Aunt Cindy and Samantha Sept. 2006

I love this picture of Samantha all dressed up in her Flower Girl dress, carrying her basket and her sippy cup.

September 2006

GHS

Grapevine High School is right across the street from us.  Cindy, Christy, and Dustin are alumni (Chad graduated at Southlake Carroll); Lauren is a Junior here now.  It is a great school often listed in the top 100 high schools in America.

Devil's Tower, WY

In August 2006 Christy and I took Dustin and Steffinee on a tour of the Black Hills.  We ate lunch at a KOA restaurant where this was our view from the windows.  It was raining so we did not go to the base of the tower.  I believe Devil's Tower is about 130 miles from Yellowstone National Park.

2010 VACATION TO GRACELAND

Grandma, Lauren, Samantha, Lindsay, Steffinee, and Dustin heading into the world of Graceland.

Disney Chef's Hat

Samantha in her chef's hat Lauren got for her at Disney World on her choir tour last year.

Dustin at College

Dustin at TCC at the outdoor chess game.  Can't believe he will soon have his first year of college behind him.  Where does the time go?

Christy's Having Surgery

Prayers today for Christy.  She is having knee surgery this morning.  Torn ACL and 3 other repairs.  They have scheduled two hours for the surgery as they say it needs a lot of work.  She is allergic to latex and other bandages, etc. so remember her in your prayers.

Poor Old Christy!

Samantha thought Christy needed papaw's walker to help you get around the restaurant now that she is sooo old!  I guess when you are 7, 40 does seem pretty old.  From my old age point of view, it's rather young!

The baker and her cake!

Here is the proud baker with the multi-tiered birthday cake she made.  Good job, Samantha.

Samantha Baked a Birthday Cake!

Samantha made Aunt Christy a birthday cake.  She got the recipe from her Paula Deen calendar.  She is a huge fan of "Ms Paula!"  Chad helped her and said he had never made anything with as many ingredients as they used in that red velvet cake.  Samantha was so proud of her cake and she should have been; it was very good!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHRISTY & LAUREN

Happy 40th Birthday to Christy and Happy 17th Birthday to Lauren!  Love you girls!

Infant Lauren

I'm sure Lauren is glad her birthday is tomorrow so grandma will quit sticking old pictures of her on here!  But I love this picture of her as a baby.  Notice how dark her hair was and now she is totally blonde.  Have always thought she had such beautiful eyes.  Love you, angel girl!

Lindsay Practicing Economics at School!

On Valentine's Day Lindsay and some of her friends sold homemade Oreo and Cake Balls.  Lindsay worked hard making these and was very pleased with the money her efforts brought in.  Here she is in action, making sales.

Steffinee With Her Sax

Steffinee is another of our musicians.  She plays the sax.  Don't have a current picture of her playing but here is one from last year.

This was taken at her very first band concert last year.  She attends Shawnee Middle School in Shawnee, Oklahoma.

Teary-Eyed Lauren

Lauren without Dustin.  Notice the red eyes and nose!

Lauren June 1996

Another picture of this weeks birthday girl.  Grandma, Uncle Chad, and Lauren.

Carlos & Spiderman

Carlos when he first came to us.  We first met him in November 2004.  This picture was taken after he had been here a couple of months.

Linda, Vancover, Canada, 1984

My goodness, I used to be thin before my body went totally haywire.  Or is it because this was 27 years ago?

Lauren as a Toddler

When Lauren was young she did not like the camera.  In fact about the only way to get her picture was with Dustin.  Since she will be 17 this week, I am enjoying sharing some pictures of the 'early years.'

GHS Cupcake

Have to brag about Cindy's talent (since I have none!).  She made these cupcakes last year for a Grapevine High School Choir 'Under the Sea" banquet.

Honoring Lindsay

Lindsay was recently added to the "Wolf Wall of Honor" at her middle school.  This honor is based on academics, leadership, etc.  She is one of less than 20 added since the school started and will be there permanently.  We are so proud of her!

Lindsay's Team Won Their Volleyball Tournament

Linda and her Tejas team won their reginal volleyball tournament last weekend.  Way to go Lindsay (#5)!

About to hit the big 4-0!

Ms Christy, Restaurant Manager Extraordinaire, is hitting the big 4-0 next week!  Two children in their 40s?  How did I get so old?

                               

Linda Many Years Ago in an Indiana Snow

On the road in front of our house in Guthrie, Indiana when I was still a young girl!  Had to have been a long, long, time ago!  Actually, it was the winter of 1959.  Like I said, a long time ago!

Lindsay Playing Basketball

Taken at Lindsay's bb game last night, 2/2/12.  Lindsay on the left.

Christy's 15th Birthday

Since Christy will celebrate the big 4-0 this month, I thought we would visit a past birthday.  2/17/87

Relaxing on Lake Monroe - 1970s

Mark Judah, Mike Bridwell, and Steve relaxing on our houseboat.

Lindsay and Samantha Graduate

Lindsay graduated from Timberline Elementary School and Samantha graduate from Pre-K at North Euless Elementary on the same day in June 2010.  Here they are at the reception at Timberline after Lindsay's graduation.

Sowders Christmas Tree 1960s

This is one of our Christmas trees when I was a teenager.  Guthrie, IN 1960s.

Cindy's 1st Hoosier Christmas

This is what you get when you tell everyone you want a baby doll for Christmas.  She loved everyone.  This was Christmas 1970.