More Texas Wildlife in the Backyard

Okay, for those of you who haven't visited us in Dallas yet, please note before you read this that we do not live in the slums.  It will be hard to convince yourself of that after reading this post, but please believe.

So Steve and I have been homeowners for 7 years now.  And in the past 3 weeks we've had to deal with things we've NEVER had to deal with before.  And it's not even our own home. Everyone's telling us that it's just Texas and the summer.  I don't care what it is, I'm ready to move back to Springdale TODAY.  Our first visitor, if you remember the post a couple of months ago, was a snake in the pool.  It was gross, creepy - but I got over it, that happens in pools.  Next was the ant invasion.  Started a couple of weeks ago.  They were everywhere. Inside the house.  We've had the pest control people out multiple times - today was the 5th.  We're bff with the service man now.  One night I was laying there in bed and felt my hand hurting.  Turns out the fire ants were in our BED, on MY side - lots of them.  I haven't gotten over that yet.

Then, construction began on a new home right behind us.  Always count on that to stir things up.  We've got a great colony of ear wigs outside among the rocks, but that I can handle as long as they're outside.  Then on Saturday Lowery and Steve were swimming in the pool - I heard him yelling for Lowery to get out "NOW" - I assumed it was another snake.  Wrong.  Way wrong.  Just take a little look at the pic.  I can't handle it.  I'm done.  Packing up and moving back today.  See you all soon.  

And just in case you want to tell yourself it's a cute raccoon, it's not.   Positively, 100% RAT.

Please Pray...

For our friends the Kennedys.  They are en route now to Malawi, Africa on an exciting mission from God.  Please look to the right at my blog links and go to the Kenendys for more information on their amazing journey.  Erin, Zach and their four children - twins Catherine and Easton, Sophie and Addis - need your prayers on this journey.  They will be fulfilling God's instructions to care for orphans in Malawi.  Their life will be much different than here in the states and they will have many obstacles.  But their reward will be life-changing.  Those you who know us know we love this family and they are so special to us.  Please keep them on your prayer list for the next two months, until we bring them safely home.  Catherine and Easton, Lowery misses you (see pic of Lowery with Catherine - front - and their friend Estella Dru).  Thanks, friends!

1st Day of K

And here we are to join the masses for the first day of school picture craze - Lowery in all of her uniform splendor.  Uniform plus hot pink nails and a Hannah Montana backpack.  She was very excited and had an awesome first day - she was completely wired when I picked her up.  I thought for sure she would crash when she got home, but somehow she made it through some Wii bowling and some swimming before her meltdown during dinner.  All in all a good day.  Her favorite part of the day?  Designing teddy bear outfits with "curdoy" - took me a while to figure out it was corduroy.  Least favorite part - playing outside in 98 degree weather.  Said her "neck got hot" (get used to it honey, it's Dallas).  Hope everyone had a great day!