August

August brought Dad home, PINKSTON'S to visit, BIRTHDAYS, and back to school prep, vacations and a Hurricane.

It was such a fun month!

The girls hooked the dogs leashes to Connor's car and had them become sled dogs.

Then, we found this amazing toad. The kids played with it relentlessly until it was time to say goodbye. We drove over by a little creek and they all wanted pictures. It was completely ridiculous and I love that my children love all creatures great and small.

We chose our uplifting quote/scripture for the new school year. Derek was gone a lot of this year and with several more away rotations looming ahead of us we really needed something good to help us through the last part of the year and I think we picked the perfect quote by President Gordon B. Hinckley. He was a prophet for our church who had a way to put a smile on your face because he was a genuinely happy person with a genuine happy smile on his face.

“Don’t be gloomy. Do not dwell on unkind things. Stop seeking out the storms and enjoy more fully the sunlight. Even if you are not happy, put a smile on your face. ‘Accentuate the positive.’ Look a little deeper for the good. Go forward in life with a twinkle in your eye and a smile on your face, with great and strong purpose in your heart. Love life.”

-Gordon B. Hinckley

Kael turned 9 on August 6, 2017!

He got many many parties. One at Pinkston's and one with us, and then was able to go to Laser Legend with his friends and Pinkston's on the 19th.

Dear Kael,

HAPPY 9TH BIRTHDAY!

We are so proud of all you do Kael. You grow a little wiser and a little kinder each year. You are a great friend and a great son. You work so hard to be the best you can and it shows! You get a little tougher too! Thank you for being a leader for our family and just a great kid.

We love you so much and look forward to each day with you!

Love Always,

Mom and Dad

We got to have so many fun adventures with the Pinkston's this month!

Uncle Rick and Aunt Juli got Kael his very own bow and arrow and got the girls some to keep up at their house to shoot when we visit. We have loved every minute with them.

Pinkston's got new puppies and chicks in August. It has been quite the adventure seeing them grow.

 We tried to go to Big Lou's Pizza this month and didn't succeed so we had some Whataburger instead and had a great visit with all the Pinkston's. Connor decided to run into a table and cut his eye brow open... 

 We cannot go a single month without some completely random photos taken by the kids...

 And some make up for the girls.

We made new allowance jars for the kids who have consistently started earning their allowance.

More random dress up.

Derek couldn't help but get Connor a knight costume since he is really into swords lately.

Did we mention Connor LOVES it?... 

It has been so fun seeing Connor's imagination grow wild. When he dresses up he truly becomes who he dresses up as.

It's also very humid here in Texas if you can't tell. Mowing the lawn takes on a whole new level.

We were able to take the kids to the great wolf lodge on Derek's week of leave. It was such a busy week of leave, but also so very needed and fun!

We arrived in Dallas at the Great Wolf Lodge and got our wolf ears ready to go!

 We had many adventures with magic quests and defeating dragons with their new wands.

 We really enjoyed the water park!

 We loved dancing in pajamas and getting a story read to us.

The kids had a blast and it is definitely a trip they want to do again in the future.

Sadly all fun things must come to a close and this trip marked the end of our summer vacation from school. We came home with new stuffed animals and that Saturday we held our annual back to school feast and had father's blessings for the new school year because Sunday Derek took off for a month long rotation to Dallas.

Elara started her first year at real school and is attending Rose Garden Elementary and has Ms. Merchun the same teacher Eden had for Pre-K. 

 The big two are back at Randolph Elementary. Kael is in 4th grade and Eden in 2nd.

Elara had such a great first day that it totally and completely wore her out. I've never seen her so exhausted in all her life.

I am over the Young Women for girls camp and volleyball and helped out a teacher with her Tuesday night activity. The girls and I had a lot of fun playing Speak Out church style.

Connor is helping me with yard work a lot more.

Connor very much enjoys his time with Mom and no other kids around.

At the end of the month Hurriane Harvey hit the Texas coast. Derek was thankfully finished with his rotations in Houston and Corpus Christi. But, he still had to head to Dallas during the tail end of the storm. Shortly after gas prices skyrocketed as people panicked. Really everything was fine, but everyone was stocking up on gas and pumps had several out of gas signs for several days. It really stunk for those of us who really needed gas. I'm not sure why, but all the major disasters in Texas have almost always hit when Derek is out of town... Thankfully in San Antonio we weren't really affected by the hurricane, but our church helped with lots of relief efforts over the next several months. It was way too close to home. Our favorite beach spot in Corpus Christi is closed and a lot of changes have happened since the storm. We were so blessed where many others suffered a lot of damage to  homes and property.

A much needed popsicle break to end the first week of school and finish August on a good note.