I'll Just Leave This Here

Here is some start-of-the-year things Kevin filled out this week.

I added "Wichita, Kansas." When he was asked "When I grow up, I want to..." he wrote "make a difference in the world." He also wrote in "Things I don't like..." "Princesses and Barbies." You can tell he has a little sister.

3 Truths and 1 Lie

What I want most in the world is... to have a good life. I feel sorry for... people that Trump blames them for what they didn't do. I never want to forget... how much my family loves me. <3 br="">

Just A Daddy Doing Daddy Things

The First Day Of School

Kevin is starting 4th grade, Colin is going into 3rd, and Gwyn is starting Kindergarten. I can not believe how big the boys are getting. They are little men! As for Gwyn, she has been so excited, but she also told me that she is "a little nervous." Her teacher is the same teacher the boys had for Kindergarten, and we love Miss Glenn. I think Miss Glenn and I have been more excited than G!

As for this morning, I stayed home from work (beginning of the year meetings) to put the kids on the bus. Gwyn was so nervous that she started over-controlling things after breakfast. She had to put her socks on about 5 times, and then had to tell me exactly how to play with her legos. (Colin tried to play but was yelled at.)  All the kids were smiles for pictures, but she didn't count on there being other kids at the bus stop. She was quiet there, even though there was another little girl going into Kindergarten at the bus stop. She only whispered to me once, (When the other mother mentioned her husband's job, Gwyn asked me quietly why I didn't say her daddy's job.) and then asked me to pick her up.

I had talked to the boys a few times about Gwyn, and that she was nervous to get on the bus. So I told them to help her find a seat, and then to give her a thumb's up on the way off the bus. (Kindergartners wait on the bus for their teachers the first few days.) So the boys took over when the bus showed up. I was kind of sad since I wanted to tell Gwyn one last time "You got this." But I didn't get to. That kind of bothered me throughout the day.

When the kids got off the bus they were all happy. On the bus, Gwyn was sitting next to the little girl (Addi) and the first thing she said was "Can I go to Addi's house?" So it was a good day. (She also fell asleep about 3 minutes after bedtime.)

I talked to Gwyn at bed time and told her that I wanted to tell you "You got this." before she got on the bus but I didn't get to. She told me "Mom I already knew that. But I might forget other times. You will have to remind me then." Ugh. Could my kids be any cuter?

This is when Gwyn saw other kids at the bus stop.

Her face when the bus pulled up.

be cuter?

Kieran!

Kevin's sister Kelly has lived in Australia for the past 3 years. She finally moved back! She brought with her her Aussie husband Kev and their son Kieran. This is the first time that we have met Kieran. We have met Kev on trips they made to the states for holidays. But Kieran was born last June, and since they had a new baby and were saving up to move back, this is Kieran's first time state-side. (Don't even ask how much 5 tickets round-trip to Australia costs.)

Here is his adorable little face, and some of the pictures we now have of him!

Creepy Face Swap with Gwyn.

While in Branson on vacation.

This is one of my favorite pictures because it reminds me of...

...this picture! Look hoe much bigger Colin is!

Kelly, Kev, and Kieran moved to Denver two weeks ago. (That is where Kelly lived prior to moving to Australia.) So we only go to see all three of them a few weeks this summer, but we are already talking about when we can visit.

Gwyn's Preschool Graduation

Her graduation was in May, but I am finally blogging about it. She was in a class with only 3 other students heading off to Kindergarten in the fall. (Most of the other kids her age were in another class.) The graduation was fun and very cute. Gwyn got a gown (Blue kids move to Kindergarten.) She got to keep her cap, and there were snacks afterward. She was very proud, and had that smile she only uses when she is proud. (Chin out, mouth closed.) It was very fun to watch. (Neither boy had a graduation since they were at UCDC for the entirety of their preschool.) Both of Kevin's parents were able to make it, and of course brothers were there as well!

Her "proud of herself" smile.

Gwyn and one of her best friends, Annagha.

They had these collages made. This was hanging in the graduation area.

One of the videos is of her saying what she wants to be when she gets older. She said "a reading teacher." (You can here me gasp in adorable shock.) The other is of her getting her diploma.

Mexico 2016

I am trying to get all the summer vacations up on the blog. I will start with this one as it was in June, and it should be a short post.

This year we headed to Secrets Playa Mujeres. Again, we traveled with Gail and Shaun. This time they arrived a few days before us, and left a few days before us. We each had time alone as a couple, but a few days together as well. We LOVED this place. I thought I would not like it as much since the resort is split in half. The side by the beach has the pools and the rooms, and a few restaurants. Then to get to the side farther from the beach you take a golf cart (or walk). I thought I would not like the waiting and moving. But we never waited long for a ride. The other side had the other restaurants, the bars, and dance club. Basically, you could stay all day at the side by the beach, eat breakfast and lunch, and swim. Then in the evening you could go to the other side for dinner and drinking or dancing after dinner. We are more low-key, and spent little time on that side. But the resort seemed less crowded and quieter because it was broken up. I also really liked the pool. It was one big pool, bt it was broken up so it never felt crowded. (Until the 250 Yogis showed up and rudely took over the beach. And the other people who seemed to not like that there were no beach chairs left at 1:30 in the afternoon so they would take chairs and umbrellas from anyone not looking. Including when Shaun was sitting there.)

Kevin was glad he got to finish the book he started last summer. It is called Hyperion Cantos, and it is actually two books compiled into one, which explains why it is so long. I have started reading it, but with school starting up soon, I don't know how long it will take for me to finish it. (It is really good, though.)

View from our room this year. We had a swimout pool, but it was so cold that I didn't really care about it after one time using it.

Down on the beach.

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I almost forgot about this until I saw the picture. There was a big storm over Cancun, and we spent time on the beach and in the ocean watching it for a few hours. We could see the rain and everything, but it never really hit us. It rained a bit while we were getting ready for dinner, but that was it.

View from the end of the pool. Under the purple flowers are the suites, with their own pools.

So that mean this end of the pool was over their rooms. And that strip in the pool was a glass-bottom that was over the hallway to their rooms!

Also, I broke my toe.

Colin at the Cardinals Game

This past Wednesday Colin went the the Cardinals game. It was a day game (rain out from the night before) and the first of a double header. He went with Grandma (Louise), and when he got home he didn't stop smiling for hours!

The game was so hot. (We had tickets to go to the original game, and the heat index was over 100.) The first (Cardinal) home run of the game went into the bullpen.  Louise went over to ask for the ball, but he had already promised the ball to another kid. So she asked if Colin could get the next one that went into the bull pen. (What are the odds?) Not long after, Yadier Molina hit a home run into the bull pen! So Colin got the ball! And then afterward he also put up a K for a strike out, which is sometimes on TV. (He kept saying that he was on TV.)

He kept that ball with him all day. He even put it into a plastic ball case. I love that he has this memory. If you see him, make sure you ask him about it. Then you can see his glow!

Father's Day

Father's Day was a great day for our family. The weather was great. We got out of the house. We had fun while staying in. It was blog-worthy.

The day started with the kids making breakfast. They had made me breakfast for Mother's Day, and hubby said that he didn't do anything at all. Well, apparently he lied because the Kevin said "Daddy helped us more than you did." So I started helping out more. But the kids basically made eggs, biscuits, hash browns, toast, and gravy on their own! I had no idea that Gwyn was such a guru on biscuits. All I did was measure the dough and help stir. She rolled the dough with the rolling pin, cut the biscuits with a cup, and then put them on the cookie sheet. Kevin did the eggs, with little help from me, as well as the hash browns and the toast. (I pretty much just reminded to stir or get the bread out. When it got hectic I started to help stir.) Both Colin and Kevin made the gravy. Colin took control of the table, making sure it was set and that jelly and butter were out. He did a great job, and had napkins for everyone.

After breakfast we headed out for a walk, and then stopped to look at houses on the way home. (I love looking at model homes. I have a feeling that was more for me.) Then we returned home and had the best water fight. It took about 40 minutes to get all the balloons ready, and we used our water guns from the Pirate Pontoon from Trout Lodge. The kids were set up in the tree house and we were in the yard. There were a few pauses to refill buckets, but it was non-stop water fights. We would sneak around and get behind the defenses set up in the tree house. Gwyn would switch sides. Colin tried to steal our water balloons. So much fun!

Afterward while we were grilling and getting ready for Kevin's parents to come over, the kids played on their two new slip n slides. I asked Kevin what he wants to to type and he said "It was a great time. We have great kids."

Yup. I had to help with kneading, but she took over after a few seconds.

He was not happy he had to stop setting the table to stir.

Gwyn took the empty basket and turned into a turtle. Clever girl.