Suuurrrppprrrrriiiiseee!

Mom and I worked up a little suprise for my dad's 60th birthday weekend! Bradley, the boys and I flew to Killeen on Thursday to join them for the fun! We started off with a fun dinner at Outback, cake and ice cream back at the house (the cake was AWESOME and Mom did such a great job designing it!), putting the kids to bed and then opening presents. Mom compiled 60+ facts/stories, etc from lots of family and friends to give to dad. He was so suprised and touched! We love you, Dad! Here's to 60 more!!!!

Tate ate an entire loaf of bread before dinner arrived!
Parker practiced...in every detail...how he was going to say "surprise" to Pops!
It was just precious!

Here's the party planner and her little-est man!

Pops and Tate have this thing they do. Pops points to Tate and says "Tate". Then he points to himself and says "Pops". Tate only says Pop (over and over and over) right now, to which Parker says, "no, Tate, it's Popssssssss". I love it. I know exactly who Tate wants to talk to when he points to himself and says, Tate or Bug.

Tate was sure friendly to this waitress. He even helped her take the next table's order!

It was hot, humid and NO breeze! This Amarillo girl needs breeze. I used to run around that football field for 3 miles and run the stands too many times and I never blinked an eye. But now, now that I'm an Amarillio-ite, I need breeze, WIND! I really cannot believe I'm saying that because I complain about the 40-50 mph wind here ALL the time...maybe I'll stop!

Bleacher Creature Parker! Parker was able to run the length of Tiger Field with a bunch of Belton kiddos! He did great and had fun!

Tate and Momma in the stands. It was so, so fun to be in Belton and at the game on Friday! The band, the fans, and the score :( reminded me of my senior year! I'm pretty sure we

were 0-10 that year but not because of the lack of effort! I must say it is extremely weird to not know 99% of the people in those stands. Times are a changin' I tell you but Tigers fight, never die, never, never never...

Home is always good for me. I'm relaxed. I am with people who "get" me. These people have known me for years...the good, the bad, and the growing! I enjoy the fellowship with my parents and friends, love that we can still swim in September and my dad always has a new story to tell me! I drive by the house I was raised in on Sparta Road and I miss it; I want to drive up, knock on the door and show my kids all around someday. I look next door at what was my grandparents house and remember so many talks, walks and times on the swing. Now, don't get me wrong, things are different. There are more people, more roads, new parks and trails, more houses and developments, etc. The land where we kept our cows is now commerical property with businesses, apartments and a sub-division on it. And I'm glad. I'm glad that Belton is growing and I hope it's as good for the people there now as it was for me. It is the place I found my faith in the One who never changes, provides for me always, and holds the destiny of my heart and soul... and that, my friends, is where true peace resides!

Thanks, Pops, for directing me towards peace in Jesus

and for all you've done for me and my family!

We love you!