We have had a fun couple of days visiting my parents this week. It is such a long drive and they are in Abilene so often that we don't make it down there very many times a year. But we have started making all of our trips in the summer because there are so many fun things to do when the weather is warmer!

The kids did great in the car. They played with toys,



and spent a lot of time singing and dancing.


On our way down, my parents met us in San Antonio for a trip to the zoo.

They definitely enjoyed it more than they did last summer. Mason loves animals right now though. He talked about going to the "big zoo" all the way there. He would say, "we are going to the big zoo to see raffes and lions and zebras and nakes!"

The new Africa exhibit was open this time and now my favorite part of this zoo is seeing the hippo underwater. It was so cool to watch it swimming and floating and see it up so close.

While we were there we also went to the Texas State Aquarium one day. They have done a lot to improve it since the last time I was there (for field trips!). But it is still so small compared to the aquarium at the Mandalay Bay in Vegas.



















The rest of the time we were there the kids played with all of my old toys and lots of new ones that Grammy got for them.


Enjoyed lots of bubble baths in the big tub!


And blew bubbles on the porch :)


It was such a fun trip and I can't wait until we go back in July and go to the beach!

Where to begin.... We had a very fun week of playdates and parties! Eric worked his second and last week of dayshift and we had people over almost every day :) The kids also enjoyed playing and running around the house!

Saturday we went to Todd's birthday party! Mason and Sawyer enjoyed their cupcakes very much, but Sawyer was very worried about getting dirty. Mason and Claire just dug in, and Sawyer was worried about Claire or Mason touching her with their dirty hands! Silly girl.






Friday was Eric's 30th birthday so I threw him a surprise birthday party on Saturday. It was awesome because he was actually surprised. Apparently I am the worst liar ever and he always knows when I plan things, but somehow we kept this a surprise! It was so much fun. A HUGE thanks to Kim&Chrys and Stan&Judy who did everything!

Mason and Sawyer love music, especially Mason. He sings all the time. Here are some videos :)

Ba Ba Black Sheep


Old McDonald


Twinkle Twinkle Little Star


The B-I-B-L-E

Who knew laundry was so much fun? I did all of our laundry yesterday and then spent the morning putting everything up, so the kids decided to spend the morning playing in the clothes baskets (or boats as they called them).

We have had a very fun week seeing friends and having play dates. Eric worked during the day this past week, so we have had people over almost everyday! And we have been very loud not worrying about waking up daddy :) It is going to be an interesting adjustment when we go back to normal schedule after this week.

Our friend Kristin was in town and brought baby Leighton over for us to meet! She is so precious. Sawyer would love a baby sister... We also got to play with Adelaide and baby Graham (and their awesome mom). It was so much fun to hang out with them. Here are all the toddlers checking Leighton out!

Friday we drove to Austin and then went to Williams birthday party Saturday! I can't believe he is one already. It was so great to hang out with my friends from college and see how much those babies had grown. Here we are with our kids-

The boys-

singing happy birthday-

Mason and Sawyer wanted to open all of the presents.

Micah :)

Jenn met us in Austin, so we spent the weekend hanging out with her, and eating some good food. We found out that Mason and Sawyer love salsa. And you can dip anything in it - chips, tortillas, fries.

We got a new bed for the kids because they are outgrowing their pack n plays, but I still wanted something for them to sleep in besides a big bed (so they will actually sleep). I have seen these peapods before but didn't know how the kids would like it. They loved it and we will be getting another one for all of the upcoming trips we have!



We had a great weekend, but are all exhausted. Sawyer fell asleep eating dinner tonight :)

Here is a little update on what the kids are doing and saying right now...

Mason:

favorite color: lellow (yellow)

favorite toy: animal puzzle pieces and pooh bear & tigger figurines

favorite animal: raffe (giraffe)

favorite show: Tigger & Pooh

favorite books: Gigi and Polar Bear Polar Bear What Do You Hear

Sawyer:

favorite color: pink

favorite toy: baby molly & her stroller and Darby & Buster figurine

favorite show: Dora

Sawyer has been in an "I want" phase. She constantly says, I wanna do it, I wanna put it on, I want pink shoes, I wanna help, I don't want it, I want off. "I no likin it."

There has also been lots of, "I need... milk, strawberries, etc."

The other day Sawyer ran up to Eric and said, "I have a boo boo daddy and I NEED a boo boo ticker (sticker)!"

They both say, "Mommy, you hear dat?" constantly. Seriously, any time there is any kind of noise they say this over and over. Mason says it more than Sawyer though.

They like to say, "Mommy read dis one please." And they love to read the same book over and over.

Mason LOVES music and loves to sing. He is always singing something and he combines a lot of his songs. It is pretty funny to listen to. But the other day we were at Sams and he was singing, "Old McDonlad had a pee pee, eieio. With a pee pee here and a pee pee there, eieio." Let's just say we were getting some pretty interesting looks.

Me: "Sawyer, do you like playing outside?"

Sawyer: "I like pink shoes."

ok then.

On the way to church one Sunday the sun was coming in the car and hitting sawyer's face and she screamed, "my eyes, my eyes! Sun off please."

That's all I can think of right now, but I know there is alot more. They come up with new funny things everyday!

This weekend Eric cut Mason's hair for the first time (for Eric to do it). I thought he did a great job - it looks good and saved 20 dollars! Mason has started this new frowning thing that is super cute and he is kinda doing it in this picture.

The weather has been so weird lately, 70's one day and 98 the next. And it has been sooo windy, which is not so great for scheduling pictures by the way. But anyway, on the hot days we have been breaking out the water toys and popsicles!

trying to drink out of the sprinkler....

I took this picture this morning. She always wants to put on make-up and fix her hair like I do. Such a cutie!