A Much Deserved Sno Cone

After cleaning out bathroom cabinets, cleaning out the pantry, vacuuming out the couch...an other big jobs, we decided a sno cone would be the greatest reward!

 
 
 
 

High School Friends Forever

I had the privilege of having the most wonderful group of girlfriends in high school.  We were on our drill team together and therefore spent hours after hours with each other for 3 years.  It was fabulous being a Fabulous Fillie!  These friendships are irreplaceable!  We got together last night and we always pick up where we left off.  We have 17 kids (if I counted correctly) between the 6 of us and I know we all pray our kids find lasting friendships too!  Heather wasn't able to join us this time.  We sure did miss her!

 

Ranger Game

The Lexus Dealership in town gave our family tickets to the Ranger game as a congratulatory gift when I won teacher of the year.  It was the best prize because we got to enjoy the fun as a family!!  Harper was mostly interested in the dot race and the bag of Lays potato chips the sweet man behind us gave to her.  But we had a great time!  It was 80 degrees out (in August, in Texas!) so the weather was perfect and our Rangers hit 3 homeruns!  

 

 
 
 

Pine Cove Camp in the City

Nathan and Jordan had the best week ever at Pine Cove Camp in the City!  They came home singing camp songs and telling me about the Biblestudy time each day.  When I picked them up each day, they were still pumped from the wrestling match with their counselor on the soapy tarp, the crazy time in water twister, the obstacle course, the slip 'n slide, the rock climbing...so much crazy fun!  They were covered in scrapes and bruises and totally proud of each battle wound.  We are thankful for these college kids that are willing to be silly and invest in the lives of kids all summer long.  What a gift!

This was the boys' counselor, Mav.  

 

Such fun to spend the week with one of our best buds, Jack!

 

 

 

 

 

At the end of the week, the camp counselors encourage the kids by sharing a list of character qualities that they see all week in each child.  This was a great way to inspire these kids to be who God created them to be!  I think Mav figured out Nathan and Jordan pretty quickly!  Ha!
 

 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

Morning with Dad

These big kids had a morning of fishing with Dad.  They were super proud of their fish!  

 

 

 

Back to School Shopping

Harper's regularly requesting French braids this summer.  I've been prepping her for the school year getting started and reminding her that mama might not have time to braid on school mornings!  Ha!

Carson and Harper totally picked out their backpack and I let them pick whatever they wanted for their last year of PreK.  They were soooo excited about these tacky backpacks and it gave me so much joy to see their excitement.

Nathan and Jordan are gearing up for 3rd grade.  Crazy.

Slushes for everyone because they were so sweet today!

Baby Hazel runs errands with us sometimes too. 

 
 
 
 

 
 

Beach Time is the Best Time!

After a few days in Georgia, we headed south to the beach in Alabama.  We had the most wonderful family time!  Our 4 days were full of sand castles, ocean waves, good food, laughs, and good conversations.  There were meltdowns, messes, and grocery trips in those days too but the good moments were worth it!

Crab hunting!! The kids loved crab hunting... I think they caught a total of 13 crabs one night. 

 

 

 
 

 

 Ice cream night!

 

Good morning on the porch!

Naps on the beach are the greatest...the waves would just put this boy to sleep. 

 I snapped this pic after Harper got a comb to her hair.  Ugh.  Girl, sorry, you won't ever be able to brush your hair like your straight hair friends.  
 

The Calvert kids dab! Ha! 

We finally stopped at a McDonald's for lunch...first time at a McDonald's in a long time.  Carson and Harper were both so excited about a Happy Meal toy.  Then the unthinkable happened.  All 4 kids got a girl toy in their happy meal.  And then it was like Mt St Helens erupted in Carson's head.  He lost it!  We had to go on walks and get him to chill out.  He eventually settled down...although we are all still scarred from the breakdown.  And Harper was ecstatic that she ended up with FIVE girl Happy Meal toys (from my kids meal too). 

 It was a great trip! Memories!!