Pre-Kindergarten Parties

Carter has a busier social life than I do. The week before school starts, he had 2 "going to kindergarten" parties to attend. The first was a swim party at Cassidy Brown's house. There were about 13 kids there and they swam, ate pizza and cupcakes, and generally had a great time. Carter made quick friends with Cassie's 6-year-old cousin, Cole, and they enjoyed playing together. On Sunday Carter and I attended a "Kindergarten Tea" hosted by Ava Wilson, a friend of his from Glenview MDO. They ate finger foods, did a craft, and had storytime. It was really fun to get dressed up and go somewhere with him. 1 week till kindergarten starts!

"Kindergarten Tea"

Carter & Mommy

swimming with friend Cole

Carter & Cole

Great Wolf Lodge!

A few years ago they built a Great Wolf Lodge in Grapevine, a suburb of Fort Worth/Dallas. We had the opportunity to take the kids this summer as a pre-kindergarten treat. We actually went and shared a room with our good friends, the Brown's. Carter and Cassidy have been friends since they were 6-months-old and now they are both entering kindergarten a just about a week. We had a lot of fun. The indoor/outdoor waterpark is really nice and the rooms are "cabin themed" for the kids.

Hayden, Carter, & Cassidy




storytime


Cassidy & Carter riding the jetski


Hayden

Carter & Cassidy

the kiddos

A week in New Mexico

Our week in New Mexico began with a flight into Santa Fe on AA. The boys did awesome on the plane ride. My mom met us at the airport and then took us to lunch at La Posada. We ate some delicious food in their beautiful courtyard. Then we headed to Los Alamos to Mom's house. Over the next few days we enjoyed weather in the 70's & 80's (while Fort Worth baked in the triple digits). We slept with the windows open and I enjoyed waking up to a beautiful sunrise on Monday morning. We went on several hikes in the mountains--Carter is an avid hiker now and Hayden kept up pretty well. Kristen and Steven came over after work each evening and shared supper with us and played with the boys. We met them both for lunch at Ashley Pond one day as well. Heath and I got to see a movie together with free babysitting by Grammy. :) We were also surprised by a visit from my uncle James on his way back from a blacksmithing convention in Colorado. We took him to dinner at Rancho de Chimayo, a tradition every time we come to visit. The boys spent many hours just playing in Grammy's backyard since the weather was so beautiful. We enjoyed smores one night on her backyard fire pit. Yum!! The plane ride back to Fort Worth was full of complications, but we made it back Friday night. Now for a relaxing weekend of "catching up" before starting the work week. 2 weeks till kindergarten starts!!


family at Ashley Pond

kids hiking in Jemez Mts.

Carter & Heath in Jemez Mts.

East Fork trail (see why I love NM)

Alison & Heath hiking

at Grandpa's gravesite

playing football with Aunt Kristen

Dear Belle,

You stole our hearts when we first saw you. You were a little 'worse for the wear' with your battle scars and skinny body. You had been through a lot in your first 8 months of life. But that would all change as you found your forever home with our family. Despite your rough start in life, you were so gentle with Carter (and later Hayden). There wasn't an aggressive bone in your body. As time went by, you became so plump and healthy--what a change! Some of your favorite things to do were digging in the backyard trying to communicate with the neighbor dogs; laying under our bed; laying under Hayden's crib; curling up on top of our bed; cooling yourself on the tile in the kitchen; laying on the table on the back porch (much to Heath's chigrin); swimming in the tank in Winters; and laying on your mat in the living room. You loved to play with your doggie friends, Dink and Roxy, at the farm in Winters. And although we had hoped to watch you ripen into old age, it was not meant to be. I take comfort in knowing you were with us when you took your last breath. You are now next to Callie "out on the range" where you can look up at night and see the stars shining. You will never leave our memory or our hearts. We love you.

Do not stand at my grave and weep
I am not there; I do not sleep.
I am a thousand winds that blow,
I am the diamond glints on snow,
I am the sunlight on ripened grain,
I am the gentle autumn’s rain.
When you awaken in the morning's hush
I am the swift uplifting rush
Of quiet birds in circled flight.
I am the stars that shine at night.
Do not stand at my grave and cry,
I am not there; I did not die. (author unknown)

Typical summer day

Now that the kids are in summer MDO twice a week, our days are divided into "school days" and "stay-at-home-with-Mommy days". I can't believe all the activities it takes to keep them occupied and away from watching TV for 8 hours a day! A typical "stay at home" day yesterday we played Thomas the Train with train tracks everywhere; Lite Brite; playdough set with 30 pieces; built a fort; and pallets on the living room floor. Some days they want the slip 'n' slide out for 5 minutes of playing. It's fun but a workout for me to keep up with it all sometimes. Ahhh...motherhood.

Here are some cool playdough creations

(yes that is a homemade chicken pot pie in the background--where did I find the time for that?)

Baby Bunnies!

As I was watering the flowers in our tree ring last night, 3 baby bunnies started jumping around in the vegetation! We found their nest among the flowers. Carter had to pick one up and hold it (he has a soft spot for animals). So cute!!

random cute pics

Carter learning to roller skate


kids' new PBK chairs (and our new rug)



boys goofing around

Hayden being a gymnast

(yes, he got up there by himself)

Hayden eating butter off a spoon :)