Amarillo

After one night in Lubbock we headed to Amarillo to visit Palo Duro Canyon.
Palo Duro is just breathtaking. It is the second largest canyon in the United States. It is 20 miles wide and 100 miles long.



I was so proud of both of our kids for hiking from the top to the bottom of the canyon.


While visiting the canyon we were able to attend "Texas - The Musical Drama." For 45 years this outdoor musical has been entertaining guests from around the world.  I was lucky enough to see this same musical over 33 years ago when my father took me camping in Palo Duro Canyon. The show is performed in an outdoor amphitheater with the canyon as the backdrop. The amazing special effects include galloping horses, fire, lightning, trains, wagons, fireworks and even dancing water fountains.
 



While in Amarillo we were also able to visit Cadillac Ranch. Never heard of Cadillac Ranch?  A tribute to Cadillac Ranch was featured in the Walt Disney movie Cars.
 

We accidentally left a bag of clothes in our Amarillo hotel after checkout.  Did you know that hotels return your lost items at no expense? However, it didn't help us while traveling. Unfortunately, we were short a number of outfits for the remainder of our trip, oh well.

Next post: Lubbock Round 2

A Two Week Tour of Texas

On Thursday, July 12th, we flew to Texas to begin a two week tour of the state. We flew to Dallas and rented a car. Our goal was to drive from Amarillo in the Panhandle down to San Antonio. Along the way we would visit seven very different cities.

Our first stop was Lubbock.  Darin and I met in Lubbock back in 1984 while attending Texas Tech University.  My sister, Deborah, and her family still live in Lubbock.

The most photographed statue on campus.

The math building where Darin and I met.

 

The kids walking past our classroom window.

Touring the campus with my sister and nephew. More on her family in an upcoming post.  

Because Tech was hosting Freshman Orientation we were able to gain access to the stadium.

Mason and his cousin Hunter.

It was great to be back in Jones Stadium after 25 years.

Next post: Amarillo and Palo Duro Canyon.

Proud to be an American

Our 4th of July in pictures ...

Only in Naples would a float in the 4th of July parade give away free ribs instead of candy!

Phone Dump: A week's worth

*The Phone Dump photos were taken on the Instagram iPhone app (free) and dropped into the Pic Stitch app (free). 
 
*****
Mason
 
A few months ago Mason was offered the opportunity to attend the Environmental Studies Summer Camp in Stuart along with his cousins Tanner and Bryce. It is a day camp where the boys would take boat trips, seine in the Indian River, fish, cast net and maintain an aquarium. The boys would attend the camp during the day and spend the nights with their aunt and uncle who live on the inlet.

As you can see below, the week was a total success! The three boys had a great time and are already planning to do it all over again next summer. That is of course, if their aunt and uncle will have them again.  Thanks Jim and Sharon!  It was an awesome experience the boys will never forget.



 *****
Mackenzie

A quick last minute decision was made to fly Mackenzie to Atlanta to visit family.  She spent the week in Atlanta and Kingsport, Tennessee with her cousin Taylor (Tanner's sister). I think the girls enjoyed being alone for the week without the boys there to bother them. Of course they had my brother, Derek, to cater to their every wish.  Thanks, Derek!  Mackenzie had a fantastic time and would do it all over again including the delayed flight home :)



*****
Darin and I

Say, what? Both kids gone for the week.  This never happens.  Unfortunately, Darin had to work but we were able to sneak away to Key Largo for a night.  We stayed at an awesome resort, enjoyed a 2 1/2 hour snorkeling excursion off John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park and ate at decilious seafood restuarants.

Father's Day 2012

We woke up early, 4 am to be exact, to get Mackenzie to the Fort Lauderdale airport in time for her morning flight to Atlanta. She is spending the week in Georgia and Tennessee with family.

After Fort Lauderdale, we headed to Stuart to drop Mason off at his godparents' house for a week long environmental camp.  Along the way we noticed this sign.



It was just too good of an offer to not partake.







Once we got to Stuart we spent the day boating with Mason's cousins Tanner and Bryce who had also come for the environmental camp.



Bryce decided to spend a few minutes fishing off the boat dock.  It didn't take long and he caught a ray.



For the first time in over 14 years Darin and I are home alone without kids.  Thanks to technology both kids have kept in touch with us daily by texting, calling and sending pictures of their exciting adventures. 

VBS 2012

I have been on summer vacation for one week but that entire week was spent at vacation bible school. If you ask our kids they will tell you that it is one of their favorites weeks.  It is full of music, dancing and high energy. Tonight it ended with a catholic mass and a family dinner.

This was my last year as a Crew Leader.



This year Mackenzie was old enough to be a Crew Leader ...



... and next summer Mason will be old enough to be Mackenzie's Jr. Crew Leader. 



One of the highlights of the family dinner is watching the slideshow of our week.



Of course it wouldn't be as much fun without an audience, thanks Darin!

Goodbye Middle School

It was a short four day work week but two of those nights were spent at North Naples Middle. On Tuesday, Mackenzie performed in her last chorus concert.



Each 8th grade girl who had been in the chorus for all three years was honored and presented with a flower.



Tonight, we attended the 8th Grade Awards Night. We are so proud of Mackenzie for earning the 3.5 and higher GPA award for the past three years.







Next Wednesday we say goodbye to middle school and hello to high school. There's good times ahead I tell you, good times!