North Carolina Trip- surprise

Well as you know we are stationed in Texas.  Our home was rented out to what we thought were good people. Man did they fool us and the property manager.  To describe the tenant I'd say: whiney, delusional, bitchy, arrogant and just plain cray cray.  They signed a 2 year lease but after 10 months of driving the property manager and us crazy we offered them an early out if they chose to.  They did thank heavens.  But I had to fly back and do a walkthrough to determine the many damages and unauthorized changes she did.  

As the inspection was to take place on May 1 after they vacated I figured I'd make it a weekend trip and take in the Cameron Antique Fair also.  I also planned on surprising Sophie and taking her along.  

I'd say we surprised her.  haha

She was so excited to be flying.  See she is having fun here at RDU..

Once there she had to meet up with her girlie friends.  She has missed these crazy lemon heads so much.  Crazy girls, pizza and moms with cameras..Yep that is a recipe for cray cray.

Her other love was that she got to have McDonalds biscuits and gravy for breakfast. 

We also got to see Grandma and Aunt Trisha and her big brother Jon came in for the weekend.  

We went strawberry picking at Gross Farms. Nothing like green fields of fresh strawberries.  Things this part of dead Texas doesn't have. 

Crazy family right there..haha

We picked over 13 pounds of strawberries.  Couldn't take them on the plane trip home so Jon made out like a bandit and took them all back to his apartment. 

We hated leaving. I mean hated it.  Can't wait till the end of June to see them all again. 

Easter in Texas

This was going to be a difficult day I knew it.  My kids love to hunt eggs outside.  And in NC it is no problem as we have tons of greenery: bushes, grass, flowers, trees.  But here in Texas - not so much.  It is all dead. So, hiding the eggs was not going to happen.  Disappointment.

We did have fun preparing the eggs though.  We did dying with shaving cream this year.

They did enjoy the baskets Easter morning, though they sure look sleepy.

 

Jack's 11th birthday party...

My little man is not so little.  He is such a fun boy and loves it when attention is on him- though he usually avoids all the limelight.  He does like a good party with presents. 

He loves books- notice Sophie hovering?  She likes to run the show by giving him the gifts to open. 

He does take time to read all the cards. That is a change from just shaking them to see if they have money.  Guess it is a sign of growing up. 

 

Ahh money- that makes all kids smile. 

 

This was what he wanted so badly, a trick scooter.  He does love being outside. 

 

Jack does not like store bought cakes.  They are too rich he says and make him sick.  He chose chocolate cake with chocolate icing.   

 

He has seen his older brothers lick their fingers to put the flames out.  He licked them but then decided against it- a bit timid. 

 

He did it old school - he just blew them out. 

Happy Birthday Jack. 

We love you so much.

 

my little man is 11

I can't believe it has been 11 years since this handsome feller came into my life.



It was a struggle and many painful shots to get this gift from God.  But I'd do it all over again for him- even the hospital stay where I was a test case and pincushion for the CDC for over 5 days - ugh.



Jackson - such a loving boy.  Always up for snuggles and hugs.  Definitely a mama's little boy. Always happy.



A true lover of all things outdoors: snow, mud, dirt, you name it.  A daredevil and a good friend and brother.



Beautiful smile for anyone, he tried all the sports he could get into.  Such a joy to be around.



Awesome imagination and over the top at times.  Quick to laugh and quicker to give love.  Beach lover, bike rider, rollerblading and fighting knight.



He's grown so fast.  Too fast I'd say.  Stayed a whole week at camp without any family.  Loves running- so much energy.  Is finishing up 5th grade and liking girls.  It is too quick I say.
Thank you for an amazing 11 years so far my little Jack.  I can't wait to see what the future holds for you.  Happy Birthday - I love you more than you will ever know.

San Antonio - Spring Break Trip

While in Texas one should try to see the sights.  For spring break we figured it was a long enough time to visit San Antonio- it has many checks on the Texas bucket list. 

First up is camping.  We rented a travel trailer from MWR - outdoor rec and stayed at a military campground.  Our trip was to see the sights but also to take along our Flat Ethan- from our son's friend Ethan who lives in NC.  Flat Ethan needed to visit many places and document them.  He was our added friend on spring break. Jack took care of posing with him everywhere.

 

The wildlife was all over the place.  It freaked Boone out so much.  The deer came right up to the campsites.

There was a great lake- Canyon Lake to fish in - although no fish were caught - :(

Our next check was the Alamo.

After the Alamo, we hit the river walk.  It was a nice area just not very kid friendly - food wise.  It was a short trip as we were all hungry.   See my little Sophie, she is so cute.

These were so cute..not every day you see a mama duck and her babies.

We were told that a riverboat ride was required.  We did it and enjoyed it so much.

Seeing the trees all in bloom was such a great sight -especially after being in Wichita Falls for 9 months with nothing green or living.

The architecture was amazing.

This building was my favorite.  It had the faces molded in corbels. I ADORED this building.

Now you can't do San Antonio with kids and not hit Sea World.

 
As if the shows weren't enough, they had rides.  This one scared the be-jeezus out of Sophie.

Other than that we hit up some shopping on St. Patricks day- yep my bday wish.  We ate out at Olive Garden and we just played around the campsite.

It was a good time had by all.  But now back to school :(

Jack the harmonica playing dude

We love school programs.  We love them even more when our kids are in them.  And love them the most when the kids genuinely have a great time doing them. 
This was one of those programs. 
Enter Jack's history of music with Jack playing the "virtual" harmonica.

The pictures are not the best..camera or operator didn't do well :)