Summertime with Best Friends

Now that we were finally home for a while, it was time to relax and enjoy the summer before things got hectic again with various activities and college move-in. Kaitlynn was so excited to finally reconnect with her long time bestie, Anais, for a fun-filled weekend of pool time, trampoline park, shopping, and lots of treats and eats. Connor was able to reconnect with his buddies from our time in Dubai, Noah and Devon, and it was so cool for them to hang out just like the old days at American School of Dubai. It was crazy to think that these 3 friends would be starting their next chapters across the country from each other in a few short weeks. So thankful for these special friends!

Montana Visit with Friends

After such a fun weekend together last fall during Labor Day weekend, we were thrilled to be invited to visit our great friends at their summer rental in the beautiful Montana countryside near Missoula. We joined the Chase family in their 6-bedroom cabin, which was a stunning multi-level home with incredible 360 degree views overlooking a sparkling stream amidst a gorgeous mountain landscape. The Seery family joined as well, so there was a total of 12 of us ready to hang out, catch up, and enjoy some fun activities in this beautiful state. First up, a winding horseback ride through the wooded mountainside with unparalleled views. The weather was outstanding, simply perfect, and we had such a wonderful day enjoying the horses and beauty around us. 

We drove into a nearby town called Philipsburg to grab some lunch and do some shopping. When we arrived, we ran into a young girl who was carrying her brand new golden retriever puppy, and we immediately fell in love. Kaitlynn couldn't resist getting some puppy cuddles and could hardly tear herself away from this precious bundle of fur. She is counting down the days until she can get her own - less than 8 years away now, ha! We really enjoyed exploring the little town square and grabbed some souvenirs during our visit.

The next day, we were all surprised when Kaitlynn woke up and immediately began throwing up over and over. She was SICK and couldn't keep anything down including liquids, and she ended up sleeping most of the day. We felt so bad for her but she handled it like a trooper. While she rested, the rest of our group set out for some hiking and sightseeing on some nearby trails. The weather was slightly chilly but beautiful, and the surrounding landscape had stunning sights everywhere we turned. We made sure to take some photos before heading back to check on the sick patient, and then some of the group set out again for a hike up the M Trail in Missoula. I was glad to have skipped out on that, but the views from the top of the hill sure did look incredible!

Thankfully Kaitlynn was feeling better after another day, but by then it was just about time to head out for our trip back home. It had been such a fun trip with friends, and it was nice to connect with fellow moms on the same college freshman journey with questions about what lies ahead. We said our goodbyes, but we had a couple of hours to kill in the Missoula town square before we needed to be at the airport. We enjoyed some shopping and a few delicious handmade cookies from a local bakery, and again, we had such amazing weather that we were soaking it all in before heading back to the heat of Texas. To be honest, by this point in our summer, we were just plain exhausted from our nonstop travels in the month of June and we were READY to get home and relax for a bit. What an incredible month we'd had, and we were just so thankful for the memories!

Cousins Trip 2024

We weren't even home for a few days after Soul Quest and Bama Bound before it was time to hit the road again, this time for our annual summer vacation with MeMe, Grandaddy, and the Morgan cousins. The trip had an auspicious start when our booking for a cabin in Riudoso NM was abruptly cancelled due to horrible wildfires in the area that caused mandatory evacuations. MeMe was able to scramble and find another option for us, instead booking us a riverfront home near Canyon Lake. It turned out to be the perfect getaway for our large group, and it even had accommodations with a separate casita for MeMe and Grandaddy and a separate bunk bed cabin for the cousins. Everyone loved the home and the beautiful views off the porch area, and we were so excited for a long weekend to catch up, relax, and explore the area. 

Since Connor and Makenna were fresh off their high school graduation, we had a mini-celebration with lots of goodies and gifts to honor them and the milestone of their upcoming freshman year in college. It's so hard to believe these two had reached this age. They are still little ones in my mind's eye!

We played lots of games during our visit, and we enjoyed visiting local thrift shops which has become a new favorite pastime for the cousins. Somehow they decided after all these years, it was time for them to learn golf. So we planned a golf outing with Grandaddy and spent a very hot afternoon at a local golf club to teach these crazy kids the basics of golf. That lasted all of about 10 minutes, but hey, they sure looked great in their newly thrifted golf outfits!

Following the annual tradition, the cousins all-nighter was one of the highlights of the trip. It was especially tricky this year because the cousin bunk cabin only had room for beds, which meant that the kids somehow had to manage to stay awake while relaxing in their beds - all night long. Poor Renee had a last second collapse when she closed her eyes in the final MINUTES of the night, deeming her sadly unqualified. By 6:00 am, the final survivors of the all-nighter were Connor, Kaitlynn, and Marissa. We snapped their photo and then it was off to sleep for the rest of the morning. What a crazy, fun tradition!

Another tradition the kids have started is their annual Cousins video, which is painstakingly written, directed, and produced by the kids with Renee at the helm. It has become troublesome in recent years to get all their amazing footage to upload and render, but it's always worth the wait in the end. It was another awesome summer Morgan vacation with priceless memories and adventures, and we are so thankful to MeMe and Grandaddy for organizing this trip for us year after year!