wrap-up of a hot, sweaty June

First of June, we said "good-bye" to Jessica and Lady as they headed off for a fun filled summer in the Carribean with Walter. You can see how much fun they're having here.

Then on Father's Day weekend (Sat.) Grandpa and I participated, along with 2,000 supporters, in the prostate cancer awareness 5k (3 mi.) race in downtown Houston.

Grandpa was awesome, winning a medal for a 3rd place finish in his age division. The triple digit heat really slowed me down, and I missed getting a medal in my age division by one place. I was so thrilled for Grandpa to get a medal; he sure is a winner in my eyes.

After a quick shower and change of clothes, we headed down I-10 to spend the rest of the day celebrating this sweet grandson's 7th birthday. (Love that boy!)

We wrapped up June with Jeremy flying in from Utah for a week's visit.  It had been a long time since he'd been home, and we've been really missing him. It was so good to hang out with him.  We took Jeremy, along with his brother Carl,  to the Jamail Skate boarding park overlooking downtown Houston, and had fun watching all the action.

We spent a day at Schlitterbahn in Galveston, where Jeremy persuaded his Dad to go on the most scary water rides, like the very tall waterslide. I hope Emily and Lauren's blogs have photos of our day on the beach at Galveston, where the grandkids (Jeremy's neices and nephews) had fun playing in the water with him, and throwing beach mud on him.) I had forgotten to bring my camera.

June bride

From this cutie of a baby girl ...

to this beautiful June bride ....

my neice, Kristyn (photo, courtesy of her cousin & wedding photographer, Lauren)

Memorial Day Musings

If it weren't for the war (WW II), these two would have never gotten together. They met in Salzburg, Austria in the months following the war.


My father was a Sargent in General Patton's Army in Europe. He directed artillary fire in France, helped liberate the concentration camps, and was part of the occupation army.  He loved serving his country.

My Mother was forced to work for the Nazi government (as a secretary) when Hitler occupied her country, Austria. She hated working for the Nazi's. 
So many people sacrificied so much for their country. Many gave all -- like my husband's Uncle Carl, for whom he is named.    A very brave paratrooper (Company "C", 517th Parachute Infantry)  Carl  had already recieved the Silver Medal for single handedly taking out a German machine gun nest in Italy, when he was killed in action in southern France, two months after the invasion of Normandy. He had just turned twenty, and never got the chance to marry his sweetheart back home and raise a family of his own.

Uncle Carl and his nephew Carl, photos taken when they were both about the same age. (My hubby Carl's photo is not a police mug shot, but his Texas Tech University I.D. photo.)