corpus--2012

One thing I LOVE about summer... VACATION!!  It was one of my favorite things growing up (well, unless we had to go somewhere "educational--  it might have been a bit boring for me as a child)  We always had fun (and typically something unusual and eventful would always occur) Then as an adult and living on my own, my best friend and I traveled all over.  Once I got married, Kirk and I were able to go on a few awesome adventures as well.  Then the kids came and for some reason we have not gone on many vacations-- though we did go to the beach 2 years ago.  we went to Destin with my parents, I looked, but could not find any posts about it?!  not sure why?  It was a great trip (all except for the fact that Molly was not a big fan of the ocean, or the sand, or the sun etc...)  Molly is 2 years older (and a much happier little girl), Sam is growing up, so it was time to once again have a vacation...  at the beach... in the hot sun of Texas...

What an awesome week!  It came and went so fast and we had a lot of fun in between.  I will warn you now, I have tried my best to restrict the photos in this post, but it was a FUN weeks worth of camera snapping so here ya go....

 We saw cotton growing in several fields, it was so neat to see these little cotton buds.  We pulled over in a parking lot and took a closer look at the cotton field.  We did pick 2 pieces from a plant in the weeds.  It actually felt like a cotton ball that you buy.

 We were able to go to the Texas State Aquarium.  It was really neat.  Very hands on and interactive.  we tried and tried to touch these sting rays...  They had apparently been handled too much already that morning.  BUT if you try and try and go deep enough in the water you can actually get one!

 And then we realized there was another place to touch them, it was shallower and they came closer to the edge...so much nicer and easier--- all 4 of us got to feel them.  The kids got to feel small sharks as well.

  The dolphins were so cool to see.  We were able to watch their show.  Then we went down below and were able to watch them "play"  they would come right up to the glass.  I like how this one looks like he is smiling at Sam.

 And what kind of place would it be without a giant dolphin mascot? 

 Then there was the ocean.  It was fun.  The kids loved the waves, the water, the sounds, smells and the sand.  (which made me love it all the more)  Molly was not a huge fan of the "salty water" smacking her in the face, but took it anyway.  Then there is Sam who LOVED when the waves would crash on him and get all in his face (odd child, I know---  he was like that in Destin 2 years ago as well)

 

For one who did not like to be splashed in the face, Molly loved laying down in the sand and having the waves roll right over her. (I know, did not make much sense to me either)

 We were fortunate to be in Corpus when they had a turtle hatch-ling release.  (I will write another post about that)  On our way out Kirk and Sam were able to spot some sand crabs---  so of course we had to hold them :)

And then last but certainly least (yes, I said least) was the "world's largest whataburger)  I had read about it when looking up "things to do in Corpus"  It was a "must see" on my list...  and well, I gotta say, it was 2 floors, but sis not seem all that big, the 2nd floor had a nice view to the beach, but well, let's be honest, it was still just a whataburger...  oh well, at least we can say "we went, we saw, we ate, but we did not buy the t-shirt"
Come to think of it, we did not buy 1 single thing on this trip (aside from food)  not a single thing... how did that happen? 

Awesome God- Amazing Power VBS

 July is in full swing and we had our VBS at church last week.  The kids were really so very excited about VBS this year.  Molly especially was looking forward to seeing her friend Nikki who was coming in from out of town like last year.  Molly remembered her from last year and was ecstatic to find out that she would be coming back again.  So cute how a friendship from  1 week at VBS has continued.  I can not wait to see is she continues to have lasting friendships with people as she grows older.
Since Sam just completed Kindergarten he was able to be with all of the 'big kids' again this year and he loved that.  Molly is still in with the little kids, and yet again, Sam loved that ha!
The theme was Awesome God, Amazing Power.  Sam really got into it more this year than years past,  It was neat to see how much he learned (and actually soaked in)  Unlike Sam, Molly usually always knows her stories etc. 
Sam was an active participant too.  Our Associate Pastor (Jody) spoke to the kids each day. Together we sang, said out pledges (to US flag, the Bible and the Christian flag) etc. Jody would then enforce the theme etc.  He would say " I say awesome, you say God..."  I could hear Sam yell God and Power clear across the church!!  It is so fun to see the kids chatter about the events of the day.  I was also corrected several times by Molly as I would accidentally say something like "when we go to church tomorrow..."  I would then hear (ever so sweetly) "No mommy, we are not going to church... we are going to cation Bible school."  Funny how she was able to differentiate the two even though she was in the same room that she is always in for Sunday school and M and M's.

I did not go all crazy with the pictures this year... in fact, I only took a few.  Crazy, I know!

 some video:  I did not go down to Molly's class at all this week (sorry Molly)  These are the songs Sam sang in church on Sunday:


and yet again, gotta have a blast from the past.  I love looking at the same event several years in a row.  I have been teaching VBS a this church since Sam was 1, I took the next year off since Molly was going to be just a couple of weeks old and I was recovering from a c-section.  I do not have any pictures from my first year.  I was sure I had blogged about each of these years, but could only find one from 2011.

2011  here and here

2010

 2009

frenemy's

I know I have mentioned many times about how Sam and Molly have a love/hate relationship.  They LOVE to pester, touch, pinch, pull, tug, push etc each other.  They HATE it when they get in to trouble where they can not touch one another.

And then there are moments like these:

sure makes my heart happy...  this was one day after VBS they were watching a cartoon while I made us lunch.  (you would have thought they looked like they wanted to actually take a nap huh?!)  fooled me too...

my little 'baby'

I was making lunch, I heard:  "look at me mommy"

she was all snuggled up in her baby doll pack n play.  ---  and she claims she is NOT my baby...

mishap at the petting zoo

Since  school is out and our Bible study is over for the summer, I have set up weekly events/play dates for all of our friends like I did last year.

One of the play dates was at a local farm/petting zoo.  

It is always fun to feed the goats, they love to eat that is for sure!  So hungry in fact, that one took Sam's cup right out of his hand...  poor kid, this occurred minutes after the horse event (see below)  Needless to say, this was just another day in the life of poor Sam.

Molly got a kick out of feeding the goats

But my sweet boy continues to smile even through all of the mishaps (oh, and getting to use my cup of feed doesn't hurt)

The kittens were another grand attraction for all of the kiddos

(Now if only we can convince Kirk to let them have a sweet little kitty)

And now for the event you have all been waiting for---  We had just arrived, our first stop was to see the cute bunnies.  There was a fun, nosy horse who decided to join in on the action.  He was tickling the kids with his wet nose, it was all fun until....

Out of no where, for whatever reason he decides to have a little snack--- and munch on Sam's little arm.  It took me a minute to realize that his screams changed from-- "oh how fun, he is tickling me" to "Ouch, he thinks I am his lunch!" 

duece and daisy

As I have said before, Summer is here, so... Take me out to the ballgame!!!  We went to our annual Sunday school class outing to the ballgame.  The highlight for the kids is Duece and Daisy.  They are hard to get to...  apparently they are hot in those suits at 100 plus degrees outside---  who would have guessed?? ha.

But, if you keep your eye out, and can quickly jaunt from your seats and run to a spot where they are, you might just catch up to them and hopefully you can weasel your way through the crowd of kids and get to say HI. 

or better yet... get a HUG!
Daisy---  what an awesome mascot!!!!

Molly joined us this year-- she decided to skip the past 2 years (or was that decided for her?!)

after getting your hug, the next exciting thing to do is get your hat signed

Molly got in on the action as well

cute kids, they sure do love each other

gotta have our favorite poses in there too

Deuce was NOT as "family friendly" as Daisy.  He would go out onto the field and then head into the dug out area as soon as he was done "performing".  Sam was determined to meet him this year.  We chased him down several times---  and Finally caught him... before he hid away again. 
I was so proud of Sam- he asked Deuce if he would sign his hat...

can't leave out little sis...

Then my sweet boy asked if Deuce would take a picture with them.. that's my boy!!  he sure knows the drill, guess he has heard it over and over and over for the past 6 years---  "wait, we have to get your picture with..."  but see how worth it it was?!

A blast from the past.... 2011

2010--  see blog here

2009--- our first ballgame as a family

I love summer time and the rough riders!!!!  until next year....

Wow, what weather we have had

 It has been a crazy weather season for us.

 

  We have gotten a lot of rain lately which is wonderful after the horrible drought we have been in.  But it hasn't just rained, it has poured and flooded and poured some more.  We have had BIG winds-- knocking down trees and fences in our neighborhood (thankfully our new fence from last year has proven itself!!)  We have also had hail.  Lots of hail, like hail 3 different times in the past 2 weeks.  Thankfully a couple of the storms were  during the day and the kids were able to see it.

end of year M&M's sing

Sam's final singing with the M&M's.  The last songs for Molly's first year.  What a whirl wind of a year for M&M's.  It is hard to believe it is over.  I love to hear those sweet voices singing.

 there were 3 songs, but in passing the camera to Kirk, we missed one---oops!

Princess Diva in the making

This is a usual occurrence when I get Molly up from rest time...  As you can see, she uses her time wisely

Take me out to the ballgame...

 It's spring, time for warmer weather, hot dogs on the grill and BASEBALL

We signed Sam up for t-ball this year.  Because of his age he is on a modified t-ball team even though this is his first year.  Modified means that the coach pitches you the first 4 pitches and if you do not hit it by then you get to bat off the t.  It has been challenging for Sam, but he is getting the hang of it, and hopefully by the end of the season he might actually like it ---  right now he says he doesn't because he has to learn too much :)
He has a hard time keeping his attention on the ball, but when he does he really has some good baseball skills!  I LOVE the way he stands at bat... perfect form!  and oh, he is just ADORABLE in his uniform!! 

 at bat

 at third, getting ready to bring it home

 catcher

 um, he has to wear something new... gotta protect the future, even if it is uncomfortable!

what a proud point earner!!!!  it is amazing how good it feels to make it to home plate!!

I am so proud of that cute little boy...  he is on a team

•  with boys he has never seen before, 
•  of a sport he knows nothing about,
•  with shoes that feel funny when you run,
•  and he is trying to figure it all out!