Home Again!

"We are going home today"

It is always fun to see how elated you are to be home in the actions of our little ones. Immediately Cailyn and Jessica started spinning circles in our living room and looking for their long lost toys. They were so excited to be home and couldn't hold it into their little bodies.

Jessica started crawling and climbing on things. What a little monkey, as Jason puts it.

I love that I can put Jess' hair up in a cute little ponytail now.

Not the best picture, but they are gorgeous aren't they?

"WE ARE HOME"

(of course in that squeal that only Jessica can do)

The Spray Park!

While in Waco, we had to come up with some things to keep the kids happy. It got really hot(I know, big surprise) and they didn't just want to play outside, but we couldn't keep them inside all day either. So, we took them down to the spray park. They loved it. The water actually comes out kind of cold. That is great! We got some lunch and ate there with some good friends, the Mayfields. It was great. Where were all these little water parks when I was a kid? Jessica loved it more than Cailyn did. Cailyn would just run around singing and dancing instead of playing in the water. She would make sure she was wet, but not really play in it.

Jessica ran to the water and put her face in it.

Maycie holding Jessica

The girls getting wet.

That stream is actually pretty hard, so that face is a look of pain probably.

Yep, that is Jessica sitting right there in the water.

I love this little water baby!

Cailyn is the one on the right, both girls in this

picture have the exact same swimsuit.

I had to do a double take several times to see

that it was Cailyn before I took the picture.

Cailyn is so content playing by herself,

with no water coming out of the holes in the ground.

Maycie was so good at watching Jessica and making sure she was safe.

Can we say water up the nose?

When will I learn to keep swimmer diapers with me?

GROSS!!!!

The opossum!

He is HUGE, isn't he?

Saturday, July the 26th we were all playing cards around Dad's kitchen table and all of a sudden an opossum jumped up onto the window sill. Keaton had seen it once before that night, so we knew it was in the yard somewhere, but it just jumped right up there. (mind you the trash cans were right outside that window and we had just cleaned out the fridge) Not that I am afraid of an opossum, but they can get very mean and some of the little girls were already asleep next door(the land lord for the rental house next door let us use the house for the week while we had so much family in town---great huh?!) and I was going to have to walk over there later. I didn't really want to confront an opossum on the way over there. So, I called animal control. Turns out that their office is only available Mon-Fri from 8-5. I guess since all of the animal problems only happen during those hours that makes sense, right? Our little friend just stayed there for at least a half and hour just watching us. My brothers would hit the window or go outside to scare it away(or just be boys perhaps) but nothing. It would just sit there looking at us. Then we get this call from a police officer saying they are having a slow night so they are coming to remove the animal. They get there and spray it with pepper spray. The officer calls another officer to bring one of those dog catcher ring things(do you know what I am talking about?). He gets there and they tell us the animal is really sick. I guess they are usually very clean animals, but this one was smelly and drooling(or maybe it was the pepper spray). Well they tried to catch it, but just injured it and had to dispose of it. It was really kind of a sad ending for the opossum, but it made the traveling to the next house much more calm for me.

My Dad's Brothers and Sister

Dad and Aunt Marala

Uncle Kel and Uncle Les

Uncle Les, Dad, and Marala

All the siblings together again.(Don't they look great!)

It was so nice to see my Dad catching up and laughing with his siblings. I can honestly say that it was exactly what he needed. They all get along so well when they are together, it was nice of them to make the trip down to Texas to support my Dad. Except for the look of pain on my uncle Kel's face(he hurt his neck before he came) they all had a smile almost the entire time. They are such wonderful people, I love them and wish we lived a bit closer so we could see them more often.

Home Sweet Home!

I am sorry it has been so long since I have updated, but as I am sure you can guess, my life hasn't exactly been normal lately(IF normality exists). I will also go ahead and apologize for the few pictures taken since I have been away from the blogging world. I always had my camera, but seldom in my hands. With that said I will move on to a very sloppy update(it will absolutely be out of order--sorry if that irritates anyone).

The past couple of months we have been surrounded by family. Mostly my family, but we did take a vacation to Idaho to visit Jason's family also. (I am very sad to report that I took a total of 5 pictures the entire week we were in Idaho--you heard me, 5) I will probably be stealing some pictures from others' blogs to show since they did a much better job recording our fun.

Here is Da (that is what they call my Dad) reading to Cailyn and Becca. It was very interesting to hear Da's version of the story. He will be in trouble when the girls learn how to read.

The Waco 1st Ward did a fabulous job providing food while our family was in town and putting together a funeral. Here is my sister, Lynnae, and my Aunt Tricia examining one of the casseroles. (On a side note: All the food was absolutely delicious and we thank everyone for the much needed help and support. We love y'all).

Sometimes being around family for extended amounts of time can be exhausting.

Maycie Lynn

Keaton Andrew
(these pictures were taken by someone else)

We had to get creative to keep Jessica happy sometimes. (For the record, it scared me every time they threw her, but her little giggles are sooooo cute---sorry it is so dark!)

Becky Gropp

Name: Rebecca Lynn Gropp, 55
Died: Friday, July 18, 2008, in Waco

Rebecca Lynn Skelton Gropp May 9, 1953 to July 18, 2008 Rebecca Lynn Skelton Gropp, 55, of Waco passed away Friday at her residence, surrounded by her family. Services will be 10 a.m. Thursday, July 24 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 7201 Viking Dr. with Bishop Nathan Hilton and Bishop Alan Mayfield officiating. Graveside service will follow at Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery in Killeen. Visitation will be Wednesday, July 23 6 to 9 p.m. at OakCrest Funeral Home. Becky was born on May 9, 1953, to Dolores Patricia Jones and Jim Karroll Skelton in Borger, Hutchinson County, Texas. She completed her mortal probation on July 18, 2008.

She is preceded in death by her Father Jim Karroll Skelton, Paternal and Maternal grandparents. Survived by her husband of 34 years, Christopher L. Gropp of Waco, TX, Daughters Lynnae Horn and husband Douglas of Hilltop Lakes, TX; Mindi Holloway and husband Jason of Mineral Wells, TX; Sons Clinton Kyle Gropp and wife Julie of Cortez, Colorado; Jim Allen Gropp and wife Candace of Salt Lake City, Utah; Cory Lee Gropp and wife Andrea of Rexburg, Idaho; Her mother Dolores Skelton of Waco, Sisters Tricia Throckmorton of Princeton, TX; Kathy Gilland of Arlington, TX; Dinah Seago and Brother Lloyd D. Skelton both of San Antonio, TX. Grandchildren Ethan, Jacob, Maycie, Keaton, Kaleb, Becca, Cole, Cailyn, Landon, Jessica, and Emma.

Becky's sweet spirit will be missed by all those who knew her. She loved the Lord and served tirelessly in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. From the time she was a newlywed, she taught or directed young women of the church in the Waco area. Throughout her life, Becky worked as a dental assistant, homemaker, and school teacher. She loved her work. Her husband and five children attest to her success in the home and the many children she taught attest to her success in the classroom. She completed her formal education at Baylor while raising all five of her children, and she graduated in the top 1 % of her class. She taught at McGregor ISD for 16 years before illness forced her to retire in May of this year. She loved the students and fellow teachers at McGregor and on many occasions proclaimed that the people she worked with are some of the sweetest and choicest on Earth and counted them as not only friends, but family.

The family is grateful for all the loved ones, all the visits and love that has been showered on Becky; the care and attention of Lea Hemmelgarn and Dr Nathan Hilton. The family also appreciates the meals and love of the Church in Waco, as well as numerous friends and neighbors. This beautiful spirit has gone to that God which gave her life, to continue the work of the eternities.

Becky had a love of life, people, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and of the Savior Himself. She lived her life as a testimony of Him and while we weep for her parting, we know that the Heavens rejoice. We will be reunited with her someday.

Meet Doctor Genevieve

Tonight after we laid Jess down for bed, Cailyn and I started to play. I laid down on the floor and she came up to me and said, " I am doctor Genevieve." I said hello. She said, " If you have a little sister named Jessica in your belly. . . . then. . . .your pregnant." She was just so matter of fact I had to giggle.

Let me get the record straight. We are NOT PREGNANT!!!!

I think she is stuck on pregnancy right now because we just saw Cory and Andrea last week and Andrea is about ready to pop. They were so cute!!!