Wedding fun

OK, so there is so much excitement around our house because of the 2 upcoming weddings. My nephew, Lil Glade, is getting married in the Dallas Temple July 18th. And then our, what do you call him, part time kid maybe???, Seth is getting married in the Nauvoo Temple, July 31st.

We are going to both and it has caused lots of questions, and lots of trying on of dresses both new and old, wedding and flower girl.

This has been quite fun and funny as you can see Isabella, Victoria and yes, Lil Glade in my dress. I know it's old school, that comes with 17 years of marriage. 

Victoria is Back in the Saddle again....

Victoria has taken riding lessons on and off since she was 6 years old and going to the Rodeo last month was just too much for her. She loves horses. So it is back to lessons. She has quit all other activities in order to take riding lessons. 

And let me tell you these are not easy lessons. She has to completely groom the horse first. And yes that does include scraping manure out of his hoofs and off his back (because he rolls in it). Then saddle up and ride. Then it starts over with cool down, unsaddle, spray him down, brush  him, feed and water. It makes me tired just watching. But each time we leave with her asking when she can buy her own horse. I am not ready for that so for now we will just borrow. 

Hill and Bee XOXOXOXO

Today Hillary and Elizabeth left to head home. We had so much fun having them play with us for a couple of weeks. Can't you tell........

Swimming, Swimming, and more Swimming

This weekend Marshall got to swim in an invitational meet with 98 teams. The teams span as far as College Station and Brenham. Each morning he competed in different strokes against about 70 kids to see who would swim in the finals that night. And I am pleased to say that he finaled in everything he swam. It was exciting and exhausting and long. 

Above is a little swim lesson for those of you who don't know strokes. 1st picture is called butterfly. 2nd backstroke. 3rd breaststroke. 4th freestyle. The IM (individual medley) consists of all 4 stokes in the order above.

He medaled in all five events. The last picture is the awards ceremony and yes that is Marshall in the polar bear pajama bottoms and cowboy hat. What can I say. Marshall is Marshall. 

Divisionals 2008

Divisional Swim meet

OK, this weekend was our final summer league swim meet. It started with a parade that soon was joined by rain and more rain. Then dinner and more rain. Make sure you notice Victoria's cake she decorated by herself that says go flyer's and of course notice Marshall with his green boa. He earned the nick name "Boa Boy". 

Then came the official shaving of the heads. We only had 3 takers this year. Usually we have several little boys that follow Marshall. However, this year because of the rain we lost most of our team who didn't like the rain as much as the Johnston's. The 3 takers were of course, Marshall first (this is his 4th year to do this), Ryan Graham (who has also done this 4 years) and then Adam, yes my nephew, Adam Rae. 

Adam has been working with Rob. So, Marshall and Victoria talked him into joining our swim team. Marshall and Victoria have really enjoyed having him on the team with them. So look close you can see Adam and Marshall bald. It is weird how they look so much alike. People that don't know us think they are brothers. 

It was a great night followed up by the big divisional meet the next morning with 6 teams. Adam was not able to swim because it was a championship meet and he was not able to qualify because he was gone so much. He did great for his first time to ever swim for a team and learned how to swim the breast and butterfly strokes. GO ADAM. 

The meet went well, just long. Marshall was allowed to swim 3 individual events, plus relays. Victoria could only swim 2 events. That was kind of hard choosing. Marshall medaled in all 5 events. 2nd in 100 free time 54.33 sec, 1st in 50 free 24.56 sec, 2nd 50 fly 28.25 sec, 3rd in free relay, 3rd in medley relay. Victoria had personal best in both of her events, 100 IM (butterfly, backstroke ,breaststroke, free) and 50 back. Victoria competes in the 11-12 year old group. If you will look at the picture of her and the girls in swim suites, she is by far the smallest in her group. That's why I say it is all about fun for her. 

Our team, Eagle Springs Flyer's, placed 1st out of 6 with an undefeated record. The first in team history. This is what we work for all season. 

Marshall has one more invitational meet that is for all the top swimmers in the Houston area and then it is on to high school tryouts. Rob and I are ready for a long break. I am on the board, therefore we both work hard all season long also, So we are glad to say Congrats and Goodbye to summer league........... Make sure you look at the slide show above.......

Carnival/Rodeo

With all local rodeo's you have to have the cheesy carnival. Isabella begged to ride every ride. She was too short for all the ones she wanted to ride. She didn't want the train, planes, or carousel, no she wanted the thrill rides. She was on her tippy toes calling each carny worker and saying "hey man, I am tall enough man". So Rob, Isabella, Elizabeth, Nick R. (who was in the rodeo) took her on her first big ride, The "Super Roundup". Marshall was too scared at first, but we harassed him about his 4year old sister riding, so he decided to ride. It probably helped that Isabella was trying to console him and help him not be scared.  It was quiet the 

scene. Lisa R. and I got a great laugh out of this. This ride is the

one that spins so fast that you stick to the wall and then it lifts 

up so that you are spinning perpendicular to the ground. Isabella 

loved it and so did Marshall. He rode it 5 more times, until he got 

very nauseous. I don't have a picture of Victoria because she and 

Steph ran from ride to ride. We had so much fun. Thanks Lisa R

 for inviting us...........