An Extra Special Easter

Easter was EXTRA, EXTRA special this year.  Not only was it a day to celebrate our risen lord & savior, but it was the day Rylie showed publicly her acceptance of Jesus into her heart as her personal saviour!   Although she made the decision back in December, it finally worked out now to do the baptism & it couldn't have been a more special day.

Fun Day, Sun Day

Believe it or not, we've lived here for 5.5 years now & JUST NOW made a trip to the beach in Galveston a few weeks ago (April 7)!  Not sure why we've never done it before now.  This trip was just me & the kids (as Ellis was working) & my friend Trish & her 2 kids.  Rylie had been to the beach last summer w/ a friend, so this was Chase's first real beach experience.  Needless to say, we had an absolute blast & plan on making many more day trips from now on!  The weather was perfect & we couldn't have asked for a better trip.

My sweet girl loved laying on her boogie board & catching mini waves.

 As much as he loved swimming in the ocean, I think he'd have been just find playing in the sand all day.

 Chase & Nicholas building sand structures.

 Despite the almost 6 year age difference, Rylie & Alexis play very well together.   They had a blast playing in the sand.

 She loves summer time!

 My sweet sweet Ry.

 Love me some Gator!

 Sweet girls!  Love these 2!

 Crazy kids!

Gator's 7th Birthday

OMG, is it true?  Is my last baby really now 7?  Holy cow!  Where has the time gone???
This year instead of a party or big gift, we are taking a 2-day trip in June to Galveston. . . spending a day at Schlitterbahn, then the next day at the beach.  Surprisingly he was fine waiting till June to go.  But of course he had plenty of fun & celebrations on his actual special day.

His birthday fell on Good Friday this year so there was no school.  Hooray!  Since he didn't have school on his birthday he got to celebrate the day before with his friends/classmates.  To start the day off he got to be on morning announcements & present his book for the birthday book club.  He picked a great book all about the Houston Astros.

Showing off his birthday book he picked to donate to the school library.

 Telling the asst. prinicpal all about his b-day!

For his special school b-day lunch he requested Sonic, so Grayson & I took it to him & had lunch w/ him.  Then we had some oh-so-yummy cookie cake w/ his class at recess.

My sweet b-day boy!

 Sonic is mmmm, good!

 Grayson was quite the little monkey!  He loved being a big boy sitting at the table like a big kid instead of being in his stroller.

Cookie cake time w/ his class!

 Happy Birthday Chase!

 Mom & the early b-day boy! So thankful I get to help my kids celebrate at school!

The real birthday was non-stop fun & lots & lots & lots of junk food.  I think I literally gained 3 lbs. that day alone!  OH MY!  We started off by going to the kids' favorite - Mr. Donut - to pick up donuts & kolaches.  Instead of dining there or at home, we took our breakfast to the barn park for an early morning picnic & playtime.  Afterwards we went to Target so the b-day boy could spend his money from Poppa & Sue.  Then we got a car wash (against the b-day boy's wishes) & met up w/ Trish, Nicholas & Alexis for his lunch of choice - Double Dave's Pizza.  After that we went home for an hour or so of down-time before meeting Robin & Brandon for a game of bowling.  After all the fun we went to see our old neighbors, the Odell's & their new baby Ashley.  To finish off his fun-filled day we met the Sanchez family for dinner at his choice - All Stars.  Then it was home for presents & playtime!

My big 7 year old!

 They're both happy & smiling at the same time - oh my!!!

 Enjoying his picnic breakfast at one of his favorite parks!

 My sweet girl!

His favorite park activity.

 This is only the 2nd picture (or time) EVER where I think she looks like me.

 Every kids loves spinning on the swings.

 He waited patiently ALL day till Daddy got home to open his gifts.

  He loved the Star Wars Fighter Pods Rylie gave him.

 He is always THRILLED to get new OU attire.

  Had to wear the new shirt to dinner & then more presents later!

 He LOVES new shoes too :)

 His new fave game now is "Where's My Water?" & since the character is a gator, we had to have the shirt!

He had a great day!  He keeps telling me that he loved his birthday & he had so much fun! I had a blast too, but I'll be working all week to get the weight off :)

Muddy Girl 2012

March 25th was the first annual Muddy Girl obstacle course/mud run.  I put together a small group of ladies & we all headed out for a good ole' muddy time!  It was a blast & I can't wait for the next one!  Thanks Trisch, Stella, Patty & Dana for joining me & making it even more fun!

I'm starting a new traditon of taking a pic of the bib & shirt before each run I do. . . too bad I didn't think of this years ago when I first started running events.

 Dana, Trish, Patty, Stella & Jessica - this is obviously the "before" pic as we are all nice & clean.  But since I had to leave my phone in the car & some of us left before others, we didn't get any "after pics."

Spring Break Fun

This Spring Break was one of the best ones yet - especially since last year Rylie spent a portion of her week sick.  This year was WONDERFUL!  That Friday as soon as the kids got out of school we met my dad in Buffalo.  He took the kids & I came back to Katy to spend a few days at home in peace while they enjoyed some quality grandparent time.  They spent 2 nights with my dad, then 2 nights with my mom.  It was a much needed break for me & for them.

While they were gone, I had a girls' day out that Saturday w/ my friend Stephanie.  We started off with pedicures, then had lunch & bellinis at 3 Olives Italian restaurant.  Then we did some shopping followed by margaritas & chips/queso at Los Cucos.  It was a GREAT day. . .  and of course I can always use some girl time.  That night I went over to my friend Patience's birthday party at her house, then met up with Trish & her friends for drinks & darts at Baker Street! 
Sunday I just hung around. . .  didn't do much & it was nice.  Very relaxing. 
Monday night I met up with Robin for drinks at Baker Street.  I don't see her much these days, so it was good to see her & hang out for a bit.
Then Tuesday I went to Tyler to meet up with the kids & spend the rest of the week having fun with them!

On Tuesday when I got there, I met the kids, my mom & her new boyfriend Tim at McAlister's Deli for lunch.  Then we all went bowling and shopping at the mall.  That night we all met Poppa & Sue at Applebee's for dinner.  One thing about my trips to Tyler - it's lots of eating out!!!

Enjoying their dinner at Applebee's.

Wednesday we met up w/ my mom & Tim again.  This time we started out with lunch at Cracker Barrel, then went to Grand Saline to the East Texas Gator & Wildlife Park.  It was a first time for all of use there - didn't even know it existed.  We loved it though.  It was neat seeing over 80 alligators, plus many other animals.  The kids held a ferret & my mom help a small alligator (& we all pet it).  None of us braved holding the huge snake though. . . yuck!  That night the kids & I had dinner w/ my dad at Mercado's - a must have when we're in town!

The Cracker Barrel where it all began. . .  this is where Ellis & I had our first date over 13 years ago!

Touching the little gator.

 Carla the Brave - the only one of us brave enough to hold this tiny alligator.

 Creepy!!!

 The feret wasn't so bad.

She thought he was kinda cute.

 The gators enjoying the pretty weather.

 Look at these monsters!

 Chillin'

Petting the donkey in the petting zoo portion.

 They loved the gator park!

Thursday we met up with the sweet Schomerus family (Bridgette & Jason & their kids, Owen & Violet) for a fun visit & picnic at the Caldwell Zoo.  The zoo was as great as ever.  Tyler really does have a good zoo.  My dad kept the kids that night so I could go hang out w/ my long-time friend Amy.  We went to Fat Catz for appetizers & drinks, then over to Where's Rufus where we enjoyed the nice weather sitting outside talking.  It's always good to catch up w/ old friends that I don't get to see often enough.

Sweet Kiddos - Rylie, Gator, Owen & Violet

Lovin' the zoo :)

 Sno-cone time!

 So happy I got to spend the day w/ this sweet, sweet family!

Jason, Violet, Owen & Bridgette

 Jes, Rylie, Gator, Violet, Owen & Bridgette

 Standing in the elephant's footprint.

 All 3 fit in the elephant's footprint

 Gator & Owen haven't seen each other in a very long time - but they were instant buddies :)

Violet loved having the big girl Rylie hang out w/ her!

Friday we hung around most of the day doing our own thing before we met up w/ my dad that afternoon to go on our new annual spring break tradition - zip lining!  I think Gator was the most excited about it!  He absolutely loves it & cannot wait to go back!  We all had a great time again!  It is SO much fun!  That night the kids spent the night w/ my mom & I went out w/ my dad. 

Ready for our 2nd annual Spring Break zip line adventure at NY TX Zip Line!

 So happy that my babies love a little adventure!

 Ry coming in for a landing - she always gets nervous about this part.

 Little man flying high!  He was in absolute heaven!

 So much fun!  Thankful we are able to do this!

Saturday we visited my Poppa & Sue, then Aunt Louise.  Aunt Louise took us & my mom to lunch at Newk's - a place that's been there for a few years, but we had never tried yet.  Our original plan was to head home Sunday, but due to not feeling well & being worn out, we ended up coming home Saturday night.  Which was good - we had had new floors put in the living room while we were gone & I had a disaster of a mess to come home to & clean up! 

Spring Break was a blast!  We kept ourselves busy & tried to do lots of fun things - I think we succeeded!