Isn't She Lovely

*We don't usually have music playing, but for this, we made an exception. We thought some music would go nicely with the video!

Happy Birthday, Mom! You are lovely in every way!

The below video stars my Mom and was put together by a team of loved ones including her husband, sons, mother, brother and sisters, brothers-in-law, daughters-in-law, and grand kids (featuring all of them and also featuring her friends mother-in-law, father-in-law and father). *to see the video in full screen mode, just click on the arrows on the bottom right hand side. Unfortunately, either way, the picture quality isn't so great on here, sorry! Thanks so much to all of you guys for the pictures and the party and thanks to Olivia who did a great job putting this together.

All of us would like to again, wish you Mom, Mille, Cami, Sis, Daughter and Camille, Happy 60th Birthday! We love you so much! You are and always have been so beautiful and kind and we are sooo thankful to have you in our lives and to celebrate this day with you!

Last day of Aggie Swim Camp

The last time I wrote (which has been a while, I know!) Madison was away at swim camp and I was missin’ her pretty bad! Well, she’s home and has been for over a week now. YAY! We're so glad because we really missed her. We’re also glad to have her home because unfortunately, she had a few challenges this year while at camp. Challenges in the form of pre-teen girls, their ugly ways and a boy that obviously has no home trainin’ and is raised thinking it’s okay to threaten girls with physical violence. Anyway, it was a long five days for all of us, but Madi stuck it out and completed the camp with a huge smile on her face and loads of confidence in herself! Jack and I couldn't be prouder! The last day of camp was Thursday, June 17th and sadly, Jack was in Nevada on business travel and couldn’t be there with me to pick her up. So, my sister, Gennie, and my nephew, Jason, went with me to Collage Station. Thanks guys! Before we picked Madi up that morning, she had a final swim workout from 9:00 to 10:30 in the Natatorium of the Texas A&M University Recreation Center. Family & friends were invited to attend and of course, Gennie, Jason and I went to see what Madi had learned during her stay. Here are some pictures of Madi's last day at the Texas Aggie Swim Camp...

~Inside the Natatorium

~Breaststroke from front ~Breaststroke from back

~Freestyle

~Jason watching *the pictures a little fuzzy. Sorry Jason.

~Butterfly stroke ~another butterfly stroke picture

~Backstroke

After the final workout, the camper's counselors participated in team relays. The kids, as well as the parents and friends in the stands all got a good laugh. Then, the kids were loaded onto their buses and taken back to the Cambridge House for final role call and dismissal.

~Buses parked outside. Kyle Field in the background.

~Madi just before our first hug in five days!! *Madi's in mid-blink. Sorry Madi. ~Hugs for Aunt Gennie

~These two...aways goofin' around!

~Madi after changing. Explaining the different dive levels.

~Madi showing everyone the group photo...

~You should be able to pick out Madi pretty easily -- she's the one with the maroon flowers all around her. :) Madi is determined to do it all over again next year. She has a positive attitude about things and thinks next year will be better. She's somethin' else! On a side note ~ our family (the Johnston side) celebrated a pretty special occasion this past weekend - Jack's Mom's 60th Birthday!! She doesn't actually turn sixty until tomorrow though! The celebration was at Crystal Lake over the weekend so that everyone could attend. I have some pictures from the weekend and I plan to share them soon. Tomorrow however, we'll have a Birthday post for our most amazing Mom! ~Happy Tuesday!