on the other side of the pillow into the lake. Then you crawl to the other side and someone jumps onto the pillow thingy and you fly off into the lake! The one thing I told Kim is TRY to keep her off that thing! Well, Kim said she was fine with letting her do it and Savannah was not scared one little bit... CRAZY NUT! Oh well, camps for doing the blob, eating what you want, staying up late and let's hope she's gettin' a little bit of Jesus in between! I'm sure she is... the guest speaker, "Karate Man" is a personal friend of my aunts... and I hear he's awesome. Counting down the days....
Kellye

Here's what Duncan's been up to with out his "Nina". Kim gave me all her boys' LEGOS and he's in LEGO heaven. Seriously, that's what he's been doing since Monday night when I brought them home to him. Kendall asks for her when she gets up from sleeping, b/c Savannah's the one that loves on her after naps.

Camping Queen

Well, I took Savannah to camp yesterday to meet up with her cousins and my sister, Kim. She'll be her counselor..bless her soul. They were all happy to see each other. My adorable nephews came running over with all their friends to introduce and were so happy to see me. Made me feel like a rock star. Savannah was tired of me kissing her goodbye and was acting too cool to have me hugging all over her. It was our first car trip alone, just the two of us. We had some interesting conversations to say the least. We aren't really allowed to talk now that she's at camp, but I got an update from my sister and here's what she told me... Savannah passed the swim test, so she can swim in the pool, she was standing in line at the "bank" to withdrawal $12 to get a camp video, which is about what we sent for the entire week. After Kim told her I didn't send money for that, she was fine with it. I guess she thought it was worth a shot. I did send money for a tshirt. After Savannah and Rebekah went to the concession stand Rebekah came back with a water bottle, which was shocking since she figured they would just get junk. Savannah was sure to tell Kim that Rebekah got the water because it was ONE and the ring pop she really wanted was FIFTY! Seems to me that Kim needs to give a little lesson in math. I told Troy about it and he just about died. I laughed hard at him and he shook his head a lot! He said he still isn't over her throwing away a penny about two years ago. You have to really know Troy to appreciate that. At least she knows 50 is more than 1! She was trying to do the right thing I told him, she just got confused about the dollars and cents thing!

The camp was pretty with lots of tall pine trees. She's not used to that for sure... she picked up a pine cone while in LA and said, "MOM! What IS this?" Seriously! I laughed, but I couldn't really believe it. But there aren't pine cones laying around the yard in TX hurting your feet like I remember growing up in LA or the mounds of pine straw we had to rake up as a kid. People pay for that stuff around here! We are one of the few neighborhoods in our area that actually have big trees, but they sure aren't pines.

And if she gets a wink a sleep, I'll be shocked. When I talked to Kim last night it was 10:00 and Savannah and Rebekah were outside the dorm eating popcorn. They have about 50 bunks in one dorm and she got a top bunk, of course. I'll write more as I'm updated. I made shirts for the girls that say Double Dare... get it, Savannah Dare and Rebekah Dare.... you can't read them very well in the picture, but aren't they a cute pair? I made the shirts at my annual Supper Club weekend get away on Saturday night. I have been getting together with 7 other girls monthly for about 3 years now. We rotate houses every month, eat a lot of yummy food and talk till we can't talk anymore. It's a true blessing to have them in my life. This is our 2nd year to go to Grapevine and stay the night. We had a ball like we always do when we're together. These girls are like my sisters and I love them a lot. Here's some pics from the weekend.

My Ozarks

My Ozarks! The hills of my inheritance
My Home! My heart soars at the first sight of you

I am part of you. We are one!

White River! Still Flowing! Clear and Cold

Let me lean again from your bank

and wash my face and bathe my soul

Her are my roots, My solid rock!

My faith here I renew

When the world has marked its wrath on me

I come back home to you.

Here I find peace like a lofty tree

with her boughs bent low by the morning rain

and commune with God in a silent voice

and from all pretense refrain

Once again I touch my feet upon that mountain sod

and climb that mountain to the top

and touch the face of God

There is a music in these hills

by no means audible to all

But each has his own little song to sing

and each hears a different call

By Virginia Dare

September 22, 1981

This is my favorite poem ever. It was written by my mom years ago. She's an amazing writer. I've thought of it a lot this last week. The kids and I got home from a 10 day trip visiting my family in the Ozarks. It's been a while since I felt like I could go there and really take it all in. Since the kids have been in our lives we've gone on no canoe trips or really left my parents house for that matter. But this time was different. The kids are older and it's a little easier to load them all up and get places. Unfortunately Troy had do get back to TX to work, but my sister, her 3 kids and I stayed the rest of the week. Kim and I had big plans this trip. We had a check list of places to show our kids and we did a pretty good job of accomplishing them. We made an awesome trip to see my Aunt Jeanette and Uncle George on their mountain. Yes, I did say their Mt. Well, we call it that b/c it's like they are the only ones there and they have about 500 acres on it... so I think it's pretty much theirs if you ask me. You even have to drive over a creek to get to the house! Yes! The mini vans made it just fine too! NO SUV gas hog needed, thank you! One funny question.. Rebekah, my 5 yr. old niece asked, "HOW do they get food?" Good question, all food comes from Walmart right? The kids loved swimming in the creek and it brought back so many memories for me and Kim. Watching our kids was just like all of my cousins and I swimming in Piney Creek as a kid. SO MUCH FUN! Thanks for letting us pile in on you Aunt Nette and for all the good cookin...Savannah's still talkin about the chocolate gravy!

We had a family party for Kendall's 2nd birthday! I love family parties! We never get to have them cause we don't have family here. I just hate it when I'm planning a party for my kids and people ask, "Oh! We just have a FAMILY party and it's so much easier." I just wanna say, we'll thanks for rubbing it in! Anyway, she had a ball and it was so fun for all the kiddos! Savannah's bday is coming in July and we are happy her family will be here too! Yeah for family parties!

I can't believe my baby girl is two! Miss Kendall I am so happy to be your mommy. You make all of our lives brighter and we are all crazy in love with you!!!

Troy had a sad Father's Day as far as I'm concerned. My parents drove me and the kids to

Little Rock and Troy met us there to get us home to TX. He says it was a great day cause he got to see us after missing us for a week and he got to eat breakfast with his daddy before driving to Little Rock. We are planning on making it up this weekend... shhh, don't tell him. (Although I think Duncan already has.) Troy, you are such an amazing dad. Every decision you make, everything you do... you always think of how it will impact our kids and family. You make me a better mom and you make our kids feel so loved. Thanks for working hard for all of us.. Oh goodness I thank God for you everyday! Mr. Conly thank you for setting an amazing example for Troy. I love you and respect you so very much.

And to my Daddy...

thanks for...

- holding the jump rope for the kids this last week... in the hot sun..

-racing me and your grandkids.. and finally letting me win, after 35 years!

-hugging me like I was still 8 yrs. old

-calling me and Kim and yelling at us for staying at Walmart too late, and locking the door so you'd know when we got home! It shows you still care even at 40 and 35yrs. old!

-driving me to Little Rock, no problem

-telling me it's all going to be OK

-putting your arm around me on the couch

-spending so much time with my kids...

-being SO much fun

-being in my corner, I know you'd kick someones butt if they hurt me.. I love that feeling!

-working so hard for all those years to provide for your family

-for calling me your baby girl..I am and always will be

I haven't always been easy, but you hung in there and didn't let me and Kim drift away. And look how great we turned out!!!!!!

Trying to adjust to the Texas heat...

Kellye