cRaZy PeOpLe and VBS

For the record, we saw Cars 2 FIRST. (Well, okay, we didn't beat our friends in Dubai who have the whole time zone thing on their side.) But, yeah...we pulled one of the craziest stunts we've ever done and pulled the boys out of bed in the middle of the night to go see the {much anticipated by the Dominguez boys} CARS 2 movie.

Yep. It started at 12:01...AM.
(horrible photo....darn phone camera)!

And...what we were most pleased with....it wasn't crowded. A good crowd, but nothing too wild. David did manage to see some of his students...who are always surprised to see their principal out and about (probably even more so at a midnight movie). And we were relieved there were other crazy people who brought their young children, too.

3D was really cool for this movie. I actually enjoyed the racing scenes...soooo realistic!!

We had a blast and definitely made a memory. But, oh me, those stinkers woke up at 7 am today. And we did see some adverse effects tonight when Jonathan was obviously over-tired and wouldn't go to sleep! But, all is well now. And we'll hopefully be *normal* again once we leave at the beginning of the week for the coast.

We got back in town in time for the last couple of nights of VBS at our church. If you know our church, it goes all out for VBS!! It was AMAZING! Since we weren't able to help the entire time, we were "floaters" for the nights we were there. I thought I would be on camel duty, but I was happy to work in the nursery and be a tribe leader for the Tribe of Dan. After I saw those on camel-duty, I was very relieved my sweet friends had already found other spots for me! ; )

Benjamin was appropriately in the Tribe of Benjamin.

He had a BLAST!! His leaders were our friends, the Moores, and he adored them and all the FUN they had and the awesome stuff they learned!

The Tribe of Benjamin in the carpentry tent. The man leading them in this photo is one of our favorite elders, Bill Nabors. 

Jonathan was in the Tribe of Simeon. He had a great time, too, and is already ready for next year!

Jonathan and his tribe buddies.

Fun times. Now this crazy lady needs to head to bed.

HSB Summer 2011

Home again, home again, jiggety jig.

We're baaaaack. I feel like we're just here to turn around and leave again in a few days. But, I'm feeling productive....everything's unpacked, clothes are all washed & put up and we even managed to cobble together a grocery trip and replenish the fridge so we're not driving through every place in town the next few days.

And I'm super excited that tomorrow we get to join in the VBS fun that's been going on at our church. Wednesday, I'm working the "petting zoo"...or what I originally thought was a petting zoo. It's actually camels, donkeys and other animals from the Jesus days. Way cool, eh?

I took a boat-load of photos on our Horseshoe Bay trip and am ready to get them off my desktop! ; ) The boys joined us on Sunday so they could enjoy the fun (after spending a couple of days there and seeing all the kids' amenities, I was feeling a tad bit guilty and wanted them to see it all, too!) Plus, I got some fun Father's Day shots of them & David.

I did manage to walk around the resort Saturday morning and take some fun photos of a breath-taking place.....

.....right after a leisurely wake-up and breakfast in the room!! What a treat!!

There are numerous kids' activity tables set up around the resort. The boys made some fun Father's Day gifts and Jonathan made a cool wooden lizard craft.

melt. my. heart.

Racing each other in the pool.

Benjamin chatting it up with the parrots.

Whoopsie. Not sure you're supposed to pick the flowers.

Summertime and the Living is Easy....

....well, maybe if you're 4 or 6. Or Sam Cooke. I'm starting to think we may have *slightly* overbooked June. And part of July. But, it's all fun. And the memories the boys will have from these fun times are what it's all about. But, whew... I'm getting a bit worn out. After spending five days in Austin for David's Texas Association of Secondary School Principals conference, we have headed to the second part of that conference at the Horseshoe Bay Resort out in the Hill Country. When we get back in town at the beginning of next week, we're headed straight into VBS at church followed by our beach trip the week after that. My mom offered to do our laundry today (Horseshoe Bay is literally 10 minutes from their front door), but I declined that not wanting to put her out. She may have had a good point.

This part of our trip is an adult-only retreat....we're having a big dinner & schmoozing event out at the Yacht Club tomorrow night (this way intimidates me, still stressing over what to wear to that), David's invited to the golf tournament at some point over the weekend (if you know him, you know that's not really his thing) and the rest of the weekend is packed with meetings and such. This retreat is actually for those on the committees that do a lot of the planning & extra work and such for TASSP. David was named the head of the "Urban Schools Committee" for this next school year, which is why we were extended a very gracious invitation to this part of the conference. We're feeling very humbled and honored to be here.

My kids were delighted to see my parents this afternoon when we dropped them off. It's been a long time since they've stayed with them since my dad's surgery and all. They barely told us bye. They were ready for their own G'ma/G'pa Retreat of sorts.

David rushed off to his first meeting at four. I had BIG plans to head to one of the pools. When I looked at the pool and saw how overly-crowded it was, I've revised those plans to include a chair, ottoman and the non-wireless (grrr) connection to catch up on blogs (mine & yours).  I do have a pretty incredible view behind me....there's a bunch of palm trees, bougainvilleas, and a huge shuffleboard court right out the window. It's like Hawaii in the Hill Country. Kinda okay with the crowded pool with my nice set up in the room. And the fact that it's silent and I'm alone is very enjoyable for this mama.

Took this in the photobooth program....excuse the overly grainy-ness of it all.

Trying to decide what David would think if I bust open that $6 bottle of Fiji water....hmmm.

The past week has really been enjoyable. I've had a great time with the boys and we enjoyed the evenings when David was able to join us for some fun times, too.

We did a whole lot of swimming. I really saw Benjamin turn a corner this week in his swimming. He would swim in the deep end by himself, jump in without someone catching him and basically navigate the pool effortlessly. I think his swim instructor will be blown away in July when lessons start (yes, we've requested that same guy....again!)



Jonathan was Mr. Daredevil...no surprises there. Thankful he's still in floaties...not sure he's aware of his skill-level yet. He just wants to keep up with big brother.
Is it just me or does the guy directly to the right of J look super annoyed that I'm taking this photo?



A little walking (or running) on water....


Indeed....the living is easy.


Oh, to be six again. Not a care in the world.



We ate at some great spots in Austin. I feel like every time we're there I drag everyone to one of my old haunts, Kerbey Lane Cafe. I grew up on their fare. It's sooooo good. They're open 24/7 and serve bfast around the clock. LOVE it. And so did the boys!

We also tried a chicken & waffles place I had purchased a Groupon for (is anyone else as into Groupons as we are?...We probably buy a few too many!) This place was pretty tasty, too! Benjamin just likes any kind of "bone chicken" as he calls it.

Here's to a fun-filled, meeting-packed and relaxing time in Horseshoe Bay!!

 Just received a note under the door that the other two pools on the grounds are open for the weekend as well. Three pools?
Where's that pool bag? I'm outta here.

Summer, Summer, Summertime...

On to First Grade...

Can't believe it's over!! When the year started, we weren't sure how Benjamin would do in kindergarten. I do have to say...the first three weeks, we had a VERY tired boy on our hands. He enjoyed it, but wanted to know "why is it so long everyday?" When you go from preschool that's two days a week from 9-2:30 to five days a week from 7:45-3...WHEW!! It was a big adjustment.

But, around October, it really clicked with him. 

At Meet the Teacher back in August

First day of school....flowers for Mrs. Weatherford

Kindergarten Fall Ball

No Christmas Party Photo due to Strep Throat!! : (

Valentine's Party Ice Cream Sundae Bar

Field day...wet t-shirt race

More field day fun

Field day was very wet! Probably good since it was almost 100 degrees.

Kite day fun with buddies

Graduation program.

Kinda bummed that they only did caps and not gowns. They did gowns for the "official picture". Perhaps it was just one gown that got shared...oh, Purell...take me away! ; )

Isn't he handsome? The boys only seem to wear their ties at weddings and Easter...love seeing them this dressed up!! The polo & khakis for Sunday church is okay...but this really melts my heart!

Getting his diploma from his second favorite principal in the whole wide world, Mr. Coleman.

A quick pic with Mrs. Weatherford before he got to check out of school early and celebrate! (The school actually encouraged it...we weren't playing hookey!)

Daddy had to head back to Ellison and Jonathan headed to his last day of preschool. But, my parents took me & Benjamin to Cracker Barrel to celebrate! He was excited to not only eat pancakes & sausage..but to open up some fun celebratory gifts. He's been pining away for a Nintendo DSI (that we're making him save his own money for), so grandma & grandpa gave him some cash towards that. He was more excited about that than the Phineas & Ferb and Super Mario loot he got from us! ; )

Last day of school fun. His class did a "Step Routine" in the Talent Show (parents actually weren't invited to this....boo! There's lots of space restraints right now as they finish up construction in the "cafetorium", so it was just a school kiddos event.)
He did the routine later for us at home...it included a step called the "stanky leg" and several shout-outs of "Whuuuuut".... Um, yeah.

Giving Mrs. Weatherford her present. We made the crayon monograms that my friend Becky posted on her blog several years ago. (LOVE those, Becky...we make them every year)!

Cookies, cake & fun!

A little more groovin'. Jonathan is just to the left of Benjamin...he just had to join in! ; )

Saying goodbye with a t-shirt signature. She's moving up to the third grade...so in 2013, we will be hoping to get in her class again! Love this lady so much. AND she had an extra special last day of school since her husband was headed home from Iraq that evening! Hooray for the Weatherfords!!

We love you, Mrs. Weatherford's Kindergarten class!
What a wonderful year. Can't wait to see everyone in the fall!
Whuuut.