Vacation Time!!

We just got back a couple days ago from our vacation in Southern Utah. We had so much fun. I am so glad I was able to spend a whole week with my family (which is definitely not enough) We had a lot of fun and kept busy. I didn't take many pictures (I'm sad now) but it was nice not to have my camera out the whole time.
The drive up was pretty good, the kids did great, the driving was great and it really went by fast! The drive home on the other hand felt like forever, we were glad to pull up to our house the end of the second day. The kids were beyond excited to be home (or out of the car, or both)

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The pictures below were taken at (a place, I'm drawing a blank on the name) but it was basically a huge room with trampolines and blow up thingys. The kids all had a blast, and I think the adults did too!

(my camera was on the wrong setting or something for the next too, I'm sad that we were blurry)

We towed our boat with us all the way from Texas so we could enjoy some time at the lake by my parents. There were some short trips to the lake throughout the week and then on Friday we spent the majority of the day there with everyone. We also rented a waverunner (my personal favorite) I think everyone had a blast and went away tired, happy and not too sunburned.

Chad and Sam

Cousins!!

Carly and I

Sharise and I


Friday morning before heading to the lake we took the opportunity to snap some family photos. Below is me and my newest niece Haiven. I was so so so happy to finally be able to meet her on this trip! She is adorable!

Last year for my niece's birthdays' I made them each a skirt. So I thought I'd take the opportunity to take a picture with my cute nieces and my hard work. The only one without a skirt is baby Haiven.

I LOVE my family!!


The last night we were all together the girls decided to take the opportunity for a girls night out. We ate yummy food (I stuffed myself), did a little shopping and some pictures. I'm so grateful for these women in my life and that I can call them my sisters and Mom. We always have so much fun and I miss their faces when we aren't together.

The End.

so excited!!!

Thursday we'll start our journey across the country to visit my favorite people in Utah! I am so excited! I have been excited since we decided to go and I am so glad it's finally here! It feels like it's been forever since I've been to Utah, even though I was there last September. I'm not, however, excited about the two day car ride with my children and one dog (yes, we're bringing Dolly. I think we might be a little crazy!) But, I know that two days of craziness in the car will be so worth it. And seeing scenery like this along the way isn't so bad.

The faces I can't wait to see!

Plus one little face that I haven't met in person yet. It's been killing me but soon I'll be able to love on my newest little neice and I CANNOT WAIT!!!

hmmm...can't think of a post title......

We haven't been up to much lately. Now that we have the birthday's done for another year we've just been hanging out, trying to stay cool in this ridiculously HOT and unusually DRY Texas weather. Unfortunately the dryness has done a toll on my garden and my intolerance for heat makes it to where I physically can't stand outside and water my garden for three hours a day. So, I do the best I can and I continue to pray for rain.
So, I picked these pumpkins the other day. Mostly because the vines they were growing on were quickly dying from a cause unknown. I baked them and pureed them and now they are sitting in my freezer just waiting to be used.
Now, about the dying vines. I realized that my pumpkins are being overrun by Squash Bugs! I was out watering today and noticed almost hundreds (you think I'm exaggerating) of squash bugs big and little pile out from my pumpkin plants. I'm so sad. I've already lost two plants. And I'm pretty sure we're going to loose the rest :( I'm not quite sure I can get the bugs under control. Stinkin' bugs anyway.

My Zucchini Brownies (more like cake) It's funny. I'm growing all these veggies and all I can think of doing is make desserts with them.

I planted so many flowers earlier this year. They all started by seed. I was growing very impatient waiting for them to do something. Finally these past couple weeks they are slowly starting to bloom. I just noticed the other day my sunflowers are starting to bloom. I think next year I will control myself better and only pick a couple of flowers to grow instead of 15 different kinds. I kind of got carried away.

And of course, we can always count on some sort of wildlife to keep my kids busy for a couple hours.

Birthdays

I realized I never posted pictures from Carly and Sam's birthdays. I put some on facebook so for those of you who are on facebook you've seen these already. :)

This was the morning of Carly's actual birthday.

Below are pictures from the birthday party. We combined it with Ayden McLane (Chad's cousin's son) Their birthday's are a day apart so we thought it would be fun to celebrate all together since we invite all the same people anyway!

Carly's Ariel cake to match her Ariel bow


Below: These are pictures from Sam's birthday. He loved having his special day and he LOVED his Lightening McQueen cake.

Sam woke up to balloons everywhere on his birthday!

I still can't believe my babies are five and three years old. :(