July....

July has been one of the busiest months I can remember...and yet it has flown by. We began the month with a fundraiser for my Breast Cancer Team (Tickle Me Pink). We held it at the Purple Cow in Plano...only to be disappointed by the turnout. Only raised $70 but we had a GREAT time. Then, just a few days later, we celebrated July 4th with a minimal crowd. I had invited Ryan and Richard along with Kristin and Scott and the boys. I also invited my dad and his friend, Lila. Trenton couldn't come because he was with his dad that weekend. Kristin and Scott didn't come (and neither did Carter) because...I forget. Daddy and Lila came but didn't stay for fireworks. So, Ryan, Richard, Ronnie and I had a ton of smoked ribs, potato salad, baked beans, veggies and dip, cake...you get the idea. Lots of leftovers.

The week following July 4th my dad and I met with an attorney in order to set his estate up in a trust. Daddy entered into an agreement to sell his house to Ryan and Richard and move to a trailer on our property. Boy, wish I had realized how much work that was going to be ahead of time...or maybe I was better off not knowing! At any rate, Daddy and I met with the attorney to get the ball rolling on his estate planning. Side note here...both Kristin and Scott had been sick with a stomach virus so Ronnie and I went to get the boys to keep so they wouldn't get sick. Too late, Carter got sick...and being the generous spirit he is, he decided to share. Much to my dismay I was sitting in the attorney's office when I suddenly became violently ill and had to rush from the room to avoid throwing up all over the conference table. I did make it to the restroom next door, but....how mortifying! Arriving home I discovered that Trenton was also sick...and by nine o'clock that night...so was Ronnie. The next day Ryan was sick. Talk about a sharing family!!!
It took Ronnie and me several days to recover from that incident and be able to eat again. I lost 9 lbs. in 48 hours. Not to worry, though. I have since FULLY recovered...and gained most of it back ::insert pouty face here::

Three weekends in a row we held garage sales at my dad's house in order to get rid of his stuff...after all, he was moving into a much smaller space. Lord, he had a ton of stuff! We did manage to get rid of most of it and he padded his bank account quite nicely...but the heat and the absolute exhaustion took its toll on all of us. I did not know that it was humanly possible to be that tired. Now I know...and hope I never experience it again.

My new phone finally arrived and I was so busy I didn't have time to even set it up for several hours. Normally I am all over that kind of stuff right away.

Right now the house is quite. My dad is in his home out back and Ronnie and I are taking a much needed night off from packing, moving, cleaning....

I have volunteered to help the boys clean and paint in their house to meet some pretty tight deadlines...what was I thinking? I also volunteered to help my sweet sister-in-law paint her fence. She and Glen were at our side for several hours helping get Daddy's satellite set up, packing boxes, loading trucks, etc. It's the least that I can do.

Carlene told Daddy about a "girl trip" to Shreveport...some down time with the girlfriends to have a good time and gamble a bit. I had told her that I wasn't going to attend. She mentioned it to Daddy and told him she thought he should make sure that I go...so, during the business of the move Daddy walked up to me, said, "Sis, I need you to promise me something." I said, "What?" He then put $300 in my hand and said, "I want you to promise me that you will go to Shreveport with the girls and have a good time." He wouldn't take "no" for an answer...so, it looks like I may have something more to blog about in August. Do you think "What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas" applies to Shreveport, too? Hopefully I will be such a big winner that I won't be able to keep my mouth shut! Wish me luck and keep all your fingers and toes crossed on Aug. 21st!!!