Uncle Ralph making CONTACT!

Greetings to all and thanks for inviting us to join you. In case you don't know who we are, we are the two next to Grandma (stage left).

I'm not really prepared to add a whole bunch; I'm still "wore out" learning how to get into this!

I'll just try to provide a visual update of this immediate family.

Ok, so it didn't work! I tried to "add images" twice to include pictures of the three of us. Back to the drawing board! Ralph

Welcome Uncle Ralph and Gloria!

Love this photo of Grandpa Morris, Uncle Ralph, Uncle Bob Derber, and Dad - 1964 ~ nancy

We're trying to get Uncle Ralph "in the Blog" and I think today just might be the day.... so, if you made it, Ralph, Welcome! Woohoo!

Laura -
"More Than Words" is playing, again. :) How are you and the baby doing? Kim

Old pic

Thought I'd put this one up. Dad sent it to me last night of him and Grandpa. Looks like someone was making ice cream?

Thought I'd also send a video of our kitty Myron. The cat loves to roll in the dirt in our yard. He got up in this one and had pine needles, pine tree seeds, gravel, and dust all in his fur. Then he rolls again after I dust it all off of him. This was taken tonight after we watched Air Force One fly out of Phoenix.

Float trip Memorial Day weekend

Went floating Sunday. Totally perfect day for it. Here are a couple of pics. I thought the turtles were so cute, especially the baby. :) Kim

Happy Birthday Bobby - May 27th

Tom P. Varnell, Rita's Outlaw ancestor

Dear All, wanted to tell you about my cousin Sherri's book just out about my Great Uncle Tom P. Varnell. It is called "Tom P.'s Fiddle" and it is a story about his life detailing the historic events of his killing of Mr. Land (self-defense or murder?) to his run from the law, breaking out of jail and his incarceration at Rusk State prison. We grew up with tales of Tom P and Sherri decided to take my brother Jerry's research and expand it.  That she did. An amazing journey of discovery of a man who was as notorius in newspapers from New York city's Police Gazette to every paper in Texas. It is a fascinating tale of the Wild West as it changed into the more civilized world as we know it.It is on sale at Amazon.com or it can be purchased from Sherri herself. arlitexas@yahoo.com

Carroll's Birthday 2008

The Briley Girls and their families help Carroll celebrate his "26th" birthday! =)

A Visit with Grandma

I came across these pictures today. Eliseo and I made a trip to Grandma's over Labor Day 2001, when I was about 5 months pregnant with Alex. I realized we didn't have any pictures of Grandma on our blog yet! We can't let that happen...... (smile)

Sarah

Allyson Messer

Allyson is a freshman at Allen High School this year soon to be a sophmore and driving!

The Ybarra Bunch

Well, I have to brag on my kids for a minute! Rachel and Kristin were in a ballet recital last Sunday. They did great and looked beautiful! Rachel "graduated" from preschool and is ready for kindergarten next year! Kristin will also be in regular kindergarten next year. She was assessed and tested, and her teachers and therapists determined that cognitively and academically she was at the same level as her peers, so kindergarten here she comes! She will still receive OT, PT and speech therapy services in resource class about 25% of her week.

Alex will be in the first grade next year! He was the only one in his class who qualified for the Gifted and Talented Program! He is also in Kung Fu and loves it. His intstructor often compliments him on his focus and listening (which can be challenging for a 6-yr old!)

We are very proud of them! Sarah

Update on the lad in the masthead

One of The U.S. Navy's newest Officers.

And the USS Vella Gulf where he serves as Communications Officer.

(link to more about the ship)
http://www.navsource.org/archives/04/1172/040172.htm

Dad's 64th celebration!

Hi All! Wanted to share a few pics from this past weekend celebrating Dad's birthday (a little early). We met up with Bill and Deb in Lebanon. Poor Dad. He had to cut his own birthday cake! :) We had a good time.

The Ybarra Bunch

Hello family! Laura, what a wonderful idea to keep us all in touch! I wanted to share Eliseo's news -- he just recieved a big promotion at work! We are very excited about his opportunity and very proud of him! Many years of hard work, patience and determination has paid off!
Sarah

Clint & Liz

Here goes our (mine and Liz's) first attempt to write a blog!

We got back from Maui this morning at 7 a.m. Phoenix time after leaving Maui at 10:30 p.m. Maui time. We tried to sleep on the plane as best we could, but our seats were right next to the bathroom and we couldn't recline them like eveyone else, so we did get much sleep until we got home. Myron was happy to see us. Now we're preparing for the work week.

We mostly relaxed. Drove to Hana on Wednesday. We did some snorkeling, boogie boarding, relaxed at the beach and slept a lot the rest of the time. Very good time.

Here are a few pictures. I'll send more as I have time to "process" them.

Morris Pride

Here's one from the archives, 1949-ish. That's Bobby, Nancy, and Jimmy all dressed up for some special occasion. Notice the home-made umbrellas that the boys had made to shield themselves from the scorching sun. The best we can figure is that they are paper plates stuck to dowels, but the jury is still out. Little Nancy has a purse strapped across her... she didn't have an umbrella toy... we were too poor!

The Faust's trip on the "Polar Express"

Last December, we took a short train ride on an old steam train from Palestine to Rusk, Texas. The ride was designed after the one from the Chris VanAllsburg book and Tom Hanks move The Polar Express, complete with a conductor, hot chocolate, a visit from Santa and a "magic" bell. Following the Polar Express tradition, the kids wore their pajamas, robes and slippers. What a great Christmas memory!

more cousins

This is a great picture of Nathan with Rachel and Kristin last Christmas!

Sarah Beth and Kristin Faith

Mother's Day Lunch at Paesano's... One Mommy and one Daughter out of the bunch.

Boys! Cousins!

Michael Alexander Ybarra

Nathaniel Peter Faust

Mother's Day 2008

Sarah, Jenny, Nancy, Laura, Ashley

It was a great get-together. All the "Briley" girls and their families celebrated the day, with special "1st Mother's Day" recognition of Laura expecting her little girl in September.

These are some Special, Special Daughters!

2828 Nighthawk!

Saturday John and I put a contract on a house that we're planning to build. It's really exciting and a little scary. It was fun to pick out our lot and decide how the house would look. The picture is a house in Ft. Worth, which is the same model we will have. It's taken from the kitchen looking into the living room.

Messer's new kitten

Here is Charlie! He is 11 weeks old and a great companion for Sammy!

Punkin and Friend

Punkin was watching me work in the yard when the bird flew in to visit and just stayed. I happened to have my camera in my pocket so it was a bonus photo op!

Nancy

Nice Sight on a Windy Spring Day

Jack's daughter, Emily