Seein' the relatives

Our latest Skow adventure included a jaunt across Texas. We started out travelling to Menard, Texas (a tiny town close to Brady) to celebrate Dawson's Poppo's 90th birthday. It was an awesome celebration with EVERY member of Dawson's family in attendance. All five Skow children, with all of their children and grandchildren were there, along with friends and extended family. It was a grand celebration. One of the highlight's was when Poppo stood up and recited a poem to the crowd that he had memorized in the 3rd grade....which would've been around 1938!

After Menard, we were off to another thriving metropolis, Ft. Davis (very west and very south Texas). Dawson's other grandparents live there. We had a great time, riding horses, bottle-feeding baby calves, playing with goats, eating ice cream out of an old train car.....it was awesome. The best part of the whole trip, aside from eating the best Chili Relleno in the WORLD at a little place called the Cueva, was just spending time with our loved ones. We shared lots of great laughs, long talks and just quiet time under the West Texas stars. Here are a couple of pictures of my little country bumpkins....

Making Memories

We took a day trip to Galveston this weekend. It was awesome! We went with our family--Leah, Clint, Jackson and Sawyer. The kids had a blast. They loved playing in the waves and digging in the sand. Even at Galveston, with it's brown water, seaweed covered beaches and overcrowded scene, there is something majestic about the ocean. To see and be a part of one of God's grandest creations is a pretty cool thing. It was a day for memory making!

Free at Last, Free at Last...Thank God Almighty, I am Free at Last!

Yes, in the words of the great Dr. King--I am free at last. I turned in my keys and my Bryan High ID yesterday. My teaching life is officially over....or at least on hold for a few years. You would think I would be elated, or at least relieved, but for some reason, I'm not. I'm not sure what emotion I'm feeling. I guess it still hasn't really sunk in that I am no longer tied to that school. For 6 years, that is who I have been--a teacher at Bryan High. And for 23 years before that, that is all I can remember wanting to be "when I grew up"--a teacher. Needless to say, it is completey bizarre to NOT be a teacher. Now--I'm just a mommy and a wife. (as if "just" is appropriate?!?) Wow-- new chapter--even if only commemorated by a stupid blog entry. :)

(But as I leave the education world, another Lively girl enters it. This is my baby sister's college graduation...soon to be a 3rd grade teacher in College Station--with my Mom at her side, with 32 years of teaching 1st grade, and my middle sister, starting her 2nd year as a 6th grade math teacher in Bryan. It's in our genes! :)