Imagination Monday

House rules. When friends are over, we do not have the tv on or play on the computer. There is plenty of time for that junk when friends are not here. Now is the time to be imaginative. I love to listen to it! This morning imagination is in the house!
Campbell's dear friend Keira is here. We had a beauty shop and painted the girls (including Conleigh) fingernails and toenails. We have pink, blue and red fingernails running around the house. Then they had a tea party in Campbell's room with fancy sunglasses on their cute faces. Now they have joined the boys (Alex has his friend Bishop over too) for detective playing. I'm hearing, "secret agent..." as I type.
I love to hear the kids being imaginative! Love it!

Oh, done playing detective. Onto chase, hide & seek, and building a rocket ship with blocks (that I bought at Goodwill for $10 - :))

Pictures of our Destin Vacation

Cousins enjoying popsicles! Ryan & Alex getting sandy on the beach.
Grandma & Grandpa Spence with their five grandchildren.
Conleigh enjoying the beach!
See how white the sand is? Cutie pie Campbell

The Big Easy

We are into our second night here in New Orleans. I am so glad we stopped here. The kids would have been happy to just stay at the hotel to play and swim. We are right near the airport and have seen about 6 planes fly over literally hundreds of feet above our head. It is cool!
Yesterday we ventured down Bourbon street and to Cafe DuMonde for legendary beignets. Two out of three kids liked them. Lots of walking here in N'Awlins. Peter and I both agree we are not ready for big city site seeing with our crew, soon, but not quite yet.

Today we spent the day in the city going to the aquarium which was perfect for our family. We got to touch a shark and the kids touched a stingray. We saw all sorts of sea life and also went to see an IMAX film, Wild Ocean.
We met up with an elementary school friend of Peter's. They hadn't seen one another in close to 20 years. Justin Borden went to Tulane and lives in the Big Easy. He met us for lunch in the French Quarter. The children had a ball trying on all sorts of masks and they each now own one.
We have used the hotel pool both nights. Peter ate about 5 pounds of crawfish plus oysters for dinner, and I had crawfish etouffee for both lunch and dinner today. Life is good!
Back to Texas tomorrow!

The Sweet Beach Life

I was diagnosed with pneumonia on Friday. Thank goodness it was finally figured out. The doc really thought I shouldn't go on vacation, but how could we cancel? The kids would have been crushed. I have been taking it easy with long naps and not too much sun.
We drove to Houston from Austin on Friday night. Campbell woke up in the middle of the night with a fever. So, before we hit the road on Saturday morning, I took her to the doctor. Strep throat~! Have we been a sick bunch lately or what?

Anyway, we rolled into Destin yesterday afternoon. We had spent Saturday night in Biloxi, MS, at the Isle of Capri. The kids love to go swimming there. Asia, a total 80s rock band was in concert there Saturday night, so our kids and Spencer & Ryan loved seeing the guitarists jam. During a break, our boys were jamming on their air guitars and the bands guitarist saw them. He got a big kick out of it.

So, today we all took it easy. Pool, beach, nap. It was a great beginning to our Florida vaca.

Happy 3rd Birthday Campbell

Our sweet third child. You fill our hearts with joy! Happy Birthday!

I want to feel better already!

Strep throat stinks. I started feeling lousy on Saturday night. Chills and sore throat. Sunday morning I decided I couldn't teach Sunday school and instead went to the urgent care center. Strep throat. Meds prescribed. Back in bed for most of the day. Monday comes. No better and now there is a cough too. Tuesday morning, back to the doctor. 102.5 fever. Shot given and told that I may have a virus too with the cough. Home and back to bed. Peter was home all morning and we found a babyistter who came for 3 hours this afternoon. My cough is still yuck, but my throat is starting to make improvements. I really hope to be all better by Friday when we head out for vacation!

Slip Slidin' through Fantastic Friday

We're into the second day of summer! Yay! Yesterday we christened our slip-n-slide. Daddy got the party going when he got home and added Palmolive to the slide. It was slick then and the fun doubled!
This morning Conleigh got her breakfast in bed. Chocolate chip pancakes made by mom. Then we got the slip'n slide slippy again. Check out the fun.




When everyone got cold, they huddled. I love this picture.

We came inside and used our blocks to build the Great Wall of China. Then we made our maiden voyage of the season to the pool! We saw two friends and everyone had fun. Now it is quiet time. Campbell is napping on the couch and the other two kiddos are coloring.

Schools Out for Summer!

We have a 1st grader in the house! I said, "We have a PROUD first grader in the house!" Conleigh got her final report card today. She did great and is definitely ready for first grade. She also had perfect attendance this last term which is awesome because that means we got her to school on time every day this last 45 days which is a miracle! Conleigh was a hoola-hoopin' whiz at the park today.



Here is a picture of Conleigh with her teacher, Mrs. Lavery.

The kindergarteners went to a local park for a celebration today. Parents were invited, so Alex & I headed over. Alex quickly found a friend and they were off and sweating. They provided cookies for the kinder kids. Check out this hilarious picture. Alex was pretty mad that he didn't got a cookie. Never fear, mommy took him to the mall afterwards and got him his own frosted cookie.
To celebrate the end of school, we had a Happy Hour and Hotdog Summer Kick-Off Celebration at our house this evening. We invited over 6 neighbor families. There were 10 adults and 11 kids, I think. We did it pot-luck style and had plenty of food and 'dogs. Peter had his homebrew beer outside. All the kids had a great time running around and it was a great summer party!
After the crowd went home, we loaded up the car and took the kids to Sonic for free root-beer floats! The parking lot was full but we found a parking spot and got the fastest service we ever have at Sonic. WE LOVE ROOT BEER FLOATS!