Life is about to get crazier around here and I don't want to forget any of those moments... or maybe I do!



Sunday, July 6, 2014

Independence

4th of July Fun
 
 
We started the day with the Lake Highlands parade.  Bubba walked in the parade with the Cub Scouts and Duch, Huck and I cheered him on and collected candy.  That whole collecting candy at a parade is a little strange... I heard myself saying things like "Run into the street to get that Dum Dum!" or "Hurry up or the other kids will get it all!"  The big kids have not even asked for any of their candy since we got it home, but Huck LOVES candy so that is a constant request...
 



 
After the parade Duch and I spent some time crafting 4th of July decorations: 
wet chalk fireworks and windsocks

 
 
The Hubby was at work so we decided to go see some fireworks.  We packed a picnic dinner and went to the celebration in Richardson.  We parked at the shuttle parking lot and rode a bus to the park.  It was Huck's first bus ride :-)  The park was not crazy crowded and there was a nice breeze blowing to keep us cool and to keep the mosquitos away. 
 

An orchestra played patriotic music

Sno cones
 They had a few activities like a bounce house and slide:
Huck

Bubba with Duch at the top
 
And then the main event!  It was a really good show.  The kids all likes the smiley face firework the best.

 
About halfway through the fireworks show this happened:
Not sure how he slept through the loud music, fireworks and big kids squeals of delight...

After the show the fun came crashing down as we got in line for the buses... 1 hour later we were back at our car and it was after midnight before they were into bed.  I do have to say that Bubba was a huge help offering to carry things without even being asked.  I'll have to think awhile before I decided if we'll do it again next year...  but it was a fun night and a great fireworks show.  It has been awhile since I've been to an event like that so I did enjoy it. 





Tennessee

The day after school got out we jumped in the car and headed out on a road trip to Tennessee! 

Grandma with the spiky hair moved near Crossville, Tennessee last Fall so we went to visit.  We drove as far as Memphis the first day and spent the night with the cousins.  The next day we drove to Nashville and met a friend of The Hubby's from college, Super Dave.  After lunch together we all went to see The Hermitage- Andrew Jackson's homestead. 

As Huck would say, Booter Dave!
  



They have a kid's version of the audio tour which was pretty entertaining 

 
On to Grandma's House!

 
 
There are many fun things to do at Grandma's:  We went swimming in the lake and built sand castles:



 
 
Swimming in the pool:

Lost a tooth:
The tooth fairy DOES come to Tennessee!

Fishing on Grandpa's boat:

That's Grandpa's fish

But that is Bubba's fish!


 
And went horseback riding!

Levi the horse

Maverick

Cactus
Do you think she enjoyed it???


And a stop back at The Cousins for the night on the way home:
The Three Amigos
 
What a fun way to start summer break!  Thanks, Grandma and Grandpa!
 

Nine!!!

How can my first born be nine years old???  I mean, look at this kid!  He's huge!  At his 9 year check up he weighed 72 pounds and was 4 feet 6 inches tall.  That puts him in the 75% -85% range for his age. 
 
 
It has been a good year, I'd say.  Third grade was pretty good.  He had a great teacher, Miss Looney, and a good class.  His best buddies in his class this year were Max and James.  At the end of the year his class voted to give him the Wallace Wolverine award- it is awarded to the person in class who is a friend to everyone.  It was the first year for the big standardized testing, the STAAR test.  He did very well, but it still caused some anxiety before hand.  He continues to excel in reading, and more importantly continues to love it.  A few of the things he read this year:  the Rush Revere books, the Percy Jackson series, Heroes of Olympus, The Cane Chronicles, The Mysterious Benedict Society and, at my request, Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of Nimh. 
 

 
He continued with ballet this year and has chosen to do so again next year.  He played a big part in the recital and did very well.  The expectations are increasing and getting harder all the time.  When asked he said "I wouldn't say I love it, but I really, really like it." 

He also continues with Cub Scouts and earned his Bear badge, which means he is now a Weebelo.  The Hubby took him to the Fall campout but they had to skip the Spring campout.  In the winter he went with his den to spend the night at NASA in Houston!  About a week after school got out he went with his pack to his first overnight camp- Weebelo Resident Camp.  He stayed 3 nights and got to do lots of fun activities, like Human Foosball, Aquanauts, Duct Tape Adventures and stick hockey.  He did say he was a little bit homesick, but still had a great time.  He said the worst part was the sleeping arrangements- they were in two man tents up on raised wooden platforms and apparently the floor was very hard!


 
 
Bubba continues to be a good big brother.  He can be very helpful and kind, but on occasion he can also be a typical big brother who is not-so-helpful and not-so kind.  He and Duch have spent many hours playing Minecraft together and he still plays pretend games with the younger two.  Jurassic Park with the toy dinosaurs, Zombies Take Over the World, Alien Invasion...     

 
He spent lots of time playing outside with the neighbors and riding his bike.  He got a Nintendo DS for Christmas and would play on it all day every day if allowed. He has had several sleep-overs with his friends.  So far this summer we have spent lots of time swimming. 



 

We did some fun activities this year. 
Perot Museum
Snow Party for neighbors
National Night Out


Halloween

The Night Before Christmas ballet

State Fair

We took some great trips as well.  Of course there was our annual trip to Gulf Shores:
 




 
Austin to visit friends:
 


 

Mom Mom's house for Thanksgiving:

Fossil Rim drive through animal park:

 
 
Little Rock for President's Day weekend with the Cousins:
 


 

It has been a busy year!  So now for the annual interview:
 

Bubba, at what age do you think a person is a grown-up? 
19. 

If you could be invisible for one day, what would you do? 
Skip school and do fun things like go to the pool.

What is something that makes our family special?
That the boys outnumber the girls  

Are you a good friend? and why?
 That is hard to answer... sometimes I think I am and sometimes I don't feel like a good friend if I am fighting with someone. 

How would the world be different if animals could talk?
 Animals would probably take over the world because they would be getting smarter if they could talk.

What is the best thing about being a kid?
 No paying the bills

What is the worst thing?  
I can't drive a car.

What is your favorite place in the world? 
Alabama beach

If you could give one gift to every kid in the world, what would it be?  
A toy.  What kind of toy?  I'd let them chose what toy they like.

Tell me 5 words that you would use to describe yourself. 
smart, awesome, nice, brave, and talented

If you could invent something, what would it be?
 a time machine

What is your favorite:
color: green
food: tacos
song: Demons
book: The Cane Chronicles
activity: ballet
toy: Nintendo DS
subject at school:science
friend: All my friends are my favorites, I don't have one favorite
animal: rhino
TV show: Pokemon
movie: The Lego Movie
 
What does Dad like to do? 
watch sports in his La-ze- boy

What does Mom like to do? 
  play on her phone

What makes you special? 
 I take ballet, I'm very good with little kids

What is one thing you would most like to do? 
watch youtube

What would you like to write a book about? 
dinosaurs

Describe what you look like. 
brown hair, brown eyes, tall and awesome
 
What are you looking forward to this summer? 
 Alabama beach

What did you accomplished as an 8 year old?
another year of ballet,  my first STAAR test, campout with Cub Scouts, lots of reading
 
 
Love this kid like crazy!  We are so proud of him for many reasons but mostly because he has a kind and generous heart.  I'm looking forward to the next year!
 
And just for fun, some random pictures that I like:
New Year's Eve

 
Perot Museum

Crater of Diamonds State Park

Halloween
 
Tent in the playroom

Space cadets :-)