Blog-a-Palooza (catching up)

Last week, Jeff said he was having blog withdrawals.  Poor daddy!

Coleman’s first time roller skating:

Zoo night with Coleman’s school:

(the only animals we saw)—Altogether they went in to the pond, and out of the pond, and into the pond, and out of the pond, and into the pond, and out of the pond, and into…. (Do you get the picture?)

Our tour guide who was great with our kids:

 

Shelby and Coleman’s picture with CHAMP for the Dallas Mavs contest:

Some more of Coleman and soccer:

(Team captain shaking hands)

GOOOOOOOAAAAAAL!

(Last Sunday Coleman had 4 goals followed by Shelby’s second goal!)  I think they are really enjoying soccer!

A late night hanging out with Uncle Luke and Aunt Millie

Luke keeping “THE BAG” alive:

Shelby’s 1st Grade Presentation called “Bodacious Biomes”
Her line was: “Freshwater aquatic includes ponds, lakes, streams, rivers, and wetlands like swamps and marshes.”  She nailed it!   Thanks Nonnie, Poppy, Anna & TyTy for coming to watch!

Coleman played Jackson’s team in soccer.  He woke up crying that morning, “I don't want to play against him!!!”  They both did great though, and were still smiling at the end!

Happy Spring!!

Camping at Brownwood State Park (Spring Break 2012)

This post is going to have a little words and a lot of pictures!

We went camping with Coleman’s best buddy Jackson and his family (Our good buddies too!) for the Thursday- Sunday at the end of our Spring break this year.  It was our first camping trip together and we had a blast.  We took our little pop-up, and the Z family had their first tent-camping experience with the kids (they have had a camper in the past.)  We all did great!  The worst thing we forgot was COFFEE, and the worst pain in the booty that happened was Jeff’s truck battery dying and having to drive quite a ways to the nearest Wal-Mart to buy a new one.  (Isn’t it always something with one of our vehicles or keys?!)

We got there on Thursday around noon, and drove around loops many times to find the perfect spot.  After setting up, we went on a hike.  The hike this day was muddy and messy, but the kids had a blast, of course!  They are no strangers to dirt.

The kids had 3 days full of independence and exploration.





These 4 get along so well.  The 2 little buddies Coleman and Jackson are 2 little peas in a pod, and Shelby has no problem being the only girl (or maybe doesn’t even know she is!)  She stays right along with the boys. 



Here are their silly faces!



Shelby just loves Jackson’s older brother, Collin, who was also in her class at TCC.  They are both in first grade now and were best buds for the whole trip.



This is Mom Jess and Dad Jake



We found ourselves along the shore and stopped to enjoy.



On the camera I noticed plenty of shots of “Boys being boys”  Ahem.  Excuse them.



And our Mary dog was, of course, the perfect hiking doggie.







Jeff caught Collin’s first skipped rock on camera.





My GIRL







 







Muscles!










Back to the truck!  (Jackson was so dirty that his daddy didn’t want to hold him close, haha!)





I love my boy and my girl.  Boy:



Girl:



Doesn’t that about sum it up?!


Back at the camp site, there was a LOT of bike riding.  It was a small, quite camping loop and the kids LOVED the independence we gave them. 







“My buddy, my buddy.  Wherever I go, he goes!!”






The next day, we went hiking on another trail in the park.  This one was along the shore but high up, and much less messy.



Z family picture:


And our attempts at one!





Of course NOW he smiles:





















They scare me a little.  NO fear:



Later, we went to the “sandy beach”  It was too cold to really swim, but the kids made do.



Coleman worked hard on a sand castle village the whole time.



They decided to build a moat around it and fill it with water.



There were many, many trips back and forth to fill it up.



…until we brought in the big guns!



Shelby and Collin…well, they decided to get a little dirty!












This picture just cracks me up- who knows what they were saying/doing?!





The weather was cloudy and windy, but perfect temps for enjoying a little campfire!



They pulled kites behind their bikes.



The next day, another hike:












It was St. Patty’s day so we tried to take some pictures in a field of clovers.  Pretty much fail, haha.




We left Sunday morning.  Packing up is never fun, but it is getting much easier now that the kids are older and will just "GO PLAY."  :)
This was a wonderful, relaxing camping trip full of friends and fun with the Z fam!  We look forward to more of these to come!