Bergs, Ducks and a Beautiful Swan

It was an absolutely GORGEOUS weekend here in Newfoundland. The Montgomery family took full advantage of all the weather had to offer and got out and on the go the whole weekend. Saturday morning we got up and did a few things around the house and outside the house. It's still not quite time for flowers (slow down there Staci), but the hanging baskets are out and ready to go! At noon on Saturday I headed over to a friends house for my first hiking experience in many, many years. It was AWESOME! We hiked a part of the East Coast Trail....actually it was this part of the trail. The views were just spectacular and there were THREE icebergs along our way that were really close to the coast. Sooo much fun. I can't wait to do some more during the months ahead!


While I was getting my hike on, Jeramy took the girls over to a friend's house for a cook out. He said that they had a blast and came home and just crashed that night. I didn't know because I got to go out with the girls on Saturday! Sunday was my morning to sleep in and I thought I would need it after going out, but I woke up at 7am so full of energy! We all four got dressed and were downtown for breakfast by 8:30. A fritatta later we were on our way to see the three icebergs I saw the day before. After taking lots of pictures and sneaking onto private property for the money shot of the biggest berg we came back into town and let the girls feed the ducks at Bowring (pronounced more like boring) Park. I got to see my first live swan and man, are those suckers big! We grabbed lunch at Rustlers and I got to have Jigg's Dinner for the first time. Kind of like Thanksgiving dinner, but with less sweet stuff. Sunday evening we had our lovely neighbours over for hamburgers. The kids got to run around and it was just the perfect way to wind down a wonderful weekend. We even got the horseshoes out for a little game.


Here's to great weather ahead and great friends to share it with!

One Big Fat Thing I Don't Miss About Texas

You're not funny Joe...and you're an idiot.

Tales from Family Movie Night

Last night was our weekly family movie night. And the movie of the week was......High School Musical 2! Nothing like watching a 25 year old looking Zack Efron portraying a 17 year old getting ready for his senior year...that is until next week when we get to watch a 27 year old looking Zack Efron portray an 18 year old living out his senior year in High School Musical 3!

In the movie Zack Efron and Vanessa Hudgens' romance from last year fizzles out over the summer, then at the end (spoiler alert!) they get back together. As they realize how much they're in love and move in for the hug I hear....*sniff-sniff*...M:Ryleigh? Are you crying??? R:Yeah. M:Why are you crying?? R:I wanted them to get back together. J: And you're just so happy? R: Yeah. They're just like me and Kyle!

Attention Internet.... I'm not sure who this kid belongs to.

A Very Brave Family

Yesterday my dear friends in Sugar Land, Michelle and Dave, found out that their precious little 20 week old unborn baby has a 99% chance of having trisomy 18. You can read more here on this condition. Several of the developmental issues associated with trisomy 18 have already been identified via ultrasound in baby Rhyder.

My heart is so heavy with love and concern for this family. Michelle and Dave have two gorgeous little boys that Ryleigh and Avery played with many times the last year we lived in Sugar Land. Those of you at Ryleigh's birthday party last summer probably remember the family with the boys that had blonde hair and big blue eyes. Michelle was a member of my neighborhood mommy coffee group and she defines the term "loving and devoted mother".

Dave and Michelle have an unwavering faith in God and his miracles... and they're praying for a big one right now. By trade, they are life coaches and so they spend so much of their life and energy loving and caring for other people, helping those that need it the most through the tougher times of life. The connections they have made through their profession have never been so evident as in the past few days as this news has spread. All of the loving and kind words that have been posted on their Facebook pages would make anyone yearn for such a close and loving group of friends.

I wish that I could say something other than I'm sorry. It's just such an unfathomable thing to consider dealing with. My little analytical brain is not very good at dealing with the emotions that come with this sort of news. You know it happens, everyone takes a big risk when they chose to bring a baby into this world. The love you have for your child, even from the moment you decide to "start trying", it's just incredible.

Babies are such gifts, God's perfect little gift to us so that we know what it is to truly love and be loved. Regardless of the path that God has chosen for little Rhyder's life, one thing that can not be doubted for a moment is that he is really, truly, deeply loved. Michelle and Dave, I'm sorry. And I am thinking and praying for you guys. I wish I was there to give you both hugs and to cry with you and to scream with you how much this sucks. I miss your whole family and hope to see you soon.

I'm Goin' to Texas...I said What?

Just a little FYI to all you Montgomery family fans out there, we'll be in Texas in June and we'll be making a grand tour, so you're bound to catch us in whatever city you are in. Our schedule is as follows:

June 13th: Jenn and girls arrive in Ft. Worth where we will stay with Jenn's sister in Arlington while spenidng a few days visiting various friends and relatives

June 16th: Jenn and girls will drive to Monahans and stay with Jenn's parents

June 18th or 19th: Jenn and girls will drive to Amarillo where they will meet up with Jeramy (flying in from St. John's) to attend the Wood/Newman family reunion on June 20th.

June 21st: The Montgomery family will drive back to Monahans

June 27th: Jenn, Becca and Curtis will be hosting a 25th wedding anniversary party for Steve and Terri Steen in Monahans...Save the Date Y'all!

June 28th: The Montgomery family will fly to Houston where Jeramy will attend a class on the 29th-July 1st while Jenn gets the girls to take care of various doctor appoints, shopping, etc.

July 2nd: The Montgomery family will fly back home to St. John's.

Hope to see you soon!

What A Gift

I just added a link over to the right under my list of favorite websites. It's a link to a blog started by someone that I am related to, though have yet to meet. It's an amazing website filled with pieces of information about my heritage. My mother's maiden name is Wood and the website details the lineage of the Wood and Newman family back to where they join together. The Newman part of my family can be traced to the original 300 settlers of Texas and for that reason, I am eligible to join the Daughters of the Republic of Texas organization. I'll learn more about all of this when I attend the Wood/Newman family reunion this June in Amarillo, Texas, something I am really excited about.

Here is the link to the blog. It really is very cool that I have this wonderful gift. It got me to thining about the fate of my own blog someday and how it is possible that this blog could become something that I can pass down to my children as a record or my existence, of our existence. Perhaps someday it will be the record of several generations of this family's existence. How very cool.

Pics from the Wedding

I finally got all the pictures from our week in Puerto Vallarta up on a Shutterfly. The link is over to the right in my family pictures section...there are A LOT...enjoy!