Happy Birthday Jimbo!

Today is my dad's birthday. I am about to leave for the airport for OK for the weekend so obviously I can't be there with him. I'm not even sure if he will read this or not, but I will at least make an attempt to celebrate him with cyberspace and the few of you who read this blog. So here goes:

J--Jimbo--this guy is in love with his grandbaby! He sneaks in quality time for he and Maddy to watch John Wayne, play in the dirt, pet the dog, and just be together. I can't wait for all that he will teach Maddy

I--Intelligent--my dad is so smart. He is constantly teaching me about...well, pretty much about anything. Dad was the guy who asked for extra homework for me because he knew I needed the challenge. He also taught me how to drive and how to look people in the eye and start up a conversation with a stranger.

M--Married my mom...again, isn't he smart? But seriously, my dad is an AMAZING father, husband, son, grandson and is devoted to every person he knows. He loves my mom passionately, but also loves everyone around him.

M--Minister till the end--Dad was a full-time minister for 7 years before he became the stock broker/rancher he is today. Even still, he has devoted his life to spreading the word of Christ in any opportunity --his office, prison cells, his living room, or his Sunday school class! Dad continues to live his life as an amazing minister to everyone he meets!

Y--young at heart--no matter how old you are Daddy, you will always be the big goofy guy in a green dinosaur costume ready to go for another round of horsie bights and a ride through the pasture in "Thunder".

So even though we'll be miles away this year on your birthday (and Father's Day too!), I just want you to know how amazing you are and how much I love you. Thank you for being a father to me, Andy, Logan, and Mary...a husband to Mom, and a grandfather to Maddy. We love you thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiis much Dad!

Dad and Maddy recently with the new swing!


Dad and Maddy at 1 month.


Holding Maddy at the office at 2 weeks.


Jimbo and Marme on July 9, 2008 (Maddy's birthday)


P.S. Dad, Maddy destoryed your birthday card envelope so it is sitting on my counter. I will get it to you ASAP. I promise! I LOVE YOU DAD!!

Summer Food Finds

I am always looking for new recipes for the summer. Tonight we enjoyed turkey burgers (pretty much a year-round staple, but it felt "summery"), with avacado, sliced tomato...and a strip of bacon. Side note---since we rarely eat bacon, we choose to eat the good, fatty, greasy kind and only buy it every three months or so...we just can't stand the turkey kind. If you can, that's great! But not for the Fritts fam. So, if you have some good summer time recipes (few ingredients, fresh foods, and the least amount of heat as possible), please let me know. This week I'm going to try an avacado mango chicken recipe and then a grilled shrimp salad. Logan and Maddy will be alone for most of the weekend since I will be in OK for a wedding. Please pray for safe travels and no rain for Muskogee since it is an outdoor affair for the Watson/Wallingsford wedding!

Swing Kid

Jimbo and Marme got Maddy a new swing (her first swing) a while back and we finally got the chance to put it up today. You can tell by her face she absolutely loved it.






Jimbo took Maddy out another time by themselves while we were packing. This grandfather was pretty happy with his grandbaby and his puppy by his side.



Nana (Logan's mom) got Maddy some new shoes and I finally got a picture of them on her. She usually kicks her shoes off before we even leave the house so it was a rare chance I caught her with them on.



We also had Marme and Jimbo's 30th anniversary party at the ranch this weekend. Through all the business of setting up (in the rain), having the party (in the rain), and then cleaning up (not in the rain)...I didn't manage to get any pictures. A good friend and amazing photoprapher, Nicole, came up for the big day and will get us the pictures very soon.

Mary was able to do some touch-ups on their engagement photo. Aren't they cute?

We are full!

Life has been busy...scratch that...full lately. Two weeks ago Maddy and I were in Mineral Wells/Fort Worth for a busy...full weekend.

Saturday was Jane's graduation from TCU with her Masters in Education Administration, day of shopping for Mom & Dad's party, Bridget (friend from high school) & Andy's wedding and then Jane's graduation party. Sunday was a Mothers' Day celebration in FW at Granny & Grandad's house with most of the family.

Last weekend Jane and Scott came to visit and stay with us for the first time. (We're so glad SA is a fun town to visit and people like to visit!) The boys had plans of attending the Valero Open since I got some free passes from work, but the rain forced everyone indoors for most of the afternoon. Jane and I managed to get pedicures and eat lunch without the rain and then went to the mall. After the gullywasher (yes, Jessie it was a gullywasher!) we ate at the Cove, a complete organic restaurant with a car wash and laundry mat, that was recently on Diners, Drive-inns and Dives from Food Network. After church and brunch on Sunday, the boys played golf and the girls made our way to La Cantera to shop some more. After the rain on Saturday, we had a beautiful day on Sunday to enjoy the outdoors. This week it's been in the 80s here!

Jane got a new MacBook so Maddy was orienting Scott to all the tricks she's learned (or maybe just looking at herself in the camera!).



They always have the best pictures with Maddy!



Jane, as Cat in the Hat, with Maddy at PB Kids.



Some more pictures to catch you up on our Bug.

Maddy's new favorite past time in the kitchen...



And in the bathroom...



And, of course, Maddy loves riding her horse...or Logan. She holds onto his shirt really tightly and giggles a lot. Oh, and I think she imitated me saying, "ruff, ruff" tonight while we were reading. Emerging onomatopoeias...I think so!



This weekend's "fullness" involves going to MW for the "party" and then the following weekend to Muskogee, OK for Chelsi & Jim's wedding. Lord, thank you for the opportunity to see our family and friends and to celebrate life with them in so many amazing celebrations. Please give us energy and positive attitudes as we travel and spend time away from home.