Swimmers

This is from our last swimming day

Sometime after Carter got brave

The boys became awesome swimmers while we were in Texas we were there for 3 weeks so it's not too surprising but it was amazing. We need to find a pool here to get back in the swing of things.

Carter improved while we were there I made up a little song while we were in the pool to help him be brave:

       "Carter is my little fish swimming round and round, he used to be so scared all he did was frown."

It worked he laughed and quit be scared..

Landon did awesome too he had some nice floaties that held him up and he loved the water.

Canoe Trip

 I did not get sunburned! I loved this swimming outfit! :) 

 Dad look at us!

and over the shoot! (Jeffrey)

 Hold your nose, your breath and keep your eyes squeezed shut and it's super fun otherwise.. not so much!

 Lunch was good I promise.. even though these two look less then trilled. :)

 Cow crossing, back paddle. 

 I jumped in and then tried to swamp Dad and Andrew.. they back paddled.. dang it. 

We had so much fun the best parts were not even pictured.. ..Melissa and I getting like 2 hours of sleep before we left and then me telling the story of "Mohawk Man" Reed's old antenna ball and crying hysterically with laughter (seriously never laughed that hard ever).. all of us in one canoe forward ferrying the river- then capsizing the canoe you know for practice. All of us trying to body surf through the rapids together that was not one of our best ideas for sure!  Trying to sleep in the heat the camping night and Melissa and I dumping our sheets in our drinking water..  finding one rapid that was fun and hard and easy to carry the canoe up to do over and over and then finding out that body surfing through it wasn't as scary as it looked. And then there was the nerdy part where the boys called out all kinds of numbers instead of 1,2,3,etc  for the boat order calling out all kinds of things I had no idea. We had such a blast together! I am so grateful that Angela and Grandma were brave enough to watch all those kids 6 boys! And that everyone came so we could do this together. I hope we can do it again one day.

Alvin

 Melissa's college roommate Texas joined us with her son. 

 Isn't Landon cute??

I planned a trip to Houston. I got excited so I called my brother and said PLEASE drive down and see me. He said yes. So we planned a Canoe trip. I got so excited I called my sister and I said It's gonna be sooo fun you have to come. She said yes! So she flew to the party and a sibling canoe trip was planned! I still can't believe it worked out! 

So anyways we did this little trip for the cousins to canoe and they had fun and then went to the park to play! :) 

Armand Bayou Nature Center

The visitor center was very cool... but time to hit the trail and the heat! It was storming on our way so it was very humid that day. 

 
Tyler and I dug up these clam shells from the path it took a little work but he was very pleased with himself.

This is my Dad's favorite Park in Texas.. One he is sad to leave behind as life has changes in the future. We decided to make it a girls and kids trip..It was SOO hot but it was nice to get to spend some time together and the boys loved seeing the animals.

Galveston!

 A day at the Beach! I think I got everyone in a picture! So there are a lot of pictures. 

 Landon was getting tired and did not want pictures. 

 Look how happy Jimmy is! 

 These boys are so serious!

Reed and Jeffrey made a big hole in a shallow spot and tricked kids into falling it. It was pretty funny. 

A day at beach is a little messy and a little bit of work But it was awesome! Jeffrey asked me to swim to the 2nd sandbar with him. I have never done it before and it was so fun. Melissa joined us and Reed and Jimmy met us out there. Angela was able to keep taps on all the kids on the beach! Thanks Ang. I am so glad everyone came to the beach! 

Houston Geo-caching

 The actually geo-caching was a bust. But no poison ivy effects so that was a plus.  

 Grandpa counted the rings on this tree! I can't remember but it was very old!

 Some exploring 

 and then story telling; Ole' Three Toe the Bear. 

 My dad got so into it! I am so glad he wasn't camera shy. 

 "Mom, Is he serious?" Seriously funny!

I came along to document this special time with just Carter and Grandpa. So happy for 'timer settings' I set my camera on the hood and I am very happy with this picture. I love spending time with my Dad. Oh and see here I chopped off a lot of hair a few days after I got to Houston.