A Quick Hill Country Trip

We went to the Double Eight, my parents' Hill Country ranch, for a quick overnight trip. Everyone had a different objective for the trip. Shayne had work to do filling feeders and retrieving wild game cam pictures (NO! They're not going to be featured on this blog.) Travis wanted some target practice with his BB gun and Cole wanted to see some deer. Mommy just wanted some peace and quiet. Everyone got what they wanted and we had a great time. I didn't take too many pictures, but you get the idea...

On the porch swing of the cabin.


Travis is getting to be quite the marksman:

The ride home...this is one tired and dirty kid.

Meeting Travis' Teacher

This morning we had the opportunity to meet Travis' first grade teacher and see his classroom. Travis had the idea as we were walking out the door that he'd like to take her a flower. (How sweet is that???) So, Shayne helped him trim a white flower off of one of our trees. Travis with Mrs. Hipp

Travis playing in his classroom with a new friend Daniel, whose desk just happens to be right next to his.

Getting himself acquianted with the playground equipment.
We've been looking forward to being a part of this school for about a year now and we are so excited that it's finally time for school to start. Check back next Tuesday to see pictures of our little first grader in his uniform!

Meeting Cole's Teacher

Ms. Jana

We had Cole's preschool orientation this morning and met his teacher. Of course, we already know Ms. Jana because Travis was in her class three years ago. Cole was a little bit nervous, but I know he'll have a lot of fun and learn a lot this year. Travis was glad he got to tag along. When he realized he would get to go, he said, "Oh, I think Ms. Jana will be delighted to see me!"

A Trip Down Memory Lane...

Travis' first day of 3K

August 30, 2005

A few people have asked where my "Back to School" pics are. But my boys don't start until next week. So to pass the time, I looked up pictures of Travis when he was the age Cole is now. This year, Cole will be in 3K and will have the same teacher Travis had that year. It's got me all nostalgic for Travis to be that age again. And looking at the pictures, my how things have changed! Not only is he so much more grown up, but that top photo was taken in front of our old house! When I took him to school that morning Cole was fast asleep in the infant carrier, barely a month old!

Laptop Buddies

Shayne works on his laptop on the couch a lot. So tonight Cole decided to get his and join his Dad for some "very important work."

Cole's friend Grace

Cole has his first crush--his best friend Grace. Almost everywhere we go he asks me, "Will Grace be there?" Luckily her mom is one of my favorite people too, so we see a lot of them. Last night we were over at her house for dinner and I got some cute pics...

Enjoying some appetizers.

Time to go...one last hug!

With big brothers Jace and Travis

For your listening enjoyment...

Like I said, I'm always learning new things about blogging. So, Three Men and a Mommy now has a soundtrack! It's probably playing as you read this...so crank up those speakers!

A New Look!

I spruced up the background template to the blog last night. First we were plain old green, then I found the stripes on www.pyzam.com and now we've got this cool pattern. I really like the latest look, so it'll probably be around for quite a while. As I get more and more into the blog thing, I realize how much is out there for FREE to take advantage of. For all you fellow bloggers reading this--the current template is courtesy of www.leeloublogs.blogspot.com Take a look at all her beautiful work available to you for FREE!

The Dino Park

"Walking with the Dinosaurs"

Feeling the last days of summer slip through my fingers, I decided to take the boys on one last major field trip. We headed south to the Dino Park I'd heard a lot about and had always wanted to check out. We were not disappointed! We had a lot of fun and because it was an "explore at your own pace" type of place, both boys could enjoy it equally yet differently. Travis rushed about finding clues so we could check off items on our scavenger hunt sheet and Cole slunk around the path pretending he was "hunting" the dinosaurs. At one point he said, "If only I had my gun with me!" There were lots of dino statues, but I only posted the pictures of the major ones we all know and love (and I spared you a shot of recreated dino poop, which I must say, was a crowd pleaser...)

The Triceratops

The Stegasaurus

The T-Rex! I think this is one of those instances when Cole was wishing for a gun...he really wasn't as scared as he looks. The sun was also in his eyes.

Travis thought this was a lot funnier than Cole, who opted out of this photo op.

Three Year Portraits

I decided to go casual for the portraits this year and I'm so glad I did! We ended up with some great pictures that really capture our little boy's spirit...

These were taken by Portrait Innovations and I would highly recommend them!

Brothers

We dug out Travis' overalls too for a few brother shots...precious!!!

Happy Birthday Gran!

We all got together to celebrate Gran's (my mom's) birthday on Saturday night...

A fun flip-flop cake made by me :)

Blowing out candles with help from her boys.

Dinner at the Oasis--the sunset capital of Texas! If you haven't been here since they rebuilt after the fire, you've got to check it out! It's beautiful!

Two Lazy Summer Days

The past two days the boys and I have stayed at home. I know this shouldn't be big news since I'm a "stay-at-home" mom and all, but it is truly rare. I literally haven't moved my car in 48 hours! And we've all had a great time. For the first time all summer we've had some time to take it easy. We've slept late, stayed in our pajamas and played and watched cartoons. We've also gotten quite a bit accomplished. I've cleaned out both boys closets and the playroom. We have the car loaded with items for Goodwill and the consignment store. And although the boys could probably not care less, I feel organized and ready to start the school year. In retrospect I wouldn't have changed a thing about the summer we've had. We've kept ourselves busy as all the previous blog posts document. The trips and camps and playdates have been wonderful. But it is nice to have a few days before school starts to savor the last bit of summer. And as a mom, sometimes you have to stop and be still to savor the changes going on right under your nose. I recently came across this quote:

This morning as I was packing up clothes they'd so quickly outgrown, the boys were playing in the next room and I heard:

Cole: "Travis, will you be my best friend?"
Travis: "Sure."

I'm so glad I wasn't hustling them out the door and into the car, because I probably would've missed that!

Dream Lover

Shayne's cousin Tracy's little girl Miranda took an instant liking to Travis. The first night we were visiting, she batted her eyes at him and said, "Hello Dream Lover!" Her mother has no idea where the term came from and Travis was appalled! Everytime he heard it (and there were many throughout the weekend) he pretended to faint. Here she is trying to sneak a good-bye smooch on Sunday. Travis is having none of it...

Huber Farms

While in IN, we visited Huber Farms, a huge working farm complete with tons of kids' activities. First stop was a picnic lunch beside this beautiful lake and as luck would have it, we got to witness remote control boat races while we ate.

Couldn't resist getting Cole's smiling face in this cute photo op...

First on the agenda after lunch was a mining expedition! For a low, low price of $8 apiece we bought two bags of dirt with the promise that our guys would find gems and fossils. And guess what? They did! And they had lot a ton of fun doing it!

This is such a typical picture of Cole. His tray is all set and ready to mine, but he's much more interested in what's going on with Travis' side.

And Travis said, "I have struck AWESOMENESS!"

Cole with his little bounty of fossils.

Next was a series of mazes...here is a triumphant Travis after conquering the rope maze.

Aunt JoNana claims Travis saved her life by going back in to rescue her from the bamboo maze!

And last, but not least, the corn maze! The big kids confidently ran ahead, but the little guys stuck together. Here Chloe and Cole wait for Miranda to catch up. Right after this photo, Cole lost his shoe about three times and finished the maze on his Daddy's shoulders.

If you haven't guessed, we didn't pass up one opportunity to make these children stick their faces through a piece of painted wood! No pictures of the actual petting zoo experience as Travis was kind of too old to get keyed up over the animals and Cole was too frightened to get close enough for a picture.

The last activity of the day was letting the kids drive little coin fed tractors. I risked life and limb to get this video of the little daredevils...

Indiana Visit

We spent the past few days in Clarksville, IN visiting Shayne's grandparents and extended family. We were able to see two grandparents, two aunts, one uncle and three cousins all in one visit. Not to mention the five little girls that are the boys' second cousins. Travis and Cole had a great time in what must have seemed to be "little girl land" This photo is the obligitory picture of all the great-grandchildren who were present on the couch with Mammaw and Pappaw. From left to right: Cole, 3; Travis, 6; Miranda, 5; Mammaw; Courtney, 10; Callie, 11; Pappaw; Chloe, 4; and Camrynn, 7. They used to all fit on the couch!

Mommy & Travis Days

With Cole enjoying his preschool's daycamp for a few days, Travis and I have had the opportunity to do some "big kid" stuff!

We painted our own pottery at the Ceramic Lodge. From all the many options, Travis chose to paint a snake! Here's the before...

And the after...

We went to see a "scary" movie in Digital 3D...
We went bowling... and played arcade games...

And today, in what Travis called the "grand finale", we went to the Texas State History Museum downtown. We saw Texas: The Big Picture at the IMAX movie theater, then toured through the exhibits. Travis' favorite part was the space center exhibit.

Here's our little Texan underneath the huge Texas star out front... We enjoyed lunch on the patio of the museum's cafe. The Six Flags of Texas were flying in the background and he was fascinated to know how the amusement park got it's name!

Fiesta Texas

Travis earned a free ticket to Fiesta Texas by participating in their reading program (you document that you read for 360 minutes and you get a free ticket!) So we all headed down there yesterday. It wasn't very crowded...probably because anyone with any sense was at the water park in the 100+ degree heat! We had a great time. When I reminded Travis that we were doing this because of his free ticket, he said, "Yeah, now I know why reading is so important!"

At the park entrance...ready for a day of fun!

Daddy and Travis in the bumper cars.

Trying out the video feature on my new camera.

Click the arrow to play:

Even though Travis is big enough to ride a lot of the more exciting rides now, he still enjoyed riding the kiddie rides with Cole...

Stopping at Johnnie Rockets for the A/C and a chocolate shake.