The Fourth at the Beach!!

WoW! It's JULY!! Where has the summer gone? We spent a wonderful long weekend at the beach!! We love celebrating the 4th at the beach!!



Barrett was so ready to get to the beach. He asked EVERY day last week, "do we leave today?" We headed to Lufkin on Wednesday night and got up early Thursday to go to the beach. We had to take a detour because the tropical storm/hurricane flooded HWY. 87. We had to go to Galveston and take the ferry to Port Bolivar. Whew, it was ugly. Pouring rain in Houston and terrible traffic on 45 made for a VERY long drive!! We finally made it!!

Big B and SuSu had a great surprise waiting for Barrett when we arrived....a go cart!! He loves it! He loves to give the babies ride on it.



Friday was rainy off and on, but we had two beautiful days on the beach Saturday and Sunday!

The Beach Boys!





Ryan's Brother Kolby came with us...he is such a big help with the boys!!





On Saturday some family friends joined us, the Jacobs. They stayed in our neighborhood while their beach house is being rebuilt. Their son Matt who I babysat when he was my kids age, is now a fabulous young man!! He is a great surfer, he was getting a new surfboard. He and Rick decided to get Barrett his first one!! When they gave it to him he was SOOOOO excited!!



Matt took him out to try and teach him! Ha!!





How cute is my little surfer boy!! He may not be able to surf just yet, but he sure looks the part!!



Saturday was our big firework night. We go in with a couple of other families and do a huge fireworks show. Everyone in the neighborhood looks forward to it. Poor little Jack got sick right after I put him to bed, so I had to stay home with him and miss the show. We did sit outside on the porch and watch from our house, it was just a little far away but still very pretty. Ryan timed the show and it was 36 minutes of constant fireworks!! Barrett just loves it!! Of course since I was at home there are no pictures to speak of! HA!!

There were rides of ALL kinds.......

Babies on the gator.



Barrett is getting so big, he DRIVES the golf cart now by himself!!



Go cart rides!



And many, many golf cart rides!!



And let's not forget the "supermabel rides" that even the babies wanted in on!



Barrett trying to hang with the big boys!



On Sunday we hung out on the beach again and that evening had dinner at the Winston's house. We grilled and had lots of fun! There were MORE fireworks too!!

Here is my best attempt at some cute pictures of these kiddos, they WOULD NOT cooperate!









It was a great few days and I did not want to leave!! We love the beach, but it's back to reality...until next time!!!

Fabulous Day!

Today has been a truly FABulous day! I started the day off with a workout. The boys and I and then headed to get our new babysitter, Cheyenne. She kept the boys while I went and got a manicure!! Two week ago exactly I had gotten the CNC Shellac manicure which is supposed to last for 14 days. And it does! I have never had polish stay on so well, I love it!! So great!

After my manicure Ryan and I went and got something WONDERFUL!!!............



And to make my day even better!!! Tonight at Midnight I will be watching this......



I love today!!

Redneck Sunday

On Sunday the big boys were gone to Rough Creek to work on the Cabin. I decided a dip was in order for Jack on this very hot day! He wanted to be outside and I thought what a perfect way to beat the heat!



I love to splash!!



Okay Mom, what else am I supposed to do?



The boys worked at Rough Creek all day and when they came home the trailer was loaded down with all kind of Barrett's favorite things! He had to show me the track hoe that he drove!!





Jack was just happy with a wrench! P.S. I titled this "redneck" for a reason. Yes that is my child out in the yard with only a diaper on, terrible!! I'm aware!!

Splash Kingdom Friday!

Today I decided we were not sitting around at home, we were going out to do something! I called Christie and Leeanne and we headed to Canton for Splash Kingdom. We got there right on time and got our spot under the umbrella...thank goodness! We ran into Jerretta Nance and her precious girls, it was a nice surprise!



The water was freezing at first hence Jack's face! HA! It was pretty overcast at first, but later the sun came out. We all floated the lazy river and then had some lunch. After lunch Leeanne and Christie watched Jack and Barrett and I headed to the big slides! Barrett was a little hesitant but he said as long as I rode with him he would do it. We made the climb up the VERY tall stairs and when we were about half way, he looked down and started rethinking the situation. I told him that once you go up the only way down is the slide. He finally agreed and we proceed to make our way up to the top. While waiting for our turn it started to rain and I thought they might not let us go down, but it stopped thankfully!! We had the double tube, B rode in front and I sat behind him and wrapped my feet around him for extra safety. It was a pretty fast ride and VERY fun! As we came off the lifeguard told me his eyes were like saucers! He loved it! I was so proud of him!





Jerretta said I see Jack keeps you busy, "yeah just a little! Ha!" He is ALL over the place! I was talking on the phone while he was walking around in the kiddie pool and he went down and I had to yank him up by the arm. I see people laughing at me, Oh yeah Mother of the year!!



Jerretta made the mistake of telling Barrett that Mr. Mike, her husband bought a new track hoe. I told her he was going to be down at her house wanting to ride it! As soon as we got home he was outside working, they boy NEVER stops!!

Jumping Jack Flash!

I thought I would post a few pics of things that Jack has been up to lately. Jack is sooo the second child, he does things that Barrett would have never tried!! I love that he is so fearless, and independant. Well, I love it for NOW at least. He is ALWAYS into something! He can open all the doors and cabinets, he sneaks out of the house all the time, and he is a notorious climber!

Jack the cookie monster!



Jack the diet coke spiller!!



Jack the phone snatcher!!! (p.s. naked texting, don't try this at home!)



You can make a mess and scare me to death, but most of the time you are the sweetest little man ever! We love you to pieces!!

Father's Day...A week late!

I totally forgot to do my fathers day post last Sunday, I have been in a blogging rut lately. I blame my DVR for this, but it could be a number of things! HA!!

For Father's Day I decided to be nice and do something that the boys LOVE to do and I don't so much!! Just kidding, but not really. We have some land the we bought from my Grandmother that is in Palestine, about an hour away from us. Ryan thought it would be great for the boys to have a place they could play and hunt on that was close to us. I have to agree it is great, it's just not so great right now because it's JUST land! Ryan has dug a pond and now built a shed out there. He has most recently started the cabin. That is when I will go out there when I have A/C and a T.V., I'm not ashamed!! So I thought since that is where they enjoy being that I could go, it was Father's day after all! We had lunch at Mercados in Tyler and then headed out to "Rough Creek", that's what we call it.

Jack, Daddy, Paw Paw and Barrett



This will be the view from our front porch!! Gorgeous!!







This little man is in his element out here, I think of Steel Magnolias "In Jackson's family you either shoot it, stuff it, or marry it!" Yeah, that sounds about right for Barrett! Ha!!



Happy Father's Day to my wonderful husband Ryan; "Paw Paw" Ryan's Dad, and Big B my fabulous Dad, who was enjoying the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach for Father's Day! We love you all!!!

Stings and the Watermelon Snatcher

Today SuSu and Big B were in town and the girls and my two boys headed to Tyler for lunch. Since it wasn't quite lunch yet, I pulled into a store to kill some time. While getting out Barrett says Mom I don't have shoes! I said Barrett I told you to grab your flops before we left!! He looks at me and says "SORRY, I forgot." ARgggg!! Let's just be glad I made a stop to waste time, I'm pretty sure the restaurant has a no shoes policy! Nobody wanted to make the lunch decision so Barrett decided he would. It never fails if my Mom is eating with us Barrett ALWAYS wants to go to Clear Springs, it is so funny. He ONLY mentions it when she is eating with us??





After lunch we headed home for naps. I needed a break from the HEAT, it is so terrible already!! I can walk outside for 5 seconds and be sweating. It really makes me want to keep my workout clothes on all day!

After Jack's nap the boys wanted to go outside, being that it was a million degrees I suggested a Ranger ride. They agreed and we headed down the road to Shi Shi's house. While at Christie's house we went out to see her garden. Barrett, Christie, Mims and I were all admiring the garden, while Jack was walking around. All the sudden I hear Jack screaming crying holding his ear. I though I saw him swatting at something. I looked in his ear and he had been stung inside the ear, by who knows what! I felt so bad. Christie made a paste that we put on and it seemed to help ease the pain. After Jack settled down I decided we should head home. Christie was walking us out and she says, "Oh what happened to my little watermelon?!" AHHHHHHHHHH! Well I KNEW what happened to it, in the mist of the commotion with Jack, Barrett the watermelon snatcher picked it!! I was so mad at him. The poor little watermelon had a long way to grow and Barrett snuffed it's chances out! We apologized. I really don't think Barrett thought he was doing anything wrong, but I could be wrong. HA!

Jack's poor little ear!



My boys!!



I think it's going to be a long HOT summer!