the perfect 4th birthday

Cal is already planning his 5th birthday. It has to be exactly like his 4th, and he is already reminding me about 10 times a day. He loved it. Doug was lucky enough to have the day off so we turned it into a really fun family day. Lots of pictures = lots of collages (you can click on them to make the pictures bigger). 



Daddy made a yummy breakfast/ Cal was in present heaven from his adoring G & G's, etc. 

 We headed down town to get a better view of the city from the tallest building in Houston. 

Cal is such a sweet, energetic, happy boy.

He is a wonderful big brother, and a really great snuggle buddy. 

We really, really love this boy!

Next we walked over to the Aquarium and checked out all the cool animals and went on the Shark Train. 

We made it home in time to swim with his buddies at the pool and then back to our house for a joint birthday/pizza party.   

Happy 4th to Cal and Kaden!

the truth behind the cute blond curls...

...is that He is a LOT of work.

Exhibit A.1

Exhibit A.2

Exhibit B.1

Exhibit B.2

Just to show you how it is so dang hard to get mad at this kid. 

another year older and wiser too.

I'm 28!

Life doesn't get better than fish tacos and sweet potato fries with my favorite boys!

 And the Douger really stepped it up from his ush (the usual: not too much on birthdays...).   He came home from work on Friday and told me that some coworkers told him about getting tickets to the Josh Groban concert on criagslist.  We checked without too much luck.  But since we were up till 12:30 painting our entryway, we got lucky.  Right before we went to bed we checked one more time and found that someone posted really great floor seats super cheap.  We got them! 

 And it was just a added bonus that as soon as the concert started, one of those"surprise" stages popped up from the floor and low and behold we are about 5 people away from him!  Josh Groban fan or not, he was pretty cute in his converse and skinny jeans.   

It was a super fun birthday! Thanks honey.  :)

The Joy School Grad

I had so much fun with these 7 boys. 

They. have. so. much. energy.

so.

 It is so fun as a mother to watch your son "grow up."  I always wonder what type of man he will grow up to be.  I mean I know he will be a farmer, he tells me at least 10 times a day.  (And he tells me that is he practicing so hard everyday for college where he will learn all about what to feed his animals and what medicines to give them and how to drive a tractor and how to milk a cow....and he will go on for 20 minutes straight about all the great things in college he will learn about how to be a farmer.)   

But who will he really be.   He turns 4 next week, and while I don't claim to have him all figured out yet, I think I have a pretty good idea.  I think he will be kind of bossy, like his mom. I think he will have an extreme amout of focus, like his dad.  I think he will really love animals, like his Uncle Zach.  I think he will be a good communicator, like his Uncle Josh.  I think he will be really fun, like his Uncle Ben.  I think he will be a people person, like his Uncle CJ.  I think he will be smart, like his Uncle Ed.  I think he will be happy, like his Uncle Brian. And I think he will be dang handsome, like his Uncle Kelvin.    

I was down in the kitchen cleaning after I put the kids to bed and heard Cal get out of his room.  I was going to go up and be an annoying mother and give him a little lecture about "staying in your room after I tuck you in".  But he was fast and ran back to his room and I never heard another sound.  Several hours later when I made it up to my room I found his favorite dogs on our bed.  I think in the four years as a mother, this was the nicest thing one of my children have done for me yet. 

No matter who he turns out to be,  I will love him. 

And I am pretty sure he will be sweet and thoughtful.   

we are celebrating summer

otterpops. corn on the cob. watermelon. 

this has pretty much been our diet for the past month or so without shame. 

the lewis family's biggest corn eater:

flip flops.

 lots of parties!

 slip-n-slide fun.

the pools opened this past weekend...wahoo!  

click on picture to see cool water droplets.



the price of 45 chigger bites

Cal is turning 4 next month.  Lately I have been thinking about how my "trial" parenting time is over.  I have memories from his age so I can only assume he will have some too.  And I really don't want those memories to be the not-so-good-moments.  So, I hope he remembers the good times like these ones. 

Unfortunately, we let our sleeping bags sit out in the nice tall grass for several hours and then were eaten alive during the night by disgusting little larva. Doug (43 bites) and I walked away from the night looking like we had the chicken pox.  And then we itched, really, REALLY bad for 4 straight days.  

 We were lucky to have a few friends join us for dinner & smores since the site is so close to home. 

 The dad's had a great time making up kid friendly/not so friendly ghost stories.

My favorite part was after the kids were in bed and everyone went home, Doug and I were talking by the fire about the only thing we know how to talk about....what will he do when he grows up, and a tree started shaking and crunching.  He claims not too have been too scared, but he was. But being the protector of the family and all, he remained seated and opted for clicking on his handy dandy head light.   We watched a very large raccoon, think fox size, walk right into our camp, around our tent, decide he didn't want to eat our garbage or our children for that matter, and walk off. 

I love having my little family! They are the best!

The past week has been so BEAUTIFUL in Texas.  Highs were in the 70's.  We got a new trampoline mat and have been living outside from day to day.  Even our Dr. Seuss tree (my mom's nick name) bloomed its wonderful puffy, pink, happy flowers.  

I needed a new post up....

We're happy! 

 And the littlest one of us has a really big crush.

They like to share sippy cups, read wonderful novels about kitties and doggies, and jam music together. 

Kate says Rhett's name over and over. 

Talking is not Rhett's strong point unless the subject is 'Dada.' 

But he waves and hugs and gives her killer smiles.