Summer 2011 continuation

We were able to put Cassandra this summer at the same daycare where she went last year but will not have this luxury next summer. I was able to attend the Dr. Pepper Museum field trip with her this summer and take Jase along, and after the class headed back to College Station,  we took a detour and visited the Mayborn Natural Science Museum in Waco and LOVED it. It was really a neat place.

We attended a friend's VBS and the theme was cooking.  The kids really enjoyed the apron and chef hat that they received. 

My darling husband surprised me for our 12th Anniversary to a trip to New York while he attended a management school there for 3 days.  It was a great trip.  We were able to meet up with Pastor Mark, our music minister from our church on the first night and then met up with by boss's son, Tim Reinhart on Monday night who lives in New York.  I also met a great lady named Lu Laswell, who became my touring buddy on days 2 and 3.  I really had a blast this time when I went to New York.   This was my third visit to the Big Apple, and this time I really enjoyed it.  I gained  a new appreciation of it....maybe because I purchased a private tour of the Rich and Famous, and learned a lot about the people who live there.  Very interesting place. 

Our son.......well, what can I say.....has a very vivid imagination of what he wants.  He always wants us to build something for him.  It was a space ship one day, a sail boat.....ugh, I can't remember all of them....this picture is of a surf board with a pokey thing (fin).  I think now, he wants his Daddy to build him a motorcycle.  This will be interesting. 

As soon as we came home from New York, we packed up the kids and went camping again at Jellystone but this time went to Waller.  It was fun because the Parish and the Peter's family joined us, but it just wasn't the same as Canyon Lake.  The people were to urban, I guess? 

They were real strict on the per person per camp ground rule of "6" so, I guess it's a good thing that only 3 Peters joined us.   We had plenty of room in our camper though. 

I remember the water gun hay ride was a very brutle for the little ones....older kids were throwing water balloons at us and it was like being hit with a baseball.  We had to get off the hayride because the kids were in tears for being hit so hard by water balloons. 

Well, that basically sums up July and the beginning of August.  Other than swimming lessons, attending 3 VBS and the many Birthday parties we attended the summer just flew by.  But we are well and happy and we hope that you are as well!  

Pliar Tooth Pulling

Don't watch this video if you don't like blood.....but basically this is a movie clip of Cory pulling Cassandra's 2nd tooth with a pair of pliars. I'm pretty sure it's an event that we will never forget, but I thought I'd put it in my blog just in case we go back and look at these one day.   Not fair...she trusted Dada to pull it and not Momma! 

June-July 2011

Eeeeeks, I have fallen behind on my blog. I'm sure this doesn't surprise some of you who have been in my shoes before. Raising 2 kids is no small task, especially if 50% of the time you are a single mom.  Well, I thought I'd only throw in a few pics and give a little summary of what I barely remember about the Summer of 2011.   I think our biggest discovery and continuation of "loving" our camping experiences is Yogi Bear's Jellystone camp grounds.  On June 22, 2011 we went to the one at Canyon Lake and fell in love.  It was such a friendly family place with a pool.  They had so many activities for the kids, including root beer chugging contest, water gun fight, laser tag and glow in the dark hay rides and western dudes dress up contest.  We were also happy to have Lucas that entire week as well, and made it our summer vacation trip.  We floated the Comal River, went to Schlitterbahn, and even went diving at Canyon Lake.  The Parish family also joined us, which is always fun to have them around.  I think they really enjoyed Laser Tag and Uncle Richard tried diving for the first time and is seriously considering taking up the adventures of diving.     

We call these our Super Beatles. We haven't found an exterminator yet for them, so we just let them hang out at our house.  You have to admit they are pretty colorful little creatures!

We have really pushed Cassandra to read over the summer but felt like we were loosing ground.  We took it upon ourselves to have her tested at Sylvan Learning Center and we didn't like the results.  They basically said, she would struggle a lot in the 1st grade if we didn't get her some help.  Well, after receiving great advise from my boss, we were able to find a private tutor from A&M's Reads and Counts Tutoring service for about half the price.  (no, it is not Lucas)  Anyway....we strongly feel like our investment is starting to pay off.  She loves reading again and loves her tutor, Jennifer Tropeano. 

We have decided to add onto our house.  This is Jase playing Cowboys and Indians in the dirt work before the slab was poured in July. 

And if you didn't think we did enough for our kids, our dear sweet neighbor, Sarah Truax gives horse back riding lessons.  Well, with her being just next door, we signed little 6 year old Cassandra up for riding lessons.  Sarah has her do it all, including helping put the saddle on, cleaning the horses hooves, and spraying "Thunder" off after lessons are over with.  I have to admit, I get REALLY nervous when I see Cassandra leading this 1,000 pound horse around, walking him as if he was a little poodle pup.  I have to look away, but Cassandra shows him that she is boss, and Thunder does what she says.    So far, no injuries!!

Summer 2011 to be continued on the next blog......