i was wrong.

Every once in awhile, it's okay to admit you're wrong.

This is it.

Our girls have been playing some type of sports since Abbie was five and Kait was three. Soccer and softball have been our games of choice, and we've enjoyed (mostly) that time.

But here's the deal. I've always thought of Kait as "the athletic one." I really thought of Abs as the one who got more of my genes in the whole sports department.

I was wrong.

Kait is more of a natural runner -- she just is. And she does have more of a competitive streak than Abbie does.

But I'll tell you what -- I'm realizing more and more that our Abbie-girl is an athlete.

This summer, Abs has spent a LOT of time playing soccer. She did a five-day Ambassador camp here in the neighborhood with the Top 16 3rd grade players. Then, she spent a week in Aggieland in 2-a-days with the A&M coaching staff. This week, she and Kait were back in the neighborhood for the Christ-centered Sportsquest soccer camp -- three hours a day for five days straight. By the end of the week, they were TOAST.

But... before the week was out, Abbie had come close to winning a couple of the challenges that they have each night. And then, Thursday night, she WON! Here she is with her coach and her award -- a practice ball, so she can practice her skillz.

Maggie Baldwin is the camp photographer, and she has some really great pictures of both our girls in action. You can find more pix on her link here.

But soccer isn't the only place she's been demonstrating her athleticism, we've spent a ton of time at the Creek. Biggsy did take some time off to fish with Scott & Mark....

... But he's also spent a lot of time teaching the girls to ski. In the process, we have determined that the Waverunner was pretty much the best purchase we've ever made. Not only is it a whole lot cheaper to run than the boat, it's also a whole lot easier to clean up. AND it's great for working with kids on the water.

Kait learned to ski last weekend, and had it completely mastered by this weekend.



But the one that really got me was Abbie. She learned to ski last summer, and has skiied a few weekends this summer. Last weekend, we switched her from kid skis to my skis -- mainly to make our lives a bit easier. As far as Abbie was concerned, that meant it was time to learn to slalom.

So she did.

It took her about five tries to get it all figured out, but once she did, she had it nailed. And I mean nailed. None of this wobbling back and forth. She looked like a pro -- like she'd been skiing one ski her whole life. Like an athlete.


And she is. Her balance is incredible -- and her leg strength is out of this world. When you think about it, our girls have been balancing on something on the water since they were 3 and 4. Inner tubes, kneeboards and now skis. It's just been a natural progression.

And a natural progression really is what it is. While Abs isn't always competitive on the softball field or soccer field, when it comes to moving on to the next step, she really challenges herself. Kait, too. It's kinda like.... Okay, I know how to ski. Now what??? And I'll tell you, her determination has really come through. There have been a few times these last couple of weeks when it was sheer determination that got her up on those skis.

Of course, while Abbie was wow-ing us on the skis, Kait had to give us her own brand of out of this world cuteness...

And she can't ski by without showing off a little...

And this doesn't really fit the post, but here is what our yard looks like post-flood. All that mud used to be grass. That was all under water for two weeks.

Cowgirl Kait

When I was in Jr. High, George Strait came to Snyder a couple of times. That was before he got sooooo famous. I remember developing my pictures from his concert and my Daddy complaining that we had 24 pictures that were all exactly the same. Pretty much. But to me, any picture of George rocked!

Well.... I'm afraid this series of pictures is going to seem kinda like that. While Abs was at L2L in Abilene, Kait and I spent a few days with Grannie Nelva. The best part for Kait? Riding Simon without having to share him. Max and I had a great time watching her ride. And honestly, if Abs had been there it would have kinda been a pain -- the girls use two different saddles now.

Kait on a horse is just incredible. You'd never know watching her that she doesn't get to ride all that often. She has no fear whatsoever -- she'll go as fast as she can get Simon to go. And wishes she could get him to go even faster. She has incredible retention -- she really holds on to what Max teaches her each time we're out there. And she does great on poles.

I really wish we were in a position where she and Abs could ride all the time. But you can't have it all, right? So for now, we'll live in cul-de-sac land and enjoy this season of our lives. And maybe somewhere down the road there will be an opportunity for the girls to ride more. In the meantime, we'll continue to slowly build this foundation!

Enjoy the pictures.... I know they're a lot alike, but I love each and every one of them!

Now... I know this doesn't fit them theme of this post, but this little guy crossed our paths while we were up there. I have no idea what kind of a bug this is, but he's the cutest thing I've ever seen.

ACU Learning to Lead

Hey gang!
We're still here! This has been the CRAZIEST week! Biggsy took a few days off work for a "Stay-cation," and we've been all over town. The girls have been in soccer camp all week in the evenings, and I have tons of pictures to share.

BUT.... I haven't even finished posting the June pictures yet! So here are a few from ACU's Learning to Lead camp. I highly recommend this camp. What a precious experience for Abbie's first sleep-away camp! And the best part? In addition to making some great new friends, she got to spend the week with several of our friends from The Branch. (I have to admit, I was more than a little jealous!)

Of course, Kait had to get in the act. She can't wait till she's old enough for camp!

Baby Fielder sure isn't a baby anymore!

And have you ever seen anyone so precious???

Apparently, they worked on Tai Chi in the boys' dorm.

Time spent with Kenlee is always great!

Sure glad to get our Abbie back on Friday! Granny Sue would have loved seeing Kait in that ACU shirt!

That's Not a Knife....

... this is a knife.

Most of you know Biggsy as a relatiavely mild-mannered, hard-working, up-and-coming senior-level executive of the smallest segment of a privately-held, mid-cap energy equipment firm.

However, when push comes to shove, he knows how to shove.

Knowing that my life as a stay-at-home Mom becomes a bit stressful during the summer time when I have to actually Mom, Biggsy whisked me away to Mexico last weekend for an adventure. Since this is a family-friendly blog, I won't go into all the details. But let's just say it involved a beach, a lot of margaritas and some salsa dancing on a table.

And a knife fight.

Ya'll all know I like to talk. A lot. And sometimes I don't exactly know when to stop. We were in this bar. I should have known better because the clientele wasn't exactly touristy. And well, I don't know that the term clientele would exactly apply. This guy looked at me and made some sort of derogatory statement. And growing up in West Texas, I know just enough Spanish to know what he said.

So I made a snappy retort back, and before you know it, Biggsy was defending my honor in what has to have been one of the most terrifying, yet exciting, knife fights of all time.



Not really. We were home, fireworks were going off, and Jake didn't like it. When he'd about demolished a window screen, Biggs put him in the garage. But not before Jake made it clear that was not where he wanted to be.

If it Doesn't Taste Good.....

... Don't eat it.

Abs just ate a hamburger patty left over from July 4. It had been drifting around in our fridge somewhere, swaddled in Rubbermaid, and she found it. She said she didn't eat it all because it just didn't taste all that good. I said if you can't remember the last time Mom cooked hamburgers, it's probably not a good idea to eat it.

Nothing like waiting to see if you're going to have a hands-on science lesson.

But seriously, that's not why I'm posting today. Even if it did get your attention.

Here's the deal. I know there are about four of you reading this blog, but I'm not totally sure who you are. So.... If you didn't get this letter in the mail this week, I want to make sure you get it here!!!

Yep. Another day, another letter. This one is my personal fundraising letter -- you know, one of those that I count on to help me reach the $2300 mark in my Breast Cancer 3-Day Fundraising. That $2300 I'm required to raise so I can walk the Walk.

This year has been kinda crazy with Team Tiara. We've got the all-new 501 (3) (c) thing going on which gives us the flexibility to do some pretty cool things for women who are fighting breast cancer. And we've got a gazillion different fundraisers going on. And I have a feeling we're about to be so busy our heads start spinning.

So read on... Enjoy the letter. Check out what all we've got going on. If you'd like to order cookbooks or calendars, register for the Golf Tournament, buy Gala tickets or any of that jazz, please shoot me an email to dlyn (at) teamtiara.net and I'll hook you up!

Have a great week!!!


Now... The Letter....

Dear Friends,

Thank you for supporting Team Tiara and the Breast Cancer 3-Day! This has been a HUGE year for Team Tiara and our fight against breast cancer. Now that we are operating as a 501(3)(c) non-profit corporation, we have a greater flexibility to not only support breast cancer research, but also to offer immediate assistance to those who are fighting the battle right now.

If you’re not familiar with Team Tiara, our primary beneficiary is the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. We walk 60 miles in three days to raise money for breast cancer research, education, awareness and services. To date, we have raised over $330,000 for the Breast Cancer 3-Day. You can find out more about Team Tiara at www.teamtiara.net.

In addition to walking in the DFW Breast Cancer 3-Day, we have several projects in the pipeline for the second half of 2010. Please be praying that each of these is a huge success!

"Cooking for a Cure" -- We have sold 750 copies of our cookbook and are about to do a second printing. This cookbook features over 350 recipes -- one of which is for the best chocolate cake I've ever had! These will be great Christmas gifts!

"Simply Pink: Quilts for the Cure" -- Everyone is loving this calendar! It is a 20-month calendar which runs from May 2010 to December 2011. These beautiful quilts will be sold at auction in October. You'll be able to find auction information at www.teamtiara.net beginning in September.

"Tee'd OFF at Breast Cancer" Golf Tournament -- Our Golf Tournament will be Sunday, September 19, at the Longwood Golf Club in Cypress, Texas. We'll have dinner, prizes and a silent auction after the tournament. You don't want to miss this!

"Passionately Pink" Team Tiara Gala -- Our dinner & auction Gala will be Saturday, October 2 at 6:00 p.m. Several of the Simply Pink quilts will be sold in the auction, in addition to many other great prizes. Join us as we celebrate Team Tiara's 5th Anniversary!

Hope Field -- Last month, we were asked to partner with the Hope Field Committee to build the first-ever girls' softball field dedicated to breast cancer awareness. This project is just beginning but is one we are incredibly excited about. From pink benches in the dugouts to having a Survivor throw out the First Pitch next spring, the possibilities are endless!

Auction Items -- We are currently acquiring auction items for the Golf Tournament and Gala. Tickets to events, sports memorabilia, handmade items, gift certificates.... If you would like to donate an item to one of our auctions, please let us know!

If you'll send me an email to dlyn (at) teamtiara.net, I'll send you a copy of the order form for additional information about the cookbook and calendar, tickets for the Gala and an opportunity for you to make an additional donation to the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure. All donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. 100% of the profits from our cookbooks, calendars and events will go to breast cancer research, education, awareness and services.

Team Tiara is a non-profit foundation operating as a 501 (3) (c). In addition to walking in the 3-Day, we provide direct support to men and women whose lives have been touched by breast cancer. You can find out more, as well as information about additional fundraisers, at: http://www.teamtiara.net/.

Many Blessings,

D'Lyn Biggs
Team Tiara President & CEO

Help Build Hope Field....

Things are a bit busy around here right now.... We're about to launch into what is Team Tiara's busiest season -- the three months before the walk. This week I've sent out a bajillion fundraising letters for that. We have so much going on that I knew I needed to do a mid-summer update.

In other news.... Well, read on....


Help Build Hope Field

Team Tiara Foundation has teamed up with the Hope Field Committee to build the first-ever girls’ softball field dedicated to breast cancer awareness. We need your help to have the field ready for Opening Day, March 2011.

Hope Field will be located in the Fairfield Subdivision in Cypress, Texas (near Houston). Fairfield Sports has 200 girls ages Kindergarten through 5th Grade in the softball league. The league has outgrown the one field that they have and desperately need a second field.

Last month, the Hope Field Committee asked Team Tiara to partner with them in this venture, giving the field a breast cancer awareness theme. We are so excited about this opportunity! Just imagine…. Pink benches in the dug-outs. Pink bases. Two hundred girls sporting pink shoelaces. A walkway leading to the bleachers lined with bricks donated in honor or memory of those who have fought breast cancer. A Survivor throwing out the first pitch…. We are already contacting news organizations both locally and on the national level – we know this is a story they will want to share.

How can you help? We need donations. Base price for a softball field is $40,000, and we are working to raise that through individual and corporate sponsorships. In-kind donations would be welcome as well.

We believe in these girls. Several girls in this league will go on to play in high school and college – they’re that good. But they need to know we believe in them. The girls who won’t play beyond this league also need that. Softball is teaching them the importance of exercise and discipline. It teaches them to win – and to lose. And this field, in a neighborhood where breast cancer is leaving its mark, will teach them that they can make a difference.

Whether you choose to make a monetary or in-kind donation, such as equipment, please know you’re helping make a difference as well. All contributors will be recognized on our website at www.teamtiara.net and in all Hope Field publicity, both on a local and national level.

***

That letter went out to the corporate headquarters of about 30 companies today -- all of whom are directly involved with the sport of softball....

Hope Field is a completely different avenue than what we generally do. BUT I'm so incredibly excited about it. I do want to make sure you all know that this is not going to take away from our primary goal -- to find a CURE. What it is going to do is allow us to give back to a community that has given so much to us. And I have to admit, I get a bit of a gleam in my eye when I think about working to build pink fields in other areas.

In the meantime, we're still committed to raising $250,000 for Komen this year. So... please go to www.the3day.org/goto/teamtiara and click on that "Donate" button!!!

Better Late than Never....

I'm a bit late getting my July 4th pictures up. Sorry about that. I don't have as many pictures as usual, but this wasn't your usual 4th of July around here. But here's what I've got!

Here's our annual Parade Picture. Isn't this a fine-looking advertisement for bicycle helmets???

We LOVE the parade!

Yes, our girls wear safety goggles to light fireworks!

This girl is a HOOT.

Worn Out.

The Water is Rising....

My friend Annette and I took the kids to the Creek yesterday for a quick adventure. And an adventure it was! While it wasn't nearly the vacation of my dreams, it was REALLY good to get out of the neighborhood -- and REALLY good to share the Creek with our friends!

Even if the water was a BIT high!

View from the front yard....

The lot across the street....

From the front steps. The stake in the ground is where the water line was when Pete left yesterday at lunch. YIKES! That brown piece of wood looked an awful lot like a varmint after dark last night, but that's another story for another day.

The edge of the pier is right where that water hose is hanging.

Next door....

The boat launch....

We ski under this bridge -- with plenty of clearance....

Looking up the river from the bridge....

These folks have a REALLY nice pier -- when it isn't under water....

When we left, the water was still rising and the rain was coming down really hard. It's supposed to rain another 6.5" -- at least -- in the next two days. YIKES!