Photos From Memaw

Hello everyone - Here are some photos from Memaw's house when the North Texas kids + Emmy were there this summer.

How many kids can you fit in

Memaw's fold out couch?

Mary Emily carrying the boys from Memaw's to nana's. Won't be able to do that many more years.

Gracen and Ceilia singing for all.

You girl's weren't washing dishes were you?

I didn't think so.

Boy's on the computer.

Glad you all got together.

Post more photos of your summer! Love ya!

Finally...I was blog blocked!!

For some reason I wasn't allowed to login to the Round Robin blog and had to get a new invitation from Billie. Weird.

Anyway, I hope all of you received my separate email with the link to all my pictures from the cruise around Italy. It was the trip of a lifetime and I hope you kids don't have to wait until you're 56 to take a trip like it. If you didn't get the link and haven't seen the pictures please email me at randi.davis@verizon.net and I'll send it to you. I took over 300 and narrowed it down to 230 to post on KodakShare. I set up a slide show in the order I took the photos and most have a caption so you can read where we were that day. We left on June 24th and flew to Rome on a charter flight with all State Farm agents and their families. A bus took us from the Rome airport to Civittavechia, the port where the boat was docked. We sailed that evening and when we woke up in the morning we were at a port in Sicily. John and I spent the day in Taormina exploring and shopping and eating gelato - yum! It was so hot and we had packed our swimsuits in a backpack so we stopped at a local beach for a nice swim before we went back to the ship around 4pm to get ready for dinner. Every night was at least a four course meal, delicious! We sailed again while at the dinner table. We looked up to discover we were moving. The ship was so huge we could hardly tell. The next morning we woke up in Malta. The most unbelievable place I've ever seen. We spent the day in Valletta. John and took an excursion called "The Knights of Malta". We learned about the knights who conquered Malta in the 1200's and toured the Inquisitor's Palace and the prison where they kept prisoners waiting for trial. Very interesting. Again we went back to the ship around 4pm to dress for dinner. The next morning we woke up in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Who would have ever thought Croatia was so beautiful. Not me?! We took an excursion into the countryside where we visited a flour mill and enjoyed snacks of dates, figs, procuitto, cheese and bread, wine and local liquers. Then we had time to explore Old Town Dubrovnik which was enclosed with the 80 foot wall. Over 2,000 people inhabit Old Town today. We walked the wall which was 6,300+ feet around the city. It was hot, hot!! We had dinner at a sidewalk cafe and didn't have to return to the ship until 10pm. Lots of fun!

The next day was a "day at sea" while we sailed all the way around the boot of Italy back to Naples. From Naples, John and I took a jetfoil to the Isle of Capri, about a 45 minute boat ride. Then we took the Funiculare up to the heart of the city. We took a bus to Ana Capri and a single chair lift to the very top of the island. It was absolutely beautiful. We had lunch, explored and then went back to the ship. The next day we woke up at the port of Livorno, Italy. John and I took an excursion deep into Tuscany. Our two stops were Siena and San Gimignano. Both were everything I expected to see in Tuscany but more beautiful.

The last day was supposed to be July 2nd leaving again from Civittavechia. As we ate our breakfast and waited for our group to be called to go to the airport, the Captain came on the loud speaker to tell us that our charter plane was grounded in Atlanta with an inoperable radio. So we would have to stay on the boat and the boat would have to keep to their schedule and sail away! Oh darn! The plane was able to catch up to us 2 days later in Malta. I never thought I would see Malta once, but twice in one week?? So cool. Please enjoy my pictures!

I went to see Lollie this last weekend. I took Caleb and Griffen so they could play with Israel. It was blazing hot but between Chuck E. Cheese, video games and the park in the evening we were able to keep them entertained. Perris sang for us and played the piano. That girl has Memaw's musical talent, that's for sure.

So that's my summer so far. I am desperately seeking a full-time job and would appreciate your prayers. It's been very frustrating and discouraging so far.

Love to you all!!
Randi

Queen of the Parade!

Yes, that is Memaw riding in my VBS float in the 4th of July parade. It is suppose to be a roller coaster car. See the painting on the rest of float.

We had a great week, she did registration for me each morning. The kids had a blast, we had 75 and all went well.

We took her to see some of the wild flowers this weekend, as far as she could go before the road gets too rough. The flowers are really beautiful right now. Some photos below, this was a different day, she did not get this far up. This is the same waterfall covered with snow last time. It is also the twin falls pictures on the Coors label.

We are all enjoying the summer since winter comes hard and long. Hope things are going well with you all.

Oh yea, Mary Emily and her friend Carly gave me a surprise birthday party. It was great!

Write Soon!

Pics from NC--WOW

What a nice surprise to look in and find blog from John & family--Pics are just great, thank you sooo much The beach house sounds like its calling me there!!I will start saving now to make that trip next year!! Anyone coming with me???
What good reports from Allie and Jacob--so proud of Allie's award on citizenship and grades--whatta gal!! Jacob all A's are special--I'm sure he served his term on Student Council well this year.
These two weeks with Emmy here have flown by of course--she's at Britt's now with Gracen and I will pick up in a few minutes for her to get packed--she does a real number on getting packed--She did me yesterday and I was amazed how much she got in the bag--I didnt have acess to digital camera but Lollie told me I could go toWalgreens & have them domagic so can send a few pics from some of this trip to TX--kinda like old times to have 6 kids--4 girls and 2 boys over at Randi's--Jeremy said if they not crying or bleeding they were fine!!--some chaperone??
A friend is taking us to Airport in AM about 8--plane leaves at 10;50--arrives Montrose 11;45--sure beats driving--Randi will be home Wed late afternoon. I'm sure she will have news and maybe pics to of Italy
Later, my dear family--Love ya, Mom aka Memaw

Pics from Plata's Vacation in the Outer Banks of NC.

Hey,

We just got back from North Carolina - nicely tanned. We didn't do anything except relax all week - we're recharged. I wanted to post these pics while I was thinking about it. We lucked into a great rental directly on the beach at the last minute & liked it so much we reserved it for next year -same week. 6/21-6/28. It sleeps 18 so we have plenty of room for a crowd, if there are any takers at that time next year. The view from the back porch is in the picture above with Allie standing at the bottom of the steps. There is one of us on top of the Corolla Lighthouse. The pic with the flags in the background is at a restaurant at sunset looking over the sound. The pics of us with the really orange sunrise over the Atlantic are on the beach right in front of the rental. We really enjoyed it & the waves were great for body boarders and lots of surfers. Each morning and evening dolphins by the dozens swam right in front of the house. It's a great spot to relax. No massive condo units, hotels or spring break type crowds - It's all rental homes with large family groups just chillin' out. It's 20-30 minutes from Kitty Hawk and the Wright Bros. Museum & there are good seafood and N.C. BBQ restaurants around.

Allie & Jacob got their final grades in the mail while we were gone. Allie got one B and all the rest were A's. Jacob got all A's. We are so thankful that the kids are doing well in school here - we were a little worried at first about the intensity and high level of competition.

Allie was upset that she received a homework assignment for next year already - first week of summer! She has to read some books off of the reading list and have a PowerPoint presentation ready when she goes back with an overview of the reading. I guess whatever keeps their brain working this summer. Allie also received the citizenship award for her 6th grade - it was a big deal - since they only give 5 of those in each grade and she is a new student. The principal said she exemplified what it meant to be a student at Mary Ellen Henderson Jr. High - able to excel in school, extracurricular, and community activities (Allie and her friends (with no parents) organized a fundraising team for the Relay for Life - it was a fundraising project that they worked on all school year).

Talk to you soon,

John

update from Austin

Hi, all. Perras and I can't get over that we've only been out of school for 2 1/2 weeks - it seems longer because we've done so much. When Israel was with us the first week, it was very busy with him around, going swimming or to the park, or to a movie or out to Chuck E Cheese or somewhere to get a hamburger. Just summery things, but something a little different every day.
Perras has a job doing some filing and organizing for Blue Light (Ben's business). She has been spending time here as well as with her cousins Brianna and Brandon.
We had a good time with ME - she's so grown up now! We got totally drenched at Lake Travis - Volente Beach - and our plans to go to the Oasis had to be tabled because we were sopping wet from a huge rainstorm. and no extra clothes. Normally, everything would have dried in the sun right on us in a few minutes and we could just go - (of course I took dry clothes but the girls didn't.) The rain didn't daunt people much - everyone just continued on the water slides unless they were shut down for awhile because of lightning. But after awhile you were just drowning in the rain and most people including us, decided to leave. P and ME also went to the Main Event the day before that - a place with lots of games and activites. And ME went to church with us on Sunday, took a tour of the new children's building which is such a cool place.
Perras is having a good time at her camp, just totally immersed in piano the entire day. She says the other kids are sooo advanced. It is good to be around people who challenge you, right?
Ben and I had a great time in Galveston. (I will post pics of all of this when P gets back with the camera!) We stayed on the Strand in the Tremont Hotel - a beautifully restored old building from the 1800's. It was gorgeous. We found some fun new places to eat, spent time on the beach, visited historical places, all things that we like to do. One highlight was the Juneteenth ceremony at Ashton Villa, one of the oldest of the old mansions on Broadway. That is the exact spot where Gen. Gordon Granger read the emancipation proclamation (two years late) in Texas for the first time. There is a big statue there now commemorating the event. Every year since 1865 or whenever it was, they gather in that same spot to read it aloud again and remember the occasion. So it was cool, with lots of people there, singing, prayers, etc. Sen. Al Edwards, who sponsored the legislation making Juneteenth (19th of June) an official state holiday, was there. He comes every year to read the proclamation.

Now I am working on budgets and financial records for our businesses and family, trying to get everything re-organized, better organized, etc. Bought a new computer program for that and it is killing me trying to get it all set up and learn how to do it. I will persevere and get it done though. It is drudge work to me, but it must be done. It is only possible now because I don't have any distractions for awhile - and don't want any!! God willing, I will get everything in a better system before school resumes. Visit our site - KleenShave.com - it is growing little by little and showing good potential. The Smooth and Tight product is for everyone, and is very popular.

Mark is away at training. He will return for about 20 days from July 4th through the 2osomethingth. Then he leaves for another year in Iraq. So please gear up for lots of prayers again. I still can't think about it much - some kind of denial I guess. He has been doing so well here with his college classes, and his work with the National Guard, and spending time being a Dad. It hardly seems possible that he has been here over 2 years. We will miss him so much.

Jeff is living in Buda with his cousin J.R. (Travis). He is doing well, working full-time at Hertz and selling real estate on the side. He and JR bought a little sport boat - a Sea-Doo that seats 5 or 6. They hosted a great Father's Day picnic at Lake Travis and took everyone for rides and tubing. It was very fun.

okay - that's alot from one family but I'll stop. Love you all -

Lollie

Greetings from Corolla

Right now we are in North Carolina on the Outer Banks , the beach is Corolla. It is beautiful!!! Our house is right on the beach and their is a long walkway that connects our house to the beach. We came here on Saturday, and we will return to D.C. on Saturday as well. Huckleberry came with us and about two hours ago he ate a live crab! Huck just loves it, but he is getting older and it is harder for him to move around (get up, and go up stairs). This summer has been great so far Jacob and I go to swimming everyday. Mine starts at 7:45 and Jacobs starts at 8:45. So sleeping in this summer isnt going as I planned... I will be turning thirteen this summer, but it turns out I wont be going to Lawton with my Dad. Well I am going to go body boarding, the waves are looking pretty big. Their is a wave with my name on it.......... Love, Allie and Jacob