Cars 2

Last Saturday we took the boys to see Cars 2. They were so excited. They new it was coming out in July and had been looking forward to it for a long time. Conner decided he and Shep needed to wear their Mater hats. Shep actually kept his on the whole movie! I couldn't believe it.

I love little boys in hats!

I wish I had a picture of their faces when they got into the theatre. They were completely in awe. The look in their eyes was so precious and worth every penny of that darn expensive matinee. (When did they get so expensive??) They actually made it through the whole movie!

Sunday we took the boys to the Children's Museum. It's free from 4-5 pm! They absolutely LOVED it and would have stayed for hours. So glad we can have some fun family time before Zack is gone next month.

Conner loves to go downtown. He asks to go almost every day. He wanted a picture with one of the painted guitars as we walked to our car.

Father's Day

Ok, this first picture has nothing to do with Father's Day, but I thought it was fun. Shep was decorating with some dot art yesterday. I heard him exclaim, "Look, Mom!! I made Target!!" And he did...boy after my own heart.

Had a little pool time this afternoon for Father's day. Shep was a little under the weather, so he wasn't supposed to swim. BUT, he snuck in (with his clothes on!) when I wasn't looking.

Conner started swimming lessons last week and is doing great!! I can't believe how much he has learned in just two lessons.

Dinner. My first time to make kabobs. I must say, I LOVE grilled pineapple.

Shep opted for a hotdog. He was pretty hungry after all that swimming he wasn't supposed to do=)

Happy Father's Day!

dog days of summer

Edit: I reposted "dog days of summer". My computer shut down and for some reason it posted and I couldn't go back and edit it. Read this one!=)

and it's not even summer technically! Apparently it's been setting all kinds of records around here lately. All I know is, it's hot and been in triple digits ever day for over a week. If it's 105 in mid-June, August scares me=P

Today has been a very fun, summertime day. After about a 30 min stroller battle with Shep, we set out very early for a little walk. The boys had been saving their prize points at HEB (our local grocery store) for several months. We finally had enough to pick out a good prize!

After the walk, we were all pretty hot, so it was pool time! I told Shep multiple times to pick out cars for the pool (he likes to drive them on the steps) We set out, armed with blue freeze pops (thank God there were two blue freezer pops left, since they wanted the same color), only to find upon getting there he didn't bring any cars. After a little pool drama, we walked back home and got some cars. The rest of the time at the pool was very relaxing...we had a little discussion as we walked back to get the cars and maybe they listened a little??=)

This afternoon Conner and I plan to make this:

Classic Lemonade

In a small saucepan, combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1/2 cup water. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved; let cool. In a pitcher, combine the syrup with 1 cup fresh lemon juice (from about 6 lemons) and 2 1/2 to 3 cups water. Pour over ice. Serves 4

The boys love lemonade and Conner had asked recently if we could make our own.

Tonight is pulled pork tacos with pico, avocado, salsa...the works. Then, hopefully, (fingers-crossed) the boys will be worn out enough to go to bed without too much drama, so Zack and I can watch the new True Grit without interruption=)

It always makes me excited to plan fun days for my boys. I was thinking about how much I delight in blessing them and how that relationship is similar to my relationship with God and how much he delights in blessing me. How often do I plan wonderful fun things for my kids only to be met with their complaining, fighting, selfishness and disobedience. I am the same way towards God. I'm selfish, instead of thankful. He has such great plans for me and wants to bless me and yet I complain and grumble against Him. I'm like Shep, who screamed the whole time I tried to get him in the stroller for a fun outing. I was trying to bless him and yet he resisted with his whole being. I picture God telling me to stop resisting his plan...to stop hanging on to my plans so tightly...so he can bless me.

"If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7:11

dog days of summer

Thoughts

I have always struggled with contentment and this last week, I've been a real complainer. I haven't felt very blessed. I've been focusing on what I don't have or don't get to do, instead of all I have and all I've done. Instead of fighting for joy, I've been feeling sorry for myself. I'm doing a bible study on the book of Psalms this summer and I came across this verse last week.

"Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man against whom the LORD counts no iniquity..." Psalm 32:1-2a

It struck me that that verse is the very definition of being blessed. I am blessed because I have been called, redeemed and adopted into God's family. I think I usually measure being blessed by material blessing, but God doesn't owe me anything. Even if I never received anything else I ever wanted, I AM blessed because I AM God's child.

But God in His great mercy and love blesses me in so many ways every single day, despite my complaining heart. "...they (the Israelites) did not believe in God and did not trust his saving power. Yet He commanded the skies above and opened the doors of heaven, and He rained down on them manna to eat and gave them the grain of heaven." Psalm 78:22-24 That is the God we serve. A God who really does pour blessings upon His children.

I think the thing I want most in life is to have joy right where I am...to give thanks in all things. The Israelites in Psalm 78 where limiting God's work in their life by their unbelief and complaining at it's core is unbelief.

take me out to the ballgame

Took the boys to their first baseball game last month. I love it that we have been able to start doing things like this as a family.

Shep, refusing to look.

Conner getting his horns out when he heard the Eyes of Texas. What can I say? He's a Texan:)

They actually made it four innings! (We did get a hot dog in the 2nd inning to buy some time) We even got to see a home run!

I love having boys.

we don't need a real dog

This plastic one works quite well. Shep rediscovered it recently and named it White. (How's that for a typical name given by a 2 yr old??) He was later rechristened "Trip" after Uncle Daniel's dog.


Taking him out for a little walk. I'll be honest...I'm not a dog person. I'm really not an animal
person at all. I'm sure someday we'll get a dog for the boys, but for now, they are thrilled with their little plastic one.

Being the teacher I am, I used this little game to teach them some things about taking care of a real animal.

The boys enjoyed playing fetch with a real dog at a Memorial Day cook out. Conner found a tennis ball and gave Trip a few lessons. He catches pretty well for a plastic dog=)

First Day of School

A very excited little boy on his first day of "school". "Mom, we had lunch and we all at out of our lunch boxes!!"



Me: Conner, I'm going to miss you when your at school. Conner: Mom, I'm not going to miss you because I'm a brave boy=) He did great. (The teacher did say, though, when I asked her, that he would finish his activities before anyone else and get impatient to move on to something else. Sounds like his Mom)

Shep has expressed a desire to go to school too. I thought that would probably happen. After dropping Conner off he said, "I REALLY want to go to Conner's school." Me: I would miss you Shep! Would you miss me? Shep: Nope. You would be sad Mom. You would cry" Me: Well, maybe when your bigger. (I wanted to say, "I don't think I would be crying to have 4 hrs alone=) He probably wouldn't want to go if he realized he wouldn't be in Conner's class. Shep and I have had fun. Today he kept saying, "Just Mom and Shep!!" He's a talkative guy, but he talks almost non-stop when it's just me and him. He's pretty cute.

Man, my boys are getting big!