A Beautiful Day at the Zoo!

A few weeks before school started again, the kids and I enjoyed a beautiful day at the zoo. The time before when we had gone, it was so hot the animals weren't out. This time, they were all out putting on a show!


Looking at the turtles.

hahaha...The alligator was underneath the new bridge, hiding in the shade. We all looked through the cracks to see if we could see him. Low and behold, we got to see a close up of his gigantic hand! I couldn't believe they were that big.

Rylee had just fed the giraffe, and I love the moment I captured while she was laughing!

Dad, Rylee still remembers your water fountain at the Granbury Park. I have to convince her every time we see this one, that it is not yours!

We had a great time at the Abilene Zoo!

Donnelly Family Reunion 2009

The Donnelly Family Reunion was held the last weekend in July this year. This was the first year Justin has gotten to attend in several years. He had to be in North Dakota Monday morning, so we left Saturday afternoon. We enjoyed our time together down in Brownwood (where there used to be a lake)!

We got there and it was raining cats and dogs. All the electricity was out in the cabins where all the kids had been left to run WILD!

Nanny wanted to play ladder ball so bad, so she convinced Christopher and Cutter to play with her. I'm not sure who won!

Susan and I trying to stay dry!

I love this picture! Tyler, Justin's youngest brother, and his little girl Karsen! Too cute!

Nanny and Justin look bored!

Pops and Buster waiting for something to bid on!

Cutter waited so patiently to 'buy' his ice crusher! Poor baby, he wanted it as soon as he say it, and had to wait until the very end. We made a snow cone as soon as we opened it though!

Sorry for the picture Brittney, but I didn't have any other ones or you and Chad! They were in charge of games this year, thus the plunger! Too bad we missed that one!

Ahhh...Cutter and his best friend!

...And Buster's drink is ALWAYS better!

Cousins in Cedar Park

On one of our trips to New Braunfels this summer, we made a three day stop in Cedar Park! My cousins live there with their four kids, and mine were in Heaven! We were busy the entire time we were there.

Rylee and Georgia

Bella and Roo

Here's the boys! I can't see the freckles, so I'm going to take a stab at this.
It's Ryder, Cutter and Colton!

Here's all SIX of them. This is when my phone decided to take a dive in the pool.

Saturday morning, the boys school had a carnival, that was gladly attended.

Cutter and Colton
How sweet!

Rylee, Colton, Bella and Cutter waiting their turn to ride the ponies!


We also went to their neighborhood swimming pool Saturday afternoon. The kids loved this slide, and weren't scared at all!

See, Cutter does play with normal boy toys! He just has to have friends to play with him!

Here's the girls in the media room where they camped out one night!

They apparently were watching Wizards of Waverly Place,
the Vampire episode!

Damian and Laura, Thank you so much for letting us come invade your house. I enjoyed to company and the kids had a blast! Hope to see y'all soon!

Family Birthday Party!

We invited my family over to have cake and ice cream for Rylee's birthday that afternoon.

Cutter and Hudson, I guess that's a hug!

Dig in!

Hudson and Aron

Grandad and Hanaba got Rylee her very own keyboard! She was SO excited, and plays in constantly! Too bad it doesn't have batteries!

Rylee and Grandad

AWESOME, Kori and Pops got Rylee a skateboard!

Kori and Brittney had to help a little!

Obviously, they didn't want to take a picture, but I try to take one of all three of us every now and then.

Thanks to everyone that came over, and joined us in celebrating Rylee's 7th Birthday!

Good Morning, Birthday Girl!

July 5, 2002 at 9:52 am, God gave me the best gift a mother could ever receive. Rylee Elizabeth Keesee made her big debut with a full set of lungs! This year my baby turned 7! I cannot believe how fast time flies when you are having fun, especially as a mom! Rylee is such a sweetheart. She has a heart of gold with a side of her dad's stubbornness! I love you, and hope you had an awesome 7th Birthday!

Every year I decorate the room so that when they wake up, it's a reminder of what a special day it is! She didn't wake up very easily this year!

Rylee, Cutter and Justin

My wonderful kiddos and me!

Rylee loves anything to do with fashion! I have no idea where she gets if from because if you know me, I'm definitely not the inspiration. I'm going to have to give credit to Hannah Montana, That's So Raven, Cheetah Girls, Wizards of Waverly Place, Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus for all her ideas. Anyhow, we got her a little sewing machine (that didn't work) so that she could turn all her designs into actual clothing.

Justin and Cutter taking a break from all the festivities, reading Tonka!

Rylee, I love you all the way around the world! I cannot believe you are already SEVEN years old! In honor of your birthday, here are SEVEN things I absolutely LOVE about YOU!

1. Your heart of gold! You are so caring and thoughtful, and make me so proud!

2. The way you love my mom, and pray to God every night that he lets her continue to watch over us!

3. The way you love your little brother and let him tag along!

4. Your hard-headedness. I blame your dad, but I am just as bad. I know it gets you in trouble sometimes, but it also reassures me that you won't let others run over you.

5. That you still allow me to, and call me, your Best Friend! You have no idea how much my heart melt when you say that!

6. The way you try to convince me that you are turning into a 'Tom-Boy,' but are still a 'Girlie-Girl!'

7. You can always tell when I need a hug!

4th of July at Dad's

I know, we are always on the go! With both families in town it's hard to pick and choose, so we try our best to be every where. With my mom already gone, it's hard for me to miss out on anything because I truly don't know when the last time with anyone is going to be! It's sad, but it's the truth! So, I try and cherish every moment and make new memories every day!

We went over to Dad and Hanaba's for a Fourth of July dinner. I think Cutter booted dad from the grill, and took over the hamburgers by himself! He is such handful, but I love him so much!

Here he is flipping the burgers!

Dad and Rylee in the backyard. Remember she had been up all night and swimming all day...thus the reason she looks very tired!

Taking the burgers off the grill! Makes me hungry!

This summer we went to Alta Vista's far field several times a week to ride bikes. I'm not sure if I have blogged about it or not, but Rylee has officially mastered the art of riding a bike! I'm so proud of her, and she has so much fun! Hanaba actually wrote one of her weekly columns for the Wichita Falls Times Record News on Rylee's progress. http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2009/jun/22/pedal-power/

Here's Cutter! He loves to ride his bike with Roo! He already has the whole pedaling thing down, and can't wait to take off his training wheels. I don't think I'm quite ready for that though!

Here's Roo!

Grandad and Hanaba!

Thanks for a great time, I love you both! The only thing missing was Silly Wormie!

Swimming on the 4th of July

After waking up at 7 am sharp with all the girls, Rylee, Cutter, Shaylee and I headed over to Chad and Brittney's for the annual 4th of July party! We all swam, ate and had a good time with family and friends.

Shaylee and Rylee goofing around!

Cutter loves the water, and was so excited to be swimming with his daddy.

Cutter was supposed to be giving me a kiss.

Nanny and Andy had a wrestling match. Guess who won...Nanny!

Here's Aunt Brittney and Karsen! Too cute!