Staying cool this summer

Wow, this summer went by fast so here are few pictures from our hot summer. We did lots of water activities this summer, the kids learned basic swimming, enough so we could have fun in the pool with all of them (without using any floaties). We enjoyed pools, the zoo splash pad, sundance square water fountains, sprinklers in the back yard, and much more.

Luke loves playing in the water

Gracie and BB

Claire and Daddy in the waterfall

Sundance square

Pool side with friends

New swimsuits

Gracie and her popsicle

Staying cool at Sundance Square

Oma and Opa came to visit!

Oma and Opa flew in last week from Michigan to spend time with all of us. We were so excited they were coming and then we just enjoyed every minute with them while they were here. My sweet father-in-law always manages to get a family picture of us while he is here and I'm so grateful he does! It is becoming a little tradition for us to pose on the side patio of our home in our Sunday best. It rained the whole week they were here so we were more limited in what we could do. We did manage to bike to the park, go to the Parks mall in Arlington for a carousal ride and cheesecake, go to Aledo for breakfast at my parents, and the zoo. We squeezed in the zoo trip and held out until the sun came up in the afternoon so we could go to the new splash pad. Our zoo day was a big success and the girls loved seeing the animals and playing in the water with their Oma and Opa. 

We got to see them feed the penguins

Gracie Grace

BB came along for the fun too.

Oma and Luke

He loved the penguins

These two were inseparable the whole time.

watching the baby elephants play

Posing for Opa

Gracie wanted to pose too

At the Safari Splash

Luke stayed by this frog for an hour

He didn't mind getting wet

Miss Hannah in her new suit

She calls this the 'bubble' and loves it

Gracie lounging with her Opa

A little late

Luke has been 1 for almost a month so I was very behind in doing his final picture with his "monthly ties". Nevertheless, I still managed to stick that tie on him and snap a few last pictures. 

Daddy Day for April

For our April Daddy Day we went to the city beach in Granbury. It was a perfect day and due to a thunderstorm the night before no one came to the beach. The sand was a little damp but not bad at all. We had the whole beach to ourselves for the day. The sun was up, it was cool, and wonderful. The kids loved playing in the sand. We built sandcastles, buried the girls, played in the water, and had a picnic lunch. Luke tasted the sand once and that was it. He played and played and loved trying to knock over the girls sandcastle. He also loved sitting by the water's edge and splashing. We all had a nice, relaxing day.

getting buried

Our sand castle

Gracie Grace

Daddy and Lukey

Ready for food

Enjoying the water

Luke is 1

Just like that, my baby boy turned one! It went by incredibly fast and now he is my big boy.  We did just a small family party for him at home and used decorations leftover from Claire's party. It worked out well considering Claire had a How to Train Your Dragon theme. So we had a dragon theme and I used a little Toothless toy to put on his cake. The girls decorated his cake with green sprinkles and mini chocolate chips. It actually looked like dragon landscape, grass and rocks. Luke didn't really like his cake and ended up throwing it on the floor. He loved his gifts though. What a precious boy the Lord has given our family.

singing happy birthday to him

One his new truck that sings when he pulls the lever

His Toothless cake

Opening gifts from Michigan family

He loved playing with all the packaging

cars, a new bear, and sword

Luke at 11 months