The Rock

I really like this picture.  Here are a few more fun pics.

 

Castle Building

Oh Joy!  It sure was an incredible week of sandcastle building.  The joy of playing and creating together, with the sound of the waves, the warmth of the sun, the freshness of the wind - just being together enjoying the moment.  I loved watching Bruce, Baily and Decker working their hands in the sand, seeing their joy as they were creating an enormous sandcastle together and the excitement of coming the next day to see what changes had occurred and what they were going to create from what remained.  It was a tremendously sweet and awesome time!

So grateful in many ways.

A Day at the Arboretum

It was a scorcher day but it was well worth it to spend the day with some important and precious people. We LOVE them dearly!!!

Just loving the day

Just loving the day. That's all I can say. 

Rangers vs Yankee Game

It was a beautiful day at the end of July and we spent the evening enjoying the Texas Rangers vs the New York Yankees at the ballpark in Arlington. FUN TIMES.

Barnes and Noble Summer Reading

Baily and Decker were each rewarded with a free book from Barnes and Noble for reading just eight books.  Thank you Barnes and Noble.  We are having fun reading them!!!!

Happy Moon Day

In celebration of the first moon landing (July 20, 1969), when Neil Armstrong uttered the famous words, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," we spent some time at the Moon Day celebration at the Frontiers of Flight Museum.

It was a GREAT time.  Both Baily and Decker received a fun moon day messenger bag filled with all kinds of goodies.  We had fun exploring and learning new things.  One of their favorites was the interactive robotics section which has inspired them for some of their upcoming projects.

Katy Trail in the Middle of July

I cannot believe it - we went biking in the late afternoon, . . . on Katy Trail, . . in the middle of July, . . . temps 75!!! Awesome Times Rock On!!!

Inventions - Creations - Fun Times

Our summer evenings have been filled with creating, designing, inventing, painting and playing in the boys fort.

This has really been a special time for us.

July Reading

Here are a few of the books Baily and Decker are reading this month.

Archery

When the mosquitos and cicada killers aren't buzzin around Decker and Baily are with their bows and arrows.

Our Mornings of Swim Lessons

Our summer mornings have been filled with swim lessons. We did not plan on spending this much time here every morning every week - but thankfully the time and the boys hard work has greatly improved their water confidence and swimming skills. Though they still have a great respect of the water, it is a joy to see their tremendous progress.

I'm truly grateful and thankful for this time.

Maps and Creations

This summer we all saw the movie How to Train Your Dragon 2, which got Baily and Decker started on creating some maps like Hiccup's map. (Hiccup is the main character from How to Train Your Dragon movies).

They also we inspired to create Toothless, Hiccup's dragon, from a dinosaur crank it set. They painted wooden pieces, then assembled and attached them together to create this moving dragon when you turn the crank. FUN!

This one below is another wooden crank project which they painted each piece and assembled.  There is a boat on the water (waves).  When the crank is turned the waves go up and down and the airplane above flies around.  Totally Fun!!!

On The Roof

Missing the Boat

It sure was fun when we had her. The time was too short though. I had dreams of summer fun with the boys on Janmar Creek. A sudden down pour and flash flood rain took trees and the boat in the rushing current. We miss her and hope she did find a great home.

OH JOY - The Orange Door

I remember how excited we were when our door was finally painted "again" to a much more suitable color.  When we got the house our door was a dark dark red.  Nice.  Then one day the boys and I discovered, at the suggestion of a great architect and friend, Bruce had the door painted what we called "caterpillar throw-up".  Yeah - BLAH.

Anyhow.  It was a beautiful site to see the door transform into a joyous orange.  It is such a joy to drive up to the house with the colorful door singing welcome home.  Since then I have collected lots of fun snapshots of the boys in front of that door.  OH JOY!