My babies are growing up

This crib has been the bed of all 5 of the kids!  We are so grateful for Ruth Ann's neighbor for giving it to us when Ashlyn was born.  It was well loved.

No more babies!  I am actually really excited about this new stage in life!

Big Boy Bed!  He has been so good and has slept through the night! YAY!

Ashlyn has been preparing our FHE lessons lately and this one turned out to be so much fun!  She taught us about Samuel the Lamanite and then we through paper rocks at the person that was standing on the "wall".

Granny was so sweet and she wrote individual notes to each of the kids after our time that we spent together in San Antonio.  The kids were so excited and felt so special.  Thanks Granny!

After our trip, our car needed a little TLC.  So glad that I have these amazing helpers.

One day after running some errands, I pulled up to our house and found these cuties outside playing.  It is so cute!

A new activity that our family is getting into is tennis.  We spent Friday and Saturday morning playing tennis.  Brinley also climbed the fence with her incredible skills. 

Happy 11th Anniversary to us!  We were able to go on an overnighter to celebrate, which doesn't happen often enough.  We went to a fun Steakhouse, played tennis in the cooler weather, and went to lunch/walk the next day.  I am beyond grateful for Derek. 

My wedding day was the happiest day of my life, but I have had many, many more since then.  My happiest moments are always with Derek or because of Derek.  There is no one else I would rather laugh with, cry, and adventure life with!

The girls were looking through our storage room and found our photo pictures about a week ago.  They would say, "You both look so different." My thoughts immediately went to my waistline and a few grey streaks.  Then they said, "you look like a prince and princess."  Little do they know, but I am still a princess disguised as their mother.  ha ha

We found our couple hobby.  We had some great battles (my mind is blank on the right word).  It was so much FUN!!!

Derek took the kids hiking because it is starting to cool down!  YAY for cooler weather!  We are welcoming fall with open arms.

I really want to learn how to french braid.  It is one of those skills that I have wanted for a long time, but haven't put any time or energy into learning. ha ha

So I made an attempt and it was a success (not perfect).

Homeschooling has been so real treat for me.  We get to spend so much time together and I enjoy being part of their education.  We put all the kids in a homeschooling group on Tuesdays where they get to be with others and learn and do fun activities.  That means I get a day to do whatever the heck I want!!!

Today was their first day and everyone had a great day!

Last night was meet the teacher and we were going around the table at dinner sharing our feeling about school for the next day.  All the girls were excited and nervous.  Then Emmett shares, "I'm gherrd..."

Today he definitely had a harder time going with tears, but when I picked him up, he was full of smiles.

I felt so productive while everyone was gone and then Derek and I did a little lunch date, where we got salads from Chick-fil-a and spent an hour walking around the zoo walking path.  During our walk, it was pouring rain.  It was so much fun to walk and chat.

 Desi is learning to ride her bike

SAN ANTONIO: 9 day trip

SAN ANTONIO

 We loved having Granny and Kelly come to San Antonio!  We had such an amazing time with them.  We loved having them come to our RV site to chat and see our 2nd home.  Derek and I appreciate how much they love us and our kids.

We were able to go to dinner at this fun restaurant.  The ambience was incredible.  We had a great view of nature and the Guadalupe River.  It was fun to be with great company too!

Kelly paid Brinley a dollar for eating a lemon.  She was so excited!

Granny got lots of loves from the kids.  

 Got to love our current norm with the social distancing signs.

Inside the old general store.

Sam Antonio is absolutely beautiful. We love this place! We meet Granny and Kelly at the River Walk. It is usually a hoppin place, but because of covid, there is not a lot of people there. 

 These kiddos are so lucky to have a Granny who is so kind and sweet and loving. It was so funny because Claire wanted to spend every moment with Granny! She was so sad when they left our campsite and then we had to count the hours until we would see granny again. It was so cute!

After our boat ride along the river, we went to Rainforest cafe! Yum!

 We went to the Alamo! 

What a fantastic crew!!!

Derek "trying" to give us a history lesson about The Alamo. Ha ha

We got free drinks at Granny and Kelly's hotel. Lemonades for kids and adult drink (alcohol) for Derek. He very quietly found a garbage to pour it out. 

Walking to the Towers of America. 750 ft tall... It was high up there and riding that elevator was an adventure. The elevator is a window so you watch you rise to the top level! 

Kelly is so sweet and so good to the kids! They live him so much! Derek and I loved watching him hold hands, play, and laugh with the kids. What a great uncle!

We got ice cream afterwards and Kelly was so kind to "share" with the kids. Ha ha

We stayed in New Braunfels and we found a great hiking trail. It was so beautiful and fun to be outside and enjoy nature. As we were walking I said to the kids that this is more of a hiking trail, at home we have more walking trails. The kids did great and no one complained... well maybe one little guy.

 The trail was just outside a beautiful and big park. The kids enjoyed it! 

 Since our last trip was very tiresome and a lot of work for Derek and I, we had a family discussion about how to involve the kids more. The kids all got chores and it was AMAZING!!!

 A couple of the morning we went on bone rides and the view was so beautiful! It was fun to have our family on a fun adventure! 

Our camp ground was along the Guadalupe River. Because of covid they won't do time rentals so I bought inflatable kayaks for us to float the river. They told us that the river was low this year, but we still had a lot of fun!

 We had some family tournaments planning corn husk.

 Driving to float the river! We are all in the truck, which we barely fit everyone.

The river also had these walls to climb on the other side of the river and the girls loved to explore them.  They LOVE the kayaks too!

There was a river near by called Clear Lakes and it was gorgeous! We found the perfect spot to hang out and play. It was a day full of kayaking, jumping into the water, swimming, climbing rocks, and soaking up the sun.

We enjoyed it so much that we went back a second day.

There was a long moment before this picture that is a moment you want to pause in time and soak up the feelings, environment, and making memories with family. Everyone was laughing, swimming, and jumping off the rocking into the water. I love this clan of mine! 

There were a few rainy days so we made those or homeschooling days. 

During homeschool, it is sometime difficult for this little guy. He got a special date with daddy and they walked the dam of the lake.

This is probably one of our favorite trips so far! It was so along to have Kelly and Granny come and visit. We feel honored that kelly would spend his pto to come visit us and Granny would come too!  We love them both and they were differently a highlight to our trip.

Each day was just so magical! It was a way for Derek and I to see that we are creating a life that we love and embrace!!! 

There are videos I will post later.