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......

Camping

We broke down and decided to buy a used camper. It was too good of a deal to pass up. It was a 1995 Salem camper for $3,000. We decided that we needed to go cheap, since the word out on the street is, you buy one and then basically just park it and watch it rott away. Hopefully, we will at least get our money's worth out of it. We have already started making great memories on our first trip out to Lake Bryan.
We took on, 5 of our favorite kiddo's to join us. Rylee, Holley, Sebastian, Cassandra and Jase.

They made our guacamole for us. Too be honest, it was really good! Do you think it was the hands that made it, which made it taste so good?

Cory couldn't bring himself to eat it. So, "note to self" don't repeat this exercise!

Yea....can't beat camping without AC and TV. We are set up!

And a beautiful sunset over Lake Bryan!

We were really roughing it... a restaurant on the premises. Life is good!

Hummm.....maybe we should try to go camping without the kids....Live band, beautiful sunset, just think of the possibilities.

But I have to admit the kids added a lot of joyment to our trip. Cassandra learned how to ride her bicycle without training wheels.

And Jase....well, it want be long, and he will be asking for his training wheels to be removed as well. I also have to share with you what he said to his Daddy on his way back from swimming. He said, "Dadda this is the best trip ever, thank you for taking me camping, I love you Daddy". Awe....Cory said, that paid for the entire camper in itself.

As I was saying, we were really roughing it. Cell phone signal where Cory could call his buddy on the phone. Whoa....what an awesome camping trip with our new trailer. We had fun.

You should come join us next time ;-)

Happy Birthday Daddy

I thought this would make Cory's Birthday special! I hope it worked! To all the other viewers, you might want to wear ear plugs ;-)

Easter Sunday 2011

What a day of rejoicing it was at the Zion Church of Kurten. The choir did a beautiful Easter cantada. The breakfast was perfect. I was so glad I took my entree in the night before, I wasn't near as rushed this morning as I could have been.
The kids were anxious to take a bath this morning and look beautiful and handsome. No one complainted about what I picked out for them to wear this morning! Praise the Lord!

Now, getting them to sit still long enough to take a picture was a little stressful!

But when I said, it was for Daddy, some how they managed to stop a second and give a smile!

After church, we made a mad dash to Mema's church. They were having an Easter egg hunt at noon, so we were able to catch the end of their sermon and participate in their Easter egg hunt.

Not sure what to think about Mr. Jase, he still is not into Easter egg hunting. Last year, I remember he was sick and was running fever....but this year, he is fine.....he just don't like it.

Now Cassandra on the other hand, is starting to ask if an Easter Bunny is really real? I told her that is something that she had to figure out on her own.

Holley's Easter basket was over flowing! She was having fun!

And of course, Sebastian didn't have any trouble either in filling up his basket as well.

Now, it is time to compare....who got the most?

And, I couldn't pass up this opportunity to get a family photo of the 5 Rodriguez's

So, cute!

And we might as well get a picture of the three of us!

The end.....let's go home and take a Sunday siesta, where we can play some more at Mema's house this afternoon!

Coloring Eggs and Monkey Bars

Cassandra is so good on the monkey bars

She truly amazes me. She can go from end to end without any help!

But the little feller still needs a little help.

Tomorrow is Cory's B-day......so, Happy Birthday honey from us!

We love you Baby.....that's why I'm staying up late loading these pictures tonight....and loosing beauty sleep!

We are set and ready for Easter tomorrow.

All the eggs are colored!

with unique designs

Happy Easter!