Splish, Splash

Yesterday, Abby and I visited a nearby splash pad and adjacent playground. I never knew this existed until a few days ago and it's literally 2 minutes from my house...and that includes the amount of time required to cross a major highway! The weather has turned just slightly cooler lately...highs in the mid-80s...and the area was completely deserted. It didn't seem to matter to Abby though. She had a blast!

Even though the water feature was totally awesome, Abby's favorite part seemed to be the wall and sitting ledge surrounding it. I lost count of how many times she walked around it! Don't worry...it was only 2 feet off the ground so she was completely safe.

The adjacent playground was incredible! There was a sign that said it was designed for children ages 2 - 5 years. Perfect! We will definitely be visiting again soon.

Oh, and in case anyone was wondering where Abby was during last week's football game.....

She was playing with crickets! They were swarming around the stadium lights and dive bombing the spectators. While everyone else was squealing, Abby was utterly delighted.

Bronco Band's Halftime Performance!

Want to see the dazzling performance given by the Bronco Band and Color Guard during last Friday's show?

Just click HERE to be connected to YouTube.

Once you get there, be sure to click on the HD button at the bottom right corner of the screen to see it larger.

Sunday Blessings

May there be peace within today.

*

May you trust that you are exactly

where you are meant to be.

*

May you not forget the infinite possibilities

that are born of faith in yourself and others.

*

May you use the gifts that you have received,

and pass on the love that has been given to you.

*

May you be content with yourself just the way

you are. Let this knowledge settle into your bones,

and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance,

praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.

Let 'em run!

Excitement pounded the air over Ron Poe Stadium last night as in-town rivals McKinney Boyd High and McKinney North High prepared for the 2009 season opening game.

After a fast and furious first half,

the score was Boyd 14 - North 7.

*

With nervous anticipation, the Boyd Band

took the field for their halftime show.

Their dazzling performance left everyone with a

smile on their face and band parents beaming

with pride. They were AWESOME!

Mr. Myers, the color guard instructor, met

with the girls after the show and

congratulated them on a job well done!

The girls were all smiles as they headed to the

stands to enjoy the remainder of the game.

Emily with friends, Brena and Paige

FINAL SCORE:

McKinney Boyd 28 - McKinney North 7

Are you ready for some football?

After a whirlwind first week of school, tonight the Boyd Broncos will participate in their first football game of the 2009 season against the McKinney North Bulldogs. Emily is very excited about tonight's halftime performance with her follow color guard squad members. They have worked very hard over the past few weeks and now it's time to show off the results. I'll update tomorrow with the final score and show highlights!

Go Broncos!

First Day of School

Today marks another first day of school. This time as a 10th grader. Why does time go by so quickly? It seems like just last year she was in elementary school and I was putting a pretty bow in her hair and reminding her that there was no reason to be nervous. Sadly, she wouldn't let me put a bow in her hair this morning, but she did ask me to put on her make-up for her. Thankfully, I guess Mom is still needed sometimes...even when you are a teenager.

Emily,

Promise me you'll always remember: you're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

Love, Mom

Home Improvements - parts 2 & 3

Whew...I'm finally ready to reveal the last two home improvement projects that have consumed all my time over the past week. First is the hutch that was in my dining room. We've had this since....oh about 1992!!! It was definitely due for a make-over.

BEFORE (minus the doors):

AFTER (with new hinges and knobs):

Isn't it lovely? The transformation is amazing! I guess it can stick around for another decade or so now. LOL!


OK...on to the reason for the hutch transformation...the dining room remodel. We started this process about a year ago with the purchase of a new table. Then nothing was done until a few months ago when we finally removed the laser-cut wall border, repainted over the burgundy walls, and took down the fluffy country curtains.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

It's so hard to get the full room in one picture so this is a combined shot of 2 pictures so you can get the full panoramic idea. (insert delightful squeal here) I LOVE IT!!! The walls are now Restoration Hardware's Silver Sage...a silvery blue-gray-green...so soft and soothing. I still need 2 more picture frames for the back wall, but I bought all that Target had in stock at the moment. Hopefully they will restock soon so I can complete my wall with 6 pictures. Speaking of pictures, they are butterflies on a linen background printed from my computer! In the fall and winter, I plan to change it to leaves or some other botanical type print. I wasn't sure how it would turn out, but I was pleasantly surprised with the results. Oh, and they are side-by-side, not staggered, on the wall. That's just the odd angle I had to stand when taking the second picture. :-)

Next on my To Do List: the kitchen cabinets. (insert scary music here) Wish me luck!