Say it's your Birthday...

Happy 6th Birthday Avery!! We celebrated Avery's birthday Caribbean style - well as close as we could get, poolside at Aunt Shelly's house. Pirates is still the theme of choice... maybe because we're headed to Disney World in 3 days to ride Pirates of the Caribbean, his favorite! "Mom, take a picture of my foot so you can remember me this small..." Tear. Hooray for dive toys. I am all about touching the bottom of the pool, usually to tickle your feet. CANNONBALL! Some sweet pics of quality family time. Thanks everyone for making Avery's Day so very special! Talk about one lucky kid - his birth "day" has become a birth "week". We started with Gametown Pizza Friday night with Stephanie and Andy. Good food and lots of action to keep him entertained, what else can a 6 year old ask for? When we returned home Friday night he took his sidewalk chalk outside and wrote "Thank you for taking me to Gametown Pizza." Followed by him saying, "This is the best birthday ever!" Oh boy, we are just getting started. Who's having more fun? My very own United States Coin Map - awesome! Steph helping Ella perfect her game

Lazy Days

A weekend with no plans is always a good thing since we don't have many like this. Avery had no school on Friday for Fiesta (an annual 10 day celebration in San Antonio)so we had a 3 day weekend!! Wade took the kids with him to work on Friday morning since there were no students in class and they had a great time watching movies on the projection screen and running around the hallways. Of course they got lots of attention from the other teachers who were totally distracted by their visit. So they didn't stay too long before we loaded up and went to the bookstore. Borders is their favorite and mine too with their over sized bargain book section for kids. We always end up leaving with a bag full of really fun books - Castles and Pirates Ships and Dora anything for Ella. They are such snuggle bugs, when they are getting along. Ella's latest thing is not wanting Avery to leave her, she needs to know where he is at all times otherwise she starts to cry. Lots of fun in the backyard on the Gator - posing for mommy Ella was playing dress rehearsal for pictures scheduled for next month. We had to have our hat and sunglasses and lots of arm bling. Last night she amazed us at how well she can drive. Usually Avery is chauffeuring her around but last night she hopped in and took off and had a ball. And like that, she is just a little more independent.

When Dad's Away...

What do we do when dad leaves for NASCAR weekend in Dallas? As much as possible to wear these kiddos out! We started out the weekend with movie night on Friday - a favorite of Avery's because he gets to stay up late and eat popcorn. We watched Tangled and Ella was mesmerized, seeing it for the 1st time. A real princess in training... On Saturday we loaded up to the Magik Theatre to see Charlotte's Web. Then off to the larger than life playground at Hemisphere Park. But it was hot so what do you do to cool off? The pool of course. An hour is all we can typically handle since the fun thing to do is jump into the pool and then get back out as quickly as possible and do it again, and again... Mom is always there to catch Ella, Avery needs no help as he tries to perfect his cannonball! Fun in the sun makes for sleepy kids and mom so it was an early night that night. We did it all over again on Sunday but with Aunt Stephers and Andy this time after some much needed adult time at the gym. Thank goodness for the Kids Club! Daddy made it back in time to catch us at the pool- talk about 2 excited kids! Avery spotted daddy's truck right away (I didn't believe him) as he was yelling Wade, Wade!! Does anyone else think it's weird when your child calls you by your 1st name? We finished up the evening with dinner outdoors on the patio, have I mentioned how much we love Springtime in Texas?

Poteet Strawberry Festival

Bear with me as I catch up on postings from the month of April. Always have the best intentions, getting the pictures uploaded quite quickly but writing and posting is my downfall. Maybe because downtime has become less and less these days and when I think about hopping on the computer, Avery is monopolizing it by google searching something! The other night I was asking him a question and he said, "Mom, just google it to see what I am talking about!" Really? That's what happens when the school gives kinder I-pads to use in class. It's all Google Earth this, Google Sky that... I don't feel old unless we start talking technology. It's bad when Avery changed the background on my phone and I couldn't change it back - so HE showed me how! Gulp. So onto the post. The 1st weekend in April we loaded up and made the hour plus drive to the happening town of Poteet for the Annual Poteet Strawberry Festival. I say happening because the directions I had took us the back roads. Talk about a beautiful drive on a sunny Saturday afternoon. But when we drove through the town of boarded up storefronts it kinda reminded me of Children of the Corn. Where are the people? We almost thought I had the wrong weekend till we hit Hwy 16 and there it was - an endless car line into the grounds! Started in 1948 the Poteet Festival welcomed 5,000 folks and this year they were expecting over 100,000. It's the largest Agricultural Event in the State of Texas, the oldest and most popular. So you can imagine how excited I was to see Pat Green on the line-up for Saturday evening entertainment. It was hot even for "Spring" thanks to the gulf humidity but we found some shade off the side of the stage and sat in the grass to cool off with juice and adult beverages. It was one of those moments I will cherish, listening to my favorite singer with my kiddos in my lap and my hubby next to me. A moment of pure happiness even though Avery made us leave halfway through the set bc it was "too loud" and he wouldn't stop covering his ears. Hence, I am writing this to remind him when he's 16 and wants to go to a concert of his choice... ha, ha. They had all of the typical carnival "stuff" from rides to food booths and more food booths. Ella enjoyed her cotton candy and Avery couldn't get enough of the rides. We saw some calf roping, stared at a pit of live rattlesnakes and took in a few other side shows. The only pictures I managed to take was at the games. Avery and Ella both won a toy so they were content. Good thing we rested up ON THE WAY to Poteet! Can you say wired on the drive home?!

Spring Has Sprung

The kids have had so much fun the past few weeks, I don't know where to start. Spring break week with daddy included a HS baseball game in New Braunfels and a trip to the theater to see Rango. Then it was off to Austin for some family time with Grammie, Aunt Shelly and Uncle Chad. They donned their bathing suits and soaked up some sun, stayed up late and did it all again for 3 days. This weekend we had a family fun night out on Saturday to celebrate Avery's great report from his teacher and being awarded Champion of the week again at KIN - or as Avery put it, "For the second time!" We took in closing night at the Magik Theatre of "If you Give a Pig a Party," then Gametown Pizza for dinner - Avery's favorite fun spot. Avery and Ella playing on the "coolest" playground ever at Hemisphere Park in downtown San Antonio after the theatre. While it's every kids dream for a playground, it's a parents worst nightmare because of its size. Very easy to lose your child in one of the many hiding spots. On Sunday we took the wildflower seeds we got from Wildseed Farms last year and planted them in hopes for a gorgeous display of native wildflowers in the upcoming months. Ella spotted this hat immediately when we got to the nursery and wore it around the whole time we were there. Here she is posing with some kitchy lawn art. Avery wanted to get into the action as well... Green Acres anyone? The warm days and evenings are allowing us to have lots of quality time outdoors. Avery has been working on his swing again with daddy (he decided against playing t-ball this Spring.) Ella volunteered as the official ball girl - she took her job very seriously. Good-bye March, hello APRIL!