June

For as amazing as summer is, I am terrible at it.  If my trend continues, by the end of summer I won't be getting up and around with enough time left to complete the bedtime routine in the evening.  Not pictured in this post are the trip to the dentist where Rory got a foam giraffe hat, Silas attending Bible School with Meemaw, Silas killing his new chore routine, much cabinet scrubbing, and that time I found myself at a fish fry with 22 of the democratic presidential hopefuls.

Berkleigh's B-day at the Y.

Retirement Party for Becky.

Last day of school/ Sports confusion.

 

Park picture cropped as to not show the unfortunately unpleasant kid we couldn't shake. I sound terrible writing that, but he was that ornery.

Silas started karate and loves it. Mr. Mike is pretty hard core and I keep waiting for him to catch Silas squirreling around and let him have it.  I need it to happen sooner than later so I can know if he will still want to book his karate birthday party there or if he will be too traumatized.

Twoday

Happy birthday to this kiddo! We actually had a party this year and the weather was glorious! We went to Sesquicentennial State Park and played at the splash pad.  Rory mostly stood at the fence pointing at cars in the parking lot, which made me rethink this year's bug theme. Oh well. Then we had a scavenger hunt, caught pet bugs for our critter jars, and picnicked together with family and friends.

 

 

Texas

The first stop of the trip (after dropping the kids with Auntie Conn) was to Austin to see my college buddies.  We ate and talked and checked out the Blue Hole.  We got to see Beth's soon-to-be old house and meet baby Gabe. (Actually Emma and Sarah for me as well, because I am a terrible friend.) Joy and Elizabeth and I got some bonus time paddle boarding with the city skyline backdrop where a very friendly stranger took and shared 10 pictures of us, all of which were blurry :(. Perhaps that should be a happy face, as I was wearing a swimming suit. I love this crew. I don't think I've ever had a better gift than finding the Campus House. (Plus also Daron and my boys.)

  

Back in Dallas with the fam, we got to go to a swim meet. Here is Eli winning his race by so much that it looks like he had no competitors. We also got to see Malachi play in a water polo scrimmage.

We drove to Tyler State Park for camping. Silas got sworn in as a junior ranger. It was legit and adorable. He had to complete a workbook, be interviewed by the ranger and recite and sign his pledge in order to earn his badge. He would like to thank Elizabeth, his ranger coach, for her tutelage. He also crossed a ravine by fallen log and participated in his first campfire ghost story session in which he told an original and rather violent tale of encountering and stomping the faces of many wild animals. Rory's impressive accomplishment was bringing Gigi to see a slug he had found and then tripping and accidentally impaling it on a sweetgum ball. He was also a fearless lake jumper.

 

 

Back at the homestead, we toured Dallas and celebrated Hannah's birthday with a trip to Medieval Times. Our knight did not win, but the boys were enthralled.  Thanks Elizabeth for being a great travel buddy and putting up with me for an entire week!