First Powerlifting Meet

Tyler had his first powerlifting meet in San Antonio and did great!  He really became interested in powerlifting when he was doing football last year, but only attended the workout portions at school because he didn't feel strong enough to do the meets.  He has been working so hard and just keeps getting stronger.  He has been going to 6am workouts at school M-Th and then goes to the YMCA in the evenings.  He weighed in at 153.2lbs for the meet and is in the 165 weight class, which means that he's going against people that are 10lbs heavier than him and can lift more, but he really impressed me!  His max lift for deadlift was 320lbs!  Amazing!  Unfortunately, he bombed (I'm learning all the powerlifting terms) in bench press because he lifted his head and that's not allowed.  He didn't know, but he does now.  The Coaches can only take 12 lifters to each meet, so I'm not sure how many he will get to do this season, but he really enjoyed it, so I know there will be more in his future!  

 

New Beginnings

This might be my favorite post ever.  After 21 years of being incarcerated, Brent is FINALLY home!  We had the best weekend celebrating and just enjoying family time together!  I haven't been in the same room with my mom, dad and both of my brothers in maybe... 25 years.  It was so nice because we all packed up and met at the release unit in Gatesville and waited to see Brent as he walked out of the gates as a free man!  I'm so glad we did that because it was one of the happiest moments and we were all together!  Our time was pretty short at the unit because it was literally freezing and insanely windy, so we went to a little restaurant close by to visit.  Then dad and Peggy hosted everyone at their house.  Peggy was so sweet and got a cake to celebrate Brent's late graduation from Lee College.  He opened Christmas presents, did art projects with the kids, probably ate too much food, did karaoke, and hung out by the fire until midnight.  I  know he was exhausted, but he hung in there with all of us.  Ha.  It was such a great reunion!  Everything seems a little more right in the world now!           

Checking out his new truck! 

I thought this was so cute.  My dad said he was standing on his tip toes to be taller, so the boys did as well.  Ha.    

"Lord, I'm free"

A light snow fall at the farm.  

Happy 2024!

Happy New Year! My first New Year resolution is to get back to saving our family memories on our blog.  I have thousands of pictures on here… just waiting to be organized and published.  It’s so  overwhelming that I always put it off for another day. BUT today is the day!  Woohoo!

We enjoyed ringing in the New Year with a quiet evening at home. The kids played Fortnite together and Travis grilled steaks.  We did fireworks and fountains and poppers and silly string.  Very low-key, but great!  Here's wishing everyone a wonderful 2024!  

My little bitty looks SO grown up in this series of pics! :-/

Dance recitals

Shout out to Travis and Grandpa Bill as they spent seven hours at the PAC, without lunch, on Father's Day to watch both girls' dance recital.  :-)  It was a busy and long day and Kinley's sixth dance recital and Brooklyn's second dance recital is in the books!  They both did SO great!!   

Brooklyn - Ballet 

'A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes' - ballet video 

with Ainsley and Monroe

Brooklyn - Tap

'ABC' tap video 

with Addy, Monroe, Emma, and Savannah

with Gwen

with Addy, Olivia, Ainsley, Gwen and Monro

Brooklyn's finale

Finished with Brooklyn's recital and getting ready for Kinley's

Kinley - Tap

'I Just Wanna Be Happy' tap video 

Kinley - Ballet 

'Whole Wide World' ballet video

Kinley - Jazz

'Bring it All Back' jazz video

Kinley's finale

with Miss Hannah