Dallas/Ft. Worth

We've had a few recent adventures that I thought I'd share. Jon wanted to go to a Tradeshow up in Fort Worth and we had never been up there, so we decided to tag along. It was fun to watch the scenery change from pine trees to other unknown types and we saw REAL cotton growing - we didn't realize what it was till it was too late to get out the camera. But we did get a picture of this town . . .

We stopped for gas and ta DA! We came across the Collin Street Bakery!!

With a name like that, it MUST be good!

We got some sandwiches on Pecan bread that were really good!

Jons Tradeshow happened to be right next to the Fort Worth Water Gardens, thankfully for us because I'll take this opportunity to say, I want to know WHO coined the term "Dallas/Ft. Worth area"!! That is like saying the Salt Lake/Provo area - it's about the same distance away! I had Googled Dallas and had a list of things for us to do while Jon was busy but when we found out how far away they were, I had to scrap my plans.

The Water Garden ended up being really pretty

There were different areas in a maze of concrete.

But the BEST was the Active Area. It sounded like you were under a roaring waterfall and you could "hike" down in it etc.

Even though I had to scrap most of my plans, there was one that Jon (bless this man) would not let me give up. We drove the 45 minutes back to Dallas through bad traffic to go here. . . Recognize it anyone?

Oh yeah. SPRINKLES!!! Their strawberry cupcakes are "the bomb" (Collins new favorite phrase), although they do have to come in second to the Nutella in my opinion. MMMmmmmmmm.

That's it for now folks. I gotta go wipe the drool from my mouth.

15 Years and Counting!!

You're the best babe!!

Lake Tahoe Part 2

Shirts by Jon - OF COURSE!!

Our true selves emerge:

Collin rowing me around the lake:

Chattin with Em:

The boys before their nightly Crawdad trap setting. Yes, they are posers. No, it was not coordinated.

Hanging around the fire and the next days spoils from the crawdad trap.

Kaya (aka mini Seth), Tevai (aka mini Dave), Grace (aka mini Jon), Eva (aka mini Libbs): best buds.

Ok "babes", here is our Girls Night Out picture. THANK YOU husbands for it. We know the price you paid (which was high).

Cousins playing Ants on a Log or something.

Yes, more posers. Getting ready to jump off the rock. The initiatory rite of passage.

Look at my honey fly!

Phid and Collin.

Even more posing . . . anything to stay warm!! (Em, Collin, Garrett, Jon, Joz - in stealth mode, Phid and Seeth)

Air Guitar?

Jon and the third or fourth chair he broke (they were cheap, ok?)

Gathering to see Collin get rid of the mop:

Jon playing barber and Mullet fun:

Ta DA!! My baby boy is back!

Last night of fun. A bowl of popcorn that MIGHT be big enough for all the Bybees - adults that is.

Ok, Who's up for Round Two??? Next summer???

Tahoe Part One

Can y'all say "BEAUTY! . . . JOY! . . .LOVE"

Backing up though, on our 9 hour journey to get to the lake, some sort of alien invaded Collin and he turned into a snarling, growling, crying, writhing, kicking ball of meanness, then he threw up and was his happy loving self. It was so weird! In the first one he's growling, "NO PICTURES!" The second is taken about 5 minutes later.

CAMP BYBEE!! Yes, every one of those tents and cars is ours.

Collin, aka PYRO BOY building one of several mini bonfires while his best pal Cora watches. And one (of many) of Howard's beauty naps.

Doing what we love to do most - siting around the fire, eating and chatting.

The older generation passing on the very valuable S'mores making skills.

I love this picture . . . too bad I never got one of Howard being Death at night in that hoodie!!

So, um . . . let's just say it was FREEZING at night. I slept with 5-6 layers a hat and hoodie at night, and still froze.

Good ol' Garrett - the kids favorite uncle giving Grace a ride (yes, he has swimming trunks on) in Baby Bumper - the one Jon and his brothers played in when they were young. And Collin chopping wood - he could have done that till his arms came out of the sockets!

The kids all drawing. They had SO much fun together!

The Bybee boys (Yes, we claim you as a Bybee Garret!) chewin' the fat while cookin' their fat. Yes, that is bacon wrapped around their sticks. They bought it for "catching crawdads". Uh-huh.

Jon frying up lamb on our night to cook.

The bathing beauties on the beach. Tevai, Noni, Grace, Eva, Kaya . . . and Seth.

Stay tuned!! We're only half way through!

Birthday Fun

We had a great day yesterday! The kids got a day off school and I agree with Grace when she said that Jon shouldn't have to work on his birthday. I asked Collin what he wanted to do for his birthday and without hesitation he said, "RA!". That's my sushi lovin' boy! Ok, he's more Jon's sushi lovin' boy, but I like it too. Collin went there with some scout leaders months ago and he's been talking about it ever since.

We heard all about the "upside down mushroom lights"

AND most of all, the crunchy spicy tuna. It seems it was a little more spicy than he remembered!

Jon was glad to have any excuse to eat sushi! Sorry for the not-so-great pics. Someone, who shall remain anonymous, would NOT let me use a flash.

The aftermath of when I thought we were done.

A sushi lovin' Midge. She has decided she wants to go to RA for her birthday too.

The real aftermath (minus a few plates!!). Thank goodness for Happy Hour!

Singing Happy Birthday - Bybee style and chocolate divine - of course!!