Fun Mom

I feel like I haven't been a very fun mom lately, so this last little bit I've been trying to be better. I also know that fun isn't the most important thing, but the kids are at such fun and easy ages and I want to take advantage of that. 

Max has been really into playing tennis lately. I want to get him a racket (not a  racquetball one like he's playing with now) and take him to the courts soon! I love tennis so much and it'd make me so happy to teach that to my kids.

Millie likes to draw on paper plates lately. I don't mind as long as we can still eat on one side! This one was a picture of me and Millie, "and hearts because I love you." 

Though it isn't pictured, we finally went to the park after not making it there for a while. The kids were both so happy there and afterward, I actually got an intentional smile from Max!

A glass tea party during Max's nap, on the blanket made by Monka because it's her current favorite. Love those little hands.

He doesn't just fall asleep anywhere anymore, so when it happens I will document it! 

Ring around the rosie with Buzz Lightyear. Makes sense.

Had to try out the splash pad at the new park we love. Not as much of a hit as the park but still a good time, in case you can't tell by Millie's face.

Millie came to me with a big piece of paper folded like below and said she thought it would make a great kite. So I grabbed some tape, dowels, string, and a fork to wrap the rest of the string around and she has been "flying" it around the house a lot since. 

We've almost found everything in this Christmas I Spy book. We love them and will have to try another soon!

Catching up some more

The kids were so well-behaved on a recent family outing to Chuy's... 

Until they were tired of being well-behaved and climbed like monkeys in the fake trees. Oh well.

Max's favorite thing lately is to watch Thomas the Train toy videos on YouTube. Side note: who makes these videos?? Not even sure how he saw one initially, but that's totally the way to get on his good side now. Garrett and Mitchell were here for a few days and figured that out real quick! 

Soccer season is over for Millie. We missed the end-of-season party, so the coach's wife brought Millie her trophy. Millie didn't see anyone else get one, so when she got hers she whispered, "I won!" Thinking she was so special. Can't burst that bubble quite yet. She even has slept with the trophy a few times.

While we're on the subject of soccer, here are bad pictures of the team pictures.

Max refused to hold still for a picture in his adorable hat, but I like these anyway.

Their current favorite thing to do when we are at Gigi and Poppy's house.

We got to have a cousin movie night on Friday! So fun!

While G&M were still in town, we went to eat at Taste of Texas. *Best. Steak. Ever. Anyway, Max was pretty scared of the big stuffed bear they have in the waiting area. When we were about to leave he snuggled in, knowing we would walk by it again.

Another pic of a pic because I'm a winner like that. So fun to have almost the whole gang together!

Rainy days

We had another crazy storm recently. It caused major flooding and kept everyone at home for a few days. Luckily our street never got too bad, but we couldn't get to the freeway and we had about a 2-mile radius accessible. Tyler worked from home for most of that week and we all went a little stir-crazy being cooped up at home for so long! We finally made it to a grocery store on the 3rd day I think. Along with the rest of the area, apparently. We had weird bread options left and no milk.

We played at our neighbor's house one day and it was a great change of scenery! Max loves to line up toys.

Gigi got through to us one day and brought the kids new swim suits, which they were so excited to wear as soon as the sun came out. We didn't let them play in the water when it was high (hello snakes!) but when it was down to just puddles I let them splash all they wanted. 

It sure made for a weird week! But we were so blessed to stay safe and dry throughout the craziness.

Catching up

Just a random assortment of pictures and things.

We had to order some new arrows for Millie's bow because Max broke all the old ones. She was pretty excited when they arrived. Who knew the easel had so many uses?? 

They love to play in Max's bed together. I love it when they are contained.

My jam-making buddy. Millie called it strawberry soup.

Modeling new pajamas from Gigi.

Our ottoman/couch look like this probably 90% of the time. But he really does play with them so much that it's not like they're out for no reason, so I don't mind. This boy loves trains more than pretty much anything!

Avoiding folding her laundry. 

Gloomy weather calls for more creative juices than I have! Thank goodness we found this box to color. 

Back when we were first married, I told Tyler not to waste money on flowers for me, but to someday get me fruit from Edible Arrangements instead. He surprised me with this box of deliciousness recently and I savored every amazing bite!! He is so sweet.

Millie got to plant wheatgrass at preschool and was ecstatic when she had little sprouts.

Exercising with Dad.

Mom, Lindsay, and I met at IKEA one day to shop and then eat lunch. It's just so fun to be able to get together like that! And my kids are loving more cousin time.

Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival 2016

We love this tradition of going to the arts festival with Grammy every year! Uncle Russell and Aunt Pam came too and we all had a great time.

This was the only semi-group picture we got. We decided on edible art this year and got a Bundt cake! Not sad at all about that.

Funny story: after a few hours at the festival we went back to Grammy's for a little bit. Grammy had bought the kids little glass things that look like sand dollars and they were carrying them around. They were out on Grammy's balcony (6 floors up), and of course Max chucked his! Tyler saw where it landed so we all went down to search for it. Max was so happy that we found it, and all in one piece! Pretty amazing that his little glass survived a 6-story fall into a rocky area.