Summer Break

 This summer we have enjoyed having a new home, so besides our AR vacation, we have stayed home. We have swam quite a bit, sometimes in the old neighborhood and sometimes at the rec center. Another photo of Sophia and Mace in the pool.

 Brothers.

 Me snuggling with Lucy and her bird.

 Yeah, a lot of minecraft at home and abroad.

 Macey and Oliver poolside.

 Birthday party at a theater.

 Macey was a tiger in the play.

 It was very cute and fun!

 I took Macey and Megan to the mall for shopping and lunch. This was a super fun outing. The girls picked out Frozen action figures and were very happy with their new headbands from the $1 bin!

 Macey is learning to sew. She helped cut, pin, and sew some beanbags. I made these for fort building. All our books that they used to use (dangerously) to hold down the blankets are STILL in boxes. (It hurts me to have my friends boxed away in the garage, where it is hot and there are bugs. Soon, my loves, you'll be on shelves soon.) So I made these 1 pound bean bags for the kids to use instead. I am a little bit awesome.

 Hot? Yeah, it was very hot when we went to the zoo. But we weren't going for the animals. We went for the Nature Exchange. Alex finally got his Mt St Helens ash and Ryan got a very cool rock. Macey got a couple of shells.

 Also, she rode a kangaroo.

 And Ryan fed the birds.

 We met some friends (new friends!) at the zoo's aquarium. It is a tiny place, but they do have sting rays you can feed and pet. The boys loved this activity.

 We have memberships to the zoo and to the science museum. We met the Smith's on this field trip to the Perot. We watched the 3d movie about James Cameron going down to the bottom of the ocean. It was very cool. There were new exhibits on the floor we visited, including this fun robot freeze tag.

 A fox?

 Giraffe's and a sidekick?

 This summer Alex spent 5 weeks building muscles and learning football. He 'needed' these receiver gloves. I hope coach lets him wear them game day!

 Yeah, I spent a whole day making snowgies for Macey's bday party. I'll be spending many more hours doing this activity since these are the party favors for her party. We are going to have a great shin-dig!

 It being summer in Texas, the boys had to bring the soccer goal inside. Am I OK with this? Acutally, it doesn't bother me too much. However, I think the first day of school I'll be hauling it back outside!

 This week we reached a tipping point, that being the kids spent the day having more electronics than any other activity. I am not proud. I came home from grocery shopping to find these fools watching My Little Pony together. Yes, You did watch MLP, Ryan. AND, you liked it too.

And these are the curtains I made for Macey's room. It has been a while since I've made a long project. It took me three days to make this: one full afternoon of hot gluing the ruffles to the backing. Yeah, it is a new sewing low, but it was that or hand sew. By the way, I will not be making another one of these.  Ever. You want one? Buy it! I saved myself $80 making it, but still, it was brutally boring. Alex said that it is good to be bored. I should enjoy it. Yeah, thanks for the parent parroting. (Am I bit concerned that the above snowgies will also hit a boredom threshold? Yes, but hopefully by planning ahead I'll be able to spread it out!)

DMCO Easter pictures

Here are the pictures from the photographer for Macey's Easter concert.

 Rehearsal. Macey is wearing a fox shirt and fox leggings. So cute!

 Group photo. Performance was at the Custer Road United Methodist Church.

 'Give,' Said the Little Stream with hand motions.

 I love this picture with the orchestra and two directors.

 Can you spy Dan giving Macey a thumbs up? Had to have this one!

'Give' again from the second performance time.

First week of July

 Alex and friends coming home from a week at Boy Scout Camp. Dan says I have to let it go that he only showered once and NEVER brushed his teeth. He will brush his teeth once he likes girls, right?

 Violin recital day.

 12 years old and big enough to mow the lawn. Well, the flat backyard of the lawn...

 Soccer friends at a charity baseball game.

 Bahama Bucks. When you are freezing, just sit outside in the windowsill and act like you are part of the family.

 BB still. Playing the ring game.

 My family made my birthday very special this year. They took this picture and sneaked it onto the background of my cell phone so I can always have it with me.

 We stopped 3 times on our way to Arkansas for the 3 day weekend. Stop #1 we got fudge and I got the presents from Macey.

Stop #2 was at Braum's and I got Ryan's gift.  Stop #3 was for gas and I got a mini pinata and my gifts from Alex. I also had to wear the pink pin all day long.

 We made it to my parents about 4 pm on Friday. This was a fun experiment with fireworks and all 3 of my kids.

 Their cousin Charles showed them the ropes.

 This is my little brother! He is so handsome. I am proud of his hard work and his lovely family. He is a good man, getting better every time I see him!

 Us and our kids.

 My mom's grandkids.

 There is a picture of Mace with these deer when she was 2 or 3. Who doesn't love a little deer?

 Bring it!

 After fireworks our crew drove down to hang out with Uncle Mike. I requested we go to Devil's Den State park. It is a beautiful place.

 The caves were all closed to protect the bats. We could only go up to the entrances.

 I love this picture! My hubby is so handsome. :)

 Er, my hubby takes posing for the 'crazy' picture a bit too far, maybe?

So, we spent the night of the fourth playing chess and watching fireworks on TV. It seemed like too much work to drive out and find a good show! We got up Sunday morning and returned to home, summer school, athletic camp, gymnastics, and Dan packing up for his next business trip. Summer is cruising right along.