Fun Trip to Houston

This past weekend, we went to visit our friends Bev and Geoff Smith and their sweet kids Avery, Colin and Noel. We had a great time. The girls got to have a slumber party with Avery for two nights.

Saturday, they cooked out a yummy dinner and we went swimming. It was nice to put the kids down and have adult conversation. The Smiths moved a few months ago and we have missed them ever since.

On Sunday, we went to the zoo. It rained on us for about an hour and then it was sunny again. As soon as the sun came out, so did the humidity and we were sweating buckets. Ah, Houston in the summer time. Sunday night, the kids got out some Legos and worked together and we had another yummy dinner!

Looking at some cool fish

Fun tunnel that runs behind an aquarium

Looking at the momma and baby elephant

Splash park fun with all 5 kids

 

Lizzie

Gracie

Lizzie tired after the zoo

Gracie after the zoo

The kids all playing

Monday, we got up, had a great breakfast and then went swimming. After swimming, we left to come home. We stopped to look at the Sam Houston Statue outside of Huntsville, TX. At first the girls weren't too sure about the statue. After we saw it, they said that they wanted to see another statue. 

Wes and the girls with Sam Houston's face

The girls and I with Sam Houston's face

We had a great time and enjoyed staying with the Smith's! We really miss them.

Splashing fun!

On Friday, we went to a splash park that we hadn't been to before. The girls really liked it and had lots of fun. We got there really early and were the first ones there. It was nice to have it all to ourselves. It started filling up later but there was still room for all the kids to play. It never felt too crowded.

Running to check it all out

Shooting each other with the water guns

Splash

Fun little water slide. Lizzie loved this and went down it a lot

Getting ready for the waterfall

Waterfall!

These two love the water and had tons of fun. We will have to go back again this summer.

Four Year Old Stats

Today, we took for the girls to their four year old check up. It went really well. The girls got three shots each and did not cry! They were such big girls. I got a couple pictures of the girls before we left. They are wearing their signature colors, Gracie in pink and Lizzie in orange.

Gracie was not in the mood to take pictures

Lizzie was more cooperative

This was the best I could get

The girls are the same height, each are 40 inches. Gracie is 37 lbs and Lizzie is 38 lbs. Dr. Jim commented today how that even though they are twins, they look so different.

Camping for July 4th

Wes has wanted to go camping for quite some time. I'm not a camper. My parents took me on many camping trips when I was a kid and I learned that I really liked electricity and toilets that flush with real water. Anyway, Wes and I took the girls to the lake this past weekend and I had an idea. Wes had July 4th off work so why not camp in the backyard. When I told my mom, she said we were like the Backyardigans. We told the girls about it Sunday and they asked every day when we were going camping.

Yesterday, Wes pitched the tent during his lunch. The girls were excited to help him. After lunch, they took a nap and Wes went back to work. After nap, we packed some friends (what we call our lovies) and a night gown and went out the back door. I had planned for Wes to grill out last night and today. He starts the grill to find out that the whole thing is eroded. Fortunately, we were just having hot dogs so we cooked them inside. After dinner, we went to get a little charcoal grill to use for the next couple of days.

The tent in the backyard

Practicing sleeping on our Hello Kitty sleeping bags

Eating our hot dogs

Two girls and a tent

After the trip to the store to get the grill, we played outside and in the tent for awhile until we could go see fireworks. Around 9:00, way past the girls bed time, we headed to our favorite parking lot to watch fireworks.

Can't wait for the fireworks to start

After the fireworks, we headed back home to camp some more. I was surprise that the girls slept all night in the tent and loved every minute of it. Of course, I didn't sleep so well and heard every car door and speeding car that passed. Both girls woke up so happy.

This morning, we woke up with the sun around 6:30. Today's activity was to go to the Coppell parade. Turns out some of the people from our Sunday school class were there too, so it was tons of fun. Good thing for Gracie, because every time we go anywhere she ask who we are going to see there. My little social butterfly.

Waiting for the parade and eating McDonalds

All the kiddos waiting for the parade and candy!

Tonight, our menu is steaks, grilled pineapple and banana boats (at least that's what we called them when I was a kid). What a great holiday! I kept thinking that today was Saturday because Wes was home. Hopefully it will make the week go by fast.

VBS

We just finished our second year of VBS at our church and we had a blast. The theme this year was Operation Overboard, which was an underwater theme. I helped out all week and we came home beat! The girls had a full week of crafts, puppet shows, singing, praying, learning about God, water day and of course snacks.

It was fun to see how much they had grown compared to last year, participating with the hand movements in the program and no crying at drop off. Gracie even went down the big water slide. Lizzie climbed to the top but was too scared to go down. So, she came back down.

Also during the week, it was Pastor Dennis's birthday. Funny story, Gracie was asked by one of the ladies if she was going to sit by the birthday boy. So, the entire car ride over that's all she could talk about. Of course, we were the last ones there and both of the seats next to Dennis were taken. I said that Gracie wanted to sit by Dennis and sure enough, two people moved so Lizzie and Gracie could sit by Dennis. What a special and sweet group of people to work with!

Gracie at crafts

Lizzie at crafts

Learning all the fun songs

The girls and I

Gracie at the top of the water slide

Gone Fishin'

We spent this weekend in Oklahoma for my nephew's birthday and Father's Day. It was a fun weekend.

On Saturday, we took the girls to a fishing birthday party. It was the first time the girls had ever fished. Gracie really liked it but Lizzie was not as big a fan. Her attention span lasted about as long as mine. Gracie caught a stick and a fish. When she caught the stick, she was so funny and said "you can't eat stick for dinner". Lizzie mostly got her hook caught in the grass or other stuff.

Patiently waiting for daddy to get the hook on the line

Gracie fishing

Daddy casting Lizzie's line while she waits patiently

Catching "stick fish"

Fishing some more

Gracie's "catch"

On Sunday, it was Sammy's birthday and Father's Day. My cousins' came over for lunch and I got to hold baby Dawson while Kassidy played with all the kids. He is so big and cute.

My sweet daddy

The girls and their sweet daddy

My cousin, Chris, telling the girls all about Dawson

Eating Sammy's birthday brownies

The birthday boy with a mouth full of brownie

It was a really fun weekend and we are all exhausted. Wes and I stayed up late both nights talking with my parents.

Four Years Old!

Today, we celebrate the girls' fourth birthday! I can't believe how far we have come. We now have healthy, happy girls! They are at a fun but challenging age. The girls know so much and say so much that amazes me. On the other hand, they test me with their independence and will. Still, every day is an adventure and really fun.

We had the girls birthday party this past weekend. They spent the previous week at Grandma and Papa's having a blast. My friend Allison took great pictures of them for their party. Here are some of the pictures (there are a lot of them).

The birthday girls

The birthday cake

Anna, Isaac and EJ (some of the girls besties)

Sweet Cousins - Sam, Lizzie, Gracie, Sydney

Gracie hugging Reese with Riley (more besties)

Love this

Lizzie's turn

Sweet sister Laura and her family

Fun on the tire swing with Caroline

No, they are not 44. Its two 4s.

My mom, Elaine, and sister

Silly girls

Sweet Amy, momma to Reese and Riley

We are 4

Yummy Hello Kitty Cupcakes

Nana kisses

Everybody hanging out

It was a great party and on a beautiful summer day. The kids just played and played. It was one of the easiest parties ever and fun to have the family there.