More Summer Fun

We are soaking up every minute of summertime and enjoying it as much as possible!  It's a lot more relaxing without unpacking a house or making a trip around the world.  We went back up to visit Aunt Stacey, Uncle Jason, and Reid because we have to squeeze in most of our time together for the year while everyone is on summer break.  The kids are always so funny together.  First, we went for the biggest frowns...

...to the best smiles!

Reid's baby blues

 

 Alex's handsome hazels

Ben's beautiful blues, too

We checked out a fun indoor safari playground with a train the kids all loved.

Boys love cars, no matter what the age!

These motorized animals were pretty cool, too, and Alex enjoyed it a lot more than his face would have one believe.

 We also got in plenty of swimming time and this pool was fun for everyone.

Ben and Alex did plenty of racing and inventing new ways to get down the slides.

We had to make a trip back to the "log" playground that my boys remembered from Christmas and it was fun for about 10 minutes, but not quite as enjoyable in the middle of a North Texas summer.  Luckily (for me, anyways)  Ben got dizzy on this tire swing and was ready to go soon after.  I didn't argue!

Back at home, we got a visit from Ben's girlfriend Brynn (and I can't believe I didn't get any pictures with them here!!) and I couldn't resist a shot of him waiting for her to walk up the driveway.  He was SO nervous and excited.  And you may notice that he changed into his t-ball uniform "in case she likes baseball players".  That's my boy!  Those two talked nonstop from the minute they were together like no time had passed.  What a great visit.

My sweet buckethead enjoying the splash pad!

I can't believe we've already flown through two months of summer!  School is right around the corner but we still have lots of fun planned in August.

Is This Still Summer?

This is what a Texas summer usually looks like....

 

...but this is what we've had for the past week.  This time last year it was about 100 degrees every day without a drop of rain in sight.  This week has been a welcomed change!

 

The only downside is that the stormy weather has taken the pool off our list of things to do each day, so we've been exploring other indoor activities.  We loved the new paleontology hall at the Houston Museum of Natural Science.  Unfortunately, Alex got tired of my commentary and kept telling me, "Mom, stop talking!  I just want to look!"

I wouldn't go swimming if this prehistoric shark was still around!

 

 There were several things on display that I had never seen or even heard of, like this guy.  I was guessing it was a giant bear or something.

Turns out it was a mega-sloth.  Who knew?

We also went through the energy wing so the kids could learn a little about oil production, a subject dear to this family's heart.  The kids loved turning valves on the christmas tree, but their favorite part was the "geovator" that simulates a ride down an oil pipeline.  We did it twice and I had to draw the line at a third time!

Ben's favorite part about the rainy weather is that he gets to use his umbrella.

We also checked out a body exhibit at Moody Gardens because Ben has been fascinated with anatomy and asks tons of questions, so I thought this would be a great learning experience for him.  It has real dissected human bodies so I did prepare the kids with what to expect (I've been to two other similar exhibits) and they handled it like champs.  I was able to answer most of Ben's questions and Alex even listened to me on this visit!  The best part is that they compared healthy lungs with smokers lungs and the kids were horrified - hopefully we've scared them off smoking for the rest of their lives.

My little tree frogs!

 
 Who wouldn't want a little cotton candy for the ride home?

As if all the rain didn't have things wet enough, the kids wanted to play in the sprinklers one afternoon when the rain stopped.  Alex got the cardboard house wet (the very one I've been plotting to trash for several weeks now) and saved me the trouble of having to tell the kids it was time to recycle it!

A couple of other cute pictures from my phone...
Ben's glow glasses from the 4th of July!

Getting a kiss from Abby, his favorite kitty in the world.

Celebrating Alex

Alex had a party at an indoor inflatable playground, one of many ideas he went through in the weeks leading up to his birthday.  Good thing for me that a 3-year old's memory can be pretty short because his original idea was for a big waterslide in the backyard didn't work out because I didn't book a rental in time.  That turned out to be fortunate because the party day was rainy, so everything worked out perfectly.  We didn't keep up with any of his buddies from school so this party was just our good friends from our street.

Alex was so excited to have his first party!

 

The slides were a big hit with everyone and this guy never lost that big smile.

Ben, Austin, Alex, and Trey climbing together.

The boys loving on their Grumpy.

 Group hug with the next door neighbors Cole and Therman.

 

Ben, Aaron, and Michelle.

Alex and his doppelganger!  Occasionally people say Alex looks like me (which I never believe, except for the eye color), but I think there is no doubt he favors his Grandpa more than anyone else.

 

After the kids were sufficiently worn out, it was time for cake and ice cream with Monkey Joe.

 

Alex was serious about blowing out those candles because he couldn't wait for some cookie cake!

 

 

The whole gang...and I love this picture because the party host (in the striped shirt) is grabbing his crotch.  I guess he hasn't learned yet that every moment of a kid's birthday party is caught on someone's camera...ha!

The kids also got some ice cream, as though the powerade and cookie cake didn't have enough sugar to keep them up all night.

Next, it was time for presents!

Ben, Maddie, Alex, and Michael all enjoying their treat bags with some loot that the boys carefully selected at the dollar store.

Alex and Mama, waiting for our takeout after the party.  Every once in a while I insist on a picture to prove that I exist.

On Alex's actual birthday, he got to open a few more presents, including tickets to the circus from the family and a new car track from Scott and Lou Anne.

Then we hit the local cupcake bakery and the kids each picked out a sinful cupcake.  Alex really just wanted the candy and a few bites of icing, so I selflessly helped him polish this off.

 

Ben went with the most chocolatey one he could find.

Yuummmmm!!!

 

You can't truly enjoy a cupcake of this size without getting a little on your mouth, nose, cheek, chin...

Damage DONE.

I still can't believe my baby is four and I wish we could pause time right now.  The boys are both so much fun and still so sweet and innocent.  Most of the time, anyways.  Life is easier now because they can do a lot of things on their own now, like get dressed and get in and out of the car, but they're still small enough that many things can be fixed with a hug or a kiss.

My Baby is FOUR!!

My sweet, sweet Alex,

How is it possible that you are already four years old?  And yet I can barely remember the days before you completed our little family?  You were also born earlier than we would have liked but you were still a big boy (6lbs, 10oz at just 36 weeks) and that has never changed.  You've always had a big personality, a big heart, and a big head (hee hee! but that means you'll be smart!).  You were one of the biggest babies in the Gleneagles nursery since you had a couple pounds on most of the Singaporean newborns.  You have always been such a warm, cuddly boy and I hope that never changes...it's hard to beat your hugs and kisses.  No matter how old you are, you will always be my baby.

 We celebrated your first birthday in Singapore during our last month there.  I was shocked that you didn't like your cake, especially since you were such a big eater and loved almost everything we put in front of you.  That distaste for cake and icing didn't last long, though, and your sweet tooth grew as fast as you did!

Your second birthday was a fun family party with all the grandparents at Chili's during a visit back to Texas.  You loved all the attention almost as much as the ice cream sundae.  

Your third birthday was celebrated just days after moving into our new home in Texas and you discovered the joys of cookie cakes.  You also discovered the fun of presents, especially the big ones that don't have to be packed into suitcases.

 

 And now, four years old!  And still in the same house!  That's something of a record for one of our kids.  It's hard to believe you're so big because you still have your precious baby cheeks but you're already wearing size 5's so no doubt you're growing.

Alex, you are such a joy and an endless source of entertainment.  You have never met a stranger and love talking to just about anyone.  Your beautiful smile and big laugh can brighten any room.  You think you can do just about anything the big kids do, and sometimes you're right.  I believe you can do anything you put your mind to in your life!  You are a blessing and we love you and thank God for you every single day.  May He continue to bless you.