Thursday, August 29, 2019

Back to school

Back to school!

These girls were so excited to start preschool!  We went to meet the teacher and they couldn't wait to get going.  Desi asked if I was leaving when we were there.
I have been debating for quite some time deciding to put Desi in preschool or not.  If it was 5 years ago, I would have never pictured myself putting my kids in school earlier than a year before school.  It makes me laugh now that I had such an expectation on myself.  Fast forwarding time, I am so glad I did!  She is thriving and so excited to go (she wishes it was everyday- which stings my heart a little because I want her to want to be with me).  It is awesome for me to be productive and reset myself as a mom and person so I can be fully present when I am around my kids.  The older the kids get and the busier we get, I really want to be my best self for them.
Long story short: IT'S A WIN-WIN!!!!


First day of Preschool
Desi has been begging to wear her butterfly dress since we bought it for preschool so she was super excited.  Sadly I couldn't find the new outfit (the rainbow dress) which we bought, but I was so impressed because she didn't may a fuss about it.  She just wanted to go to preschool.



We planned a special date for Derek, Brinley, Ashlyn, Emmett, and I because Claire and Desi started preschool a week earlier than the girls.  We wanted to make a special day with them before they will be gone most of the day when school started.  While sadly Brinley was sick so we changed plans (which is hard for Ashlyn- bless her little planning heart (she is a planner like her mama)). Derek stayed with B and E while Ashlyn and I had a fun date.  
She planned it all out.  We went to Olive Garden and while we were eating we passed a notebook to write questions to each other to answer.  Then we went to the library and got Junie B. Jones on audiobook.  It has been so fun to listen to together.  Ashlyn is so much fun to be around.  She is one of my best friends and so mature for her age.  I am going to miss her when school starts, but 3rd grade will be great!  I keep telling her that 3rd grade was my fave! 


Ashlyn's activity days leader is so creative with her activities.  This week they did a lip gloss and gossiping lesson while they made their own lip gloss.  We did a lip gloss contest to see what lip gloss everyone liked the most .



Another hike in Nac




I made new chore charts for the girls.  They are super excited to hang them in their closets.



Emmett loves pushing the stroller around the swim pool. 


For the end of summer, we did a family movie party and had a sleepover in the living room.

Sunday Sundaes


We were so excited when we found out that Brinley got Ms. Horan (the same teacher Ash had when she was in 1st grade).  Brinley was a little nervous, but more excited. 


Derek and I had to drop off the girls separately because traffic is crazy the first week of school and Derek had to get to work on time.  We asked the girls who they wanted to drop them off and Ashlyn said, "I want Mommy because she mades things more exciting".  That meant so much to me.  So I got to drop off Ashlyn.  She was so excited and then when we got to the classroom she got a little nervous.  She did great!



After I dropped the kids to school I pull up the gym and saw a woman pushing this red car so it wouldn't hit the white one.  She told me that she just pulled up a few minutes ago and saw the red car roll without anyone in it, so she jumped out of her car to stop it.  I helped her hold it and man, that thing is heavy- luckily the owner of the gym came and put blocks on the wheels to hold the car.  I told the lady that she is getting extra blessing for saving this white car.


2nd day of preschool.


We went to a MOPS playgroup at the library and they had a kids nutrition class and we made food art.  The kids loved it!



I looked in my rear view mirror and saw these cuties holding hands.  I just had to take a picture.  It is fun to see them became such good friends.


Letter A in preschool



Got this picture from Brin's teacher- so cute!


I am beyond excited for this new season on my life!  I finally got a gym pass and I am so so excited!  I haven't had a gym pass since Derek and I were first married and so I was a little nervous to workout not in the comfort of my own home, but excited to learn something new.  I got this new app and program that I am doing where I am doing a lot of resistant/lifting weights.  I love it!  It is something different and it has a big learning curve.  I am excited to see where this will lead.  I have always been into working out, but I really need to tackle my real issue of nutrition.  I am starting to learn about Macro counting.


Ashlyn begged to have an ice cream cone from McD's on Friday to celebrate the first week of school.  


We tried out this biking trail in Lufkin and had a blast.  It was so beautiful and it connects two parks.  It was a fun bike ride.  We definitely want to do it when people come to visit.



Park adventure halfway through our bike journey.




Found a fun tunnel


Derek has been so impressive with his goals of working out.  A year ago he couldn't do a pull-up and he could only bench 115lbs.  Today he can do 12 pull-ups in a row and bench 225lbs!!!


After dinner fun- magformers


Look how adorable he was for Sunday.


Sable's family gave us pie-face and so we played it after church.  The girls were so excited.



Brinley was helping Dad with his wardrobe.


On the days the girls don't have preschool, we do Mommy School.  Today Claire had a part about hot chocolate and Desi had a part about doughnuts so we decided to do a Hot Chocolate and Donut Party. We took a special field trip to the store and the kids picked out a doughnut.



Emmett loves eating corn on the cob


I love THURSDAYS!  The kids are at school, Emmett is in the daycare, and Derek and I get to workout together.  It has been really helpful to have him as a gym buddy because he corrects my form and pushes me to keep going.  


Tuesday, August 27, 2019

Summer Utah pics, rest of summer, and Great Wolf Lodge

Utah Vacation

Bear Lake with cousins is the best!

















Cabin memories




These kiddos made Grandpa's birthday cake



Some blow-up water fun!









Happy 60th Birthday Grandpa!
We had a fun evening sharing memories  of him and why we love him!
We love you!

Emmett has a cousin buddy


Game Time

Every room in the church was overflowing with people


I just love my Claire Bear!
I love her sweet spirit and her silly personality is really coming out.  She makes us laugh so much around the dinner table (that is usually her silly hour).

Night time beauty

S'mores!!!






I am just so grateful for Helen!  I am so glad that she was at Parker's baptism (hopefully I can get pictures from my mom), but there are so many times that I have wanted to visit Helen and share how grateful I am for her.  She is one that has influenced my mothering and raising my own kids so much.  I was so blessed to have her in our family's lives.



Livin' on the edge



We got up early and went to get a doughnut at our fave place Dick's Market.  It was on our summer bucket list.


Ashlyn got the Texas donut and guess what...

She at the whole thing by herself (like 6-8 normal donuts)-
GO BIG OR GO HOME!!!




Parker's birthday party was a water party!







Our family looks forward to coming to the condo every summer (hopefully we can continue for many years to come).  Swimming is a fun highlight and everyone is having fun!







These girls love being with their girl cousins!  So much giggling and laughing with many memories being made.


I am so grateful for my kids to have great relationships with their aunts and uncles (and of course Nana and Grandpa).  They have all been so sweet and playful with the kids.  They make them feel very special whenever they are around.  Thank you for loving our kids so much!  We couldn't ask for better!  Ya are the best!

 I love Ashlyn and Nana's relationship.  Ruth Ann teaches her so many cool things because she has so many amazing talents!  

Dress up and Dancing




So beautiful and peaceful


ASHLYN DRIVING??!!


Good thing we have a couple of years to practice... ha ha







What a fun surprise to have Trevor home!



While we were talking as adults at the table, the kids were entertained by going fishing for swedish fish.
It was super funny.





I love this picture!



Seriously our kids are so loved!


I have always loved being around Granny, but since she came out in May I feel like we have really connected.  She is one that I could talk to forever and I love hearing her stories.  I love you Granny!


Nana and Grandpa are the Best!!! These girls got to have a special sleepover with Nana and Grandpa in their new camper!  The girls loved it!


I wish I knew the story behind this....


Matchy-Matchy for bedtime
Thanks Grandma Martinson for making these shirts


We love to get new pictures every couple of months and put them on this amazing board (thanks again for the amazing christmas gift Mom and Dad).


Sunday Sundae- He sure loves ice cream!



I LOVE THIS VACUUM! The kitchen floor has been everyone's least favorite and now everyone want to vacuum!  It is so lightweight, easy to use, and no cord!
No joke I was dancing in the living room with the vacuum because I just love it that much!
The girls would fight about who gets to vacuum- I hope this continues--- ha ha



It seriously is amazing!


When we got back from Utah the girls had Art Camp






Emmett loves books!  It is one of my favorite things to do with him right now.


Nightime- Our kids down usually get to see the dark night because we put them to bed at 7:30 so we decided to have....
Family Swim Party in the Dark!  It was so much fun and it was such a great reminder to do fun simple new things once in awhile to shake things up sometimes.


Our family has been into trail hiking recently!  We have found new trails and paths which makes our weekends more exciting and eventful.



Ashlyn and Brinley were fighting and not getting along.  Derek made them sit on the stair and hug each other until they worked it out.


Where we live is so pretty.  We went on a different drive home from our date and found this beautiful field with longhorns.


So proud of Derek for starting a podcast with his partners Steve and Justin.  Derek continues to amaze me!  He has so much on his plate with work, coaching, real estate, podcast, remodeling his practice all while putting the kids and I as his #1.  I love him so much and I'm grateful for all that he does for our family.

We all had our dental check-ups before school starts.



Emmett is to the point where he will only fall asleep in his bed.... so he must be very very tired.


One thing that I am going to miss about summer is our morning bike rides.  We have been doing some new routines that takes us all the way up the hill to the back of our subdivision.  It was a hard ride and Derek and I were so impressed with the girls.  They didn't complain at all and they worked so hard.


One of my friends posted pictures of this place and we had to check it out because it looked so magical.  It is called Boykin Springs.  We had an amazing time and we will definitely be back again!





















We did a rope swing which was fun!





It wore them out!


Derek got a drone and he is so excited!  He has been making videos (thanks Grandpa Williams for inspiring him)!


There is something special when you see your littles sleep.  I love how they made it so they were sleeping by each other.


Our pool water turned green.  Derek took a sample to the pool store and all the numbers were good.  Then another costumer said that his pool is green too.  

I love how the kids will look at old pictures and memories.  I will be forever grateful for these photobooks I have made so my kids and eventually grandkids can see the fun life we have created!


Swim Cuties!


Love this proud face!


Ashlyn has been going to the gym with Derek and has had a blast.  She has accomplished some cool things and getting outside her comfort zone.


Two of many of my favorite things (Diet Pepsi and Creme brulee).  I had the watress bring two spoons because I didn't want her to think that after a delicious dinner, I would eat a whole creme brulee on my own, which I totally did... ha ha.  Derek was making fun of me and took this picture.


More hiking




Last family outing before school starts.



Daddy did a tea party with the kids while I was at a YW Presidency meeting.  





Brinley fell on our bike ride and wanted me to post it... 
She was so brave.



Emmett is into everything.... I need to remember to embrace this stage, but soon it will pass (hopefully).

We went to a splash before school start because it was on our bucket list.  I am going to miss this girl so much.  She is my little buddy.  I love talking with her and spending time together.  She has been a huge help to me during the summer.

Precious




Derek was flying his drone and it flew into a very tall tree.  There were men working on the church roof and he asked if they could get it for them.  They had to use the crane.  Derek was saved and very relieved.



We decided to do Great Wolf Lodge one more time this summer because we had such a great time last time.  When we walked into the room it had this fire on.... it was so cool.  The girls were in love with it and pretended the whole time that it was a real fire and we were camping.






We wanted to do something new and so we did the ropes course.  It was fun to see Ashlyn and Brinley get out of their comfort zone and try it.   Even I was a little nervous at the beginning.  The zipline was the most terrifying until you do it.  We all had a blast! They did great!


Emmett loves rocks (even though his face says otherwise)








In the morning I took the girls downstairs to get some energy out so Emmett could sleep longer.  It was fun.  We did workouts like lunges, burpees, jumping jacks, push-ups, and running up the stairs. Then they had a yoga class they did. 
















The next day we stayed in Dallas and found a bike path trail that we went on.  They had all these cool sculptures on the trail to check out.











We were invited to our friend's house, the Hanmakers and we had dinner and played games.  It was an i-spy disney game.  It was a lot of fun!

We found a new park in Nac and it was really cool.  The playground is super high.  It is always fun to try new things.






Rockin it outside


Game time during Daddy's lunch


I went upstairs to put something away and I saw this...
Does this just melt your heart.  
My mom said that I would line things up all the time when I was a little girl.


Train 'em while they are young, right?!