A Texas Time Out

Cant keep clothes on this kid and he puts himself in time out all the time.

I guess this is what you call a Texas Time Out.

A Little Playground Time

I can totally remember the days that we use to spend at the park with Jordan. She was our only baby and obviously I had allot more time on my hands. Jackson fared pretty well on the playground time too.

Now most of the outside kids time is spent at sporting events. Larson will take any time I can give him at the park.

Logan too!

He is just now big enough where I dont have to worry about the edges of the playscapes. I think he can handle them now.

After Larsons soccer game, we ended up at this park. There was enough time and nothing else on the agenda for a couple of hours. The weather was beautiful and I loved just watching Larson and Logan have fun. Jordan was a good sport and just hung out with us.

I had my camera with me from the game so I was able take some playground photos so the little ones will not feel left out when they are older.

Jordan bought sno cones for her brothers.

I do miss the days of just hanging out at playgrounds but dynamics changed as our family grew.

Its not so easy to plan a playdate at the park when you have teenagers to preschoolers in the house.

DI Headed to State

Logan, Erik, Fischer, and Jackson loading up and headed to Lubbock. This was a much anticipated trip since the moment they realized they were continuing to state. I was a little teary inside to see Jackson just take off and be on his own for a weekend but was actually so excited and proud of him.

Unfortunately, he got the flu bug that his brothers had gotten earlier in the week. He wasnt even gone 3 hours before he got really sick. Needless to say, this ended up being a tough weekend for him. I was never so happy to see him pull in the driveway as I was that Sunday night. It was tough knowing my kid needed me and I wasnt there.

The team ended up coming in 11th which was not what they had hoped for. Jackson was glad because he did not want to go to Nashville thinking that he would experience the same kind of weekend. Kind of a rough go for the first time away but no time to dwell, he has a Quest project due very soon!

The very next weekend, Tom and Jackson were able to go to a Scout camp out and he had a great time there.

Live Night Fire

I love date nights!

(especially when it involves being Texas chic)

and even when it involves leaving this behind.

Thanks to Chris, we get out to some neat Austin events.

So this was on an exotic game ranch that is actually at a landfill south of Texas.

Hows that for a description?

We turn in off the street and all these animals are just walking around. It was really beautiful hill country and the weather could not have been more perfect.

Chris and Jennifer

I wasnt sure how I would do on the food menu because it was all meats being grilled. We would just go from tent to tent and get these small plates of food. I found plenty to fill me up. Everything was very good and even got some great desserts.

Tom was in heaven just trying everything.

We walked around on the beautiful grounds and met lots of Chris' friends.

The best part was having my man by my side. Its always good to have "us" time and even better going home to check on the kids.

Spring Sports 2011

Larson is now a soccer player.

He was 2 weeks too old to play on his same baseball team. The first thing he said was I want to try soccer!

Larson took off running, literally. He ran so hard and was so out of breath when he would come to the sidelines.

Larson had to get drafted onto this team to get on with his other friends so he only got one practice in. I think for the first time, I actually saw Larson nervous. He was very excited but nervous before his first game.

By the time that he came out for the first sub, he knew he loved this game.

I was having so much fun watching him try to figure it out. For it being his first game, he looked like he had played for years. He was lucky enough to score in this game too!

I think he was surprised at how fast and how long you needed to run for soccer.

Jack and Larson

Everything around us kind of disappears when we are out there cheering him on. Its such a great time.

Same day, Jackson had his first flag football game. One year later, we have a really different perspective where this sport is concerned. This happened because we entered the world of tackle football. So flag is like spring training. Definitely, more laid back. Jackson, just go out there and have fun. Well, isnt that what it is always suppose to be? Yes, its suppose to be that way but competition takes over sometimes.

Jackson's catching has totally gone up another level since flag last year. He didnt even learn that from tackle. He was strictly defense and never caught a ball in a game. I think it is just Erik and Jackson out there throwing and catching all the time.

So for this spring, we will enjoy watching Jackson "just having fun".

Spring Break 2011

Spring Break was that for us, A BREAK.

It was nice to get away from school and the normal routine.

We started the week with having Gemma with us. Totally fun for Jordan!

We really enjoyed the rodeo last year so the kids had that high on their list.

Yes, finished this enormous corn dog all by himself.

They had unlimited rides with their wristbands so off they went. I actually spent 4 hours basically with Logan. The big kids just go off. Larson was hanging with Sophia and just checking in so I got to visit all the kiddie rides more than one time. This kind of made me sad but we just are too spread out in activity levels at this point.

I did get to see Jackson and Jordan go on this crazy one. It was so high. They loved it!

That is my kind of ride.

Ask me how many times he rode this one?

Logan so happy riding the red fire truck.

Logan very unhappy that some other kid is riding the red fire truck!

Logan held this face for the entire ride. The adults were cracking up at watching this kid pout.

Good

Old

Fashioned

Fun!

We came home and made funnel cakes to end the night.

(that saved us $42 with each funnel cake being $7 at the Rodeo)

Next big stop was Sea World!

Three words to describe the day: Full Parking Lot

(that is never a good indication of the crowds)

We didnt accomplish things like we usually do but made the most out of it.

Long lines kept us on the playground most of the morning.

We had far more success at the waterpark. We all had a great time there.

Tom was in Las Vegas on business but our plans were to do San Antonio with him over the weekend. We simply canceled those plans and stayed home. I had never seen San Antonio so crowded. We are looking forward to going back to Sea World soon and enjoy the day the way we are use to!

The Girls Go A Camping

So, here we are after a successful night of camping. I seriously missed the meeting where camping was planned. I didnt even know that we were doing it until 1 week prior. That way was probably better as if I had of had an opinion Im not sure that we would have been camping.

There was alot of fun to be had and I really did enjoy myself.

Upon arriving to the camp and trying to get things set up, I could only imagine myself on Survivor. I laughed many times as I had no idea how to get this tent up. Even funnier, the tent was huge and it belonged to us. I didnt even know that we owned one. Quite a nice model if I do say.

Here are the girls fearless leaders for the night: Tracy, Jane, Minda, and myself.

We had a huge spread of food including gourmet cupcakes, smores, and Tracy made a cake over the fire. I had never heard of such a thing.

I was really worried about being cold but I made it through the night and was never cold except for the tip of my nose if I stuck it out of the sleeping bag. I was very amazed that I was comfortable except for the hard ground. Tracy and I shared a tent. I had stayed up late writing a talk that I was to give Sunday in church. When I quietly snuck into the tent, I laid back and just stared up at the stars. That was a very cool and peaceful moment.

Had fun with everyone but most of all with my girl.

Hey, I did have fun and I want to go camping again.