This old new house

The pics came in from the realtor today.

After just a few weeks and around 9500 bucks (plus lots of free Dad and Erik labor) the old place is almost looking new again.

Coming soon

We are getting close to putting our old house on the market (Keira not included).

TBT Summer Intensive

Katharine sent me this picture that a friend took of her in class.

Above is a picture with Priscilla Murphy. TBT snapped this picture of Katharine with Ms. Murphy, one of Katharine's favorite teachers during the intensive, besides Lauren Anderson, Ms. Kathy, Ms. Lyndette, Ms. Chang and Mr. Brûlée.

Here she is with artistic director Ben Stevenson and former principal dancer and first black principal dancer in the USA Lauren Anderson who taught at the intensive. Not to get confused with Misty Copeland who is the first black principal of American Ballet Theater. I guess the Texans were ahead of the rest of the country in that department!

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Zoo + Splash Park = Joy

I took the 4 younger kids to the Fort Worth Zoo for the day last Thursday. There is a splash park there now. What better way to refresh and keep going on a hot day at the zoo?

Jaguar Cubs and an awesome orangutan! Too bad I could only get the backside.

After roaming the zoo for four hours we were ready for a refreshment!

After an hour at the splash park we dried off in the car, changed clothes and went back to the zoo for the gorilla talk. We learned all the names and ages of the two troops, met their keeper and watched them get fed.

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Watching practice

After his own practice, Lennon watched Lukas' practice. 

He would have preferred to play some more soccer.

USA!

What a great week for USA soccer. 

We watched the women's team romp in the World Cup final and then I took Lennon and Nolan to a Gold Cup match where the men's team beat Honduras.

I've always wanted to experience a big loud soccer game, and this one fit the bill.

HandyDad

My Dad is very handy, and if you ever need help with the grueling task of fixing up your old house then he will fly down to help you and even buy you lunch a few times*!

* must include grandchildren for duration of trip

Marmalade

Marmalade passed away today.

We got her when we first moved to Texas, and she turned 15 this year. You couldn't have asked for a better cat with the children, and they all adored her.

She did have some issues that had escalated over the past few months, and she had slowed down a lot and stopped coming downstairs as frequently as before.

But even with all of that going on, Marmalade was gentle and loving up until the very end- just as she had always been since the beginning.

Sweet dreams, Marmafluff!

Wednesday Evening Gallery

I really love Kassidy's latest art, and she is now incorporating letters and words/names into it.

Boxed in

We are moving on Saturday, so the house is filled with boxes. 

For the kids, any inconvenience is offset by all of the forgotten toys that they are finding :)

Two Friends

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Chisholm Champs

Congrats to Andromeda 08 for coming in first place at this weekend's "Chisholm Trail Classic" soccer tournament. 

Lennon had 7 goals and a handful of assists, but he could care less about stats- he just loved hanging out with his friends and playing soccer :)

So in that spirit, let me introduce the team:

Team manager Marchelle, Coach Mert, and Coach Dee.

Brayden ("Hutch")

Jacob

Drew

Bennett

Ty

Zaid

Lennon

Preston

Tyler

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Team photo time: