Cabo!

The night before I accepted my new job Brad told me that he had a birthday surprise: a planned trip to Cabo!!  We usually just do card and dinner, so this was a total shock!  Allison and Mrs. Georgia came into town to keep the little ones, and we couldn't have been more grateful.  Sidenote: mom ditched us to go see the Pope.

Brad and I were basically as lazy as we could possibly be for five days.  We slept in, had late and long breakfasts, took morning and afternoon naps, read a lot, drank some beer, ate amazing food and just had the most amazing time!  The weather was unbelievably beautiful--so much so that one day I commented that there were actually some clouds in the sky.  Yeah, it was that perfect. 

from our balcony

We ate dinner out two nights, the first being at Flora Farms.  This is a farm in the middle of no where (think dirt road), and everything that they serve is grown on their farm or range.  It was the most fun atmosphere, with a great bar and a fantastic two person band (American music).  This is the same picture (the second being cropped), but I loved the scenery.  We literally were on a beautiful farm in the middle of these lush mountains.  

The food was incredibly fresh and tasty, and the highlight was definitely the pork belly that Brad ordered---basically it was a huge slab of bacon.   Such a fun birthday celebration dinner.  Oh, and the BEST chocolate cake that I have ever tasted!! 

For our last night we went to dinner at Hacienda Cocina, which is on the water overlooking the arch.  When we made the reservations we didn't realize that there was a lunar eclipse!!  We witnessed the entire eclipse, and everyone at dinner was captivated by it--as were we!  That is the moon, not the sun, in the first picture.  

Meanwhile in Houston........

bounce house fun! 

worn out!

Dollar Tree finds

no words needed

wearing James's cleats

Caroline doesn't know what to think of these crazy kids

Popsicles!

tv with grandmama!

Allison said Luke and Natalie really missed us, Natalie in particular.  This picture kinda breaks my heart.  For some reason I couldn't crop it to zoom in on her face, but she seems so sad.  

James won his team's first "Wolfster" award at his soccer game.  It's the award for the player who really listened to the coach and made a great play.  Grandmama told me that James said Wolfster is 47 years old and is Kitty's dad.  

Allison said that every time the phone would ring, Luke would say "Mom! Dad! Mom! Dad!"  

A great weekend for all involved!!  

Hotty Toddy!

Go Rebs!  Well, out of respect for my sweet hubby, I guess I can't go on and on about the Rebel win, but........HOTTY TODDY!

Look at these cuties!  House and kids divided.

Out of nowhere James has become an Alabama fan.  He has spent the past two years trying to get at Brad and me with his cheers for LSU and A&M, which are not ok!  So I'm just happy he's cheering for one of our schools.  Here he is trying to cover up Luke's Rebels.  And yes, that is a baby wipe in Natalie's hair that she converted to a headband.

Natalie on her way to James's soccer game.  Now, I'm not saying that she was upset about wearing an Alabama dress, but a picture doesn't lie. :)

Brad and I spent the majority of the game in separate rooms, but he finally came around to the idea of a Rebel win late Sunday and sent me this picture while I had the other two at a birthday party.

Go Rebs!!

James had his first soccer game of the season Saturday, and I don't think it could have been any hotter.  That fall weather that I discussed last post--yeah, it's gone, and we are back to hot, hot, hot.  I was busy chasing the two youngest on the playground and wasn't able to get any action shots, but James scored his first ever soccer goal Saturday!!  Don't mention that neither Brad nor I actually saw him score it.  #parentfail.

 

 

His team played an all girl's kindergarten team, so their 6-2 victory was a little inflated.

Luke wanted to be in on the action.  He was thoroughly entertained with throwing and chasing the soccer ball around.  

James in the background #8

And last one: the kids playing on the playground after church.  I love the look on James and Luke's face--"What is she doing going down head first?!  Let's try it, Luke!"

And one final one: Natalie's teacher sent me this picture of Natalie and her first grade mentor, Mary (our neighbor that we adore) painting a picture using their feet--demonstrating how a handicapped child would paint.  Doesn't she look old?  Too old.

Beginning of Fall, Dare I Say?

Last weekend we had a rarity this time of year in Houston......fall like weather!  This is the last weekend that we don't have soccer or some other event, so we took full advantage of the free time Saturday and went to Herman Park (near downtown and the zoo).  The park is huge and has a train that runs through it, a playground area and picnic table and a HUGE hill that is perfect for running up and down.

He wanted to be carried up the hill

 

 

Well, the hill is perfect for running if you are 6 years old.  Not so much if you are 33.  

This little guy has developed so much personality in the past few months.  I can't get enough of his underbite smile.  Adorable.  And there are considerably more pictures of him because the other two wouldn't slow down long enough for me to get a snap.

This is how a lazy mom does a picnic: drive-thru Chick-Fil-A.  We couldn't all fit into a selfie, but I LOVE Luke's face in the second shot.

As you could tell by the kid's clothes, Ole Miss and Alabama had football games Saturday.  Some (LSU) friends came over to watch the games, and Rachel caught this shot of the kids.  They played watched Disney Jr. in my room while the adults watched football in the living room.

Sunday the illustrator of the Fancy Nancy book series came to my favorite book store.  She and Natalie are soul sisters.  Natalie LOVED looking at her dress and bracelets and crown.  And her pink purse, which appropriately "matched" Natalie's.

Enjoying the last bit of the fall-ish weekend at our neighborhood park with friends Elizabeth and Easton Coursey.

A little lagniappe: two brothers watching Saturday morning tv shows.  I don't think James could love this little guy any more.

And this sweet girl.  She is the biggest girlie girl, and I couldn't love it any more.  Lately she carries a purse with her at all time, and it contains the necessities: lipstick, nail polish, bracelets, an Aeriel finger puppet (from the book signing), and a tiny comb.  She loves putting on lipstick and has even made us late to school twice this week because she suddenly realized she was leaving the house without it.  I'll say it again: I am so happy God gave me a girl.  This girl.

Fingers crossed that the cooler weather is here to stay.  If you build it.......