vacay at the lake

Rick and I are jonesing for a road trip but we are both so beaten down by chickens that it definitely isn't happening this year. We are hoping next summer looks better. I am already trying to convince Rick we need to see a game at Camden Yards.

We were fortunate enough to get a brief escape to Lake Kiowa thanks to some friends who offered up their home. We also got the chance to hang with Pete and Judes who were brave enough to spend some time in the Texas heat as well as be in an enclosed space with chickens.

All in all it was a quiet week. Unfortunately it was interrupted by a baseball tournament and Rick having to film for the show but I did get to a spend a few days alone at the beach with my parents so at least one of us isn't complaining.

 JT fishing with Grandpa Pete in the background.

Zach being frustrated about his lack of fish until he caught one about 5 minutes after I took this photo.

TexElite Baseball

We have a one month break where we will not be juggling baseball practice and tournament schedules. All in all this last 6 weeks of  "summer" baseball has been far more enjoyable than our last few baseball adventures. JT was especially in love with his team since the coach (Taylor) was a four year starter at Texas Tech.

It will take a few days to adjust to having our evenings wide open, eating dinner together, and not having to schedule our weekends around tournaments. Of course it will be a brief rest. School starts 8/28 and I am sure baseball will start at the same time.

Eight is Great

Hard to believe that 8 short years ago we were celebrating the arrival of Zach. And what an adventure 8 years with Zach aka Teacup has been. He keeps us all in stitches with his sense of humor, has such a big heart, and an almost freaky memory. All of which makes me realize that I will be taken care of in my old age.

It has been a long day. I was up early today to make Zach's cake before we had to be at a photo shoot for A&E. The boys are now celebrating with the Largent boys. They've had an afternoon of swimming, baseball, Xbox, a silly string battle, and now the game of Life.

Shark themed cake

The film crew singing Happy Birthday to Zach

I have more photos and Lucas Family updates but I am barely keeping my eyes open right now. 

Friday Fotos

Sure it is spelled wrong but it wouldn't be as catchy if I said Friday Photos and I need something catchy as an excuse to post some seriously cute photos that have been sitting on my camera. Sit back and enjoy.

 JT is #9

Shitty Kitchen

I am providing yet another blanket apology, this one specifically goes to any parent (mother or father - I am not picky) who has a daughter(s) under the age of 10 because I guarantee that at some point, even if it is the first time I've met you,  I am going to ask you if your daughter(s) ever removed their diapers.

Sure I've posted about it before, it was such a cute bare bum photo but you know what isn't cute? SHIT, Specifically, shit spread all over the place. For example, all over a totally awesome play kitchen.

And yes there is also red marker all over the stove because like a jail cell someone managed to smuggle in a red marker; I don't know if it was baked in to a cake, hidden up a sleeve, or tucked in a diaper but somehow it made it to the crib and her best idea was to color her stove. I believe both of these acts are from one child but I am not 100% certain she doesn't act alone.

Battling Wednesday Night Boredom

If you are dying to spend more time watching television, you can check out this show. Sounds like it might be interesting.

A&E NETWORK PREMIERES NEW ORIGINAL SERIES 'MODERN DADS' ON WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 21 AT 10:30PM ET/PT
REALITY SERIES FOLLOWS A BROTHERHOOD OF STAY-AT-HOME DADS HUMOROUSLY SURVIVING PARENTHOOD TOGETHER
NEW YORK, NY - JULY 15, 2013 - A&E Network premieres a new reality series following a tight-knit group of stay-at-home fathers balancing their roles as dudes and dads. "Modern Dads" premieres Wednesday, August 21 at 10:30PM ET/PT on A&E.
Down in Austin, Texas there's a group of guys who are unapologetically loud and riotously funny. They're like a fraternity, but this time around, all-nighters, babes in your bed, empty bottles and projectile vomit carry a whole new meaning. They’re on 24/7 dad-duty... their dreams used to be fast women and fast cars, but now they only fantasize about using the bathroom without an audience.
"Modern Dads" features four stay-at-home dads who may be a little unconventional, but they get the job done. Banning together, their "guys club" is a tribe of suburban, child-rearing dudes who are just trying to do their thing... with a kid (or four) on their hip. A good day at the office for them is just keeping their kids, and their manhood, alive. This new series will follow their exploits as they navigate their lives; juggling the requirements and social expectations of being both a 'modern man' and ‘modern dad’ while their significant others are off at work.
This real life group of friends include Nathan, the newbie dad, an enthusiastic but sometimes overzealous father to his baby boy; Rick, the veteran dad, a MacGyver-type who rules the roost with a strict hands-off approach to parenting his two boys and twin girls;, Sean, the cool step-dad and unfiltered comic helping his girlfriend raise two girls; and Stone, the single (and looking) dad to three kids including a witty 5 year old girl, who he is not opposed to using as chick bait. They've stuck together from hanging around bars as college students to strolling around the neighborhood park as trophy husbands and dads.
"Modern Dads" is produced by Sirens Media for A&E Network. Executive producers for Sirens Media are Rebecca Toth Diefenbach, Valerie Haselton Drescher, Jen Mayer Kulp, Lucilla D'Agostino and Adam Paul. Executive producers for A&E Network are Elaine Frontain Bryant, Lily Neumeyer and Evan Lerner.

watermelon

I think they devoured three slices each.

people's bodies

I have to admit one of my current flaws is that I live in my closet literally and figuratively. Yes, I share my closet space with Albert (the 15 year old cat) so I can work and not be bothered by the household but I also rarely listen to the news or really know what is going on. There are issues in Egypt? Some guy name Snowden is in trouble? I am clueless. I only know about recent events in Texas because a friend of mine posted a photo to her Instagram account (Instagram is my preferred method for getting information about people versus facebook - I like your photos but don't want to hear your thoughts). I have to admit I am ashamed of myself for not knowing more, not doing more. Does signing up for a I'm with Wendy bumper sticker count as taking action? I used to be so involved, I was a budding activist in my own right (thanks to my mom), I was informed, I had opinions. Hmm...where I am now? Living in a closet.

I am formulating a Meghan project right now. This is getting way deep but I've lost a few things about myself that I going to spend some time working on. This includes me figuring out what I stand for and what I want out of life.

So while I work on that, I have to admit I am going to use the voice of another to express how I feel about life in Texas politics at this moment especially now that I have two daughters and someday two daughters-in-laws and I want them to always have the right to make decisions about their bodies. I realize this is such a sensitive topic but as this woman (who honestly I don't know but is friends with a friend of mine) states this issue is about "protecting the lives of women, and of girls."  I don't know if I will make it out of the closet anytime soon to help battle this one but I will support those who are out there on my behalf.

There is legislation this week in Texas and in North Carolina that will effectively outlaw abortion in both states. I'm sure the laws will be challenged, and they will be taken to the Supreme Court, but in the meantime, there will be women who will be forced to bear children they do not want, and women who will use dangerous methods to abort pregnancies they're terrified by. Women like Wendy Davis in Texas understand that people who support legal abortion are not pro-murdering babies. They are, instead, about protecting the lives of women, and of girls.

I will NOT live in a country that values the life of a fetus over the life of a woman. My daughter will grow up to be a woman, and I will not her value reduced to how long she can incubate. My sons will NOT grow up in a world that tells them that if their wife or sister is raped, well, too bad. Just wait while your wife carries the rapist's baby for a while, and then you can have your incubator back for your own brood.

My children have more value than a fetus does. A fetus is NOT a baby, any more than an acorn is an oak tree. The logic is flawed, and the intention behind the recent bills is clear. It is NOT to save babies, or to protect women, but to control women.

And I'm going to fight for as long as it takes so that the world where my daughter grows up is a better one than my mother's world.

(from: http://meaganmcgovern.squarespace.com/)