Summer Vacation Has Begun

At the "beach" near Lake Granbury

Beach Babe

Check out the sandcastle!

I love that little face!

Cammie and Gabby are twins.

We were wondering where Alex went, and the next thing we knew he was coming down stairs with one of Mackenzie's new bows on his head with a silly grin on his face.

One of our many mornings on the back porch drinking coffee and playing with Grandmommy's dogs, Carter and Sadie.

Alex and Sadie. Notice Sadie's terrified expression. Alex "loved" them a little too much.

This is at the the pool in the neighborhood.

At the carnival that came to town in Granbury over Memorial Day weekend.

Granddaddy won Gabby and Cammie bears...it only took him 10 tries to pop 3 balloons with the darts in a row!

Priceless. Gabby is the only one who enjoyed this ride. It spun around and around...Colton and Cammie didn't like it so much.

Not quite the Dumbo ride at Disney world, but we're working our way up!

Just Hangin' with cousins!

Megan and Mackenzie

It's a good thing that we took a picture, b/c we ended up returning the slip and slide due to a hole in it. Oh, well. I think I'll maybe buy a sprinkler next time instead.

In other news, Mackenzie is loving her rice cereal and solids!!!

We have been SUPER busy the past couple of weeks. Gabby has officially graduated preschool. Dance classes are over, and I can proudly say we are free from commitments for now...that is until I sign her up for swim lessons soon. We have spent the last week in Granbury with my Mom. Gabby and Alex had a blast. We spent Memorial weekend with my sister Jennifer and her in-laws and my brother Lance....which means cousins galore. My kids enjoyed spending time with they're cousins and chillin' out. Our regular routine was thrown out the window, and donuts and coffee were served every morning for breakfast. Bedtime was later. Naptime was short and sometimes nonexistant. Needless to say we were all tired by the end of our trip. But everyone had a great time! We lunched at several tearooms which thrilled Gabby to have her drink in a tea cup. We shopped at the square. We took walks around my parents new neighborhood, which I like to call the ghost neighborhood b/c there are more houses for sale than people living in the neighborhood. Every house is an open house. So we would walk a little bit, look at a house, then walk a little ways and then look at another house. It was kinda weird to walk around an empty neighborhood, but the kids loved it and it wore them out for bedtime. One day we went to a public beach in Granbury, and other than a few distasteful locals who cussed and wore skimpy swimsuits and let their dog poop right in the water, it was a great experience. Gabby and Alex loved playing in the sand and walking on the long pier across the water. And Mackenzie enjoyed sticking her feet in the sand. On the way home, we stopped at the outlet malls in Cypress and had such a great time! I will be going back for school clothes. Overall, it was a great way to start out summer vacation. Now we are back to our regular routine and soaking up these last few months before Gabby and Alex start school.

Playtime Got a Little Boring Today

This has never happened before! When did she become a thumb-sucker? She usually relies on her pacifier to get to sleep in her crib after a few times of me going back in the room to put it back in her mouth. But today, I put her down on a blanket in our den trying to get her to roll around and play with that block. Instead, she gets real still and starts chewing on her hand. Next thing I knew she was sucking her thumb asleep. Wow! I am kind of excited because that means in the middle of the night, maybe she will start soothing herself back to sleep. But that also means the start of a very difficult habit to break. Hopefully she won't suck her thumb as long as I did as a child. Maybe it's hereditary?

Happy Mother's Day

With 3 little faces like this, I can't help but feel extremely blessed to be a mother! Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there with one of the hardest and most rewarding job...being a Mom.

New York, New York!!!

Backstage in the dressing room. She is a little nervous here and complaining of her straps bothering her. Oh, Gabby.

Ready for Broadway!

Jazz costume. Her poses crack me up.

On stage.

Mackenzie watches Gabby from Grandma's lap.

Chad and Gabby just before they hit the stage for their Daddy daughter dance to the song, "Shake your booty"

Flowers for the ballerina after the show!

M & M's for Chad, it being his first recital and all. Ha Ha.

Gabby's cousin Katie and Uncle Shawn and Yvonne came in from Austin to see the show.

Well, it was quite a show...four hours long to be exact. Gabby just had her third recital this past Sunday and she did fantastic. We are so proud of her. She didn't freak out or anything on the stage. She did her thing. She was in four dances, ballet, tap, jazz and daddy daughter dance. Each dance she danced her best. She was really having fun! I think she might try it again next year. Perhaps we will see her again on the stage. We'll see. I just want her to be happy and do what she likes. It is so hard not to push her to do what I want her to do. But she is so little, I don't think she even is sure what she wants. But she really did enjoy herself at the recital. I don't know if you can tell from the pictures. The first one was in the beginning in the dressing room. She was a bit nervous then, but then she really let loose toward the end. It was great getting to watch her come out of her shell and really perform. Her and Chad were so adorable together on the stage and Gabby loves being with her Daddy. It was a special time. Gabby was very lucky to have so many family members there too. I think 14 people were there just to watch her. She is a very special girl! Yeah Gabby!

Gabby Gets a Medal

Alex was a tidbit jealous, so he borrowed Daddy's old medal.

This was just too cute not to post.

She's really growing up!

Also, Gabby has lost her second tooth!!!

We are so proud of Gabby! She has been dancing at Robins Dance Studio for 3 whole years! It is hard to believe her third recital will be in 2 weeks. I am so proud of the progress she has made since even last year. She has become quite a little dancer. I went to pick her up from dance last night and was blown away as she was rehearsing her Jazz dance. Their class took turns showing their routine to another class that has older girls (8-10 year olds). I couldn't believe how well she did even compared to some of the older girls. The only problem is, she wants to quit. I don't know what to do. Part of me wants to let her do what she wants, but the other part of me want to encourage her to keep going. I can see her really doing well, and I hate to have her just quit. But, then again, what's a hobby if it isn't exciting and fun for her? We'll see...

Easter Weekend

Like Mackenzie's new tray for her Bumbo? I love it! She can now play with toys without my help.

She's busy at work at her baby job.

We dyed eggs. Alex love mixing colors.

Mackenize enjoyed watching from her bouncer.

Easter bunny came to see Gabby!!!

Alex never had so much candy in his life!

After all that chocolate, I can see a denist visit in our future!

Big basket, little girl! Even baby Mackenzie got a little something from the Easter Bunny!

Sucking her thumb with her new rabbit, how cute! She might be a thumb-sucker like her Mommy.

Gabby has her hair in rollers to get all pretty for church.

Matching sister dress, sounds very familiar to my childhood, only I had 3 big sisters, so I got to wear the same dress handed down year after year in different sizes.

Handsome boy! Take a close look. This is probably the best picture I have of Alex in a long time!

About to leave for church.

Daddy's turn.

Oops, deja vu. I don't know how to edit this one out.

We had an egg hunt at my parents house with our cousins.

Here they are with Colton, Caleb and Camdyn. Not pictured (Grandmommy, Grandaddy, Aunt Jennifer, Uncle Steve, Katie (My cousin), My Uncle Les, and ofcourse Chad and I.)

Yea!!! What a great Easter! Happy Easter to everyone!