First Dermabond Experience

He was brave! He was strong! Little pool slip but we're good and ready to swim again (in five days).








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We've got a Graduate!

Ryan celebrated his graduation from pre-k by heading to Morgan's Wonderland. Look it up! Pretty amazing place!



This is the face of a serious boy with a serious job of getting his buddy across the finish line.



I was so honored that he was so happy that I was going to be a parent helper!



Can you even handle this little face?!?! He's working so hard to swing the perfect swing.



You can't take it. Can you? Nama mentioned he looks like Samuel here. I completely agree.



If you can zoom in on his face, you won't be able to take it.



Ms Mandy. She is wonderful!









Congratulations to you, Ryan. We're so proud of you. We love you!!



Afterwards, we checked out Ryan's room. While doing so, Nama Dotty was taken up in the loft by her little buddy. Sammy has a serious love for Nama Dotty. It's quite precious and melts my heart to see these two generations bonding.


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Old But Very Necessary... It's Cabo!

My childhood friends (missing a few) and I went to Cabo in April. This is what I hope to become an annual trip. Maybe not Cabo but some fabulous location for us gals to get together.

We stayed in an adult-only spa/resort that was absolutely beautiful.



We ventured out (against the advice of my mother) to The Office and then again for Probably one of the best restaurants... Edith's







A few of is worked out. As I did a pilates class, I listened to the waves crashes against the shore.









Loved being with these ladies. Loved catching up without kids hanging off our arms.


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Ryan is FIVE!!

This bundle of yumminess just turned FIVE. He is beyond excited that he is no longer four. Five means kindergarten and the big playground.

The day before he turned five, he decided he liked showers better than baths. And, Sammy is trying to partake in them same right of passage. (not working quite as well).

Birthday morning, Ryan blew out his candle on none other than a breakfast taco. That's right. We be throwin' down San Antonio style.



Scooby Doo is all the rage in his little five-year-old world.



So, to embrace named obsession, I had to get him the best cupcakes in the town!



His birthday party was at Pump-it-Up! I had so much fun watching both kids and adults smile from ear to ear. This place is great!









Here's our little king all fabulous and fived-out!


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Just a Little Impromtu Vacation, Full of Gifts

Friends invited us to stay with them at a HUGE, and I mean HUGE lakehouse this past weekend.  The forecast showed ZERO clouds.  The Tootles accepted. 

After turning in a last minute time off request, we headed out Thursday night, and woke to this beautiful site.  I'm reading A Thousand Gifts right now, so the ENTIRE trip, I kept thanking God for anything and everything.  A full drawer of utensils, paper plates, Sammy's smile, the four waverunners, a guest house to sneak away for sleep, sunscreen... I couldn't stop thanking Him for all his little, and big gifts in life. 

This little Toot was such a sweet gift on the trip.  He LOVED the boat rides and waverunners.  Loved the joy he oozed out from every pore of his little body. 

This little gift, while on the tad side of grumpiness, he was such a hoot at times.  Through the whole trip, I kept thinking that I really need to work on his gratefullness.  Wee bit of a whiner on this trip.  Welll, we got home on Sunday, and this little one was curled on the floor, shivering.  Sure enough, he was sick.  (I'll still work on gratefulness (along with myself)). 

Gift of father and son bonding time!

Gift of us being patient enough (after being told by the pool guy) to let the hot tub warm up.  The kids hogged the tub the whole time.  After bed time was our only shot.

Sammy was like a puppy dog on the boat.  He let the wind blow in his hair.  Little bug land on the face... didn't matter to him. 

We had two sunset cruises one night.  A few of us adults strategically figured out how to send all the kids on one boat right, so we could have a gift of nonethingness, and a glass of wine.  This is what came back to us. 

Really enjoyed the moms/friends on this trip.  The kids hardly ever wanted their picture taken.  When it was our turn, the little ones popped in. 

Sammy got a hold of the gift of sunscreen and applied until it was gone.  Sorry Shannon.  (gift of a forgiving friend).

 These sweet little faces found a slug, yes slug.  And, being the cute, precious girls that they are, created a home for it.  Nice work! 

Any picture with my boys is a gift to me. 

Camera Phone Diaries

The past two weeks have been a little bit of everything. From a nice dinner with Nama Dotty to an ER visit, we did it all!

1. We've been enjoying the warm weather. I'd say the "unusual warm" winter weather for us but really it's not. Flip flops are worn with a fleece jacket. Uggs worn with shorts.



2. We were a house-of-sickies for way too long. Check out the coon-eyes on that girl!



3. Ryan's class dressed up as clowns one day. Since our house was one big infirmary, Mimi and pop pop took the kids to get better there, so rod and I could get better here. While there Mimi created the best in show clown costume! Ryan looked adorable!






4. We had a movie night (still sick). So nice to lay low. The kids loved it.



5. Ryan and I had a lunch date after church. Love getting one on one time with him.



6. Soon after our Sunday lunch date, I started cooking a big pot of taco soup. As I was smashing the recyclables down to make more room in the can, I cut my finger on the lid of a can I had just opened. Off to the new Baptist standalone ER, five stitches and we were back home in time for the Oscars.



7. I graduated Ryan to the boxer-brief underwear. Doesn't he look so cute in them?!? He loves them because they "mean he's getting bigger.".



8. We got better! Started JuicePlus!




9. I got a date night alone with Nama Dotty! We went to Cheesecake Factory and such s nice evening. So much food! We joked that she was going home from a grocery trip.


She looked so pretty for our date night!



10. The kids had Community Helper week. Ryan dressed as a fire fighter.




11. Went to La Gloria and enjoyed my girlfriends and kids! Love, love this place. Perfect for kids and allows for a fun, hip atmosphere for the tired parents.








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