water babies

My boys love the water, and Andrew wants to to do anything Kai does, so this past week, Andrew summoned up all the courage his little body has and took the plunge off the diving board at Mimi and Pawpaws. Once he got started it was hard to get him to stop!!

Kai started swimming lessons this week, and while he still has a ways to go skill wise, he has mastered floating (something I, unfortunately, have never been able to do) So to celebrate this accomplishment we went home and baked cookies!!

Vacation

For the past two years, we have taken a family vacation to Glen Rose, TX to attend the Coleman Family Reunion (mom's side of the family). Last year's trip here and here was all about the dinosaurs. This year Kai, Andrew and I had to go without Ryan (who was on a mission trip). Luckily we had my parents there to help me out!!

We started out the trip attending Fossil Rim Wildlife Reserve. I did not really know what to expect...but now, I can not wait to go back and take Ryan.

The giraffes were, by far, the coolest things to see and feed!!

Kai loved all the deer.

We were a little afraid of the zebras, because we were told they might bite.

But nothing compared to the fear that the ostriches struck in our hearts.

These birds were relentless for food. They would stretch those long necks into your car and go straight for your basket of food. And they would chase after your car after you tried to move on. Kai was not quick enough in giving one of them food, and it reached in a bit his finger stealing the food out of his hand. The entire car load of screaming hysterically until we found out he was not hurt... then our screams turned to laughter. We quickly rolled up the windows and tried to get away from these scary creatures as fast as we could!

We spent the afternoon playing at the park and visiting with family and then, that night, we went to a drive-in movie to see Toy Story 3.

I had never been to a drive-in movie, so I was really excited about it, and it did not disappoint. This was truly a remarkable experience. Everyone was so friendly. Kids were running around playing Frisbee and football before the show. Families were all bundled up in blankets in the the back of trucks. Coolers were brought out and everyone was eating and drinking and having fun. It was a blast... and the movie was really good too!

We spent the next day at the pool and then headed back home to see Ryan. It was a great trip for a second year in a row.

If you are in need of some good, family fun in Texas, I would definitely recommend Glen Rose, TX.

Book Review

Summer is the time to sit back, relax and enjoy the things that you really love to do. Luckily both of my boys are now at an age where they can play by themselves for extended periods of time, which all allows me to do exactly what I love to do, which is read. I have already read five books since the beginning of June, and I have a stack of about 7 more on my night stand. So here is my mini book review, just in case you are in need of a good summer read.

House Rules by Jodi Piccoult: This book is about a boy with Aspergers that gets charged with the murder of his behavioral specialist's. I figured out the ending relatively early in this book, but it was written so well that I wanted to finish it through to the end.

The Last Song by Nicholas Sparks: This book is about a girl who goes to live with her father for the summer and falls in love. Very generic, I know, but the book is awesome. The only down side I had, was every time I read the main characters lines her voice came out in head as Miley Cyrus I haven't seen the movie yet-- just the previews were enough to do it for me.)

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen: I loved this book. It was about a veterinarian that worked for a traveling circus during the depression. I could not put it down!!

Look Again by Lisa Scottoline: This book was about a mother who sees one of those "have you seen me cards" in the mail, and the child in the picture looks remarkably like the child she adopted. I am not usually into mysteries, but this one held my attention, and I was surprised by the way it turned out.

The Carrie Dairies by Candace Bushnell: This is Sex in the City before Carrie becomes corrupt. It tells the story of Carrie in high school. It has all the same great humor of Sex in the City without all the sex!

Month of Kai

Kai has had many accomplishment this month. He learned to ride a two wheeled bike, he graduated from Preschool, and he turned 5.

The preschool graduation was adorable. They sang God bless America, K is for Kindergarten, and then sang The Itsy, bitsy Spider and Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes in both English and Spanish. The class also made a book about what they thought Peace was. It was hilarious. Some of the kids were very practical. To them, peace meant not hitting, no killing, no breaking toys... Others were a little more far fetched, peace is not kicking whales, or not killing goats, or not scaring guinea pigs. Kai said that peace was like driving a Lamborghini. I don't really know what that means.

Here is Kai getting his diploma.

Here is Kai hanging out with his friends after the presentation. They look so happy, you would think they were graduating from high school.

Kai's birthday was a lot of fun this year. My mom and dad were going out of town for his party, so they took him out of school on his actual birthday to have day just to themselves. They went out to lunch and they took him to Toys R Us and then went swimming. He had a great time. Ryan took him to see Shrek that evening and we ended the night going to his favorite restaurant, Taco Cabana.

This past weekend we had his birthday party. It was at Chuck E Cheese, and it was so much fun. We had 18 little kids running wild in that place.

I asked Kai what his favorite parts were of the party and he told me: the virtual reality roller coaster ride (pictured above) and getting tickets in the ticket machine (pictured below)

This has been a big month for Kai. He is growing up so fast, but is still the sweetest, most loving child a mother could ask for. I love you Kai! Don't grow up to fast.

A little update

Life has been moving too fast lately... I looked today and realized I had no posted a blog in 3 weeks and have not thought twice about it... well we are in need of an update!

First and foremost, I am pregnant!! We are expecting our newest addition mid December, and could not be more excited!! I am trying to enjoy it because, God willing, this WILL be the last time I am pregnant. Three is enough. Everybody we know is rooting for a girl, but I honestly don't care. A girl would be fun and different, but another boy would be easy and comfortable. What am I saying--- no baby is easy.

At work I am drowning in TAKS preparations for all the 8th graders who did not pass the first go round of testing. I swear, we put so much effaces on these stupid tests that the students and teachers are both miserable. I can't wait until next Tuesday when it is all over and done with.

Ryan has been going strong with the youth group. He just finished up a successful 30 hour famine, we are both in the middle of a pretty intense Sr High bible study, and he is getting set for all of his summer mission trips!

Kai attended Kindergarten round-up last week. He was mainly impressed with how big the playground was--- but what else is to be expected of a 4 year old. We will be celebrating his birthday later on this month and he is patiently counting down the day until he turns 5.

Andrew just got promoted to the toddler room at Montessori, and he seems to be learning a new word everyday. Right now his favorites are: mine, choo-choo, car and NO!! He also loves to point out and all of your facial features...and his favorite time to do this is when you are rocking him to sleep at night. You think he is just about to drift off and he will suddenly reach up with his little sweet hand and say nose, eye, mouth, all the while pointed them out to you in a not so gentle way.

Well, that about wraps up our last three weeks. I will try not to be such a procrastinator in the future.

Play ball!!

Kai started T-ball this year. He is in a 4 and 5 year old league that seems to have no rules other than everyone gets to bat, and everyone get to score.

His team is the Astros, and miraculously they have won every game they have played this year... something we can't quite say for the real Astros.

Here he is up at bat.

Look at the concentration on this face.

This week he found a bug on second base... he had to carry it over to the third base coach for a little show and tell.

He had a lot of action out in the field. He played short short stop (no that is not a typo-- I meant to write short twice) His position was a little in front of and to the right of the pitchers mound. They don't hit it very far at age 4!

So if you are not doing anything Saturday morning... come on out and see a game. It is guaranteed fun.

Smelling the flowers

I love going to Mercer Arboretum. It is such an easy and fun outing, and you always leave with great pictures!

We have a family tree picture frame that we have filled with pictures taken at Mercer, and unfortunately, we are just now getting around to adding Andrew to it.

I don't know why I added this last picture. It just makes me laugh!