Eli and Kiley like to play 'boy' and Kiley
dresses up in his clothes and tries to talk
tough...it usually does not last long and
she goes back to her dresses and babies and
most often it is part of some negotiated deal where
she will play 'boy' with Eli and then he has to
play baby with her...that is why she has on
Eli's clothes if anyone wondered.

The kids were very excited about Brian's father's day card.  I saw the candy card idea on pintrest so I let the kids pick out candy and make up what they wanted to write (Eli really liked the example I showed him so much is the same but he did change a few things and add his own) Kiley was most concerned with making sure Daddy knew he could share with her if he wanted...

We have been enjoying summer fun.  Trips to the creek, waterfall, lake, swimming lessons, parks, birthday parties, back yard bible club...

hunting for tadpoles and minnows

sliding down the 'slide' at Salado with Caleb

Kiley and Savannah showing off their minnow
collection - I am pretty sure they both would have
 spent hours catching and playing with their 'fish'
if we let them...

very excited about the frog she caught...

just hanging out with friends before they move...

my princess loving the mud paint

getting all painted up

Sweet Kiley is adding to her scar collection.  She had stitches after getting hit with a bamboo stick between the eyes...  She did wonderful with them, no crying and very brave through the numbing shots and all the stitching up.

Just have to catch up ... sorry

We had another trip to sweet berry farms this time with Daddy and on a weekend so we could enjoy the animals too.  We picked more strawberries and blackberries as well as onions and Eli dug some potatoes.  Delicious food and great family fun.  Also had to get some of their homemade ice cream after all the work or picking...

Daddy and Kiley having fun on the slide

Kiley very excited to hold the snake...

with the Count...

with the skiers after the show

impressive acrobatics while skiing

Shamu flipping during the show...

We are defiantly enjoying our summer and the freedom that comes along with it.  This past weekend we head to San Antonio and had a great time at Sea World.  They have opened up a new water park within the park and the kids loved it.  It was a perfect day and the crowds were light which was great.  No matter how many times I see it I am always amazed by the killer whales and dolphins, we also got to interact with stingray this time which was fun and Kiley was thrilled to get to hold a snake (sorry Gina I had to include the pic b/c she was so excited...)

Water park fun

Kiley and Zoe

fun on the little roller coaster

Kiley touching the stingrays - Eli did
too but I was not able to get a picture...

Sorry for the turned pictures and crazy layout it was not cooperating today...

This morning the kids and I headed to a local farm (actually a little over and hour away) to pick berries and dig potatoes.  Rain was in the forecast but not until afternoon.  Luckily we arrived early and did get a container of strawberries, and some blackberries before we were stormed out. 

The kids had fun and we ate a lunch out on the way home which was a special treat.

I also got some peaches off a friends tree -
all kinds of yummy goodness...

Wow, it has been awhile and it took me a minute to figure out how to even post (not sure when they switched everything...)

Exciting news of the week - I have two more nephews  - Matthew and Benjamin -  My sister in law Camile and Brian's brother Bob had twin boys.
And more exciting news...school is officially out for the summer.  Eli and Kiley were very excited when I told them they did not have to do any school work for a whole week ( I love the fact that is still exciting...)  We are really not going to do full school days through the summer just a little each day.  Eli had a great year and despite my apprehension about the home schooling part it went great.  I am defiantly sold on the university model.  We will be at Providence next year too.  Eli will be in second grade, I am going to start Kiley a little early in K, and I am going to be teaching one of the first grade classes.  It should be a busy and fun year.

Here are a few pictures from the last couple weeks...

Fun on the tramp with the sprinkler...

Eli watering our 'garden' it looks a lot different now after a
couple of bug eaten plants and a couple weeks of growth...

The kids wanted 'war' paint the other day so...

I melted some strawberries and they had fun

A couple of weeks ago Brian got the kids this
little boat and oars...

I am not sure who had more fun the kids or daddy - he tied them around his waist
and swam the lake - it was rather funny to watch but the were all loving life

last weekend we headed out the the central TX
airshow.  It was a first for everyone and we had fun...

Kiley was loving life because Daddy
bought her a lemonade...

 We enjoyed it until we could not take the heat any longer and we headed to happy hour at Sonic to rehydrate...