Let There Be Swimming!

Dearest Future Lifeguards,

Yesterday we christened the pool so it's officially open for the 2014 season!  The water temp. was only 78 degrees but we all braved it and agreed that it felt good after the initial shock.  We ate lunch on the patio and y'all splashed around for over 2 hours!  Here are the top ten moments from our fun in the sun:

 

Dad rested for a bit before braving the chilly water.

 

Y'all were intimidated to jump off the diving board at first, so you jumped off the water fall instead.

Canonball!

You tried to remember the strokes you learned in last year's lessons.

It didn't take long before you were ready to jump off the board...so you did...about 30 times!

Enjoy it now, boys - because I'm staking claim on this come summer break!  ; )

Now we somehow have to get through 4 more weeks of school before we can do this every day...

6th birthday party

Dearest Jackson,

You are now our favorite 6-year-old!  Since your birthday was the day after Easter this year, we had your party a week later.  For the first year ever, you were instrumental in planning your fiesta and you had very specific wants.  Most importantly, you were insistent that the party be "boys only" and you wrote out your guest list about 19 times before we mailed out the invitations.  For the first time since your first birthday we hosted it at our house and we kept it simple.

This game truck pulled up out front and you got to pick from a variety of games for your friends to play.

 

It was hard for me to photograph inside but there were 4 gaming stations with an entire wall of comfy seating.

 

You & your friends played in the truck from 2:00-3:30 and then obliged me for a picture.

(Logan, Braxton, you, Jack, Tucker, Grady, Brody, Travis, and Colt)

 

 

Of course a silly picture had to go down too!

 

 

Then you all came inside for cake and snacks.

 

 

After that it was time for presents.  Your friends were so kind!

 

 

Your friends gathered around and seemed just as excited as you to see what was inside!  (The Rangers game on the tv was a nice touch, don't you think?)

 

You took some of your new stuff into the backyard where y'all played until the party ended. 

Before guests left, they each took home a tiny thank-you:

 

 

Then we had a mini-photo shoot. 

 

Your sweet grandma was in the kitchen while y'all were gaming - making treats, setting up the table, and cleaning up.  I'm so glad you allowed Grandma & me to break your "boys only" rule!  ; )

 

 

 

It was so much fun -- just like you!

 

Happy 6th Birthday, sweetheart!

 

Zoo Field Trip

Dearest Jackson,

Your kindergarten class went on their third field trip and I gladly volunteered to be a chaperone.  Last Friday, we traveled north to Gainesville to the Frank Buck Zoo.  It's a tiny zoo and we've been there before but it's been a little while...

Our bus arrived at the school bright and early at 8:15.  We took a selfie right away and we were both eager to hit the road.  

 

The other bus didn't get there on time though and we had to wait for them for almost an HOUR!  On the bright side - it gave me a chance to get to know some kids from your class who I didn't know before.  We finally got on the road and arrived at the zoo all in one piece.  I was responsible for you and four classmates.  Here y'all (Gavin, Lindsey, Hailey, Clare, and you) are outside of the zoo, ready to get going.

 

 

We were supposed to feed the giraffes but the line was too long.  Understandably so, that annoyed you a bit - so, when I asked you to smile near their habitat, this is what I got!

 

The zoo had these odd fake dinosaur exhibits set up and you and your group spent more time near the dinosaur stuff than anything else.?.?.

 

excavating fossils...

We boarded the big, yellow bus to make our way home and made it back to school right before the final bell was about to ring!

While I was ready for a nap afterwards, I thoroughly enjoyed spending the day with you.  It was great seeing you in another element.  Your personality is so unique from mine and it delights me to see how you adapt to various situations. 

Easter

Dearest Colt and Jackson,

Easter was super low-key around here as we skipped Easter services for the second year in a row.  Y'all woke up before us (typical) and had already looked through your baskets before we even made it out to the living room. 

When I walked out, this conversation went down:

Jax:  Did you buy us all this great stuff?
Me:  ::speaking with sleepy-brain::  Yes.
Jax:  Why?
Me:  As a fun treat for Easter.
Jax:  Oh!  Thanks!

So, not sure where we stand on the whole magical bunny who hops into your house in the middle of the night.?.?.  Maybe we're done with that aspect of Easter?

The day was spent together but, instead of doing normal Easter activities, we played video games, washed the laundry, and worked in the yard.  Before you turn me in to the Easter-police, I want you to know that The Harycki Fam saved us by letting us celebrate Easter at their house a few days earlier.  They had their annual egg hunt & decorating shindig so that totally counts for our celebration, right?

 

On Easter night, we went to Grandpa and Grandma's house for a yummy dinner where this cute cake served as the grand finale of our "special" day.  

Bluebonnets

Dearest Boys,

We hit up two local bluebonnet fields this year - once with Daddy and once with Grandma.

Our first trip was full of sun but it also had plenty of wind.  While those conditions feel refreshing, they don't help with hair or eyes for photographers (I use that term loosely here.).

Despite low rainfall this year, I thought the field looked beautiful!

 

Colt, you insisted on taking a picture...I only helped a little - but this is your art : )

 

A few days later, we went on an adventure with Grandma.  I had heard about them growing on the lake's shore but had never been to this location.  Although it has a different vibe, it's equally as pretty.

 

How to get you to use a real smile??  

I'm still not sure...

 

We'll for sure visit this Texas tradition again next year!