Too long...

I realize that it has been a while since I have blogged, but since our return from China, I am still finding it hard to get back into the real world...or get caught up. Here are a few things that have been going on around here...

• July 4th weekend we headed to Brownwood to visit my side of the family for a little family reunion. We spent time with my grandparents and extended family. It was so great to see everyone and get caught up. Some of them we have not seen in years and they all have little kids running around this time. I think that I am the only cousin who is married that does not have kids, and unfortunately, I am one of the oldest. We had a great time, but we were glad to be back in our own bed after one very long night on Nana and Papa Tex's pull out bed that we figure was made for a 10-year old kid, not two 36 and 30 year old adults. Needless to say, I visited the chiropractor the week after...thank you, Dr. Glaze!
• We returned to my mother-in-law who was saying in our house over the weekend. She came the day we left (Friday) and left on Monday. My parents then came down and stayed Monday night and brought us our furry children, who we had not seen in three weeks. I missed those little guys. Dudley had a little operation while we were gone and it seems now he is now missing a couple of things as well. We had our house to ourselves on Tuesday night and then my mother-in-law returned Wednesday and stayed until Saturday. We love our family, but after being gone for 11 days and then not having any time to get adjusted back before a week full of company, we are ready to lock the doors at Hotel de Peteet!
• The weather has not been too bad here so we have enjoyed several Harley rides on the new bike. We usually head out late in the evenings on the weekends to enjoy the backroads. Last Saturday after working around the house, we rode out to the lake, across the dam, and to dinner. We both love those nights when we can hop on the bike and blow the day away.
• I went to Dallas for a business trip last week. It was only for three days, but I happened to be there at the same time as a good friend from Missouri, Melissa. I took a cab from my hotel and met her at the Galleria. I got there a little before she did so I was able to shop a little. We met her for the first time last year in China. She went on our trip with Visiting Orphans. She did not get to go this year because she is pregnant with her little miracle baby. What a great excuse...
• Speaking of pregnant, I have 19 friends who are expecting. YES, 19! Wow! One of them was to be induced last weekend, but I have not heard. It too was another miracle baby. Also, another friend gave birth to her little boy last week. Most of them are due later this fall or early next year and I am so excited. One of them is my best friend who is about 12 1/2 weeks along. Last week they thought that they saw "boy parts" in the sonogram, but it may be a little to early to tell. And her sister gave birth earlier this month in the elevator at the hospital! So congratulations (in no certain order) to Bambi, Lena, April, Kristen R., Lana, Kristen B., Kirsten S., Melissa F., Kelly, Jennifer F., Melissa U., Sarah B., Melanie, Christina, Shannon, Jennifer R., Lacee, Tracey, and Sarah S. It might be a long hot summer for some of these girls! (I think that you need to get pregnant in the summer so you don't have to go through it, but for those miracle and surprise babies...get that plan doesn't work!)
• I am in an adoption swap group with 11 other ladies (one of them being Ana who went to China with us and who I LOVE!) and each month we swap different things for our little girls that we are in the process of adopting. In April, we did a baby shower in a box and sent spring items. In May, we swapped things for Mom since it was around Mother's Day. In June we swapped patriotic items to celebrate the upcoming holiday. In July, we swapped out favorite books when we were children, and in August we are swapping onesies with all eleven members of the group. (Hence, the shopping at the Galleria.) We are also swapping quilt squares for quilts for our little girls. It is such a neat thing to do and I have received such cute things!
• We are heading out of town this weekend for a much needed weekend away where no one knows where we are. It will not be much, but we just need to be alone and away from things. Next Monday is going to bring some much needed changes...more to come on that later! But we do hope to catch up with one friend this weekend and she is worth giving up a little R & R time for! Can't wait to see, T!
• I am in the mood once again for projects, organizing, and cleaning. I started a little this past weekend, but could use a couple of weeks off to get where I want to be. Not seeing that coming anytime soon! I am also reading as much as I can. I have been reading through the Bible and just started Isaiah. I need to read Proverbs every month! WOW!
• August holds our weekend away, lunch with friends in Dallas at the end of the month, and a late night Cowboys game in the new stadium that same night. Exciting! Not looking forward to the walk from the car to the stadium, but hopefully it will be worth the jog. Labor day finds me heading to Amarillo for my cousin, Stephen's, wedding. Also, my cousin, Brian, married at the beginning of the month! Our family is growing from 6 grandsons, 2 granddaughters, and a great-granddaughter to 6 grandsons, 4 granddaughters, and 4 great-granddaughters in a matter of months. Poor Papa better get his checkbook ready! Kidding, Papa...well, kind of!

Guess that is all that is going on around here (and isn't that enough!). Stay tuned...I will try to be a better blogger!