May 2011

May came and went before I could blink! Summer is coming and we couldn't be happier. It's been in the 80's and I LOVE it!! I was definitely made for the heat. A women Jared works with, whom is the sweetest thing ever, had a huge birthday party for her little girl. She turned 3 and was adorable! She only spoke Spanish so we really couldn't talk to her much, but her mom translated for us. Her party was at this Ranch that they use for old western movie sets. It was actually way cool. Our friends Rob and Val and Val's sister and Brother in law also came with us. They had so much BBQ to eat and coolers full of drinks. Linc had like 4 Dr. Peppers and I couldn't keep Liam out of the ice.




The kids got to get their picture taken on the bull. Liam kept petting it and saying, "good boy". It was too funny. I think he would have taken it home had we let him. I know I know, we are no fun ;0)






The party was Hello Kitty and they had the BIGGEST pinata I had ever seen. She said she had it made just over the border and was only like $20! The kids had so much fun and Linc ended up being the one to whack it's head off, that's my boy! I didn't get any pictures of him because Liam kept trying to run to him and I thought he was going to get smacked with the stick, not good.





We went for a wagon ride to see all the animals. They were huge and came right up to the wagon, way cool.




We had such a great time and were all exhausted by the end of the day. Thanks Mowdy for the invite♥

On the 13th my little Avery was Knighted at school. It's a big honor to be knighted and they have a huge ceremony in front of the whole school. It's held once a month and only 1 child per class is awarded each month, so only 9 in Ave's class. I was sent the email about 2 weeks before and was told not to say anything to Ave. So the boys and I went to the school and waited with all the other parents in the back room. When it was her turn they had us walk out on stage as they called her name. She was so shocked and so excited! I loved being there able to see her walk down the middle of the crown up onto the stage. She was awarded with integrity and honesty and always willing to help. I am sooo very proud of her! She said she wore her medal all day!



Ahh the primary talent show. Full of artists, musicians, singers, bug collectors and more. The kids are honestly so cute and so excited to share their tenant. Linc had to dance with the kids his age group and he was not excited about this at all! He pretty much moved a little and stood there a lot. Oh well, he lived! Liam kept walking over to see Ave and Linc, then he laid on the floor a little, climbed on the chairs, was just being a cute little 2 year old! Jared was working, of course, so I didn't get any photos when it was Linc's turn as I had to help him. His talent was riding his bike without training wheels!!!!!! He did an awesome job!! Then it was Miss Avery's turn, her talent was jump roping. She had been practicing for weeks, so cute. When they told her to go she started jumping rope like mach 5!!! She was going so fast and concentrating so very hard that she didn't even hear the music stop! It was awesome!!! I was so proud of them for getting up in front of all those parents and peers. Way to go loves!





On May 26th Lincoln graduated from Preschool!! Jared only had one weekday off that whole month and we lucked out that it was this day! Lincoln was so excited! They looked so cute in their little graduation caps. They had them all walk through the isles so we could see them.


They they called them up by class, one by one. Honestly it took forever. So all these kids went up and hugged Miss Kim their director and smiled all pretty for the camera. Then it was Linc's turn. This is what I got....

I wouldn't have it any other way♥ I love you my Lincoln!

Afterward we went back to his classroom, said thank you to his sweet teacher Miss Betty, played on the playground for a min. and then headed home to get Ave from the bus stop. I can't believe my little boy will be a kindergartner!




Another very important thing happened this month, Sea Worlds water park opened up!!!!







May was full of end of the school year fun and hello summer stuff! Now it's time to drive to Utah and spend a month with family!

April 2011

I was asking some friends here in Texas if there are any orchards that let you pick your own fruit. In Virginia we had one that we LOVED and would go to for apples and blueberries and it was a favorite tradition of ours. There was one here in Texas and I was sooo excited! So the morning of April 2nd I packed a lunch and Jared and I loaded up the kids and drove 45 min. West to Marburger Orchard!
When we pulled up the scenery was honestly beautiful! The kids were so excited. We headed over to get our box and a lesson on how to pick a strawberry. I personally didn't know there was wrong way, but there is. In Texas the soil is basically lime stone and NOTHING grows in it. They have brought in their own top soil and have covered it with a thick black plastic to keep it put. It was the cleanest strawberry patch I had ever seen. We headed off down to the Orchard toward the strawberries. Poor Liam fell one some rocks and hurt his knee :( So he spent most of the time in the stroller because it hurt to walk, poor thing. Rest assured he was better by the end.





I think the boys ate more than they picked! I don't what I was thinking when I dressed both boys in WHITE shirts?! Oh well, it was well worth the red strawberry stains♥ We had such a fun time and we can't wait to go back this fall!













Since it was Conference weekend I went to snickerdoodle and printed out their conference packets for the kids. They are wonderful! It helps the kids get into Conference as well. Just look at Liam, he is captivated by President Uchtdorf! He was so curious. We don't have cable or an antenna so thank goodness for live streaming! One of my favorite conference memories was Jared and I's first conference together. We went up to his parents house and their tradition is that there dad makes the best omelets ever, and his mom makes all the sides! I loved it♥ Hopefully my kids will love these memories too!








Lincoln's preschool had a field trip to this lady's farm. There were so many different animals,plus a pond full of tadpoles with frog legs! There was this bucket that she had put little chicks in so the kids could hold them. Honestly Linc came to me 3 or 4 different times ASKING me to take his picture with the chick. It was priceless! He loved that things. We brought lunch and laid out a blanket and sat with friends. Liam's face was so funny while he was eating his strawberries, I had to take a photo.




So while I was taking Linc's picture with the chick, Liam had run off to the llamas and cows. He loved them! So I told Linc where I was and headed off to the "yamas and tows". All the animals thought Liam had food because he was taught to hold his hand out. At least all the llamas walked over to him and he was in heaven! Looking through the fence just wasn't good enough for him so he decided to SCALE THE FENCE!!!! I was shocked as I had no idea he could do that!








That boy amazes me! We had so much fun on the field trip and Linc didn't want to leave that chick, so we were the last ones to leave but Linc got his fill♥

Just playing in the backyard!








I got a flyer in the mail for an Easter egg hunt in Leon Springs, which is about 5 min. from us. A local Church was putting it on and it was offering huge egg hunts, free games, lunch, and treats. How can you turn that down?! So since Jared and Rob were working, val and I loaded up all 5 kids in the van and headed off to the egg hunt. The kids LOVED it! They did a wonderful job on all the fun games and all the treats and food you could eat! Finally they announced for ages up to 2 years old, Liam was ready! He was so cute with this little girl in the blue dress. They both went for the same egg so Liam picked it up and put it in her basket. So she picked up the orange one next to it and put it in his♥ We could learn a lot from 2 year olds.






While we waited for them to set the eggs up again for the older kids we decided to play a few games and get some treats. Avery was dying for some cotton candy, my personal favorite, so off we went. Ave was in heaven and Liam decided he LOVED the cotton candy, just not the stickyness of it. Linc wanted a snow cone, but the line was soo long and they called the older kids over for the next hunt. He was not too happy about that and wouldn't let me take anymore pictures of him, little stinker.




We went over to the egg hunt and Linc tripped on the curb, darn it. Well that was it for him. Between that and the no snow cone he started to cry and wouldn't hunt any eggs, he just stood there. I tried to get some pic's of Ave but she was out of here and the crowd was too large and crazy to follow her. She came back with a huge basket full! She gave Linc half, such a good kid. You can see the tears in his eyes in the close up picture. Yes, we went right to the snow cones and all was right again.








The next day was Easter Sunday, so we colored our eggs! This was Liam's first adventure in this fine art of egg coloring, and I have to say he is a fan! I don't know too many kids that don't like to color eggs.









Happy Easter!




It was time for the kids to change their clothes and get ready for the Easter Bunny! In this first photo you will notice Avery's keen sense of fashion, worthy of any GQ magazine. It comes complete with the shirt on backwards. Love her!
First their Easter Baskets full of fun stuff, then the egg hunt is on!





Liam found maybe 2 or 3 eggs and then went under the tramp to eat them! He kept watching Ave and Linc as he shoved his candy in his mouth as fast as he could in fear of it being taken away, too funny!











April was great! We had so much fun whenever we could fit it in♥