Happy Father's Day

The day may be over for everyone tonight,
But you will be up before the daylight,
Working hard every day to provide for your crew,
We're so happy to have a daddy like you!

Whether we have a question about baseball or deer,
With you we will know that an answer is near,
When it's time to go swim, or it's time to grill meat,
Or to talk about our day as we sit down to eat,

When we go to the beach or a trip to go fish,
Or out to a restaurant for Mom's favorite dish,
You are willing and ready to go with the flow,
You love God and family, and that we do know.

So on this Father's Day may you feel you are loved,
By your kids and your wife and your Father above,
May you be filled with joy while you work and you play,
And remember you're treasured on this Father's Day!

from your girls

and your little guy

your baby-on-the-way, and your loving wife!
Happy Father's Day, Steven!!!

A Happy Father's Day to PaPa and BopBop too!

Day 2 of New Braunfels

PaPa had his golf tournament on Day 2, so Mom and I were on our own at the resort with no car. The girls were up and ready to scoot on over for breakfast!


A quick pause for a pic of the girls with SJ (ie "Bruiser" who got a black eye from jumping off his floor mattress into his changing table the day before we left) in his stroller.


Almost to breakfast! A yummy one of Lucky Charms and pancakes, any kid's dream!


Then we spent some time on the little putting green. SJ now calls this "put puhsh golf!"

Almost!


Kids and NeNe having fun! It was still overcast and cool on this central TX morning!



Steven Joseph had to use the big putters, a little too big for him!


Girls taking video of their brother


About to head back to the room. Love this tree in the background!


Spotting deer on the way back.


We checked out Operation from the front desk. Kept them busy for a short time at least!


Then it was off to the pool...


Another beautiful oak


After PaPa got back, we went over to the little Historical District of Gruene. Here are the kids with NeNe and PaPa (just realized I have no pics of myself from the entire trip!)


SJ taking a look at some lily pads


in an old playhouse


by a covered wagon


by some colorful flowers


Then it was back to the pool! This time we tried the one by the front buildings. Perfect for little ones, it was a play pool with a beach entry and lots of very shallow water!


Mom and I relaxed on this outing while PaPa took charge in the pool


MC in the hot tub!


And some more putting around with PaPa!


We brought his own little putter this time!





The kids all fell asleep that night on the floor watching an Animal Planet show about coral reefs. I actually got the double bed to myself for a few hours before the kids starting coming in one-by-one and I ended up on the couch. Our room had a bunk bed, but I can't yet trust any of them on an upper bunk because they're such crazy sleepers who move all around! The first night Ellie kept ramming into the side rail and had a leg hanging over, so I had to move her before I went to sleep. I was so happy to get back home to my own comfy king-sized bed last night!

Day 1 of New Braunfels

My dad had a convention to attend in San Antonio this week, so at the last minute we found a ranch resort with a condo in nearby New Braunfels and took a quick 2-night trip with my parents! The kids and I had a wonderful time, but were sad that Daddy couldn't join us on this one. We'll be taking a big trip in July and can't wait to share that as a family!

There were dozens of deer on the property. This is right outside our condo window! Steven just informed us that this deer is "about to drop," meaning she's about to give birth! No wonder she was so willing to come near us and find food.


We were initially hoping to stay at one of the big resorts that has a waterpark, but in the end this was the perfect spot for us! The pools were nearly vacant and it was just so relaxing not having to worry about the kids getting lost in a crowd.

NeNe with the girls


Sisters actually sharing a float!


Steven Joseph is happy as a clam in the "yittle" pool with his kickboard and puddle-jumper (lifejacket).


The ranch offered evening outdoor movies with popcorn! The girls and PaPa watched a little bit of the movie while Steven Joseph and I drove around looking for deer (in order to get a very tired SJ to fall asleep)! It worked out pretty well. Many of the deer were out grazing in the evenings.


I'd better go rest up for our last swim meet of the year, Divisionals! I'll try to load the photos from Day 2 tomorrow. Have a great weekend!

Ellie lost her first tooth!

On Monday morning it was hanging by a thread. Later that day while chewing bubble gum, she felt something in the gum. When she pulled it out of her mouth, she found her tooth in the bubble gum! She was absolutely thrilled!

Happy Girl!


She insisted I take a photo that night before the Tooth Fairy would take her tooth away.

This photo took me nearly 15 minutes and probably 15 crops in iPhoto. Someone PLEASE help me learn to use this camera! Sometimes it's just stuck and won't focus or take the picture, especially close-ups. I guess I need to try to read the manual...

Congrats to our big girl, Ellie! She was so kind to want to give away her dollar from the Tooth Fairy to both her brother and sister who had found toys they wanted at our mall outing that day. What a generous little girl she is.

Sibling "Love" at the Swim Meet

100 degrees. One chair. Three kids who'd been up until nearly midnight and awakened at 7:00am. 'Nuff said.











And some diving and swimming pics too!

Awaken Ballet Production 2010

On Friday Night the girls performed in Mary Clare's 5th and Ellie's 2nd Dance Recital! "Awaken" told the story of the Book of Revelation, including dances representing cultures throughout the world and a ballet representation of John's visions in Revelation Chapter 4.

NeNe and PaPa came out a little early with yummy Mexican take-out, then the girls rushed off to the auditorium while the guys stayed behind for a bit.


Here are the girls in their ballet costumes, holding their gifts from NeNe. Mary Clare's dance was "Rodeo" and Ellie's was "English." Mary Clare also performed a tap routine with an "Irish" theme.


Mama and her ballerinas!


Here are all the girls in the younger kids' dressing room with the director (dressed in black), as she led them in prayer before the performance.


Holding their flowers after the show!


Some sweet friends from our homeschool group came to watch!


As did two of their cousins!


Grampatti and Aunt Mary came too, although we didn't get a picture with Mary.


The girls walked out to the car, at nearly 11pm stating, "We want to do this every year until we're teachers!" What a fun year of ballet! We look forward to many more to come.