June, July and August were busy as usual. We spent time at the lake house at Lake Kemp (in Seymour, TX), we spent a weekend at Kristi's family reunion at Lake Colorado City, we spent a weekend in Lubbock for Danielle's (my brother's daughter) 1st birthday party, we spent a weekend up in El Paso and the New Mexico mountains (Ruidoso), a weekend with friends at Cedar Creek Lake and a few weekends at home in between.
The highlights were all of the aforementioned escapes. The lowlight was the unfortunate loss of my grandmother and Avery's great-grandmother, Mary Jo. She unexpectedly passed in Lubbock on 02 August. We had visited just 3 weeks prior and she had played with both of her great-grandaughters, Avery and Danielle. She had always wanted to see her great-grandkids and it just happened to take 94 years for us to provide her with those special moments. As irony would have it, she was able to have professional photos made with both great-grandaughters, which will mean so much as they grow older. Again, it has been a tough couple of weeks with additional travel for the funeral and she will be deeply missed by my parents, my brother and I (along with the rest of our families).
On a lighter note, the trip to Ruidoso NM last weekend was outstanding. We left Dallas at 104 degrees with a heat index of 107 and spent 3 days in Ruidoso, where the high temp was around 70 and you needed a jacket in the mornings. Avery successfully completed her maiden voyage via Southwest Airlines without incident. And most importantly, I found my new vice, horseracing. Dad, Phillip and I spent Saturday at the horse races and I made enough money to pay for the nachos.
Some of the other highlights was Grandma GiGi (my mom Becky) visiting for a few days while Kristi was in Florida for work. Considering she works as a hospital nursery RN, I'm sure that the challenge was small.
Struggling!
Beach shades in full effect.
This kid definitely got her mom's complexion.
Grandpa Pearson and Avery with matching lake hats.
The family at Lake Kemp on the dock.
This was with Grandmother in July.
Grandpa Bill in Lubbock
Grandmother with her two great-grandaughters Avery and Danielle.
Kristi's grandparents at Lake Colorado City. These are all of their great-grandkids including Avery.
Grandparents Pearson with 1st cousin Hunter.
Oh no, a woman behind the wheel!
Kristi and her two ex-roomates with the new ones.
Like I said, watch out, woman behind the wheel!
Grandma Gigi, Dixie and Avery.
Avery and Danielle on the way to the mountains.
The family in New Mexico at the Inn of the Mountain Gods.
Grandpa Bill teaching Danielle how to bet on the horses.
Sister-in-laws shopping in Ruidoso, NM with kids (and wooden bear).
During professional photos in Ft Worth last weekend. Hunter and Avery hanging out by the rock.
Mom and daughter in Ft. Worth.
