Natasha

I invited Natasha, my BYU friend, and her three kids to come and swim with us at our pool. It was so much fun to catch up on the last few years of our lives. We will have to get together again soon. I still find it amazing that we live so close together.

Swimming, Cheesecake, and an old Friend

Today was jammed packed. We left the house at 10:25 am and got home after 4pm. We started at Heritage’s swimming pools. The pools were beautiful and the kids had a blast. There were water slides, a spray ground, a pool with a waterfall, water slides, and a baby pool. Carter wasn’t aloud to wear his water wings, so I had to hold him a lot. Other than aching arms, it was a wonderful outing.

Cheesecake factory is celebrating their 30th anniversary so they are selling their cheesecake slices for $1.50. Susan and I headed out to Southlake to take advantage of the deal and fabulous cheesecake. Michalann met us there and put our name on the list, but it still took an hour to get in. We did some shopping but Michalann had to leave to pick up her dad from the airport. It was funny to see Michaleann and me shopping with our six kids. It was kind of crazy. When we finally got into the restaurant, it took forever to get our cheesecake. Carter started to melt down and was in full fit mode by the time we left. I thought he would sleep on the way there in the van, but he didn’t. I was kind of regretting coming and then a girl came up to me and said, “I don’t remember your name but we were in the same hall at BYU our freshman year.” I remembered it was Natasha, who now has three kids and lives about 5 minutes from me but goes to another ward. We are going to get together with our kids soon.

Isn’t that funny how life works. There I was with a very cranky Carter wishing I wouldn’t have even come and ran into a friend from 10 years ago. I now am very glad I went.

Sister Love

How much do I love my sister? So much that I am letting her shedding dog stay in my house for 10 days. I guess Hannah, the dog, only sheds really bad twice a year. Lucky me! After vacuuming everything and brushing Hannah outside, things are back under control here. I just couldn't believe the hair. We are blessed with Jinx who doesn’t shed at all. Yeah Golden Doodles!

Forever Cleaning

I feel like I am forever cleaning my house, so why does it look like this?

Coordinating Fun

I love to coordinate my kids’ clothes for church. Can you even imagine if I had three girls? Anyway, I just think it is the cutest thing ever. It would have been great if Carter would have let us take a picture of all three kids. Oh well, Gavin and Renée look adorable and tan!

Miles's Party

We were invited to the Collingwood’s house to celebrate the first birthday of their son, Miles. They also have a son, Darrin, who is the same age as Gavin, and a daughter, Clare, who is the same age as Renée. The kids just go off and play together, which is super nice. For the party, the kids got to play on a slip and slid and in a little pool. Gavin loved the slip and slide. It was his first time on one, but he picked it up pretty quick. Carter liked Mile’s slide that he got for his birthday. Thanks for a great night, Michalann.

Sleeping Renée

When Sam went to get Gavin up to go the bathroom before he went to bed, he found Renée sleeping in the doorway.

Surfs Up

We took a break from the pool and went to see the free movie at the Rave Theater. Carrie and her son Tyler came along. The movie was Surfs Up. Gavin loved it, Renée got bored after and hour, and I had to go stand on the side with Carter for the last 30 minutes. Luckily Carrie could sit with Gavin. After the movie, we ate lunch at the food court. Fast food is a rarity for us, so my kids are super excited to get it. We stopped at the fountain on the way out. Tyler loved that.

Yoga Blocks and Shoe Strings

Gavin tried to tie these to his feet but ended up needing my help. He kept them on for hours; I think he wanted to show his dad. I don’t know why we buy our kids toys. Next Christmas everyone is getting yoga blocks and shoes strings.

Braving the Heat

We went to the part today at 8:30am and it was already too hot. I think it hit 101 today! I was meeting Natalie, who I visit and teach and Brooke. The kids seemed to like it even in the heat.

It's Paint'n Time

I painted the powder room. In Frisco, we painted everything and never got around to draperies. So in this house, I hung draperies first. Now that that is finished I got started on paint, Sam isn’t excited. I started the project at 11pm on Saturday night and worked until 1am. I finished up during nap time. Most of the work in a bathroom is cutting, so that took awhile. The rolling probably took 20 minutes. I used Benjamin Moore’s new green line of paint, Sam liked that. This little tiny bathroom took almost an entire gallon. I think it was the flat paint underneath.

The art is from Sam’s Grandma Lil. I got them because she is selling her house and downsizing. They are from Japan, when her and her family lived there 40 years ago. I put them in my bathroom because they look fabulous on the blue/green background and because they are on paper and I didn’t this they would survive in the Texas sun. Thanks Grandma.

More Fireworks

We had two late nights this weekend. On Friday night, our neighbors Zack and Jess organized a block party in their front yard. It was fun to get to know our neighbors better and our kids had fun playing with the other kids. Gavin loved Zack’s mister attachment to his hose and must have drunk a gallon of water from it. Between that and the lemonade he didn’t have a prayer of spending the night dry.

On Saturday night we went to NRH2O. This was our first trip there without Alycia and her family. We missed them but enjoyed ourselves anyway. Gavin and Renée did some great lily pad jumping (enjoy the video). The park was crowded so we didn’t go down any water slides but spent time in the lazy river and the wave pool. After we were done we cuddled up in our towels to watch the fireworks display. It was another great fireworks show that the kids and Sam loved. They also enjoyed Doritos because I don’t allow synthetically orange food in my house after some nasty carpet stains in our last house. We learned where the best place to park is so we were home a little after 10.

Gavin took the photo of Sam, Carter, Renée, and me!

Lost in Translation

Tiffany, “Go ask dad for two triple A batteries.”
Gavin, “Dad, mom wants two crème brule's.”

Gavin actually knows what crème brule' is. Alycia makes it for us all the time. I am so glad I got her a kit for her birthday one year.

No More Binky

My kids slept over Alycia’s house on Tuesday night so Sam and I could have a date night. I forgot Renée’s binky so on Wednesday night she didn’t have one. She cried a little bit, but has adjusted well. Since Carter never took one, we are a binky free household.

Girl's Night Out

In my Frisco ward (church), we had a monthly girl’s night out at a restaurant. I loved it and missed it once I moved here. I organized one of my own with some of my new friends here in Keller. We met at Cheddar’s, which was packed for a Thursday night, but we had a great time chatting and escaping our kids for a night. I think I started a new tradition here.

Me, Carrie, Michelle, Maryn, Susan, Sharee, MichalAnn, and Jayne

Diving Board Fun

We went the Blake’s pool for play group again and my kids loved the diving board. Carrie and I were the last ones in the pool because of our happy little swimmers. As long as my kids are happy in the pool we stay. Enjoy their bouncy pictures and videos.

Snow Cones

Alycia and Nick spent a night in Dallas for their anniversary, so her kids spent the night with us. We took the kids out for snow cones, which they loved. The boys ordered blue and the girls wanted pink. They were more concerned with the color than the flavor. I also thought you would enjoy were all of my children are wearing clothes.

Cousin's at NRH2O

After Blake’s birthday party we met Sam at the water park. We ate our dinner of pizza there. Since Renée and Sydney were wearing their matching swim suits from GG, I had to get a picture. It is so much fun for our kids to have their cousins so close. They really love each other. When we ask Renée who the boss of her is she always says, “Sydney.”

We were getting out of the lazy river, it was Alycia and our girls and baby boys. Alycia said, "Where is Renée?” I said, “Right here.” Alycia said, “That is Sydney.” Then I had to jump back in and chase Renée down. OOpps!

Blake's Party

We all got to go to Blake’s 6th birthday party. Alycia made it a Diego theme. She had tons of games created; blind fold cotton ball collection, put the spot on baby jaguar, Diego bingo, a Diego piñata (which was a little politically incorrect), and a treasure hunt to find baby jaguar. I helped Alycia with the cake and was the unofficial photography, which is why I am never in any photos. The blow up Jet Ski was Blake’s gift from GG. Carter got a little bored with the party, so he played outside. I know I am posting way too many pictures but I have fiber optic internet so it is really fast that the pictures are all so cute.