Winter Wonderland

Texas truly had the greatest weather all winter long. I can see why people come and never leave. Here are a few things we did this last winter:

Horseback Riding. All of my kids enjoy horses. I am uneasy around horses.
They make me uncomfortable.

  

Roasting marshmallows in the backyard.

Camille loves Mr. Potato Head!

Trip to ChuckECheese with our friends. Camille and Sophie are just at the age
 when you start interactive play with other kids. It has been fun watching
 these two come of age of sorts.

Caleb and Mason are good buddies. I am so glad they live just across the
street!

Did I mention he likes horses?

Here is Camille licking the syrup drips off the side of the syrup container. 

They built a house on the lot next to us this winter, and the construction
guys are not careful about cleaning up after themselves. Camille tripped and
landed on a stray lag screw outside. She had a pretty good black eye for a
while. I am grateful that it didn't actually get her eye. There is still a knot
under the skin where it happened.

Camille showing me some stickers she found in the
bathroom...

We took a trip to Baton Rouge to visit grandpa. We went to the New Orleans
 zoo. This is Caleb pretending he is an alligator hunter.

Go Caleb!

At the New Orleans zoo

The kids helping dad do yard work.

We went camping a few times over the winter at the scout camps. One of
the things the kids like to do is play on the pirate ships. They are two stories
 high and they have catapults on the tops. Endless fun.

December

As I went through the December pictures it became apparent that it was not well documented. Here are a few things that we did:

We made a popcorn string for the first time ever. Caleb got bored of it after
couple minutes, but Paul was into it. I made an advent calendar that you
open a little box everyday and inside the box is a candy, activity, or gift.
It was a lot of fun. We did a lot of fun activities as a family that way. I wish
I could have found a picture of the advent calendar because it's super cute.
I am in a pinterest group and each month you make a craft at someone's
house. It has been a ton of fun. I hosted the advent calendar craft.

The boys got Gameboys for Christmas from their cousins. Highlight of the
year in their opinion.

This is how Camille spends most of her time...getting into stuff.

I asked Pat to give Camille a bath. He tossed the whole basket of tub toys
into the tub; including the basket. I can't complain though, at least the
water is below her neck.

Caleb and his friend Mason from across the street. These two keep each
other company everyday.

October and November in a Nutshell

The boys played soccer for the first time. They both really enjoyed it.

Camille likes to be chased. She spent a large portion of soccer practice
and games wandering off hoping I would chase after her.

Camille wore this costume last year. She really hasn't grown much. I love
this costume so I was excited she got to wear it again.

Ninja, Pirate, Bug

Sophie and Camille. Sophie lives across the street and they have become
fast friends.

Awesome weather in November!

The water somehow found it's way down the slide.

My mom keeps reminding me that the grass grows back and not to be so
uptight. I let the mud puddle go on for a couple months and then decided
that if she wants mud puddles in her backyard we can come visit, but I am
not a fan of it in mine.

September Shananigans

Splash Pad at the mall.

Good way to beat the heat of August.

Playing in the rain. When it rains here it stays warm outside. It makes it
fun to play in the rain. I grew up in Idaho and if you play in the rain there
you risk hypothermia (not really, but the rain is cold there).

Enjoying having bikes and a sidewalk, and rain is bonus.

First day of Kindergarten

Yum, did that dirt taste delicious?

I am loving the hose just as much as Camille. I love being able to hose the
kids off outside.

First day of preschool!

"Are we done yet Mom? The sun's in my eyes."

Planting Trees

We planted two apple trees and a peach tree in our backyard.
This is when I discovered how hard clay dirt is to dig in. 

She loves the hose. What kid doesn't, but she has loved having free reign.
If you try to take it away from her she squirts you. She thinks she is so
funny.

Taking a break.

Very helpful.

Backyard

As far as the kids were concerned, the only thing that mattered about the unpacking and moving-in process was the backyard. Pat's father came and brought a swing set, a trampoline, and a washer and dryer as house warming gifts! He is the best! The swing set took all day in the humidity, and it was nearly dark before the kids got to play on it, but it was worth the wait.

Pat and Grandma hard at work.

Paul and Camille. It has taken us all year to get the grass to grow in.
The sod was laid in June on clay dirt and we didn't move in until August
to water it. There were several areas that never did grow and we ended
up seeding. Grass is harder to grow than I thought. :)

Camille talking on her shoe phone.

Happy Caleb!

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A Blank Canvas

So here is my front room furniture that I plan on reupholstering. I have not many decorations for this room so I have a blank canvas to work with. I am pretty sure I want grays and light blues. I have been pinteresting to find the right fabric. I will see a fabric I like at the store and then I'll see something similar on a chair and it will look different than I want. I am having a hard time imagining the finished product.

Here are my current inspiration pictures:
I like this pattern, but I was thinking in a light blue.

Or I could go grey and put colored pillows on it. What would you do blue or grey? I have a couch to think about too that I don't want to be matchy matchy, and grey seems the best fit for the couch...I think.



I also like the green as an accent color. Ahh my canvas is too blank. I am having fits. I can't decide.