tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397Sun, 11 May 2025 00:54:35 +0000FriendssummerbucketlistHardingHolidayJoJoVBS`campFollowing the McCathran family's journey of faith, family, and friendshttps://tymccathran.blogspot.com/noreply@blogger.com (Unknown)Blogger394125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-2832958296478667385Thu, 15 Aug 2013 13:21:00 +00002013-08-15T08:26:38.438-05:00 The middle of July, my mom and Aunt Cindi came to Houston to work at the Impact church with their church group from Oklahoma. They were supposed to come to our house on Thursday after working at Impact all week and spend the weekend with us, and my dad and Uncle David would drive down to meet them and spend the weekend here, too. We actually ended up getting to spend the whole week together https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/08/summer-week-7-family-comes-to-visit.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-8012318670118809876Mon, 15 Jul 2013 00:17:00 +00002013-07-14T19:17:03.360-05:00FriendssummerbucketlistWe had a great week and continued to cross items of our summer bucket list. One of the ones we had been looking forward to was riding the trolley in The Woodlands. We parked at the library and the kids picked up their goody bags for summer reading and then we caught the trolley to Market Street. It was so much fun! It's totally free and I don't know why we hadn't ridden it before. At Market https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/07/summer-week-six-lots-of-sun-and-fun.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-7209041394393468964Thu, 11 Jul 2013 00:06:00 +00002013-07-14T13:19:30.389-05:00HolidayJoJosummerbucketlistIt's hard to believe it's already July! We are continuing to enjoy the pool and our friends and cross items off our summer bucket list.   Jake's best buddy Jackson over to swimHere's Jake at Barnes and Noble after earning his free book for reading 8 books. He reads every day and is getting better and better at it. We're so proud of him!Seeing Hotel Transylvania with friends at a summer https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/07/summer-week-5-happy-birthday-jojo-and.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-4735442876401305535Wed, 10 Jul 2013 23:36:00 +00002013-07-10T19:06:54.141-05:00I am blessed with some of the best girl friends in the world! I got to spend a weekend in Dallas this weekend with three of my favorite people in the world: JoDee, my kindred spirit who has been my friend since Kindergarten; Jen, my dear friend who "shares a brain" with me according to our beloved High School Calculus teacher, and who I was absolutely inseparable from during those days; and, https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/07/ultimate-girl-weekend.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-5880063732700530840Wed, 10 Jul 2013 22:29:00 +00002013-07-10T18:36:20.508-05:00VBSJake absolutely loves going to VBS! Our church has sports camp instead of a traditional VBS so I signed up Jake to go to one at Spring Baptist Church where he has played t-ball for two years. Misty's girls, the triplets, went as well with him and they had a great week learning about the apostle Paul. Grace wasn't old enough so she and I spent the week swimming with friends, having a donut https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/07/summer-week-four-vbs-1.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-3274139764866630645Wed, 10 Jul 2013 22:10:00 +00002013-07-10T17:10:18.647-05:00campFriendsWe got back from Oklahoma in time to celebrate Ty for Father's Day and his birthday. We missed him and were glad to hug his neck! He got Legos for his birthday as he and Jake's summer project is to construct a very large and detailed Lego hospital. I love both my engineers :)The kids got to participate in our church's Sports Camp this week. It is such a great event! They get to play sports and https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/07/summer-week-three-sports-camp.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-972147279663060991Wed, 10 Jul 2013 21:55:00 +00002013-07-10T16:55:16.983-05:00After stopping in Dallas, we couldn't wait to cross that Red River and head home to Oklahoma! After the horrible tornados there this year, I was even more ready to get home and hug my families' neck. My Dad was really close to the May 20th tornado but was in an underground bunker. The May 31st tornado came just miles from taking out my hometown of Yukon. We are thankful it went back up when it https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/07/summer-week-two-oklahoma.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-626052778254051632Wed, 10 Jul 2013 21:31:00 +00002013-07-10T16:31:28.243-05:00FriendsHardingAs soon as Jake was officially done with school, the kids and I headed off to Oklahoma and left Ty to be a bachelor for a week. On the way there, we got to stop in Dallas for a mini-College reunion. I cannot possibly express how much these friends mean to me. It's always like "coming home" when we get together. The older I get, the more I realize how blessed I was at Harding!Tim and Amanda were https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/07/summer-week-two-seeing-precious-old.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-4907417707974250855Wed, 10 Jul 2013 21:22:00 +00002013-07-10T21:25:17.540-05:00Grace enjoyed our first week of summer while Jake finished Kindergarten. He ended up having just a wonderful year and we could not have been more blessed with a great school, patient and sweet teacher, and even a Christian principal. Jake got an award for having exemplary behavior all long. He did well academically with mostly E's on his report card. He is an official reader--so proud of him! https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/07/summer-week-one-finishing-kindergarten.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-4722420637113675570Thu, 30 May 2013 14:38:00 +00002013-05-30T09:38:18.772-05:00 We had an absolutely terrific, relaxing Memorial Day weekend--lots of much needed family time! Ty has been working such long hours, he needed a break for sure. We spent lots of time in the pool and outside. We grilled out Saturday night with Ty's best friend, Andy--the weather is so perfect to just be in the backyard all day. Sunday night we took the kids miniature golfing for the first time. https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/05/memorial-day.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-6286920919279107678Thu, 30 May 2013 14:25:00 +00002013-05-30T09:25:16.382-05:00 Grace had a fantastic year in three year old pre-school! She loved her teacher, Mrs. Renee, and loved her friends in her class. I can't believe she'll be ready for Pre-K next year! She'll be moving upstairs at school and will be in the classroom next to me in the fall. We ended the year at school with water day which the kids love! Here's Grace on her last day of school! Nolan, Grace, and https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/05/moving-on-to-pre-k.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-3975761346086053345Mon, 20 May 2013 15:21:00 +00002013-05-20T10:22:34.952-05:00The past few weeks I've been working on a "summer bucket list" for the kids this summer. I love to plan activities and crafts with them--I really love it. I'm a planner and a list maker and have been since I was old enough to make activity lists for my Barbies as a little girl :) Now I have my own little "dolls" to make plans for and they're at the perfect age to think Mommy is still fun! Here'shttps://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/05/why-im-thankful-for-summer.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-3089648785267883015Mon, 01 Apr 2013 15:05:00 +00002013-04-01T10:05:58.131-05:00 February is our busy month: Jake's birthday, the annual heart walk, and we finish the month with our Grace's birthday. Gracie turned 4 this year and we loved celebrating our princess! We had a joint birthday party for both kids the weekend of the walk, rock-n-roll themed, and then Grace got to go have lunch at the American Girl store with the triplets the weekend of her real birthday. They were https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/04/gracie-turns-4.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-6570901327612933533Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:36:00 +00002013-04-01T09:36:57.321-05:00 This year we brought back Jake's Jets to the 2013 It's My Heart Keep the Beat Walk in Houston. We had a big group of friends and family come and support us and had a wonderful day! Thousands of people came downtown Houston to walk for congenital heart defects. 1 out of 100 children are born with a heart defect and it warms my heart that so many people came to support this cause. Jake is https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/04/2013-keep-beat-walk.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-925020205249676227Fri, 22 Mar 2013 14:21:00 +00002013-03-22T09:25:06.660-05:00Our heart hero Jake turned SIX in February. We cannot be prouder of Jake and the boy he is. He had his last heart check-up with his cardiologist in January. He passed with flying colors. There have been no changes in the growth of the membrane on his valve in a year now--that is great news!!! His EKG looked great, too, with no rhythm issues. His only restrictions continue to be no prolonged https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/03/jake-turned-6.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-1778258916876626765Fri, 22 Mar 2013 13:37:00 +00002013-03-22T08:37:55.576-05:00 January came and went with some fun playdates, a road trip, and a couple of firsts for Jake.  An afternoon with the Mathews--all the pretty princesses A fun trip to the Zoo with the Courington's on MLK weekend Gracie Girl climbing... Jake hanging out with the birds A fun Saturday at the park with the Babb's Our little monkeys Gracie celebrated her 50th Day of School!https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/03/january.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-5373662460261925661Fri, 22 Mar 2013 03:48:00 +00002013-03-21T22:48:03.613-05:00 We had a wonderful Christmas with the McCathran's and Cochran's this year. Our little family stayed out in Eric's camp house on Caddo Lake which was a neat place for Santa to come. We had a nice fire in the fireplace and stayed warm in the cute lake house. We had lots of family time with Ty's siblings and all the cousins. We took the kids on a Christmas train ride in Jefferson which funnier thanhttps://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/03/a-caddo-christmas.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-2508960128906150759Fri, 22 Mar 2013 03:37:00 +00002013-03-21T22:37:15.190-05:00 For the third year in a row, my parents have come for my birthday, the week before Christmas. I personally think this is my favorite holiday tradition :)  Making Christmas cookies with the kids…my dad is such a good sport in his apron! Even Gilbert got in on the fun! An afternoon at the park https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/03/happy-birthday-to-me.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-1410913980561328885Fri, 22 Mar 2013 03:32:00 +00002013-03-21T22:32:31.217-05:00 Gilbert, our beloved Elf on the Shelf, came back to our home on December 1st. The kids woke up to waffles in the shape of snowmen that Gilbert had "made" them with a welcome letter. I totally realize I enjoy Gilbert more than anyone and I also realize I steal all of my elf ideas from Pinterest, but its SO much fun! He is not totally a naughty elf and he's not destructive. He is however, a super https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/03/hes-baaack.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-5447649186313028835Fri, 22 Mar 2013 03:24:00 +00002013-03-21T22:24:57.480-05:00 We had SUCH a great December! I love making traditions with our family and it's possible I might plan too much, but I love Christmastime! This year my friends Misty and Lisa came over and we made Advent ornaments. We adapted a devotional guide we found from Ann Voskamp and made burlap ornaments for each night of the Advent season. The kids loved reading a Bible story each night and hanging the https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/03/its-most-wonderful-time-of-year.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-3908786444797470597Fri, 22 Mar 2013 02:49:00 +00002013-03-21T21:49:50.387-05:00 For Thanksgiving, we went to Oklahoma for a week with my family and Jonesa was able to go with us. We had so much to be thankful for. I'm so thankful for both my parents and mother-in-law who get along so well and truly love each other. I'm thankful for my siblings Kathy and Ryan. I'm thankful for my dear sister-in-law, Crystina. I'm so thankful for my nieces and nephews--I love the precious https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/03/so-much-to-be-thankful-for.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-8595610318138910136Fri, 22 Mar 2013 02:33:00 +00002013-03-21T22:59:44.985-05:00The American Girl phenomenon has come to Houston. I missed the whole American Girl craze by a few years, but now having a daughter, I see how appealing it is. A huge store with beautiful dolls and countless outfits and accessories…Ty has the Lego Store and I have this :) I agree that most everything in the store is outrageously overpriced, but the dolls are beautiful and they do last. My https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/03/american-girl.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-4666891846954326560Fri, 22 Mar 2013 02:25:00 +00002013-03-21T21:25:03.010-05:00 We don't have much of a fall in Houston, but one afternoon I managed to get these shots of the kids and the leaves almost look like they changed a bit :) https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/03/houston-in-fall.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-8843834728360788234Fri, 22 Mar 2013 02:21:00 +00002013-03-21T23:04:44.290-05:00 Last August I got inspired that I should get into shape so I signed up for The Color Run, a 5K downtown Houston.  The Run was in November and one of my best friends, Claudia, signed up with me. I had three months to train…I did well at first but didn't exactly reach my goal. When November rolled around, Ty ended up getting to go on a men's retreat in Ft. Worth the same weekend as the run. https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-color-run.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36964397.post-3042992001925573920Fri, 22 Mar 2013 02:00:00 +00002013-03-21T21:00:20.284-05:00 I had almost given up on our blog--life seems to get in the way. BUT, I've really missed recording the sweet stories and pictures of our beautiful kids who seem to be growing up way too quickly! I'm going to go back and post pictures from last fall and the winter and do better this Spring--since it is my FAVORITE time of the year :) Bluebonnets, warm weather, pollen, and all! Back to last fall,https://tymccathran.blogspot.com/2013/03/i-had-almost-given-up-on-our-blog-life.htmlnoreply@blogger.com (Amy)0