Ballard Bunch

Whew!! This summer has been so great, but so busy. We are thoroughly enjoying ourselves. I have done alot of fun stuff with the kids, but I have also gotten to have some fun of my own!! I got to see Harry Potter- this was my favorite book, so I was really excited to see the movie. It didn't disappoint!! I'm trying to figure out a way to see it again :) My mom, sisters and I went our 3rd annual girls trip. This year, we went to Austin and had a blast!! My sisters are 2 of the funniest people- we laughed so much over the weekend. Thanks, mom!! We shopped and browsed on South Congress the first day. What fun vintage shops!! I also really liked walking around the HUGE Whole Foods grocery store, and the Round Rock outlet mall. And, the food was great!! Green Mesquite BBQ and El Sol y La Luna- YUM! This week, Jason and I got to see Coldplay for the second time in 9 months. We took my sister for her birthday present. It was outside, but the weather has been so nice, it was fine! The s...

What a great summer we have had so far!! It has been tiring, though. We have been extra busy, and some days I just say- OK, enough!! We are staying home today! Those days are good, too. My laundry room really appreciates those days. I am definitely more relaxed in the summer. Their bedtimes are a bit later, they can have some foods and drinks that they don't normally have (Diet Coke, Root Beer, Orange soda)- it's summer and we just have fun. I absolutely LOVE summer. It would be my favorite season except it's so dreadfully hot in Texas. This summer, I really wanted to: - do swim lessons for the kids (check) - do a weekly summer movie thing somewhere (check) - see friends that we don't see alot of (check!!) Real hair cuts!! Walker's is so long, we have to get real trims- not just buzz it like we normally do. Lucy still wants hers long, but it needed a good trim. We just love Sarah!! She is having a boy this fall and naming it Griffin. Walker smiled and said, "...

Grace in Small Things, Day 31 I am grateful... - that I am not giving up on GIST even if I am skipping some days here and there - for my kids taking a nap yesterday, and then playing great together afterwards. Yesterday was an awesome afternoon. - that my family was ok with crackers, sliced cheese, ham, bananas and dried apricots for dinner. Well, I am sick and yesterday afternoon/evening was pretty bad. My whole body hurt so bad, I could barely make it off the couch. My throat feels like hot sandpaper- ugh... But a good night's sleep does wonders, and my body is not aching today (can't say the same about my throat). So yesterday afternoon was a gift- both kids slept and then they kept themselves occupied and played and watched Harry Potter with my husband (who is suffering from a stomach bug) and I. I am definitely grateful for yesterday's nap and last night's good night of sleep. I still think once you become a mother, you are automatically immune to EVERYTHING. It...

Grace in Small Things, Day 26 - family living close by and getting to celebrate birthdays together. Happy Birthday, Caitlin!!! - my kids not being super picky eaters. - good friends that say nice things and know me - my awesome parents setting up a sleepover for the kiddos- could they BE any more excited??

Grace in Small Things I am grateful for... - safe driving trip to and from College Station - a sweet, sweet friend that opens her home to me and my crazy kiddos every summer - time to talk with that sweet friend. It feels so good to share!! - my bright and bubbly kids. They are so fun to be around- we have fun everyday. - a sweet hubby that lets his wife just up and leave him for a few days every summer to be with friends. He was all alone in our house while we were gone, something he does not care for. Don't worry, though. I cooked him lots of food and made 2 big pitchers of sweet tea before I left him!! - my mom having a pool. At least once a week, we can be found at Gran's pool! - 4th of July!! Living in a free country and able to celebrate as we please. Also, living in an unincorporated area and being able to set off fireworks on our street!! - hearing my kids sing.

4th of July was so fun!! A busy day with family, just how we like it. Here is our day in photos. Part 1: Swimming and lunch at Gran's Part 2: Dinner and ice cream at Peepaw's Part 3: more ice cream, brownie burgers and fireworks at our house The fireworks master

Our annual visit to the Kerbels' home was this past week. Rachel is a dear friend that I have had since the 9th grade, and our kids are pretty close in age and have formed friendships over the years. This year, the girls really hit it off. They got to be so girly together- they just loved it. And I loved the girl time I got with one of my favorite friends!! I don't think there was anything we didn't talk about- we covered it all. Our girly girls that loved to be dressed up Wrestling and whacking the ball outside Building a fort, and taking care of "baby cheetah", aka Kindle All dressed up for the grocery store Playing on their AWESOME bouncy water slide One day, we drove to Houston and went to their Children's Museum. It was definitely the coolest children's museum I have ever been to. So many different areas and things to touch, and figure out and learn.