Mark's Birthday

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU...












Last weekend was Mark's birthday weekend, so on Friday (as you see below) we went to the fair. On Saturday, Mark wanted to watch the Texas/OU game, so Clayton and I tried to stay "busy" and not bother him during the morning. In the afternoon, I planned a surprise! I went and got Ashleigh and TOTALLY surprised Mark! We were all so excited!


Ashleigh letting Clayton "sample" some of the cookie cake!


Clayton wanting Ashleigh to enjoy it with her!


Guilty as charged!


What a fun birthday weekend, I love you, honey!
Now, wait til next year!!!

At the Fair

Clayton's 2nd time at the State Fair of Texas...

Yesterday was Mark's birthday...we had free teacher tickets, so we decided to go to the fair! We went last year when Clayton was only 8 weeks old, and that wasn't the brightest idea that I have ever had. We knew that this time HAD to be much better. Clayton did get to have her 1st corny dog, but unfortunately, she is too short/young to ride even the kiddo rides in the midway. We had fun, stayed for about three hours...Clayton went to sleep...and we went home! It wasn't even crowded the first two hours we were there, so it was actually fun...and next year will be even better because Clayton will really enjoy it...oh, she did also try a "fried s'mores" but she didn't even want a 2nd bite.




MMM...corny dog...I think I like it!



The biggest Dora Clayton has EVER seen. We
would have bought it but it was a blow-up.


This is Elsie the cow's baby calf. It is only 1 month old!




Clayton wasn't really sure what to think about Beauregard. She was really hesitant to pet him!







Clayton during the "auto show"...getting ready to go "night-night"



And she is OUT!!!



Big Tex

Joey-Joe's Football Game

Let's Go Joey!!!



Joey is playing football for Ottawa University in Kansas, so we went to SAGU to watch Joey play last Saturday. The weather wasn't bad, but the sun was OUT...so Clayton and I only watched a little bit of the game...and entertained ourselves in the shade or truck the rest of the time. It was great to see Joey...and so great to watch him playing COLLEGE football. He and Mark have a special relationship. He was at Glenview (as a sophomore) when Mark got his first offical teaching/coaching job at Glenview. He and Mark immediately had a bond. Debra, Joey's mom was the athletic secretary at Glenview, and so we started hanging out with his family after games, etc. We loved hanging out with Roger and Debra because we could watch them live out real Godly, parenting with their three (extremely diverse) children (while we were contemplating having one of our own!). Things went down at Glenview that just weren't right, and Debra was asked not to return to Glenview...therefore, Joey didn't go back to Glenview...Mark had already questioned whether or not to go back to Glenview...and this helped him decide to just put it all out there and see where the Lord might take him...and HE opened up some doors for Mark to go to Arlington ISD and take a break from private school junk and politics that we had been dealing with for several years...and that is all because of the Erwins. If Joey had stayed at Glenview, Mark wouldn't have even thought about leaving...so God used an unfortunate circumstance with the Erwins to spur us on to a new place that He was calling us! All that to say...Joey had a rough Senior year...we lost Debra to a battle with cancer on Christmas Day...and through his mom's long, hard sickness and transferring from private to public school after going to Glenview his entire life, Joey has persevered and really made it! We are SOOO proud of him and what he is doing. It was great to see him last weekend and watch him play college ball! WE LOVE YOU JOE!

Clayton being entertained by her Daddy!




Joey is # 32


Joey and Dad, Roger


Joey and Mark



Mark, Joey, Clayton, and Me


Clayton crying because Jef scared her!



Joey and his sister, Kerri


Joey and his bro, Jef


#32 Big Joe

In Atlanta Part III

Going to "Great-Grandmother Mary Clayton's"

On Monday while we were in Atlanta, we went to Mary Clayton's house. She is my grandmother by marriage on my father's side...which makes her Clayton Grace's "Great-Grandmother" My grandfather passed away three years ago, so he never got to know Clayton, but I know he would have loved her if he had gotten the chance! We don't go to visit Grandmother very often, but we are trying to make an effort because we know that is what Granddaddy would have wanted! While we were there, all Clayton wanted to do was climb up and down the brick steps that led up to the porch. She was outside, so she was having fun, though!