Doctor Visits & Jimmy John's

This week has been a crazy whirl wind of doctor's visits: Jack's 5 year physical, Davis' allergist, and dentist for me. Wow I am sure our insurance company is loving us! Jack's physical went fine and he is clear to play Pop Warner Football (tackle style) and is up to date on all shots so kindergarten here he comes! Davis had allergy testing done and is on a new regiment of medicines in hopes that we can avoid weekly shots. He still has some cloudiness on his chest x-rays so we get to do treatment for asthma (who doesn't love putting a mask on their child and forcing them to sit still for 20 minutes)? We get to go back next month for another check to see on our progress, so hopefully there will be some. The dentist for me was about as good as Davis' appointment, fillings anyone? I think I might need to cut out my Cranberry Limeades from Sonic and all of their sugary goodness...

So after our yucky week of healthcare providers we splurged and went to Jimmy John's to help soothe ourselves. Jack loves sandwiches and laughed when he ordered his Pepe's #1, Davis had a slim 6 (all cheese sandwich), and me a slim 5. Oh, how I missed JJ's. I also made the boys participate in back to school shopping and knocked out most of our list in a one day outing, but all patience was lost by the end of the day.

Loving life and lunch

Dos Primos

The cooking cousins were at work today making chocolate chip cookies! Holly and Jack spent this Wednesday creating delicious cookies. Holly wants to be a chef when she grows up and Jack loves to help anyway he can. So the pair are destined for success! In the meantime we all get to be the taste testers and dishwashers.

Holly & Jack measuring

Jack begging to help with the mixer

But Holly won the mixer debate!

Shamu Who?

Yesterday, we loaded up and headed to San Antonio for a sun filled day of Sea World fun! Davis was excited to see Shamu, but didn't have a clue who Shamu was. After telling him Shamu was a giant whale that we would watch do tricks, he smiled some more and was ready to go. Jack was interested in rides that Sea World had to offer and the shows would be okay.

After watching sea lions, killer whales, dolphins, and acrobats perform with a side order of sharks and penguins, our day was complete. Oh and a ride on Shamu Express (roller coaster) and Rio Loco (water raft ride) that left us drenched. We were ready to call it a day! The good thing about purchasing season passes is that the kids were okay with leaving and heading back in a couple of weeks to do the water park and a few more rides and shows.

Our visit to San Antonio was complete after finding a random Mexican restaurant to try for dinner. I think we all drank a gallon of water and devoured our dinners before our two hour car ride home. Don't tell, but I am looking forward to our next visit as much as the kiddos!

Davis watching Shamu

Jack watching Shamu

Jack peeking at us on Shamu Express

Davis ready to take off on Shamu Express

Sweet Sixteen!

Today we sang "Happy Birthday" to a beautiful lady, who happens to be my niece Taylor. It is hard to believe that she is celebrating her sixteenth year of life, and we are fortunate and blessed to be sharing this year's celebration with her.

After designing her plane invitations for her tropical luau party, plans were set for her Sweet 16 Celebration! I love planning parties, wish I would have decided many moons ago to be an event planner! It was funny to see how excited she was to be having a girl/boy party, even though she would never admit to such an uncool thing. Who knew excitement was uncool?!? Holly, Jack & Davis were not as excited since they could not get in the pool for the party, but they did a fabulous job serving tropical drinks, greeting guests with leis, and helping with the limbo portion of the evening.

Happy Birthday to one of my favorite nieces!

Taylor, Kayli, & Whitney Ready to Celebrate

Swimming by Day, Games by Night, These Are a Few of My Favorite Things

Many of my favorite memories (both child & adulthood) involve summer activities, holidays, and vacations. I remember catching fireflies and eating Popsicles on hot summer nights. Summer vacations always involved road trips and hours of the ABC game or license plate game. Bedtimes were pretty much nonexistent and playing in sprinklers was a must.

Jack and Davis are making their own summer memories and adding to mine by having water gun fights, doing cannon balls into the pool, Jack likes to run around without his shirt or unbuttoned (which makes me think of old men wearing black socks with shorts), helping grill dinner, day trips to explore Texas and always wanting to play outside. Our summer trip this year is going to be spent in Missouri visiting family and going to Iowa for the state fair. We will be traveling by car to Iowa, so I am sure we can squeeze in a few games. I wish Andy was here this summer to add to our memories, but will look forward to next summer and all the new memories we will create together.

Jack enjoying Blue Bell ice cream

Davis waiting for the tour

Davis & me playing around

Blue Bell Part Deuce

Where Did June Go?

The month of June flew by with loads of summer fun, family visits, and a birthday too! After Andy's short visit, the boys and I had to finish up the last minute items for deployment. So, that took a few days then we were ready to start our summer fun.

Jack, my nieces, sister and I headed to Schlitterbahn Waterpark for the "hottest, coolest time in Texas". The day was not overwhelmingly hot, a mere 98 and the lines were pretty short. Jack loved being able to partake in rides and was not nervous about drops or fast moving water. I on the other hand had moments that I was nervous for him. A full day of water fun, we arrived 5 minutes after the park opened and left 15 minutes before they closed, flew by with lots of smiles, giggles, and stories about what the best ride was. Davis didn't get to make the trip this year, but did get to hang out with Uncle Kev and do guy stuff.

Next up in the month was a visit with Andy's mom and dad, Margo & Ralph. Andy and I are very fortunate to have families that visit us, no matter where we live. During Ralph & Margo's visit we headed to Brenham, TX and toured Blue Bell Ice Cream. What a great tour and a scoop of ice cream at the end! Vacation Bible School was also going on during their visit, so Jack spent the mornings at VBS, while the rest of us toured Elgin and Bastrop. It was an added bonus that Margo got to go to story time with Davis & I.

Jack's 5th birthday was celebrated with a small pool party and BBQ the Saturday before his big day. We are blessed to have friends that made Jack's special day even more special. The actual day Gramma & Grampa Hill were still visiting us and helped us celebrate with Cars 2, lunch at Passido's Cafe, presents and cake with Aunt Terri, Uncle Kev, Taylor & Holly. Andy was able to call and wish our big guy an early Happy Birthday, too!

Busy days make time fly by!

Jack's 5th Birthday Party Swim Style

Passido's Cafe for Birthday Lunch

Jack & Gramma

Happy Birthday America!

Fouth of July is one of my favorite holidays, who doesn't love B-B-Q, swimming, face painting and fireworks? Well actually no fireworks this year due to the severe drought that Texas is in, so a giant water slide subbed. Not the same, but the kids liked it!

My parents are visiting and it is always so nice to see them and spend time doing everything or nothing. The fourth was a mix of those. In the morning we went to look at a house for sale. Then home to enjoy our delicious meal of brisket, potato salad, pasta salad, and jalapeno grilled peppers (amazing bacon, cheese, and spicy pepper), swim, and watch some television prior to leaving for Elgin's 4th Celebration. The local business Southside and Frontier Bank began hosting a local community celebration with face painters, balloon people, characterture artists, and normally fireworks (but water slide this year). It is a nice time to relax and watch the kids have a blast.

The only downside to the day was Andy not being able to join us in our celebration, but there is always next year!

Davis or wait is that a super hero?

Jack incognito

Ready, set, here Jack goes

Holly & Davis sliding down

Jack looks like a commando after the waterslide