The Greatest Show on Earth!

After spending a few days in Kaufman, we headed to Garland to spend a few days with Maw-Maw and Pop. The first night we were there, they took us to the circus!

Bailey got to try out the tight rope!

Bailey with one of the circus performers

Campbell & Pop watching a clown show!

The kids & I with a clown

We got to see an elphant paint a picture!

Aunt Kim went with us and got the kids these super cool light up toys!

Thanks, Aunt Kim!

First Act with all the elephants!

Bailey had cotton candy for the first time and loved it!

Campbell wasn't quite sure what to do with it!

Elephants!

Tigers!

Grand Finale

Bailey and Aunt Kim

Thank you, Maw-Maw & Pop, for a fun time at the circus! Zing Zang Zoom!!!

Singin' in the Rain!

Please note: Nonnie and Bubba live in the country, where apparently clothing is optional. Do not judge as these wee ones are only two, four, and barely five years old. These pictures will be great for those senior slideshows (or blackmail) one day!

Stopping to dance in the rain!

Strike a pose!

It took forever to get a serious picture of these two!

Finally!

ice skating

While Judd was away at youth camp, the kids and I made a trip to visit the grandparents. Our first stop was Kaufman where we spent some quality time with Nonnie, Bubba, Aunt Calie, Beau, Charlie, and Scottie. We wanted to do something really fun with the kids so we decided to go ice skating. (Bubba and little Scottie sat out on this adventure!) We headed to the Galleria and ate lunch as soon as we got there at Mi Cocina. We sat in a really cool round booth at the back of the restaurant and the kids had a blast eating chips & queso. Calie and I were just glad we didn't have to go to McDonalds!

After lunch we were ready to skate! Calie and I were planning on skating with Beau & Bailey while Nonnie stayed with Campbell and Charlie, but Charlie insisted that she wanted to skate too! Campbell kept saying, "I do that!" but I just knew he would get scared or refuse to go on the ice. When we all got our skates on and headed to the ice, everyone was a bit hesitant at first and quickly found the rail to hold on to.

Bailey was pretty scared and didn't want to let go of the rail at all. I tried to hold her hands and have her skate in front of me, but she was too scared to do that for very long. We made it around the rink one time. She fell twice near the end, and her knee bled on the second fall. At that point, she was D-O-N-E! She was crying that it hurt and that she didn't want to skate anymore!

Poor Charlie had a hard time reaching the rail and her feet were going ninety miles an hour on the ice making it really fun for Calie! I think she only made it once around the rink as well.

Meanwhile, Beau was doing a great job skating while holding on to the rail. She was even brave enough to let go and hold on to our hands while skating!

Since Charlie was done with her skates, Campbell decided he wanted to wear them, but they didn't fit. Nonnie insisted that he get to try it so she went and got him some skates too. I'm so glad she did! Campbell did great! I held both of his hands and he "skated" along with me. Then Calie & I each held one of his hands and he did great! I think he made it around the rink 3 or 4 times! When we got off of the ice he said, "More skate!" He loved it!

Thank you, Nonnie, for such a wonderful day and memories that we will treasure for years to come!

(My camera battery was dead today so I didn't get any pictures of our ice skating adventure. Bummer!)

What's wrong with the zoo?

Apparently, a trip to the zoo for my kids this summer just isn't meant to be. We have tried to go THREE times this summer and every time, something comes up and we can't go.

Attempt #1 - My parents were going to take them to the Dallas Zoo, but my mom got sick.

Attempt #2 - Some friends and I were going to take the kids to the Houston Zoo, but it rained.

Attempt #3 - This was a make-up for attempt #2 and Campbell got sick!

Should I even try for a fourth time?? Ugh!

Christmas in July

Our good friends, the Croslands, LOVE everything about Christmas so they had a Christmas in July party! They put up a (small) Christmas tree, hung their stockings, and even had garland and Christmas lights! Cody made turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, and rolls. AND we decorated Christmas cookies! All the while, there were Christmas carols or Christmas movies playing in the background. We had so much fun!

Judd & the kids...and the decor!

Christmas Cookies!

Yum! Yum! Yum!

Rachel and I with our decorated cookies

Bailey wore her Christmas dress from last year.

She wore a long sleeved shirt underneath in December, but didn't have to in July!

Colton in front of the Christmas tree and train

A great excuse to use my Williams Sonama wreath pan more than once a year!

(A More Real) Love Story

My friend Tracy sent me this video and it is just perfect for how my days have been going lately. You have to watch - it's Anita Renfroe's version of Taylor Swift's "Love Story." I just love Anita Renfroe!

P.S. You'll have to pause the music on the playlist at the bottom.

Mowing with Daddy

Campbell loves his little lawn mower and he always says he is going to mow the grass with Daddy. The problem is, he's afraid of the real mower and won't stay outside while Judd is mowing! On Saturday, Daddy turned off the mower and talked Campbell into "mowing" next to him. He reluctantly did it then overcame his fears of the lawn mower after Judd started it up again!

Daddy talking Campbell into mowing with him

trying it out

This is fun!

Homemade Playdough

This morning the kids and I made homemade playdough. They helped measure, pour, and stir the ingredients. I remember my mom doing this with my brother and I when we were little, so it was fun to do it with my own kids.

Here is the playdough recipe that we used:

2 cups flour

2 cups warm water

1 cup salt

2 Tablespoons oil

1 Tablespoon cream of tartar

Mix all ingredients together and stir constantly over low heat. The dough will begin to thicken until it resembles mashed potatoes. When the dough pulls away from the sides and clumps in the center, remove the pan from heat and allow dough to cool enough to handle. (If dough is still sticky you need to cook it longer.) Knead dough until smooth. Color with food coloring.

Bailey chose purple playdough!

Campbell chose blue - still obsessed with Cookie Monster!

Remember the attitude I refered to in my previous post? Here's proof!

Reality

Just in case this blog paints a picture of everything always being peachy-keen around here, let me fill you in on the reality of our household!

Remember when I said that transitioning Campbell to his big boy bed was a breeze? Well, that honeymoon is o-v-e-r! His sleeping habits as a whole have been awful this summer. He sleeps a little later in the mornings than he did when we were in school, which menas that he isn't ready for a nap after lunch. His mean old momma does everything in the book to MAKE him take a nap (which usually means he is so upset/mad that he tires himself out and finally falls asleep), but then he's not tired to go to bed at night. It's a vicious cycle. I'm almost ready for school to start so that we can get back on schedule. Not really, but it's tempting.

Our beautiful-almost-five-year-old has developed a temper and an attitude. She's been known to throw fits, argue with us, and pinch or hit her brother. One day this week, she had done all of those things all day long. Judd was talking to her about her behavior and asked her if she knew what consequences were. She didn't so I asked her what happens at school when kids get in trouble. She told us that they get moved to red. Guess what? Bailey now has a behavior chart on the refrigerator! It's old school with three faces - green (smiley face), yellow (straight line face), and red (frowning face.) We use a clothes pin to track "where" she is. If she stays on green all day, she gets a sticker on yet another chart (yes, I have channeled my inner elementary teacher self) and when she gets so many stickers, she gets a prize. If she gets to red, she has to go to bed early - before her brother. Believe me, this is devestating to her! She's had to do it once (the day the chart was born) and I don't think she'll soon forget it. Since then, her behavior has improved greatly.

How's that for reality?