Fun with friends

Savannah's best friend was over one day and they made a "pet store" in the playroom.  You can't really see in the picture, but there are "cages" for various animals.  Then the "office" and cash register were in the computer room where you could pay.  I love that these girls can still figure out creative ways to keep themselves entertained.

 On August 31 we went swimming and had a BBQ with some friends.  There were 15 kids I think, so it was crazy but fun.  Thanks Bokmans!

 

 Saturday was probably our last swim of the summer.  Even though it's still hot, we just have other things to keep us busy now!

As a side note, I am so happy with myself to finish this post.  I am finally caught up with this blog after being behind for 6 months.  Happy day for me!

Jacques Cousteau

 Zach had his first mini-science project due the second week of school.  They had to research a scientist.  Since Zach wants to be an oceanographer he did Jacques Cousteau.  He had his information around the outside and actually had some fun doing the inside.  Great job Zach!

Court of Honor

Jacob had his first real Court of Honor and was really excited to finally have his rank badge to put on his shirt.  He earned his Tenderfoot, Second Class, and First Class badges.  He also earned his chess, geology and cinematography badges as well.  We're thankful for good scout leaders motivate him and help him enjoy scouting.

 

 

First Day of School

The kids were excited for the first day of school, although they would maybe have told you otherwise.  They were getting pretty bored during August, so it is nice to have them busy.

 Jacob - 7th Grade - Ridgeview Middle School

(Acc. Math, Language Arts, Texas History, Science, Gateway to Technology, Boys Choir, 

Outdoor Education)

Zach - 5th Grade - Mrs. Kessler & Mrs. O'hara

Savannah - 3rd Grade - Mr. Crawford

Connor - 1st Grade - Mrs. Fuchs (pronounced Fox)

 

 

 Savannah lucked out and has tons of friends already in her class.

After I took the kids to school Landon and I headed over to the park.  It was overcast all morning and started to rain just as we left.  He loved getting out and also having some one on one time with me...which he'll be getting a lot of now.

We played for a while in the little "mini Round Rock city."

 His favorite spot this time though was the sandbox, which he had all to himself.  He also loved riding his new tricycle that we got from a friend.

 

 

End of Summer

We did some fun things for the end of the summer, but I actually took a break from taking pictures a few times.  We went to Texas Jumping Beans & Rock'N'River.  We also have had lots of new people that we've met at church.

This is Connor and his new buddy, who used to live in Odessa by Uncle Steven.  They get along great.

 Savannah participated in a little "friend" piano recital with the Mabeys and Heiners.  Savannah started doing piano again in July after a year and a half hiatus.

 Jacob & Connor started having more regular judo practice again and are loving going together.

 How cool are our home teachers?  One of them went on a trip to Africa with the Dando Amor charity.  Connor was dying to see all of his pictures of Africa, so he brought his projector and laptop and we had a "movie lesson."

Jacob's Day Camp

Jacob did a couple of mini-day camps this summer to earn some money.  He did two days in July and two days in August.  Connor & Landon also loved it, so it was a win for me as well.

 The legos are always a huge hit.

 They played some Minute-to-Win-it games and it was hilarious.

 I'm pretty sure Landon thinks he is the same age as Jacob most of the time.

 We played human Candyland and it was a huge success.  The kids loved it.  They won real candy when they landed on the pink squares and when they got to the Candy Castle.  One thing I regretted though was letting them eat the candy for their snack.  We had a really loud, hyper couple of hours after that.

 The Wii stopped working on the last day and I had a bunch of boys standing around giving me advice on how to fix it.  I finally had to ban them all from the room, and luckily got it working after an hour.  (It is now officially broken, but luckily lasted through most of the rest of the summer.)

I'm proud of Jacob for how much money he has in his savings accounts already.  Good work Jacob!  

Inner Space Caverns

When Zach was going to History Camp we drove past Inner Space Caverns twice a day.  Every day he said that he wanted to go there, twice a day.  I told him that the 5th graders go there on their field trip every year, but he wanted to go now.  So I told him that if he paid for it I'd take him.  I guess he really wanted to go!

Zach and I went together on a Monday morning, so there was only one other couple on the tour with us.  He loved it, except when they turned all the lights out so you can feel what it's really like in a cave.  He was nervous about bats, but we only saw two.

This is the only part of the cave that you're allowed to touch.  Once the oils from your fingers are on the formations enough then they stop forming and growing. 

 

 Zach loves geology and was most interested in all the fossils they've found.  They showed us a couple of spots that used to be open to the surface, and that is where the animals would fall in (during the ice age).  This light above Zach's head is pointing to some mammoth tusks.  Now the cave is deep enough that it is actually under the highway, I-35.

 We had fun spending some time just the two of us.

 

Visit to Odessa

The kids and I left on Tuesday, July 30 and drove to my brother Steven's house in Odessa.  The kids had fun with their cousins and it was nice to get away for a few days.

Savannah loves that Madelyn is finally old enough to play with...sort of.

 Max is 4 and LOVES having his cousins there to play with.

On Wednesday Sarah & I took the kids to a fun city pool.  After taking only 2 pictures I was told by a lifeguard that I wasn't allowed to take any pictures at the pool.  Kinda weird, but whatever.  Not long after that I was swimming with Landon and he started whimpering and trying to move his life jacket over.  I pulled it back and there was a huge hornet, and it had stung him twice on his neck.  He didn't really want to swim anymore, so he just chilled in a chair in the shade eating snacks.  Landon hates splash parks and doesn't really love the pool for very long anyway, so he was just happy watching all the kids.

 

That evening Steven took us down to the police department to see where he works.  He just got a new position as a public relations officer, so he basically has a desk job now and is on the news a bunch.  He still has to wear his full cop uniform a couple of times a week though.

 

 This is what happens when I say "look at me and smile!"

 Madelyn is a big fan of ravioli.

 My mom arrived on Wednesday night from Arizona.  The grandkids were all happy to see her.  On Thursday we took them all to a jumping place to get out all their energy.  

 

 Madelyn was not thrilled to be taking pictures, but I made her anyway.

 Sarah asked me to take a few pictures of her kids while I was there, so we took a few minutes one morning and took some on the porch and inside.  These are my favorites.

 

 

 

We drove home on Friday morning.  Thanks for letting us come visit Steven & Sarah!