At the Pool

Our fearless life group leaders live in Castle Hills and every year, the first week of June, they invite us to their community pool, which if you have never been there is not like other community pools. It is awesome!! 

Jenni played nanny to baby Hannah so her mommy, Erica, could swim with big brother, Jason.

Jennifer holding her big girls while Lindsey swims with them. Her 3rd girl is less than 2 months old. She got to stay home with Daddy and out of the heat. 

Kellyn and Rhett in the Mommy and Me floaty.

Reagan and Kellyn in the baby floaty. Silly girls!

Angelica and Makena.

The boys in the group.

The older girls

Our sweet girls.
Isn't this just the picture of summer.

What a fun day. Both of my kids crashed hard for naps as soon as we got home. Sun and swim knocks them out every time. 

Garage Sale #2, 2011

So one thing that sets our Life Group apart from others is that we hold an annual garage sale to pay for our babysitters. All 8 families contribute stuff to be sold then we take shifts setting up the night before and/or working it the next day. It is a lot of work! But everyone helps and it is also a great time to socialize and fellowship and can even be a little fun. I have found that our group always grows closer after these garage sales because we are end up chatting to pass the time and learn new things about each other. And the greatest benefit of all is that no one has to pay out of pocket for babysitting when we meet every 2 weeks. We usually make enough money from the garage sales to pay for a year of babysitting for 21 kids!! So we can meet stress free. Every time I tell people about this system they always say the same thing, "That is such great idea. I'm going to suggest it to my small group."

Here are a few pics from the 2nd garage sale. We had 1 the weekend of May 24 at the Brown's house and made about $900 I think, but we still had a lot left over so our leaders decided to hold another one 3 weeks later at their house. I was out of town for the first one so I didn't get any pics of that one :(  But as you can see we still had a ton of stuff to sell. Please let us know if you are in need of any children's clothes.

Shawn and Jenni sitting on the cooler full of water that we sold.

Mandy - The Queen of Garage Sale Organization

So many bins of kids clothes

Geoff and John were in charge of the money

John, Sulayne and Drew

Erica looking through baby girls clothes for her baby girl, Hannah.

Our fearless leader, Drew, being silly.

Holly and Sulayne

Our kids played in the backyard while we worked the sale. We peeked in on them every now and then, but for the most part let them roam freely and they did pretty good.


Not just those pictured helped out. Everyone helped. I just didn't get shots of everyone to prove it, sorry.

Seder Dinner on Palm Sunday

Every year our Life Group does a Seder dinner or Passover dinner. Our first to participate in was when I was pregnant with Kellyn and soooooo sick which is not good with all the bitter herbs you have to eat. That was back in April of 2006! None of us have ever taken pictures at the dinner so I thought I would now that I am blogging.

Drew usually leads our Seders, but his year John volunteered to do it.

 The table, the kosher wine, parsley, horseradish, Kharoset, Matzoh and kosher candles.



There are a lot of rules for food in the Passover dinner or Seder which is The Feast of Unleven Bread. The main one is no leven hence the Matzoh. And everything is symbolic.



Drew dipping the bitter herb in the tears. (parsley in salt water)



Jaimie found the Afikomen this year. I have never ever found it.

The lamb John cooked and carved was delicious.

Matzoh balls, Macaroons, and Matzoh covered in chocolate and nuts!

Our Life Group, minus 2 couples.
That baby Sulayne is holding actually belongs to the couple on the end, Erica and Shawn.

Passover is always such a fun time, of food, fellowship, tradition, rememberence and worship.

"Dayenu!"