Tip Tap Shape - Cope's First Tap Shoes

While the grandtwins were here Hannah found some tap shoes at a consignment shop and bought them for Coppelia......the following is what happens

July Surprise

Wow what a couple of weeks this has been.

On July 20th Andrea called Vicki at work and said that her Mom was really sick and she and the grandsons, Gabe & Chase, were on their way to Houston to help out. Turns out that Lou Ann, my children's mother, had to have some major surgery so my son Tyler and his wife Hannah along with the twins (Copellia & Estee) also headed for Houston to be with Lou Ann.

Vicki and I just kinda looked at each other.........said some prayers for Lou Ann....and then for ourselves and began to 'childproof' our house for twin 18 month old girls. We started by putting everything on coffee tables and within reach on top of bookcases and into our empty camping bins. I went to the truck and got every bungee chord I could find and began securing cabinets and TV consoles. It all looked pretty secure but only the arrival of the 4 grand kids would be the proof of our efforts.

Vicki & I tag-teamed days off from work to help with the kids as Tyler and Andrea spent the majority of their time with Lou Ann. Our house became much smaller as child gates were erected at the kitchen and hallway doors to keep the girls confined to a manageable space - our living room. While they were here, Estee & Copellia both learned how to climb out of the playpen beds creating more security problems for Hannah.

The living room became a Mecca for playing Wii, watching videos, dancing, fighting, running, hiding, wrestling. screaming, and disciplining (PeaPa did most of that and was constantly being referred to as 'cranky' - okay.....i was a little cranky :)

The boys and I went to T C Jester Park one day to play Frisbee golf. Hannah blessed us with 3 Dollar Store frisbees and off we went. I was hoping that this would last for a couple of hours and keep the boys outside......however.....the frisbee's didn't work.....it was hot and HUMID....and I threw everyone back in the truck and headed home. Again, a cranky PeaPa.

Hannah arranged for some creative art work that both Lou Ann and we got from the kids. She also saw to it that a swimming pool was available for the kids in our backyard. I made sure that my cactus plants were 'childproofed' but as it turns out I was a little too late as Estee got some spines in her cheek.

And while he was here Gabe lost two teeth. The tooth fairy must think that Vicki & I are starting a new family at 1718 Gardenia. This is the third time she has come to our house in the last month or so.

Vicki's mom Evelyn and sister Janel (Aunt Neelie) came into town from San Antonio to help out the second weekend and also to see the kids. Janel helped out by looking after the girls and Evelyn helped by bringing her homemade cookies, cleaning up after all of us, and cooking some special "Mamah Two" meals for all of us.

We celebrated Vicki's birthday on July 27th amid the chaos but I still owe her a special night.

Even Grandma Betty got out of the house to come over and see her Great Grandchildren. Hannah took the kids over to the Yale Street Grill to see their Great Aunt Barbara.

Things calmed down a little this week. Andrea was able to keep Gabe & Chase at Lou Ann's house some, and the girls go down early. They all left for a quick vacation to Gulf Shores Alabama yesterday early in the morning so all is quiet on this western front right now.

Sad thing is that cranky PeaPa misses them already.....they will be back and the whirlwind will return.

Enjoy the pics.

Garner State Park 2009

We arrived on the 3rd of July ready for our annual trek to the Frio River and found for the first time that we were the last group to arrive and check-in. Unloading was the easiest ever with plenty of help.

The river was low and the temperatures were HOT - 103 F, 104 F, and feel like temps around 110 to 115 F. But....there was always a breeze.....warm breeze but a breeze none the less.



We were in Cabin 15 and stayed until Saturday the 11th of July. Andrea, Shane, Gabe, and Chase were there when we arrived. Shane had to go back to McKinney on Sunday but we got a hike in up to Old Baldy (or Old Bobby as the boys were calling it) before he had to leave.

Andrea & I made a couple of bike rides up to the main entrance early in the mornings (she made a few without me). Going down that big hill is a blast. Coming back up was torture.

Traditional feedings of Joe McMuffins, Carne Guisada, steaks, and PeaPa's brisket were enjoyed by all and no one ever went hungry. Uncle Larry provided his now famous camping pancake breakfast with blueberries or chocolate chips. Uncle Bobby performed his rib cooking magic again at the river much to Chase's (& everyone else's) delight. Chase loves his 'wibs'.

Even with low water levels we headed for the Frio River everyday going to the Broken Bridge, Rock Beach, at the Pavilion, and even below the dam one morning.

Gabe & Chase both swung off the ropes for the first time at Rock Beach thanks to Uncle Larry and Andrea survived the whole ordeal like a champion Mom.

We only had two campfires because it was so HOT and the two we had were specifically for a quick round of Smores.

Andrea and the boys had to leave on Thursday so the last couple of days were not quite as exciting as the first but we still enjoyed the company of all that were there.

Pray for rain and cabin reservations for next year. We will return.

A link to my collection of pics......Click Here

Camping At Brazos Bend State Park May 2009

Shane & Andrea were celebrating their 10th anniversary in a very special place and had asked if we could watch the boys part of the time while they were gone. We of course said yes and decided we better find something for them to do (the 4 of us in 1718 Gardenia get real close REAL quick). The decision was to take them camping for two nights. The plans were on. We were lucky enough to get a shelter at Brazos Bend State Park for Sunday and Monday night....so we were going camping.

The camping trip began with great excitement and anticipation. Mamah & PeaPa picked up Gabe and Chase from their Nana's house around 6:30 Saturday evening June 6th. As any almost 7 yr old will do, Gabe was driving everyone crazy worrying about what time it was and hoping we had not gone without him.

Sunday morning we finished packing the truck and around 11:00 a.m. we hit the road for Brazos Bend State Park!!!

We stayed in Shelter Number 2

which was very conveniently located just across the street from a very nice playground for the boys.


That afternoon we went to the nature center in the park and the boys got some "hands on" education about what kind of wildlife was there in the park. As you can see from the slide show below they got to pet a baby alligator, a corn snake, and a tarantula.

PeaPa cooked mini-burgers for the first camping dinner and later we had our first of four campfires (one each night and morning....good PeaPa!!!)......

......and our first marshmallow roasting.



Monday morning we found out that we had visitors during the night looking for food.....lots and lots of raccoon tracks around the shelter. Vicki & I learned the hard way years ago about raccoons at Inks Lake State Park when they got in our ice chest overnight and ate or ruined everything in it....we disappointed them this trip.




After a breakfast of pancakes, little smoked sausages, and eggs, we took a hike around Elm Lake to look for alligators.

We saw all kinds of plants, flowers, birds, a snapping turtle laying her eggs on the bank, and a lot of alligators on backside of the lake including one really large gator that was on the opposite bank.

We cooked hot dogs and beans for dinner and had another campfire complete with more melted marshmallows. The boys were really tired and around 8:30 they asked if they could go to bed. Poor Gabe had the only blowup mattress that leaked and we found him sleeping on the floor both mornings. Now that is a true camper!

Tuesday morning, after a round of Joe McMuffins for breakfast, we went to 40 Acre Lake to visit the observation tower there. Chase had a real hard time on his bike so he and Mamah stayed back. Gabe & I were almost to the tower when we came upon a gator on the path that would not move. The closer we got the wider he opened his mouth.


One thing you have for gators is respect and we gently walked around him until he slid back into the lake. We climbed the tower and got a good view of the park from there.

We went back to camp and packed up. Everyone had a really good time but we were all getting tired, and hungry so we headed back home. Andrea and Shane came in later Tuesday evening and our Camping trip with the boys was deemed a success by all.

Chase & PeaPa's Great Friday (+ more)

Friday, May 15th, I went and picked Chase up around 8:00 am from Nana's house and our day began.

First thing we did was take the truck to Tommie Vaughan Ford to have the oil changed. I had a little surprise for him though because I have found a donut shop within walking distance of the Ford shop that has great food (Bakery Donuts). So....we walked over and had breakfast together. He had a chocolate sprinkle donut, a blueberry donut....and then discovered my egg, bacon, cheese, and ham croissant sandwich they make there. We ended up eating two of them together.

Next came a haircut trip. When we got to the SuperCuts place I told him I hoped we got the nice hair dresser. He kinda looked at me and then I told him that the nice ones cut your hair really easy while the mean ones might even cut off an ear! We then started betting on who would get a nice one and who would get a mean one. Chase even swears he saw "one ear" in the hair on the floor that one lady was sweeping up. We both got our hair cut and left with 4 ears between us....all attached in the right places. :)

Next we headed for the driving range and hit a bucket of balls together. Chase, when he really concentrates, can hit a golf ball....got some built in talent here.

We then went to Academy Sports where he spotted a pair of sunglasses he had to have. They were Wall E glasses...and fit him just right.

We proceeded back home and Chase 'helped' me wash my truck. He was in charge of rinsing and it promptly turned into an outdoor shower for him....and me.

Gabe and Shane came into town later that night and we spent most of the rest of the weekend with the boys.

Bowling at Dave & Busters on Saturday along with some other game playing there and a quiet afternoon.

Our next to the last event was breakfast Sunday morning at The Yale Street Grill where Great Aunt Barbara works. The boys both had chocolate chip pancakes and bacon....general vote was that they were really good.

We ended with some PeaPa steaks, twice baked potatoes, and fresh corn on the cob.
Time well spent with family (and some special time just for PeaPa and Chase)

2009 Cactus Flowers

Every spring we receive the blessing of the most beautiful cactus flowers in our backyard.....we would like to share.

April 2009 Visit to McKinney Texas - Baseball + Soccer + Beer

First thing we did was wait too long to book flights......ended up driving (not a bad thing because you can stop at Woody's Smokehouse in Centerville for beef jerky).

Then we found out that Andrea was not going to be there all weekend....something about a free trip to Miami.

Well it didn't matter because our draw was Chase's baseball game, Gabe's soccer game, and our early birthday gift for Shane.

We went, we got jerky, we saw baseball and soccer, and we celebrated Shane's 30th birthday party all very successfully.

Pictorial evidence below.....LOTS of soccer pics......enjoy