Lost Pines & Cousins

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It's Been Over A Month

We're still here! Did you miss us? :-) This will be a random catch-up post about the last month.

GranMartha & my perfect nephew James

Jackson rolling out his homemade GREEN play dough

Ben is now 15 1/2 months old. He is the sweetest, happiest baby!

Jackson loves to play computer games at the library.

My boys took me to Chuy's for my 27th birthday. My girlfriends took me out another night, and I'm so bummed we didn't get any pictures.

We stayed at Pops & GranMartha's for a few nights while they were in TN.

Ben + Charlie = BFF

We kept Norma Jean while the young Norman's went to the beach. Ben took over her crate!

Papa John & Nana came to visit!

My mom bought these waffle blocks for the boys. Papa John built Jackson a chair!

Jackson the cowboy!

Hmm...what else has been happening?

• Jackson went to the dentist. Of course, he LOVED it! Who doesn't love Lana & Dr. Hilliard?
• The boys had their 15 month and 3 year old check up. I'm always reminded how blessed I am to have such healthy kids.
• I got to go out to dinner with my college roomies (Linds, we missed you!)
• Lots of playdates, swimming, and summer fun!
• We finished teaching kindergarten class on Wed nights. They were such a good group, and we had lots of fun with them!
  
• We just returned from a mini-vacation to Lost Pines with Pops & GranMartha- pics coming soon. I am going through s'mores withdrawal at night.
  

Can't believe summer is almost over!!! I am ready for cooler days. My boys don't seem to mind the 100 degree days- they just want to be OUTSIDE.

Have you heard the song Christ is Risen by Matt Maher? It's my new fave. Listen and enjoy!

Galveston 2010

Our dear friends Lynn & Sarah Smith shared their beach house with us again this summer! They let us stay there (just the 4 of us) Wednesday through Sunday. We had such a fantastic vacation. We played at the beach, relaxed at the beach house, ate lots of junk food, went to Schlitterbahn, ate at the Rainforest Cafe, and just enjoyed being together!

Jackson found a friend

This was as far as Ben would go in the water!

He didn't mind that his snacks got covered in sand

They worked really hard to dig this tunnel!

Our 1 picture from Schlitterbahn! The boys loved it there! :-)

Jackson looking at the rainbow

Jackson had NO fear of the ocean. Ryan was such a good sport to play with him in the water for hours at a time! Jackson loved jumping over the waves.

Ben enjoyed walking in the sand

Leaving the beach after a day of fun in the sun

I can't even tell you how much food the boys ate while we were there. The beach made them eat and sleep like champs! I'm considering moving there permanently.

Puzzles after a full day of playing outside.

Thank you Smiths! We loved our time in Galveston!

Summer Fun

Jackson trying out his new roller skates!

typical Ben :-)

playing with Dad

Pops & GranMartha gave Jackson Buzz & Woody pjs. He was checking himself out!

finger painting

playing Memory

trying to wreck Ben with the wrecking ball- not ok!

time for a haircut?

we take our Thai Cottage lunches seriously!

afternoon playtime at the mall

dinner at Lupe Tortilla

Jackson & Lincoln had their last swim lesson this week. What cute little swimmers!

playtime at Sugar Creek

Yes, I chased Ben all through the playscape. It was quite a workout!!!

Ben loves to play in front of his window.

Watching Toy Story 2- dressed as Buzz, holding his 2 Buzz toys, and drinking from his Toy Story cup.

Happy 3rd Birthday

We celebrated Jackson's 3rd Birthday yesterday! I'm having a hard time believing that my baby is 3 years old-crazy! We had a party that was all about Jackson. He planned everything!

Conversation went like this:
Me: Jackson, what do you want to do for your birthday?
Jackson: have a party.
Me: What do you want to do at your party?
Jackson: play with my friends
Me: Ok. Do you want a birthday cake?
Jackson: Yes. A cow cake.
Me: What else do you want to eat?
Jackson: chicken nuggets
Me: What color would you like your party to be?
Jackson: My favorite color green.
Me: What would you like for your birthday present?
Jackson: a hot wheels car (i hope he's always this easy to please!!!)
You get the idea!

So, we had the cutest green/cow party you ever did see! We set up at the splash park, let the kids play, ate ChickfilA and cow cake, and Jackson even got a hot wheels car! :-) He was a happy camper!

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Early July

We left the farm minus one family member. Jackson went back to Frisco with his Papa John & Nana for some special together time. They had such a good week! Jackson never got homesick and they said he was perfect! I enjoyed some one-on-one time with my Benjamin. I forgot how quiet it is with just one child. :-) Papa John, Nana, and Jackson all came back to Sugar Land for July 4 weekend. I was so happy to have him home!!! I really missed my little buddy. We watched the fireworks, which totally confused Jackson. He was wondering where Cinderella's Castle was! (The last time we saw fireworks was at Disney World in September- he remembered!) BEN IS WALKING. He decided (on July 4) that he would walk and not sit down. He seems so big now walking and talking!

We went to Sugar Land's Childrens Museum with a group from church. This is a dig pit that my boys LOVED!

I no longer have any pennies in my purse!

Love this grin with his ice cream cone!