Saturday, August 5, 2017

7th Birthday

Dearest Colton,

You woke up on August 4th ready to celebrate!  Your breakfast was extra yummy that morning!



You had a party at a local trampoline park that afternoon.  So many of your favorites came to celebrate with you!











 




Just like that - you quickly became my very favorite 7-year-old!



Wednesday, August 2, 2017

Summer VACATION

Dearest Boys,

Dad & I got away for a long weekend with our friends, Lindsey & Salam.  We decided on Anguilla, an island in the British West Indies, based on the suggestion from one of Lindsey's friends.  We'd never heard of the island but our research showed that it was pretty small (16 miles long and 3 miles wide) yet home to many award-winning beaches - so we were game!

We arrived at our beautiful villa and spent a lot of time taking in the gorgeous views!



 
The views got even better the next day when we took the short walk down to the beach.


The sand was as white as I'd ever seen and the water was like being in the biggest salt-water pool imaginable.


One definition of perfection:


We hung out in the water about as much as we hung out in the sand.


We walked along the beach and kept saying, "Is this for real?!" 


The next day was a repeat!



We used the rental car to drive on the wrong side of the road all the way to the Four Seasons.  We had cigars and cocktails as we watched the sun set and the palm trees sway. 




The island is so noncommercialized (which is part of why we loved it!) that there weren't many excursion options so we created our own adventure one day!

We asked a local about his favorite beach shack and he directed us towards Nat's.


  Here we are, their only customers, enjoying their "patio" : )

Nat came out and spoke with us and confirmed what we'd already suspected - Anguillan men are the nicest on the planet!


Then, your dad looked at a map and decided to follow a sandy road for a few miles along the coast.  Not only did we not see a single soul as we drove along, but we were still completely alone when we arrived at these tide pools at the end of the road.



We discussed the logistics of our return trip to this slice of heaven before going our separate ways in Atlanta.


A huge shout out to Grandpa and Grandma for hosting you two at their house for 5 nights!!! 



Wednesday, July 26, 2017

Summer Weeks 7 and 8

Dearest Jackson and Colt,

You're getting older.  Sometimes I'm reminded gently when you do something independently that you'd previously needed help with and sometimes the realization smacks me across the face!  Jax, you recently reminded me of how "big" you're getting when you bluntly let me know that you don't have "playdates" anymore.  Instead, you have "hangouts".  Noted.

So these summer weeks were all about the hangouts.  I was up first when the girlfriends and I road tripped to Austin for a weekend getaway!  You boys stayed home with Dad and had the ultimate Guys Staycation.  One night you even hosted your own pool party but I doubt any of the dads snapped a single picture....

Meanwhile, we documented a lot of our fun thanks to my new selfie stick!!









Y'all got to hang with your friends at Hawaiian Falls for the Swim Team Wrap Party. 




And Camp Gladiator has become another hangout opportunity as y'all play together while we workout.


Jax, you went to Grae's house for a hangout.

 

And we had him over too.

Braxton got in on the hangout action too!


We even got to hangout with Grandma when she treated us to a Roughriders game.

 

All you can eat in the air conditioned suite?  YES!!! 


 Of course, you two hangout together the most.  On this particular day, you discovered that you both weighed the exact same weight - 67.8lbs and that led to lots of wrestling, cheering, and flexing.  #brothers

Friday, July 14, 2017

Summer Week 6

Dearest Colt and Jax,

This week was our first week of the summer without any sports practices, scrimmages, or games.  Surprisingly, it felt weird.  But one of you had baseball camp so that helped lessen the shock a bit ; )

After sharing you with friends, coaches, and teammates all summer, I became a bit selfish with you this week.  I planned things for just the 3 of us and I loved having the two of you to myself!!!

When it's just the 3 of us, we can have crazy hair day - HA!


We also spent an afternoon at the movies seeing Cars 3.


We road tripped into Dallas to visit the Perot Museum for the first time in a long time!




 
And baseball camp finished on a high note...


You and your good buddy, Caden, won the camp championship so you were allowed to wear your hats backwards to boast!  


I.really.really.really.love.summer!