Time for final goodbyes

Grab your tissue as these photos and goodbyes are never easy. The day came that Pat had to head back to Fort Hood in preparation for departure to Kuwait.  We will miss him so much but we know he has a job to do. 

God will protect and watch over all of us while we are apart. Stay safe, know we miss you and love you and hurry home to us.

4th of July

I am so glad we took the time to take some family photos and as usual we have the normal ones and then the crazy ones. But then again that is why I love my family.

Funny Faces everyone

I always love photos of my boys.

My guys....Love them

and of course the wet willies

Bet my Dad is stronger than your Dad....I love this picture because all of my boys are smiling and happy.

skiing...we tried!

Colby was mentally ready to try and ski and so we gave it our best shot.  He tried and tried but never got up long enough to stay up on his own.  There is always next year and we will get him up one way or another.

Austin we had to pay to try, I think. He said he would give us 2 turns and that is exactly what he meant. He did not get up and would not discuss a 3rd try for anything.

We will try again next summer.....plenty of time to forget the unhappiness of not getting up this year.

4th of July, Horseshoe Lake Style

It has been a few years since the O'Leary family was home for the 4th of July and it is always a big fun day at the lake with the pier competition and boat parade. We decked everyone out in red, white and blue and had so many laughs.

Pier is decorated and off to the parade we go.

The boys are so funny and could not wait to get their glasses on.  I am not sure Colby was able to keep his own.

Sean was kicked back in the best seat to see all the piers in search for young southern girls in bikinis.  Yes, he is a typical 14 year old boy.

Too bad we ran out of glasses for me but my guys look so handsome in theirs.

Me and Daddy

Pa-Pa always lets the boys have a turn driving in the parade but this year they got to drive the boat back to the house at the end of the parade.

Sean is crazy and he did everything he could to gather beads as we went by the piers.  He got a lot more than what he had on in this picture.

On our way back to the house.

And what would a boat parade be without a wet willy?  Sean loves it, can't you tell.

I love this photo of Austin.  He really had a good time and was such a good boy during the parade.  We did not win but a good time was had by all.

Pa-Pa's cabin brings lots of fun for all of us

The boys had made a couple of trip to Pa-Pa's cabin at Whiskey Island because they love to drive the 4 wheeler.  Austin was always a big help by helping pick Pa-Pa's garden.  They were actually picking dinner.  Not sure Austin realized it at the time but he is a great helper.

Colby was just waiting for his turn on the 4 wheeler and Sean loved being able to just take off on it and explore.

Both boys loved riding with Daddy and going farther than Sean was comfortable taking them.

Peas and Carrots as we refer to them, having some fun times on the cabin porch.

The boys wanted to know when they could go back and stay there for a long time. They loved being outside and just doing boys stuff like picking up sticks, throwing rocks, digging in the dirt, riding 4 wheelers and drinking all of Pa-Pa's sprite and pickles.  I know it sounds crazy but Pa-Pa cans his own pickles and the boys LOVED them.  Every time I turned around they had the jar of pickles out eating them. The boys miss all their Arkansas family and the fun they had all the way from Fayetteville, Marked Tree, Whiskey Island and Horseshoe Lake.  What a great summer!!

Trying to catch a fish with Daddy

We had no luck with Pa-Pa so the boys thought Daddy just might be their lucky charm.  Mommy was just glad that Daddy was there to bait the hooks and take off any fish there were caught.

After trying and trying, still no fish.

Since catching fish was not in the plan, Austin decided it was time to show off his muscles. He was comparing his to Daddy's. I think Austin is catching up.

I love that my boys just don't give up. There is always hope and this taught them patience.