A break before the break

Back in May and two weeks before school let out for the summer we stole away for a much needed vacation.  It was mostly for this big guy.  A vacation so that he could do exactly what he's doing above and below--hang with his kids.  Kyle, uncommonly, had two trials a week apart.  We hadn't seen hide nor hair of him. None of us were especially thrilled by it but Reese definitely took it the hardest.  She would wake as early as her little body could to try and catch him before he left for the day, to no avail.  And she'd cry at night wanting her dad to put her to bed.  Which wasn't happening either.  As soon as the last trial ended we didn't have to twist his arm to get out of town.  Wanting to take advantage of off season pricing and little to no crowds we left Houston on a Sunday morning and drove to one of our favorite resorts in San Antonio.  Truly we could just as well have never left the resort and it would have been plenty for the likes of us that week.  But we did venture out to Sea World and the Natural Bridge Caverns nearby.  We also caught up with Nick, Katy and Sutton, the only family we have in Texas.  Ty was glad to have a little shadow.  Jaden gets one.  The boys equally adore each other.  The trip was rejuvenating for all of us.  Can't wait to go again!

  

As Jaden walked into find her seat for the Shamu show she was nabbed and asked to participate in the show.  Which was cool.  But not quite as cool as you it used to be.  She was on the jumbotron, she got to wave to Shamu from behind a chained off entrance and she got to tell everyone what she wants to be when she grows up: a teacher. 

Besides the few pics where Reese is on the ground, this is how she made her way through the cave.

Time to head home.  We didn't have to coerce this one.  I can confidently say that Reese's favorite part of the trip was packing, unpacking, and rolling her suitcase EVERYWHERE.  I love this shot of her.

Jaden's seeing $ signs again

Moms and summer students,

I am getting ready to continue my summer school.  My mom says I can hold it on a Wednesday or a Thursday from 9-1.  I'll choose the day once I hear back from all of you about which day works the best for the most of you.  

I hope your kids want to come back to my school.  I am going to keep it educational and fun at the same time!  Plus, you get to hang out with my cool brother (well, at least my students think he's cool anyway).  Ty says he's most excited for the National Geographic shows we will get to watch on Netflix, followed by a report on the kids' favorite animals.

No need to send a lunch because we will be making them together.  I'm thinking creative lunch ideas like sailboat sub sandwiches and homemade pizza rolled out individually.  You get the picture!  I have a fun cookbook that our class can decide on which lunches we'd like to do.

I am raising my tuition from $5 to $6 a day.  

Excited to teach, 

Miss Jaden :)

(Jaden will have 8 students including Ty)


Chloe, Audrey, Esther, Katie, Summer and Anna,

My name is Miss Jaden (Reese's older sister) and I would like to be your dance teacher this summer!

If you want to join my class we will practice  on Friday mornings from 9:00 to 10:00 throughout the summer. Tuition is 3.00 dollars a lesson.  If you don't come you don't pay!  We'll work hard, but also have a lot of fun honing our skills! We'll start this week.  Hope to see you there!

Excited to dance with you,

Miss Jaden :)


(Jaden will have 6 dancers including Reese)

It must be soccer season . . .

for we are guaranteed a visit from this hairy guy whenever that's the case.  Quote from Ty during this visit: "Don't forget your wallet, Grandpa Lynn."  Shamelessly uttered as we were heading out the door to buy un-birthday gifts.  And from Lynn's last visit we enjoyed recalling this quote from Reese: "I like you Grandpa Lynn, but I love my daddy more."  This on his last night here, lest he be confused.  We tell it straight around here. Thanks for spoiling us with your presence and not necessarily your wallet, Lynn. Our kids are lucky to have you for their grandpa.

At this moment I wonder if they're not only looking like each other but also thinking the exact same thoughts about the baseball game.  It wouldn't be a stretch to think so.

Easter

Catching up here.  Easter was busy and enjoyable.  We saw little of Kyle.  He was overloaded with work leading up to a trial. So I attempted to keep all of us busy as to keep from noticing his absence.   Recently, I've noticed when Kyle's home we get lazy.  We just lay around and enjoy his company.  His company is rare as of late.  The house turns to filth and not much gets accomplished.  So with Kyle being out of touch from early morning to late night we did Easterize ourselves (I made up that word).  More than previous years, that is.  We colored our eggs a couple of days in advanced.  We tried out the famous "Easter Story Cookies" recipe that follows the events leading up to the resurrection of Christ for each added ingredient.  Ending with the cookies sealed in the tomb (oven) the night before only to find that they too have risen come Easter morning.  As was the tomb empty so are the cookies, being hollow.  Sweet story.  Gross cookies.  Yet the kids said they enjoyed the process (as did I) and want to make them again next year.  Plus we were able to take some of this recipe to frost our Easter Bunny Cake.  Which, by the way, we've (we = Jaden and I) decided that the Easter Bunny Cake isn't all that delicious.  We'd either need to make it purely for decoration or come up with a better recipe.  So Jaden came up with the bright idea to make it half it's original size since we weren't taking the time to find a new recipe or eating it.  Then the kids sat through our favorite rabbit story, The Country Bunny.  After which, Jaden, being my sidekick that weekend, stuffed all of the eggs.  On Easter morning Kyle was around long enough to see the kids hunt for eggs.  And that evening he was back just in time for a feast with our lovely next door neighbors.  

Euphoria

The word euphoria is the adjective of choice for these pics and how best to describe our weekend together.  A word that I had to go to the thesaurus for.  "So what, who cares?" --SNL  I was looking for one word to describe the weekend and I wasn't fond of what was popping up in my sleep deprived brain, due to said weekend.  Although I would guess that even without the heading one might conclude that it was an enjoyable weekend by the pictures alone.  

These are five of my beautiful sisters.  I have six.  Missing one.  We absolutely missed you, Charity!  This gathering in Utah was in honor of Deborah's 30th birthday.  I can't tell you exactly what was going on in the two pics, above and below.  But I am so glad I got these shots!  Being stuck behind the lens was worth not being part of whatever it was that was clearly so hilarious. I do know that I'd made the girls stop for a picture with our hotel in the background after a mouth watering meal at Red Rock in Salt Lake.  This was our second day together and by then they were used to me nagging them to pose for pictures.  Annoyed by it, but used to it.  They'll thank me now, of course.  A memorable weekend to say the least.  (Also, I've added what we've dubbed the song of the weekend to my playlist by Adele) 

The birthday girl.  I love this shot of Deborah.  She's always had gorgeous eyes but this shot takes the cake.  So then I was on a quest to get good individual shots of the rest of them too.

Sarah had just gotten a new haircut and we were all in love with it.

I'd like to take credit here for coercing Elle into getting highlights.  She looks lovely.

Deon wouldn't allow much of an individual shot.  But let me just mention here that she also owns zebra print golf clubs and shoes among lots of other things zebra.

Already making plans for our next sister's weekend.  It promises to be good.  Deon has the floor. 

Love these shots of the oldest and the youngest thoroughly enjoying one another's company!

Sarah had two finals staring her in the face come Monday.  She opted out of the pedicures to study but really that was about the only time devoted to study that I remember.  Hope we didn't keep you from getting straight A's, as usual.

Our last night together.  All good things must come to an end but before they do you should have a lovely trifle bowl full of that stuff!  Mmm . . . thanks to Miriam, the hostess with the mostess!   Also, you may notice our extra tan and shiny faces?  We'll thank Elle for that, she was offering chemical peels to the brave and willing.  Ouch.