"Insanity runs in my family. It practically gallops!" - Arsenic and Old Lace

Summer is here....my job is over (I tutor and the demand for that slows down quite drastically when there is no school).....and there is a stream of endless possibilities as to how I should spend my summer....unfortunately they all seem to be working a mindless job for minimum wage and minimum enjoyment....

Summer really is not all it's cracked up to be sometimes :(

I am, however, somewhat making the most of this time....I am working on the family cookbook and memory book.

Basically it is just a random compilations of stories and traditions tied together with the one thing we all love....food!

However, I do feel incredibly honored to be the one to be able to do this! I am getting stories, notes, and historical data about my family that I never knew....

As I get to know this family more and more, I become immersed in a feeling of awe that stems from the knowledge that I am come from people that not only did extraordinary thing that changed the course of this country, they also did small things on a daily basis that carried into the lives of all those around them!

It is daunting at times, and feels rather intimidating....but at least I know from them....the potential is there to make things happen! (and I know the secret to a seafood gumbo that will make you slap your mammy)

Too close for missles, I'm switching to guns.

I honestly have the coolest family in the world! (For those of you that get sick of me ranting and raving about my parents just better stop reading now!)

My mom's side of the family has a family reunion every year. We used to get together at Thanksgiving but we have moved it to the summer when kids are out of school and it is easier to travel.

The last couple of years we have moved around from rafting the white waters in the mountains of Colorado to playing on the beach in California.....

The point is we like to have a good time....and we play HARD!

This year my parents and my mom's brother and sister brought it back to Texas! We spent the weekend at Canyon Lake, TX on the water.....good times!

My dad brought his boat, which seats about 15 people comfortably and our jet ski and we all skied and tubed until we just couldn't stand it.

We shopped and floated the river and got caught up on everything we missed in the past year.

I would just like to give a standing ovation to my mom and dad! My mom and Aunt Kathy and Aunt Jo (Hi Uncle Jo!) planned this whole fiasco. Those wonderful ladies cooked GREAT meals for fifty-five people every night we were there!

My dad hauled his boat, the jet ski, his smoker, his grill, two fish frier's, two huge pots for the shrimp boil and all the propane and paraphernalia associated with all of that from his house to the lake. The trip usually takes about five hours. It took them nine.

Once they were here, my dad spent all his time driving the boat to teach kids to ski and tube and whatever else they wanted. My brother was a HUGE help as well. He really is so knowledgeable when it comes to all that stuff.

Jared's girlfriend....I mean Roxy's mom....I mean Jenny was there this year and got to meet everyone. She is just the sweetest most helpful girl on the planet. JARED WAYNE....YOU HAD BETTER KEEP HER!!!!

I know I got credit for a lot this year, because I wrote the letters and bulletins through out the year to keep everyone informed. BUT I DON'T DESERVE IT!!!! This was a group effort....as any good family gathering usually is.

We had families come from all over California, Colorado, Kansas, Louisiana and of course, Texas. I love this group and I can't wait until next year!

San Diego....HERE WE COME!!!!!

wait for it....wait for it...NOW!

Hi guys!

My incredible family will be in town until Monday, so I will be incommunicado until then :)

I am sure that I will come back armed with TONS of new material....so adios!

Hasta Lunes!

We are Family

The faces have changed.

The eyes that once sparkled with innocence and sat atop cheeks red with enthusiasm, now shine with wisdom and intelligence above cheeks lined with paths of experience.

The ones we went to for advise or the yearly Thanksgiving dollar are now gone. Their roles have been replaced by a new generation.

The ones that toddled along hand-in-hand, now have toddlers of their own.

The red dirt streets of Roby that once echoed with the screams of laughter every November, now are only disturbed by the passing tumbleweed. They have been replaced by mountains and beaches. The laughter is the same. The touch football games that helped the turkey settle, have now been replaced by the after-dinner phone calls; the Novembers with July's.

The ones we came from, the teachers, the soldiers, the engineers, the mothers, the fathers.....they are memories. But we don't remember the teacher, we remember the hugs. We don't remember the soldier, we remember the laughs. We don't remember the engineer, the remember the heart. We do remember the mothers and fathers.

This weekend is another Hambright family reunion. We will miss the ones that can't be with us. We will laugh with the ones that can. We will love them all.