What a Summer So Far! - Recap of June 2013

We've been extremely busy this summer.  We were out of school for a week before the other local schools got out for summer vacation this year.  Which meant that recital was pushed back a week.  Our summer doesn't offically start until after recital because it's a week worth of preparing.  Well, for me, as the mom, it takes longer to prepare because I have to get all the costumes ready and organize or schedule, etc.  We love recital, but man is it a long week.  Here's our 2012-2013 recital in pictures:

My camera on my phone doesn't like the lighting in the auditorium.  My goal for next year is to have a better camera so that I can take better pictures.  We had dress rehearsal for 2 days this year.  A first for us because Katie was in 3 numbers.  Kinsley was only in one, thank goodness.  Next year, however, it will be CRAZY!  Katie will be in ballet, tap, jazz, clogging, and hip hop.  Kinsley will be in ballet and tap.  I'm going to need a personal assistant.

 Katie's ballet costume.

 Kinsley's sassy little pose in her ballet costume.

My sweet babies in their first recital together.

Kinsley received a gift from one of her friends.

 I love that face.

Posing with daddy.

Tap

Jazz - she rocked this number!

 My parents, siblings, and all of their spouses on Father's Day.  It was a very hard day.  I hate seeing my daddy and step mom so turn up.  We got daddy that large metal poster for Dustin's memory garden.  It turned out great.

Me and my daddy.  I love this man more than words can express.

We always start our summer bucket list after recital.  They couldn't wait to choose something fun to do.

 Having a fashion show.

Playing at an idoor playground.

We got to spend the day with my niece, Britton.  She is so stinkin' cute. 

Her and Kinsley danced for a very long time together. 

The weekend after recital we spent the entire weekend at my dad's house.  My dad works offshore, and my stepmother doesn't like to be alone, so we stayed with her to keep her company.  Playing with our cousins is so much fun.

Cheyenne is the oldest of them all.  She kept them entertained.  Kinsley loves Cheyenne so much.

Bucket List Wednesday again and this time, Daddy joined us. 

We spent the day at the park and had a picnic. 

We showed them how to roll down the hill like we used to do when we were kids.

We took a walk down to the river.

Playing at the park.

After the park, we went out for snocones.  They were refreshing.

After snocones, we stopped by the library.  They were worn out at this point.  We immediately went home and took a nap.  We still had stuff to do.  Later that evening, we met Paw Paw Dave at IHop where we ate breakfast for dinner.  Kinsley PIGGED out.  After IHop (Katie calls it Hop), we went to the movies to watch Monster's University.  Cute movie.  Kinsley pigged out on popcorn.

The next day we went to my dad's to visit him since he had training and would be gone for the weekend.  Kinsley threw up in the car on the way there.  She was fine after she threw up.  I'm sure it was because of the amount of food she ate the night before.

Playing dress up and having their own recital.

Last Sunday, after church, we went to my mom's house to swim in her pool.  It was so relaxing.  Katie finally put her head under the water.  We had a proud moment.

Being silly at Maw Maw's while waiting for dinner.

That's June in a nutshell.  Busy, busy month for us.  July is going to be even busier:  4th of July, our family vacation, and Kinsley's birthday!

Our First Bucket List Activity

We started our Summer Bucket List yesterday (Monday).  I do have to say that I have the most impatient child ever born.  As soon as she woke up, she wanted to pull something from the bucket.  I let her, but warned her that it wouldn't be until this afternoon because we had chores to do first.  I always try to wait until after lunch so that I can get some things done.  She drove me CRAZY!  All morning long, "Is it lunchtime yet?  When are we going to do our bucket list activity?  Is it lunchtime yet?"  I was tempted to tell her to forget about it, but I knew that she was just super excited.

Our first bucket list activity was waterballoons!  I blew up 8 of them and we ended up with only 2!  As I blew them up, I would put them in a plastic basket that had holes in it.  The waterballoons were so thin, that when I put them in the bucket, they would pop because of the grass sticking through the bottom.  We finally picked up the basket and brought it to the backyard to throw them, but as soon as I put the basket down, all but 2 popped.  I let them throw those two, but they wanted more.  It took like 15 minutes just to blow up the ones I had blown up, and I was ready to get in the pool.  The heat index was well over 100 and I was ready for the coolness of the pool.

Look at Kinsley's face!  Hahaha.  Cracks me up.

Katie is scared to death of loud noises.  She thought it was going to make a sound like a regular balloon popping.  Kinsley was laughing so hard at her.

Before we got in the pool, they were playing dress up.  Kinsley thinks that putting her fingers in her mouth and saying cheese is a good pose.  She did this in all of them. 

Katie in all of her cuteness.

Sisters!

Well, it's going to be another hot summer day here in Southeast Texas.  I'm so sore from working out yesterday, that I think we'll be having a lazy day today.  Who knows.  We'll see what our bucket list has in store for us today.

Happy Birthday to My Hubby!!!

Eben turned 35 on the 25th.  I wanted this birthday to be extra special for him, so we had a lot planned for his birthday weekend.  We started off by going to Kinder, LA to Coushatta.  His favorite band was playing there, Warren Storm (the Godfather of swamp pop).  We went with Brant and Allana, his best friend.  We danced and had a great time, but I think I need to get us dancing lessons.  We just don't groove well together...hahaha!

Me and Allana

Me and Brant

Eben and Allana

I took pictures with them and took pictures of Allana with Eben, but didn't get one of us together.  I hate when that happens.  We really enjoyed each other's company that night.  We even played on the slot machines for a while. 

I had put in $20 and made my way up to winning $56.75.  I ended up pulling out at $90.  I figured that I'd stop while I was ahead.

Saturday we had my mom and stepdad, Keith, as well as Amy, Patrick, and Lilly, and Brant over for a fish fry.  Everything we ate was fried.  The fish, shrimp, french fries, and hush puppies. 

Eben got some pretty wonderful things for his birthday.  He got a batter pro container that he's been wanting for years, but we could never find one.  He also got a fishing pole, and I got him a stainless steele 5 burner barbeque pit.  He was soooo not expecting that.  I wanted to spoil him on his birthday and let him know how much he means to us.

Two guys with bad backs lifting and moving a very heavy box.  Sorry we couldn't help ya'll boys, but we're women...we don't lift heavy things.

The girls had fun playing too.  We turned up the music for them to dance to.  Then we let them play in the Jeep until they almost ran over Lilly.  I had to unplug it after that. 

The toy company that makes these ride-on toys needs to make a limo so that they can all fit comfortably.

I absolutely love the joy and happiness that is on their sweet precious faces.  Makes my heart skip a beat.

The next day, we made a family outing to Wal-Mart.  We picked up a pool for the backyard.  We had one a few years ago and we really enjoyed it, but there are two very large trees in the backyard that keeps us busy in the pool cleaning, rather than playing.  We decided that we'd get another one since I'm off every summer.  I'd rather us spend our time outside in the pool rather than cooped up in the house.  This Texas heat can do a number on you.  It's nice to know that we can jump in any time we want.

We were in it from the time we put the hose in until it filled up.  Katie didn't want to get out.