Lake Trip

Today we headed to a really cool lake in Ft Worth. It is a spring fed lake that they have made into a swimming area and added slides, diving boards, and a trapeze swing. We spent most of the day there and grilled burgers for lunch. It was so fun, now I just wish it was a little closer so that we could go more often. The water was the perfect temperature and the kids loved everything and were so brave to try everything.
Mckinley relaxed most of the day, but I wanted to get her out in the water and she really enjoyed it. That's my girl!

The kids loved playing in the water and the sand and even had a water fight.

Brennon couldn't get enough of the kids slide and diving board. He had no fear diving off of it right into the water and even though he couldn't really see us under water, tried to swim to us after jumping in. He is going to be our dare devil. He really wanted to go on the big slides and was sad when they told him he was too small.
Here is the trapeze swing. I of course had a blast jumping off it, but Matt had to show me up and do a back flip off of it.

A group shot after grilling hamburgers and hot dogs. Why is it swimming makes you so hungry?!

Me attempting the swing.... I also did the high diving boards and did some diving. All this made me miss my college days of cliff jumping and diving at the local pools. Good times..

Of course sand castles had to be made every time there is sand.

Family

The past few weeks have been so much fun. We have been super busy and been enjoying time as a family. Just this past week we went with friends to the Rangers baseball game and had so much fun watching and chatting. Mckinley enjoyed her very first pro game. (don't worry Joy, we are still Cubs fans ;) )

Katelynn had her last day of school and we invited friends over for a water fight and lunch. It was a tradition for us growing up and the kids loved it as well. The water balloons were gone in like 30 seconds, but we still had fun getting wet and running around.

My baby girl is now graduated from Kindergarten. I can't believe it! This year has flown by. I'm so proud of her!

Kindergarten graduation at her school was fun. She was the star of the kindergarten slide show. They must love her like we do!

Totally a Katelynn pose. Don't you love her attitude at 6!

We have hit the pool most every day we have free. Even Mckinley loves the water. We love our pools and wearing the kids out!

We went with some friends to the children's museum in Ft Worth and had a blast. Brennon's favorite was where they had a whole area with hundreds of train tracks that you could play with. He was in heaven!

Our baby girl is now almost 4 months old. She is getting so big and still has blue eyes and fair skin.... what?? She is a doll, though and we love her!

We had portraits taken of the kids and here are a few of my favorites...

Texas top to bottom vacation

We headed out on vacation this past week and got the tour of Texas. Matt was working in Austin, San Antonio, and somewhere by the mexico border, and we decided it would be fun to join him. What better way to vacation then to get paid for our miles, nice hotels, and included meals. The first day we drove to Austin and went to dinner with our good friends from college, the Budge's. Thanks guys for venturing out only days before having a baby! Then the kids and I stayed at the hotel and swam all morning while Matt worked. The next day we headed to San Antonio and checked into a 2 bed/2 bath suite overlooking the riverwalk. It was so cool to look out and see downtown. They also had a pool on the roof that we enjoyed. Here is a picture of a portion of all the luggage we had with 3 kids including a baby.

This is a picture of the riverwalk from our window
This is where we had breakfast and dinner overlooking the riverwalk.

We went out on the riverwalk a couple of times and loved walking around and seeing the ducks. The kids thought every little rock was a photo opportunity. How could I resist these cute little faces?...

Me and the kids on the riverwalk while Matt was working. We took the boat ride and the kids loved it.

Then we went to the San Antonio zoo and loved it! We were surprised at how good it was after going to the Ft Worth so much. Our favorite part was that they have a place where you can watch the hippos swim right by you. They were huge!!

Family shot at the zoo

We fed the birds there and it was so fun to have them climb right on you. I had one on my head and you don't have to guess what happened to me.... oh yes, right on my head. They were also pecking at matt's hair and neck. The kids got a kick out of that.

The whole family enjoying the zoo.

I took the kids to a park in downtown San Antonio. They had fountains everywhere and the kids had so much fun running through them. We all got in a water fight and everyone was laughing at us.

Then we headed to South Padre Island and got to enjoy the beach and some pools at the resort we stayed at. Here are some shots of the kids loving the sand and the waves...

Even Mckinley had her first time at the beach. We put her toes in and she didn't quite love the cold water. She was fun to take anyway!

Here was the pool by the beach. It was really warm and fun to play in the waterfall. we had a great time.

Mckinley chillin' by the pool. She was great at just hangin out in her seat and watching us swim and play

What's vacation without Dairy Queen. My college girls know what I mean... This apparently was Brennon's favorite part of the trip. Go figure. We could have saved a lot...

We relaxed in the hammocks by the beach and pools.

We had fun in the hotel rooms and Matt loves getting Mckinley to smile in the mirror. So cute!

My girls having fun at the hotel! We loved the shows at Sea World. The Orchas were amazing. They even had a baby one.

We even hit the water park at Sea world and the kids had a blast on the toys, wave pool, and slide.

Family shot at Sea World

The kids were our tour guides.... You can see what a job it was...

My favorite was feeding the dolphins and petting them. The kids really enjoyed this too

We loved seeing the penguins and puffins. They were very entertaining.

All in all it was a great trip and we can't wait to go back and do more in Texas. We are greatful Matt made it all happen with his work and I'm surprised it went so smooth with 3 kids. No sickness and not too much crabby kids. I'm a lucky mom! Great memories for years to come

Alva happenings

I am loving having 3 kids. It is totally crazy, but totally fun. They keep me on my toes and are a blast to be around. This is how we spend a lot of time cuddling on the recliner. As soon as I sit down with the baby, the other two are soon climbing up and laying on my shoulders. I love it!

I am loving having a baby to cuddle again. She is such a doll and such a happy baby.
Yesterday I found a toad in my house and it scared me half to death as I bent over to pick something up and it jumped at me. As you can tell, Brennon got a huge kick out of it. The toad is under the chair, its kinda hard to see.

Last weekend we went camping with some good friends. Here are some shots of the fun we had. Whats a campout without dutch oven and smores?

Matt had a long week and as soon as he got a chance to sit down with his baby girl, they both passed out!

The kids couldn't wait to swim in the lake. Of course it was still cold, but Katelynn didn't care one bit! She ended up getting all the way in.