Pine Cove Day 1

The day FINALLY came for us to go to Family Camp.  This was something that I had been really looking forward to and praying about.  Not to mention we had pulled the boys out of preschool in the spring to pay for camp.  Jay pretty much thought I was crazy (although easily agreed) to reallocate our funds in such a way.  All that being said I was really praying that it was just what we needed.  And of course, as always, God is SO good!  It was such a week of rejuvenation and family time.  I swear Jay and I had more time alone that week than in the entire year prior combined.  We both realized the extreme toll that lack of alone time takes on you.  We’ve had a pretty trying year and had been working through some stuff and man, God knew exactly what we needed. 
On a lighter note, I have been so scatterbrained lately (ok, since I got pregnant with Jackson) that I was set on not forgetting anything.  After compiling a THREE PAGE excel spreadsheet containing any and everything we might ever need on the trip and taking a clue from Santa and checking it twice I didn’t forget a thing. And as you can imagine, the car was full to the brim.

Alright, without further ado, here’s Pine Cove, Day 1:

My dear friend Paddy is the one who suggested (many times) that we go to Pine Cove.  She and her husband took their 3 kids there 12 years in a row.  She called and gave me all kinds of tips a few weeks prior to the trip.  One thing she said is that everyone decorates their vehicles.  The boys enjoyed this so much!  They loved telling us what to write, and they got a kick out of driving with decorated windows.  It’s funny how small stuff is so hilarious to kids.  Anyway, glad we did it.

We were supposed to be there by 2:30 to get in line because the gates open at 3.  For all of you grandparents-when I know I have to be somewhere by a certain time and it’s a road trip. . .I always plan about a 60-90 minute buffer for food/potty/nursing stops.  Hence the GPS saying that we’d get there by 12:57 and us actually arriving at 2:30.  I’ll probably be early every where once Lincoln weans but for now we are right on time due to my buffer zone.

We’re here!

Once we got there (we were #2 in line) all of the cars were stopped and all of the kids were standing on top of them.  You have NO idea how exciting this was for Jack and Bear.  They were ecstatic at being allowed to do such a thing.

While we were all hanging out outside of the gate a counselor came and gave each of the men a root beer and the women a rose.

Once you go through gate (with kids hanging out of the car) craziness ensues.  The counselors (oh, the amazing counselors!  but more about them later) are going crazy yelling and jumping up and down and the kids just eat it up!

Another super cool thing is that they have a professional photographer who goes around taking pictures all week and then they give you a DVD of the pictures (and a video) at the end of the week.  So, when you are reading my posts, if a picture looks far better than my normal shots. . .it’s probably b/c I didn’t take it.
Here we are driving in. . .kids going wild with excitement at the screams of the counselors!

See how relaxed and happy Jay looks. . .it’s like the gates are magic. . .

So fun!

I love this shot of Mia and Lennon coming through in Gaga’s car.  Lennon’s look is priceless and Mia, well, I’m still baffled at how this sweet preteen is my baby niece. 

Once inside the gates we got out of our cars and the counselors unloaded ALL of our stuff into our cabins.  That’s right, we didn’t lift a finger.  We went into register for activities (horseback riding, wave runners, boating, water rockets, pottery, golfing, zip line, rock climbing, zip swing, etc.) and then waited for Gaga, Mia and Lennon to arrive to take a tour of the premises together. 
We were all so happy to see our cousins!

I love this girl SO much!

While Mia immediately gravitated to Lincoln Lennon wasted no time in playing body pile with the Adams dudes.

These guys are just my loves.

I’ve missed Mia and Lennon so much and it was just awesome to spend a week with them!

Registration welcome sign.

After all of that we went to dinner and the camp and activities directors did a hilarious skit that ended with an insanely funny dance.  It definitely set the mood for silliness and got everyone relaxed for a week of fun.

The first day was great and we were just feeling so blessed by the end.  We’d made it and all was good. 

Brynn’s 2nd Birthday Party

The day before we left for Pine Cove our sweet neighbor Brynn turned 2. We’ve gotten really close to her family and they were so sweet to have her party on Saturday instead of Sunday so that we could attend.

It was a circus theme and our boys had looked forward to it for weeks because Jessica had told them there would be a pony.

Jackson and Addison.

Playing games.

The birthday girl.

Yum!

20 week pregnant Jessica.

Me with my precious little Dinka.

The kids all loved the pony.

The Schielein family.

Fun daddy with Link.

All of the kiddos.

Jackson wanted to serenade the birthday girl.  Funny little guy.

While we miss our Dallas friends greatly, we have been very blessed to make great friends here as well!

Finishing up July

Jackson wanted a “daddy hair cut” so he asked for a “2 1/2” just like his daddy.  Of course Jay has a fade on top which Jackson forgot to ask for so he’s super short now.  I love how proud he is to be like his daddy!

How else do you expect them to watch tv at the Ikea child care area?!? 

One afternoon we made gluten free cookies.  Bear has done so well with the change to gluten free but was excited for a treat.

He was also excited to bake with me.  Jack was at Farm School Summer Camp. So Bear and I had lots of time together. 

We waited to put them into the oven until Jack was home because Bear wanted Jackson to have hot cookies too.  Do you think they are excited?!

One day we had all of our farm school play group friends over.  It was so much fun and I just love all of these ladies and kiddos.

The kids LOVED the swing set!

And the water table was pretty popular too.

Baron decided that as one of his potty trained rewards he wanted to go to build a bear.  So, I took him on a date while Jackson was at camp.  We’d never been before and he loved it.  He’s so easy to please and was just thrilled with the whole process.  It was actually really fun for me because he was so happy. 

Here he is kissing the heart that is about to go into the puppy that he selected.

And afterwards giving “Baron Puppy” a bath.  He and Baron Puppy are now inseparable. 

The next day we went and got Bear’s 3 year pictures, only about 5 months late.  The lady who took them goes to our church and is starting a photography business.  She saw Bear and asked to take his pictures for free to use on her website.  I happily agreed-she’s going to do pictures of Jackson and Lincoln in September.

Our precious Plano babysitter, Amanda, went to Thailand on a mission trip for a month this summer.  She sent the boys these awesome shirts and also sent gifts to Jay and I.  Such a sweet and unexpected surprise!  The boys love the shirts and wear them all of the time.

The Hirst family sent Lincoln and Jackson a set of wedgits for their birthday.  My boys are now obsessed with wedgits and begging for more.  Super cool!

Wedgits are pretty much what the boys do every morning as I make breakfast.

Sometimes I’m so shocked that my baby is this big, lanky dude.  Love this little guy who changed my world almost 6 years ago.

And this little guy just lights up my world.  My silly, snuggly Bear.

On the last day of farm school Jackson wanted a picture of Mrs. Barbara, his teacher.  Bear of course wanted to be in the picture as well.

And Mrs. Andrea the school director.

Not surprisingly Jackson found a future wife at camp.  Each day he would tell me all about Ella and what they played and how he wanted to marry her.  “All I can say mom is that she’s my girl-for life!”  Ahhhh, 5 year old love.  He begged me to buy an assortment of her favorite organic treats for him to take to her on the last day of camp.  She had brought him stuff the day prior.  I, of course obliged.  She drew him this picture and put her phone number on the back and asked me to call her mom to set up a play date soon.  In true Jackson fashion he was sure they would be together forever (remember the girl he wanted to marry from gymnastics camp last year?) and has not mentioned her a single time since camp ended.  And you know what? That’s totally ok by me.  I’m not rushing any of that stuff with my precious little boy!

Recently I heard about a super cool restaurant very close to our house with a play area.  So, we went and checked it out the other day and it was so nice.  I’m pretty sure it was the second time we’ve eaten out since we moved here and it was so nice to be outside.  The kids played on the two swingsets and had a ball.

They also had a guy making balloon animals or as our boys requested, swords.

Later in the evening they had live music as well.  The one enormous bummer is that the food is not very good.  Luckily we just split two appetizers and enjoyed the atmosphere. 

I cannot express how blessed I feel looking at this picture.

One day recently we built a tent and laid inside it and read all day.  It was so nice to just relax and play all day.

A few Saturdays ago Jay took Jackson to Six Flags in San Antonio for the day with free tickets that we had gotten through a reading program.  Bear is so good about not being upset when Jackson gets to do fun stuff and he gets left behind.  But I did want to do something special with him as well.  So, we went to a place that has gluten free gingerbread pancakes.  They were awesome and Bear was very happy.  Unfortunately, as soon as we sat down Lincoln puked all over me and down my shirt.  If you’ve never had vomit in your bra. . .let me tell you, it’s pretty glamorous.  It was hard to refrain from standing and singing “I feel pretty” while I dined-and smelled barf.  But such is life and we still had a great breakfast together.

Our Sunday school class is helping a group of refugees who just arrived in Austin.  This entire trailer is filled with stuff from our garage (minus the shelves).  It was so nice to get rid of some stuff that will be used by other families and also so embarrassing that our garage is still full.  Must go through those boxes soon!

Our neighborhood recently had a party with bounce houses, food, a band etc.  Jack and I went and made an evening of it.  Love that I’ve gotten to have so many individual dates with my guys lately.
They had a kid and an adult drawing for prizes with two winners each.  I was told to enter all of the kids names even though only Jackson had come with me.  We won both of the kid prizes (water guns) and I won one of the adult prizes which was a Starbucks gift card.  I don’t know what it is about Starbucks cards but they seem like 100 times more valuable then their dollar value.  So, needless to say Jay and I have enjoyed several treat beverages lately.   But my most notable observation is that my winning steak seems to be back!

Jack was pretty happy about the snow cone truck.  Although I made him dump this one and get one without the red dye #40.

At the party they had several emergency vehicles for the kids to play in.  Jackson got into the ambulance and talked to this EMT for over an hour.  The guy turned around and asked who his mom was and then told me that he was really smart for only 8 years old.  Jack’s face lit up and he proudly told him that he was 5. 

The next day we went with a church play group to a fire station tour.  My boys have toured the fire station a dozen times and still just love it.

We had such a great time with these sweet kids and their moms.

Guess who won a stamp at church last week?!?