The Weekend!

Our sweet friends, the Tison's came to visit us this weekend. They are friends that we met in seminary. Ben graduated in May and they are still in Dallas for a little while, so they made a trip down to see us. We had a blast. On Friday night, we ate at Iguana Grill which is on Lake Travis. It was good, but way too hot!! We were sweating and drinking water like crazy. On Saturday, the Tison's invited us to swim at there hotel, the Barton Creek Resort and Spa . We grilled out on Saturday night and then headed downtown for Amy's Ice Cream, a favorite in Austin, and we just missed seeing the bats. Lauren was glad. She is a little scared of bats. On Sunday, we had a launch team meeting, but then we met them at Hula Hut on Lake Austin. It was delicious. The time flew by and it was so great being with our friends. Sam, Knox, Blake, Tyler, and Boone. (Gray was in the stroller taking in the beauty of Austin.)

Boys will be boys!!

This was in front of the capital building of Texas in downtown Austin. The boys came up with this on their own. They wanted to create a war scene and they instructed me to take pictures of it.
Tyler and Sam fighting over who will shoot the canon that kills Blake and Boone!

Garage Time

The boys hang out in our garage quite a bit. We have a million things with wheels in there, tons of dress up clothes, and oh let's not forget our entire church. (including stage lights) Anyway, this was one day we were hanging out. Tyler and Sam were trying their best at the hula hoop. I have no idea what Tyler's face was all about.
*By the way, Blake was out hunting toads. I wish I had a picture of him, golf club in tow, as he would lift the lids off of every electrical hole in all of our neighbors yards. Lovely!!!

Sam I Am

Today I took Gray and Sam to the doctor for Gray's one year check-up. (Yes, the doctor said "Happy Birthday" to Gray, and then said "Oh a month ago". So I am not right on it. Whatever.) Back to my point. Sam and I read Green Eggs and Ham and I had no idea that this was the first time I had read it to him. I have read it a million times and especially to Tyler and Blake. I wish you could have seen Sam. Every time I said his name his eyes were huge and he was smiling. He really thought they were talking about him. So sweet!! Sam actually would never like Green Eggs and Ham, because of something else he said to me at the doctor's office. It went something like this:

Me: "Sam, do you like spinach?"

Sam: "What is it?

Me: "It's a vegetable."

Sam: "Yes, I only like bananas, brownies, cookies, and candy."

Oh my word!!!

Happy Father's Day

We had a great Father's Day weekend!! We went to church on Sunday, had a yummy home made meal, and then spent the day swimming.
A few weeks ago, Lindsey, Kimberly, and I came up with a plan to surprise the boys (our husbands, not our sons) with a day out on the boat. So, on Monday e made a picnic lunch of all their favorites, from the drinks to there favorite candy, and headed out on Lake Travis. Did I mention we had sitters? We had the best time!!!
Just the girls!!! ( I am addicted to Sunglasses. I don't go outside without them. Unfortunately for me I look like a raccoon at the end of the summer.)
Jeremy is such a wonderful Dad!! The boys adore him. I am so thankful for him!! Derek tubing!!

Camping 101

You all know I have four boys!! Well, I am sorry, but I am not going to camp. I don't camp. I like camping in hotels!!
So, what a great Father/Son bonding manly thing for the boys and Jeremy to do. A fun hobby just for them. Jeremy had his first trial run with the boys on Friday night. They were so excited! I have no idea what they did. (I was inside watching a movie) They slept out there all night. I loved seeing the boys so excited about it. Maybe next time they will venture out more than 30 feet from the house.

Slip and Slide

So, what in the world do we do in the summer? Kimberly, Lindsey, and I are always trying to come up with stuff to do. This week, we made smoothies and busted out the $10 slip and slide. The boys had a blast plus had a good serving of fruit and dairy (this is coming from a Mom that offers her children cereal for dinner when Jeremy isn't there for dinner. I love cereal nights!!!). We drank fruit smoothies, played a little, and then had lunch together. It was way better than cleaning your house...again..... for the 1000th time. Jax didn't so much like the slide or the slip part, but he did like the water spraying.
I love Sam's belly!!
Did I mention that we added dish soap?

Big Boys

Gray wants to hang with his bros all the time, but a lot of times he has to hang back with his mama! The other morning I had folded clothes all over the kitchen table and he would be sitting alone in his high chair, so we put him at the boys little table. He loved it. He stood up the whole time. He did great except when he was done with his own food he kept stealing the other boys stuff.

Sum Sum Summer Time!!

We are having so much fun with Tyler being home for the summer. The boys are getting creative, because we established we weren't watching T.V. all day. They do get to watch T.V. just not all day. Tyler and Blake are really into reruns of The Incredible Hulk when they get to watch it. We have been doing crafts, playing with water balloons, and playing outside with all the kids on our street! So fun!! Noah's Ark has been around our house since Tyler was one and it is still a hit.

Sam freaking out over Gray wanting to play with "his family" Gray looking at Sam like he is crazy.

Tyler is Indiana Jones and Blake is Mutt! Characters from Indiana Jones and the Crystal Skull. Sam is a um an Optimus Monkey Prime!!

Rockin' Out

Every Tuesday night we go to Chick-fil-a for family night. Kids eat free!!! Anyway, they always have something fun going on. (Lowe's comes and they do a project, balloon makers, and crafts.) On this night Pigtails and Crewcuts were there. They did complimentary hair coloring. All the girls were getting their hair done, but no boys. Well, you know Tyler and Blake were not having it. Here is the end result. They loved it.

365 Days Ago

365 Days Later

Looks like Daddy!
99% of the time spent smiling
Loves his fingers and Lovie aka "The Love"
Not quite walking
6 teeth, 4 coming in

ONE

Gray is 1!!! We had a little sweet party for him. His aunts, uncles, and cousins all came over to celebrate. We had cupcakes and he opened gifts!! He had no idea what was going on. When we were all singing to him, he had the funniest look on his face. He isn't use to having all the attention on him. Also, Lindsey announced that she and Derek are expecting again! We are thrilled to have another little one added to the fam.
Honestly, Gray turning one has been bittersweet for me. It goes by so fast! He is my last and I am trying so hard to take it all in.