So I'm Writing Again

The past 2 months have been really busy, and we've gotten to have a lot of fun, so here are a few highlights.

In July we headed to Round Rock Texas to see Craig and Mindy's family! We started our trip REALLY early on a Saturday morning and made it to their house around midnight.  It was a long drive, and the last two hours were a little brutal, but they had all the beds ready for us and getting to wake up and play with cousins the next morning was Caleb and David's favorite part!

Mindy was an amazing host and scheduled a couple activities for us to enjoy at the library on Monday and Tuesday, she and Craig made some amazing dinners, and it was fun to listen to Mindy read chapters out of the 4th Harry Potter book to her boys before bed. on Wednesday I left for Dallas to go to my Mary Kay Seminar, but the boys stayed and had a good time swimming, playing in the backyard during the few cool hours in the morning, and even got to go to the children's museum in Austin.  Craig worked from home a little bit and took off what time he could so he and Byron could go play racquetball one morning and a few other activities.  I was excited to come back to them Saturday afternoon, Mindy's sister Jenny, who is currently living with them, agreed to keep an eye on the boys so we could all go out on a double date.  We went to a really yummy frozen custard place, then hit the grocery store to get snacks and food for our return trip so we wouldn't have to stop on Sunday. We enjoyed the rest of our evening watching Byron and Craig do push up contests and laughing about different things.  We headed home Sunday after church, but decided to break up the drive and stopped in Little Rock for the night, then ate breakfast and got in the car again.  We got home early Monday evening and unloaded the car and played with the boys before sending them to bed.

In August we celebrated David and Byron's birthdays.  David really got the shaft, he doesn't enjoy very many foods. and had been up a lot in the wee hours of the morning, so he was sleeping in and didn't get a breakfast in bed this year.  The highlight of his birthday this year was getting to go to Chick-fil-a for lunch with Daddy, Granny, Grandad, Aunt Syssa, and Uncle Charlie.  I think he spent more time playing than eating but he LOVES the firefighter costume he got from Granny and Grandad.  He wears it all the time and tells us he's going to rescue us.  I bought the stuff to make grilled cheese sandwiches for his dinner, but for some reason that meal didn't end up getting cooked until much later that week.

For Byron's birthday I was SO excited it fell on a Saturday because it meant I got to spend the WHOLE day with him! He did get his breakfast in bed, then we got ready and went for Caleb's soccer game.  I had accidentally scheduled a pampering session for that afternoon, so when we got home I spent the afternoon taking care of that, but one of the young women from the ward came to baby sit that night and we had a good time going to Point Blank.  We got a one month all access range pass and had a good time trying out different handguns.  Afterwards we went to Zoup for dinner and had fun trying the different soup recipes before picking a couple for dinner.  I picked up a German Chocolate cake for dessert for the next day, but he wasn't crazy about it, so I still made him some cupcakes and took them to work on Monday.  That night we joined my family for FHE and I loved getting to eat my mommy's amazing broccoli cheddar potato soup.  Seriously, super delicious!

Some other things we did:

I got to go back to Texas! Kitara was married to her amazing husband and Byron and my dad worked together with a couple of my friends to take care of the boys so I could go to the wedding.  It was beautiful. Saturday morning everyone was at the temple, but due to a bed bug scare (that had amounted to nothing, but better safe than sorry!), things were packed up in Kitara's apartment and they forgot the marriage license!  We said a group prayer and Katrina, who had happened to still be in the apartment, was able to find it and bring it with her.  The sealing was so special and I felt so blessed to be able to be there for her day!

We took the boys to walk around the temple grounds.  Trying to convince them to wear church clothes on a Saturday is much akin to pulling teeth, so we just got them into clothes that were nicer than their regular play clothes and called it a success.  We sang "I Love to See the Temple" and "Families Can be Together Forever" and played "I Spy" as we walked around the grounds to get the boys to pick up on the beauty of our surroundings.  Byron and I told them about the day we got married and it was amazing to see them enjoying the sacred space we were in. The weather was a little bit cooler that day, but the fun part was the pouring rain storm that began right after we got in the car (literally, Byron closed his car door and it was like a giant bucket was suddenly emptied!)

I guess those are the biggest updates around here. We hope you are all enjoying life as well!

Caleb loves dressing up in different costumes and running around the house

Having the car towed. That was...quite a day. Haha

This handsome man is 29 years old!!!!!

David tried to apply his own lipstick 

Byron got these really cool freezer glasses from my parents for his birthday.

Waiting to say farewell to Sister Ferrara!

Accidentally got some lipstick on his cheek.  Caleb was very concerned.

I couldn't get him to look at the camera :(

He's started standing on his own!

Our beautiful sister Ferrera went home to Colorado this week!

Our handsome boys at the temple

Caleb and David in their respective birthday presents from Granny and Grandad!

Love this kids smile!

Caleb got the soccer ball and almost scored in his first game of the season!

Sam and Kitara's wedding party!

Selfie with the bride!

Aren't they cute!!?

More selfies...gotta love weddings. <3

Krispy Kreme with Mommy

Group date with Katrina and Casey, and Tyler and Kate Guy! They had a food truck rally at a shopping center near here. Byron and I tried some Gyros (super yummy) and fish tacos!

Kings Island Snack break :)

Crafting with Katrina is the best!

Caleb has been begging for a tool belt but I won't buy him one so he improvised.