Chad (with Samantha) Goofing Around

Chad teasing Samantha that he is going to stick his tongue in his birthday cake.  He may be 36 but he has told me repeatedly he has no intention of growing up!  I believe him!

Happy Birthday Chad!

Happy Birthday to my baby boy who just happens to be 36 years old today!  Happy Birthday Chad, hope it's a good one!  We love you!

Stephen Chad Wilson - 11 days old.

Chad, a Quiet (?) Young Man!

I thought this picture would be appropriate considering friends posts about Chad in the past and his love of talking and investigating things.  This school picture looks like he is trying hard to be quiet!

Chad's Old Birthday Picture

My baby boy 31 years ago!

Samantha's Christian Message

Samantha, my 7-yr-old granddaughter says the cutest things. The week of Spring break while spending the night with me she read her Bible before going to bed (always does). While reading she looked over at me and said, "Grandma, the kids at school know I am a Christian." We discussed that and she said, "Sometimes when kids are saying or doing something and I walk up they stop and one says, "Don't say (do) that, she's a Christian." Now I got to thinking about that and I wonder just what do 1st graders have to stop doing or saying when a Christian walks up?

Chad's 9th Birthday

More fun with the birthday by.  This was a really poor quality picture to begin with making it even worse here.  But you can still see the big glasses on such a little boy.  He had to take eye therapy when he was young.

                                                                            3/30/1985

Chad & Family

Still picking on Chad since he has a birthday next week.  This is Samantha, Mary, Carlos, Isabell, Chad, and Steffinee.  This was taken a little over a year ago.

Chad Trying to Rest

Chad trying to rest after work.  But Samantha felt he needed to take care of her babies!

Lindsay and Samantha Ready to Watch Sponge Bob in 4D

On our recent visit to Legoland, we watch Sponge Bob Squarepants in 4D.  Here are the girls, ready for the movie.

Isabell's 10th Birthday

Isabell had a big birthday cake with her mother's side of her family earlier so I made her some cupcakes. 

Cindy & Lauren in St. Peter's Basilica

St Peters Basilica. Our guide told us that the black letters in the gold are 7 ft tall and the lege above them are wide enough for a bus!

Happy 10th Birthday to Isabell

Happy 10th Birthday, Isabell.  Have a great time at the zoo today!

Getting Old

Signs of aging: Spent yesterday afternoon in a Medicare meeting.  Got all signed up for everything.  Does that make me officially over-the-hill?

Two Big Fish at Sea Life

Lindsay and Samantha at Sea Life on Tuesday.  Love Samantha's 'fish face'.

Choir Returns to Texas

So thankful for all the prayers for Lauren.  She will be returning home this afternoon after 8 days of travel and she has done well.  She has had an exhilerating trip of a lifetime singing in three different cities in Italy.  I'm sure this is something she will always remember.  Thankful her mother and grandmother were able to go with her.  Welcome home, Lauren!

Happy Birthday Rodney

Wishing our son-in-law Rodney a very happy birthday!

Lindsay and Samantha Enjoying Sea Life 3/13/12

Papal Audience Then Back to the USA

Lauren sang for the Pope today.  Cindy sent this picture.  She was thankful she and Gayle were with the choir as that gave them seating rather than standing for 4 hours!  This is the end of the choir performances and they will be heading home due to arrive at DFW tomorrow afternoon. 

Cowboy's Stadium at LegoLand

Lego's replica of a football game at Cowboy's Stadium with Samanth looking on.

No Concerts Today

The Italian travelers don't have any concerts today.  This is their relaxing day then tomorrow is their Papal Audience and singing for the pope.  They have been well received everywhere and people have wanted to know if they have CDs for sale.  I know this has been an exhilerating time for Lauren and I am so glad she got to make the trip.  Thanks again to everyone for praying for her.
Todays restaurant and dinner menu.  If you've ever been to Rome, you may be familiar with this restaurant.

March 13

Sugo

Via della Propaganda 22, Roma

Tel: +39 066786093

Lasagne with Mixed Salad

Dessert: Profiterols

                                                                   Vegetarian: Vegetarian Lasagne with Mixed Salad 
  

Take Me Out to The Ballgame....

Samantha watching a game at Rangers Stadium in LegoLand.

Lindsay and Samantha Visit South Fork Ranch at LegoLand

Took Lindsay and Samantha to LegoLand for the 1st day of Spring Break. 

Today's A Busy Day For Lauren

Today is the big day of Lauren's Italian Tour.  They are singing at the 5:00 pm mass at St. Peter's.  And dinner will be at the Hard Rock Cafe!

The Event	Mass
Date	Monday 12 March 2012
Venue	St Peter’s Basilica, Rome
Schedule	Assemble at meeting point in Basilica Move to seats Mass commences Sing the Mass Please refer to itinerary for timing
Approved repertoire	Entrance: When Jesus Wept – William Billings Offertory: Ave Maria – Tomas Luis de Victoria Communion: The Eyes of All Wait Upon Thee – Jean Berger Recess: Vere Languores Nostros (Latin)– Antonio Lotti
Information	The choir will sit in the pews on the left side facing the altar. There will be a podium and music for the conductor directly in front of the pews Bottled water is not permitted in the Basilica

March 12

Hard Rock Café

Via Vittorio Veneto, 62 a/b 00185 Roma

Tel: +39 06 4203051

Choice of entrée:

Cheeseburger, Bacon Cheeseburger, Veggie Burger, Grilled Chicken Sandwich

Hickory BBQ Chicken or Chicken Caesar Salad

Dessert: HRC’s signature Ice Cream

Coffee, tea or soft drink

Saturday Menu & Concert Is In Venice

Saturday 10 March

Concert San Moise Church Venice

Today's Dinner Menu & Restaurant:

March 10

Ae Oche

Via Mattei 16, Marcon

Tel: +39 041 53 21 892

Milanese Steak with potatoes and salad

Dessert: Panna cotta

                                                               Vegetarian: Bean Soup with potatoes and salad
     

3:12 AM Message

Had a message this morning from my girls in Italy.  Got the message at 3:12 am, they were starting on their day over there.  They wanted to let Dustin know their tour guide is Mario and their bus driver is Luigi!  Dustin is a big Mario & Luigi fan so they thought that was funny.  They will be in Padua all day today meeting with two local student choirs all day and performing in a concert tonight.  Below is their list of song.  Love that they will end by giving these Italians some Western Swing!

Repertoire

Concert Program: Go Tell John – Lloyd Pfautsch Vere Languores Nostros (Latin)– Antonio Lotti Hey Nonny No! - Kowalski The Eyes of All Wait Upon Thee (Psalm 145) – Jean Berger Ave Maria – Tomas Luis de Victoria When Jesus Wept – William Billings Western Medley (Cowboy folk songs) – arr. Antinone The Lone Prairie (Ghost) Riders in the Sky

Italian Concert Schedule

This is the schedule of concerts Lauren's choir will be performing in Italy.  What a great opportunity for her.  So glad she was able to make the trip after her bout with the kidney stones.  Continue to keep her in your prayers.  She still has 3 stones in her kidneys.

Friday 9 March	Exchange Concert SS Fabiano & Sebastiano Church Padua
Saturday 10 March	Concert San Moise Church Venice
Monday 12 March	Mass St Peter’s Basilica Rome
Wednesday 14 March	Papal Audience St Peter’s Square Rome

Lauren and Cindy off to Italy

Thanks to all who have been praying for Lauren.  Please keep her in your prayers as she flies to Italy today.  She has TAKS testing this morning then off to DFW at 1:30.  They fly from DFW to Frankfort, Germany then from Frankfort to Venice, Italy.  She is so tired as she hasn't slept much in the past week because of pain.  Hopefully she will be able to sleep on the flights.  She will be singing at several churches in Italy and at MASS at St. Peter's Bascillica on Monday.  Cindy and her other grandmother will be with her and that makes this grandma feel better!

Grandma Hawkins Birthday

Today would have been Grandma Hawkins birthday.  I have been trying to locate her date of birth but haven't found it yet today.  I loved growing up next door to her and miss her still.  I often think how much she would have enjoyed my grandchildren.  Some of my favorite memories are of sitting in her porch swing with her while she regaled me with stories of her childhood.  She was so excited when the Corps of Engineers put in Lake Monroe and made her old homestead into a recreation center.  I remember picnicing with her under the 'Twin Oaks' as she told about playing there with her sisters and brother as a youngster.  Miss you, Grandma, you taught me so much.

Prayers For Lauren

Please keep Lauren in your prayers.  She has 4 kidney stones and is not doing well.  She has an appointment this morning with a urologist in Ft. Worth.  She is scheduled to leave at noon on Wednesday for 8 days of singing in Italy.  Right now she has moved from morphine to codene but is still struggling.

Grandpa Hawkins With His Brother & Sister

This is a picture of my maternal grandfather, Freddie Raymond Hawkins, on the right, with his sister Stella Smith and brother Bratch Hawkins.  The picture was taken at Grandma and Grandpa's 50th wedding anniversary in the 1960s.

Busy Month

Welcome to March, which will be a busy month for our family.  We have three birthdays in March; Isabell, Chad, and Rodney all celebrate birthdays this month.  Cindy and Lauren will be going on a choir trip to Italy with Lauren's High School choir this month.  Lauren has been very busy with practices for all the places they will be singing there.  And of course, all the grandkids look forward to Spring Break.  We will be a busy bunch!