Splish Splash

Trying to stay cool from this Texas heat, we headed out to the neighborhood mini-version water park. It was Ms. Pink's first visit...definitely love at first sight for this water bug. The boys were a big help holding her hand and pushing her down the slides. After 3 hours of fun, we were all ready for a quick dinner and bed.

Pate Museum

If you know me at all, I cannot pass a museum that is open, missing the opportunity to expose my children to some type of learning experience. The Pate Museum is about an hour west of DFW. Full of planes, cars, boats and thing that go, it brought back wonderful memories of a museum we visited in Helsinki. Admission is "donation only" and per my husband, the museum has lost many attractions he remembers 28 years ago. Still worth the stop!

For 50+ photos of the entire weekend...click here!

Family, Farm, Fun

We headed towards west Texas this weekend so the kids could meet a set of great-grandparents we have only known through Christmas cards. They had the best of times riding their 4-wheeler, feeding the long-tailed sheep, and climbing on the tractor. A perfect weekend for just getting dirty, one of our favorite things to do. We are so grateful to finally meet them and for the quality time with another set of grandparents from Ohio.

I'm A Pepper

We stopped off for the 118th birthday celebration of the oldest Dr. Pepper bottler in the small town Dublin, now Dr. Pepper, TX! The boys both tried their first soda ever (aside from an Ocean Water from Sonic) and loved it. We were afraid the pure cane sugar and caffeine would get to them but an energy boost was not noticed. After checking out the carnival and enjoying a slice of birthday cake...our road trip continued.

Soccer Camp take 2...

The camp finished up this morning and each participant was rewarded with a British soccer tee and certificate. Even though we were rained our yesterday with over 8 inches of torrential downpour and 3100+ lightening strikes in a 1 hour period (that is NOT a typo), the boys still enjoyed their first taste of soccer. They learned enough basics to play on a league next fall (if willing) and also realized we have the cutest cheerleading sister!

Little has a first, FIRST!

When you have 2 boys only 14 months apart, competition is a given. And in MOST cases, Big is the first to succeed...writing, reading, will go to Kindergarten first, tying shoes, etc. So when Little rode his bike today without training wheels, the guy could not stop smiling. Big was frustrated and tried himself, but God blessed him with more brains than athletic ability.

We are in the middle of baking a special cake for dessert to celebrate his accomplishment and I am sure the next few days Big will succeed too. Until then, Little has finally had a first, FIRST!

Soccer Camp take 1...

Soccer camp is half over! The boys have learned to dribble, pass, what part of the foot to use and when, the importance of water breaks, creative ways of stretching and not to mention how to pout, sit on the ball, and lose your power bar treat during water breaks. I have learned 90 minutes is a LONG time to keep any ones attention (especially kids 4 and 5 years), how to take away the power bar treat if you refuse to play, and what to do with a crying 4 year old during camp.

Austin City Limits

Road trip #2 complete...we took a short 2 day trip down I-35 to visit our cousins and enjoy Austin. After dinner at Rudy's, a trip to Austin Children's Museum, a peek at Town Lake, and quality time in with the buddies, we headed back home. It was too quick but well worth the time.

Memorial Memories

We just completed our first of four road trips planned for this summer. Memorial weekend was spent out at the farm with another party of 5 (actually 5 1/2). Fishing was a success and ended with a 5 lb bass! The triple slip-n-slide racer was a blast. We even were able to enjoy a few thunderstorms. Nature walks, trips to the corn fields, and a good old bonfire with s'mores kept the kids happy!

Graduation Day

This kid could not stop smiling even if he tried! Preschool graduation was today leaving us 3 months to prepare for the real world of public school. The past 2 years Big has been enriched with religion, education, and friendships. These are they days...

Boats and Bungees

We enjoyed the day at Grapevine Main Street Days. The boys kayaked for the first time (twice), bungee jumped on a trampoline, rode some midway rides and we all filled our bellies with nothing but junk food (hot dogs, corn dogs, sausage on a stick, funnel cakes, snow cones, etc)...my favorite kind on day...not to mention we all came home and took a 3 hour nap!

Photoshop Star

I have been trying to master the "color on black and white" effect for 3 years now! I finally decided to take the time to figure it out. Here is my creation, just in time for each grandma on Mother's Day...Happy Mother's Day to all!

My Children's Words...

Our preschool has the best ideas for Mother's Day gifts. The theme this year was 'in the kitchen.' Each student wrote something about their mom's cooking. It is nice to see what they really think I am doing :)

"Mommy makes the best pancakes. First my mommy mixes stuff together like pumpkin and sugar. Then she puts them on the pancake maker. The pancake maker gets very hot; its 40 degrees. Mommy has to be careful so she doesn't get burned. They cook for a long time and then she flips them over. When the pancake maker is done she puts them in the oven to bake them. I am really glad that my mommy knows how to make pancakes because they are very yummy."
- Little for Mother's Day 2009 (made a recipe card holder)

"My mommy makes famous sugar cookies. She mixes flour, eggs, and sugar in a mixer for probably 1 hour. Then she rolls it and makes it flat. She chooses a cookie cutter for something we are learning at school. The cookies are in the oven for 2 minutes. Any temperature is ok for baking these cookies. Mom frosts the cookies with stuffy stuff and pours colors from a can. My brother and I get to put on the sprinkles."
- Big for Mother's Day 2009 (made an oven mitt with his hand print)

And just for grins this was a sentence from Big's story about Me: "She spends most of her time separating clothes." I need to get a life!

OLE!

The rain stopped just in time for us to have a wonderful 10th Annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta! With a home full of friends and family the kids ran around with maracas, a few were brave enough to jump in the pool, a great spread of Mexican food adorn the kitchen, and if I was not near the margarita machine you could find me in the garage playing the life-size maraca Wii challenge!

The finale of the party was the breaking of the pinata inside...it was too muddy out. Until next year amigos, adios!

After The Rain

Who says that rain can slow you down? As soon as the thunder and lightening were passed, the kids were back outside again! A little dirty but hey, its bath night any way. We are just hoping this wet weather is gone by tomorrow so our Fiesta is not forced inside :(